Category: 2017

Azerbaijani Press: Stoltenberg: No military solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Alex Nanijanian
APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 23 2017
Stoltenberg: No military solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

There is no military solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a joint press point with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev at NATO Headquarters on Nov. 23, APA reports. 

 

“The unresolved conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter of concern. It is clear that there is no military solution to this conflict,” he said adding that NATO has no direct role here.

 

Stoltenberg further said that NATO supports the works of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

 

"I am encouraged to hear about your renewed dialogue with the president of Armenia. We encourage you to continue path to a negotiated solution," he concluded.

Azerbaijani Press: Ilham Aliyev: Armenia wants to keep status-quo for as long as possible

Hambik Zargarian
APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 23 2017

The biggest threat to regional security is the unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said at a joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO Headquarters on Nov. 23, APA reports. 

"Our territories remain under occupation. More than one million of Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons. Ethnic cleansing policy was conducted against Azerbaijanis, and the situation is not changing, unfortunately," said Ilham Aliyev.

 The president went on to add that Armenia wants to keep the status-quo for as long as possible, despite the statements of OSCE Minsk Group countries' presidents, that the status-quo is unacceptable and must be changed.

 Ilham Aliyev also reminded about the UN Security Council resolutions that demand immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories.

 "For more than 20 years, Armenia doesn't implement them," he said.

 "The resolution of the conflict must be based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," said the president, adding that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is recognized by the entire world.

Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Fresno celebrates 117th anniversary

Edgar Tavakalian
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 23 2017
11:11, 23 Nov 2017

Asbarez – On Sunday, November 19, the Holy Trinity Church of Fresno celebrated the 117th anniversary of its establishment with Episcopal Divine Liturgy and a banquet. Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian celebrated Divine Liturgy, delivered the sermon, and presided over the banquet.

State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Haroutyunyan, Permanent Representatives of the Republic of Artsakh to the United States Robert Avetisyan, Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Executive Director Ara Vardanyan, Armenia Fund Executive Director Sarkis Kotanjian, Prelacy Executive Council Chairman Vahe Hovaguimian and members, Sunday School students, Homenetmen representatives and scouts participated in the celebration. On this day, by the ordinance of the Prelate and the request of Homenetmen Western Region Executive, requiem prayers were offered in all Prelacy Churches for the souls of departed Homenetmen members.

The Prelate was greeted by faithful parishioners and Homenetmen scouts at his arrival to the Church. Shortly thereafter, as the choir sang “Hrashapar,” the Prelate entered the sanctuary in a procession to begin the Divine Liturgy, clad in a new Liturgical vestment gifted by the parish on the occasion of his milestone anniversaries. Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Ashekian, Parish Priest, assisted at the altar.

The Prelate began his sermon by congratulating the parish family on their 117th anniversary and commending all the servers and volunteers for contributing their part to maintaining and advancing the historic parish community, in particular Fr. Dajad and Board members. His Eminence greeted the honored guests, whom he noted were in town to take part in Armenia Fund’s 20th International Telethon on Thanksgiving Day, and urged the community to lend its generous support to the Telethon, titled “Fruitful Artsakh,” proceeds of which will be allocated to the construction of irrigation syste “As Artsakh is largely an agricultural economy, the success of this project is absolutely vital as it will boost the economy tremendously and provide a better life for its citizens,” stressed the Prelate.

The Prelate then turned to the day’s Gospel reading from Luke 9:44-50 which conveys the message of humility and loving service to others with the words of our Lord Jesus Christ that “he who is least among you all will be great.”

The Prelate stated that true greatness is in servant-hood and in humbling ourselves to lift up and encourage others. By using the example of a child in the reading, Jesus teaches us that we must welcome and honor those whom society regards as unimportant. “In our religious and national ministry there is no great or least among us. We all are children of God and of our nation, and to be effective servants of our Christ and our nation, we must serve with humility and love for all, in the prime example of our Lord Jesus Christ Who came not to be served, but to serve,” stressed the Prelate.

He stated that one hundred and seventeen year ago the founders of Holy Trinity Church did just this; they banded together as members of one family and toiled with faith, love, and humility to establish the parish, and urged the parish family to serve in their example to keep the community strong and prosperous for years to come.

The Prelate concluded his sermon by paying tribute to the departed members of Homenetmen who served with faith, love, and humility for the greater good, the good of our youth, guided by the motto “elevate yourself and others with you,” and blessed the present-day members for their dedicated service.

Culture: Days of Armenian Culture continue in Russia

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 23 2017
Culture 11:30 23/11/2017 Armenia

A final concert will be held today at St. Petersburg State Academic Capella as part of the Days of Armenian Culture in Russia.

The concert titled "Komitas and jazz: harmony fusion” will be performed by Hover State Chamber Choir and Vahagn Hayrapetyan Jazz Quintet, the Ministry of Culture reported.

According to the source, the screenings of Armenian films shot in the independence period (Thank you, Father”, “If Everyone”, “Moskvich, my Love”) are planned to continue in Russian cinemas on 24 November.

The official opening of the Days of Armenian Culture in Russia was held at the Moscow State Tretyakov Gallery on 15 November, in attendance of the Armenian and Russian presidents.

The events marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian-Russian diplomatic relations, have brought together some 250 professional artists and cultural figures from Armenia.

Chess: Armenia’s Levon Aronian draws round 6, still leads FIDE Grand Prix

Anna Tamamian
Pan Armenian, Armenia
Nov 23 2017
Armenia's Levon Aronian draws round 6, still leads FIDE Grand Prix

Armenia's Levon Aronian made a draw with Peter Svidler and remains the sole leader of the FIDE Grand Prix after six rounds.

Aronian was happy about his position after the opening but was disappointed with his decision of 20.Ng5: “While I was playing fast I was doing the right moves, than I thought for 25 minutes, got carried away and blundered 21…Rae8.”

The Armenian grandmaster will face Rapport Richard of Hungary in round 7.

Aronian is currently the only player to have collected 4.0 points and is closely followed by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Hikaru Nakamura (U.S.), Ding Liren (China), Peter Svidler (Russia), Pentala Harikrishna (India), Evgeny Tomashevsky (Russia) and Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) with 3.5 points each.

The FIDE Grand Prix 2017 is a series of four chess tournaments that form part of the qualification cycle for the World Chess Championship 2018. The top two finishers will qualify for the 2018 Candidates Tournament.

Aronian who won the World Chess Cup in September, as well as Liren, who reached the finals, have already qualified for the Candidates Tournament.

Culture: Armenian Dolmas: a Thanksgiving treat

Emil Karabekian
Benitolink: San Benito County News
Nov 23 2017
 

posted on Thu, 11/23/2017 – 07:54am by Becky Bonner-Leland, Reporting for BenitoLink

  

Hollister resident Keith Bonner prepares traditional Armenian dolmas to share with his family on Thanksgiving Day
Gage Jumper stops by his grandfather's house and checks on the dolmas as they cook

Ground beef, tomato sauce, rice, salt, pepper, onion, and parsley make up the filling of the dolma's
Bonner mixes all ingredients together before rolling them in grape leaves
Grape leaves are laid out and topped with the mixed filling
Bonner rolls the grape leaf from the bottom while tucking in the corners to keep the filling in
Once fully rolled the dolmas are placed in a pot to prepare for cooking which takes one hour

Keith Bonner moved to Hollister from San Jose six years ago to be closer to three of his four adult children. Wanting to share his heritage, Bonner was found this holiday season preparing traditional Armenian dolmas to share with his family on Thanksgiving Day. Bonner learned this recipe from his “mother who was full blooded Armenian,” who in turn learned this recipe from her mother who was born and raised in Armenia. When it comes to dolmas, Bonner said, “We have had it (dolmas) since we were little. It’s always been a family dish at get-togethers. My mother had six siblings and when we got together we always ate these and other Armenian dishes."

Bonner’s grandparents moved to the United States from Armenia in 1912 to, as he explained, "escape the persecution of the Turks against the Armenians". This persecution would lead to the Armenian Genocide three years later during WWI. The Armenian National Institute's website estimates that of the two million Armenians found in the Ottoman Empire prior to WWI, one and a half million died between the years of 1915 and 1923.

Wanting to keep his heritage alive on Thanksgiving Day, Bonner prepared his family recipe, just as his mother did, to share the dish he grew up eating with his own family. “It is a tradition to pass down so you don’t forget your Armenian roots,” Bonner serves dolmas on Thanksgiving Day, next to the traditional turkey and stuffing.

Once cooked dolmas can be served both hot or cold. Bonner’s family recipe is listed below.

  • DOLMAS Recipe ingredients – one pound of ground beef or desired ground meat, one jar of grape leaves, half of a large onion, half a cup of long grain white rice, salt and pepper to taste, one eight ounce can of tomato sauce, and half a handful of parsley.
  • Step 1 – Mix raw meat, rice, salt, pepper, tomato sauce, diced onion, and parsley together.
  • Step 2 – Roll out grape leaves from jar.
  • Step 3 – Place desired amount of mixture onto the base of the grape leaf.
  • Step 4 – Roll the grape leaf from the bottom, folding in the sides as you go.
  • Step 5 – Place rolled dolma in a pot until the pot is full.
  • Step 6 – Once full fill the pot with enough water to cover the bottom layer of dolma's.
  • Step 7 – Place the pot full of dolma's on the stove. Bring the pot to a a boil with the lid covered.
  • Step 8 – Once the water boils, turn the stove down to a low boil, like cooking rice, and heat for one hour.