Author: Varazdat Torgomian

Music: Classical music for teenagers in Armenia

Varazdat Torgomian
Classical Music – Rhinegold Publishing, UK
Classical music for teenagers in Armenia


Editor        10:13, 23rd May 2019

We hear from the team behind DasA, a new project aimed at promoting classical music among students in Armenian schools.

DasA is a large-scale project aimed at the cultural education of a whole generation, a project that has an important role in the process of forming a progressive and educated society. DasA promotes long-term cultural and spiritual values and establishes the balance between modern and historical standards. DasA aims to become the start of a new, high quality and educated society.

The founder, principal conductor and artistic director of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, Sergey Smabtyan, who is also the initiator of the project together with the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, Arayik Harutyunyan, with the orchestra’s musicians visits schools and holds meetings on the subject of classical music, after which the students attend concerts.

Launched in November, 2018 DasA has covered all 35 state high schools of Yerevan. More than 13,500 students have participated in 17 concerts and it has received a great response, with more than 80 media publications being made about the project and more than 2,000 students returning to the concert hall afterwards.

Why DasA?

A is the note la in the tonic sol-fa system, and all musical instruments are tuned with this note.

The project proposes to make the classical music available for students at least once a year. It provides much more than just participation in symphony and chamber concerts; as part of this huge project, the orchestra members attend schools and through direct communication with the students introduce the details of the upcoming concert before each event. They speak about the programme and the composers, answer questions, and prepare students for the experience of attending a classical concert.

DasA is the only project in Armenia that is aims to nurture a love of classical music in a whole generation.

www.armsymphony.am

www.sergey-smbatyan.com

The project is supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia. 




Sports: Arsenal want answers over Baku

Varazdat Torgomian
The Evening Standard (London)
May 16, 2019 Thursday
Arsenal want answers over Baku

Angry Arsenal want Final answers
 
by James Olley
 
 
ARSENAL today urged UEFA to explain their reasoning in selecting Baku for the Europa League Final after casting doubt over whether they can sell out their 6,000 allocation.
 
The Gunners face Chelsea in Azerbaijan on May 29 with fans struggling for flights and accommodation to make the near 6,000-mile round trip to see the club's first European Final in 13 years.
 
Arsenal are also in contact with the Foreign Office to help British-Armenian ticket holders gain access to Azerbaijan.
 
There are currently no diplomatic relations between the two countries due to a conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, meaning those holding Armenian passports are likely to have their visa applications rejected. The Gunners' Armenia winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan's participation is also in doubt as while special dispensation will be granted to allow him into the country, Arsenal are continuing to seek additional assurances over his security in Azerbaijan.
 
UEFA admitted in a statement on Friday that Baku's infrastructure prevented increasing the allocations given to Arsenal and Chelsea, claiming "it was deemed that around 15,000 spectators would be able to travel from abroad [this includes finalists' fans and general public], with Baku as the main hub".
 
However, Arsenal have asked for further clarification over UEFA's process in choosing one of the most inaccessible options possible to stage Continued on Page 48 Continued from Page 51 the Final after releasing a strongly worded statement this morning.
 
It read: "We are bitterly disappointed by the fact that due to transport limitations UEFA can only make a maximum of 6,000 tickets available to Arsenal for a stadium with a capacity of well over 60,000. Time will tell if it is even possible for 6,000 Arsenal fans to attend the match, given how extreme the travel challenges are.
 
"We have 45,000 season-ticket holders and for so many fans to miss out due to UEFA selecting a venue with such limited transport provision is not right. The reality is that whoever reached the Final would not be able to meet demand from their supporters. We have received many complaints from our fans about this and we fully share their concerns.
 
"We would like to understand the criteria by which venues are selected for finals and also how supporter requirements are taken into account as part of this.
 
"We would urge UEFA to ensure that supporter logistics and requirements are a key part of any future decisions for final venues as what has happened this season is unacceptable. We would be happy to join any future discussions to avoid this happening again."
 
Meanwhile, Tottenham and Liverpool supporters have called on UEFA's leading Champions League sponsors, such as Nissan, Pepsi and PlayStation, to return a portion of their tickets for this year's Final to be reallocated to fans.
 
Each side has been given 16,613 tickets, despite the Estadio Metropolitano holding 68,000, as UEFA prioritises "the local organising committee, UEFA and national associations, commercial partners and broadcasters".
 
In conjunction with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, Liverpool fans' group Spirit of Shankly wrote: "We ask [the sponsors] to help redress the balance."

Erdogan once again lashes out at Macron over Armenian Genocide

Varazdat Torgomian
Public Radio of Armenia
Erdogan once again lashes out at Macron over Armenian Genocide

2019-04-29 11:36:01

Turkey’s President Regep Tayyop Erdogan has once again lashed out at France’s Macron for declaring April 24 as Armenian genocide Commemoration Day, the Hurriyet Daily news reports.

“Sending a message to 700,000 Armenians in France, Mr. Macron, will not save you. First, you should learn to be honest in politics. It’s not possible for you to win in politics unless you turn to be an honest politician,” Erdogan said at his party’s assessment camp over the weekend.

Macron is new to politics and does not know “these businesses,” the president said. He said he has discussed the issue with the French president a number of times.

Describing the Armenian issue as a “tool employed by others to pressurize Turkey in the international arena,” Erdogan said, unlike many other states, Turkey doesn’t have a shameful past.

“During the Balkan wars and in their aftermath, we unfortunately lost 2 million brothers and sisters of ours, including women, children and the elderly. And as many civilian citizens of ours were massacred during the Russian and Armenian invasion in eastern and southeastern Anatolia,” he said.

He doubled down on Turkey’s stance that the Armenian “relocation” was neither a genocide nor a great disaster; it was a tragic event that took place under troublesome conditions a century ago.

On April 24, France held the first national day of commemoration of the Armenian genocide, fulfilling a pledge by President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron announced the commemoration at a meeting with representatives of the country’s large Armenian community in February, honoring a promise made during his 2017 presidential campaign.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe participated in the Armenian Genocide commemoration in Paris.

President Macron said “we commemorate the Armenian Genocide to ensure that history does not repeat its errors.”

“Today, on April 24, we officially commemorate the Armenian Genocide to remember that man is capable of the worst when he forgets what binds him to his neighbor, and to ensure that history does not repeat his errors,” Macron said in a Twitter post.

Armenpress: Conference on Armenian Genocide held in New Delhi

Varazdat Torgomian

Conference on Armenian Genocide held in New Delhi

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09:49,

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. Conference on the Armenian Genocide, titled “Memory Policy in Armenia”, was held in India’s leading Jawaharlal Nehru University on April 24, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

The conference was attended by the teaching staff and students of the university, the representatives of Indian intelligentsia, Armenian community and the Armenian Embassy in India.

Armenian Ambassador to India Armen Martirosyan delivered remarks at the conference, introducing the historical and geopolitical aspects of the issue of the Armenian Genocide, as well as Armenia’s approaches on overcoming the consequences of the genocide.

A number of representatives of the university also delivered remarks.

A candlelight vigil was held at the end of the event dedicated to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Cross-stone made by 12-14-year olds commemorates Artsakh war heroes

Varazdat Torgomian
Panorama, Armenia
Society 11:27 23/04/2019 Armenia

Armenian army officer, Major Sargis Stepanyan, together with his fellow servicemen, on Monday took part in the inauguration of an Armenian khachkar (cross-stone) in the yard of Saint Sarkis Church in Noyemberyan community of Armenia’s Tavush Province.

The monument made by 12-14-year-old children of Arar Armenian Art Center pays tribute to fallen solders of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Liberation War.

“I am excited and proud…we are deeply grateful to Arsen Grigoryan, the head of the art center, for such an important, bright and invaluable initiative aimed at preservation of national values and centuries-old history,” Stepanyan said in a Facebook post.



More photos at


Russia MOD publicizes rare photos of Armenian marshals

Varazdat Torgomian
News.am, Armenia


Russia MOD publicizes rare photos of Armenian marshals (PHOTOS) Russia MOD publicizes rare photos of Armenian marshals (PHOTOS)

12:13, 20.04.2019
                  

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) has posted on its website the rare personal photos of the Soviet Union marshals and generals of the Great Patriotic War, and among whom there are Armenian marshals, too.

In particular, rare photos of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal Hamazasp Babadzhanian, and of Double Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal Ivan Bagramyan, were publicized in a respective article of the Russian MOD.




Tourists visiting Artsakh to be granted free entry visa from April 29

Varazdat Torgomian
Public Radio of Armenia
Tourists visiting Artsakh to be granted free entry visa from April 29

2019-04-20 10:41:51

On April 29, the law of the Republic of Artsakh ‘On Making Amendment to the NKR Law ‘On State Duty’, signed by President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on April 12, 2019, will come into force.

On December 1, 2018, the Foreign Ministry came forward with a proposal to make an amendment to the law, which would provide for abolishing the state duty for the 21-day single tourist entry visa to the Republic of Artsakh. The introduced legislative amendment is aimed to promote tourism development in Artsakh by facilitating the issuance of entry visas to foreign citizens․

According to the new procedure, foreign citizens will be granted an entry visa at the passport control points upon entry to Artsakh, and at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Artsakh to the Republic of Armenia (address: Yerevan, Nairi Zaryan St. 17a / 2).

Ծառուկյանը շրջում է Բելառուսի դիվանագիտական պետհամարանիշներ կրող Range Rover-ո՞վ. FIP

Varazdat Torgomian
  • 15.04.2019

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  • Հայաստան

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  • arm

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ԲՀԿ առաջնորդ, ՀՀ ԱԺ պատգամավոր Գագիկ Ծառուկյանն Արարատի մարզ գնացել է Range Rover ավտոմեքենայով, որի պետհամարանիշը դիվանագիտական է՝ «36 D009 AM» և պատկանում է ՀՀ-ում Բելառուսի դեսպանատանը: Այս մասին հայտնում է Փաստերի ստուգման հարթակը:


«Գագիկ Ծառուկյանի ֆեյսբուքյան էջում տեղադրվել է տեսանյութ նրա՝ Արարատի մարզ կատարած այցի վերաբերյալ։


Ինչպես երևում է տեսանյութում, ՀՀ ԱԺ պատգամավոր Գագիկ Ծառուկյանն այս հանդիպմանը գնացել է Range Rover ավտոմեքենայով, որի պետհամարանիշը դիվանագիտական է՝ «36 D009 AM» և պատկանում է ՀՀ-ում Բելառուսի դեսպանատանը:


Դիվանագիտական համարանիշով մեքենաները Հայաստանում ունեն որոշակի արտոնություն։ Ճանապարհային ոստիկանությունն այս մեքենաները չի կանգնեցնում, վարչական տուգանքներից ևս այս մեքենաները ազատված են։


Ուշագրավ է, որ ըստ մամուլի բազմաթիվ հրապարակումների, ԲՀԿ կուսակցության առաջնորդ Գագիկ Ծառուկյանի և Բելառուսի նախագահ Ալեքսանդր Լուկաշենկոյի հարաբերությունները շատ ջերմ են։ Լուկաշենկոն անգամ մասնակցել էր Ծառուկյանի կողմից Աբովյանում կառուցված եկեղեցու բացման արարողությանը», – ասված է նյութում, որտ տեղադրված է Փաստերի ստուգման հարթակի Facebook-յան էջում:

Pashinyan: No one should speak to Armenia and Karabakh from positions of force

Varazdat Torgomian
News.am, Armenia
April 7 2019
Pashinyan: No one should speak to Armenia and Karabakh from positions of force Pashinyan: No one should speak to Armenia and Karabakh from positions of force

17:02, 07.04.2019
                 

YEREVAN.- It is impossible to speak to Armenia and Karabakh in the language of threats to start a war. Armenia will respond to the threat of war with the peace agenda and, if necessary, peace enforcement, said Armenian Prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking at the special congress of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteer Land Defenders (UVLD), held in the sessions hall of the Government on 7 April.

"No one should threaten the neighboring people. And in general, no one should speak to us from positions of force. We will respond to the threat of war by the peace agenda and, if necessary, the agenda of peace enforcement," the PM noted.

Burbank community to commemorate Armenian Genocide on April 16

Varazdat Torgomian
Public Radio of Armenia
Burbank community to commemorate Armenian Genocide on April 16

2019-03-29 11:52:30

Asbarez – The Armenian National Committee of America – Burbank, the Armenian Youth Federation Burbank ‘Varak’ Chapter and AYF Junior “Gaidzag” Chapter, the Homenetmen “Sipan” Chapter and the Burbank High School Armenian Club have teamed up this year to commemorate the 104th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on Tuesday, April 16.

The commemoration will begin at 6 p.m. with a short remembrance program led by ANCA – B. The BHS Armenian Club will showcase a testimonial presentation during the Burbank City Council meeting and, as is Burbank tradition, the City Council will present its proclamation in recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

A candlelight vigil will follow in front of Burbank City Hall, located at 275 E. Olive Ave, at 7 p.m., during which there will be speeches and performances from community leaders and a performance by members of the AYF Juniors “Gaidzag” Chapter.

The commemoration event is open to all community members, activists, and leaders. Join us in remembering the 1.5 million Armenian lives lost. For far too long, the crimes against humanity the Armenian people endured have been denied. We must unite in demanding recognition and restitution for the genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government. We must persist in our fight for justice.

“The Armenian-American youth recognizes the importance in unifying to promote awareness. For this reason, we urge people of all ages to come together and support this event,” stated Christine Mkrtchyan the secretary of AYF “Varak’ Chapter.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Burbank advances the social, economic, cultural and political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.