Fethiye Cetin Attends Launch of English
Translation of Her Book "My Grandmother"

Institute for Contemporary Arts (ICA),   June 19, 2008

" Turkey, Armenia and the Defence of Free Expression,"

Highlighting the English language publication of Fetiye Cetin's biography My Grandmother, this event was sold-out several weeks ahead of time. Chaired by English PEN President, writer Lisa Appignanesi, the evening included a panel of three distinguished speakers in addition to Cetin herself:  Ragip Zarakolu, well-known dissident publisher and activist, Nouritza Matossian, writer and filmmaker, and Maureen Freely, writer and translator. 

Ragip Zarakolu, battling for freedom of expression for writers in Turkey for many years, is currently being prosecuted for publishing the Turkish translation of George Jerjian's "The Truth Will Set Us Free".  "Parev, Shalom, Merhaba ", he began as he spoke  - - -    PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REPORT BY SUSAN PATTIE-CHILINGIRING

The following events are going to be held in Armenia during the year of 2008. The detailed information and the participation forms, where applicable, are available from the website of the Embassy of Armenia in London - http://www.armenianembassy.org.uk/.

The Pan - Armenian Youth Assembly "BAZE- 2008" will be held in the town of Jermuk of Vayots Dzor marz from 11 to 18 July, 2008.

A " Pan-Armenian Film Project" will be launched by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia together with Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival from 13th to-20th July 2008.

The Third Pan-Armenian festival of culture "One Nation, One Culture" will be held in the Republic of Armenia as well as in Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) from 17th to 23rd August 2008.

A conference for the heads of the media outlets from Armenia and Diaspora entitled "A Week of Armenian Media" is to be held in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia from 16th to 22nd September 2008.

The annual training courses of the Armenian language and literature for teachers working outside Armenia will be organized by the Ministry of Education and Science this year from July 18th to August 16th in Yerevan.

An International conference under the auspices of UNESCO will take place in October as 2008 was declared to be the year of Saroyan. Several dozens of events will be carried throughout the year in Armenia (Yerevan and regions) and the USA ( Fresno - where the writer was born).

The Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Armenia has allocated 70 university scholarships for students from the Armenian Diaspora for the year 2008-2009. The submission dates are from 1^st of July to 20^th of August 2008, for the post-graduate studies until 30^th of September.

TURKISH COURT IMPOSES FIVE MONTHS' PRISON SENTENCE ON PUBLISHER RAGIP ZARAKOLOU

BBC NEWS - A Turkish publisher has been sentenced ( in absentia) to five months in prison for publishing a book by a British author about the mass killing of Armenians in 1915.

Ragip Zarakolu was found guilty of "insulting the institutions of the Turkish republic" under Article 301 of Turkey's penal code.
The controversial law was recently reformed under pressure from the EU to ensure freedom of speech in Turkey.
This is the first high-profile verdict to be handed down since then.

Mr Zarakolu's sentence seems to confirm campaigners' fears that changes to the law were merely cosmetic, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul.

In April it became a crime to insult the Turkish nation, rather than Turkishness. But insulting the Turkish nation can still be punished by up to two years in jail.

Sensitive issue
Mr Zarakolu was brought to trial for publishing a book by British author George Jerjian on the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Passing sentence, the judge told Mr Zarakolu he had insulted the Turkish republic and its founders. His own defence - that he had the right to criticise - was rejected.

Outside the court, Mr Zarakolu said that such rulings had silenced many writers in Turkey but that he would continue to challenge the restrictions.

"I was partly waiting for this result. But it is a struggle for the truth and it will go on. I do not accept myself as convicted. This is a conviction for official history and for denialism," he said.

The justice ministry recently revealed that 1,700 people were tried under Article 301 in 2006 alone.

 

 

NOURITZA MATOSSIAN'S "HEART OF TWO NATIONS" CHOSEN FOR SCREENING AT GOLDEN APRICOT FILM FESTIVAL

Gibrahayer - Nicosia -
Nouritza Matossian's "Heart of Two Nations" has been chosen for screening at the Golden Apricot Film Festival. The documentary is about assassinated Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and his interviews with Nouritza Matossian.
The Golden Apricot Film festival will take place in Yerevan between 13-21 July in Yerevan.
Nouritza Matossian is a writer, actress, broadcaster and human rights activist. She writes on the arts, contemporary music, history and Armenia.
Matossian published the first biography and critical study of the Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, the source book on his life, architecture and music based on ten years' collaboration with him. She later adapted it into a 50-minute documentary for BBC2, entitled Something Rich and Strange.

Matossian's 1998 book Black Angel, A Life of Arshile Gorky was written after twenty years' research. Ararat, the award-winning film by Atom Egoyan and Miramax, was partly inspired by Black Angel. She acted as consultant to Egoyan who modelled the female lead role Ani on her. Matossian also wrote and performs a solo show on Gorky's life from the viewpoint of his four beloved women with images and music. It has been produced worldwide over 80 times at venues including the Barbican, Tate Modern, London, New York, Los Angeles, the Edinburgh Festival, Cyprus, Paris, Lebanon, Iran, Romania and Georgia. In Armenia she performed it simultaneously in two languages.
Matossian broadcasts on the BBC and contributes to several newspapers and magazines, including The Independent, The Guardian, The Economist, and The Observer. She was Honorary Cultural Attache for the Armenian Embassy in London from 1991-2000.
She spent her childhood in Cyprus with her Armenian family. Educated in England, she graduated with Honours in Philosophy (B.Phil) from Bedford College, University of London, then studied music, theatre and mime in Dartington and Paris; she has a command of nine languages.

CONGRATULATIONS to
SIRUSHO

For Having Come 4th out of 43 Contestants
with her song " Qele Qele " in the
Eurovision Song Contest
Sirusho received high points from numerous Countries of Europe and received "Top Points"(12)  from Poland, Georgia, France, Greece, Russia, Belgium, Czech Republic and the Netherlands and also received the second highest points (10 points) from Turkey, Spain and Cyprus.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT SIRUSHO
AND TO WATCH VIDEO OF HER SINGING "QELE QELE"

His Holiness Karekin II Visits
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, paid a one-week fraternal visit at the begining of May, to the Bishop of Rome and Pope of the Catholic Church, His Holiness Benedict XVI.

The Catholicos and the Armenian delegation visited the newly named St. Gregory the Illuminator plaza inside St. Peter's courtyard and viewed the statue of the patron saint of the Armenian Church, placed there during the pontificate of John Paul II.  Immediately afterwards, the Armenian delegation of clergy and laity participated in the general audience in St. Peter's Square, jointly held by Pope Benedict XVI and Catholicos Karekin II.  The two church heads exchanged messages of greeting, a fraternal embrace and kiss of peace on the platform in front of the mother cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church, before a crowd of more than 35,000 faithful. 
               FOR FULL PRESS REPORT AND PHOTOS PLEASE CLICK HERE
 

KENTUCKY BECOMES 41st STATE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

SERZH SARGSYAN SWORN IN
AS NEW PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS:

President-Elect, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan was sworn in today as new president of Armenia at an inauguration ceremony at Opera and Ballet Theater.

Before the ceremony started Armenian flag was brought in to the hall, as well as the original copy of Armenia's Constitution and the 7-th century Bible from Matenadaran Institute of Old Manuscripts.

Placing his right hand on the Bible and the Constitution Serzh Sargsyan took the oath by swearing "to fulfill the requirements of the Constitution in an unreserved manner; to respect the fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms; to ensure the protection, independence, territorial integrity and security to the glory of the Republic of Armenia and to the welfare of the people of the Republic of Armenia".

Then Catholicos Karekin II, head of the Armenian Church, took the rostrum to give his blessings to the new president. He said Serzh Sargsyan takes over as president at a crucial moment in the country's history to serve the homeland and the people. 
- - - MORE - - - PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REPORT

NEW FOREIGN MINISTER APPOINTED IN ARMENIA As part of the process of forming his Government, the new President of Armenia, Mr. Serzh Sargsyan has appointed Mr Edward Nalbandyan to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Nalbandyan was Armenia's Ambassador to France, the Vatican and Andorra during the past adminstration.  He is married and has one daughter.  Mr Nalbandyan is a career Diplomat having received his education in Diplomacy in the USSR and has in the past served in the Foreign Ministry of the USSR. Mr Nalbandyan replaces Mr Vartan Oskanian who has served as Armenia's Foreign Minister for the past ten years, and who had announced some time ago, that he wished to relinquish the post after the Presidential elections                         ------------------------------------------------ To read the Farewell Speech delivered by the outgoing Foreign Minister, Mr. Vartan Oskanian, please click this link

JACKIE KANCHELIAN SPEIER ELECTED TO SENATE Senator Kanchelian Speier photographed here with Mr Raffi Karakashian of the ANCA WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian American Jackie Kanchelian Speier swept to a resounding victory, receiving close to 80% of the vote in a special election in California's 12th Congressional District, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.) Speier will be joining Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-14) as the only other Armenian American legislator in the 110th Congress. Speier won the special election on April 8th, which was scheduled after Rep. Tom Lantos' untimely passing earlier this year when he succumbed to esophageal cancer. In a field of five candidates, Representative-elect Speier won an impressive 77.9% of the vote, with the remaining candidates receiving less than 10% each.     - - - MORE - - - PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE

ARF AND ORINATS YERKIR JOIN THE RULING COALITION IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS:

Leaders of four parties which have the majority of seats in the Armenian parliament, signed today an agreement to form a new broad-based government.

On behalf of the governing Republican Party the agreement was signed by president-elect, prime minister Serzh Sarkisian, Gagik Tsarukian signed on behalf of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Arthur Baghdasarian on behalf of the Orinats Yerkir Party and Armen Rustamian on behalf of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF).

In a joint declaration the four parties said their main objectives are to form an effective government that enjoys the support of the overwhelming majority of Armenians, to deepen democratic reforms, improve human rights protection mechanisms, to carry out sweeping and brave reforms to drastically improve living conditions of the population.

Serzh Sarkisian described the agreement as 'unprecedented' saying unlike past agreements that were signed to form coalition governments, this political coalition's major objectives are to carry serious, larges-scale reforms and changes.

Armen Rustamian said the agreement was the product of protracted negotiations. He said the new coalition will have to work hard to diffuse post-election tensions.

Arthur Baghdasarian stressed the fact that these four parties won the majority of votes both in the parliamentary as well as the presidential elections.

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20 March, 2008: 
It was announced by the Kremlin that at the invitation of President Putin, Mr Serzh Sarkissian will be visiting the Kremlin on 23rd and 24th March, where he will meet President Putin as well as President-Elect of the Russian Federation, Mr Dmitri Medvedev.

===============================================

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

SERZH SARKISSIAN
ELECTED PRESIDENT

Mr Sarkissian won 52.9% of the vote, with his nearest rival, ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian, trailing on 21.5%.

Serzh Sarkissian was born on June 30 1954 in Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh.

From 1989 to 1993 he headed the committee of self-defense forces of Nagorno Karabakh.
In 1990 he was elected member of Armenia's Senior Council.
From 1993 to 1995 he was Armenian defense minister.
From 1995 to 1996 he was the head of the Armenian state security administration, then minister of national security.
From 1996-1999 he was minister of national security and home affairs of Armenia.
From 1999-2000 he was the head of the staff of the Armenian president.
In 1999 he became the secretary of national security council affiliated to the Armenian president.
In 2000 he became Armenian Defense Minister  and from April 2007 he has held the office of Prime Minister of Armenia.

Serzh Sarkissian is married, has two daughters and one grandchild

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The Armenian Central Electoral Committee has announced preliminary results of the presidential election. CEC chairman Garegin Azaryan said 1,669,818 votes were counted and they divided as follows:

Artur Baghdassaryan – 272 256 votes
Artashes Geghamyan – 7473 votes
Tigran Karapetyan - 9754 votes
Aram Harutyunyan – 3092 votes
Vahan Hovhannisian - 100 876 votes
Vazgen Manukyan - 20 939 votes
Arman Melikyan – 4359 votes
Serzh Sargsyan - 863 544 votes
Levon Ter-Petrosyan – 351 306 votes
Thus, according to the data provided, Serzh Sargsyan was elected President

MARIOS GAROYIAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS PARLIAMENT

Gibrahayer - Nicosia Thursday 6 March, 2008 -

Marios Garoyian was today elected President of The Cyprus House of Representatives. His political career rocketed in the last three years. In 2006 he was elected member of Parliament and then President of the "DIKO" Political Party.  
Following the recent Presidential elections, Mr Garoyan was today elected by Parliament to the second highest political position of the country, thus becoming the highest ranking Armenian political figure outside Armenia.
 

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN CARDIFF VANDALISED

The Armenian Genocide Memorial in Wales which was erected in November of last year outside the Temple of Peace in Cardiff, was vandalised last week and the ornamental Armenian Celtic-style cross was smashed and a hammer was left lying near the damaged memorial ahead of a Memorial Service which took place in front of the Monument to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day as well as the First Anniversary of the assassination of Hrant Dink in Istanbul Turkey.

South Wales Police are investigating the damage and have appealed for information from the public.

HISTORIC AGREEMENT REACHED BY THE THREE ARMENIAN CHURCHES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

ARMENIAN CHURCHES IN UNITED KINGDOM REACH AGREEMENT ON DRAFT CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH UNIFIED DIOCESE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND