Armenia News Bulletin 03-30-10

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Armenia News Bulletin 03-26-10

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Armenia News Bulletin 03-23-10

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Armenia News Bulletin 03-19-10

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Najarian-Gulbenkian Alumnus Raffi Ohanyan Wins Shant TV’s “Hay Superstar 4″

Every year Armenia’s Shant TV organizes the Hay Superstar (Armenian Superstar) contest, the equivalent to American Idol in the United States or Pop Idol in the UK, to reveal young Armenian talents.  This year’s season of Hay Superstar brought to Armenia young and gifted Armenians from all over the world.  After months of tough competition two participants reached the finals, Raffi Ohanyan from Aleppo, Syria, and Raisa Avanessian from Tehran.

Raffi Ohanyan was born in Aleppo in 1989, and he attended the city’s AGBU Najarian-Gulbenkian secondary school. He became the chess champion of Aleppo and participated in the Syrian chess championship the following years, when he ranked second and third. Raffi has lived in Yerevan since 2002 and studies computer sciences at the European Regional University of Yerevan.  He is also an active member of the AGBU Yerevan scout troop and scout council.

The Hay Superstar 4 finals took place on Sunday, March 14, at 21:20 Yerevan time and revealed the name of the winner Raffi Ohanyan – making him the first male Hay Superstar in the history of the contest. Before the final concert, and during the whole week, SMS messages were sent from all over the world for both participants of the finals.  The gala concert also brought together the contest’s 12 finalists representing Armenia, Germany, Iran, Russia and Syria.

Congratulations to Raffi for his great achievement!

AGBU Europe Welcomes Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Parliament of Sweden

Brussels, March 12, 2010 – AGBU Europe congratulates the Parliament of Sweden for acknowledging the genocides committed against the Armenians, Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs and Pontic Greeks during the First World War.

The Parliament of Sweden adopted the resolution by a vote of 131 to 130 on Thursday 11 March. In response, Turkey withdrew its Ambassador and cancelled Prime Minister Erdogan’s scheduled visit.

“Sweden often strives to reconcile effectiveness and ethics in its relations with the world. We applaud it for its principled and constructive stance on the Genocide. The truth will set us all free.” said Nicolas Tavitian, of AGBU Europe.

This vote comes on the heels of another vote, last Thursday (March 4), in the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, which also acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. The resolution passed in spite of heavy pressure from Turkey; the Turkish government recalled their ambassador to the United States.

Opponents to the resolution in the US most often justified their stance on the basis of Turkey’s strategic

importance to the United States. They also argue that Turkey may now refuse to open its border with Armenia.

AGBU Europe believes it is a mistake on the part of European countries or of the U.S. to yield to the demands of a fellow NATO member, EU candidate country and self-declared friend to conceal the truth. Turkish society is in the process of discovering the truth about their country’s past. We are doing them no favour if we oblige in their historic taboos precisely when their own society is challenging them.

Turkey signed two protocols with Armenia on October 10, 2009 that were intended to lead to the normalization of relations between the two countries after a 17-year blockade (1993-2010) of Armenia by Turkey. The country then reneged on its commitment and subjected ratification of the agreement to further conditions. The process is widely considered blocked in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The recognition of the Genocide in Sweden and the United States is a useful signal to Turkey that it needs to radically rethink its policy towards the Republic of Armenia and towards Armenians generally and to urgently complete the normalization process.

Armenia News Bulletin 03-12-10

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YP Chicago Draw Crowds from All Over the Midwest

Chicago, IL – (March 2, 2010) – Young Armenian Professionals from Wisconsin, Michigan, as well as Illinois attended the Poon Paregentan Pre-party organized by the AGBU Young Professionals of Chicago on February 12, 2010. The event presented an opportunity for young professionals to network among their peers a day before the annual Poon Paregentan event held by the Midwest churches.

The festivities presented the second opportunity for the newly formed Young Professionals group to bring together Armenians from the greater Chicagoland area. Following the very successful inaugural event last November, the group has seen interest among the ranks of the Young Professionals increase as evident by the growth of the group’s email list. Attendees to the event even drew Armenian Young Professionals from as far away states as Texas. “We are very pleased with the rapid growth in the level of interest the Young Professionals of Chicago have garnered from the greater community”, said Arina Babajanian, Chairwoman of the Young Professionals of Chicago. “We are excited about the growth prospects of our group and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community” added Babajanian.

Photos from the event as well as announcements of future events can be found on the group’s website at http://YP.AGBUChicago.org.

Reported by Avo Mavilian

Vahram Papazian Theatre Group Presents Hagop Baronian’s “Shoghokorte” (The Sycophant)

BEIRUT – The AGBU Vahram Papazian Theater Group began to present Hagop Baronian’s “Shoghokore” (The Sycophant) under the direction of Prof. Yervant Ghazanchian from Armenia on Thursday evening, February 18, in the Hagop Der Melkonian Auditorium.

Prior to the performance, Aztag daily had a brief conversation with Ghazanchian. As far as the choice of subject, he pointed out that it has an interesting structure. Referring to the phenomenon of base flattery or adulation, he asserted that it is unbearable and expressed the hope that the audience would find such behavior revolting after seeing the production.

Subsequently, the members of the Vahram Papazian Theater Group put on a successful production of the “Shoghokorte” lasting approximately two hours.

Like the past weekend, this comedy will also be presented on February 25-28 by the members of this group: Manuel Markarian, Arpi Partian-Avedikian, Harout Manoogian, Vartan Megerdichian, Harout Torosian, Hovagim Keshishian, Varia Bournazian-Juntoyian, Sako Ohanian and Hovig Kassardjian.

Translated by Aris G. Sevag; Source: Asbarez daily, February 23, 2010.

NYSEC Performing Artists in Concert at Dar El Assad Theatre in Damascus

Organized by AGBU Damascus in cooperation with ECHO Musical Cultural Association, a musical concert by the AGBU performing artists quartet took place at Dar El Assad Theatre in Damascus on January 28, 2010. The members of the quartet were Hayk Arsenyan, Aleksander Nazaryan, Hrant Parsamian and Nazig Tchakarian.