Author: George Mamian

Serj Tankian, who is best known as the spasmodic vocalist and surrealistic lyricist for art-metal group System of a Down, has always held a deep respect for film soundtracks. “When I’m exercising or driving, a lot of what I listen to is soundtracks,” he says. “I think it’s great that people are paying attention to the value of scores. It’s very important,” Tankian said in an interview with the .

He finally got the chance to write a soundtrack of his own last year for a film that addressed a subject near to him, the Armenian genocide.

The movie, 1915, takes place in the present as a theater director attempts to stage a play about the genocide, and the actors begin feeling a visceral, realistic connection to those who died a century earlier. Its tagline is “You can’t escape the past,” and it takes surrealistic turns accordingly. The music that Tankian composed is at once traditional, otherworldly and urgent. A soundtrack album, which contains bonus tracks and extended versions of the music, came out late last month around the 101st anniversary of the day the genocide began.

Tankian has spent a good portion of the past decade writing classical and classical-inspired music, when he wasn’t writing rock or jazz albums. He turned his 2007 solo debut, Elect the Dead, into the orchestral Elect the Dead Symphony and his 2013 release, Orca Symphony No. 1, was wholly classical. He scored the video game Midnight Star and now he has begun work on another score for a film called The Last Inhabitant, slated to come out in Armenia this year. It’s a discipline he says, during a lively interview with Rolling Stone, that has come naturally to him.

Some of the music on the 1915 soundtrack sounds like traditional Armenian music, specifically the first track, “Ari Im Sokhag With Guitar.” “I’m not an Armeno-ethnic musical-expert musicologist , but it is my culture, so it definitely has that vibe. It has the melancholy and kind of traditional nuances and chord progressions,” Tankian says.

Just days before the world marked the 101st remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University conferred its second Ph.D. in Armenian Genocide Studies, the reports.

On April 19, Umit Kurt successfully defended his dissertation, “Destruction of Aintab Armenians and Emergence of the New Wealthy Class: Plunder of Armenian Wealth in Aintab (1890s–1920s).” In its pages, he produces a microhistory of the Armenians in the city of Aintab, located on the Syrian border in southeast Turkey, before, during, and after the genocide. Elucidating the economic dimensions of the genocide, Kurt describes how the Turks used the Abandoned Properties Laws to confiscate Armenian property in Aintab.

Among his many fellowships, speaking engagements and honors, Kurt was the Agnes Manoogian Hausrath fellow at Clark, and an Armenian Studies Scholarship from the Gulbenkian Foundation also supported his research. His research and teaching—he was a lecturer at Sabanci University in Istanbul as well as research fellow at Fresno State University—also has earned him a post-doctoral fellowship beginning in September at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University.

“I am so happy to finish my dissertation and be a part of newly emerging critical scholarship in Armenian and the Ottoman Studies,” Kurt said. “I believe my findings in the dissertation will make a concrete contribution to the existing state of art and pave the way for other scholars to dwell upon unfolding local traces of Armenian Genocide. I firmly believe that any study in this field cannot be done without having Armenian language skills.”

While writing his dissertation, Kurt also managed to publish articles in the Journal of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and International Journal of Middle East Studies. Berghahn Books published The Spirit of the Laws: The Plunder of Wealth in the Armenian Genocide (July 2015), which Kurt co-authored with Taner Akcam, Clark professor of history and Kaloosdian/Mugar Chair in Armenian Genocide Studies.

The 2015 Centennial of the Armenian Genocide afforded several opportunities for Kurt to present his research findings. He participated in the Strassler Center’s International Graduate Student Conference, lectured at UCLA, and presented at a conference in New York on the Armenian Genocide within the context of the Ottoman Empire and World War I.

At the 2016 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day rally in New York on April 24, Kurt appearedwith elected officials, survivors, and others to speak before thousands gathered in Times Square.

Kurt received a bachelor’s degree from Middle East Technical University in the Department of Political Science and his MA in European Studies from Sabancı University.

The Strassler center’s first student to complete a Ph.D. in Armenian Genocide Studies was Khatchig Mouradian, who defended his dissertation, Genocide and Humanitarian Assistance in Ottoman Syria (1915-1917) in January.

Mouradian, former editor of The Armenian Weekly (2007-2014), is a visiting assistant professor at the Division of Global Affairs at Rutgers University and is the coordinator the Armenian Genocide Program at Rutgers’ Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights (CGHR). He is also an adjunct professor in the philosophy and urban studies departments at Worcester State University, where he teaches courses on urban space and conflict in the Middle East, genocide, collective memory, and human rights.

On Monday night, members of the University of Chicago’s Armenian Circle and supporters staged a protest at an International House (I-House) lecture by a scholar denies the Armenian Genocide, reports.

University of Louisville professor Justin McCarthy spoke at the I-House Assembly Hall about his most recent book, Turks and Armenians: Nationalism and Conflict in the Ottoman Empire. McCarthy has been accused of Armenian Genocide denialism by organizations including the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS). McCarthy argues that the events others call genocide were part of a civil war between the Ottoman Empire and Armenian rebels during World War I.

Before the event, members of the Armenian Circle standing outside I-House passed out flyers condemning the event. One part of the flyer noted that the event, which was sponsored by the Turkish American Cultural Alliance (TACA) and the Turkish Consulate General in Chicago, was scheduled for the day after Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24).

During the first minutes of McCarthy’s speech, protesters filling the second and third rows, including members of the Armenian Circle, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Hellenic Students Association, placed red tape over their mouths before standing and turning to face the audience, prompting some applause. McCarthy and various members of the audience began asking the protesters to sit down on the grounds that they were blocking the audience’s view of the stage, though other audience members shouted out that they could still see and hear the presentation.

After the protesters refused to sit, I-House staff intervened, at which point the protesters walked out of the Assembly Hall, joined by other attendees, to further applause.

Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Samvel Mkrtchian laid the responsibility for recent violence in Nagorno-Karabakh squarely at the feet of Azerbaijan, urging the Azeri leadership to respect the cease-fire and re-engage in the peace talks administered by the OSCE. “These recent events, unfortunate and very deplorable events, at the beginning of April, the so-called Four Day War, was undoubtedly launched by the Azeri side in order to impose its will yet another time on Nagorno-Karabakh’s people,” Mkrtchian told Wednesday in an interview at the Armenian Embassy in Mtaileb.

“It has been already quite some time since Azeri leadership at the top level, including the president himself, have [used] very harsh rhetoric, and during the last [few] years Azerbaijan has increased its military budget 10 to 20 times and acquired and purchased new armaments. They were not making any secret that they might resort to a military solution of this conflict,” the Ambassador said.

Mkrtchian said Azerbaijan may have breached the cease-fire out of a desire to divert attention from problems at home created by falling oil prices.

“The danger which has been … pointed at by different experts is that if the Azerbaijani revenues from oil decline, they might resort to a military solution. Probably it is linked now also to the recent escalation, because with the drop of the price of oil in international markets, Azerbaijan is experiencing really hard problems with its economy, with its financial situation, which are further exacerbated with the restrictions on human rights and freedoms in the society,” he said.

“The recent events might indicate that the Azeri leadership tried for this escalation on the line of contact to deviate the public opinion form those internal problems.”

Mkrtchian also said that the recent fighting overlapped with revelations of massive corruption involving Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and his family.

“The coincidences in this are exemplary. The recent escalation came exactly on those dates when the Panama Papers became public,” the ambassador remarked.

Mkrtchian said he was pleased the international community moved quickly to call for the violence to stop. “There was a unanimous reaction coming [from] around the world that this conflict has no military solution and the only way to move forward and have lasting peace is to go back to the table of negotiations.”

The ambassador said he did not know if the recent deterioration of relations between regional powers Turkey and Russia played any role in the clashes, but called Turkey’s absolute support for Azerbaijan detrimental to negotiations.

“With their unequivocal backing of the Azerbaijani position, Turkey directly or indirectly encourages the other side to stick to a harsh position during the negotiations and not be inclined to make the required and necessary compromises in order to have a solution,” Mkrtchian said.

He had kinder words for Moscow, an Armenian ally that ultimately facilitated a halt to the fighting. “The Russian Federation never shows any unequivocal support for the Armenian or for the Azeri side, they try to keep the balance.”

Russia is the primary arms supplier for both countries, and has said it would continue to provide such military support, citing the value of deterrence and maintaining an equality of arms. Its position precipitated protests at the Russian embassy in Yerevan last week.

“That made the Armenian side extremely unhappy. … We expressed our concern in regard to Russia’s selling armaments to the other side, especially when those armaments are of offensive nature,” the ambassador said. “That’s a real concern for the Armenian side.”

Mkrtchian repeatedly emphasized Armenia’s support for the conflict resolution efforts pursued by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as the Minsk Process.

He blamed Azerbaijan for not embracing the framework outlined in the peace talks and for rejecting overtures from both the OSCE and Armenia to provide for the independent monitoring of cease-fire violations. But the ambassador said he was confident that the 22-year-old process was the best way to bring resolution to the conflict.

“It is really our hope that the peaceful negotiation process will be revived, and a new impetus will be brought into this process,” he said, citing the upcoming visit of U.N. General-Secretary Ban Ki-Moon to the area as a sign of increased international engagement.

Mkrtchian sounded an optimistic note on the long-term prospects for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “We are neighbors; we are not going to go away from this area. It’s extremely unfortunate that we cannot live peacefully side-by-side and to normally trade and normally interact, because we are natural economic partners and both sides will benefit from that kind of relationship.”

President Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

The interlocutors discussed the situation established as a result of the recent Azerbaijani offensive along the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh.

They attached importance to the mobilization of the efforts of the state and the church for the sake of solution of the most important problems and challenges.

The Catholicoi spoke about their forthcoming visit to Nagorno Karabakh.

President Serzh Sargsyan attended today the funeral of Sasun Mkrtchyan, one of the soldiers killed in clashes along the Nagorno Karabakh line of contact. The funeral service was held with military honors.
At the service, the President of Armenia spoke the words of condolences and support:

“Dear compatriots, distinguished parents of Sasoun Mkrtchian, family, and friends. Today, we say good-by to the Armenian soldier who stepped into eternity; a soldier, who crowned with glory his own name, a soldier, who crowned with glory the family which raised him. We have gathered here to bow to the heroism of Sasoun Mkrtchian and our other martyrs.

All those, who argue or doubt on how the Armenian nation has survived until 21st century in this tough region, must understand that they can find the answer right here, in the minds and on the lips of the fallen martyrs. Conscious death is immortality. We fought to defend our homes, our families, our identity. And our being here today, in this region is the most rock-solid proof of how we can fight. The ethnic and religious composition of this region changed before the eyes of the Armenian people a number of times. Many-many had come and had gone, many more will come and go, but we lived, we live, and we will live, because we know the formula of eternal life.

Events happening in Artsakh today is just another challenge for the Armenian nation which this time has be imposed on us by the leadership of Azerbaijan. I have no doubt that we will overcome it with honor yet again. Blinded with Armenophobia, drunk with the scent of oil, the Azerbaijani authorities do not comprehend that power is not measured by the number of tanks. Power is the light which emanates from the new generations in Artsakh and Armenia, and today that light has united us all, made us one iron fist, which will fall on the head of the foe which threatens our security.

Today, our thoughts are with our troops and officers who stand at the border. Each soldier’s step into immortality is a wound on our hearts, but actions of our troops make our hearts even stronger, endow us with resolve and persistence.

Today, we have become one, and our unity will nourish our future generation. I have to state that we have no illusions, we have no powerful sponsors, but we have sympathy of the just people all over the world, we have everything to defend our homes, our Fatherland.

Dear Sasoun, rest assured that we will carry on with your and your friends sacred mission. Rest in peace, Soldier of Fatherland.”

Only mountains can be better than mountains, famous Tbilisi-based Armenian mountaineer Lev Sarkisov says.

Lev Sarkisov first discovered his love for mountains, when working at the Tbilisi Aviation Factory.  A group of mountain climbers there was organizing periodic expeditions. In 1962 the group decided to climb Kazbek, the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains.

Sarkisov later joined the mountaineer group of the Armed Forces and worked as coach for a long time.

Sarkisov is one of the few Armenians to have climbed Everest – the highest peak in the world. In 1999 he was recognized by the Guinness book of world records as the oldest mountaineer to conquer the highest peak.

He climbed Mount Ararat four times and took the Armenian tricolor to the peak. “Taking the Armenian flag was a great risk. I could be arrested had the flag been found in my rucksack. I bought fabric of three colors at a  store in Bayazet and sew the flag at the hotel,” he said.

In 1999 Georgian President Edward Shevarnadze awarded him with an Order of Honor. He’s also the recipient of Snow Leopard award, a Soviet mountaineering award, given to climbers conquering all five peaks of 7,000m and above located in the former USSR.

Even at 70, Lev Sarkisov is ready to take the road to mountains.

Arsenal are considering a summer move for Borussia Dortmund forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Daily Express reports. 

The Armenia international has enjoyed a stunning season at the Westfalenstadion, scoring 19 goals and assisting 23 in all competitions so far.

And according to German publication Bild, the 27-year-old has caught the attention ofGunners manager Arsene Wenger with a number of impressive displays.

But Wenger may struggle in his bid to land Mkhitaryan, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – who signed him at Dortmund – reportedly keen to bring him to Anfield.

The German tactician fuelled the transfer rumours earlier in the season after hailing the former Shakhtar Donetsk man as ‘world class’.

“When it comes down to it, 99 per cent of people would be happy to have Mkhitaryan’s problems,” said Klopp, who left Dortmund at the end of last season.

“There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the most talented players in the world. He possesses an incredible combination of speed and technique. There’s very, very few you can say that about.”

With a vote of 96 to 7 the National Assembly elected Deputy Justice Minister Arman Tatoyan as Human Rights Defender.

In compliance with the new constitutional changes, his candidacy was proposed by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

According to the Constitution, the Human Rights Defender is elected by 3/5^th of the total number of MPs.