Venice: Golden Lions for Armenia winner, Adrian Piper at Venice Biennale

May 10, 2015 By administrator

Armenian pavilion curator Adelina Cuberyan von Furstenberg accepts the award

At an awards ceremony held to coincide with the Venice Biennale’s opening, the judges praised Armenia’s entry in the national participation category, declaring it the winner out of a total 89 entries.

“In a year that witnesses a significant milestone for the Armenian people, this pavilion marks the resilience of trans-cultural confluence and exchanges,” the international jury said, referring to the exhibit which was based around the Armenian diaspora. It comes days after Armenians marked 100 years since mass killings by Ottoman Turkish forces, which modern Turkey has refused to recognize as genocide.

The Golden Lion for best artist in the international exhibition went to American-born Adrian Piper. The Berlin-based conceptual artist created an installation of hospitality desks inviting participants to commit to one of three rules, including “I will always be too expensive to buy.”

“Her presentations invite us to engage in a life-long performance of personal responsibility,” the jury said.

Special awards

A Silver Lion to acknowledge a promising young artist went to South Korean Im Heung-Soon for a video work about working conditions for women across Asia.

The board of the Biennale awarded a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement to El Anatsui from Ghana, as well as a special Golden Lion for service to the arts to Suzanne Ghez of the USA.

The 56th edition of the contemporary art showcase is under the curatorship of Okwui Enwezor. Its official theme is “All the world’s futures.”

The Venice Art Biennale is due to run until late November, encompassing the Venice International Film Festival in September.

se/gsw (dpa, AFP, AP)

Armenian Army subdivision in Medvedev’s photoset

May 9, 2015 By administrator

The Armenian military’s subdivision, which took part in the Victory and Peace Day Parade in Moscow, is featured in a unique photo set published by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Facebook.
“Happy Victory day,” wrote the Russian official in his status to which he attached pictures from the event.
The Armenian subdivision is seen as crossing Moscow’s central square led by Colonel Ashot Hakobyan.
see more picture on tert.am

Armenian President participates in Victory Day events in Moscow

May 9, 2015 By administrator

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the events marking the 70th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, the President’s press office reports.

The President together with heads of senior-level delegations from many other countries watched the Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square.

President Sargsyan laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Also, he attended the festive reception organized by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Grand Kremlin Palace.

There will be a festive concert and fireworks on Red Square Saturday evening.

President Sargsyan together with the high-ranking guests will be present at the concluding Victory Day event on Red Square.

On Sunday, Serzh Sargsyan will visit the grave of Marshal Hovhannes Baghramyan at the Kremlin Wall in Red Square, will lay flowers and pay tribute to his memory.

Lebanese magazine releases posters printed with blood to commemorate Genocide Video

April 29, 2015 By administrator

Lebanese magazine Audio Kultur has released a series of posters and a limited-edition version of its April issue printed using human blood to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Calvert Journal reports.

The project “Still here, Still Bleeding”, named after the slogan printed across the covers and posters, was developed by the Beirut-based independent magazine to celebrate the contribution that Lebanon’s Armenian population have made to the country’s cultural landscape.

“In Lebanon these contributions have been especially substantial, and a lot of the contributors are friends, colleagues and even family members,” Tres Colacion, editor-in-chief of Audio Kultur, said. “It’s a community that is really fully integrated into Lebanese society and, with the occasion of the 100-year anniversary, it was a project that our editorial team felt compelled to take on.”

Audio Kultur approached five Lebanese-Armenians working in creative industries and asked them each to donate a vial of blood, which was mixed with red ink and used to print the words “Still Here, Still Bleeding” on the front cover of each special edition magazine.

“The donors were all very taken aback when we approached them,” Colacion said. “I think it holds a significance that is not easy to describe. We heard stories of rape, murder, torture…and of survival. It was a very emotional process in ways none of us have ever experienced. Obviously it was a somber experience, but it was also really inspiring.”

Lebanon has one of the highest Armenian populations in the world, many of which are grandchildren of Armenians who took refuge in Lebanon after the genocide in 1915.

NY: Armenians mark centennial of Genocide in Times Square

April 27, 2015 By administrator

Thousands of Armenians held an action on the Armenian Genocide Centennial in Times Square of New York on Sunday.

The protesters marched from St. Vartan church to Times Square to demand the U.S. government recognize the Armenian Genocide. The protesters were waving Armenian flags and were carrying posters urging Turkey to recognize the Genocide.

Senator Charles Schumer, several Jewish leaders as well as famous Turkish scholar Taner Akcam were among rally speakers, NBC New York reported.

“I stand with you in making sure the deniers are not given any place under the sun,” Senator Schumer said.

Taner Akcam added that it is very troubling to see that the United States had still not recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Photo from ANCA Facebook

Serbia President: Do we have the right not to honor Armenian Genocide victims?

April 26, 2015 By administrator

The President of Serbia

YEREVAN. – The Serbian people realize what happened to Armenians in the Ottoman Empire (PHOTOS).

The President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolić, stated the above-said Friday at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in capital city Yerevan.

In his words, monstrous genocide occurred with the Armenians.

“Do we have the right not to pay tribute to the collective memory of the Armenian Genocide victims? The denial of historical truth adversely affects the level of awareness,” the Serbian president stressed, and added: “We have not come here to be against or for someone, but to honor the memory of the victims of the people of Armenia.”

Nikolić also noted that the term “genocide” is very often manipulated.

“Could we have not been present here today and betrayed those who believe that only the truth will save us from the bloody past? No, we could not and we would not dare not to be present [here].

“We will not allow the imposed political correctness to cause pain to the people of the world. We are the citizens of the world (…), and we need to join forces to address the global challenges,” the Serbian president specifically said.

Tomislav Nikolić stressed that Serbia believes solely in this meaning of politics, and there is no alternative to respect for human life.

Turkey, Police attack HDP march condemning Armenian Genocide

April 25, 2015 By administrator

Turkish police have attacked the people joining a protest march organized by the HDP Istanbul branch to mark the 100th year of the Armenian and Syriac Genocide of 1915.

ISTANBUL – ANF

Turkish police have attacked the people joining a protest march organized by the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Istanbul branch to mark the 100th year of the Armenian and Syriac Genocide of 1915.

The demonstrators who were blocked by police on Bahriye Avenue soon after the march began were denied permission to chant slogans and open banners.

Tension rose as demonstrators continued the march till Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Park where they were attacked by police for opening the banners once again.

HDP candidate Musa Piroğlu was battered and 7 people were taken into custody by police.

In Syria, Damascus, Armenian mark the 100th anniversary of the mass killing of Armenians

April 25, 2015 By administrator

In Syria, a country that continues to enjoy a difficult relationship with present-day Turkey, masses were held in Damascus and Aleppo.
Syrian Armenian scouts carry a Syrian and an Armenian national flags as they march in the old city of Damascus, April 23, 2015, to mark the 100th anniversary of the mass killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Picture taken April 23, 2015. (Reuters/Omar Sanadiki)

Yerevan: Millions worldwide mark 100th anniversary of Armenian genocide

April 25, 2015 By administrator

Armenians from around the world have been taking part in public memorial services, to commemorate the 1915 massacre of up to 1.5 million of their ancestors at the hands of the Ottoman Turks.

In Armenia’s capital Yerevan, President Serzh Sargsyan laid a lone yellow rose at a wreath representing a giant forget-me-not flower.

“I am grateful to all those who are here to once again confirm your commitment to human values, to say that nothing is forgotten, that after 100 years we remember,” he told an audience of international dignitaries, who gathered in the former Soviet state.

He was followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Francois Hollande, as well as dozens of other officials.

From April 1915 most of the Ottoman Empire’s Armenians were displaced, deported or placed in concentration camps, ostensibly for rebelling and siding with the Russians in World War I. Turkey admits that many were mistreated, but says that the exact numbers of those killed have been exaggerated and there was no systematic policy to eliminate the Armenian minority.

Armenians in Baghdad hold protest march to Turkish Embassy #ArmenianGenocide

April 25, 2015 By administrator

In the framework of the Armenian Genocide Centennial events, the Armenians of Baghdad have marched towards the Turkish Embassy in protest against the policy of denial of Turkey, the Facebook page of the Armenian diocese of Iraq reports. More than 500 Armenians, with the guidance of the leader of the Armenian diocese of Iraq, Archbishop Avag Asaturyan, and accompanied by the representatives of the National Central Department and priests, have held a protest march towards the Turkish Embassy. Reaching the Embassy of Turkey,

the Chairman of the National Central Department, Melkon Melkonian, read the protest statement of the Iraqi Armenians addressed to the authorities of Turkey which was later pasted on the Embassy walls. The protest statement was also handed to the local news media which in their turn widely covered the topic. It is noted that this is the first case in the history of the Iraqi Armenian community that such a large-scale event is held.