CE Noticias Financieras English Thursday The rockstar Ara Malikian conquered the audience of the National Auditorium Mexico, May 17 (Notimex) .- A storyteller who evoked rock figures like Jimi Hendrix and Radiohead, to capture his style, the Lebanese-born violinist Ara Malikian, offered a splendid concert on a slightly warm night in the National Auditorium. The so-called rockstar of the violin, who two years ago was presented with great success in the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in the framework of the International Cervantino Festival, delighted with his virtuosity, but also fulfilled as a storyteller. Accompanied by his musical group, Ara Malikian, he squandered an energy as if he were a rock vocalist, coming and going from one end with his guitar, but this was with his violin, jumping again and again, and walking quickly, but playing your instrument The storyteller made his entrance as a rockstar, with his band, made up of musicians with orchestra and rock instruments, began his adventure with songs by Jimi Hendrix and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who made his appearance. Dressed in black, like the musicians, he thanked the audience and especially being on a stage like the Colossus of Reforma, while he began to tell some stories about his violin and how he had the fortune to work in what he likes. . The fate of becoming a musician was thanks to his grandfather, who gave him the violin, instrument that always cared for and made him his own, so he dedicated a piece, between Armenian and Lebanese music. At the time he began to play the violin, accompanied by his group, which with his unique style, increasingly appropriated the space of the stage, but above all to show a complete show full of music and storytelling. One of the most emotional moments was when he played the theme of "La Campanella", by Niccoló Paganini, who put one of the members to work as the bell ringer, to execute the piece. The rockstar not only played pieces by classical composers, but also rock figures, so there could not be a romantic work in which only he and a guitar were present, in the middle of almost a darkness on stage to give that atmosphere necessary. Ara Malikian with his refined technique on the violin and his own style of doing it as a rock musician, thanked the audience, in the midst of a loud ovation that the people returned to him and his musicians.
Author: Boris Nahapetian
Armenia protest leader expects to be premier within days
The Financial Times, UK
May 7 2018
May 7 2018
Armenia protest leader expects to be premier within days
Nikol Pashinyan says he is preparing programme to govern Caucasus republic
The man who led unprecedented street protests that toppled Armenia’s prime minister last month said he expected to take power in a matter of days after being rebuffed by parliament last week.
Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, who drew vast crowds in the capital, Yerevan, forcing Serzh Sargsyan to resign, told the Financial Times he expected ruling party MPs to elect him as prime minister in a vote on Tuesday.
“Anything is possible, because the political situation is volatile. But we will win anyway,” Mr Pashinyan said in an interview.
A former journalist who leads an opposition faction of just three MPs, Mr Pashinyan masterminded a large protest campaign against Mr Sargsyan, who was president for a decade before he changed Armenia to a parliamentary republic.
Mr Sargsyan assumed the premiership after serving the maximum number of presidential terms but abruptly stepped down last month after Mr Pashinyan drew crowds of more than 150,000 to Yerevan’s Republic Square for several weeks.
Mr Pashinyan has shot from near-obscurity to become the most popular figure in Armenia, a Caucasus state of 3m that became independent from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. His broadcasts on Facebook Live draw audiences of as much as 800,000 — about a quarter of Armenia’s population.
“The Armenian government was pressing the people continuously. It was like a spring — it opened very quickly,” Mr Pashinyan said.
Last week MPs from Mr Sargsyan’s Republican party, which still has a majority in parliament, voted down Mr Pashinyan’s first attempt to become prime minister in a marathon session that saw them make hints in favour of Russian intervention. Moscow, which normally views mass protests in neighbouring countries as a direct threat, has been unusually restrained and says the political crisis is a domestic Armenian issue.
Mr Pashinyan responded by asking followers, who packed the square and surrounding cafés to watch the hearing, to shut down critical infrastructure including main roads and Yerevan’s airport. After the show of force Republicans agreed to back his candidacy.
“The best way for them is to elect me and hope I will fail,” Mr Pashinyan said. “There are no negotiations. They just said they would vote for me.”
Mr Pashinyan, who is trying to turn his command of the street into a mandate for governing, said he was working on a programme that parliament would have a week to consider if he became prime minister.
He said his priorities would be to break up oligarchic domination of commodity imports and to eradicate corruption “very quickly”.
Mr Pashinyan also said he intended to leave Armenia’s pro-Russian foreign policy unchanged. Armenia is a member of Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union and its collective security bloc, while Russian troops have a base in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city, and help guard its border with Turkey.
A further goal is to change the electoral code, which he says unfairly favours the Republicans, and hold early parliamentary elections. Nonetheless, “even with the current code, we will win,” Mr Pashinyan said. “If not May 8, then after a week or a month.”
Analysts have compared the early euphoria over Mr Pashinyan’s movement to revolutions in neighbouring Georgia, Ukraine, and even Egypt, all of which went sour after heady beginnings.
“There is no comparison because we have no geopolitical context,” Mr Pashiyan said. “This is about the renaissance of the people.”
Soft revolution in Armenia
Korea Times
May 3, 2018 Thursday
Soft revolution in Armenia
By Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu
Armenia became the scene of a peaceful revolution on April 23. Serzh Sargsyan, the prime minister of the country, was forced to resign by the people.
Armenia, a close ally of Russia, was ruled by Sargsyan for ten years. His political choices included a balanced format between Western countries and Moscow. As a person from the Nagorno-Karabakh region, disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Sargsyan has been an important figure in Armenian politics. From the early 1990s, he participated in the invasion process of Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory, and became a high-ranking military officer. His political activities were reinforced after becoming defense minister of Armenia.
The country has been isolated in the region due to its occupation in the Nagorno-Karabakh territory. There is no open border with the two neighbors in the eastern and western sides, Azerbaijan and Turkey respectively. This landlocked country has no choice but to follow an alternative policy to surpass this threshold. Thus, the country has tried to formulate a policy direction towards regional organizations and advantageous partnerships.
In 2008, Sargsyan became the third president of the country during a turbulent series of protests. He followed a new type of foreign policy principle as a balance between the West and Russia. Close negotiations were held with the European Union as well as strong communication with NATO. At the same period, he despairingly accepted to become a member of the Russian-oriented Eurasian Economic Union. He tried to shape the foreign policy direction with smart initiatives such as the normalization process with Turkey in 2008 and 2009. On account of the regional political balances and pressures of domestic institutions, he couldn't manage the process. And he failed.
Before the end of his two terms as president, the country voted for the establishment of the parliamentary system in a 2015 referendum. According to opposition parties, he aimed to remain as the most powerful man in the country with this system change. Even he refused this criticism, later his party won the parliamentary election and he tried to become prime minister right after the end of his presidential term.
Tension rose in the country and opposition parties were begun to rally mass protests in the center of Yerevan, the capital city. Some expected Yerevan might turn into a scene of a bloody clash but more than 150,000 people peacefully protested Sargsyan. Nikol Pashinyan, one of the leading and eminent opposition figures, played an important role during the 10-days-length civil protests. After intensive demands, Sargsyan accepted to meet Pashinyan in front of the media. But Pashinyan was arrested three minutes into the meeting. This only escalated the situation and negatively affected Sargsyan's position. As a response, people took to all the streets of the capital. Many groups of soldiers also appeared at the protests along with clergymen. After a compelling period of time and severity of protests, finally, Sargsyan declared his resignation with a statement. He said: "Nikol Pashinyan was right, I was wrong. The current situation has several solutions. But I won't resort to any of those. That's not for me. I am leaving the position of the head of state. The street movement is against my rule. I am fulfilling your demand."
Some analysts expected another version of the Color Revolutions which dramatically shaped the country profiles of Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan in the 2000s, but Armenia realized a "soft revolution" without any tragic incident.
Here a question arises on whether Armenia will have an axis shift or not. The country's foreign policy rhetoric had been balanced by Sargsyan and his predecessor Robert Kocharian. The presidents have expressed their sympathies to the EU many times by saying Armenia is a part of European civilization. But in reality, the country became an adherent element of Russia, especially in the context of economic and military relations. Previously, the Armenian opposition owned a useful tool of anti-Moscow rhetoric while blaming the leadership. But now the same opposition understood the importance of real politics. Even though Russian officials didn't criticize the situation and obviously supported the public reaction, it doesn't mean that Moscow will allow Armenia to have an axis shift toward the Western alliance. But at least Armenia showed the importance of the people's will and exercised a proper way of protest culture.
Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu () is a Turkish analyst in Seoul.
Armenia, a close ally of Russia, was ruled by Sargsyan for ten years. His political choices included a balanced format between Western countries and Moscow. As a person from the Nagorno-Karabakh region, disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Sargsyan has been an important figure in Armenian politics. From the early 1990s, he participated in the invasion process of Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory, and became a high-ranking military officer. His political activities were reinforced after becoming defense minister of Armenia.
The country has been isolated in the region due to its occupation in the Nagorno-Karabakh territory. There is no open border with the two neighbors in the eastern and western sides, Azerbaijan and Turkey respectively. This landlocked country has no choice but to follow an alternative policy to surpass this threshold. Thus, the country has tried to formulate a policy direction towards regional organizations and advantageous partnerships.
In 2008, Sargsyan became the third president of the country during a turbulent series of protests. He followed a new type of foreign policy principle as a balance between the West and Russia. Close negotiations were held with the European Union as well as strong communication with NATO. At the same period, he despairingly accepted to become a member of the Russian-oriented Eurasian Economic Union. He tried to shape the foreign policy direction with smart initiatives such as the normalization process with Turkey in 2008 and 2009. On account of the regional political balances and pressures of domestic institutions, he couldn't manage the process. And he failed.
Before the end of his two terms as president, the country voted for the establishment of the parliamentary system in a 2015 referendum. According to opposition parties, he aimed to remain as the most powerful man in the country with this system change. Even he refused this criticism, later his party won the parliamentary election and he tried to become prime minister right after the end of his presidential term.
Tension rose in the country and opposition parties were begun to rally mass protests in the center of Yerevan, the capital city. Some expected Yerevan might turn into a scene of a bloody clash but more than 150,000 people peacefully protested Sargsyan. Nikol Pashinyan, one of the leading and eminent opposition figures, played an important role during the 10-days-length civil protests. After intensive demands, Sargsyan accepted to meet Pashinyan in front of the media. But Pashinyan was arrested three minutes into the meeting. This only escalated the situation and negatively affected Sargsyan's position. As a response, people took to all the streets of the capital. Many groups of soldiers also appeared at the protests along with clergymen. After a compelling period of time and severity of protests, finally, Sargsyan declared his resignation with a statement. He said: "Nikol Pashinyan was right, I was wrong. The current situation has several solutions. But I won't resort to any of those. That's not for me. I am leaving the position of the head of state. The street movement is against my rule. I am fulfilling your demand."
Some analysts expected another version of the Color Revolutions which dramatically shaped the country profiles of Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan in the 2000s, but Armenia realized a "soft revolution" without any tragic incident.
Here a question arises on whether Armenia will have an axis shift or not. The country's foreign policy rhetoric had been balanced by Sargsyan and his predecessor Robert Kocharian. The presidents have expressed their sympathies to the EU many times by saying Armenia is a part of European civilization. But in reality, the country became an adherent element of Russia, especially in the context of economic and military relations. Previously, the Armenian opposition owned a useful tool of anti-Moscow rhetoric while blaming the leadership. But now the same opposition understood the importance of real politics. Even though Russian officials didn't criticize the situation and obviously supported the public reaction, it doesn't mean that Moscow will allow Armenia to have an axis shift toward the Western alliance. But at least Armenia showed the importance of the people's will and exercised a proper way of protest culture.
Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu () is a Turkish analyst in Seoul.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2018/05/162_248239.html
A1+: David Sanasaryan and Armen Grigoryan releaed.
“Reject Serzh” initiative members David Sanasaryan and Armen Grigoryan are released.
It should be reminded that they were detained by the SIS Investigator’s decision under Article 225 (1 and 2) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia and on suspicion of committing the crime under Article 2251 (1).
Serj Tankian and Armenia: 12 questions and answers
MediaMax, Armenia
Serj Tankian and Armenia: 12 questions and answers
Since Serj Tankian follows the developments in Armenia and some expect him to become their full-fledged participant, we have dedicated the new Key edition to the System of a Down frontman.
1. Have Serj Tankian and Serzh Sargsyan ever met?
Yes, they have. Their first and so far only meeting took place in August 2011 at the newly opened Tumo Center for Creative Technologies.
The Armenian presidential press service issued a press release for the meeting, quoting Tankian’s words that a System of a Down concert might take place in Armenia soon.
Photo: Press service of the Armenian President
“The head of the state has wished Serj Tankian further success in his career and thanked Mr Tankian for his actions that benefit Armenia,” reads the press release.
The System of a Down concert was held four years later, on 23 April 2015.
2. What is in Tankian-Sargsyan correspondence?
We have gathered all details about the Tankian-Sargsyan correspondence that started after the 2013 presidential elections in Armenia in this article.
3. What have Tankian stated about the political situation in Armenia?
Serj Tankian reacted to the movement #ElectricYerevan in June 2015. He noted that Armenia’s civic society was burgeoning and “previous successful campaigns at peaceful civic disobedience against unjust programs like the rate hike in public transportation have born fruit”.
In December 2013 Tankian commented on the events unfolding in Ukraine and mentioned Armenia in his statement as well.
“Ukraine, along with Armenia and all former Soviet Republics deserve the dignity of true independence not just from the Russian sphere of influence but also from Western tactical and market manipulation.”
4. What is the song Tankian dedicated “to all those in Armenia who fight for positive change”?
In March 2013, Serj Tankian announced that he recorded “Garun a” (“It is springtime”) by Komitas jointly with pianist Tigran Hamasyan.
“I want to dedicate it to all those in Armenia fighting for positive change,” added Tankian.
5. Which politician has Tankian endorsed?
On 1 October 2012, Civilitas Foundation’s Honorary Board members Serj Tankian and Atom Egoyan issued statements on Vartan Oskanyan’s case.
“The persecution of Vartan Oskanian, former foreign minister of Armenia, is clearly politically motivated,” noted Serj Tankian in his statement.
6. Which award did Tankian receive from Armenia?
In August 2011, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan awarded Serj Tankian the Prime Minister’s Medal “for significant personal contribution to the cause of Genocide recognition and worldwide advocacy of rock music”.
Photo: Press service of the Armenian government
7. What did Tankian say about the situation on Artsakh-Azerbaijan border?
In August 2014, Serj Tankian shared his support for installment of the mechanism of international investigation of the incidents occurring on the Line of Contact between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. In that context, he quoted Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian:
“By rejecting the proposals of the international community on the establishment of a mechanism of investigation of incidents, Azerbaijan is assuming the whole responsibility for the ceasefire violations.”
According to the musician, “as long as there is no lasting peace agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan will both remain militarily and financially constrained and fall deeper into corruptive political practices subservient to one superpower or another”.
8. What is the connection between Tankian and Justice Within Armenia?
In September 2016, Serj Tankian, Armenian-Canadian actress and producer Arsinee Khanjian, and director Atom Egoyan started the Justice Within Armenia initiative aimed at facilitating democratic changes in Armenia.
The same year Serj Tankian said at the discussion of further actions of the initiative:
“Drawing Armenian Diaspora’s attention to the developments in Armenia is our greatest challenge now.” When asked if the initiative could organize new concerts with calls for consolidation, Serj Tankian answered, “Everything is possible. We should do something; inspiration is necessary.”
9. When was Tankian’s last visit to Armenia?
Serj Tankian, Atom Egoyan and Arsinee Khanjian last visited Armenia in early April 2017 to conduct an observation mission in the parliamentary elections.
While in Yerevan, Tankian said:
“Now more than ever the Armenian people need to realize the importance of their votes. We have come here to call on the Armenian people to realize the importance of their voices. With this step we intend to fight against injustice in Armenia. We need to tackle people’s indifferent attitude towards injustice in this country. ”
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian, Atom Egoyan, Arsinee Khanjian and Eric Nazarian visited Artsakh as well in April 2017 and urged all people of arts worldwide to “visit Artsakh and become partners of peace and solidarity”.
They stressed that “thousands of children and young people in Artsakh are deprived of the right to create, as the country remains blocked off and the ceasefire is fragile”.
Photo: Press service of the NKR President
10. What is behind Tankian’s dislike for Monsanto?
Serj Tankian urged Armenia to “stay free and clear” of Monsanto in autumn 2017, an international leader in plant biotechnologies.
“There is ample proof that Monsanto’s sprays have poisoned our environment contributing drastically to dying off of bees. Their predatory genetically modified products spell the end of pure organic food. Above all Monsanto is known as an evil corporation here in the U.S. and Europe for all their practices,” warned Tankian.
11. Which of Tankian’s ideas is still waiting for an update?
In June 2017, Tankian announced he wanted to set up an international music festival in Armenia.
He expressed the hope that Armenia could be integrated into the European summer festival circuit with touring bands carrying on to Yerevan. “I’ve always dreamed of setting up an international music festival in Armenia,” said Tankian.
12. Why does Tankian hate headlines?
“Everyone’s looking for headlines. I hate that. I hate when they take something and they just go with it. Don’t take an interview that was translated from Russian from five months ago on the set of a film without checking,” Serj Tankian said in the interview to Rolling Stone in December 2017.
Ara Tadevosyan
Rep. Ed Royce’s remarks on Armenian Genocide
Public Radio of Armenia
10:26, 19 Apr 2018
In the U.S. Capitol, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) joined Armenian Americans and members of Congress on April 18 to commemorate the horrific Armenian Genocide.
Below are Chairman Royce’s remarks:
“In the grey pre-dawn, the plan was executed while the city slept. Ottoman authorities surged onto the streets of Istanbul and detained more than 270 Armenian civic and religious leaders. Those leaders would never return home; instead, they would become the first victims of the Armenian genocide.
Following this first wave, the ethnic cleansing expanded to ethnic Armenians throughout Turkey. In the end, more than 1.5 million innocent men, women and children would be killed, and over 500,000 would be forced from their homeland.
These are more than statistics to many here tonight.
After speaking with you over the years, I know that many of your families lost loved ones to the violence, and your stories have impacted me deeply. In fact, I first heard about the genocide from a man from my community who had been orphaned as a result of the genocide. His experience inspired me to author a resolution as a California state senator to recognize the Armenian Genocide, with the support of then-Governor George Deukmejian. It was the first resolution of its kind to be passed by any state, and I am pleased to see that today 48 states have passed similar resolutions.
Your accounts bear witness to the truth. Your voices are needed to educate the next generation about the genocide. As we have seen, since the days immediately following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire until today, there have been those who have worked to deny the genocide and silence its witnesses. Truth does not stand in the company of caveats, euphemisms or qualifications. It stands fearlessly and unapologetically on its own – and so should the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide.
That is why I have repeatedly called on various U.S. administrations to call the horrific violence of 1915 by its true name, and officially recognize it as the Armenian Genocide. Just this week I have joined with several of my House colleagues on a letter to President Trump, urging him again to refer to the genocide in his April 24th commemoration remarks.
I am also an original cosponsor of H. Res. 220, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should learn the difficult lessons from past genocides, including the Armenian genocide, to prevent similar horrors from occurring again. For we have seen that brutal dictators have not only admitted that the Armenian Genocide occurred, but have studied it for lessons as they designed their own genocidal campaigns.
For example, Adolf Hitler took note of the apathetic international response to the genocide. He used that as an example to persuade the German military, and asserted that while committing genocide elicited condemnations, there were no real consequences for a nation that perpetrated one. As he famously said in a speech to Wehmacht officers on August 22, 1939, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”
We have no hope to get the future right if we continue to get the past wrong.
We cannot remain silent any longer.
Genocide deniers in Turkey, the Middle East, Europe and even here at home are gaining traction in their attempts to whitewash history and convert the genocide into mere ‘consequences of war.’ Genocide perpetrators continue to believe that there is a chance for impunity in the conduct of their crimes against humanity, as we have seen in the former Yugoslavia, in Rwanda and even today in ISIS-held territory in Syria and Iraq. Shocking genocidal acts are being carried out within ISIS territory. Armenian Christians and other minorities are targeted for violence. Hundreds have been enslaved, raped, tortured, and even crucified.
In response to those reports, I authored the final text of H. Con. Res. 75 in the last Congress, calling for the administration to recognize these actions as part of a genocidal campaign and managed it through our committee and to House passage. Our action motivated the previous administration to do the right thing and finally condemn these ISIS actions as genocide. Our compassion for the victims of the ISIS genocide in Syria is one shared by our friend and partner Armenia. It is an inspirational dynamic in our relationship.
Years ago, the generosity of the U.S. people provided over $117 million in charitable assistance through the Near East Relief to survivors of the first genocide of the 20thcentury. Now, the descendants of those survivors are paying that generosity forward to the victims of this 21st century genocide. In fact, Armenia has welcomed more than 22,000 Armenian refugees, and provided them with housing assistance, medical care and a path to citizenship.
I will continue to support these efforts to protect lives today, as well as working to honor the millions of innocent lives that were lost in the Armenian Genocide.”
Culture: Ani Cathedral to go under renovation
Public Radio of Armenia
12:44, 16 Apr 2018
The ruined medieval Cathedral of Ani, which is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will go under restoration, Daily Sabah reports.
The restoration will be carried out in line with the authentic structure of the building, reports said.
Kars Museum Director Necmettin Alp told Anadolu Agency that the restoration of the cathedral will start later this month and special attention will be paid to ensure that the authenticity of the structure is preserved.
Built by prominent Armenian architect Trdat in the 11th century A.D., Ani Cathedral is a large rust-colored structure which contains sculpted columns, arches and gates.
APRIL10: The Political Landscape of Armenia, Key players and the Diaspora
Friends,
Please attend (if you are in the LA area) the next ARPA Institute Presentations by Irina Ghaplanyan on 1). on “The Political Landscape of Armenia, Key players and the Diaspora”
Tuesday, April 10, 2018 @ 7:30PM
in the CHAPEL of the Merdinian School: 13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. (see flier below):
Please view the video of the of the Presentation by Shakeh Kaftarian and
Hasmik Khalapyan: “Women in Contemporary Armenian Society: Cultural and Socioeconomic Predicaments, and Opportunities for Empowerment”:
1. https://youtu.be/WfNmJFT58xM ;
2. https://youtu.be/YY1ZsvSKo8Q
Also view the special presentation by the famous Rumanian Armenian author, former Minister of Rumania and current member of Parliament, Dr. Varujan Vosganian on “the Book of Whispers”, which is widely acclaimed as one comparable to the “40 Days of Musa Dagh”, by Franz Werfel.
https://youtu.be/P6lnrZzCHQU
The Gambler – at the Armenian Museum of Fresno
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Varoujan Der Simonian, Armenian Museum of Fresno [email protected] P: 559-224-1001 ARMENIAN MUSEUM OF FRESNO TO HOST REPORTER AND AUTHOR WILLIAM REMPEL APRIL 4 (Fresno, Calif.) The Armenian Museum of Fresno will host author William C. Rempel as he discusses his latest work, The Gambler, on Wednesday, April 4, at 6 p.m. This event is in partnership with the Fresno County Public Library. The Gambler shares the private life of Fresno-born Kirk Kerkorian through his adventures and adversities. Kerkorian, a little-known local aviator, movie mogul, philanthropist, and risk taker, spent his days with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley while maintaining a behind-the-scenes profile. Now, thanks to Los Angeles Times investigative reporter William C. Rempel, audiences can fully dive into the life of the legendary Kirk Kerkorian and his trials. Through endless hours of research through media clippings, archival records, and more, Rempel uncovered Kerkorian's story. "The Gambler is a magical unveiling of history," said Varoujan Der Simonian, President of the Board. "The Armenian Museum of Fresno is pleased to work with Fresno County Public Library and is proud to highlight Rempel's fascinating and important work." "This is only a modest tribute to Kerkorian's legacy," continued Der Simonian, "who has contributed millions of dollars to charitable endeavors here in Fresno and throughout the United States without seeking recognition." The event, which will include a reading and discussion, will take place at the Armenian Museum of Fresno starting at 6:00p. While there is no charge to attend, RSVPs are encouraged. To RSVP, contact the Armenian Museum of Fresno at (559) 224-1001 or visit the website here. ### About the Armenian Heritage Museum A.K.A. Armenian Heritage Museum is housed at the University of California Center in Fresno. The Museum showcases rotating exhibitions and highlights the contributions of Armenian-Americans to California and the Central Valley, complementing the cultural fabric of Central California. Armenian Museum of Fresno 550 East Shaw Ave. P.O. Box 5969 Fresno CA 93755-5969 US 1.559.224.1001 1.559.224.1002 [email protected]
Mira Sorvino Receives Award for Time’s Up, Human Rights Advocacy
Hollywood Reporter
Mira Sorvino Receives Award for Time’s Up, Human Rights Advocacy
1:42 PM PDT 3/17/2018 by Lindsay Weinberg
Todd Cheney/Promise Institute
Mira Sorvino
"I knew I was risking something. And it's been very triggering and very hard, but ultimately, finding that voice in yourself … boy, it can make a huge difference," the actress said at a UCLA summit, which focused on the ways film can advance social justice, on Friday.
Mira Sorvino was honored Friday for her human rights activism against human trafficking, as well as leading the Time’s Up movement in Hollywood.
Sorvino received the inaugural Promise Institute Award For Contribution to Human Rights Through the Arts as part of the “Lights. Camera. Reaction.: The Art of Impact Through Entertainment” summit at the Hammer Museum on Friday. The event was hosted by Creative Armenia, The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA's School of Law and the Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment at UCLA.
Last fall, Sorvino came forward for The New Yorker’s exposé on Harvey Weinstein that accused him of sexual harassment. Sorvino has said he massaged her shoulders and tried to get more intimate during a trip to the Toronto International Film Festival in 1995, after she starred in his film Mighty Aphrodite, for which she won the Academy Award. The second time, Weinstein invited himself over to her apartment, she told The New Yorker.
At the UCLA summit, Sorvino talked about growing up with an awareness of injustice. "Service was a big part of our family's ethics,” she said, giving a shout out to her father in the audience.
Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) stood to an applause from the crowd.
"Everything that's good about me is in her," he said in an impromptu speech. "When you talk about being proud as a father, some of you probably saw that Oscar night when I wept … I was raised in the John Wayne era where you don't cry, but I wept like a little baby."
Her involvement in what would become the Time’s Up movement began when Sorvino received a Twitter direct message from journalist Ronan Farrow asking her for a phone call. She thought it was about Dylan Farrow and Woody Allen. But then he called, "And he said, 'I hear that you might have a story to tell about Harvey Weinstein.' And when he did that, I burst into tears. It was something I had held inside me for so long."
He told her she would be the most prominent of the nine women who had already spoken to him, and sharing her story and name "would give it all validity."
"I was so frightened. I literally was afraid for my children's safety," Sorvino said.
She only knew of one other person who experienced an encounter with Weinstein.
"I shared it with everybody I was close to, when it happened,” Sorvino said. "No one said, 'Oh this is sexual harassment.' And I didn't know it was sexual harassment. I didn't know until this fall after I spoke to him that it was sexual harassment," she said, exacerbated. "I just thought of it as a very negative, frightening experience with a person who I had a lot of daily interaction with in my career, who held the keys to the kingdom of me working or not working. And I just thought of it as me turning down a man that liked me and I didn't like back, and that I wanted to protect his feelings."
Sorvino did not realize the potential long-term consequences of her rejection, she said, attributing the attrition of her career to her pregnancies instead of blackballing.
However, when deciding whether or not to tell her story, she was worried. She thought whistleblowers were not treated kindly in Hollywood, and she may not work again. After the story came out in the fall, Sorvino had insomnia from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. each night, she told the crowd.
“None of us knew this would spark this crazy movement,” she said. “Something happened in our hearts where we said, 'We have to tell the truth.'"
Todd Cheney/Promise Institute
Mira Sorvino
It also wasn’t the first time she experienced uncomfortable requests in her pursuit of acting. At the summit, Sorvino recalled an audition for a horror film, during which she was tied to a chair with a condom in her mouth to gag her.
"I was 16, and I was so gung-ho and I wanted to do well, and afterwards the casting director said, ‘Sorry about the prophylactic.'”
“You realize you’ve never told me that!” her father shouted from the audience.
“No I didn’t! Of course, I didn’t tell you these things,” she said. “I just didn’t want to make problems for people.”
Not only is she a leader in Hollywood’s revelations about sexual harassment, but Sorvino is also an advocate against human trafficking, calling survivors her “personal heroes.” She serves as a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations and made the television miniseries Human Trafficking in 2005.
"But I didn't understand their bravery — I didn't truly understand it until this year,” Sorvino said of her own speaking out.
The summit also included three panels with veteran social impact filmmakers, including Terry George (The Promise, Hotel Rwanda), Amy Ziering (The Hunting Ground), Reginald Hudlin (Marshall, Django Unchained), Eric Esrailian (The Promise), Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Til It Happens to You) and Ed Zwick (Blood Diamond).
Ziering said she feels responsible to tell people’s stories after she’s heard them. She was surprised by the pushback The Hunting Ground received, including a "white noise campaign against it" that "blindsided" the team. "It has been grueling," Ziering said of her documentary on sexual assault on college campuses.
But Ziering believes one positive impact of The Hunting Ground is helping Hollywood wake up to assault within its own industry.
"I do think that moment at the Oscars, when Gaga was on stage with 50 student survivors, and I remember being at the Oscars and you know, standing ovation, and Kate Winslet crying," Ziering said. "I think that was sort of an aha moment. A subtle one, but for the industry, and sort of helped to usher in and catalyze the whole activation of the entertainment industry in the wake of those articles … That really gave everybody a sense of, 'Oh my God, these kids are doing it, why aren't we here in this industry?'"
In fact, she had been working on a documentary about sexual assault in Hollywood, but stopped over fear for their careers. After the #MeToo and Time's Up movements started, Ziering received texts and decided her documentary is back on.
“Everybody has suffered alone, thinking they had to deal with it. And the most beautiful part of this is the solidarity that I felt from so many people who come up to me and they hug me,” Sorvino said at the end of her speech. "So it's not stopping now … We found a voice."