Newsletter issue number 011 (April 2007)

The Iraqi Armenian Community commemorates the Armenian Genocide victims.

By Ara Ashjian
Baghdad, Iraq

The Iraqi Armenian community observed April 24th memorial day on Saturday, April 21st in Baghdad.

The Primate of the Iraqi Armenian Diocese, H.E. Archbishop Avak Asadourian celebrated the divine literagy during which the faithful were asked to observe a minute of silence in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide victims in 1915.

A special program followed the literagy, made up of poems and songs related to the occasion, performed by students of the Armenian Primary School, Church Youth Group and Zvartnots Choir.

Armenians mark anniversary of slaughter

'Our people are demanding justice for a crime against its fathers and forefathers'

By Nour Samaha

BEIRUT: The normally bustling streets of Bourj Hammoud were eerily silent on Tuesday as the capital's Armenian population marked the 92nd anniversary of mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman regime. The majority of stores and restaurants in the predominantly Armenian area were closed for the day. Residents descended in their thousands on Antelias and Bikfaya, while a Mass addressing the Armenian nation was delivered by Aram I at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.

“I Hate Dogs” (2005) was displayed in Sharjah, followed by a presentation by the Director Suzanne Khardalian-Holmquist.

Khardalian thanked the Armenians in UAE for inviting her to do the presentation of the movie and started her speech by describing how the initial idea of making this move had occurred to her. One day she was reading a brief newspaper caption, where the death of a person was announced in few lines, adding that he was the last survivor of the Armenian Genocide in the city where he had settled after escaping the atrocities. This innocent remark motivated her to start a new film: to find one of these latest survivor-witnesses of the Genocide and to try to convey to the audience the experience of a lifetime hidden behind a person.

The second album of Sako Buduzian is now out and you can enjoy the patriotic and revolutionary songs inlcuded in this second serious album of this young singer, who lives in Aleppo.

Azad-Hye interviewed Sako Buduzian on this occasion:

1- When did you start your first steps in music? And what were the stages you came through?
In my early years, I started participating in Saint Mary (Asdvadzadzin) Church's choir in Aleppo, where I am still a member. I attended private vocal lessons with Araks Chekijian.

2- What was your first serious musical work?
My first work was a CD album called “Tson angakhoutian” in honor of the 85th anniversary of the First Armenia's Independent Day under patronage of Syrian-Armenian Youth Union (SEM).

The first Hye Lounge gathering took place in “Shakespeare” Restaurant (Al Attar Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai), on 18th April 2007.

Around 50 young and young in heart Armenian professionals met in this first networking event in Dubai. Hundreds of Armenians live in Dubai, where there is an emerging need for get-together and communication.

The Hye Lounge team managed to materialize this first event. It is a great start and we believe there are lots of activities that could be done in the … near future.

ELECTION DATE: 12 MAY 2007

Campaing gets off to uneasy start

By Liz Fuller

Violence, harassment, recriminations, and international concern over perceived voter apathy have marred the first 10 days of campaigning for Armenia's May 12 parliamentary elections.

Senior officials have repeatedly affirmed their determination to ensure a “clean” vote. But many commentators predict that the opposition's failure to align in a single — or even several — blocs will prevent it from beating two rival pro-establishment parties that benefit from virtually unlimited financial and administrative resources.

By Hrayr Jebejian

It was indeed a very good opportunity to visit the Armenian Evangelical community in Alexandria, Egypt, on Sunday, February 18, 2007. On a recent business trip to Cairo, Egypt, I took the chance to visit our community and participate in the evening service held on the same day at 7:30 in the evening.

The formation of the Armenian Evangelical Church and community in Alexandria goes back to as early as the 1920s. The present church premises were built in 1949. Sam Khounganian, a dentist by profession, is actively involved in leading the Armenian Evangelical ministry. The Armenian community has decreased significantly in number in Alexandria mainly because of emigration over the years.

9th International Congress of Middle-East African Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) was held in Dubai Convention Center from 29th March – 1st April 2007.

From Aleppo, Syria, three Armenian ophthalmologists attended the event: Dr. Harout Balian, Dr. Sossy Der Artinian and Dr. Jeannine Srourian.

The Congress included instructional courses around many subjects like cornea, glaucoma, retina, neuro ophthalmology, orbital diseases and oculoplasty and the newest methods for cataract surgery.

Shayne Hyrapiet wins young, old hearts with Hindi, English renditions.

Indi-pop singer magnetizes crowd at India Day.

By Francis A. Clifford Cardozo – Arab Times Staff

KUWAIT CITY: He promised the audience dollops of music, fun and excitement before the show and indeed he lived up to his word until the very end. Shayne Hyrapiet, a well-known Indi-pop singer, with his sublime performance on Friday enchanted music aficionados at India Day organized in the Doha Entertainment City. The show was a resounding success with as many as 14,000 people attending the event. The singer churned out an array of popular Hindi and English numbers that had the crowd doing an ant in the pants jig.

On 04 March 2007, the final day of his pontifical visit to India, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, met with His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of the Republic of India, in the presidential palace in New Delhi.

President Kalam welcomed His Holiness to the palace and spoke of the long history of friendship and cooperation between the Indian and Armenian peoples. The president specifically mentioned the Armenian merchants who brought their contribution to the economic and societal development of important trade cities like Calcutta, Madras and Bombay from the 17th through the 19th centuries.

Having arrived at Chennai Airport on the previous night, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by his delegation visited the Armenian Church of St. Mary (Surb Astvatsatsin) in Madras on Friday, March 2. The church, originally built in 1712, is undergoing a comprehensive renovation and is in considerably better condition today than only a few years ago. On the grounds of the church is a cemetery where Archpriest Rev. Fr. Haroutiun Shmavonian is interred. In 1794, while serving as pastor of the Armenian community in Madras, Fr. Shmavonian began to publish the first Armenian periodical in the world entitled “Azdarar”.

About 200.000 Iranians living in the United Arab Emirates and others who will be traveling from Iran during the Norooz (Iranian New Year) celebrations, will enjoy 3 live concerts in Dubai, performed by well- known Iranian artists.

These specific events will take place on 26, 27 and 28 March 2007 according to the following schedule:

Venue: Dubai Airport Expo.
Time: 09:00 pm (doors open at 08:00 pm)

Azad-Hye contacted Vachik from the organizing company (Concerto Production Corp.) who provided us with brief information about each of the performing stars:

From 2-4 March 2007, His Eminence Archbishop Avak Assadourian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Iraq, accompanied by two priests and three members of his diocesan council, visited a number of cities in northern Iraq and met with representatives of the Armenian community.

On March 2, His Eminence arrived in the city of Erbil, where priests and members of the parish councils from the cities of Kirkuk, Mosul, Zakho and Avzroog joined him and his delegation. In accordance with the Lenten Season, Abp. Assadourian offered the Peace and Rest Services in the Armenian Church of Erbil, followed by his message to the faithful. After the service, His Eminence met with the parishioners.

Among the honorable guests of the event were: the representative of the Holy See of Cilicia, His Grace Bishop Nareg Alemezian; the representative of the Armenian Evangelical Church, Rev. Soghomon Kilaghbian; the President of Haigazian University, Rev. Paul Haidostian; the High Priest of the Patriarchal Clergy Institute of Bzommar, Father Kevork Yeghiayan; the editor-in-chief of “Massis” weekly, Father Antranig Granian; as well as Armenia's Ambassador in Lebanon, Vahan Der-Ghevontian; the Consul of Benin, Ara Vanlian; and many other religious and educational representatives of the Armenian Community in Lebanon.

Armenian-Lebanese singer Maria Nalbandian released her latest album “W'regeat thani” at the Virgin Megastore, Mall of the Emirates (Dubai), on 26 March 2007. She was born on August 1, 1983 and began her career as a model when she was 13 years old. She achieved huge success in her modeling career. Maria speaks three languages: Arabic, Armenian and English. Her mother is a poet and father a singer.

She took two years to complete her first music album “Elaab” which was produced by Melody Hits. The album was a big success, especially her first video clip which was directed by Jad Choueiri.

“The Middle East has always been the center of the Armenian Diaspora. Armenians who survived the Genocide found shelter here. The Armenian community of Lebanon is one of the oldest and most significant in the Diaspora”, Shahan Kandaharian, the Editor-in-Chief of Aztag Beirut-based daily comments to PanARMENIAN.Net

What is the attitude of Diaspora about the law on dual citizenship, which was recently adopted in Armenia?
The debates on the law on dual citizenship were focused in the 'classic' Armenian Diaspora residing in the Middle East, specifically in Lebanon. As a matter of fact, this document is of utmost importance for Armenians who were deprived of homeland. The law will restore historical justice and will provide a proper approach to the Diaspora issue.

ANTELIAS, Lebanon – The Armenian Church University Student's Association (ACUSA) organized a lecture on drug addiction and the youth in its center in Antelias on 3 March 2007.

Given the gravity of the problem specially among the youth, several international organizations have embarked on active campaign to fight against drug addiction. Such organizations also exist in Lebanon. Among them is the Armenian “Horizon” organization of fighting against this dangerous threat to the young generations.

Preparation in full swing for the HMEM. Regional Games in Cyprus

HMEM-AYMA (Cyprus) is performing the final touches for what is destined to be one of the most active and exciting weekends in the recent history of our community. More than 100 youths, members of HMEM men's football and girls' basketball teams will be arriving to Cyprus to take part in the HMEM Regional Games organised by the Cyprus chapter of this worldwide Armenian sports organisation.

A total of four football teams and four basketball teams will be participating, including the host teams, AYMA Football team under coach Vazken Bodigian, and the much-promising HMEM-AYMA Basketball team under coach/captain Markrid Kazandjian.

By Jumana Al Tamimi
GCC and Middle East Editor of “Gulf News”, Dubai

When Vera and her three brothers and sisters were very young, their father longed for his children and Syrian Orthodox wife to learn how to speak his mother tongue -Armenian.

His wish came true and Vera became actively involved in preserving the Armenian identity of her ancestors, not just their language.

Azad-hye exclusive interview with Arman Davitian (NUR)

By Carlos Jose Bourdjian

Arman Davitian or simply NUR, Please introduce yourself.

For me it is very difficult to introduce myself. Basically I am a painter and make sculptures as well, but now I have my own style to express myself, and as becoming mature year by year I feel this style grows with me and it can express my feelings and my world that I want to share with people around me.

Why NUR (pomegranate)?

Because it is the symbol of Armenia, and being a true Armenian I love my country and love being Armenian too. I can't imagine myself living in another country or bearing a nationality other than this, even if I were born in a different age or time. And as you know I didn't obtain this name by myself, I got it since the age of five, then years later it came back to me, so I decided to keep it and make sure to deserve it always (see part I of the article on NUR).