AGBU Melbourne’s “Nor Tsayn” April 2011 Newsletter

Click here to download the PDF (3.39MB) of the April 2011 edition of AGBU Melbourne’s Nor Tsayn Newsletter.

Chicago Goes to the Opera

Some of those who attended the March 18 performance with conductor Alain Altinoglu. Left to right, Oscar Tatosian, Maestro Altinoglu, and AGBU Chicago chairwoman Sona Boghosian Diorio.

On March 18, a group of 50 Chicago community members attended a special encore performance by the Lyric Opera of Georges Bizet’s Carmen under the baton of French conductor Alain Altinoglu.  Oscar Tatosian, a member of the Lyric’s Guild Board, collaborated with AGBU Chicago to organize the outing, which included a special reception for Maestro Altinoglu following the performance.

Armenia News Bulletin 03-29-11

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Presidency of CIS Council of Interregional and Cross-border Cooperation passed to Armenia
2. Sargsyan, Ahmadinejad discuss cooperation issues
3. Bako Sahakyan received chairman of the public council under the minister of defense of the RA
4. Analyst: Official Baku reduces number of Azerbaijani victims and missed at Karabakh war
5. Karine Atchmeyan urges “Heritage” to return back to parliament
6. Bako Sahakyan receives ARF members
7. Davit Babayan: Artsakh party has not occupied territories but liberated
8. Turkish Court sentenced Orhan Pamuk for the expression “Turks have killed 1 million Armenians and 30 thousand Kurds”
9. Tigran Balayan: Armenia agrees with co-chairs that only peaceful regulation can provide more distinct prospects for the region
10. Brussels criticizes Turkey for dismantling monument symbolizing reconcilement with Armenia
11. Serzh Sargsyan attaches importance to multilateral cooperation with Ghana
12. Mekhak Apresyan says www.armhotels.am to promote the development of tourism in Armenia
13. Conference on South Caucasus in French parliament
14. March 27 – international day of theatre
15. 20 Armenian artists to visit Ani
16. International Book Exhibition in Yerevan
17. Armenian film directors’ films at 30th international film festival of Istanbul
18. A week of literature for children and juniors in Armenia
19. 500 documentary films digitalized at the National Archive
20. Meeting with teachers at Writers Union
21. Rich Goldman and Ralph Yirikian became members of the Armenian Engineering Academy
22. Ashot Kocharyan – honorable president of Lebanon-Armenian friendship association
23. Armenian, Ukrainian universities sign cooperation agreement
24. 290 loans refunded within the framework of “Available Apartment for Young Family” program
25. Police undertakes serious measures to organize Armenia-Russia match properly
26. Armenia-Russia – 0:0

Click here to download the PDF (75KB) of the latest AGBU Armenia News Bulletin.

Photos from the Sydney Sat School Graduation

We received the following report from the AGBU Alex Manoogian Saturday School in Sydney, Australia:

The AGBU Alex Manoogian Saturday School End of Year Concert took place on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at the AGBU Centre in Sydney, Australia. The concert was a huge success with a great performance from the school as a whole.

Our enthusiastic teachers put together a beautiful nativity scene that brought tears to many eyes in the audience.

The second half commenced with the graduation ceremony for Dzaghig class with Michael Aghabekian presenting the diplomas. Dzaghig graduating class Back Row (L-R) Sylvia Aghabekian (Principal), Michael Aghabekian and Marie Kouyoumdjian (class teacher) Front Row (L-R) David Szasz, Karoun Zouain, Sarah Der Bedrossian, Nina Hamamdjian, Alexander Shahinian.

Fresno Hosts Art Exhibit, Luncheon Lecture with Prof. Terian

In October 2010, the local AGBU hosted an art exhibit in the Haig and Isabel Berberian Hall of St. Paul Armenian Church.  Residents of all ages from the San Joaquin Valley were invited to exhibit their best work in the following media:  oil, water color, acrylics, photography, sculpture and poetry.  The exhibit was well attended and represented the art work of over 30 valley residents.

In January 2011, AGBU Fresno held a luncheon with special guest Professor Abraham Terian, formerly with St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and Visiting Professor at California State University, Fresno. The luncheon was held at the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School.  Principal Sophie Mekhitarian greeted guests and took all to see the progress of the school’s building project, after the program. Professor Terian spoke on his upcoming publication of Koriun’s Life of Mashdots. AGBU members and guests were updated on chapter activities planned for 2011 by Chairlady, Zaroohi Der Mugrdechian.

Armenia News Bulletin 03-25-11

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Turkologist: Increase of Turkey’s role in Arab world does not stem from interests of Armenia
2. A conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of proclaiming the NKR independence took place in the city of Vienne
3. US Ambassador: Statements of Azerbaijan about bombing the airplanes flying to Stepanakert are unacceptable
4. Marie Yovanovitch: Armenia is irreplaceable partner for NATO
5. NA Chairman calls on “Heritage” to return to parliament
6. Turkey has its reasons to restrain from actions against Libya
7. Turkey tries to become recognizable to the world through falsifications
8. Armenia and Artsakh – participants of largest show travel event
9. Argentina ready to support Armenia in introduction of electronic management system
10. Harut Sassounian: All Parties Must Disclose Disbursement of Insurance Settlement Funds By Harut Sassounian, Publisher, The California Courier
11. RA Diaspora Minister to pay a working visit to the USA, Singapore and Australia
12. Contest for Composers and Musicians
13. Vahan Martirosyan – artistic director of National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia
14. Partnership offer to Yerevan
15. Four small markets to function in Yerevan from April
16. “Pokrik Ishkhan” social center opens in Vanadzor
17. MFA Spokesman: Armenia ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Libya
18. 16 million USD for 55 poor mountainous villages in Armenia
19. Doctors of NKR, Javakhq to train in Yerevan
20. Tigran Sargsyan: Armenia ready to support in elimination of consequences of earthquake in Japan at any moment
21. Sahakyan visits Stepanakert nursing home
22. First reports at the municipality assessed satisfactory
23. Keys of apartments to 8 families of killed freedom fighters
24. Issues related to the process of providing apartments to families of perished freedom-fighters discussed

Click here to download the PDF (78KB) of the latest AGBU Armenia News Bulletin.

News About Armenians in Spain You May Have Missed

AGBU Europe leaders during their visit to Spain last September. (image via agbueurope.org)

In the last few months there has been a great deal of news about Armenian activities in Spain. In case you may have missed something, here’s a summary from the AGBU Europe website to keep you up to date:

• On September 25, 2010, members of the AGBU Europe board attended the opening ceremony of the Armenian Culture Center – “Հայ Տուն (Hay Tun)” – in Barcelona. During the same trip, they also attended the opening of the new Embassy of Armenia in the Kingdom of Spain.
• On December 27, 2010, the first Armenian Apostolic Church parish council is established in Barcelona. Seven communities in Spain have regular church services and two (Gerona and Marbella) have occasional services.
• Members of the Armenian Community of Cataluña were invited to take part in “Universal Values: Rights of Groups and Human Rights” conference, which was organized by the BLANQUERNA GROUP (Parliament of Balearic Islands) on January 13th-15th, 2011, at Can Alover museum in Palma de Mallorca.

Photos from the Annual France Weekend Ski Trip

The following are some photos we’ve received from France from the annual UGAB weekend ski trip that took place this year from February 19 to 26, 2011.

Toronto Awards Scholarships

Toronto scholarship recipients with AGBU Toronto board members and administrators at the March 16 event at the AGBU Toronto center. (image courtesy AGBU Toronto)

On March 16, 2011, the Toronto Chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union held its annual scholarship awards reception at the Alex Manoogian Cultural Centre. This year’s recipients were Daron Bedrosyan, Knar Deherian, Michelle Deherian, Tamar Istanbul, Sareen Khatchadourian, Saro Khatchadourian, Tamar Makdessian, Jason Sarafian, Alisha Shahmirian, Anashe Shahmirian, Jivan Stepanian, and Khatchadour Wanes.

Armenia News Bulletin 03-22-11

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Chairman of Croatia’s Parliament to visit Armenia
2. Parliamentary hearings “The Nagorno Karabakh Conflict” organized in Bern
3. Edward Sharmazanov says political process in Armenia proper
4. Bako Sahakyan: “OSCE should pay more serious attention to Azerbaijan’s non-constructive stance”
5. Discussion over Raffi Hovhannisyan’s hunger-strike to be held tomorrow
6. Event dedicated to NKR Independence in Vienna
7. Turkologist: Increase of Turkey’s role in Arab world does not stem from interests of Armenia
8. Mekhak Apresyan: We intend to increase the number of visitors to Armenia
9. Sevak Sarukhanyan says new nuclear power plant Armenia’s guarantee of energy security
10. Holiday of Armenian-French friendship in Gyumri
11. Scientific sub-building of Matendaran to be handed to exploitation
12. An event dedicated to Armenia in “Book House” of Madrid
13. Number of participants of “Theater-X” grown
14. French Language Day Celebrated in Armenia
15. Days of Armenian Culture in Kuwait
16. Armenia and Artsakh – participants of largest show travel event
17. Bako Sahakyan Receives Primate of French Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church
18. “ArmTech” to be held in Yerevan
19. Stepanakert airport to correspond to international standards
20. Final round of the contest for RA President’s youth award conducted
21. Serious achievements registered in the sphere of information safety
22. Karen Karapetyan says for each citizen environment must be attractive and comfortable
23. Partnership offer to Yerevan

Click here to download the PDF (78KB) of the latest AGBU Armenia News Bulletin.