Charles Aznavour To Visit Armenia

[MosJan]

Charles Aznavour To Visit Armenia

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Yerevan's City Council has made a decision to name a square in central Yerevan, located between the Moscow Cinema and the Yerevan Hotel, "Charles Aznavour Square."

 

Charles Aznavour, the famous French-Armenian singer, is said to arrive in Armenia on a visit related to his charitable activities and the official celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the country's independence, reported RFE/RL.

 

He will review the work of the Aznavour pour l' Armenie charity set up in the wake of the 1988 devastating earthquake in northern Armenia. He will also visit the cities of Gyumri and Vanadzor located in the area. Aznavour will also be present at the unveiling of his statue in Gyumri.

 

The 77-year-old signer, who ended his long and successful career with a series of performances in Europe earlier this year, will have no concerts in Armenia.

[Azat]

CHARLES AZNAVOUR ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Charles Aznavour arrived in Armenia tonight. The world-famous singer will participate in the celebrations dedicated to the independence of the country and the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia. Radio Liberty reports that Aznavour will followup on the activities of the “Aznavour for Armenia” fund created after the 1988 devastating earthquake. During his visit, he will go to Gyumri and Vanadzor. Aznavour is expected to be present during the opening of his statue in Gyumri. The 77-year-old Aznavour will not give concerts in Armenia. As a reminder, the Yerevan City Council has decided to name the square by the “Moscow” movie theater and “Yerevan” hotel “Charles Aznavour Square.”

[MosJan]

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Charles Aznavour, the famous French singer of Armenian origin arrived on Thursday night in Armenia on a visit related to his charitable activities and the official celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the country's independence and 17 centuries of Armenia's conversion to Christianity.

 

 

He will also review the work of the Azvanour pour l' Armenie charity set up in the wake of the 1988 devastating earthquake in northern Armenia. He is due to visit the city of Gyumri and Vanadzor located in the area. It is expected that Aznavour will be present at the unveiling of his statue in Gyumri.

 

 

The 77-year-old signer, who ended his long and successful career with a series of performances in Europe earlier this year, will give no concerts in Armenia.

 

 

In response to a question whether he would come to Armenia more frequently the singer said that he would do more good to his homeland outside Armenia. "We are very much concerned with the future of Armenia-its children and our primary interests are schools and children's education," he said.

 

 

He also spoke about the latest film by Canadian Armenian director Atom Yegoyan in which he plays one of the leading roles. "This is a story which tells about the Armenian Genocide and I am sure it will be taken with great interest everywhere."

 

 

On Friday the singer participated in a ceremony which named a square in central Yerevan, located between the Moskva Cinema House and Yerevan Hotel after him. The relevant decision of the Yerevan City Council says: " For his invaluable services rendered to the homeland and Armenian people and for presentation of Armenia to the world through his work and activity to name the square between the Moskva Cinema and Yerevan Hotel After Charles Aznavour."

 

 

"Unfortunately my knowledge of Armenian does not allow me to express my feelings," he said in Armenian and continued in French: " I am very touched today to be here, next to you and by what you have done for me. I know that my parents who are in heaven are proud of me and for what is to be done here in Armenia," he said, adding that though he was born in France, his roots are in Armenia.

 

 

In 1992 Aznavour pour l'Armenie built an infant formula factory in Armenian Armavir, in 1998 the charity organization built a nursing house in Vanadzor. Since 1993 the organization has been implementing a range of projects: restoration of hydro power stations, allocation of compensation for energy bills in winter months, assistance to Armenian villages in Kashatagh, irrigation systems restorations, schools and many others.

 

 

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[MosJan]

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As Azg daily’s readers already know French-Armenian famous singer, actor, philanthropist Charles Aznavour is paying a week-long visit to Armenia. On September 25 he visited Vanadzor- accompanied by Armenian president’s advisor Alexan Haroutiunian, executive director of Armenian Social Investments Fund Ashot Kirakosian, representative of Armenian Apostolic Church, bishop Vigen Aykazian, head of Boston’s Armenian church Very Rev. Rafael Andonian, head of AGBU Armenian office Ashot Ghazarian, singer, singer Mila Saadat- wife of World Bank’s Armenian branch director Oweisse Saadat, and many others.

 

 

The guests were received and escorted by Lori marz’s governor Henrik Kochinian, Vanadzor mayor Samvel Darbinian, and several other provincial officials. The delegation visited Vanadzor’s #3 boarding school, which was built by ‘Nairi’ LTD. For the construction of the school 110,000 USD were spend, 55,000 out of which was donated by ‘Aznavour pour l’Armenie’ Fund. The second half of the sum was allotted by Armenia’s Social Investments Fund (by donation of Luise Simon-Manoogian).

 

 

At the boarding school Aznavour was received with songs and dance- by the performance of the school’s choir and ensemble. The honorable guest got acquainted with the conditions of the school which has 328 pupils, talked to teachers and authorities. The school presented him with a paining of the mount Ararat.

 

 

Then Charles Aznavour visited school #22 of Vanadzor, which was built by ‘Argishgti-1’ LTD. Here again the famous French-Armenian singer donated half of the sum (again 55,000 USD) necessary for the construction.

 

 

Very Rev. Rafael Andonian is a Pastor in the Venice’s ‘Murad Rafaelian’ seminary where, after the horrible earthquake of 1988, couple of dozens teenagers from socially insecure families of Vanadzor went to study to. Rev. Andonian was awarded an honorary certificate from the name of Lori governor, Vanadzor mayor and ‘Interkap’ benevolent center.

 

 

At the end of his visit Charles Aznavour visited the nursing home of Vanadzor, for the construction of which ‘Aznavour pour l’Armenie’ Fund made a donation of 40,000 USD, and allotted equipment worth 20,000 USD. The maestro toured around the nursing home, talked to old people, got acquainted with the home’s conditions, and was pleased by everything. He also had a briefing with reporters: ‘In comparison with my last visit to Armenia (5 years ago) I saw a lot of progress here. Now I can hope that Armenia will flourish’. ‘We built this nursing home and now we deliver it to the Fund of Armenian Relief (FAR)- of course not stopping our support’,- said Charles Aznavour.

 

 

Then time for presents came- Mila Saadat presented Aznavour with her best CD, Vanadzor’s #2 hospital’s director Karen Adamian presented him an old (1905) Bible, musician Janna Gevorgian presented Aznavour with the notes of her song dedicated to the maestro, and writer Vahram Gharagyozian gave him a book he wrote.

 

 

Before departing to Yerevan Mr. Aznavour dined with the old people of the nursing home. The guests bade warm farewell to the grateful Lori people and returned to Yerevan.

 

 

By Manvel Mikoyan, Vanadzor

 

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[MosJan]

AZNAVOUR: STOPPING EMIGRATION ARMENIA’S PRIMARY ISSUE

Famous French-Armenian singer, actor, philanthropist Charles Aznavour left Armenia for France September 27. Before departing the famous singer said in Zvartnots airport that stopping emigration from the country must be Armenia’s primary problem.

 

 

‘It is necessary that those who left Armenia in the recent years return to motherland. For this purpose a lot of work is necessary’,- said prominent singer. He expressed a hope that during his next visit to Armenia, which he promised to pay very soon, he will see his historical motherland much improved and developed.

 

 

During his seven-day visit to Armenia notable French-Armenian visited Gyumri and Vanadzor, where by the financial support of ‘Aznavour pour l’Armenie’ Fund schools and nursing homes were built. He was present at the ceremonies held in his honor both in yerevan and in Gyumri, as well as at the opening of Yerevan’s new St. Gregory the Illuminator church. When visiting the 1915 Genocide Memorial in Tsitsernakaberd together with Pope of Rome John Paul II our compatriot performed Ave Maria song.

 

 

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