Author: Diana Dabaghian

Legendary Soviet spy Alexey Botyan dies at 103

Diana Dabaghian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 13 2020
Society 12:25 13/02/2020 Region

Legendary Soviet-Armenian intelligence officer, Hero of Russia Alexey Botyan has died at the age of 103, RIA Novosti reported.

In 1945 he led the operation to liberate the Polish city of Krakow. The legendary spy had just turned 103 years old.  

Botyan joined World War II on September 1, 1939 as an officer of the Polish air defense forces. During the first days of the war, the intelligence agent shot down one of the flying machines of the Nazi army, downing three others during the Warsaw defense. 

Analyst: Armenian authorities have no respect towards own public

Diana Dabaghian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 5 2020

The Geneva meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers came to dismiss the claims that there are no negotiations or any document on the Artsakh conflict, political analyst Karen Bekaryan told a panel discussion on Wednesday.

"The Geneva meeting showed this, without leaving any room for maneuvers, as the joint statement of five sides has also been signed by the Armenian foreign minister, whereas the statement contains a direct reference to the political process in addition to various settlement mechanisms when talking about principles and elements,” the analyst said.

He noted that the words “principles and elements” were repeatedly used when talking about the Madrid document or its variants.

“In other words, there is a document and a political process, there is even the signature of the foreign minister under it. This clearly shows that the previous statements were nothing more than an attempt to mislead its own society,” Bekaryan said.

He called attention to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements at the Kapan new conference before the Geneva meeting, describing it absurd when the head of state cites the media when making the information on the negotiations public.

“There is a complete absence of respect toward their own public,” the analyst said, stressing the sooner people realize it, the sooner it will be possible to understand the current challenges and the ways to handle them.  

Azerbaijani press: Meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian FMs lasted 7 hours

Diana Dabaghian
29 January 2020 22:41 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.29

Trend:

The meeting of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Geneva with mediation of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office lasted for 7 hours, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva wrote on Twitter, Trend reports.

“The parties and co-chairs advocate for intensifying negotiations and achieving tangible results on all issues of the negotiation agenda. The meeting will continue tomorrow,” she wrote.


Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker: Constitutional Court subject will be closed in 1-2 months

Diana Dabaghian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 30 2020

20:18, 30.01.2020
                  

The subject related to the Constitutional Court will be closed in the next one or two months. This is what Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan told reporters today.

“I’m not saying Hrayr Tovmasyan will be or won’t be president of the Constitutional Court in two months. I’m saying this is a legal procedure…Hrayr Tovmasyan shouldn’t have been the president of the Constitutional Court at all, but that’s a different story. I said the problem will be solved in one or two months,” he stated.

Alen Simonyan urged not to rule out the fact that the issue will be solved through constitutional reforms and said he believes constitutional reforms can be developed in 1-2 months as well.

Azerbaijan violates ceasefire regime 200 times in a period of one week

Diana Dabaghian

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 11:44, 1 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani troops violated the ceasefire regime nearly 200 times on Artsakh-Azerbaijan contact line in the period of January 26-February 1, during which over 1150 bullets were fired in the direction of Armenian border guards from different caliber weapons.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Artsakh, the front line units of the Defense Army of Artsakh keep full control of the situation and continue to make necessary measures for protecting their military positions.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Sports: Winners of the Armenian Ski Championships named

Diana Dabaghian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 20 2020

The first phase of the Armenian Ski Championships concluded in Ashotsk, attended by some 30 athletes. As the Ski Federation reported, Katya Galstyan and Mikayel Mikayelyan were named absolute champions in the freestyle, classic and sprint events. The second phase of the tournament will be held on February 7-9.

It is noted that the championship is a qualifier event and listed in the calendar of the International Ski Federation.

Asbarez: Dilijan Chamber Music Series to Present ‘Transcendence’

Diana Dabaghian

“Transcendence,” the Dilijan Chamber Music Series’ 4th concert of the 15th season will be held on Jan. 26

The critically acclaimed Dilijan Chamber Music Series presents its “Transcendence” program at Zipper Hall. The fourth concert in the Series’ 15th Anniversary Season will be held on Sunday, January 26 at 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Choral works by Komitas, the founder of the Armenian classical music tradition (selections from the Divine Liturgy), J.S. Bach’s timeless motet Jesu Meine Freude, as well as David Haladjian’s Domine Deus will be presented by the University of California, Los Angeles’ Seraphic Fire Young Singers under the direction of James Bass, in a Dilijan Series debut. Concluding the program is Beethoven’s masterwork of chamber music, his magnificent String Quartet Op. 135, written in the last few months of his life. The distinguished performers are violist Paul Coletti (Colburn faculty), cellist Peter Stumpf (former Principal, LA Phil), and violinists Varty Manouelian (LA Philharmonic) and Movses Pogossian (Artistic Director of the Dilijan Series).

The winner of the inaugural Tigran Mansurian Music Composition Competition will be revealed at the concert. The newly established Competition’s mission is to encourage the creation of chamber music that demonstrates a tangible connection to Armenian art, culture, and/or history, and is generously underwritten by Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting. In addition to a cash prize, the winning composition will receive a public performance by members of the Armenian Music Program at UCLA and a professional-level recording.

The 15th Anniversary Season of the Dilijan Series presents an exciting mix of old and new, known and unknown. Beloved masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, and Haydn will be performed alongside works by Komitas, Arutiunian, Mansurian, Sharafyan, and other Armenian composers. In addition to some of Dilijan favorite returning artists such as singers Tony Arnold and Shoushik Barsoumian, pianist Steven Vanhauwaert, violist Paul Coletti, cellists Antonio Lysy, Clive Greensmith and Peter Stumpf, the Series will be welcoming several musicians in their Dilijan debut: LA Phil oboist Anne Gabriele, remarkable pianist and Artistic Director of the Yellow Barn Festival Seth Knopp, Canadian violinist/violist Scott St. John, clarinetist Yasmina Spiegelberg (Switzerland), cellist Yoshika Masuda (Japan), among others. The three Dilijan commissions of the season are works by Martin Ulikhanyan (homage to Tigran Mansurian’s film music), Dan Sedgwick, and a short film by Alik Barsoumian, which will be premiered alongside a live performance of the Prelude from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde opera.

Established in 2005 by members of the Lark Musical Society (Vatsche Barsoumian, Founder/Director), the Dilijan Chamber Music Series is dedicated to showcasing traditional masterworks of Western classical chamber music, as well as pearls from the treasury of Armenian music. A strong believer in new music, the Series has commissioned and premiered 54 works since its inception. For more information and ticketing, please visit the website. There is ample paid parking available in the nearby garages, including Disney Hall across the street from the Colburn School. Enjoy visiting the Dilijan YouTube channel for a large selection of performances from the previous seasons.

To learn more, follow the Dilijan Chamber Music Series on Instagram and Facebook pages

Artsakh president congratulates Catholicos of All Armenians on the 20th anniversary of enthronement.

Diana Dabaghian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 2 2019

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory letter on Saturday to the Supreme Patriarch Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Garegin II, press department at the President’s Office reported.

The letter runs as follows:
"On behalf of the Artsakh people, authorities and myself personally I extend my heartfelt congratulations to You on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Your enthronement.

You carry out a patriotic mission aimed at selflessly serving the native people, making the Mother Church more prosperous and powerful, strengthening the Christian faith.
During all these years we have always felt Your caring and special attitude towards Artsakh, Your assistance and support in solving its problems, for which we are grateful to you.

I once again congratulate You, Your Holiness, on this memorable jubilee and wish peace, robust health and longevity. May God protect You and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for the well-being and prosperity of our Motherland!"

Ruben Safrastyan urged to wait for the results of the behind-the-scenes negotiations between the Turkish and American sides

Diana Dabaghian
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 31 2019

ArmInfo.Turkey's first reaction to the adoption by the US Congress of a resolution on the Armenian Genocide was milder than expected. However, we should wait for the  results of the behind-the-scenes negotiations between the Turkish and  American sides. Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the  National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Ruben Safrastyan, stated  this at a meeting with reporters on October 31, recalling the planned  visit of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to the United States,  scheduled for November 13.

, Safrastyan said.

According to the forecasts of the Orientalist, the United States and  Turkey will be able to achieve some mutual agreement, and Turkey will  not tighten its rhetoric.

At the same time, Safrastyan did not rule out that recent events  could lead to increased pressure on the Armenian community of Turkey.

"In fact, the Armenians of Constantinople are hostages," the director  of the Institute of Oriental Studies said, recalling that tens of  thousands of people in Turkey are being persecuted for their  political views. 

Senators Urge Passage of Genocide Resolution in Senate

Diana Dabaghian
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Oct. 30 that Senate should pass Genocide recognition measure

A day after the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly adopted a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, leading U.S. senators urged the passage of a similar bill—S.Res. 150—pending in the Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Chuch Schumer (D-NY) on Wednesday called for the immediate consideration and passage of an Armenian Genocide recognition resolution pending in the Senate.

“On the Armenian Genocide, I have been a believer of this for a long time: Turks don’t like to hear it because the truth hurts. And, if we don’t stand up to one genocide, we won’t stand up to any,” told reporters on Wednesday in discussing Tuesday’s vote.

Democratic presidential hopeful and senator from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren took to Twitter to say: “I join the Armenian American community in MA and the rest of the Armenian diaspora in celebrating the House passage of a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. I cosponsored S.Res.150 to recognize this tragedy. The Senate should pass it now”.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen similarly called for the passage of S.Res. 150, saying on Twitter that “Last night’s overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives—405 to 11—to recognize the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire is long overdue. It’s time for the Senate to do the same. Acknowledging history is the first step towards not repeating it.”

In April, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and former presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced Armenian Genocide legislation reaffirming proper U.S. recognition and remembrance of this crime and rejecting U.S. complicity in its denial, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

S.Res. 150 currently has 20 co-sponsors. In addition to Menendez, Cruz, Schumer and Van-Hollen, the list of co-sponsors includes senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Edward Markey (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Winehouse (D-RI) and Ben Cordin (D-MD).

In addition to Warren, other Democratic presidential hopefuls who have co-sponsored the measure are senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Corey Booker (D-NJ).

“As we near the anniversary of Armenian Remembrance Day, one of the darkest events in human history, I am proud to lead this effort to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide on behalf of the U.S. Congress. The Armenian genocide is a historical fact and not up for debate,” said Senator Menendez at the time. “Only by accurately recognizing this genocide of the past can we ever hope to move forward in a legitimate and effective manner to meet the challenge of preventing mass atrocities and genocide in the future. With this resolution, we honor the millions of victims of this genocide, remember how they died and pledge that history accurately remember their deaths.”

“We must never be silent in response to atrocities. Over one hundred years ago, the world was silent as the Armenian people suffered a horrific genocide, and today many are still unaware of it,” said Senator Cruz at the time. “I am proud to join Sen. Menendez and my colleagues today in introducing this resolution. May the terrors of those events awaken in us the courage to always stand for freedom against evil.”