Author: Varazdat Torgomian

Sports: U.S. Embassy Brings Basketball Greats to Armenia for Training Camps Focused on Basketball and Leadership

Varazdat Torgomian
The U.S. Embassy in Armenia
Friday 7:42 AM EST
U.S. Embassy Brings Basketball Greats to Armenia for Training Camps Focused on Basketball and Leadership
 
YEREVAN, Armenia
 
 
The United States and Armenia both share a love and passion for sports, and in the spirit of sports diplomacy the U.S. Embassy in Armenia brought two professional basketball legends, Ruthie Bolton and Shari Sam, to Armenia for a series of workshops and training camps to help Armenian youth and coaches improve their basketball skills and develop as leaders.
 
Both of the visiting basketball stars played for the WNBA, the women's professional basketball league in the United States.
 
Ruthie Bolton is one of the most accomplished female athletes in the world. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, she was the star player on the WNBA team the Sacramento Monarchs from 1997 through 2004. She also served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves and is the author of several inspirational books in which she shares her story of empowerment.
 
Sheri Sam played for a number of WNBA teams, including the Orlando Miracle, the Miami Sol, the Minnesota Lynx, the Seattle Storm, the Charlotte Sting, the Indiana Fever, and the Detroit Shock. Her skills helped several of the teams reach the playoffs and win championships. A WNBA All-Star, she is ranked in the top 50 of all-time in several categories. Most recently, she has been an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois University.
 
While in Armenia the two are leading a series of workshops for young Armenian boys and girls from several rural communities, helping them develop their skills to become better basketball players. They will also be coaching them on how to develop their self-esteem and motivation, and encouraging them to become leaders on their teams and in their communities.
 
Along with working with young Armenians, the visiting U.S. basketball legends will also spend time leading masterclasses for Armenian coaches, sharing their experiences of using sports as a motivational force for good in the community.
 
The U.S. Embassy arranged the trip through the U.S. Government's Sports Envoy Program, administered by the U.S. State Department, which sends American athletes abroad to hold sports clinics for young people and coaches, participate in community activities, and engage youth in a dialogue on the importance of leadership and respect for diversity.
 

168: PM Pashinyan considers the incident in Panik village provocation against Armenia-Russia relations

Varazdat Torgomian
| 11:49 | July 19 2018
Category
Politics

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan considers the incident in Panik village of Shirak province impermissible and provocation against Armenian-Russian relations and Armenia’s sovereignty.

“I want to clearly record that this incident is impermissible, I consider it provocation against Armenian-Russian relations and Armenia’s sovereignty. The guilty should be found and held accountable. The point is to understand with which procedure this incident should be investigated. In any case, I know that the police prepare materials and hope further process will be effective,” PM Pashinyan said at today’s Cabinet meeting.

Skippy off to Armenia

Varazdat Torgomian
Yorke Peninsula Country Times, Australia
 
 
Skippy off to Armenia
 
Contributed

 
LOCAL identity Margaret “Skippy” Skipworth was surprised to see a Kadina Lions Club trailer blocking her driveway recently.
 
That surprise became incredulity when Lions president John Barnes and treasurer Dave Goold explained they were there to give her money toward her planned study trip to Armenia.
 
“We heard Skippy had been invited to Armenia by the Armenian Christian Association to see what has been done for orphaned children there and what else could be done in future, but she was having trouble financing the trip,” John said.

«Եկեղեցականին անհարիր վարքագիծ». Կորյուն աբեղա Առաքելյանը կարգալույծ է հռչակվել

Varazdat Torgomian
  • 17.07.2018

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  • Հայաստան

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Ն.Ս.Օ.Տ.Տ. Գարեգին Երկրորդ Ծայրագույն Պատրիարք եւ Ամենայն Հայոց Կաթողիկոսի հայրապետական տնօրինությամբ կարգալույծ է հռչակվել Կորյուն աբեղա Առաքելյանը՝ «եկեղեցականին անհարիր վարքագծի ու հակականոնական ընթացքի համար»:


Մայր Աթոռում նշել են, որ տնօրինության համար հիմք է ծառայել Սուրբ Էջմիածնի Կարգապահական հանձնախմբի եզրակացությունը, ինչպես նաեւ սահմանված մեկշաբաթյա շրջանում զղջմամբ ու ապաշխարությամբ դարձի գալու հորդորի անտեսումը:


Կարգալույծ եկեղեցականն այսուհետ կդասվի աշխարհականների շարքին՝ Արմեն Առաքելյան ավազանի անունով:

CAPTION UPDATE: Henry Morgenthau III, Grandson of Ambassador Morgenthau and Lifelong Supporter of US Affirmation of Armenian Genocide Passes Away at 101

Varazdat Torgomian
Photo Caption Correction for Photo # 4:
Photo Caption 4: Front Row: Dr. Hrand Avetisyan*, Dr. Pietro Kuciukian, Armenian Assembly President Carolyn Mugar, Dr. Richard Hovhannissian, Ambassador Michael Lemon, Henry Morgenthau III, Dr. Fadei Sargsyan, Dr. Henry Ben Morgenthau, and Dr. Lavrenti Barseghyan

———- Forwarded message ———
From: Armenian Assembly <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, Jul 11, 2018 at 7:01 PM
Subject: Henry Morgenthau III, Grandson of Ambassador Morgenthau and Lifelong Supporter of US Affirmation of Armenian Genocide Passes Away at 101
To:

ARMENIAN
ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:

Contact: Danielle
Saroyan

Telephone:
(202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

HENRY MORGENTHAU III, GRANDSON OF
AMBASSADOR MORGENTHAU AND LIFELONG SUPPORTER OF U.S. AFFIRMATION OF ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE, PASSES AWAY AT 101

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America and
Armenian National Institute mourn the loss of a longtime friend of the Armenian
people, Henry Morgenthau III, who dedicated himself to honoring the memory of
his grandfather, Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, passed away on July 10.

In countless
public presentations, in television appearances, and in numerous publications,
Henry Morgenthau III recounted his recollections of his grandfather with whom
he lived in New York City. He was honored on many occasions by Armenian
organizations across the country.

The Armenian
National Institute and the Armenian Assembly of America shared the distinction
of organizing Mr. Morgenthau's trip to Armenia in 1999 where he was honored by
the National Academy of Sciences, the Armenian Genocide Museum, and the City of
Yerevan.

Morgenthau
was joined by his sons Dr. Henry Ben Morgenthau and Kramer Morgenthau, as well
as Armenian Assembly President Carolyn Mugar, longtime personal friend of Henry
from the time of his residence in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Mrs. Kitty
Dukakis, wife of the former governor of the state of Massachusetts and a board
member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The
Morgenthau delegation was received by the president of Armenia, Robert
Kocharian, met with several other officials including U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia Michael Lemmon, and was the guest of honor at the naming of a Yerevan
city school in honor of Ambassador Morgenthau.

"My
grandfather frequently told me that his attempts to save Armenian lives at the
time of the Genocide and the establishment of the Near East Relief effort were
the achievements that meant the most to him," Morgenthau explained on the
occasion.  Ambassador Morgenthau served
as President Woodrow Wilson's emissary to the Ottoman Empire during World War
I.

With Henry
Morgenthau III's endorsement, in 1996 the Armenian Assembly of America
established the Henry Morgenthau Award for Meritorious Public Service which is
given out to public officials in recognition of their contributions in defense
of human rights.  Recipients of the
Assembly's Morgenthau Award include the first U.S. Ambassador to the Republic
of Armenia Harry Gilmore and U.S. Ambassador John Evans who publicly called for
official U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

A friend
also of the Armenian National Institute (ANI), Henry Morgenthau III encouraged
the organization with symbolic gifts of $1915 and joined with supporters and
Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian in the opening of the ANI
Library, to which he contributed his grandfather's library.

Henry
Morgenthau III was an author and television producer. His family history,
Mostly Morgenthaus, won the 1992 National Jewish Book Council prize for best
memoir. He was a fellow at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics,
and Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard
University.  Morgenthau's shows on
Boston's public television station, WGBH, won Peabody, Emmy, UPI, EFLA and
Flaherty Film Festival awards. 
Morgenthau also updated his grandfather's memoir, Ambassador
Morgenthau's Story, with a lengthy postscript about the Ambassador's life in
the 2003 edition of the book published by Wayne State University Press.

Henry
Morgenthau III's brother, Robert Morgenthau, also a vocal advocate for Armenian
Genocide recognition, served as District Attorney for New York County in
Manhattan. Their father, Henry Morgenthau II, was Secretary of the Treasury
under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"The
Armenian people have lost a true friend with Henry's passing. His grandfather
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau played a critical role as the first opponent of
genocide on the world stage as he defended the Armenian people.  With his first-hand familiarity of his
grandfather’s legacy, Henry stood with the Armenian people throughout his life,
always ready to step up immediately to lend his gravitas in support of all
essential issues for Armenians,” stated Armenian Assembly President Carolyn
Mugar.

"Despite
his advancing age, Henry continued to participate in Armenian Genocide
commemorative and advocacy events. He was honored at the community-wide
Centennial Genocide Commemoration in Washington, D.C. in 2015, where he walked
on stage surrounded by his children and grandchildren. The Morgenthaus are
legendary within the Armenian community, who are grateful that this noted
family validated their traumatic history as a people by informing the entire
world,” she continued.

Carolyn
added: “Henry was exemplary in carrying on Ambassador Morgenthau’s commitment
to genocide recognition and prevention. We all honor him for his total resolve
to relentlessly stand up and speak out against injustices of the past. He used
his voice to deepen people’s recognition of the importance of acknowledging the
truth in history and thereby using this truth to prevent the recurrence of
atrocities.”

Established
in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###

NR#: 2018-034

Photo
Caption 1: Kramer Morgenthau, Henry Morgenthau III, and Dr. Henry Ben
Morgenthau standing underneath a photo of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau at the
Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan

 

Photo
Caption 2: Henry Morgenthau III in Yerevan

 

Photo
Caption 3: Armenian National Institute Director Dr. Rouben Adalian, Armenian
Assembly President Carolyn Mugar, Kramer Morgenthau, Kitty Dukakis, Henry
Morgenthau III, and Dr. Henry Ben Morgenthau at Tsitsernakaberd Armenian
Genocide Memorial

 

Photo
Caption 4: Front Row: Dr. Hrant Matevosyan, Dr. Pietro Kuciukian, Armenian
Assembly President Carolyn Mugar, Dr. Richard Hovhannissian, Ambassador Michael
Lemon, Henry Morgenthau III, Dr. Fadei Sargsyan, Dr. Henry Ben Morgenthau, and
Dr. Lavrenti Barseghyan

 

Photo
Caption 5: Former Armenian Assembly Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, Samantha Power,
Henry Morgenthau III, Ambassador John Evans, and Armenian Assembly President
Carolyn Mugar

 

Photo
Caption 6: Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, Henry Morgenthau III, and ANI Director
Dr. Rouben Adalian at the opening of the ANI Research Library  

 

Photo
Caption 7: International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation Chairman Eduardo
Eurnekian, Robert Morgenthau, Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian, and
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny

 

Photo
Caption 8: Henry Morgenthau III speaking at the Republic of Armenia Academy of
Sciences Conference


Available online: http://bit.ly/2JgGeef


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Entertainment: 14 Years After the Infamous Bathtub Video, Where Is Lebanese Armenian Starlet Maria Nalbandian Today?

Varazdat Torgomian
Al-Bawaba, Middle East
July 9 2018


Exclusive Interview: 14 Years After the Infamous Bathtub Video, Where Is Lebanese Armenian Starlet Maria Nalbandian Today?

2.5 5

Published July 9th, 2018 – 10:31 GMT via SyndiGate.info

Written by Zaid Bawab

Maria Nalbandian is a name that rose to stardom in late 2004. Her first music video for the hit song "Elaab," gave her a passport to the Arab world.

Yet, after releasing two Albums in Arabic in addition to successful singles, the Lebanese Armenian beauty focused on singing in the Armenian language and released an International Armenian album titled "A Dream" followed by multiple Armenian singles.

Afterwards however, Nalbandian seemed to steer away from the limelight and follow other business related projects. Weeks after we named Maria the number one "Bathtub Babe," we got the chance to chat with one of the most controversial names out there; we asked Maria about her dreams, her career, and her new endeavors.

(Source: maria_nalbandian – Instagram)

First of all let's start with your new brands "CharmingGifts" and "CharmingQueen", what can you tell us about them?

I have two brands #CharmingGifts and #CharmingQueen. Charming Gifts is an online boutique, it is all about luxury items, home accessories, unique gift items, fashion and accessories by Charming Queen. It is all exclusive and limited items.

You are known for your basic but emotive use of the Arabic Language. How are your Arabic language skills doing? Is it getting better or worse?

My Arabic Language is not perfect yet fans accept it and they like me the way I am. It even made me stand out and gave me a unique distinctive style and character. People who love me know that I am Armenian and that both my parents are Armenian.

I was born in Lebanon that is why I know how to speak Arabic. Arabic language means a lot to me and I learned it because I love it, it is beautiful and the Arab region has some of the most beautiful music in the world.

(Source: maria_nalbandian – Instagram)

What changed about Maria after 14 years of being in the limelight?

After 14 years I went through a lot of experiences and learned a lot. I still have the same soul, but what changed about me is the way I see life. I think my mind is more mature. I don't take decisions fast. Plus, I learned to be silent and listen more.

Where are you currently staying? Armenia or Lebanon?

I live between Lebanon and Armenia. And just like Armenia is my country, Lebanon is as well. I am as much Armenian as I am Arab, and I am proud to be born in the Middle East and that I speak and sing in Arabic.

Do people still recognize you in the street in Lebanon and Egypt? And how do you feel when you meet people that still remember your music videos and bring them up?

They always recognize me in Lebanon and Egypt or any other Arab country that I travel to. It makes me really happy when I see that my hard work paid off and when I see love in the eyes of people who love me when they come and salute me. I like being close to people's hearts, I like the simple life, I wear casual clothes as being down to earth is key. I think it is one of the best qualities a person can have.

When we talk about your career we have to mention director Jad Shwery? Are you still in contact with him? How would you describe your relationship with him today?

Jad is my best friend and will always be. He helped me a lot in the making of my Armenian album "Mi Eraz" (A dream Vol.1). The album's cover artwork was his idea, and he also suggested that I shall be sleeping beauty on the cover as the album's title suggests. I asked for his opinion in many matters. He helped me a lot, and everything turned out the way I wanted it in the end.

Do you regret anything?

I regret trusting people that did not deserve my trust. I used to think differently but I trained myself to be more mature and to be careful of those who are close. Experience taught me to be more careful with myself, and to really open my eyes and not to trust anyone. 

Any artistic projects that will be released soon?

Currently,  I am focusing on my business and I don't have any plans regarding my career as an artist. I believe in God's will and what is destined for me shall happen. I am living a secure, safe life and I believe everything will be for my own good in the end. Thank God for everything.

Does that mean that you are not releasing any new Arabic songs in the future?

I don't have any problem to sing in any language. Given that I was born in an Arab country and the fact that I am originally Armenian, this gives me the right to sing in Arabic or Armenian whenever I want to.


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Entertainment: Festival takes music deep into Istanbul’s centuries-old heritage

Varazdat Torgomian 
AFP - RELAXNEWS (English International Version)
July 9, 2018 Monday


ENTERTAINMENT
Festival takes music deep into Istanbul's centuries-old heritage


It's an early summer evening at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, the maze-like
warren of alleyways crammed with shops that has been the city's
trading hub for over half a millennium.

But this time, there are no traders' voices beckoning to travellers to
come and haggle over the price of a carpet. Nor is the air filled with
the pungent whiff of oriental spices being offered to passers-by.

As the evening light streams through the upper arch windows, it is
music that resonates through the bazaar; oriental wind instruments
like the Turkish ney and Armenian duduk, the lute-like oud and the
Balkan accordion.

For the first time in its history as an epicentre of trade and
commerce in Istanbul, the bazaar is being used for a concert in the
prestigious annual summer Istanbul Music Festival run by the Istanbul
Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) -- the city's premier musical
event since its creation in 1973.

- 'Grand' acoustics -

It's a constant source of frustration to music lovers in Istanbul that
the Turkish megapolis lacks a world-class, purpose-built music venue,
especially for classical and traditional music.

But the festival uses the city's multicultural and multiconfessional
heritage to make up for what it lacks in modern infrastructure,
staging concerts in churches, synagogues, historic universities and
now the Grand Bazaar.

"It is a very intelligent way to use this kind of historical space for
concerts and bring in people for reasons other than their original
function," said Kudsi Erguner, a celebrated Turkish traditional
musician and one of the great living exponents of the ney.

"Usually, people come here to buy things," he added, before dazzling
the audience with his command of the long, flute-like instrument.

Despite the venue not being built for the purpose, he praised the
acoustics of the Grand Bazaar, known in Turkish as the Kapalicarsi,
meaning Covered Market.

"The space is curved, there is a nice resonance and a very nice
differentiation of sound," he added.

- 'Connections with identity' -

The Istanbul Music Festival, which focuses on classical music but
includes high quality traditional music and jazz, has taken concerts
to venues like the Neve Shalom Synagogue, the St Anthony Roman
Catholic Church and even the platform of Sirkeci Train Station, the
legendary terminus of the Orient Express.

The use of the venues, and the music played inside them, is a
celebration of multicultural heritage in a city where the presence of
Jews, Armenians and Greeks, as well as other minorities alongside the
majority Muslim population, is a key part of its urban identity.

Their populations were greatly diminished by 20th century tragedies
such as the deportations and massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire from 1915 -- seen by Armenians, but not Turkey, as a genocide
-- and the mob rioting directed at the Greek minority in 1955.

Today, these buildings are a symbol of the proud presence that
Turkey's minorities maintain in the former Constantinople, once the
capital of the Roman, Byzantine and then Ottoman empires.

"Istanbul has been the capital city of three empires and home to three
major religions. They all left their landmarks in the city," director
of the Istanbul Music Festival and deputy director general of IKSV,
Yesim Gurer Oymak, told AFP.

"A festival should also underline the historical heritage of the city
where it takes place and make connections with its cultural identity,"
she added.

- 'Tolerance and harmony' -

This year saw a concert held for the first time in the Neve Shalom
Synagogue, a key place of worship for Istanbul's Jewish community,
which was hit twice by deadly attacks -- first in a 1986 gun attack
and then a 2003 bombing blamed on Islamist militants.

Istanbul may not have an ultra-modern concert hall like Paris or
Hamburg but some of the finest acoustics in the city are to be found
in historic buildings which also double as concert venues.

Possibly the finest venue for an orchestra in the city is the Hagia
Eirene -- a former Byzantine church, now a museum -- that dates back
to the 6th century and where audiences can enjoy classical music with
pin sharp acoustics marred only by the occasional swooping pigeon.

At the concert inside the Grand Bazaar, its historic walls echoed with
a celebration of Istanbul's cultural heritage, bringing together songs
of Armenian, Ladino, Jewish as well as Turkish origin, led by
traditional musician Hakan Gungor.

"This is the first time we perform a concert in the Grand Bazaar. It
is a very important place with very authentic shops and our music is
also very authentic," said Cag Ercag, one of Turkey's top classical
cellists.

Oymak said there were still locations in Istanbul where she dreamt of
holding concerts, in particular a concert of "tolerance and harmony"
at the historic Sultanahmet Square -- which is flanked by the Hagia
Sophia and Blue Mosque -- fusing elements of Western and Eastern
music.

Footage shows Azerbaijani military posts burning

Varazdat Torgomian
Public Radio of Armenia
July 2 2018
Footage shows Azerbaijani military posts burning

Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense Zohrab Mnatsakanyan has shared a video showing an Azerbaijani defense position burning near Nakhijevan.

The Armenian side declared on Sunday it had completely destroyed one of Azerbaijan’s military positions.

Armenian forces opened retaliatory fire after the attempts by Azerbaijani side to carry out engineering works at the military posts near Nakhijevan.

Video at

Petr Mikyska: Czech companies interested in implementing investment programs in Armenia

Varazdat Torgomian
Arminfo, Armenia
Petr Mikyska: Czech companies interested in implementing investment programs in Armenia

Yerevan June 22

Naira Badalyan. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Armenia Petr Mikyska.

As the press service of the government reports, stressing the importance of further development of the Armenian-Czech relations, the prime minister expressed satisfaction with the level of bilateral political cooperation. At the same time, Pashinyan considered it necessary to intensify and expand the Armenian– Czech relations in the economic sphere. The Prime Minister stressed that the executive body is interested in attracting Czech capital to the Armenian market and added that the Armenian government is consistently making real changes that will guarantee the security of investments.

Petr Mikyska, in his turn, welcomed the reforms carried out by the new Armenian authorities in various spheres. He stressed that the Czech Republic is ready to help the Armenian government implement its priorities. The ambassador said that various Czech companies are interested in implementing investment programs in Armenia in specific areas.

The Prime Minister thanked the Czech side for its readiness to help the Armenian government and touched upon the further development of Armenia-EU relations, the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and the issues of mutual interest.