27 October – 20 November 2008

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia has the pleasure of inviting you to the opening of “NEW COLORS OF ARMENIA” exhibition.

Monday, November 24th, 2998 at 07:30pm, Nakheel Hall, Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The exhibition will continue until 30th November 2008 

Մտերմիկ խօսակցութիւն Գեւոյի եւ Պարաքի միջեւ

Գրեց՝ Նշան Պասմաճեան

? Պարա՛ք, Պարա՛ք։

? Հայ Գեւօ։

? Հայ Պարաք։ Մապրուք։ Շնորհաւոր։

? Թանք Եու, Գեւօ։ Նեղութիւն քաշեր մինչեւ Շիքակօ եկեր ես զիս շնորհաւորելու…  Ուաու… Դուն տարբեր ես։ Դուք, հայերդ տարբեր էք։ Մէկուն եթէ սիրէք՝ սրտերնուդ մէջ կը դնէք ու հոն ալ կը պահէք, եւ եթէ մէկը չսիրէք...

? Անոր ալ տեղ մը կը գտնենք պահելու։

? Հայու հիւմըրդ բնաւ չես կորսնցներ, խայտառակ։

Read the complete article here

Dear Friends,

It would be my great pleasure to invite you to come and see some of my latest works represented by Bait Muzna Gallery in Art Paris 08 in Abu Dhabi from the 17th to the 21st of November 2008 at the Emirates Palace.

Come see us at booth A4

Opening Hours
November 18 to 21 (free entrance)
Daily from 3 pm to 10 pm

Hope to see you there.
 
Manuella Guiragossian

Dubai mobile: +971-50-3513922

Beirut mobile: + 961-3-044473

www.manuellapg.com
www.paulguiragossian.com

e-mail: [email protected]

Poster of the announcement

Mike Kharabian, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Ramgavar Azadagan Party (Armenian Democratic Liberal Party) met with party followers, friends and media in Dubai on 01 November 2008.
 
During the past months the Middle East Armenian communities witnessed a revival of Ramgavar presence. Communities like Damascus, Amman and elsewhere reorganized and put forward a new scheme for activities.
 
Zareh Tutunjian, a long time resident of Dubai, welcomed Mike Kharabian in the United Arab Emirates and gave a briefing about the community life, starting from the late 1970s when he first came to the then unknown and newly independent federal country of the UAE. Tutunjian described the first steps taken then in organized community life and the spirit of unity that prevails since then, especially in forming several bodies which continue governing the local public and social Armenian life. He stressed that the followers of Ramgavar Party have always been cooperative with the National Council. “We would wish the vision of cooperation and unity to remain a reality at all times. This can only be achieved when majority dominated bodies keep respecting the thoughts of others and continue giving them the chance to take part in community life on all levels”. Read more

If you go to this link you will find an announcement about a bowling competition that will take place on 14 November 2008.

Everything seems fine except for one clause, which reads as follows: “Participants must be above 15 years old, if they are members of the Armenian community in Dubai & Northern Emirates. Non-Armenians are not allowed to enter“.

The first sentence is ambiguous. Only by reading the Armenian version, we can understand what the announcer wanted to say: The minimum age for the participants is 15 years old.

The problem is with the second sentence: “Non-Armenians are not allowed to enter”. We believe the phrasing of this sentence is not correct. Read more

The Council of the Armenian Community in Abu Dhabi has circulated an email regarding the 13 November 2008 annual ball, in which it urges the members to secure their tickets to the ball before the 12th November 2008. The Council also asks the members to assemble themselves in groups of ten persons per round table and to identify each group or table name.

Council is ready to assist those who have difficulties in belonging to any particular … table.

For details of the Annual Ball click here.

UAE Armenian Community page

It has always been a dream to have a place where community services are provided in a smooth, interactive and updated manner.

The majority of people in position in our community (including those who occupy seats in the National Council and other bodies) are not new comers. Sadly, this fact has made them loose contact with reality. They do not remember the problems that a new comer faces in this new society (UAE). 

One of the basic rules of a strong society is the spirit of cohesion and solidarity that is manifested amongst the members. We strive to create this bond and for this reason we are introducing now the SERVICES section. Feel free to post your services and provide solutions (even in the shape of advice or words of encouragement) to the new comers or others who are using these services.

Click below to see examples of the freshly introduced service entries:

Job offers
Check the job description and other particulars with the announcing companies or individuals. Be aware that a position cannot stay available for long time. Therefore, a position offered one or two weeks ago is considered an old one and it may hardly be still available. But the same company might have similar positions or can give valuable advice.

Job seekers
Post your job request with your qualifications here. Submit your text in presentable way. You can also add your CV or other details as a link. In any case, be concise and up to the point and do not forget to provide info about how the potential employer may contact you.

Looking for relatives
Armenian reality has created stories of families living apart for decades. If you are looking for any living family members you can post your request here.

Academic and educational announcements
Announcements on academic and educational topics.

OTHER TOPICS WILL BE ADDED IN DUE COURSE

5th Abu Dhabi Jazz Festival (20-22 November 2008)

First show is to start at 6p and last show at 10:30p.

Guy Manookian will perform on the first day as follows:

20 November 2008
10:30p ? 12:00 a

Guy Manoukian, composer with grand ambitions with exposure to musical diversity and cultural wealth, Manoukian composed and produced a wide array of musical albums acquring success internationally. In 2002, Guy won the MUREX award for best composition and best tune in the Arab world, for his hit ?Harem and added to his achievements the Arab Music Award for Best dance album.

For further information and the complete program, please call Chillout Productions on 04 3911196 or check www.abudhabijazzfest.com

Darman Darmoian came to Abu Dhabi one and half years ago and till now he has not been able to detect any Armenian community life in that city. In fact there is a National Council there and there are several activities, all of which are enlisted in our Calendar section. In month November 2008 there is also an Armenian Ball.

Below is Darmoian's comment as posted after the article Parev Emirates program launched

“I am very happy to hear that such activities occur in UAE, but where is Abu Dhabi in this community activities? I have been here for 18 months and this is the first time I know we have such things”. Darman Darmoian

TECHNIP, for its 50th anniversary occasion, cordially invites you to a classical music evening performed by ENSEMBLE NA?RI, conducted by Mr. Ha?k Davtian on Saturday 1st November 2008 @ 7:00 pm , at the Culture and Heritage Centre, Abu Dhabi.
 
A photo exhibition for the occasion will take place before the concert and a cocktail party will follow.
 
Your presence in support and encouragement will be highly appreciated.
 
Thanks.

Mr. Berge Setrakian, President of Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) worldwide, hosted a dinner on 29 October 2008 at the Emirates Towers, Dubai, for some of the organization's members and friends living in the UAE.

Mr. Setrakian debriefed members on the progress of AGBU programs around the globe, placing special emphasis on the AGBU's youth programs such as summer camps in Armenia, France, and USA and summer internship programs for young professionals in New York, Paris, and Yerevan.

Read more and see photos here.

Comment by Nishan Basmajian on the following article: Call to support the fundraising campaign for the Monument of Gratitude to Arabs

Although it is an expensive project but it is unique.

I am glad to read the name of Hrach Brunsuzian (who has long, impartially and in good faith served the community in the Emirates), as responsible for the donations in UAE.

I would like to read as many names as possible in the list of the donors from the UAE Armenian community.

Who can forget the hospitality of the Arab nation when our ancestors were being killed and persecuted in the Syrian deserts? We all realize and are grateful to all Arab governments, irrespective of the regimes, for the advantages and the autonomy given to us Armenians as communities.

Look at the freedom we enjoy in UAE! Arabs have shown and proved their SINCERE friendship to the Armenians. We can't and don't ignore this fact. We have never been an ungrateful nation and we know how to reciprocate to favors.

Time has come to reciprocate.

I believe it is the obligation of any Armenian, whether living in the Middle or the Far East, whether in the Northern or the Southern Hemispheres to participate in the construction of the MONUMENT OF FRIENDSHIP, a new landmark which belongs equally to the Arabs and Armenians.

Place your own comment at the end of the article here.

Date: October 30, 2008

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: American University of Sharjah (AUS), Main Auditorium, Main Building

Description: Lena Shamamian (Chamayan), a Syrian of Armenian heritage, is a professional vocalist who has built a successful recording and performance career on her classical music education, enriched with elements of Oriental jazz, Armenian folklore and Syrian song traditions. In 2006, she won the prestigious Radio Monte Carlo Moyen-Orient Music Award.

Tickets for this event (AED 30) are available at the AUS Student Center daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. For further information or reservations, please call 050 341 3478 or 050 738 5583.

The concert is organized by the Cultural Events Committee in cooperation with the Syrian Student Club.

Source: Website of AUS

Read in Azad-Hye: Lena Shamamian, fusing oriental classics with Armenian music

“Alrouzana” traditional Arabic songs performed by Lena Shamamian: Listen to the song here.

I send you my greetings. My name is Alicia Billorian. I live in Buenos Aires (Argentine). I am writing to Azad-Hye website aiming at finding my family. I learned through internet that a lady with the surname Billorian lives in your country. Please ask her about this and forward my email to her. My grandfather?s name was Bedros Billorian, my mother was called Makrouhi and her brothers were Melik and Sarkis. During the Genocide they were living in Akshehir and they were deported to Athens, after which they moved to Buenos Aires (Argentine). My mother had only one child (me) and her brothers did not have any children. Therefore, I am the only remaining person from this family. This is why I am looking for any other members. It is possible that I find someone Billorian who might not be from my family, or I might really find someone from the same Billorian family of Akshehir. The life of the Armenians has been like this. The Genocide by Turks has created such stories in our lives. I am thankful for your time. You do not have duty to answer me, but I am really anticipating your reply. I would like to thank you once again. Alicia Billorian [email protected] Buenos Aires (Argentine)

Կը բարեւեմ ձեզ: Անունս Ալիսիա Պիլլորեան է: Կ՛ապրիմ Պուէնըս Այրըս (Արժանթին): Կը գրեմ Ազատ-Հայ կայքէջին, նպատակ ունենալով իմ ընտանիքս գտնել: Ինթերնեթի միջոցով իմացայ թէ Պիլլորեան անունով տիկին մը կ՛ապրի ձեր երկիրը: Խնդրեմ իրեն հարցուցէք և իմ ի-մեյլս տուէք: Մեծ հօրս անունը Պետրոս Պիլլորեան էր, մայրս Մաքրուհի էր, եղբայրները Մելիք և Սարգիս: Ջարդի ժամանակ կ՛ապրէին Աքշեհիր և փոխադրուեցան Աթենք, որմէ ետք Պուէնըս Այրըս (Արժանթին): Մայրս միայն մէկ զաւակ ունեցաւ՝ ես, եղբայրները զաւակ չունեցան, ուրեմն մինակ ես մնացի այս ընտանիքէն և ատոր համար կ՛ուզեմ ընտանիքս փնտռել: Կրնայ ըլլալ որ Պիլլորեան մականունով գտնեմ բայց չըլլան իմ ընտանիքէս, կամ կարելի է գտնեմ Աքշեհիրէն նոյն ընտանիքէն: Հայերուն կեանքը այսպէս է, Թուրքերուն ջարդը այսպիսի պատմութիւններ գրեց մեր կեանքին մէջ: Շատ շնորհակալ եմ ձեր ժամանակին համար: Դուք պարտականութիւն չունիք ինծի գրելու, սակայն կը սպասեմ ձեր պատասխանը, կրկին շատ շնորհակալ եմ: Ալիսիա Պիլլորեան: [email protected] Պուէնըս Այրըս (Արժանթին):