GIBRAHAYER e-magazine - System of a Down to Eurovision ?

GIBRAHAYER e-magazine The largest circulating Armenian e-magazine www dot gibrahayer dot com Circulates every Wednesday Established in 1999

WORK AT OLD ARMENIAN CEMETERY TO BEGIN THIS WEEK SAYS ARMENIAN MP VARTKES MAHDESSIAN

Gibrahayer and other combined sources - Work for the reconstruction of the derelict old Armenian cemetery near the Ledra Palace is to begin this week. A contract has been granted to complete the renovation and construction of the cemetery, the tombs, the exterior wall as well as the chapel in the cemetery. With the previous attempt, renovation works went wrong because workers simply started breaking up old historic tombs, damaging headstones and exposing bones, sparking outrage among the community. Finally after two years, renovations are now ready to take place. “The preliminary work is complete, all the permissions are in place, and the work will be supervised by architects who are experienced professionals” explained the Armenian Representative at the House, Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian “the project was awarded three weeks ago and will start this week” he concluded. The whole project was made possible by a subsidy that was received from the Cyprus government through the efforts of Mr. Mahdessian, as well as an amount contributed by the Armenian Church. It is foreseen that the completion of the project will take about twelve months. Mahdessian said:”The boundary wall will be restored again, the small church will be renovated, all the graves will be back in their original places and the ones that are unidentified will all be placed in a common grave, which will have all their names inscribed”. “This will be something we as Armenians and Cypriots will be proud of” Mahdessian added.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN TO EUROVISION WITH ARMENIAN GENOCIDE THEME?

oikotimes.com - June 23 2008 - After Armenia received its best result ever this year with Sirusho, the world-famous rock band System of a Down has shown a keen interest in representing Armenia in Russia, next year. However, the soloist of the American band, Serj Tankian, has openly stated in a recent visit in Finland that this will be under one condition: if they will be able to use Eurovision as a way to make the much-debated Armenian Genocide issue known. "Eurovision Song Contest would be an excellent way to make this theme known. We must seriously think of this." said Tankian in response to a question posed by Finnish News Agency. System of a Down is very politically active and are noted for the liberal political views expressed in their songs, tackling myriad subjects including the War on Drugs, religion, drug use, and especially censorship. They have actively campaigned to get Turkey to recognise the controversial Armenian Genocide and the subject is often-tackled in their songs. They are also a part of the Axis of Justice, a non-profit political activist organisation fighting for recognition of the polemical issue, believed to have taken part in the early 20th century. Ironically, the band has many Turkish fans as well. Previously similar themes have been tried at Eurovision with mixed success. In 1976 Greece sent the song Panaghia mou, Panaghia mou about the invasion of Cyprus, in 1993 Bosnia-Herzegovina performed Sva bol svijeta about the war in the region, and it is also believed by experts that the 1996 United Kingdom entry Ohh Ahh Just a little bit also has a hidden message about genocide. With previous song titles such as Violent Pornography, This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On This Song, Peephole and Fuck the System, System of a Down would perhaps be censored by the EBU rule about bad language that previously forced Silvia Night to officially change the lyrics of her song, while the EBU would probably choose to believe the political message was a reference to ancient Armenian bedtime stories or an ending relationship.

NAREG'S GRADUATION CEREMONY

Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra - Gibrahayer - June 18, 2008 - On Wednesday, 18 June 2008, at Nicosia Nareg Varjaran's outdoor amphitheatre, Gibrahayer's nor serount had its day: the graduation ceremony for the school year 2007-2008. The three Nareg Elementary Schools (Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol) and Nareg gymnasium (Junior High School) held a wonderful graduation ceremony. This year's graduation was different than previous held by the school, for two main reasons: Nicosia's Nareg Varjaran celebrated its 35th anniversary at its present location and, for the first time, Nareg Gymnasium had its first graduates! The ceremony started at 18:30 with the entrance of Nareg's Headmaster, Mr Arto Aivazian, followed by the 25 graduates, 20 girls and 5 boys. Ara Kevorkian's musical synthesis "Garod" (nostalgia for the home country) accompanied their entrance. After the graduates were seated, the school choir sang the National Anthems of Cyprus and Armenia, as well as the School Anthem. The opening speeches were delivered by Mrs Yeran Kouyoumdjian, Secretary of the School Committee, and by Headmaster Aivazian. For the first time since the school's opening in 1972, the Headmaster's speech included a page in Greek, for the benefit of the Inspector and Greek Cypriot Nareg Staff. After the two concise speeches, two poems were recited by the graduate students: one for the school's graduates, and one for the Armenian people. Then, the graduation diplomas were presented to the 20 Elementary School graduates (17 from Nicosia, 1 from Larnaca and 2 from Limassol) and to the first 5 Gymnasium graduates by the Armenian MP at the House of Representatives, Mr Vartkes Mahdessian, with the blessings of Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, followed by the delivery of two awards by the Chairman of the School Committee, Mr Krikor Haroutunian, one for athletic performance to Elena Kaprielian, and one for model student to Marita Aredjian. The awards were given in the loving memory of the late Toutoundjian family, killed on-board the Helios Airways' tragic flight 522 to Athens on 14 August 2005; both Ara (aged 16) and Baret (aged 12) were students at Nareg Varjaran, killed along with their mother, Hilda, and their father, Hagop who was a member of the School Committee at the time of his death. May they always rest in peace... Later on, Christina Argyridou greeted us in Armenian on behalf of the Elementary School graduates, and Maneh Tunjikian greeted us with a moving Greek speech on behalf of the Gymnasium graduates. After the two speeches, retiring teacher, Sarah Vorsganian, delivered an encouraging speech addressed to the graduates. After these speeches, the school's dance troupe performed a folkloric Armenian dance (choreographer A. Mkhitarian), dressed in traditional Armenian costumes, cheering the spectators with their rhythm, co-ordination and liveliness, and then the school choir (under music teacher Sarkis Demirdjian) kicked in, singing a melodious Armenian song; right after that, Nareg graduates joined the choir in singing the traditional farewell song (Hrajeshdi Yerk). The graduation ceremony finished at around 19:40 with a prayer by Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, der Momik Habeshian and der Mashdotz Ashkarian. After the community's prominent figures and the proud parents and other family members congratulated the 25 bright graduates, indeed the future of the great Gibrosi Armenian community, everyone went to a nice cocktail inside the school. For about an hour and a half, social conversation and gossip came and went between those who enjoyed the variety of drinks and food available. The catering was excellent! Towards the end of the cocktail, the schoolchildren spontaneously started dancing the "Miasnoutian Shourchbar" on the upper floor of Nareg Varjaran, accompanied by confetti and presenting us with a lovely sight and sound, under the yellowish full moon and the slightly breezy night. Occasions like this remind us that the future of all communities, especially of a small one like the Gibrahayer, lies in the hands, minds and spirits of a well-educated nor serount, and that these youngsters will soon become the future leaders of the community. We were also reminded of the importance of a solid and comprehensive education, which ensures that the students are equipped with an invaluable asset to deal with the adversities of tomorrow's competitive society. I think that the school administration and, particularly Headmaster Aivazian, deserve a bravo for the excellently organised graduation ceremony.

AUTOGRAPHED T-SHIRT FROM PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL STAR CRISTIANO RONALDO TO GAROYIAN'S SON On his return to Cyprus from the Summit of Presidents of Parliaments of the European Union, Cypriot President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian, came back with an autographed T-Shirt of Cristiano Ronaldo. This out-of protocol acquisition is the present of the Portuguese President when he found out that Garoyian's son is a Portugal supporter.

KING ARTHUR: THE LORD OF THE RING

Combined sources - With three well-timed power punches, `King' Arthur Abraham blasted his way to a definitive fourth-round TKO (Total Knock Out) over nemesis Edison Miranda in a thrilling rematch. In one of the most anticipated rematches since Marquez-Vazquez II, Abraham and Miranda had unfinished business. In their first fight, in September 2006 in Germany, Abraham won a controversial - and some say confusing - unanimous decision after suffering a broken jaw in the fifth round. Miranda had five points deducted in that fight (for a head butt and repeated low blows). On Saturday, they met at a catch weight of 166 pounds with Abraham's IBF middleweight title belt sitting safely in his dressing room. But Abraham left no doubt with a powerful display that Miranda could not withstand.

News in Brief by Sevag Devletian

Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev and the chief of the Armenian police, Alik Sargsyan, have signed a cooperation agreement. The main task is to coordinate law-enforcement agencies in their joint search of missing people and to counter terrorism, corruption and organised crime. The head of Tourism Department of Armenia told reporters during a press conference last week, that his department is expecting about 600,000 foreign tourists to visit Armenia this year. Despite the existing social-economic problems in Armenia, the Armenian Armed Forces will not lack funding, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced last week, addressing the country's top military. Marie Yovanovitch, a U.S. diplomat nominated to be ambassador to Armenia came under intense questioning at her confirmation hearing over the U.S. policy not to label as genocide the World War I-era killings of huge numbers of Armenians. To view the questioning go to www dot anca dot org Ambassador Dan Fried, US assistant secretary of state for European affairs has urged Turkey to come to terms with its painful history regarding the suffering of Anatolian Armenians during World War I, also calling on Armenia to relinquish its territorial claims on Turkey.

YOUTH BOAT PARTY this Saturday 28 June from 8:30pm-12:30am

organised by the Youth Committee of the Armenian MP Departure from Nicosia from The Armenian Prelature at 7:30pm Food, first drink and bus service. All inclusive 20 euros Sign up until June 20, 2008 with Araxi Chilingirian - 99541688 - Nicosia Kevork Keoshkerian - 99817806 - Nicosia Vani Bohdjelian - 99524746 - Larnaca Diran Kassabian - 99246397 - Limassol Armenian representative office - 22454540 Open invitation to all between the ages of 16-40

KEBAB PARTY AT THE LARNACA CLUB SATURDAY 28 JUNE, 8:00 PM

Sign up with Yeghia Boyadjian 99658121

SIPAN DANCERS OF HAMAZKAYIN TO PARTICIPATE IN BI-COMMUNAL EVENT

Gibrahayer - A multicultural event under the auspices of the Ambassador of Slovakia H.E. Dr.Anna Turenicova is taking place on Sunday 29 June at 8:00 pm at the Ledra Palace Hotel on the Green Line in Nicosia, in which next to Greek, Turkish and Maronite cultural performances, Hamazkayin's Sipan Dance Ensemble will also participate with Armenian dances. Little credit can be given to the people who have set the date which coincides with the Euro 2008 Football Final (starts 9:45 pm), and organisers should definitely consider a last minute cancellation of the event, if Turkey make it to the Finals.

OFF TO CHINA

Our own cartoonist Tatiana Ferahian's Interlooping Circuits II, has been selected to be exhibited in the official Olympic Fine Arts 2008. Ferahian will not be attending herself as she will already be flying to China to participate in the 3rd Beijing Biennale in July. We wish her all the best. Visit her work and her biographical notes on Gibrahayer dot com. After that click on "Our online family" and then "Tatiana Ferahian" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~