Author: Maral Chavushian

On April 23, 2016, the Second Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide entitled “Living Witnesses of Genocide” will be held in Yerevan, Armenia.

The discussions of the Forum, along with other issues, will focus on the assessment of the definition of genocide through the prism of forced deportation, as well as the current challenges to the prevention of genocide and protection.

On April 22, at 5:00 p.m., a joint press conference of the organizers of the Global Forum and the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity will be held at the Matenadaran after Mesrop Mashtots (Armenia’s state repository of ancient manuscripts) to present the conceptual and structural aspects of the Forum.

Armenia plans to complete the renovation of the strategic Vardenis-Martakert highway linking Armenia to Nagornmo Karabakh.

The Government will allocate 1 billion AMD from its reserve funds for this purpose.

“The road is of strategic importance, it’s the highway connecting to Karvachar, and we have decided to complete its renovation this year. It’s the President’s instruction,” Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan told the cabinet today.

The Kardashians are praying for Armenia as the country engages in a new conflict with neighboring country Azerbaijan.

The Kardashians are part-Armenian through their late father, Robert Kardashian, who was born to Armenian-American parents.

The family has played up its ties to the country on and off over the years, most notably with Khloe and Kim Kardashian’s trip there nearly a year ago. Now both Khloe and Kourtney have taken to Twitter to ask for prayers.

Pray for Armenia ?????

— Khloé (@khloekardashian)

The sisters tweeted around the same time on Monday, “Pray for Armenia.” Kourtney’s tweet was accompanied by a prayer hands emoji and the Armenian flag icon. Khloe also used the flag, as well as three emoji faces signifying distress.

Pray for Armenia. ????

— Kourtney Kardashian (@kourtneykardash)

– Garo Paylan, an Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament from the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), has presented an inquiry to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu regarding the cabinet decision to expropriate a number of areas and structures in Diyarbakir (Dikranagerd), among them the Surp Giragos Armenian Church.

In his inquiry, which he also posted on his Facebook page, Paylan asked Davutoglu about the reason of “immediate expropriation” of the total 6,300 areas, what legislations are to be made under the act, and how the rights of the citizens living in Sur will be protected.

In addition, the inquiry requests to clarify whether the expropriation decision affects the Christian, the Assyrian and Chaldean churches. At the same time it is requested to clarify by what standards and laws the “under risk” areas were selected.

While clashes and curfews continue in Diyarbakir, the cabinet took an urgent expropriation decision. St. Giragos Church, the largest Armenian church in Middle East, is among the places in Sur province of Diyarbakir that are expropriated by the decision of the cabinet. The church was restored and opened to worship in 2011. With the same decision, Assyrian, Chaldean and Protestant churches are also expropriated.

The co-chairperson of the HDP, Figen Yuksekdag, slammed the government decision saying “They want to destroy the living spaces and houses of the people who survived death and the massacres in those places, in Sur, in Silopi [in in the southeastern province of Sırnak] today,” reported the Hurriyed Daily News on Tuesday.

“Where is the law, right and justice in this?” asked Yuksekdag, who also remarked about the injustice of arresting more than 600 residents in the areas during Norooz festivities earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Adnan Ertem, General Director of the Directorate General of Foundations of Turkey, which oversees landmarks in Turkey told the Agos newspaper that the expropriation envisions the preservation of the historic structures around which numerous illegal buildings were constructed.

“This expropriation decision is not about historical structures or civil architecture. On the contrary, this decision is made for making the historical structures more visible by demolishing the unplanned structures around them. After ’80s, unplanned urbanization has been increasing in Sur. We want to eliminate that. This is an authorization which will be exercised only if there is a need to protect the historical structures. Whether a church or a mosque, it doesn’t matter, we want to preserve the historical structures,” rationalized Ertem. “Rest assured. We only want to preserve the historical structures.”

As a results of this vast expropriation order, hundreds of thousands of Sur citizens in Diyarbakir will be driven from their homes, creating a refugee crisis within Turkey’s borders.

On April 15, George and Amal Clooney will host a fundraiser for the Hillary Victory Fund, reports.

For two seats at the head table with Clinton, George Clooney and his wife, attorney Amal Clooney, at an April 15 fundraiser, a couple must contribute or raise a whopping $353,400 — a huge ticket price for a hard-dollar fundraiser.

The Bay Area fundraiser, hosted at the home of venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, is one of two events starring the Clooneys. On April 16, Clinton and the Clooneys will reunite at the Clooney Los Angeles mansion, where tickets cost $33,400 per person to dine at the table with one of Hollywood’s most glamorous couples.

Both events raise money for the Hillary Victory Fund. While the maximum donation to a presidential campaign is $2,700 for the primary elections (plus another $2,700 for the general), the Hillary Victory Fund can accept much larger contributions because it is a so-called joint fundraising committee that is comprised of multiple committees.

In addition to Hillary for America, which is Clinton’s main campaign committee, the Hillary Victory Fund also includes the Democratic National Committee and 32 state party committees.

The maximum donation to the DNC is $33,400 a year, while the state parties each can accept donations of $10,000 a year into their federal accounts.

March 24, Holy Thursday, the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church commemorated the Last Supper our Lord Jesus Christ, and the establishment of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

His Grace Bishop Hovnan Hagopyan, Grand Sacristan of the Mother See, offered the Morning Service and the Karg Apashkharoghats (Service for those who are fasting).

Following Morning Services, a solemn Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral by Rev. Fr. Aghan Yernjakyan, Staff Bearer of His Holiness.

During the Divine Liturgy the sermon of St. Basil of Caesarea was read.

Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has, in the past week, pressed several Obama Administration officials – including Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and USAID Administrator Gayle Smith – for answers about proposed cuts in aid to Artsakh, foot-dragging on a U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty, and the level of support being provided to help Armenia support refugees from Syria, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

In a U.S. House Financial Services Committee hearing Tuesday, Rep. Sherman cited the importance of a U.S.-Armenia Tax treaty to build upon ongoing U.S. assistance to Armenia, and pressed for the negotiation of such an accord. Responding to Secretary Lew’s assertion that there there is no need for a Double Tax Treaty with Armenia, Rep. Sherman described the situation as a “chicken and egg” scenario, stating, “You don’t get the business investment, because you don’t have the tax treaty. Then you don’t need the tax treaty because you don’t have the business investment. Given that this Congress has provided well over a billion dollars in aid to Armenia, it would be seem that having one member of your staff to achieve the same objectives would be appropriate.” Rep. Sherman and Secretary Lew agreed to work together to review the matter.

“The ANCA thanks Representative Sherman for pressing Secretary Lew about the lack of a U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty, and, more broadly, for his consistently principled and powerful leadership in supporting the views and values of Americans of Armenian heritage and all friends of Armenia,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We echo the points he raised today and join with him in working to remove a key barrier to the growth of U.S.-Armenia trade and investment. A Double Tax Treaty would strengthen our bilateral economic relationship, reinforce the longstanding bonds of friendship between the American and Armenian peoples, foster economic growth and opportunity in both nations, and provide Armenia with greater strategic options in dealing with regional powers.”

Massis Post – Abril Bookstore’s Armenian Film Society will present a screening of Ravished Armenia, with a special lecture by film historian, Anthony Slide and book signing reception on Friday, April 1,  at Abril Bookstore in Glendale, CA.

In 1918, Oscar Apfel directed the silent film Ravished Armenia for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which became the first genocide film ever made. Ravished Armenia is based on the autobiographical book by Arshaluys (Aurora) Mardiganian, who also plays the lead role in the film. The film depicts the 1915 Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire from the point of view of Armenian survivor Mardiganian. Only 24 minutes of the original 90 minute film currently exists. The rest has been lost.

Anthony Slide has authored more than seventy books on the history of popular entertainment and is noted for his pioneering and groundbreaking efforts to document lesser-known areas of film history.

The Armenian Film Society is a monthly event that meets on the first Friday of each month at Abril Bookstore. Lead by Armen and Mary Karaoghlanian, the evenings will be composed predominantly of film screenings and discussions, with occasional lectures, workshops, classes, and other types of activities relating to film with an element of Armenian culture and/or involvement. The purpose of the film society is to bring together people of all backgrounds and expose them to the rich cinema of Armenia, as well as talented filmmakers with an Armenian background.

Borussia Dortmund star Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits he almost joined Serie A before and is open to Juventus. “We’ll see this summe,” reports.

The Armenian creative midfielder has already been a Bianconeri transfer target for over a year and this summer could be the right time.

“In a splendid season for Borussia I want to give my best for this club. I am happy here, but in the career of a football player everything can change so quickly,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Juve? In this life anything is possible, you never know. This is why I do not say anything on Juve or other teams. We’ll see what happens in the summer,” he smiled.

“I have no preference between Liga, Premier League and Serie A. They are all top tournaments. The important thing is to choose a club where you can give your best.”

Last summer Mkhitaryan had been suggested as the ideal replacement for Andrea Pirlo at Juventus.

“Pirlo was unique, a God of football. Other than his technique, I am amazed by his ability to start moves from the back.

“At Borussia I have the freedom to move from right to left so I can play between the lines. That way we all score lots of goals and I have a lot of fun setting my teammates up.

“Would I be able to do that at Juventus? But they have such super strikers as Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata and Mario Mandzukic. There’d be no room for me.”

What if Morata left and Dybala moved into a more advanced role?

“I don’t know. Maybe…”

Mkhitaryan speaks “five and a half languages: Armenian, English, French, Russian, Portuguese and German. Will the next be Italian? Maybe.

“I was on the verge of joining Chievo at the age of 19, but I was advised otherwise. Evidently it was fate. At Shakhtar Donetsk I helped Mircea Lucescu speak to the Brazilian players, seeing as I learned Portuguese during a trial at Sao Paulo when I was 13. I also started to learn some Italian thanks to Lucescu.

“At Borussia Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp out football was non-stop pressing and counter-attack. Instead, Tuchel changed my life. Now we dictate the play and I have more freedom to attack. Thanks to him I am now able to make myself more useful.

“I consider myself a complete midfielder now, but realise every day I must work hard to be quicker, more concentrated and always aim to improve my technique.”

Mkhitaryan is extremely intelligent and is about to complete his degree in economic studies, so won’t be easily led on his future.

“From the moment I met Mino Raiola, we agreed on one very important fact: I will accept his advice, but I have my own mind and no decision will be imposed on me.”