Author: Karapet Navasardian

The Azerbaijani side opened fire from a guided missile in the direction of the military objects of the Artsakh Defense Army at about 16:30 today.

One unit of military equipment has been partially damaged in the shelling, the Artsakh Defense Ministry said. No casualties are reported.

The Defense Army said in a statement “the provocation of the Azerbaijani armed forces will not go unpunished,” and added that “the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan will bear full responsibility for the consequences.”

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan visited the Yerablur military pantheon on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Shushi liberation and Yerkrapah Day to pay tribute to the memory of fallen soldiers.

Karen Karapetyan laid flowers at the memorials to Vazgen Sargsyan, Andranik Ozanyan and the Unknown Soldier.

 

– The Promise is a sweeping romantic epic in the tradition of Dr. Zhivago, its lavish budget denoted by its stars, Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale. It includes a scene unlikely to be equalled in importance this year. It is 1915, and Mikael (Isaac) has slipped back through lines of marauding Turkish troops towards his home village, hoping to rescue his family. Instead, he finds the villagers piled like rubbish by a river, the female corpses’ headscarves a futile effort at modesty. The wooded setting could be a Belorussian forest in 1941, in one of the souvenir photos Nazis snapped of the Jewish Holocaust.

But these are Armenians, the Christian minority who lost 1.5 million to systematic extermination by the Ottoman Turkish government in World War One. The term “genocide” was coined by Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1944 to describe the Armenians’ destruction, when its pre-echo of ongoing Nazi slaughter was clear. And yet this is the first time a major film has shown audiences what happened. After 102 years, its visceral impact finally pierces the silence.

Isaac, who made his name as the failed folk-singer anti-hero of the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), and found true fame as dashing, sexually ambiguous X-wing fighter pilot Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and its upcoming sequel, felt the scene’s impact when he read it.

“I was incredibly moved every time I would go back to it,” the 38-year-old says, speaking with soft fluency in a Manhattan hotel room. “I had questions about certain other aspects of the movie, but every time I would read that scene, it would never not affect me. That was one of the big reasons I wanted to do the movie – to try to understand how a moment like that could happen, and to figure out how I would get myself to have an at least somewhat honest reaction to it.”

Isaac’s preparation for playing an Armenian villager who leaves for cosmopolitan Constantinople to be a medical student in 1914, only to be almost drowned by history’s tide, involved deep research amongst LA’s Armenian community, and in the genocide’s copious archive. “What was particularly useful,” he explains, “was listening to recordings of older gentlemen speaking many, many years after the fact about what they witnessed as children. Seeing their grandmother stabbed to death by the gendarmes. Little babies being laid by a tree and left there. Being marched out to the desert. All these different kinds of images that you read about, so they became very personal.”

Isaac entered an almost meditative state as the crucial, draining scene approached. “I just came on the set and tried to feel quietly concentrated, but not overly focused, and listened to music. So you’re in a state of relaxation, and ready to respond. Doing that scene felt like it did when I read it.”

Michael’s doctor is an unusual, quietly decent hero, reminding Isaac of people almost as close to home. “There’s a gentleness to him,” he considers. “I come from a family of doctors – my father and two brothers are all doctors, my sister’s a scientist – and there’s an element of people who dedicate their lives to helping others, or hoping to understand things, where there’s an innate gentleness. And on the other hand, they can quickly feel pretty superior! I was more interested in the gentleness.”

Isaac admits he was “pretty ignorant” about the genocide before working on The Promise. The Independent’s Robert Fisk has relentlessly fought to bring its well-documented events to public light, most memorably in the report recalled in his book The Great War for Civilisation (2005), when he and his photographer, searching for evidence of the mass killings in Margada, Syria, discover they are standing on a hill of skeletons. Mainstream cinema, though, has turned a blind eye. Micro-budget Armenian-language films apart, there’s been the fine Armenian-Canadian director Atom Egoyan’s modern-day meditation on the genocide, Ararat (2002), and maverick German-Turkish director Fatih Akin’s The Cut (2014), starring Tahir Rahim as an Armenian death-marched into the desert before a picaresque journey.

Photo: Eric Paul Zamora

 

A commemoration and flag-raising event to remember the Armenian genocide is planned at Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno St., from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, the reports.

The Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Fresno announced several events in April to mark the genocide, in which about 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.

Ara Khachatourian, English editor of the Asbarez Newspaper, will be the keynote speaker at Saturday’s event. The AUSA “Sounds of Freedom” Military band is expected to play.

The Armenian flag will be raised by the Homenetmen Scouts and Fresno High School’s Junior ROTC in honor of the survivors and those killed in the genocide.

An event Monday from noon to 1 p.m. will take place at the Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State. Associated Students Inc. President Tim Ryan is a guest speaker for the event. Professor Hagop Ohannessian will be the keynote speaker.

Performances by students from the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School and Fresno State are scheduled.

At the same monument, flowers will be laid at 6 p.m. A religious service is planned for 7 p.m and a civil service is planned for 7:30 p.m.; a reception will follow.

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand will be the keynote speaker during the evening events at the monument at Fresno State. Other speakers include University President Joseph Castro and Honorary Consul of Armenia in Fresno Berj Apkarian. The Armenian Dance Group of Fresno will perform.

An event on April 26 will feature a book reading of “Echo of Silence” by author Fethiye Cetin. The event is planned for 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul Armenian Church, 3767 N. First Street, in the Haig Berberian Hall.

Admission and parking to the book reading event are free.

A final event will be a documentary film showing of “Women of 1915” by Bared Maronian on April 30.

The film is expected to show the journey of female survivors from the Armenian genocide and the human rights advocates who empowered them.

On April 17, in the Mother See, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenia; received 45 students of the Paris ‘National’ and Marseille Colleges, accompanied by Mr. Sarkis Bedoian, France, benefactor of the Mother See.

His Holiness noted with satisfaction that the annual visit to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, by the graduating students of the two Armenian institutions of France, had become a beautiful tradition. His Holiness stressed that the visit would leave an indelible mark in the hearts of the young people.

The Catholicos of All Armenians urged the youth to diligently continue their studies, so that their acquired knowledge and skills serve for the development, strengthening and welfare of the country and as well as the Armenian-French community.

His Holiness expressed his appreciation to Mr. Sarkis Bedoian, for regularly organizing the visit of  students to the Homeland. The Armenian Pontiff also conveyed his blessings to the teachers accompanying the youth, the teaching staff of both schools, and the trustees; for their dedicated efforts and patriotic service.

Mr. Bedoian expressed his heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness, and presented the academic and educational activities of the schools. The students presented a prepared recitation to His Holiness as a surprise gift.

During the meeting, they reflected on issues aimed at preserving the Armenian language in the Diaspora and the steps that were being taken in this direction.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness urged the students to be worthy sons and daughters of the nation, and growing up with this awareness, bring their usefulness to the Armenian nation.

The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Executive Director Bryan Ardouny outlined key priorities in the congressional  submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. In the testimony, Ardouny reiterated the bipartisan letter sent to the Subcommittee, spearheaded by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and commended the Members of Congress for signing.

In particular, the Assembly’s testimony calls for: $40 million in U.S. economic assistance to Armenia; $40 million to support Armenia’s efforts to serve as a regional safe haven for refugees; $20 million to implement the Royce-Engel initiative to advance peace; $11 million in U.S. military assistance to Armenia; $8 million to Artsakh; assistance to the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia; regional energy security; and reaffirmation of the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide. Armenia continues to demonstrate its resilience, which is why the Assembly also strongly supports a second U.S.-Armenia compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

The Assembly’s testimony specifically drew attention to Azerbaijan’s deadly cease-fire violations, including last April’s unprecedented offensive that started with the killing of a 12-year-old boy and continued with the gruesome ISIS-style beheading of an Armenian soldier and mutilation of an elderly Armenian couple. Given Azerbaijan’s blatant cease-fire violations, the Assembly called upon the United States to “directly condemn such actions and avoid engaging in false equivalency between the aggressor and those defending themselves” and urged the Subcommittee to cease military funding to Azerbaijan.  America cannot afford it and Azerbaijan does not need it.

Ardouny highlighted the fact that Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity in 301 A.D. and emphasized the importance of safe guarding Christian and other minority communities wherever they may reside. The Assembly testimony also commended the work of the Near East Foundation (NEF) in this regard and urged funding to support NEF’s work in Armenia. In addition to allocating aid to Armenia and Artsakh, Ardouny urged Members to visit Armenia as well as watch the movie titled The Promise, a film which depicts the extraordinary events of the Armenian Genocide and comes to theaters this month.

Polls close in Armenian parliamentary elections.

The Central Electoral Commission informs that 1,317,936 citizens or 50.93 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the elections as of 5 p.m. The final voter turnout will be announced at 9 p.m.

The total number of eligible voters is 2,587,706. The voting took place at 2009 polling stations in 13 electoral districts across the republic.

Nine forces including five parties and four blocks are running for 101 seats in the Parliament: Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Free Democrats Party, Communist Party of Armenia, Armenian National Congress-People’s Party bloc, Tsarukyan alliance, Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian bloc, and Yelk alliance. To make it to the Parliament, the parties and blocs have to cross the threshold of 5 and 7 percent respectively.

Forty-nine local organizations with over 28 thousand observers  monitored the elections. The elections was also followed by 650 observers from international organizations including OSCE/ODIHR, OSCE PA, PACE, IS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and European Parliament.

The situation was relatively calm at the line of contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan last night.

The rival used firearms of different caliber as it fired violated the ceasefire about 40 times, firing over 450 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army mostly refrained from response actions and confidently continued with their military duty.

Survival Pictures’ The Promise, the drama starring Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale about the Armenian Genocide, will donate all proceeds from the film to various non-profit organizations including Sir Elton John’s AIDS Foundation and other humanitarian and human rights groups. The film will be released wide via Open Road on April 21, reports.

At the legendary singer’s Academy Award viewing party on Sunday, both Elton John and EJAF chairman David Furnish will introduce the Terry George-directed film to their guests and producer Eric Esrailian of Survival Pictures will commit to match pledges guests make to EJAF via text and live auctions during the party. The goal is to make the night a record-setter for Elton John.

“Such giving has never happened with a film of this scale, we wanted the world to know about it, and we are incredibly grateful,” said Furnish. “We are honored to announce this generosity, thanks to the late philanthropist and humanitarian Kirk Kerkorian.” Survival Pictures began before Kerkorian’s death when the casino, automotive and entertainment mogul entrusted UCLA Doctor Esrailian to produce content about the Armenian culture. Mike Medavoy and William Horberg also began helping to produce the first film and Robin Swicord came aboard for the script.

The result is an over two-hour love story that just flies by with twists and turns and set against the horrific genocide of the Armenian people at the hands of the Turks in 1914, at the outset of World War I. Open Road picked it up for release on April 28; four days earlier marks the commemoration of the Armenian genocide.

“Through our friendships with the Manoukian family and producer Dr. Eric Esrailian … David and I became more personally aware of the Armenian Genocide and its timely relevance to social issues today. The film’s theme #KeepThePromise can be interpreted as keeping the promise to remember and learn from the atrocities of the past, as well as keeping the promise to end AIDS,” said Sir Elton in making the announcement this morning. “At EJAF, we are committed to #KeepThePromise and raise awareness about this powerful film that uses classic storytelling to inspire people to take action today.  We are honored to share the important timing of our Oscar-night event to introduce people to The Promise.”

The film will also help fund non-profits geared to helping spread Armenian culture and education as well. “It was Kirk’s wish to be philanthropic. It all starts and stops with his generosity,” said Survival Pictures’ Esrailian, one of the producers on The Promise. “The thinking was not only to make film but make sure we are helping people at the same time. Kirk said, you know, we can do both. By making films that have this kind of social impact and then making sure the proceeds are donated to help others makes a second impact.”

Survival Pictures has also developed a social impact campaign for its film to help educate the global public about the genocides and mass atrocities of the 20th and 21st centuries, the discussion about the legal definition of genocide, and historical denialism.

Sir Elton John created EJAF almost 25 years ago, first in the United States in 1992 and then in the United Kingdom in 1993. Since Kerkorian’s death in 2015, Survival Pictures is now co-managed by Esrailian and Anthony Mandekic.