Category: News

India’s Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today accompanied by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

The Vice-President laid a wreath at the memorial to Armenian Genocide Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of victims with a minute of silence.

Mohammad Hamid Ansari visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI), watched the displays and left a note in the Guest Book.

AGMI Director Hayk Demoyan presented him the English edition of the “Armenian Genocide: Frontpage coverage in the world press” and an album of French Armenian artist Jean Jansem’s works.

India’s Vice-President later planted a fir tree in the memory Alley.

 – “Remembering the Armenian Genocide today helps us to never let this type of atrocities happen again in the history of humanity,” said Vice President of Argentina Gabriela Michetti during a mass in commemoration of the 102 anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“When we speak of genocide we are talking about an attack on humanity,” remarked Michetti, who then read a poem by William Saroyan.

“The genocide was recognized by our country in 2007 by Law 26.199,” added the Vice President in the Cathedral San Gregorio the Illuminator, referring to the Day of action for tolerance and respect among peoples in commemoration of the genocide that was victim the Armenian people.

In one hour, the march and the event will start from the Faculty of Law of the UBA to the residence of the Ambassador of Turkey.

Private of the Artsakh Defense Army Narek Harutyunyan (born in 1997) was killed by Azerbaijani fire at about 17:50 on April 24, the Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

Probe into the details of the incident is underway.

The Defense Army shares the sorrow of the heavy loss and expresses it support to the soldier’s family and friends.

The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire more than 50 times on April 24 and overnight, firing over 800 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The rival used sniper rifles in the southeastern and eastern sections of the line oc contact.

The Karabakh forces undertook retaliatory measures to pressure the activeness of the rival.

Photo: Getty Images

 

By Noubar Afeyan

Yesterday marks the official commemoration date of the Armenian Genocide, which occurred just over a century ago. A day which offers an opportunity to reflect on the unimaginable violence from which the nation is still recovering.

The Genocide triggered the 20th century’s first large-scale refugee population. Between 1915-1923, 1.5 million Armenians were systematically murdered, and 500,000 survivors were forcibly displaced. The survivors were left to flee as far afield as the United States, France and Argentina, with many settling in neighbouring states including Russia, Syria and Lebanon.

Whilst it is important to reflect on one of the darkest chapters in our recent past, we must also recognise the incredible rejuvenation of Armenia, and the Armenian people, that has occurred over the past 102 years.

In 1917, the total number of Armenians was estimated to be 284,157. Over the past century, this has risen to a population of 3 million in the country itself, as well as an estimated 10 million in the global diaspora.

Armenia is rebuilding itself into a cosmopolitan and forward-thinking nation. As it recovers from the economic devastation following the fall of the Soviet Union, the country is undergoing gradual economic growth, driven by a number of burgeoning industries. Agriculture, food processing, and information technology are some of the thriving sectors which are attracting both inbound investment, and a growing regional talent pool. Additionally, academic centres of excellence, such as the newly launched international school, UWC Dilijan, are attracting foreign students into the country.

The country has established a productive tourist industry, with major airlines committing regular flights to the capital. Over 1.2 million tourists visited Armenia in 2016, many of whom were from Europe.

Away from the state itself, Armenia’s diaspora has grown and thrived in a range of new host countries. Indeed, large Armenian communities now reside in the United States, Russia, France and Argentina. The extended Armenian community includes some of the world’s most noted businesspeople, scientists, academics, sportspeople and entertainers.

From Alexis Ohanian to David Ignatius, Andre Agassi, Cher or Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Armenian people have made major contributions toward advancing their adoptive countries. Long ago, we learned to adapt to our host countries, to be loyal citizens, even as we maintain our common historic identity.

As we reflect on a time when a concerted attempt was made to wipe out our entire nation, we Armenians have much to celebrate and be proud of. Armenia continues to rebuild and grow. The future is incredibly exciting as we continue to transform into a vibrant, modern, secure, peaceful and progressive homeland for a global nation.

In 2017 on April 21^st “HayPost” CJSC cancelled and put into circulation a postcard with one stamp dedicated to the theme “Anoush opera. Avag Petrossian”. The cancellation took place in the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after A. Spendiarian.

The postcard has been designed with a print run of 500 pcs. The author of the postcard’s design is the designer of “HayPost” CJSC David Dovlatyan.

The postage stamp of the postcard depicts the RA People’s Artist, tenor Avag Petrossian in the role of Saro and the RA People’s Artist, soprano Gohar Gasparian in the role of Anoush against the background of the building of the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after A. Spendiarian.

The bottom left corner of the postcard depicts the old posters of “Anoush” opera under the theater curtains.

The participants of the postcard signing ceremony were the RA Deputy Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies Mr. Arman Khachatryan, the RA Minister of Culture Mr. Armen Amiryan, the son of Avag Petrossian, a conductor and pianist Mr. Ara Petrossian, Acting Chief Executive Officer of “HayPost” CJSC Haik Avagyan.

Date of issue: April 21, 2017
Designer: David Dovlatyan
Printing house: “Asoghik”
Stamp size: 25,0 x 35,0 mm
Postcard size: 150,0 x 110,0 mm
Print run: 500 pcs.

Asbarez – Tens of thousands of community members marched to the Consulate General of Turkey in Los Angeles Monday demanding justice for the Armenian Genocide in an event organized by the Armenian Genocide Committee—a coalition of groups the include the four denominations, the national political parties, as well as the most prominent relief, youth and advocacy organizations in the community.

The march began at Pan Pacific Park, the site of the Holocaust Museum and spanned for one and a half miles through the streets of Los Angeles to the Turkish Consulate on Wilshire Boulevard.

Before the beginning of the march, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garecetti headed a program that included remarks by LA City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and David Ryu.

The march culminated into a rally at the Turkish Consulate. Among the public officials who addressed the crowd were Rep. Adam Schiff, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, LA City Councilman Paul Koretz and President of the LA Unified School District Steve Zimmer.

The program began with the leaders of the four denomination leading the crowd into prayer, followed by the singing of the United States and Armenian national anthems by Maria Colette.

Masters of Ceremony Hrach Avedissian and Lara Armani expertly guided the program, which included remarks from the Armenian Genocide Committee by Silva Kachigian, Raffi Hamparian and Armig Khodanian. The youth’s message was delivered by Rafi Orphali.

The program also featured musical performances by R-Mean, Joseph Krikorian, Armenchik and Maria Cozette, with a grand finale by Harout Pamboukjian.

A call to acknowledge Armenian Genocide was made during a commemoration of its 102^nd anniversary at Taksim Tunnel, Washington Hatti reports.

As part of the 102^nd anniversary of Armenian Genocide, a commemoration at Taksim Tunnel was organized by 24^thApril Remembrance Platform. Starting with silent protests, many people including HDP Istanbul MP Garo Paylan participated in the commemoration. A placard with a sign “It’s been 102 years, Face It!” was demonstrated while singing Armenian songs. In addition, another huge banner consisted of 234 Armenian politicians, journalists, judges, artists and intellectuals was rolled out while leaving flowers on it.

‘Life in Turkey has become barren even though we don’t notice’

A news conference took place immediately after the names of exiled scholars following 24^th April was cited. On behalf of demonstrators, Murat Çelikkan called to face the genocide by reminding what took place 102 years ago. Murat continued “whether we pay attention or not, life in Turkey has become barren since 24 April 1915. When a section of the public was dismissed with its values, indeed all values of the society were being harmed. While the cultural heritage of a group of people was destructed, the culture of living in together took a big blow.  Just like Armenian people, the cultural heritage left behind was being erased. Thousands of historical structures, churches and schools were preemptively turned into ruins. It was portrayed as if they never existed on this soil just like Armenians.”

‘Now is your turn’

By repeating the call made during the commemoration of its 102^nd anniversary, Murat went on to say “the call or the struggle to face the genocide is our obligation and debt to Hrant Dink, Sevag Balıkçı, Marisa Küçük and to all those brothers spread around the world as they were forced to leave their homeland. It is a responsibility to our own conscience. All of us owned the pain. Such pain will never heal by time, we apologized and will continue to. We are trying to come to terms with it and will continue to. We will never recess. Now it is your turn. We are done with the words of sympathies, looking for an apology. It has been 102 years. Don’t wait for its 103^rdanniversary. Apologize for it!”

The commemoration concluded with applauds by chanting “the struggle for the call to face the genocide will go on for those we lost on 24^th April, for Hrant and Sevag.”

The Armenian genocide drama — starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac — opened to just $4.1 million over the weekend in North America, according to the .

The late Kirk Kerkorian’s parting gift to Hollywood was The Promise, a big-budget epic about the Armenian genocide.

Starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac, the movie opened to a mere $4.1 million at the North American box office over the weekend. At that rate, the film stands to lose $80 million or more unless it overperforms overseas and in ancillary markets, according to box-office experts.

The Promise cost $90 million to $100 million to make before marketing costs and a distribution fee paid to Open Road Films in North America. Kerkorian, who died in 2015 and was of Armenian descent, fully financed the movie via Survival Pictures, which was created to make the movie and to educate the public about genocide in the 20th and 21st centuries.

The film’s producers say the movie is a victory, its box office notwithstanding, since the intent was never to make a profit. Instead, The Promise was intended to shine a light on the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. And any proceeds from the film will be donated to charity, including to the new The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law, which was unveiled last week with a $20 million gift.

The release of the film was timed to the date the genocide began: April 24, 1915. That was the day when Turkey’s Ottoman Empire began rounding up, arresting and deporting Armenian leaders and intellectuals.

“The movie was made as a living museum,” says Eric Esrailian, a partner at Survival who also is a professor of medicine at UCLA. “We made the film knowing it would stand the test of time. And we will give millions away in charity. We wanted to shed a light on the best, and on the state of the world today.”

Esrailian added, “I feel like it is petty to talk about money when we are talking about genocide.”

The Promise premiered Sunday in Armenia at a screening attended by President Serzh Sargsyan.

“It was always going to be tough sell given its period, wartime subject matter,” says box-office expert Paul Dergarabedian of comScore, who is also of Armenian descent. “For myself and many Armenians, it was a strong statement nevertheless and shed light on a period in history that many are not really familiar with.  If one person saw the trailer and said to themselves, ‘I’m going to research the events surrounding the Armenian Genocide,’ then it was certainly worth the effort.”

Box-office analyst Jeff Bock is of a different opinion.

“I honestly don’t know who spends $90 million on a historical drama these days without a major distributor in place. This is just failed filmmaking from start to finish,” Bock says. “There’s always a way to tell a story without breaking the bank to do so.”

US President DonaldTrump’s April 24 statement is consistent with those of his predecessors, the White House has said.

“The statement that was put out is consistent with the statements that have been put out for at least several of the past administrations,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told a press briefing.

“If you look back to the language that President Obama, President Bush have used, the language the President used is consistent with all of that,” he said.

“Today, we remember and honor the memory of those who suffered during the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th Century,”  on Monday.

“Beginning in 1915, one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred or marched to their deaths in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. I join the Armenian community in America and around the world in mourning the loss of innocent lives and the suffering endured by so many,” he stated.

 

The Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe joins the calls for PACE President Pedro Argument to step down.

Addressing the Assembly, member of the Armenian delegation Samvel Farmanyan said it is the only “wise” way out of the current political crisis.

“It’s clear to us that you have lost your trust not only in the EPP Group, but also within all political forces represented in this Assembly,” Farmanyan said.

He described it a crisis, noting that there should be wise and politically correct way out.

“It’s quite evident for all of us that you should step down,” Samvel Farmanyan stated.

Pedro Agramunt’s recent visit to Syria has stirred outrage among legislators at PACE. The reaction has been ambiguous first of all because Agramunt’s visit to Syria had not been sanctioned by the Assembly or any of its structures.

“This visit was a mistake,” Pedro Agramunt said in his opening remarks. He expressed apology for the mistake and assured his visit does not indicate his support for “Assad’s regime.”