Author: Zakarian Garnik

VENEZZIA’ NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE AT 2009 ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SET FOR OCTOBER 23

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Oct 12th, 2009

HOLLYWOOD-The 12th Annual Arpa International Film Festival will present
the North American premiere of Haik Gazarian’s "VENEZZIA" at 8 p.m. on
Friday, October 23 at the legendary Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

"Venezzia", which features two of Latin America ‘s most exciting film
and television stars, Alfonso Herrera and Ruddy Rodríguez, marks the
directorial debut of filmmaker Haik Gazarian.

The epic love story is set on the exotic Venezuelan coast of the
Caribbean Sea during World War II. A valiant team of Allied military
technicians arrives off the coast to patrol enemy German U-boats.

Communications Technician Frank Moore (Alfonso Herrera) is assigned
to the remote town of Puerto Miranda where he becomes embroiled in
a Nazi plot to sabotage oil supplies destined for Allied ports. In
Puerto Miranda, Frank meets the beautiful and mysterious Venezzia
(Ruddy Rodríguez in the title role). Longing to escape from the
clutches of her domineering husband, Venezzia feels an instant mutual
attraction to Frank.

Arpa International Film Festival director Alex Kalognomos says
"’Venezzia’ is a timeless story about passionate love and political
intrigue with cutting edge special effects, breathtaking locales, and
a dazzling international cast. It’s the first motion picture of its
kind to emerge from Venezuela , and Arpa International Film Festival
is honored to present the U.S. premiere. For a festival such as ours –
one that presents the works of filmmakers exploring such issues as
war and exile – ‘Venezzia’ holds cinematic and cultural relevance
that is made all the more poignant in today’s world, in which human
lives are devastated by war every single day."

The film follows Frank and Venezzia’s tumultuous romance during a
pivotal time in world history. Kalognomos continues, "As Gazarian’s
story unfolds, a startling realism emerges about the effects of war
on the lives of two people in love.’venezzia’ is such a universal
story. And Gazarian is a major talent. We’re thrilled to present his
film to Hollywood audiences."

Sylvia Minassian, founder of Arpa Foundation for Film, Music &
Art (AFFMA), a non-profit art organization which presents the film
festival annually, notes that Gazarian is a former AFFMA filmmaker and
committee member. "AFFMA has been nurturing the careers of filmmakers
since 1995. Haik’s film is the fulfillment of our dream – to see past
festival filmmakers produce world class films such as ‘Venezzia.’ The
festival mission is to guide emerging filmmakers through the rank
and file movie industry system to find success.

Haik Gazarian and ‘Venezzia’ are shining examples of what can happen
when the stars align."

"Bringing ‘Venezzia’ to the big screen has been a longstanding dream
of mine," shares first time director Gazarian. "The realization of
the film proves that dreams do come true. AFFMA must be commended for
helping filmmakers like myself find success in this most competitive
industry." Gazarian continues, "With my first film, I wanted to tell
a classic story of love and duty, which takes place during World War
II. But unlike other feature films, I wanted to tell my story from
the point of view of the Caribbean Sea and especially Venezuela. Few
people know about the crucial role Venezuelans played in advancing
Allied efforts against the Axis powers. It is important that we
remember the contributions of these lesser known but equally heroic
figures of the war."

"Venezzia" will screen as the Opening Night premiere of Arpa
International Film Festival on Friday, October 23. Joining Gazarian at
the red carpet premiere, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m., will be co-stars
Herrera, one of Mexico’s most popular actors and former member of the
Grammy-nominated pop group RBD; and Rodriguez, whose more than two
decades in television and film have garnered her a legion of devoted
fans in the Spanish speaking world and beyond; executive producer Edgar
Ramirez whose acting credits include "Domino," "The Bourne Ultimatum"
and "Vantage Point"; and screenwriter Valentina Rendon. Opening night
proceedings will be emceed by REELZChannel’s Jill Simonian.

The 8 p.m. screening will be followed by a Q&A with the cast and
crew and a cocktail and appetizer reception, which will take place
in the Egyptian Theatre courtyard. Tickets to the red carpet premiere
screening of "Venezzia" and the post-screening reception are available
at for a purchase price of $40. Tickets may also be
purchased at the Egyptian Theatre box office for $50 on premiere night.

"The festival is about building bridges between diverse cultures and
communities through the power of film," says Kalognomos. "Venezzia,"
a film from Venezuela , gives our festival a wonderful opportunity
to forge a strong bond with the Los Angeles Latino community and
launch the film into the commercial market. We anticipate a 600+
attendance for the film’s premiere." "Venezzia" will be competing
in the category of Best Feature Film alongside "Chasing Tchaikovsky"
( USA ), "Li Tong" ( China ), and "Sonbahar" ("Autumn") ( Turkey ).

Arpa International Film Festival will present 46 films, star-studded
receptions and opening and closing night premieres from Friday,
October 23 to Sunday, October 25. Included among the shorts,
documentaries, music videos and animations will be several Spanish
language films as well as films with themes that resonate especially
with Latino audiences. Among those films are "Return to Mexico City",
"The Gynaecologist", "Danzak" and "Point of Entry."

"Return to Mexico City" tells the story of Olympic medalists Tommie
Smith and John Carlos who return to Mexico City 40 years after
stirring controversy by raising their fists in the air during their
medal ceremony and, in the process, raising awareness of the struggle
for civil rights in America and basic human rights throughout the
world. The film features interviews with Smith and Carlos as well
as President Barack Obama and Tom Brokaw and is narrated by "24"
star Kiefer Sutherland.

"The Gynaecologist" is a dark comedy from Spain written, directed
and produced by the talented Alfonso Camarero. The plot of this ten
minute short revolves around a gynecologist who is surprised by a
male patient’s hospital visit. Naturally, the gynecologist throws
out the joker. But the patient returns with the hospital coordinator,
who orders the gynecologist to examine the boy, and that’s when the
gynecologist’s troubles really begin.

"Danzak," a Peruvian / American production, is the story of Nina, a
10 year old girl whose life dramatically changes when her father and
Scissor Dancer master asks her to fulfill his last wish. Written,
produced and directed by Gabriela Yepes, this beautiful film is
inspired by "Agony of Rasu Ñiti,"a short story by famous Peruvian
writer Jose María Arguedas.

Zeus Quijano, Jr.’s documentary short subject "Point of Entry," a
Mexico / United States production, follows Carlos, an illegal immigrant
living in the United States with his wife and two children. His
decision to leave his homeland Mexico as well as his parents and
siblings weighs heavily on Carlos. Fifteen years old at the time he
left home, Carlos is now 30 and continues to send remittances to
his family. Quijano captures the love and longing felt by Carlos,
his parents and siblings with grace and compassion.

Arpa Foundation for Film, Music & Art (AFFMA) was founded in 1995 for
the purpose of enhancing our community’s environment and supporting
artists who bridge the cultural divide. The foundation as well as the
film festival derive their name from the Arpa, a river that flows
through Armenia . As water provides a source of life and energy,
so does art to the human soul.

For more information about becoming an AFFMA member, volunteer,
or filmmaker please visit or call 323-663-1882.

To become a festival sponsor or to purchase tickets to the Opening
Night Premiere screening of "Venezzia" and Closing Night Awards
Gala at the historic Egyptian Theatre, please visit
or call 323-663-1882. Tickets to the Closing Night Awards Gala,
which includes cocktails and a dinner reception, may be purchased
for $75. Tickets to the red carpet premiere screening of "Venezzia"
and the post-screening reception are available at for a
purchase price of $40. Tickets may also be purchased at the Egyptian
Theatre box office for $50 on premiere night. Opening Night Premiere
and Gala tickets are also available through the purchase of a VIP
3-day All-Access Pass at the special rate of $150.

Turkey, Armenia to sign peace agreement

CNN
October 10, 2009 — Updated 1839 GMT (0239 HKT)

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) — The governments of Armenia and Turkey will sign a
peace agreement in Zurich on Saturday that would normalize relations after
nearly a century of animosity between the neighboring nations, the Swiss
government said Friday.

The signing ceremony comes more than a month after Armenia and Turkey
announced they had agreed to start six weeks of "internal political
consultations" on two protocols aimed at establishing diplomatic and
bilateral relations.

The Swiss-mediated peace deal would also open the border between the
countries, which has been shut since 1993. The border was closed after
Turkey objected to Armenia’s war with Turkish ally Azerbaijan over the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabagh. Neither country has an embassy in
the other’s capital.

Turkish-Armenian relations have often been overshadowed by the dispute over
the massacre of ethnic Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire,
more than 90 years ago. Armenians accuse Ottoman Turks of committing
genocide, killing more then a million Armenians starting in 1915. Modern-day
Turkey vehemently rejects the allegations.

The proposed protocols for normalizing relations call for creating a
committee of international experts to research archives and "restore mutual
confidence between the two nations." There is no mention of the disputed
territory of Karabagh, which Armenian troops have controlled since the 1993
Armenian-Azerbaijan war.

But the success of the protocols is still uncertain, as the parliaments of
both countries still must ratify the agreement.

A senior U.S. State Department official — authorized to brief reporters
without attribution because of diplomatic sensitivities — said the
situation remains "difficult."

"There’s opposition both in Turkey and in Armenia," the senior official said
Thursday, "but both governments realize ultimately it’s in their interest to
have normalized relations and an open border after years of tension and the
economic isolation, particularly of Armenia."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend the signing, along with
dignitaries from several other countries, including the European Union,
according to the Swiss government.

Real Madrid midfielder sure match against Armenia should be taken
seriously
10.10.2009 19:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Spain Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso advised his
teammates to treat the World Cup qualifying match with Armenia in all
seriousness.

" Victory of the last match against Belgium gives Armenia a great
moral force. Our opponent will try to repeat its success in the game
against us. We must prepare for this meeting. It is important, we
continue to advance," AS quoted Xabi Alonso.

PRESS RELEASE
Focus on Children Now, Inc.
6850 Canby Avenue, Suite 102
Reseda, CA91335
tel: 818.554.8832
fax: 818.881.9059
e-mail: [email protected]

Focus On children Now’s Clothing Driveto Reach Thousands Of Children

Los Angeles, October 2009 – On Saturday, October 17, Focus on Children
Now (FCN) will hold a Clothing Drive as part of its Humanitarian Aid
Program. In one day, an estimated of 100 boxes of clothing containing
about 6,000 pieces of articles will be packed. The boxes will be
distributed to schools, orphanages, soup kitchens, refugee camps,
hospitals, and many more deserving individuals and families in
Armenia.

Through FCN’s Humanitarian Aid Program, we have the opportunity
to have an immediate impact on the lives of thousands of children and
their families. By simply donating clothes to children and families in
need, we are able to make a real and tangible difference,’ said
Kariné Aboolian, President of Focus on Children Now.

With the kind donations of supporters and help of its generous
volunteers, FCN has helped over 50,000 children and their families by
distributing donated clothing, shoes, school supplies, toys and
medical supplies, allowing the beneficiating children to feel more
confident about entering society and shrugging off the stigma of
poverty.

The boxes of clothing and supplies will be shipped to Armenia via
United Armenia Fund. Past shipments have reached children and families
via dozens of organizations and channels, including Armenia Red Cross,
American Peace Corps Volunteers, MerDoon, ORRAN, Armenia Education
Fund, Gavar Special School, Aygabatz Organization, Bridge of Hope,
Fuller Center for Housing, AstghavardDisabled Children’sParents
NGO,Word of Life Church, Children’s Assistance Fund, ZartikOrphanage,
Houys Orphanage, Gyumri, Mission Armenia Soup Kitchen, Green
TavushNGO, Vanazor Orphanage, Huys Yev Havet Ojakh,and Kharbert
Specialized Orphanage.

Community members can help by donating new and gently used clothing,
new shoes, toys and school supplies and/or volunteering their time to
sort and pack the articles. Visit for more information.

When:Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: AGBU Manoogian Dermirjian School
6844 Oakdale Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91306

AGBU Manoogian Dermirjian School has been imperative in making the
Humanitarian Aid Program a success; articles collected are stored and
packed at the school’s facility.

About Focus on Children Now () Focus on
Children Now, Inc. is a not-for- profit organization with the motto to
`Break the Poverty Cycle, One Child at a Time.’ FCN’s 100% volunteer
team, working with a loyal donor base and a trusted network of
partners, has been helping impoverished children in need of basic life
necessities since 2005 through its various programs.

About Humanitarian Aid ProgramEvery month, FCN dispatches to and
distributes thousands of pieces of new and quality used clothing to
disadvantaged children and their families. The organization also sends
care packages containing shoes, toys, school supplies and bedding to
numerous nursing homes, special schools, soup kitchens and
orphanages. FCN’s target is to collect, sort, pack and distribute over
100,000 pieces of articles in 2009 as part of their Humanitarian Aid
Program.

YEREVAN CLAIMS TO WORLD BOOK CAPITAL TITLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2009 13:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with
UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, RA MFA press office reported.

Congratulating Ms. Bokova on the election and inviting her to Armenia,
Minister Nalbandian appreciated highly the programs UNESCO implements
in Armenia.

He also requested to include the 500th anniversary of Armenian
typography in UNESCO calendar and said that Yerevan will submit a
bid for the title of World Book Capital in 2012.

AVETIQYAN: "I LIKED PRESIDENT’S BEHAVOR. THAT WAS IMAGE OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL"

Panorama.am
17:01 07/10/2009

"President’s "pan-Armenian tour" is the evidence to the fact that
he is responsible, he does not avoid communicating with Armenians,
he does not avoid from meeting with people. His effort has historic
truth. He will get positive impressions which would contribute to
the further steps," Hakob Avetiqyan, the editor-in-chief of "Azg"
newspaper told at news conference.

According to him hearing the opinions of Armenia and Diaspora, Serzh
Sargsyan will act his way. "The feeling of responsibility will be
bigger," he said.

The editor quoted Harut Sasunyan’s, from Courier, question addressed
to the President: "If Armenian-Turkish border is opened and than
closed again, what will we do?" The President answered: "Surely,
we should retain for them that if we open the border, but later it
is closed by them, we’ll reject all the agreements."

"I liked President’s behavior. That was an image of responsible state
official," Avetiqyan said.

TURKEY EXPECTS TO SEAL DEAL WITH ARMENIA ON OCT. 10
By Zerin Elci

Reuters
07 Oct 2009 14:49:36 GMT

ANKARA, Oct 7 (Reuters) – Turkey expects historic accords to normalise
ties with Armenia to be signed on Saturday in Switzerland in a step
towards ending a century of hostility, senior Turkish government
sources said on Wednesday.

Doubts had emerged in diplomatic circles about whether the ceremony
would take place because of pressure from the powerful Armenian
diaspora, as well as opposition within Armenia and to a certain
extent Turkey.

"There are no changes to those plans," a senior Turkish government
source, referring to the planned signature of protocols in Zurich on
Oct. 10, told Reuters. Another government source, who also declined
to be named, agreed.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties because of hostility
stemming from the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during
World War One.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with fellow
Muslim Azerbaijan, then at war with Armenian-backed ethnic Armenians.

Turkey and Armenia agreed on Aug. 31 to sign, within six weeks, two
protocols on the establishment of diplomatic ties, opening a common
border and for historians to investigate the events surrounding the
killings of Armenians in 1915.

But Armenia was taken by surprise when Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan announced in New York that the agreements would be signed on
Oct. 10.

Turkish Foreign Ministry officials later told reporters each country’s
foreign minister would attend the ceremony in Zurich.

Armenian officials were not available for comment.

Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan is on a week-long intercontinental
charm offensive to calm concerns in the Armenian diaspora over the
historic thaw with Turkey. Diplomatic observers also fear the signing
could be disrupted by demands by some Turks for a resolution on the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

Armenian nationalists demand that Turkey acknowledge the 1915 killings
as genocide. Ankara rejects the term genocide, saying that many people
died on both sides of the conflict.

Once the protocols are signed they must be approved by the respective
parliaments. This leaves open the possibility that either side delays
the approval in case they face unexpected domestic opposition.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Hanging over efforts to re-establish ties is the spectre of one of
the bloodiest and most intractable conflicts sparked by the demise
of the Soviet Union.

Armenia went to war with neighbouring Azerbaijan in the early 1990s
over the mountainous territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian
enclave located within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised
borders. Some 30,000 people died.

International mediators are trying to put pressure on Armenia to
negotiate with Azerbaijan over Karabakh as part of a wider attempt
to secure a lasting peace in the region.

Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan, has also said ties with
Armenia cannot be normalised until there is progress on
Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia insists the two issues are separate.

In the latest diplomatic round, two days before the Swiss ceremony,
the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold new talks on Karabakh
in Moldova’s capital Chisinau on Thursday.

Turkish government sources said they did not expect any major
breakthrough in Moldova but said the meeting itself would help push
a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute forward.

(Writing by Paul de Bendern)

ARMENIAN PROTESTERS GATHER AGAINST TURKEY TIES

By The Daily Star
Wednesday, October 07, 2009

BEIRUT: Thousands of Lebanese of Armenian descent held a peaceful
protest in Beirut Tuesday at the start of a visit by Armenia’s
president who has announced plans to establish relations with Turkey.

Nearly 2,000 protesters gathered around the hotel east of Beirut where
President Serge Sarkisian will be staying during his two-day visit.

There are 150,000 Armenians in Lebanon; nearly 4 percent of the
population.

Sarkisian’s tour of the Diaspora Armenian communities around the world
aims to raise support for his landmark bid for diplomatic ties with
Turkey after a century of enmity.

The killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire in
1915 has been the main barrier to reconciliation. Armenians have long
fought to persuade other governments to consider it a genocide. Turkey
rejects the label and says the death toll is inflated.

Hundreds of riot police and soldiers surrounded the Metropolitan
Palace Hotel as the demonstrators waved Armenian flags and banners
in Armenian reading "we will not forget" and "we will struggle."

Sarkisian’s trip dubbed a "pan-Armenian tour" has so far taken him
to Paris, New York and Los Angeles. After Lebanon, he will head to
Rostov-on-Don in Russia to discuss a planned meeting October 10 when
=0 D the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers are expected to sign
the deal to establish ties.

Last month, Turkey and Armenia said they would set aside hostilities
and establish diplomatic ties in favor of practical concerns such as
oil interests and Turkey’s EU membership bid.

Armenians in their poor, isolated homeland are more eager to improve
ties with Turkey than many in the vast Armenian Diaspora.

Armenians abroad – estimated at 5.7 million – outnumber the 3.2 million
living in Armenia itself, the smallest of the ex-Soviet republics.

The largest communities are in Russia (2 million), the US (1.4
million), according to government data.

"After nearly 100 years of fighting for our cause, how can our enemy
become our friend in the blink of an eye?" asked a visibly angry
Koko Marashlian, a store owner in Beirut’s Armenian neighborhood of
Burj Hammoud.

Hagop Pakradounian, one of six Armenian deputies in Lebanon’s
parliament, said the community was all for improved ties between
Armenia and Turkey, but not at any price.

"This issue concerns Armenians worldwide and not just those in
Armenia," Pakradounian told AFP.

"We are not talking about a simple economic accord between two
countries but a historic one that concerns each Armenian family,
whatever its nationality," he said.

Community members have draw n up a petition condemning the agreements
set to be signed later this month between Turkey and Armenia on
establishing diplomatic ties. Stores in Burj Hammoud also shut down
on Tuesday afternoon in protest.

"We remember, we demand, we refuse," read placards put up throughout
the neighborhood, where Armenian patriotic music blared.

"These agreements will sound the death knell of our cause," store-owner
Marashlian said. "As descendants of those exiled, we are the main
victims of these agreements."

Keborg Abajian, 55, who runs a coffee shop, said he was ready to take
up arms to prevent the normalization of ties.

"I will shut down my shop to go fight so that our martyrs are not
forgotten," he said. "We want to recover our land. My ancestors owned
huge plots of land in Urfa," in southeast Turkey.

Some members of the younger generation, however, appeared to adopt
a more conciliatory tone, saying it was time to move on.

"The state of Armenia has made a decision and who am I to decide
what is best for its people?" asked jeweler Haig Asmarian, 34. "My
grandfather still has the titles to his property but it’s time to
turn the page. – AP and AFP, with The Daily Star

TALKED TO OBAMA

a
01:05 pm | October 06, 2009 | Official

During his visit to Los Angeles, the President of the Republic of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had a telephone conversation with US President
Barack Obama under the initiative of the US President.

The US President said that he supports Armenia’s efforts aimed at
normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations and reaffirmed the US official
position according to which the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations must proceed without any preconditions and must not be
connected to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

President Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the US President for the
support and shared his impressions of the pan-Armenian tour. President
Sargsyan underscored that it is obvious that the Diaspora Armenians
have concerns over the process, taking into account that the Armenians
were subjected to Genocide by Ottoman Turkey. the concerns of the
Diaspora Armenians are

Serzh Sargsyan thanked President Obama for US intermediation in the
OSCE Minsk Group and emphasized Armenia’s willingness to progress
toward the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict the
pivot of which must be the final decision of Nagorno-Karabakh’s legal
status by expression of free will, which is the basis of the Madrid
Principles presented by the Minsk Group.

ARMENIA HAS AN OPPORTUNITY ON PARTICIPATION AT ICAWC

Aysor.am
Monday, October 05

October 7-9 the 11th Companion Animal Welfare Conference (ICAWC) is
held in Budapest. Since 1996 the conference has welcomed thousands of
animal welfare workers from around the world, helping them to share
and learn to make the world a better place for companion animals.

ICAWC is the leading conference of its kind. It is held in a different
European city each year and provides a platform where delegates working
in the field of animal welfare, exchange knowledge and experience,
establish the international and regional cooperation.

One of the main focuses of the 11th Conference will be on the
importance of understanding the issues in animal welfare, breeding
control and neutering.

Topics include public health and safety as well as implementation of
the education programs, publicity, and promotion of legislation.

Armenia is the only country of the Council of Europe which never took
part in Conference. Armenia has an opportunity on participation at
this year’s Conference.

Considering the problem of stray dogs is bad in Armenia and also till
now the attempts to solve a problem are countereffective, a number of
the international organisations have offered the partnership to the
Municipality of Yerevan in developing and implementing of the complex
program on the problem solving of the stray dogs population control.