Guest Posted September 11, 2000 Report Share Posted September 11, 2000 1. House Democratic Whip David Bonior Calls For Vote On Genocide Bill 2. National Hero Aram Yerganyan Remembered 3. Cilician Knight Honors Awarded to Three Leaders 4. Freedom of Speech Not Respected in Azerbaijan, Says European Leader 5. Nikolay Kolesnikov Refutes Reports On His Death 6. US To Help Caucasus In Demining Effort 7. Armenian Laborers Under Nazi Regime Entitled To Claims 8. Agreement Between Yerevan State, Hebrew University Signed 9. Armenian Organist Wins Special Prize At International Contest 10. Grenade Explosion Near Engineering University 11. Artsax Prosecutor's Office Has Nothing To Do With Arrest Community News 1. Ara Corbett's Film to Screen at Boston Festival 2. Lucine Amara's Golden Jubilee To be Marked at Gala Musical Tribute 1. House Democratic Whip David Bonior Calls For Vote On Genocide Bill WASHINGTON--Bipartisan Congressional support for bringing the Armenian Genocide Resolution to a vote continued to expand this week, with Democratic Whip David Bonior calling on Speaker Dennis Hastert to bring the measure to the House floor as soon as possible. On August 26, during a meeting in California with Armenian American community leaders, Speaker Hastert had announced that he intends to bring H.Res.398 to a vote on the House floor this September. The measure has been cosponsored by a diverse, bipartisan group of over 135 Representatives. Congressman Bonior, a long-time advocate for the Armenian Genocide Resolution, is an original cosponsor of H.Res.398, along with Rep. George Radanovich. Despite the Speaker's positive comments, the Democratic Whip pointed out that: "Unfortunately, the House International Relations Committee has not yet moved forward to report the resolution to the floor of the House, and it is my understanding that several members of the majority leadership have been attempting to block its consideration." The next legislative step for the Armenian Genocide Resolution is its consideration, during the coming week, by the House International Relations Subcommittee on International Operations. This panel is chaired by Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, a vocal supporter of Armenian Genocide recognition and commemoration. The text of Democratic Whip David Bonior's letter to the Speaker is provided below. Dear Mr. Speaker: I urge you to schedule H.Res. 398, bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Radanovich and myself, for consideration on the floor of the House of Representatives as soon as possible. The resolution is a sensible statement of the Congress's belief that the genocide committed against Armenians in the early 20th Century should be recognized appropriately. I have been involved with the Genocide Resolution beginning in 1987, when I managed the rule for debate in the House of Representatives on the resolution. As a student of history, I had always been outraged that this terrible tragedy was not recognized by Congress or the President. The evidence is very clear that this genocide occurred. Furthermore, we know from the history of nations throughout the world that recognizing inhumanity is the first step towards healing and understanding. The current tensions between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia are deeply rooted in this history, and achieving a just and lasting peace and cooperation will only be possible if the past is acknowledged. But it will not happen on its own. That's why congressional action on the Armenian Genocide resolution is so important. Unfortunately, the House International Relations Committee has not yet moved forward to report the resolution to the floor of the House, and it is my understanding that several members of the majority leadership have been attempting to block its consideration. This resolution has a long history of bipartisan support. Since 1995, Rep. Radanovich and I have worked together to achieve passage of the resolution. We believe that now is the time to move forward. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, David E. Bonior Democratic Whip 2. National Hero Aram Yerganyan Remembered YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan, Armenpress)--Armenian national hero Aram Yerganyan's 100th anniversary of his birth was marked during a special ceremony Sunday at the Gomidas Concert Hall during a program organized by the Garin Compatriotic Union of Armenia. As one of the avengers of the Armenian Genocide, Yerganyan worked under the tutelage of another national hero Arshavir Shirakian to eliminate the Young Turk perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide. The program was devoted to memorializing Yerganyan's accomplishments and the important role he played in post-Genocide national activities. Born in Garin (Erzerum) in 1900, Yerganyan was a young witness to the Turkish atrocities during the Genocide. In 1919 he was enlisted in the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's "Executive Body" which planned and executed the assassinations of Young Turk leaders. He died in Buenos Aires, but he is still remembered in that community for the Armenian school in the area has made visits to his grave a tradition. "I wrote but one chapter in the 'book of revenge,'" wrote Yerganyan, who expressed hope that those historical pages not be lost and the truth about the Armenian Genocide be revealed by future generations. 3. Cilician Knight Honors Awarded to Three Leaders ANTELIAS, Lebanon (Aztag)--During a special ceremony Friday at the Siran Manoukian Center His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia bestowed the coveted "Cilician Knight" medal upon three leaders--Dr. Antranig Manougian, Dr. Melkon Eblighatian and Hratch Dasnabedian--whose contributions to education, culture and politics have been noteworthy. Present at the ceremony were representatives of the Catholic and Evangelical communities of Lebanon, as well as Armenian parliament member and newly-elected parliamentarians, Armenia's ambassador to Lebanon Arman Navasartian, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Yervand Pamboukian, Social Democratic Hunchakian party Central Executive chairman Vahridj Djeredjian, ARF Lebanon Central Committee member, organizational leaders and community representatives. In his remarks, Evangelical leader Rev. Paul Haidostian presented the life and work of Dr. Antranig Manougian, whose contributions in the field of medicine earned him notoriety and respect in the community. Haidostian further praised Manougian's leadership within the Evangelical community and as a activist for Lebanese-Armenian unity. ARF Bureau member Pamboukian presented the life and work of Dr. Melkon Eblighatian, who for many years served as representative of the Armenian bloc in the Lebanese parliament. Pamboukian pointed to Eblighatian's more than six decades of service to the Armenian community in various leadership positions. The long-time principal of the Jemaran and a former member of the ARF Bureau Hratch Dasnabedian was introduced by his colleague Dikran Jinbashian, who praised Dasnabedian's astute leadership at the Hamazkayin Nshan Palandjian Jemaran and other educational institutions as a teacher, instructor and later principal. Dasnabedian's work as a writer and coordinator of the ARF Archives was also commended, as were his efforts in preserving ARF history through numerous publications. The three leaders were awarded the "Cilician Knight" medal by His Holiness Aram I, who concluded a program with remarks praising the medal recipients and addressing last week's parliamentary elections in Lebanon. In his remarks, the Catholicos stressed the importance of preserving Armenian national unity and expressed hope that the newly-elected Armenian members of parliaments should have been elected by the votes of the Armenian community. 4. Freedom of Speech Not Respected in Azerbaijan, Says European Leader ANKARA (Noyan Tapan)--Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Lord Russell Johnston issued a plea to the speaker of the Azeri parliament Mortouz Aleskerov, expressing his concern over the practices of freedom of speech in Azerbaijan, the Azeri News Service reported Monday. The brunt of Johnston's appeal focused on the recent arrest of Yeni Musavat newspaper editor Arifoghlu. The newspaper editor was arrested by Musavat party leader Mehdi Huseinly on charges of masterminding the hijacking of a plane bound for Baku from Nakhichevan. In his letter, Johnston reminded Azeri officials that respect for freedom of speech was a precondition to membership in the Council of Europe. Johnston added that he and his office had receive numerous written reports from noted international reporters and Council of Europe observers, who have stressed the no so satisfactory situation in Azerbaijan of respect for speech freedoms. The European leader pointed out that Arifoghlu's arrest, coupled with the recent closure of the Utch Nokta newspaper by the authorities has created concern in European circles over the fairness of upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. Johnston reminded Aleskerov that respect for freedoms of speech and the press will have a crucial role in Azerbaijan's membership consideration in the Council of Europe. 5. Nikolay Kolesnikov Refutes Reports On His Death YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenian officials denied news agencies' reports that a Russian patient who has been undergoing AIDS treatment in Armenia has died of the disease. The head of a government medical agency, Emil Gabrielian, described claims that Nikolay Kolesnikov is dead as an "ugly lie". "Kolesnikov has not died and has no such intention for the next 30 to 40 years," he said. The Russian patient is due in Yerevan next month for another medical check-up in the Armenicum AIDS clinic. The false information was spread by unnamed outside forces that are "not interested in Armenicum's recognition as a cure against AIDS," Gabrielian said. 6. US To Help Caucasus In Demining Effort WASHINGTON (Reuters)--US special forces troops are headed to Russia's southwest flank to train local forces to remove potentially deadly mines in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the State Department said on Friday. The contingent is due to start work on Sept. 14. The United States is the only other country in the Americas apart from Cuba not to have signed a landmark 1997 anti-mine convention. Instead, Washington says it gives the most aid toward efforts to deal with the consequences of land mines. ``The US troops will set up a training center at a Georgian military base near Tbilisi and provide humanitarian demining training as well as the related skills of emergency medical treatment and communications,'' a State Department spokesman said. The international convention bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. The United States, while pledging support for the treaty, has refused to sign because it says it still needs the weapons along the border between North and South Korea. President Bill Clinton has pledged the United States will stop using land mines outside of the Korean peninsula by 2003 and in Korea by 2006. It has not produced antipersonnel mines since 1996 and has banned their export since 1992. This week, the International Campaign to Ban Land mines issued its second annual report, suggesting the convention had helped reduce the number of victims of mines worldwide. The effort in the Caucasus brings together 70 US Green Berets and support troops with 20 deminers and auxiliary personnel from each of the three countries. Land mines were placed across the region during conflicts sparked by the break-up of the Soviet Union. US humanitarian demining assistance to the three countries stands at $1 million and the new operation will cost another $3.2 million, the State Department said. The International Campaign to Ban Land mines, which shared a Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts, found that 88 countries were affected by land mines or unexploded ordnance. 7. Armenian Laborers Under Nazi Regime Entitled To Claims YEREVAN (Armenpress)—The International Organization for Migration has announced that former forced laborers under the Nazi regime are now entitled to claim financial compensation under a new German Forced Labor Compensation Law. The International Organization for Migration has been designated by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany as a partner organization in charge of claims covering the so-called "rest of the world" category. IOM will take care of eligible claimants who are non-Jewish and who do not live in the former republics of the USSR, the Czech Republic and Poland. For eligible claimants residing in Armenia the partner organization for processing claims is not IOM but the partner organization in the country from where the forced laborer was deported. The names and addresses of partner organizations for the respective countries and Jewish victims are listed in IOM's website at www.compensation-for-forced-labour-org., or at the IOM office in Armenia at United Nations House at 14 K.Liebknecht St., Yerevan, 375010 Armenia. Former prisoners of war do not qualify under the German Forced Labor Compensation Law unless the person was transferred to a concentration camp where the person underwent forced labor. If the eligible claimant died after February 15, 1999, the surviving spouse and children are entitled to file a claim. The last date for applications to the respective partner organization is August 11 2001. 8. Agreement Between Yerevan State, Hebrew University Signed YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Rector of Yerevan State University Radik Martirossian, and Head of the Department of Armenian Studies of the Hebrew University of Israel Michael Stone signed an agreement on the scientific and cultural cooperation between the two universities on September 11. The signing of the agreement will be followed by the elaboration and implementation of specific annual programs. Next spring the rectors of the two universities will pay mutual visits. The agreement regulates the issues of conducting research of mutual interests. Armenian scholars worked at the Department of Armenian Studies of Hebrew University of Israel long before the agreement was signed, but from now on this work will be regulated by the agreement. Currently, the Department of Armenian Studies is ready to admit one post-graduate student from Armenia and provide him with scholarship. 60 students are currently studying at the Department of Armenian Studies, which was founded 34 years ago. The department is financed by the Hebrew University of Israel. 9. Armenian Organist Wins Special Prize At International Contest YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Two events have coincided this year: The 250th death anniversary of the genius composer Johann Sebastian Bach and the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the International Bach Contest held in Leipzig. Anna Bakunts, an Armenian organist and post-graduate student at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory under Professor Vahagn Stamboltsian, participated in this year's contest. She was awarded by a special diploma, Sonderpreise, and 9 volumes of works for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach. The sponsor of the special prize is Barenreiter Publishers. Fifty-three contestants from Western Europe, Ukraine, Armenia, Japan, America, Canada, Argentina, and Australia demonstrated their skills in playing pieces on organs that where actually used by the great Bach. These organs were manufactured by Silbermann Co. in the city of Rotha and on was the organ in St. Thomas' Church whose cantor was Bach from 1723 to 1750. In a Noyan Tapan interview, Anna Bakunts said that "the international jury assessed the knowledge of style peculiarities in performing the works for organ by Bach, Couperin, Sweelinck, Buxtehude and others. It was also necessary to play a work composed specially for the contest by the modern German composer Christian Kram." The trip of the Armenian organist to Leipzig was sponsored by the first lady of Armenia, Bella Kocharian. 10. Grenade Explosion Near Engineering University YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—At about noon on September 11, a grenade exploded near the 9th wing of the Yerevan State Engineering University. Panes of glass of the nearby university buildings were broken as a result of the blast. Lessons were also suspended. Police officials came to the place immediately after the incident. They sealed off the area and refused to unveil the details of the case to Noyan Tapan's reporter, but students who witnessed the explosion did instead. In particular, they said they saw a young man, apparently a student, running away from the scene of action. This man got on a van that drove him in the direction of the Opera House. 11. Artsax Prosecutor's Office Has Nothing To Do With Arrest YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Nagorno Artsax Republic Prosecutor General Mavrik Ghukassian had nothing to do with the arrest of journalist Vahram Aghajanian, the editorial office of the Artsax-based Tenth Province newspaper informed Noyan Tapan. The information about Aghajanian's family was provided by a high-ranking official of the Artsax government who wished to remain unnamed for the time being. According to the same source, the journalist was illegally arrested on the instruction of Artsax Interior Minister Bako Sahakian without a search warrant from the Prosecutor's Office. According to the Nagorno Artsax Republic Criminal Code, "the search was conducted by an investigator's motivated award and only with the presence of the prosecutor's warrant. Search warrants are issued by the prosecutor or his deputy. In urgent matters, the search can be conducted without the prosecutor's sanction. However, the prosecutor should be notified of the conducted search within a day". The representative of the government said that Mavrik Ghukassian or his assistant did not issue either a search warrant or an arrest warrant for Vahram Aghajanian. As a matter of fact, the Nagorno Artsax Republic Interior Minister broke the law. In this regard Vahram Aghajanian temporarily retracted his statement to the Prosecutor General, addressing it to Interior Minister Bako Sahakian. In the statement, the journalist demands that the minister should show him the copies of the search and arrest warrants, which, according to the law, should be kept in the Interior Ministry. If the warrants are not shown, Vahram Aghajanian intends to apply to the Prosecutor General's Office demanding that proceedings be instituted against the Interior Ministry which violated the laws of the country. Community News 1. Ara Corbett's Film to Screen at Boston Festival GLENDALE—Local filmmaker Ara Corbett will screen his first Armenian language film, Roof To Roof, at the Boston Festival on Monday and Tuesday. Roof To Roof is both an exploration into the feelings of all the characters as well as a humanistic journey through this nascent Armenian-immigrant community. The main character, Zaven, is and Armenian immigrant living in Los Angeles, a single father with a seven-year-old daughter, Amy. In order to keep his job as a gas station mechanic, he must pass the state emissions test to become a certified "smog technician." The trouble is, Amy knows better English than her father, so much so that she helps him read the test materials at night as the test is only a couple of days away. Complicating this situation, Amy is becoming more and more attracted to Zaven's sister's side of the family. Zaven and his sister, Armineh, used to be very close, but the years since her marriage to the wealthier, more educated Vartan have created a distance between them that has grown subtly over time. Tired of hearing himself say he wanted to make a movie, Ara turned of scribbled notes into a complete script titled Roof To Roof, which became his first film. Now 30, he took a break from teaching to pursue a dream of putting the story of an Armenian family up on the big screen. He insists the thrill of making the film came from a desire to get closer to the people around him. "That's the theme of the story," he explains. "It's about people who feel like they should be closer to their family than they are. I wanted to find out where that feeling came from and what to do about it." With an English degree and several odd jobs behind him, including machinist is a brake shop, pop music columnist for BAM, and deck hand abroad a fishing schooner, Ara suddenly began to feel his life heading nowhere fast. Teaching offered great satisfaction, but something was missing. The opportunity to study at Boston University under renowned scholar Ray Carney opened the door to make his own 16mm film. He credits the move to the inspiration of his wife, Lina, who served as Assistant Director and Script Supervisor on Roof To Roof. A short film, "Relievio," made with four other graduate students at BU (including crew members Lucas Sabean and Hideki Tomita), made a splash at several US film festivals including Chicago (where it won the Silver Plaque), Seattle, Telluride, and Slamdance. The largely improvised story of a boy trying to organize a schoolyard game that no-one wants to play taught the young filmmakers some valuable lessons. "Life goes on around us all the time, but most of the time when we try to capture it, it moves away, like trying to catch a butterfly. But there still must be another way to capture life rather than storyboard everything in advance and completely control the environment. Some directors can pull this off, but whenever we tried in 'Relievio,' we failed. Working with all those kids taught me to see more, to listen more, to be less tied down to what is written. Your emotions can give structure to a story just as much as a plot diagram." Editing Roof To Roof took nearly a year and a half, cutting down over 10 hours of footage to its final running time of 70 minutes. Much of this work was done after hours, when Ara wasn't grading papers or creating lessons for his eighth grade English class. "This was a dream project because a;; the people in it cared so much and were willing to work very, very hard for no money, just to help out. The thought of this made me push myself hard as I could to make everyone proud of the final product. I wanted people to feel all their efforts weren't for naught, that each person was what made the entire project special." Since completing Roof To Roof, Ara has written another original feature script, is developing two documentaries and a television pilot, and keeps his wife up all night carrying on about his next picture idea. 2. Lucine Amara's Golden Jubilee To be Marked at Gala Musical Tribute LOS ANGELES—The St. James Armenian Apostolic Church of Los Angeles, invites the public to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of internationally acclaimed Lucine Amara's debut into the world of opera. On Sunday, October 15 at 3 p.m., a gala musical tribute will take place in the church sanctuary, and Amara will be the "star" performer. The audience will have the opportunity to hear a variety of selections from her vast musical repertoire. She will be accompanied by pianist, Fred Carama. The program will also include performances by an array of young award-winning musicians who have demonstrated their brilliant potential. Lucine Amara has sung more than 1000 operatic performances and her name appears in music dictionaries, encyclopedias, and Who's Who directories throughout the world. Her "operatic journey" began in San Francisco where she grew up. After only a year of training she was accepted in the San Francisco Opera chorus as a Contralto. Later, when she joined the Metropolitan Opera as a young dramatic soprano, she performed the "Celestial Voice" in Don Carlo. During her forty one years at the Met, Amara sang 56 roles and 57 radio broadcasts. She also appeared with Mario Lanza in The Great Caruso. In addition to performing in operas and symphonies throughout the United States, she has appeared in twenty-one countries overseas, including China, Japan, Armenia, Russia. She is always in demand in the "Masterclass" world and continues to give classes throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. Currently, Amara is the Artistic Director of the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera. An added attraction will be the very young Ani Bukujian, who dazzled the audience at the age of five, when she became the winner of the Pasadena String Festival, playing on a 1/10 size violin. Born in Glendale, in 1993, Ani is the offspring of musical parents, both of whom are violinists. She has garnered awards from the American String Teacher's Association, The Armenian Allied Arts Association, and most recently Ani was invited to perform with the Viva Vivaldi 2000 All Girl Orchestra at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, DC. She currently uses a 1/4 size violin made by Vasile Gliga in Romania. Another highlight will be Hovig Alahaidoyan whose performance received the Armenian Allied Arts award for Classical Guitar, a new category in the competition. Hovig was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1977 and grew up in Beirut, Lebanon. He and his family moved to the United States in 1986, and he has been studying Classical Guitar at the Lark Conservatory in Glendale for the past five years. He recently participated in a Master Class given by USC Professor, Scott Tenant, founder of the LA Guitar Quartet. Hovig is currently attending the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Also featured will be multiple Armenian Allied Arts Award winner, Harout Senekeremian, whose piano solo won first place in the Instrumental category and the prestigious Robert and Grace Jamentz Award for the Most Outstanding Musical Performer this year. The son of Ani and Ashod Senekeremian, Harout is a graduate of Pasadena High School. At age four, he began to study with Vatche Mankarian, and at age nine, he entered the Colburn School of Music to study with his current teacher, Dr. Louis Lepley. Having distinguished himself at many competitions and festivals, he plans to make music his career and has been awarded a Dean's Scholarship to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music this Fall. A reception in the John Gogian Hall will follow the program. General admission is $20 each. A Patron's category with special seating is available at $50 each. In addition, Patrons will be treated to a "Special Evening With The Artists" on Thursday, October 12, where they can enjoy a buffet of choice delicacies. The church is located at 4950 West Slauson Ave. in Inglewood, and reservations must be arranged before October 9, by calling: St. Jame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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