Aliyev sacks two deputy PMs
17:50,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sacked Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov and Deputy Prime Minister Hajibala Abutalibov, RIA Novosti reported citing the Azerbaijani presidency.
Aliyev signed a decree on dismissing the two deputy PMs without mentioning a reason.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Creative Armenia’s screenwriters challenge
YEREVAN—Creative Armenia is delighted to announce a new creative challenge for screenwriters, powered by Ucom. The $2,000 top prize will go to the screenwriter who can write the most compelling first page of a movie called Creative Armenia. Applicants are asked to draw inspiration from a poster, designed by Anahit Petrosyan, for that movie.
Petrosyan’s poster is the winner of Creative Armenia’s previous challenge in partnership with Ucom. The challenge awarded a $2,000 prize to the most compelling poster for a movie called Creative Armenia. So now the poster for that imaginary movie will inspire its first page.
The First Page screenwriting challenge is open to everyone. There are no restrictions of genre, age, nationality, or location. Applicants should submit only the first page of an original screenplay, together with a short application form. The deadline for applications is 11:59 pm on December 1, 2019, Armenia time. For more information and to apply, visit the website.
“Every one of our creative challenges takes us somewhere we don’t expect,” said Alec Mouhibian, Founding VP of Creative Armenia. “We are excited to read a variety of story-beginnings that make us want to turn the page.”
The First Page screenwriting challenge is the third collaboration of Creative Armenia and Ucom, following and linked with the Movie Poster design challenge.
“As usual Ucom encourages creative and innovative people to showcase their talent, Our company has many examples of talented screenwriters, directors and actors being highly praised internationally,” said Hayk Yesayan, Co-Founder and Director General at Ucom.
Creative Armenia, a global arts foundation for the Armenian people, pursues a mandate to discover, develop, and promote innovative talent.
Ucom, the fastest fixed and mobile services provider in Armenia and a member of Galaxy Group of Companies, along with the other members, implements social impact projects to support the creative culture in Armenia.
To learn more about the First Page screenwriting challenge and to apply, please visit the website.
Armenian Union of Journalists condemns attack on Nouvelles d'Arménie office
20:52,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Union of Journalists of Armenia has condemned the attack on the office of the Nouvelles d'Arménie France-based Armenian newspaper.
“This isn’t the first attack on the magazine, and as stated by the magazine’s personnel none of the previous cases have unfortunately been revealed. The reputed media outlet has for many years dealt with raising issues of pan-Armenian significance, condemning the denial of the Armenian Genocide, its support for the Republic of Artsakh. Any kind of violence or pressure against free speech is a great problem for any democratic state. Representatives of the editorial board of the Armenian magazine are linking the attack with Editor-in-Chief, CCAF Co-Chair Ara Toranyan’s participation in the anti-Turkish demonstrations in Paris and his support for Syria’s Kurds, and this is an alarming signal. The frequent attacks against the press, especially related with political realities, must become subject of everyone’s strongest condemnation,” the union said in a statement.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Armenia, India seek enhancement of economic cooperation
19:26,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with India’s newly appointed Ambassador to Armenia Kishan Dan Dewal, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a news release.
The PM congratulated the ambassador on assuming office and wished productive work for the benefit of the further development and strengthening of the Armenian-Indian relations.
PM Nikol Pashinyan mentioned that he had a meeting with India’s PM Narendra Modi in New York in September where both sides attached importance to expanding ties in various sectors, as well as the mutually beneficial cooperation in international arenas.
At the same time the Premier noted that various events are taking place in Armenia on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th anniversary of birth, which proves the strong ties between the two countries and peoples. PM Pashinyan reaffirmed his invitation addressed to PM Modi to visit Armenia and expressed conviction that the visit will boost the development of relations between Armenia and India.
Ambassador Kishan Dan Dewal thanked for the warm reception and noted that he will make all efforts to carry out his mission on the highest level and to contribute to the development of relations between the two friendly countries. The ambassador noted that his government is also interested in enhancing and strengthening economic ties with Armenia.
During the meeting the sides also discussed different issues relating to development of partnership in political and economic sectors.
Particularly, they touched upon the opportunities of deepening business ties, ties in IT and tourism, as well as the implementation of joint investment programs and the planned actions in this direction.
The Armenian PM also attached importance to signing the Eurasian Economic Union-India Free Trade Zone agreement, which will also boost the Armenian-Indian commercial-economic relations and enhancement of partnership.
The sides also exchanged views on the NK conflict settlement and issues of regional significance.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
PM Pashinyan offers condolences to Putin over dam collapse in Krasnoyarsk Krai
18:01,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has addressed a telegram offering condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the tragic incident that took place in the Krasnoyarsk Krai.
“It was with deep pain that I learnt about the tragic news of the fatalities as a result of the dam collapse in the Krasnoyarsk Krai.
On behalf of the Armenian people, please convey my sincere condolences and words of support to the families and friends of the victims, and I wish speedy recovery to all the injured,” the Armenian PM said in the cable.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Mirza Dinnayi
YEREVAN (Aurora Prize)—The fourth annual Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity was awarded today to Mirza Dinnayi, Co-Founder and Director of Luftbrücke Irak (Air Bridge Iraq). Driven by his passion to save lives, the Yazidi activist has found a way to overcome numerous bureaucratic and logistic obstacles to help the most vulnerable members of the Yazidi community during numerous conflicts in Syria and Iraq. He was named the 2019 Aurora Laureate at the Ceremony in Yerevan that was held during the Aurora Forum. The Aurora Prize is granted by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors.
Tom Catena, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Chair and 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate, praised the 2019 Aurora Prize Laureate Mirza Dinnayi by saying: “What makes Mirza Dinnayi an outstanding human being is the fact he couldn’t live in good conscience knowing that good people are left behind, that the innocent are suffering. Trying to help others while facing an unspeakable evil can be challenging and frustrating, but he never wavered. I am delighted to congratulate Mirza Dinnayi with being awarded with the Prize and welcome him to the Aurora family.”
As the 2019 Aurora Prize Laureate, Mirza Dinnayi will receive a $1,000,000 grant, through which he is given the opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by supporting organizations that have inspired his work. He has chosen to donate the funds to three organizations that provide medical care and rehabilitation to victims of ISIS terror:
Vartan Gregorian, Co-Founder of the Aurora Prize and Member of the Selection Committee, added: “The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative empowers those who risk everything for the sake of others and show extraordinary courage and conviction in situations of adversity, and Mirza Dinnayi is a perfect example of that. He embodies the power of compassion, of personal commitment, of a burning desire to save lives. As one of the Aurora Co-Founders and a member of the Selection Committee, I am very proud that our shared vision has helped showcase the work of Mirza Dinnayi, who now, without doubt, will be able to achieve even more.”
Dinnay with representatives of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. From l to r: Co-Founder of the Aurora Prize Vartan Gregorian, Co-Founder of the Aurora Forum Ruben Vardanyan, 2019 Aurora Prize winner Mirza Dinnayi, and Co-Founder of the Aurora Forum Noubar Afeyan
Working on behalf of the Yazidi community, Mirza Dinnayi has dedicated his whole life to saving the victims of the Iraq war, evacuating women and children from territories controlled by ISIS and providing those tortured and violated with rehabilitation and support. It was Dinnayi who brought to Germany the future Sakharov Prize Laureate Lamya Haji Bashar. Today, she is a renowned human rights activist and has one of Aurora’s scholarships named after her.
Leading international humanitarian figures and Aurora Prize Selection Committee members, including Nobel Laureates Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former President of Ireland Mary Robinson; former Foreign Minister of Australia and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo and Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London and Chair of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee Lord Ara Darzi gathered in Armenia to attend the inaugural Aurora Forum and celebrate the 2019 Aurora Prize Laureate.
Previous Aurora Prize Laureates include several noted international humanitarians – Burundian activist Marguerite Barankitse (2016), American physician and missionary Dr. Tom Catena (2017) and Rohingya lawyer and human rights campaigner Kyaw Hla Aung (2018).
Nobel Prize Laureate and a member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee Leymah Gbowee commented: “The very name of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity contains the most important message of this unique award. Right now, the world feels the need for humanity to rise and for people to step up. Mirza Dinnayi, whose courage and selflessness are a credit to his people, is doing just that: taking care of women and children, who suffer the most in a conflict situation, and putting himself at risk to save others. What an outstanding humanitarian.”
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative also honored the contributions of the other two 2019 Aurora Humanitarians who received a $50,000 grant each: Zannah Bukar Mustapha, Director and Founder of Future Prowess Islamic Foundation in Nigeria, and Huda Al-Sarari, Yemeni lawyer and activist.
The 2019 Aurora Prize Ceremony was part of the Aurora Forum, held in Armenia on October 14 to 21, and convening thought leaders and change-makers from across the world to share knowledge, perspective and ideas, which together can deliver practical action and change. The forum’s far-reaching agenda is driven by partner institutions with a shared commitment to address global challenges and local development.
UAE Minister of State for AI accepts Armenian counterpart’s invitation to visit Armenia
20:37,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of High Tech Industry Hakob Arshakyan has discussed possibilities for cooperation in technology with United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama.
Arshakyan said in a Facebook post that during the meeting he and Omar Al Olama agreed to expand and place on an institutional basis the Armenia-UAE cooperation in artificial intelligence and other high tech sectors.
“The minister was pleased to accept my invitation to visit Armenia,” Arshakyan continued.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
Contact: Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF
AMERICA WELCOMES REP. ESHOO’S LETTER TO HER COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORT OF THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Thanks
Reps. Bilirakis and Schiff’s Call for Immediate Passage of Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) welcomed Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo’s (D-CA) “Dear Colleague”
letter calling for support of H.Res.296, the Armenian Genocide resolution.
“Members of my own family were among
those murdered. My mother escaped with my grandmother from Armenia, and my
father, an Assyrian Christian, was driven from the Middle East. Both carried
the terror of the atrocities of the Ottoman Turks for a lifetime,” Rep. Eshoo stated.
“As the only Armenian-Assyrian Member of Congress, I urge you to honor the
countless individuals who were taken and join 112 of your colleagues in
cosponsoring H.Res. 296, a bipartisan resolution formally recognizing the
Armenian Genocide.”
Rep. Anna Eshoo is the only
Armenian-Assyrian Member of Congress. Throughout her tenure in Congress, she
has been a tireless supporter of the proper recognition of Armenian Genocide
and a strong advocate of religious freedom around the world.
Rep. Eshoo pointed out that 49 U.S.
states and 14 NATO Allies have already formally recognized the murder of 1.5
million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide. Official records and
proclamations are documented on the Armenian National Institute’s website – www.armenian-genocide.org.
“Thank you to the Armenian American community
and the Armenian Assembly of America for your active support every year to
reaffirm the Armenian Genocide. Your
efforts make our relatives who survived the genocide proud, and together we can
ensure that their hardships and their families who were slaughtered in plain
view will not be forgotten. I am proud to join my fellow Armenians at the
annual Armenian Genocide commemorations on Capitol Hill, and look forward to
passage of this bill,” Rep. Eshoo told the Assembly.
“Armenian Americans appreciate
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo for being a role model and a strong leader to bring
justice to what so many of our ancestors overcame – the Armenian Genocide. We
encourage all Members to join in reaffirming America’s proud chapter of humanitarian
intervention in helping to save thousands of survivors of the Armenian
Genocide. The Armenian Assembly of America applauds the Congresswoman’s
efforts, and we will continue to push for passage of this legislation,” Assembly
Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan said.
Rep. Eshoo’s letter follows that of
Armenian Caucus leaders Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) who last
Friday urged the immediate passage of H.Res. 296. They stated: “As we confront atrocities that
are being committed in the present day, it weakens our standing and our moral
clarity that the Congress has for too long been silent in declaring the events
of 1915 as a genocide. As Turkish bombs fall on Kurdish cities, extremist
groups backed by Turkey commit war crimes, and hundreds of thousands of civilians
flee for their lives, it is surely not lost on Turkish leaders that for decades
their campaign of lobbying and bullying has silenced the Congress from the
simple act of speaking the truth about the events of 1915.”
“We fully support passage of H.Res. 296
as Congressmen Bilirakis and Schiff have urged,” Khaloyan added.
H.Res. 296 was introduced this April by
Reps. Schiff and Bilirakis along with Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Peter
King (R-NY), and Jackie Speier (D-CA), and currently has 112 co-sponsors to
date. During the Assembly’s 2019 National Advocacy Conference last month, Armenian
Americans from across the U.S. met with Member of Congress urging its adoption.
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# 2019-062
Available online:
Former Deputy Chief of Staff of parliament arrested in suspicion of official document falsification
20:55,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Special Investigations Service said it has gathered factual information during an ongoing investigation in the criminal case launched on Paragraph 1, Article 300 of the Criminal Code that officials have committed official falsifications personally, as well as through non-public servant employees in the process of Gagik Harutyunyan’s resignation as Head of the Constitutional Court.
“Taking into account that a new case of an apparent crime has been revealed, a new criminal case has been launched in the Special Investigations Service on Paragraph 1, Article 314 of the Criminal Code, which has been merged with the criminal case launched on usurping power,” the agency said referring to an investigation launched earlier into possible misconduct committed by the incumbent CC head when assuming office.
Former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Parliament Staff A.B. has been arrested in suspicion of committing a crime under paragraph 1, article 315 of the criminal code.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Dilijan Chamber Music Series will present its “Hearts that Sings” concert on Nov. 3rd
LOS ANGELES—The critically acclaimed Dilijan Chamber Music Series presents its “Heart that Sings” concert. The performance will take place on November 3 at 3 p.m., at Zipper Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. An important U.S. Premiere by the living classic of Armenian music, Tigran Mansurian, headlines the concert, which also features new works by Los Angeles composers Artashes and Ashot Kartalyan, as well as beloved masterpiece of the chamber music repertoire, String Sextet No. 2 by Johannes Brahms.
Mezzo-soprano Danielle Segen of the University of California, Los Angeles VEM Ensemble is joined by her VEM colleagues, violinists Ji Eun Hwang and Aiko Richter, violist Morgan O’Shaughnessey, and cellist Jason Pegis. Also featured are distinguished musicians Robert deMaine, Principal Cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Movses Pogossian (Dilijan Artistic Director and UCLA Professor of Violin), and Varty Manouelian (L.A. Philharmonic). The concert will also include an exclusive preview presentation of “Modulation Necklace,” a CD of Armenian Music by the Naxos-distributed New Focus Recordings label, featuring the UCLA VEM Ensemble and an array of internationally renowned artists.
The 15th Anniversary Season of the Dilijan Series presents an exciting mix of old and new, known and unknown. Beloved masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, and Haydn will be performed alongside works by Komitas, Arutiunian, Mansurian, Sharafyan, and other Armenian composers. In addition to some of Dilijan favorite returning artists, such as singers Tony Arnold and Shoushik Barsoumian, pianist Steven Vanhauwaert, violist Paul Coletti, cellists Antonio Lysy, Clive Greensmith and Peter Stumpf, the series will be welcoming several musicians in their Dilijan debut: LA Phil oboist Anne Gabriele, remarkable pianist and Artistic Director of the Yellow Barn Festival Seth Knopp, Canadian violinist/violist Scott St. John, clarinetist Yasmina Spiegelberg (Switzerland), cellist Yoshika Masuda (Japan), among others. The three Dilijan commissions of the season are works by Martin Ulikhanyan (homage to Tigran Mansurian’s film music), Dan Sedgwick, and a short film by Alik Barsoumian, which will be premiered alongside a live performance of the Prelude from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde opera.
For more information and ticketing, please visit the website. Zipper Concert Hall is located at 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012. There is ample paid parking available in the nearby garages, including Disney Hall across the street from the Colburn School. Enjoy visiting the Dilijan YouTube channel for a large selection of performances from the previous seasons.
Established in 2005 by members of the Lark Musical Society (Vatsche Barsoumian, Founder/Director), the Dilijan Chamber Music Series is dedicated to showcasing traditional masterworks of Western classical chamber music, as well as pearls from the treasury of Armenian music. A strong believer in new music, the series has commissioned and premiered 54 works since its inception.
For Lark/Dilijan inquiries, please contact Ashot Kartalyan, Director [email protected]. For the UCLA Armenian Music Program, please contact Hasmik Baghdassarian, Coordinator, [email protected].