In August 2018, US President Trump angrily announced that sanctions will be implemented against Turkey, and personally against the Turkish ministers of interior and justice. What was the reason for Trump’s fury? The refusal to release Andrew Brunson, a US evangelical pastor arrested and jailed over two years ago, on still unproven charges of aiding terrorist organizations in Turkey and aiding the failed coup attempt against President Erdogan in June 2016.
The alleged mastermind of the failed coup attempt is Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric who lives in exile in Pennsylvania and Erdogan has repeatedly demanded his extradition from the US. In the absence of any real evidence, the Americans have not complied with the Turkish demands for Gulen’s return, and therefore, Turkey resorted to an age old tactic of hostage taking to achieve its objectives. The arrest and jailing of pastor Brunson, as well as several Turkish employees of the American Embassy in Turkey were meant to pressure the US to exchange them for Gulen. President Erdogan was even quoted a few months ago to have stated: ”˜You give me my cleric, I give you your pastor.”
Revolutions don’t need elections, except to consolidate and legitimize what they’ve already achieved. Once elections are being held, or even discussed, a de-revolutionizing process has already commenced.
In light of this, being questioned as to whether I’m “with or against”
Hacob Shirvanian and his wife, Mina, who passed away in December
Long-time community activist, leader and benefactor Hacob Shirvanian passed away on August 23 at home surrounded by family and friends. A Requiem service on the 40th day of his passing was held in Armenia. During a funeral service on August 29 at Liberty Hall at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills. Shirvanian’s family and friends paid tribute to him, which we present below.
Hacob “Jake” Shirvanian — 1924-2018
A young Hacob Shirvanian
Hacob Shirvanian’s biography was presented in English during his funeral service by his daughter-in-law Melody Petrossian
ANCA-WR and ANCA Glendale extend their resources to GUSD
Extend Resources to GUSD
GLENDALE””The Armenian National Committees of America ”“ Glendale Chapter and Western Region have extended their resources and services to the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools to help relieve circumstances that may have contributed to the fight between dozens of students at Hoover High School a week earlier.
The ANCA ”“ Glendale and Western Region representatives met with the School Board President Mr. Greg Krikorian and the Superintendent of Schools Dr. Winfred B. Roberson & GTA president Taline Arsenian on Wednesday, October 10 to learn more about the incident and about what actions were being taken by the School District to ensure the safety of the students, prevent the reoccurrence of violence, and offer the support of the organization, the Glendale Youth Center and affiliated organizations.
The ANCA ”“ Glendale and Western Region are very concerned that tensions between several groups may have contributed to the violence.
“Our organization is taking the initiative to reach out to parents, students, school officials, city officials, and Glendale based organizations to work together on having healthy relations between all of our City’s residents,”
Գազայում բախումների ժամանակ իսրայելական զինվորների կողմից 6 պաղեստինցի է սպանվել: Ինչպես հաղորդում է ՏԱՍՍ-ը, այս մասին գրում է Al Arabiya-ն:
Տեղի հոսպիտալներից մեկի ներկայացուցչի հայտարարության համաձայն՝ պաղեստինցիները սպանվել են Գազայի արեւելյան մասում տեղակայված «Էլ Բուրեյջ» փախստականների ճամբարի մոտ: Եվս 4 պաղեստինցի սպանվել է Գազայի հարավային շրջաններում: Վիրավորվել է 110 մարդ, մի քանի տասնյակ պաղեստինցի ծանր վիճակում են:
Պաղեստինցիները Գազայում մարտի 30-ից բողոքի գործողություններ են իրականացնում «Վերադարձի արշավի» շրջանակներում: Իսրայելական զինված ուժերի եւ ոստիկանության միջև բախումներն ահագնանում են հատկապես ուրբաթ օրերին, ավանդական աղոթքից հետո:
Charles Aznavour personified the Armenian story; the child of refugees became a global idol who delivered messages of humanity through his music and his huge personality.His charisma, his worldliness, his genuine love for people took him around the world and we will all remember him for what he gave us — love, energy, faith in ourselves and our fellow man. He did this as an entertainer and philanthropist. He will not be forgotten and we will miss him.
Aznavour lent his name and his energy to the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative from the beginning.He was an important part of the first two Aurora Prize ceremonies in 2016 and 2017.In his memory, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative will launch a new annual scholarship as part of the Gratitude Scholarship Program. This program was established in gratitude to the people of the countries that offered shelter and food to those displaced by the Armenian Genocide more than a century ago. Aznavour was one of those people and he found refuge—and fame—in France.
The new scholarship will be awarded annually to students from France—and francophonie countries—who will have the opportunity to study at UWC Dilijan. This scholarship will bring together Aznavour’s two worlds—France and Armenia—and it is a small way for us to memorialize those links and to continue to thank him through the generations.
This article is a community press release submitted to the Armenian Weekly and has been republished to our announcements section as a courtesy. If you have an event and would like to submit a press release to the announcements section of the paper for consideration, please email us at editor@armenianweekly.com. We do not guarantee publication.
Author information
Guest Contributor
Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.
Երևանում կայացած Ֆրանկոֆոնիայի միջազգային կազմակերպության 17-րդ գագաթաժողովի արդյունքում ֆրանկոֆոն երկրների հետ Հայաստանի արտաքին կապերն ու հարաբերությունները էականորեն ընդլայնվեցին և բարելավվեցին: Այս մասին Հայաստանի Հանրային հեռուստաընկերության «Լուրեր»-ի հետ զրույցում նշել է ՀՀ վարչապետՆիկոլ Փաշինյանը:
Նա ընդգծել է, որ աֆրիկյան երկրների հետ հարաբերությունների զարգացմանն ուղղված հաջորդ քայլը լինելու է Աֆրիկայում Հայաստանի ներկայությունն ապահովելը՝ նկատելով, որ Հայաստանն աֆրիկյան երկրներում դեսպանատուն չունի (բացի Եգիպտոսից — խմբ):
«Մենք հիմա պետք է աշխատենք Աֆրիկայում մեր ներկայությունն ապահովելու համար»,- ասել է նա:
Ֆրանսիայի նախագահԷմանուել Մակրոնը շնորհակալություն է հայտնել ՀՀ վարչապետ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանին Ֆրանկոֆոնիայի գագաթաժողովը կատարյալ ու անթերի կազմակերպելու համար:
Այս մասին Հայաստանի Հանրային հեռուստաընկերության «Լուրեր»-ի հետ զրույցում Մակրոնը նշել է, որ իսկական մարտահրավեր էր ունենալ այսքան քիչ ժամանակ և այդքան լավ կազմակերպել ամեն ինչ:
«Այստեղ նաև շատ հուզիչ էր փողոցում մարդկանց ընդունելությունը: Շնորհակալ եմ վարչապետ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանին և այն թիմին, որն աշխատել է ձեր հիանալի ընդունելության համար, որով մեզ հյուրընկալեցիք»,- նշել է Ֆրանսիայի նախագահը:
Անդրադառնալով աշխարհահռչակ շանսոնյե Շառլ Ազնավուրին, Մակրոնն ասել է, որ Ազնավուր լսում է փոքրուց:
«Նրա մահից 15 օր առաջ ճաշել ենք միասին: Ես մեծ հիացմունք ունեմ իր հանդեպ: Շատ երգեր կան, որ խորապես սիրում եմ, բայց «Լա Բոհեմ»-ն իմ ամենանախընտրելին է»,- ասել է Մակրոնը:
Վինձորում այսօր արքայական հարսանիք է տեղի ունեցել: Մեծ Բրիտանիայի 9-րդ գահաժառանգը, Եղիսաբեթ Երկրորդ թագուհու թոռնուհին՝ արքայադուստր Եվգենյան ամուսնացել է գործարար Ջեք Բրուքսբենքի հետ:
Հարսանեկան արարողությանը ներկա են եղել Բրիտանիայի թագուհին, արքայազն Ֆիլիպը, Քեմբրիջի եւ Սասեքսի դուքսերն ու դքսուհիները, արքայական ընտանիքի այլ անդամներ: Հրավիրված է եղել եւս 850 մարդ, այդ թվում՝ շուո բիզնեսի ներկայացուցիչներ:
Visitors can plant a tree at Ashtarak Park, located next to ATP’s nursery in Karin Village, which will contribute to the greening of a new community that will be developed around the park
KARIN, Armenia—This tiny village with a population of 300 in the Sasunik district of Aragatsotn is attracting visitors from all over the world. The village boasts no historical monuments, churches, museums, or galleries. What it does have is a tree nursery where Armenia’s supply of green goodness is cultivated.
Armenia Tree Project (ATP) opened the Karin Nursery in 1996 to have a continuous supply of trees for its planting initiatives and to provide jobs for newly settled Armenian refugee families from Baku. Today, they are experts in tree propagation, and they are ready to share their knowledge and love for nature with the world through eco-tours.
ATP’s “Green Tours” to Karin presents an opportunity for visitors to see and learn about more than 150 different types of trees and shrubs, including both endemic (native) and non-native sorts. “Trees which have changed the history of medicine, trees whose leaves are edible, trees that fight off evil spirits, and even trees that give hugs are just a few of the fascinating things found in ATP’s gardens,” says Nursery Manager Samvel Ghandilyan.
Guests are shown the amazing journey trees take from seeds to seedlings. “We show visitors how trees are grown, grafted, irrigated, cultivated, and replanted at community sites across the country,” adds Ghandilyan.
The tour includes a visit to ATP’s greenhouses which are equipped with modern agricultural technologies, as well as the Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Education Center, where visitors are likely to encounter schoolchildren learning about the environment. The center hosts more than 2,000 students of all ages from Armenia and the diaspora every year.
Guests contribute by paying a $20 fee for the tour, and some even get their hands dirty doing nursery work.
ATP offers weekly tours of its tree nursery in Karin Village, which can also be combined with a tour of the nearby Voskevaz Winery
“Our guests love seeing the endangered species which we grow here,” says Karin Nursery Team Leader Svetik Tarjumanyan, who’s been with ATP since 1996. “It’s a quiet place but thanks to all the tourists it’s gotten a bit more exciting to live here. They also enjoy seeing Ararat, Aragats, and Ara mountains all at once from this spot,” she adds.
After the nursery tour, a fresh, healthy “village style lunch” is offered under ATP’s tent. But why end it there? Voskevaz Winery is just a 15 minute drive away and presents the chance to turn the Green Tour into a real countryside excursion. The combined nursery/winery tour is offered for $50.
Established in 1932, Voskevaz is the oldest functioning winemaking company in Armenia and uses both traditional old karases and modern technology in its production. In their medieval-style cellars, guests can learn about the different methods and secrets of winemaking and, of course, taste their selection.
If all the trees with superpowers and delicious local wine aren’t action enough, ATP’s Ashtarak Park is right next to the nursery. For a fee of $100, visitors get a chance to actually plant a tree and contribute to the greening activities of a new community which will shape around the park.
“Ashtarak Park is a great example of how ATP is transforming landscapes from desert to oasis and inviting the public to be part of it,” says Ghandilyan. “For many years, people have asked us how they can plant their own trees in Armenia, to get their hands dirty and put roots into the soil. Now with the establishment of ATP’s park in Ashtarak, we are offering that opportunity to help with the greening of Armenia.”
ATP welcomes individuals, church groups, and student groups. Tours are held weekly or more frequently during peak seasons. For more information, visit www.ArmeniaTree.org, email info@armeniatree.org, call (617) 926-TREE in the USA, or (010) 447-401 in Armenia.
This article is a community press release submitted to the Armenian Weekly and has been republished to our Community News section as a courtesy. If you have an event or cause and would like to submit a press release to the paper for consideration, please email us at editor@armenianweekly.com. We do not guarantee publication.
Armenia Tree Project (ATP) is a non-profit program based in Woburn and Yerevan conducting vitally important environmental projects in Armenia’s cities and villages and seeks support in advancing its reforestation mission. Since 1994, ATP has planted and restored more than 5,300,000 trees, and hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal tree-related programs. Visit their website for more info: armeniatree.org.
