Author: John Hovhannisian

Music: Mezzo TV airs film about Armenian conductor Sergey Smbatyan

John Hovhannisian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 19 2019
Culture 13:28 19/02/2019 Armenia

Mezzo, a classical music TV channel, has aired a short documentary film about artistic director and principal conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, Sergey Smbatyan.

The 25-minute film directed by Benjamin Bleton, presents the portrait of the Armenian composer, tracking his career path from his first concert at the age of 18 to his work with the Armenian symphony orchestra and his performances with numerous famous orchestras worldwide.

The film tells about the incredible courage of an 18-year-old student of the Yerevan State Conservatory, who creates the orchestra he is heading today, the State Symphony Orchestra told Panorama.am.

“We wanted to do something special that would keep us together also after graduating the Conservatory,” Smbatyan is quoted as saying in the film.

Mezzo also introduces Armenian music art and the performance skills of Armenian musicians to viewers.

The film was shot in Germany in 2018, when Sergey Smbatyan was performing with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

The video has been recently broadcast on Mezzo TV, with next broadcasts scheduled for February 20, 25, March 6 and 18.    

Sports: Armenian Weightlifting Men’s Championship underway with new champions named

John Hovhannisian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 14 2019

Athletes competing in the 96kg and 102kg weight class of the Men’s Championship took place on Thursday. As the National Olympic Committee reported, Hakob Mkrtchyan lifted 160kg in the snatch and 200kg in the clean and jerk, becoming Armenian champion with the double-event of 367kg.
Meanwhile Arsen Martirosyan competing in the 102kg weight class was declared champion with the double-event of 350kg.

On February 15, the final day of the championship athletes in the 109kg and109+kg will join the tournament. The list of athletes competing for the title includes Simon Martirosyan the world record holder in the clean and jerk and total for the −109 kg division and Gor Minasyan Olympic silver medalist (2016).

“Artsakh FA” leaves for Tbilisi

John Hovhannisian
  • 18:03 | February 11,2019 | Sports
  • Հայ

“Artsakh FA” football team will hold a training camp on February 11-23 in Tengiz Sulakuvidze sports academy in Tbilisi, Georgia. The press service of the club reports.

During the camp, “Artsakh FA” will hold 4 friendly matches with the top teams of Georgia, and the games are scheduled for February 13, 16, 19 and 22.

To add, “Artsakh FA” has left for Tbilisi today with its own new bus.

‘Angela’s Diaries’ Review: A Tender Journey Through Memory

John Hovhannisian
Angela Ricci Lucchi in “Angela’s Diaries,” a documentary about her and Yervant Gianikian.CreditIn Between Art Film
Angela Ricci Lucchi in “Angela’s Diaries,” a documentary about her and Yervant Gianikian.CreditCreditIn Between Art Film
I diari di Angela – Noi due cineasti
Directed by Yervant Gianikian
Documentary
2h 5m

By Glenn Kenny

Feb. 6, 2019

From the mid-1970s until 2013, Angela Ricci Lucchi and Yervant Gianikian,partners in life and art, forged an analytical cinematic mode in which they critiqued Western practices of war, colonialism, objectification and more. Their work is better known in the art and academic realms than in mainstream cinematic ones. Lucchi diedin 2018, and Gianikian assembled this film as a memorial.

While the movie could hardly be called mainstream, it’s more conventional than the usual Lucchi-Gianikian work because it’s a singular personal musing rather than a painstakingly researched assemblage.
Its contents are as the title advertises. A camera above a table shows one of Lucchi’s open diaries. Gianikian says, on the soundtrack, “I’ll read from Angela’s diary,” then announces the date of the entry. He reads, and the film cuts to home-video footage from the period discussed, sometimes the exact day, sometimes a little before or after.

[Check out our Culture Calendar here.]

The daily life of these peripatetic artists often looks cozy — bourgeois even. There are a lot of boozy dinners with colleagues and comrades that are indistinguishable in most respects from boozy dinners with well-behaved adults who aren’t artists.

Clip: 'Angela's Diary'CreditCreditVideo by International Film Festival Rotterdam

Footage they shot on a 1996 trip to Sarajevo is considerably more tense and affecting. The couple’s guides, speaking English, navigate a car through the city, ruined by the ethnic wars of the ’90s. The sight of modern apartment buildings that were reduced to hollow husks in the long siege is chilling. The guides point out snipers’ perches, and when the visitors venture outside the cars, they have to tread carefully to avoid land mines. A drive to a new border of Bosnia and Croatia ends on an eerie, mysterious, tragic note. There, the filmmakers are greeted by a couple of pylons partially blocking the way forward, one or two parked cars and an atmosphere of stillness topped with confusion and dread. Nothing to do but turn around.

Back home in Milan, after celebrating a retrospective of their work, Lucchi settles into nonfilm projects, creating a scrolling watercolor painting concerning her experiences in Russia and with Russian literature. The pleasures of home and hearth are conveyed in sequences featuring homemade wine and showing Lucchi cultivating her vegetable and fruit garden. She also recounts more harrowing events, including an accident in which Gianikian was severely burned.

As this movie tells it, Lucchi’s life was her work, and her work was an inextricable collaboration with Gianikian. The diaries yield, in this presentation, no uncomfortable intimacies or expressions of doubt regarding any projects. “Angela’s Diaries” asks of the viewer a kind of patience that may only reside in those already conversant with the couple’s contributions, but its tenderness and straightforwardness are immediately admirable.

Director
Yervant Gianikian
Running Time
2h 5m
Genre
Documentary

Movie data powered by IMDb.com

Angela’s Diaries
Not rated. In Italian, English, Armenian, Russian and French, with English subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 5 minutes.

A version of this article appears in print on Feb. 7, 2019, on Page C8 of the New York edition with the headline: A Tender Memorial To a Collaboration.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/movies/angelas-diaries-review.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Fglenn-kenny&action=”click&contentCollection=undefined&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection

DW: Nikol Pashinyan sees no contradictions in development of relations with EAEU and EU

John Hovhannisian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 3 2019
DW: Nikol Pashinyan sees no contradictions in development of relations with EAEU and EU DW: Nikol Pashinyan sees no contradictions in development of relations with EAEU and EU

23:59, 02.02.2019
                  

The new Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sees no contradictions in strengthening integration within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union and the parallel development of closer relations with the European Union. Pashinyan told DW on February 1.

“He explained the tolerant attitude of the Kremlin to the peaceful revolution in Armenia last spring by the fundamental differences between the events of spring last year and the so-called“ color ”revolutions,” DW noted.

"There was no geopolitical context in our revolution," he said, "and there was no foreign force that would participate and be involved in our internal political process." At the same time, Pashinyan did not specify what kind of “foreign force” he has in mind.

“We are not trying to sit on two chairs, we do not have such a goal,” said the Prime Minister. “The European Union supports our democratic reforms and does not set us the task of making a choice between the Eurasian Economic Union and the EU.” He noted that the relations with both of these international structures are absolutely transparent.

“We are not going to develop our relations with one partner to the detriment of another partner,” Pashinyan said in an interview with DW.

Armenian, Russian PMs hold meeting in Moscow

John Hovhannisian

Armenian, Russian PMs hold meeting in Moscow

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17:11,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of his working visit in Moscow, the Russian government told Armenpress.

“The Russian Premier and Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan held talks in Moscow on January 25. The meeting was held at the request of the Armenian side. The heads of government discussed the current issues of the Armenian-Russian commercial cooperation and other aspects of the relations”, the statement says.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Russian expert: Pashinyan`s opponents may create uncompromising attitudes in Armenian society regarding a consensus resolution of the Karabakh conflict

John Hovhannisian
Arminfo, Armenia
Jan 22 2019
Tatevik Shahunyan

ArmInfo. Antagonism is growing in the societies of Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan regarding the relativity of the possibility of a compromise solution to the  Karabakh issue. Alexander Krylov, President of the Scientific Society  of Caucasus Caused Studies, Chief Researcher of the IMEMO RAN  expressed this opinion, during the Yerevan-Moscow TV bridge.

According to him, this trend is particularly obvious in Armenian  society. "Perhaps this is due to recent political processes in  Armenia – opponents of Prime Minister Pashinyan and the new  authorities are trying to create uncompromising attitudes in the  society in order to put the country's leadership in a difficult  position in the negotiations. Under such conditions no one in Armenia  or in Azerbaijan will not compromise against the will of the people;  it will become a political suicide ", the expert explained.

Taking into account the prevailing circumstances, according to him,  it is not excluded the resumption of hostilities or the establishment  of an international dictate in the conflict zone. "Both options,  obviously, do not proceed from the interests of the parties," he  concluded.

Բաքվում հայերի ջարդերը վաղեմության ժամկետ չունեն, Ադրբեջանը պատասխան կտա – հայտարարություն

John Hovhannisian
  • 18.01.2019

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  • Հայաստան

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  • arm

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  • rus

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 125

Արցախի Հանրապետության ԱԺ արտաքին հարաբերությունների մշտական հանձնաժողովի հայտարարությունը Բաքվի հայ բնակչության զանգվածային ջարդերի 29-րդ տարելիցի կապակցությամբ:


«1990 թվականի հունվարի 13-19-ը Ադրբեջանի մայրաքաղաք Բաքվում հայ բնակչության նկատմամբ իրագործվել է պետական իշխանությունների կողմից կազմակերպված զանգվածային կոտորած: Էթնիկ հողի վրա իրականացված բռնություններին զոհ են գնացել հարյուրավոր հայեր, թալանի ու բռնագրավման է ենթարկվել հայերի ունեցվածքը: Ֆիզիկական ոչնչացման անմիջական սպառնալիքի ներքո Բաքվի քառորդ միլիոն տեղահանված հայությունը` որպես փախստական, բնակություն է հաստատել աշխարհի տարբեր երկրներում:


Պատմական արդարությունը վերականգնելու և իր ինքորոշման իրավունքը իրացնելու նպատակով ոտքի ելած Արցախի հայության ձայնը լռեցնելու համար Բաքվի իշխանությունները Գորբաչովի վարչախմբի թողտվությամբ իրագործել են ծրագրված ցեղասպանություն ադրբեջանահայության նկատմամբ: Հակառակ միջազգային իրավապաշտպան կազմակերպությունների կողմից արձանագրված փաստերի՝ Ադրբեջանի իշխանությունները մինչ օրս կոծկում են իրենց ցեղասպան գործողությունները, նենգափոխում իրողությունները և խուսափում պատասխանատվությունից:


Հարգելով Բաքվի կոտորածին ու բռնի տեղահանությանը զոհ գնացած անմեղ հայերի հիշատակը՝ Ազգային ժողովի արտաքին հարաբերությունների մշտական հանձնաժողովը.


դատապարտում է այլատյացության, ծայրահեղականության ու ահաբեկչության ցանկացած դրսևորում,


պնդում է, որ Բաքվի, ողջ Արևելյան Անդրկովկասի, ինչպես նաև Հյուսիսային Արցախի ու Նախիջևանի հայության հանդեպ կազմակերպված բռնությունները լիովին համապատասխանում են ՄԱԿ-ի` 1948թ. «Ցեղասպանության հանցագործությունը կանխելու և պատժելու մասին» կոնվենցիայով սահմանված ցեղասպանության հանցագործության իրավական ձևակերպմանը,


կոչ է անում միջազգային հանրությանը, իրավապաշտպան կազմակերպություններին և խորհրդարանական կառույցներին Բաքվի հայ բնակչության զանգվածային ջարդերին տալ իրավական գնահատական և քայլեր ձեռնարկել Ադրբեջանում պետական մակարդակով շարունակվող հակահայկական քարոզչության դեմ,


վերահաստատում է, որ Բաքվում կազմակերպված ջարդերը պատմական վաղեմության ժամկետ չունեն, և Արցախի Հանրապետությունը հետևողական է լինելու ադրբեջանահայության ցեղասպանության կազմակերպիչներին և իրականացնողներին պատասխանատվության ենթարկելու հարցում»:

Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan resumes trainings

John Hovhannisian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 12 2019

Armenian national team captain and Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan resumed trainings. Mkhitaryan has posted a video on his Facebook page.

The Armenian was out of action since December 19 because of a foot injury and was expected to return to full training in six weeks

Mkhitaryan fractured the metatarsal in his right foot in Carabao Cup defeat by Tottenham and was replaced at half-time. 

Armenia entered the list of 10 most "vicious" countries of the world according to Bloomberg

John Hovhannisian
Arminfo, Armenia
Jan 8 2019
Emmanuil Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.Agency Bloomberg has published a ranking of countries according to the degree of depravity of their inhabitants. Citizens' propensity for an "immoral lifestyle"  was determined on the basis of a combination of data on the amount of  alcohol consumed, cigarettes, drugs, and on gambling losses from GDP.  Zambia turned out to be the most innocent country in the world, but  Armenia, entering the top ten of the most "vicious", settled in the  "honorable" fourth place in the ranking.

As the site fototelegraf.ru quotes Bloomberg, Armenia is on this list  mainly because of the gambling of its inhabitants. In terms of losses  from gambling as a percentage of GDP, the country is in second place  and second only to the Philippines. The third place was taken by  Australia, as the Australians are the most indifferent to ecstasy in  the world. Also Australia is the 3rd in the world in terms of  gambling losses and amphetamine use.

Slovenia ranked second. As the authors of the report write, Slovenia  seems to be on this list quite by accident. This country does not  lead (and is not even among the top three) in any of the indicators.   Apparently, the people of Slovenia adhere to the principle of "a  little bit of everything", thanks to which they are in second place  in the most vicious countries of the world.

The Czech Republic was the most "vicious" country of the world.  Moreover, the population's love was not so much about beer and  absinthe (Czech Republic is only 4th in alcohol consumption), but  also on drugs – here the Czechs were in second place after  successfully escaping the top ten of the United States. Oddly enough,  it is the Czech Republic that occupies the first place in the world  in cannabis consumption. At the same time, the Netherlands did not  even enter the top ten in terms of this indicator.

To note, after Armenia, Bulgaria is in fifth place. It was the most  smoking country in the world. This is an average of 2,822 cigarettes  per year per adult inhabitant of the country. Spain ranked sixth.  This beautiful country, known to the whole world for its wine, is  denigrated by the residents' addiction not to it at all, but to  cocaine – here the Spaniards have the highest indicator. The authors  suspect that Ibiza Island, famous for its nightclubs, plays a  significant role in this story. Remarkably, Colombia, known as one of  the main producers and suppliers of cocaine in the world, according  to Bloomberg, practically does not consume it.

Residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina – the country located on the  seventh place – consume the least alcohol from all the countries on  this list. And least of all in the world, according to Bloomberg,  they drink in Lebanon. The place in this list of Bosnia and  Herzegovina has mainly provided residents with addiction to smoking  and gambling.

The opinion that Russia, in the eyes of Bloomberg analysts, has been  tarnished by the addiction to vodka does not correspond to reality.  Russia, which is on the 8th place in the ranking, occupies only a  modest 6th place in the world in alcohol consumption, the 3rd in  cigarette consumption and the 2nd after the United States in opioid  use. But in Russia, according to Bloomberg, now there are almost no  losses from gambling – here, along with El Salvador and Guatemala, is  the lowest in the world.

Belarus, which took the 9th place, should be <grateful> to be  included in the top 10 most "vicious" countries of the world to its  deeply drunk citizens. It turns out that Belarusians drink a lot -  according to Bloomberg – the most in the world! In the top three for  this indicator, they were residents of Ukraine and Estonia.

Greece, closing the rating of "viciousness" was the second in the  world in the number of cigarettes consumed. In the other vicious  categories, its indicators are not too remarkable.

To note, the new authorities of Armenia intend to put an end to the  vicious effects of gambling on the people of the country and on its  economy. Almost half of the country's GDP growth is in the service  sector, where gambling reigns. The new head of government, Nikol  Pashinyan, noted a steadfast intention to put an end to this vicious  phenomenon.