Author: Diana Dabaghian

On 11 September Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the Alashan site of the Martakert region and met there with Talish residents who had left their houses and settled there in the aftermath of the war launched by Azerbaijan from 2 to 5 April of the current year, NKR President’s Press Office reports.

Issues related to the course of programs directed to the improving social and living conditions of the Talish residents were discussed during the meeting.

The President gave corresponding instructions to the heads of the concerned bodies for proper realization of the activities.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, NKR National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan and other officials accompanied the President.

The Armenian parliamentary delegation headed by Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov had a meeting with Gerardo Amarilla, President of the House of Representatives of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

Edward Sharmazanov hailed the relations between the two countries based on goodwill, mutual understanding and support.

The Deputy Speaker noted that “Armenia is interested in establishing multi-faceted cooperation with Latin American countries, including Uruguay” and voiced hope that the visit would help achieve progress.

Sharmazanov emphasized the close cooperation between the two countries within the framework of international organizations. He commended Uruguay’s balanced stance on Armenia-related resolutions at the UN.

Speaking about the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Edward Sharmazanov said: “We spare no effort to reach full recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The mass condemnation of such crimes will help prevent the reoccurrence of new crimes against humanity. Uruguay took the lead in the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, serving an example to the entire world and thus proving its commitment to universal values,” he said.

Referring to the Karabakh issue, Sharmazanov said “Armenia and Artsakh stand for exceptionally peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict” and added that there was no alternative to the realization of the Artsakh Armenians’ right to self-determination.

He emphasized the role of the Armenian community in the deepening of the Armenian-Uruguayan relations.

A German government spokesman denied claims made in a news report that Berlin was going to tone down a resolution calling the murder of Armenians a genocide. Leaders pointed out, however, that it is not legally binding, reports.

The German news magazine “Der Spiegel” had reported on Friday that Berlin planned a gesture to appease Turkish government anger over the Bundestag’s Armenia resolution. That report, however, was denied by German government spokesman Steffen Seibert.

“There can be no talk of the German government distancing itself from the Armenia resolution,” Steffen Seibert told reporters at the regular news conference.

The report in “Der Spiegel” said Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government hoped to resolve a dispute that has seen German parliamentarians barred from visiting Bundeswehr troops stationed at the Incirlik airbase in eastern Turkey.

Asbarez – Denver-based Emmy Award winning composer Denise Gentilini and writing partner, internationally celebrated singer/songwriter Lisa Nemzo, bring their original production, I AM ALIVE to Los Angeles for an exclusive showing for one weekend only this September.

Gentilini, who is of Armenian descent, has assembled a largely non-Armenian cast to tell the story of the Armenian Genocide with a completely new focus; celebrating those who survived. Gentilini was inspired by the story of her own grandparents who survived the systematic killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Using her childhood memories of her grandparents as well as transcripts from interviews with them, Gentilini/Nemzo used direct excerpts from their firsthand accounts for some lyrics and dialogue in the musical. This personal connection has allowed them to craft a complex experience that explores the human side of a politically contentious topic alongside the love story that unfolds between two people in an unimaginable set of circumstances.

With the 100 year anniversary behind us, this production is meant to provide closure around the tragedy and provide a renewed focus on the human spirit.

I AM ALIVE is produced by Well Orchestrated Madness and directed by Christy Montour-Larson and will be shown only one weekend on the West Coast. Partner organizations include; Jewish World Watch, Mashdots College, United Armenian Council, ANCA-WR and AFFMA. Armenians of Colorado serve as the fiscal sponsor.

System of A Down frontman Serj Tankian has finished a song for the Armenian Genocide-themed “The Promise” produced by Kirk Kerkorian’s Survival Pictures.

“I am really excited to have finished a beautiful song I did with my friends the Authentic Light Orchestra for “The Promise” soundtrack. The film produced by Survival Pictures and Eric Esrailian and directed by Terry George stars Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale along with my friend Angela Sarafyan in a powerful love story during the last, genocidal days of the Ottoman Empire,” Tankian said in a Facebook post.

“The Promise,” the Armenian Genocide-themed feature produced by Kirk Kerkorian’s Survival Pictures will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The festival also announced on Tuesday that “The Promise” will be featured as one of the event’s coveted opening weekend galas on September 11.

“Michael, a humble Armenian apothecary, leaves his village to study medicine in cosmopolitan Constantinople. Chris, an American photojournalist who has come to the country to partly cover the geopolitics, is in a relationship with the talented Ana, a Paris-educated, Armenian artist. When Michael meets Ana, their shared heritage sparks an attraction that explodes into a romantic rivalry between the two men. After the Turks join the war on the German side, the Ottoman Empire turns violently against its own ethnic minorities. Despite their conflicts, everyone must find a way to survive — even as monumental events envelope their lives,” reads the film synopsis on the TIIF website.

Photo: AFP

 

Heavy shelling of so-called Islamic State positions has marked the start of a Turkish offensive to drive the militants away from the Syrian border, teh BBC reports.

Military sources told Turkish media 70 targets in the Jarablus area had been destroyed by artillery and rocket strikes, and 12 by air strikes.

Turkish tanks are now reported to have crossed into Syria.

The operation is aimed in part at pre-empting any move by Syrian Kurds to establish themselves on the border.

Turkish special forces are already inside Syria as part of the offensive.

The Rio Olympics ended with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony, and the official handover to 2020 hosts Tokyo, the BBC reports.

The colourful ceremony, lasting almost three hours, celebrated Brazil’s arts and was held in a wet Maracana.

Among the highlights were Tokyo’s impressive showcase and a vibrant carnival parade.

“These were a marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous city,” said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.

“Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life.”

Bach officially closed the Games of the 31st Olympiad after 16 days of competition, featuring 11,303 athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team.

One of the biggest cheers of the night came when Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared dressed as computer game character Super Mario, rising out of a huge green pipe in the stadium.

The ceremony, watched by billions around the world, featured the parade of athletes and a dramatic extinguishing of the Olympic flame.

Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, took centre stage on the first day of the Republican National Convention but faced accusations that a portion of her speech plagiarised Michelle Obama, the BBC reports.

Commentators noticed similarities with Mrs Obama’s 2008 convention speech.

Mrs Trump’s speech also praised her husband as a “compassionate” man who would “fight for the country”.

It was her first speech of the campaign and she had the help of a speechwriting team.

Mr Trump’s communications adviser Jason Miller issued a statement saying: “In writing her beautiful speech, Melania’s team of writers took notes on her life’s inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking.

“Melania’s immigrant experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made it such a success.”

Two of Manchester United’s signings so far this summer are set to add to the impressive number of nationalities to have played for the club at first-team level over the years, according to the club’s official website. 

Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly and Armenia skipper Henrikh Mkhitaryan will take the tally of different countries to have appeared for the Reds to 40.

On what his transfer will mean to fans in his homeland, Mkhitaryan told MUTV: “Everyone was waiting for this transfer deal and I’m very happy that everyone can be proud of me. It’s an honour for me to be the first Armenian in the Premier League, and I will try to meet their expectations.”

The 38 nationalities to have played for the club so far, with Germany being the most recent addition with Bastian Schweinsteiger, are displayed in our ‘United Nations’ infographic.

Not every player on our map has gone on to represent their country at international level, but it still highlights the diverse range of nationalities to have donned the famous red shirt.

Bailly and Mkhitaryan’s fellow new arrival Zlatan Ibrahimovic will become the fourth Swede to play for United, after Jesper Blomqvist, Bojan Djordjic and Henrik Larsson.

An Armenian government delegation headed by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan will leave for Russia tonight for a working visit.

On June 8 the Prime Minister will participate in the regular sitting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Armenia and Russia to be held in St. Petersburg.