The Armenian American Museum held a reception in Malibu, California hosted by Founder’s Circle members Ara and Nina Ohanian. The reception, which took place on July 21, welcomed more than 20 new Founder’s Circle members and raised more than $250,000 for the developing cultural and educational center, Asbarez reports. 

Nina Ohanian welcomed the guests to the reception on behalf of the Ohanian family and expressed the family’s support and excitement for the historic project.

Museum Co-Chair Archbishop Hovnan Derderian representing the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America expressed his appreciation to the Ohanian family and guests on behalf of the museum’s Board of Trustees.

“The Armenian American Museum honors the sacred memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide and represents a new beginning and resurrection of our nation in the building of our future,” noted Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

Architect Aram Alajajian of Alajajian Marcoosi Architects provided an update on the project and discussed the work of the design team as they prepare for groundbreaking in 2020.

Museum Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian acknowledged the museum’s current Founder’s Circle members and the new members in the audience, noting the inspiring legacy they are building for future generations.

During his closing remarks, Ara Ohanian delivered a powerful statement discussing how the Armenian American Museum will impact future generations.

“The Armenian American Museum will be a platform to educate the new generation and the ones following them, so that they can identify and be proud of their heritage,” stated Ohanian. “Being an interactive museum, young and old will have the opportunity to learn about Armenian history and celebrate distinct Armenians who, through their work, whether intellectual, innovative, or artistic, made this world a better place.”

The evening concluded with an inspiring performance by Ara Dabandjian and members of the Element Band during a vibrant coastal sunset.

Founder’s Circle members are laying the foundation for the Armenian American Museum and serve as ambassadors for the historic project. Members are provided exclusive briefings to help shape the future of the museum and will be prominently recognized and honored on the Founder’s Circle donor wall. New members can join the program by contributing $10,000 towards the Groundbreaking Campaign.

By Dickran Khodanian,

YEREVAN, Armenia – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region’s 2019 Legislative Delegation Trip to Armenia concluded day three with a number of high-level meetings with government officials as well as a press conference that took place on the morning of July 31.

The press conference at ArmenPress, which was attended and covered by every major media outlet in Armenia, gave the delegation the opportunity to convey its impressions and plans for future relations with Armenia. Speakers included ANCA-WR Chairperson Nora Hovsepian, CA Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, CO Representative Daneya Esgar, AZ State Senator Tony Navarrete, and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

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ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian stressed the key role of the ANCA in helping Armenia secure over 2 billion dollars in U.S. foreign aid since its independence. Hovsepian explained that despite recent steps by the U.S. Administration to cut funding to Armenia, the ANCA continues to advocate to maintain and increase vital funding to expand Armenia’s economy and support democracy-building measures. Members of the delegation emphasized the importance of U.S.-Armenia relations and pledged their support to work towards strengthening the current relationship on a sub-national level.

Specifically, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis discussed ongoing efforts to formalize in written form an agreement of cooperation between California and Armenia to facilitate trade, investment, cultural exchange, education, and efforts to combat climate change. Supervisor Barger pledged to provide resources from the County of Los Angeles to work with various departments in the Armenian government on issues of infrastructure, transparency, election integrity, and anti-corruption measures. Senator Navarrete announced his intention to formulate a plan to open an Arizona-Armenia Trade Office and expand Armenian Genocide education in public schools. State Representative Daneya Esgar discussed her intention to bring TUMO to Colorado and to assist Armenia with student exchanges and rural economic development. All of the delegation members thanked the ANCA-WR for organizing the trip and the Armenian people and government for their warm welcome and hospitality, expressing their lasting impressions of Armenia and the positive energy and inspiration created by its Velvet Revolution. All pledged their intention to return to Armenia and to expand sub-national relations with their States.

Day three featured meetings and productive discussions with Deputy Foreign Minister Grigor Hovhannissian, High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan, and First Deputy Minister of Environment Irina Ghaplanyan.

The delegation’s working lunch with Deputy Foreign Minister Hovhannissian, who also previously served as the Armenian Ambassador to the US and Mexico and the Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles, was held at the Van Ardi Winery at the base of Mt. Ararat. Discussions included ways in which the three States could partner with Armenia to advance its democratic and economic development and expansion.

Meanwhile with High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan, whose office helped facilitate the delegation’s itinerary, a productive discussion included ways to improve Armenia-Diaspora relations specifically in regards to California, Arizona, and Colorado, home to diverse Armenian communities.

In the meeting with Deputy Environment Minister Irina Ghaplanyan, the delegation discussed a variety of ecological issues, including forest fire mitigation, alternative and clean energy projects, and algae bloom prevention.

The delegation is comprised of California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; Chief of Staff to Supervisor Barger Anna Mouradian; Arizona State Senators Paul Boyer and Otoniel “Tony” Navarrete; Colorado State Senator Dominick Moreno; and Colorado State Representative Daneya Esgar. The ANCA-WR Board chairwoman Nora Hovsepian is accompanied by fellow Board members Sako Berberian and Lina Davidian, as well as ANCA-WR’s Community Development Coordinator Simon Maghakyan.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Photo captions: 

 Armdel2019 press conference: The delegation held a press conference at ArmenPress, which was attended and covered by every major media outlet in Armenia.
Armdel2019 ZS: The 2019 ANCA-WR Armenia Delegation with High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan.
Armdel2019 Dep FM: Members of the ANCA-WR Armenia Delegation with Deputy Foreign Minister Grigor Hovhannissian.
Armdel2019 Lt Gov and Dep FM: From l to r: Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigor Hovhannissian, and ANCA-WR Board Member Sako Berberian.
Armdel2019 at lunch: The delegation enjoyed a work lunch with Deputy FM Hovhannissian at Van Ardi Winery at the base of Mt. Ararat.
Armdel2019 Env Min: Members of the delegation with First Deputy Minister of Environment Irina Ghaplanyan.

Two million people signed up on Facebook to go alien hunting at the highly classified US air force facility Area 51. Are they crazy or is there something to it? What would happen if we came into contact with aliens?

For some it’s a joke, for others it’s as serious as it gets: 1.9 million people have announced on Facebook that they will storm the US military compound Area 51 in Nevada on September 20, 2019.

Many are absolutely convinced that the US government is hiding UFOs or aliens there.

It was not until 2013 that the American secret service officially confirmed the existence of the military zone Area 51. Local residents and visitors had reported seeing mysterious flying objects at the site and speculated they were UFOs. The US military has been working on new spy planes on the site for decades, which could have been the reason for the mysterious sightings.

Tucked in the remote, dry Amargosa valley, the military zone has become an object of popculture, often linked to aliens in films and television series. Hotels and restaurants in the area have taken on the ‘alien’ theme.

What science says about aliens

While the internet is awash with Area 51 alien hunting memes and conspiracy enthusiasts are preparing for the trip to Nevada, several scientists around the world are actually researching the possibility of extraterrestrial life. And they aren’t ruling it out.

“I would find it surprising if extraterrestrial life didn’t exist,”astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch from the Technical University of Berlin told DW.

“With the trillions or more planets and moons, it would be strange if we were the only place where life would occur.”

How do we find out if there’s life out there?

Schulze-Makuch looks for life in its simplest form, meaning microbes. First, he tries to define conditions for life to exist. There must be an atmosphere or an ice shield, he says, to protect life on a planet.

Relatively stable air pressure, not too much radiation and favorable temperatures are needed as well. But microbes can survive even under harsh conditions, such as in the Atacama Desert in Chile or in hot springs at more than 100 degrees.

If there are no liquids, there can be no life. But the liquid does not necessarily have to be water, says Schulze-Makuch, it could also be ammonia or methanol. A common mistake is to extrapolate too much from the conditions that make our life on earth possible, he says. Ammonia and methanol may be toxic for humans, but for other living beings, they could be the source of life.

The search for a second Earth

While Schulze-Makuch’s research looks for livable conditions on the planets within our solar system, there are also scientists searching for earth-like planets in other galaxies. Nearly 4000 other planets have already been discovered. About 50 of them have a suitable mass and a favorable distance to the sun they orbit around. A certain distance is needed to enable temperatures suitable for life.

A candidate for livable conditions getting a lot of attention right now is a planet called “Proxima B” in the galaxy Proxima Centauri. But that’s only because it’s comparably close, says Schulze-Makuch. Close in this case means 4.3 light years away. If it is possible to fly at 10% of the speed of light one day, it would still take 43 years to get there.

Hello? Is there anyone out there?

If we can’t get to other planets and have a look ourselves, we have to find the aliens by other means. If other developed civilisations exist, they should also be able to emit radio waves, the researchers of the SETI Institute in California assumed. With giant telescopes they try to register possible radio waves from space.

“The most complex part is to filter out all the Earth’s interfering radio waves”,Andrew Siemion, leader of the project, told DW.

Scientifically, no one has proven that extraterrestrial life exists. Statistically, however, it’s probable, says Siemion. If it was possible for life to form here on earth, then why not somewhere else?

After all, we thought Earth was the center of the solar system, we thought our solar system was the center of our galaxy, we thought our galaxy was the center of the universe — all this turned out to be wrong, says Siemion. We are not as unique as we thought.

Well-known Armenian personalities celebrate Vardavar in Gyumri

The Vardavar celebrations in Gyumri, Armenia, kicked off Sunday morning at Vardanants Square, and with the participation of well-known Armenian personalities.

Several days ago, Gyumri-born producer Ruben Mkhitaryan had announced a challenge to people: to come to Gyumri, to celebrate Vardavar there, to shoot their “wet” video, and to mention the people whom they would like to see and water in Gyumri.

“Let’s all together ensure the economic boom in the service sector of Gyumri,” he had added.

Numerous Armenian personalities have accepted this challenge.

The Vardavar events in Gyumri started at 9am, mayor Samvel Balasanyan washed several statues, and then he, too, celebrated Vardavar.

By Dickran Khodanian
ANCA-WR Communications Coordinator

GLENDALE – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region announced that it will award Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the Fifth District, with the “Woman of the Year” Award at the 2019 ANCA-WR Gala on Sunday, October 20 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

“Supervisor Barger has been a staunch supporter of our community in Los Angeles County, demonstrating time and again her long-term commitment to our community’s immediate needs and long-term priorities,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “As the elected representative of the largest Armenian-American community in the worldwide Diaspora, Supervisor Barger is worthy of this prestigious honor, and we are proud to give our community the opportunity to publicly thank and acknowledge her for her years of dedicated and ongoing service.”

Supervisor Barger has been highly supportive of Armenian-American issues and has worked hard to empower the community through many efforts, most notably through her very generous donation of $1 million to the Armenian-American Museum in Glendale and proclaiming the month of April as the  “Armenian History Month” each year during which the work of numerous community organizations and individual activists is highlighted and publicly honored by the LA County Board of Supervisors. She has cultivated a deep understanding of issues important to the Armenian Cause and has maintained consistent communication with various segments of our community to address our concerns.

In addition, in the year of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, Barger worked closely on the iWitness public art installation by artists Ara Oshagan and Levon Parian and architect Vahagn Thomasian displayed in Grand Park located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, which educated millions of visitors to the iconic site about the Armenian Genocide of 1915. As Chief Deputy to Supervisor Michael Antonovich for the 5th district, Barger ensured that the Supervisor’s office was reflective of the community and hired Armenian-Americans to various positions, including her current Chief Deputy Anna Mouradian who has further facilitated her connection to the Armenian community.

Through her time in office, she has approved financial support for projects such as the Armenian Genocide memorial monument being dedicated in Grand Park as well as the efforts of various Armenian community based organizations. To ensure that Armenian-Americans with language barriers are well informed and able to make their voices heard at the ballot box, Barger has also worked with the L.A. County Registrar Recorder to have voting information also be provided in the Armenian language.

Last year’s Gala attracted over 1,000 attendees as it honored a variety of individuals who have served their community and their country. Past honorees have included Baroness Caroline Cox, U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman, California State Senator Anthony Portantino, “Architects of Denial” executive producers and team including David McKenzie, Montel Williams, Dean Cain, Laura McKenzie, and Elizabeth Stanton, musician and activist Serj Tankian, Turkish MP Garo Paylan, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh, Archbishop Parkev Martirosyan, International and Human Rights Attorneys Geoffrey Robertson and Amal Clooney, and many other distinguished honorees.

Purchase tickets now.

Stay tuned for more information on the announcement of honorees. For more information, visit our Facebook page. For any additional questions, send an email or call 818-500-1918.

Երևանում կայացավ «ZIAN» ՝ fashion-art ապրանքանիշի առաջին հավաքածուի՝ City Style ցուցադրությունը, որի հեղինակը մոկվայաբնակ «Arm Fashion Day»-ի ղեկավար Նաիրա Նիազյանն է: Նաիրա Նիազյանը հայտնի է նորաձևության ցուցադրությունների կազմակերպմամբ, սակայն այժմ նա ներկայանում է նաև սեփական հավաքածուով: Երեկոն մեկնարկեց գինու հյուրասիրությամբ, այնուհետև բաց երկնքի տակ, ռոմանտիկ մթնոլորտում մեկնարարկեց հավաքածուի ցուցադրությունը: Ներկայացվեց բազային հագուստ՝ դասականա-գործնականի, քաղաքային-քեժուալի, սպորտայինի և երեկոյանի դետալներով՝թիթեռներ,

ժուժուներ, գլխաշորեր, գրպանի թաշկինակներ, բնական քարերով վզնոցներ և թևնոցներ: Օգտագործվել են բնական մետաքսի, թավիշի, բամբակի և կաշվի համադրությամբ կտորներ և նյութեր, ինչպես նաև կիսաթանկարժեք մետաղից կոճակներ և ճարմանդներ՝ դաջված «ZIAN» ապրանքանիշով: Հավաքածուի հիմքը «ZIAN» տպագրված զարդանախշերով կամ ինչպես ասվում է ՝ պրինտով կտորների ստեծումն ու օգտագործումն է, որի հիմքում Արթուր Սարյանի՝ Նաիրայի ամուսնու, ձեռքի աշխատանքն է: Հագուստը նախատեսված է քաղաքային ռիթմով ապրող և ստեղծագործող կնոջ և տղամարդու համար, որը համադրումն է աշխատանքային և երեկոյան ոճերի: Ամբողջական LOOK ստանալու համար դիմել եմ հայկական 3 ապրանքանիշերի օգնությանը: «Twinz Eyewear»- ն Bab Khachatryan ապահովեց բարձրորակ փայտից և իտալական ապակուց պատրաստած բարձրակարգ ակնոցների հավաքածուն, «Bebetta Shoes»- ապահովեց իտալական կաշիներց և հայկական հմտությամբ ստեղծված նրբաճաշակ և հարմարավետ կոշիկներ, «Bags with Amore»- ն Artur Edwards էլ ապահովեց հայկական բարձրորակ տղամարդկանց և կանանց պայուսակների նմուշներով: Ամբողջական LOOK ստանալու համար մոդելները պոդիում բարձրացան art-դիմահարդարմամբ:

Կարինե Գևորգյան

Yerevan Fashion Show, the first collection of fashion and art brand ZIAN, has been hosted in Yerevan by City Fashion show hosted by the director of the “Arm Fashion Day” in Naira Niazian. Naira Niazian is famous for organizing fashion shows but now she also presents her own collection. The evening started with wine treatments, and then in the open air, the show started in a romantic atmosphere. They were presented with basic clothes, classic-practical, city-infants, sports and evening details, butterflies,

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jugglers, headscarves, pocket handkerchiefs, necklaces with natural stone necklaces. Used as a natural silk, velvet, cotton and leather combination, as well as semi-precious metal buttons and cufflinks with embossed “ZIAN” brand. The collection is based on “ZIAN” printed ornaments or as it says, the use of the fabric with the use of a print that is based on Arthur Saryan, Naira’s husband’s handmade work. The dress is designed for a woman and a man living and working in a urban rhythm that combines work and evening styles. I have applied for 3 Armenian brands to get a complete LOOK. “Twinz Eyewear” Bab Khachatryan provided high quality glasses and glasses made of Italian glass, “Bebetta Shoes” – ensured elegant and comfortable shoes made in Italian leather and Armenian skill, “Bags whit Amore” provided the Armenian high quality men and women’s bags. To get a complete LOOK, the models went up in the podium with art-make-up.

At the invitation of Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia, Chairperson of the boards of trustees of the My Step and City of Smile charitable foundations, editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak Armenian daily Anna Hakobyan attended the opening ceremony of the Pan-Armenian Conference of Armenian Media at the Mayravank Monastery in Antelias. The event began with opening remarks by His Holiness Aram I, and Armenia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Vahagn Atabekyan read the message of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. In her speech, Anna Hakobyan touched upon the challenges facing Armenian media.

Anna Hakobyan said the following in her speech:

“Your Holiness, dear Mr. Ambassador,

Dear participants and organizers of the Pan-Armenian Conference of Armenian Media, guests,

First, I would like to express gratitude to Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia for declaring the year 2019 as the Year of Media and for organizing this conference.

Today, the media is in a crisis, and Armenian media, that is, the media in Armenia and media outlets in Armenian communities of the world are also in a crisis. Thus, this conference is appropriate and anticipated more than ever. I hope the participants of this conference succeed in identifying the most in-depth issues, discuss them and seek solutions.

I would like to get ahead of myself and voice hope that this conference becomes annual because the world is developing at a rapid pace and there are new problems and challenges, and we media representatives must respond to those challenges quickly and on time.

I won’t be able to participate in the sessions of the conference for obvious reasons because I always try to use my time as optimally as possible and manage to do a lot when I am abroad, and this visit is no exception. Since I won’t be here, I would like to recommend turning this conference into an annual event and adopt a document that we can refer to as a strategy. However, to achieve our goal, we need to be sincere with each other.

To be sincere, we need to call things by their names or have the courage to ask each other questions that are unpleasant.

I strongly believe that, in spite of all types of technological advancements, the media is still called for finding and disseminating reliable information. Besides disseminating information, the media has a mission to educate, set forth ideas, etc.

Reliable information is something that can’t be seen a lot in the media today. Instead, we receive unreliable information that is based on analyses that are made up. Of course, there are issues that are related to this.

The first and most important issue is funding. The second issue is the so-called media outlets that are mushrooming day after day on social media websites and spreading fake news. Even if I don’t list the other issues, I hope they are identified during the conference.

Today, in post-revolutionary Armenia, Armenian media isn’t going along with the people and the State. Today we are seeing the barrier between the media and the public and State, and if we don’t solve the problems soon, there will be a deeper barrier.

Dear colleagues, friends of many years, we have come a long way together, held many protests and overcome repressions against the media. True, I was still a beginning journalist during those years, but that doesn’t change anything. You stood by our side when my husband was in prison. We have competed with each other, been offended by each other and reconciled, and today, many of you are spreading lies about me and my family on a daily basis. I’m not saying this to reprimand you, but I want to be sincere and say that even though I feel bad and try to justify it in my mind, to a great extent, I accept those lies in the context of the problems that I mentioned.

I want to believe that we can appreciate the concept of a journalistic community and can have the pleasure of being in solidarity. We all saw that the authorities can become the opposition, but we journalists always need to stay the same. I understand that the words “wife of the Prime Minister” sound unique and make one associate me with someone special, but I want you to be rest assured that I am Anna, Nikol’s wife, your colleague whom no government or status can change.

Thank you for your attention. I wish the conference success.”