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KARABAKHTSI TEENAGER WINS JUNIOR EUROVISION 2010 |
Armenianow.com - An upbeat song performed by an Armenian boy won the hearts of Europe Saturday night bringing Armenia its first-ever top place in a popular pan-European song contest for children. Karabakh capital Stepanakert-born Vladimir Arzumanyan, 12, represented Armenia at Junior Eurovision 2010 held in Minsk, Belarus, and sang the song “Mama” that brought him a total of 120 points in a combined tele-voting and jury voting after the show that featured 13 other contestants. It was not until the results of the last tele-voting from Macedonia were announced that Armenia managed to get past Russia by merely a point to win the annual contest held for the eighth time. Earlier, Armenia and Russia exchanged the highest 12 points in a voting largely determined by “regional” and “ethnic” alignments. The other three “12 points” for Armenia came from Ukraine, Sweden and Belgium. Armenia also received: 10 points from Moldova and (crucially) Macedonia; 8 points from Belarus; 7 points from Lithuania; 6 points from Serbia and Malta; 5 points from the Netherlands and Latvia; 3 points from the closest neighbor, Georgia. Armenia, in its turn, voted as follows: Russia (12 pts), Belarus (10), Georgia (8), Moldova (7), Malta (6), the Netherlands (5), Lithuania (4), Serbia (3), Sweden (2) and Ukraine (1). At a press conference following his victory, Arzumanyan spoke of his dreams of winning Eurovision come true. He said he wanted “a brother” as a reward for his win. “I want a brother, my mother promised me that if I’d win!” Vladimir said in the presence of his mother, according to the contest’s official website. The winner of the biggest pop music contest for young singers said he didn’t think of himself as a star. “Stars are only in the sky, I’m only human,” Vladimir told the press. “He’s from a small village, so that’s especially a big win for us,” his mother added. In its three previous participations Armenia at least twice came close to winning the contest.Debuting in 2007, t he country’s entry, Arevik, came second in a dramatic last-minute reversal of fortunes losing the top spot to a Belarus rival by a point. Two years later, in a close contest, Luara Hayrapetyan finished in a joint second place (tied with Russia). |
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AZERI STATE TV, STOPS BROADCAST AFTER ARMENIAN EUROVISION VICTORY |
Gibrahayer.com - Following similar practice from "Big Brother" Turkey in stopping TV broadcast of political adversaries, Azerbaijan State television stopped broadcast of Junior Eurovision 2010 international song contest soon after 12-year-old Armenian representative Vladimir Arzumanyan became the winner. |
ARA GEVORGIAN'S CONCERTS DRAW RECORD CROWDS OF 1,800 IN STROVOLOS MUNICIPAL HALL |
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A Weekend to Remember - by Hrayr Jebejian |
The Cypriot community in general and the Armenian one in particular had a memorable weekend on November 20-21, 2010. The award-winning, internationally-renowned Armenian composer Ara Gevorgian’s concert in Nicosia’s Strovolos Theatre was truly a great success in many aspects. First, we all enjoyed Ara Gevorgian’s talent and vibrant music, Karen Durgaryan’s adept conducting, the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra’s professional performance, and the Sipan Dance Ensemble’s graceful dancing. Secondly, Ara Gevorgian presented a musical program that took us through the pages of the history of the Armenian nation with all its struggles and triumphs. As Ara and his group performed, scenes of ancient and modern day Armenia were being shown in the background, as if underscoring our pride for being Armenian. No matter how emotional or sad the pictures of the occupied cities and villages made us feel, they reconfirmed the fullness of our culture and heritage, including the tragedies, which constitute part of our national pride. The outstanding concert reinforced in us, Diasporan Armenians, to refill our lives with the national and Christian values and our pride in our alphabet, history, faith and culture. Ara truly created this moment for us all. Thirdly, it was an event that strengthened the Armenian community’s sense of belonging, loyalty and gratitude for the homeland Cyprus. The concert was organized on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Cyprus and was attended by the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Demetris Christofias, First Lady Mrs. Elsie Christofias, and H.E. Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Marios Garoyian, Ministers, Ambassadors, and official dignitaries. Finally, the passion, commitment and zeal of our Representative in the Cyprus Parliament, Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian, in organizing this event have been remarkable and exceptional. His efforts and hard work in making this event a reality are absolutely commendable. Ara Gevorgian’s yerajeshdagan hamouyet, as we would like to call it in Armenian, will definitely remain a weekend to remember. |
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Concert Photos by Avo Koushian at: |
Ara Gevorgian concert FINALE at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2reb3-1WaU |
Hayots Ashkharh in Nicosia at : www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaEBbQxZ-Rw |
Letters to the Editor |
Sireli Ara, Iissgabess emposhghnetzink tzer hamerke Gibrossi mech, abretzak yev abretzoutzik hay joghovourte tzer essdeghtzakordsoutunnerov. Meds shenorhagaloutun tzezi. Abrik. Vartouhie Shaklian |
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Hola from Buenos Aires Simon, while on the tour, I wanted to pass on the nice info that...All the way from this Southern part of the continent, Armenians are reading Gibrahayer eMagazine.We were at the Armenian Center with my group and we talked about Gibrahayer e-Magazine with my Melkoniantzi friends. That's great! Maro Seferian -Kasparian |
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Hayastan All Armenian Fund - Telethon Today! - Donate now ! |
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Donate now to Hayastan All Armenian Fund: https://donate.himnadram.org/ |
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INCUMBENT ARMENIAN MP VARTKES MAHDESSIAN ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY FOR 22 MAY 2011 ELECTIONS |
Gibrahayer e-magazine - At the opening of the new premises of the Larnaca Armenian Club on Saturday 6 November, Armenian incumbent MP Vartkes Mahdessian announced his candidacy for the seat of the Armenian MP in the Cyprus Parliament for the upcoming 2011 May elections. In an announcement that circulated last week, Vartkes Mahdessian declared that during the past five years he had worked closely with community organisations and individuals, ensuring the unity and progress of our community and had tried to assist everyone who had brought their problem to his attention. He added that he believed he had kept his pre-election promise - on which he based his campaign - and had worked with enthusiasm, a concrete work-plan, transparency, reconciliation and meritocracy, and based on the support of the majority of the community, he had decided to run again for the position of the Armenian MP. |
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AT SOURP ASDVADZADZIN CHURCH FESTIVITIES IN NICOSIA |
CYPRUS HOUSE PRESIDENT MARIOS GAROYIAN CALLS ON TURKEY TO RECOGNISE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE |
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Tert.am - Marios Garoyian, President of the House of Representatives in Cyprus, has called for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, saying that Turkey, the perpetrator of this crime, can no longer go “unpunished,”. “Today we turn our memory to the Armenian Genocide, a crime against humanity which is still unpunished, and we call once more on the international community to recognize this heinous crime,” he said in his address at a special church service to mark a religious celebration at the local Armenian church, adding that the historical truth must be recorded. Garoyian pointed out that Turkey must bear the consequences of its actions and described Ankara’s attempts to make peace with Armenia as “devious,” saying they “lack any shred of credibility.” “These are moves and initiatives to deceive the Armenians and distort history and as such, are rejected by the Armenian people,” he stressed. The House President, an Armenian himself, said Armenians are also fighting for justice in Cyprus, their homeland, which has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. “We are striving for a just, functional and viable solution, and we call on the international community to deal with Turkey’s intransigence and boldness in a decisive manner so that Cyprus regains its freedom, democracy, justice and prosperity for all its legal citizens, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins,” he added. |
"We want our land back" |
90 years since President Wilson defined boundaries between Armenia and Turkey |
By Veronica Rocha - November 22, 2010 - DOWNTOWN - A ceremony in honor of the 90th anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson's Arbitral Award, which established a Turkish-Armenian boundary, attracted hundreds of people Sunday night in support of a sovereign Armenia. Ninety years after Wilson defined a boundary for the two countries, Greg Krikorian, president of the Glendale Unified school board, told audience members that Turkey has continued to deny Armenians rights to their land. "We want our land back," he said. "It's our land that they stole from us." Wilson's actions gave Armenians hope, which Krikorian said must be passed on to younger generations. "Each of us came here for hope," he said. "Each of us came here for a piece of our lives that was stolen." After the downfall of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, Wilson drew a map of the Armenian territories as part of a Nov. 22, 1920, peace treaty. The Western Armenian territories included 40,000 square miles, according to the Glendale-based Western Armenian Heritage Foundation, which hosted the event. But Turkey claimed some of the territory by force, said the organization's president, Michael Sosikian. The territory then became part of the country in a treaty signed in 1923. Armenians view the Arbitral Award as a stamp of approval from the United States, he said. "It means the United States of America obliged to obey international law from their president; then we will see what Turkey says," Sosikian said. Having support from Reps. Brad Sherman and Judy Chu, who was scheduled to speak at the ceremony, is a sign that some U.S. officials are trying to work toward a resolution, he said. In the past two weeks, USC and UCLA held symposiums on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and the trend is moving toward full reparation, said Wilson's great-great-grandson, Donald Wilson Bush, president of the Woodrow Wilson Legacy Foundation. |
TOWARDS AN ELECTIVE DIASPORA LEADERSHIP |
The Institute of Armenian Studies at the University of Southern California (USC) last Saturday held a successful international symposium entitled "The Armenian Diaspora: Elective Leadership and Worldwide Structure" which was attended by 600 enthusiastic participants from the United States, Canada, Russia, Australia, and Europe. This was the first step in discussing the establishment of an elected body that would legitimately represent Armenians throughout the Diaspora, except those in Armenia and Artsakh, who already reside in state structures with elected governments. Thus, for the first time in Diaspora’s history, Armenians would elect their own representatives or leaders, on the basis of one-man, one vote. Publisher of The California Courier Harut Sassounian, suggested that elections be held by Armenian communities to choose one representative for each group of 20,000 Armenians. The collective body of 350 representatives from all electoral districts throughout the Diaspora would become the entity that can legitimately claim to speak in the name of all seven millions Armenians, outside of Armenia and Artsakh. Popular elections would encourage the silent majority to get involved in community affairs. This would be a dramatic shift from the current situation where a small number of individuals work around the clock, sacrificing their time and effort, while most Armenians, who are unaffiliated with any organization remain disengaged and disinterested. Should such grassroots elections succeed, large numbers of Armenians would feel empowered and energized, having actively participated in choosing their leaders. The academic symposium held on Nov. 20 is the first of many steps necessary before launching the ambitious initiative of creating a worldwide representative structure. |
The proceedings of the symposium can be viewed on the following website: http://capture.usc.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=555571291d934fcfb6650cb76ebe456d1d |
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19 YEARS AGO AZERBAIJANIS REMEMBER: |
ARMENIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE SHOOTS DOWN A M-I8 HELICOPTER WITH 22 "ELITE" PASSENGERS |
Azerbaijani media sources write about an incident during the liberation of Artsakh: |
"... 19 years passed since Armenian terrorists’ shot down military helicopter MI-8 with Azerbaijani political elite on board near Garakend village of Khojavand region on November 20 in 1991. Today, is the anniversary of this tragedy, one of the most tragic events of the independent Azerbaijani history. |
As a result of the tragedy 22 people were killed in the helicopter shoot down in Garakand village, Khojavand who are Parliamentarian, State Secretary Tofig Ismayilov, Deputy Prime Minister Zulfu Hajiyev, Parliamentarian Mahammad Asadov, Prosecutor General Ismat Gayibov, MPs Vagif Jafarov and Vali Mammadov, Department Chief of the President’s Office Osman Mirzayev, First Deputy Minister of Melioration and Water Supply Gurban Namazaliyev, Prosecutor of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region I. Plavsky, head of Administration department of MNS over NKAR S. Vanov, a Head of Department of Internal Affairs of NKAO V. Kovalev, commandant of the region of state of emergency in NKAR N. Jinkin, Assistant to State Secretary R. Mammadov, employees of Azerbaijan State TV and Radio Ali Mustafayev, Arif Guseynzade and Fakhreddin Shakhbazov, observers from Russian Federation Major-General M. Lukashov and Lieutenant Colonel V.Kocharov, First Deputy Minister of International Affairs of Kazakhstan S. Serikov and three crew members. |
Thanking you for your kind words and support |
We would like to thank all our subscribers who sent their good wishes to Gibrahayer e-magazine, for winning an international online award in Stepanakert. We are not publishing any of the letters and emails, but we thank all of you sincerely for your kind words and support. We also thank our subscribers who continue responding to our appeal in ensuring that our e-magazine continues to circulate. Gibrahayer e-magazine - Monday 15 November, 2010 |
GIBRAHAYER CALENDAR |
- Thursday 25 November - Donate to Telethon for the water irrigation projects of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh).
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Sunday 28 November 4:00pm - Cleopatra Hotel, Nicosia - Annual Christmas Charity Tea and Handicraft Bazaar organised by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) Cyprus ‘’Sosse” chapter. As always the proceeds from the Charity Tea will be used to fund the numerous charity programmes sponsored by The Armenian Relief Society. -
Saturday, December 4, at 5:30 pm - Armenian Evangelical Church service in Greek Evangelical Church, 20 Gladstonos street, Nicosia. Speaker: Hrayr Jebejian. Sermon title: KRISTONIAYIN NAHADAGOUTIOUNE. All are welcome. -
Saturday 25 December at 9:00pm - AYMA Ball at The Cyprus Hilton - Details to follow.
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News in Brief - by Sevag Devletian |
- On Friday, November 19, 2010, in a first-ever Azeri-American public protest in California, a group of Azeri and Turkish community activists held a picket outside of the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California to protest an event featuring Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan.
- UNESCO has declared the Armenian Khachkar (cross-stone) an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. The decision to classify the unique Armenian artwork was made on Wednesday during the fifth session of an intergovernmental committee of states signed onto UNESCO’s Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- System of a Down intend to reunite and go on a comeback tour in 2011. The rock band intend to give a concert on June 6, 2011 in Paris.
- The traditional all-European phone marathon of 'Hayastan' All-Armenian Fund was held November 18-21 in France. The fundraising-event, in which local bodies of France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Greece partook, recorded 1.3 million Euros donation pledges.
- Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan cancelled plans to attend the summit of NATO leaders in Lisbon, last week, in a protest linked to his country's conflict with Azerbaijan. In a statement, Sargsyan's office said this was because of plans for a declaration at the summit that would be "a bad signal and create additional difficulties in the negotiating process to peacefully resolve the conflict" over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Armenian citizens trust neither Turkey as a state nor Turks. According to the public opinion poll conducted by Populus company ordered by European Friends of Armenia, 75% of residents approve President Sargsyan's decision to freeze Armenian-Turkish process after Turkey failed to ratify the protocols.
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared the Armenian Khachkar (cross-stone) an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.
- The Yerevan Zoo marked the addition of a total of 16 animals from The Zoo of Nikolayevsk, among them Bennett's tree kangaroos, Egyptian flying foxes, mandrill monkeys and ruffed lemurs.
- Elbat Company has started to produce lead acid batteries in Armenia. With its up-to-date equipment and technologies, the company is opening a plant in Yerevan, ensuring in the meantime guarantee and post-guarantee services for battery exploitation. Chronimet Mining German company holds 51% of Elbat's shares whil the Armenian side 49%.
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Sports News by Sevag Devletian |
- WEIGHTLIFTING: Armenia’s Vanik Avetisyan (69kg) won bronze at Junior and U23 Weightlifting Championships in Limassol, Cyprus. Avetisyan fixed 300kg in the snatch and clean & jerk. David Muradyan finished 4th, lifting 295kg in total. Zorik Poghosyan was 7th with 293kg.
- WEIGHTLIFTING: On November 23, Armenia’s Rubik Mamoyan (62kg) won silver at the European U23 Weightlifting Championships in Limassol, Cyprus. The Armenian sportsman lifted 270kg in the snatch and clean & jerk combination. Armenian weightlifter Armen Arakelyan, who represents Greece, was the sixth with 241kg.
- WEIGHTLIFTING: Armenia’s Elen Grigoryan won silver at the European U23 Weightlifting Championships in Limassol, Cyprus. The Armenian weightlifter fixed 174kg in the snatch and clean & jerk.
- WRESTLING: On November 25-27, France will be hosting international Greco-Roman wrestling tournament with participation of Armenia’s team headed by Olympic Games champion Levon Julfalakyan. Armenia will be represented by Alexan Mikayelyan, Artak Harutyunyan (60kg), Hovhannes Vardanyan (66kg), Varsham Boranyan (74kg), Arthur Alexanyan and Arman Papyan (96kg).
- JUDO: Judo Grand Prix Abu Dhabi kicked off on November 22, giving participants a chance to qualify for the London Olympic Games. The prize fund of the tournament is $200,000. According to tournament results, World Championship bronze winner Hovhannes Davtyan (60kg weigh category) scored 2 victories in 3 combats, gaining the 3rd place. Armen Nazaryan (66kg weight class) also won 2 out of 3 matches, coming 5th in the tournament.
- BOXING: Arthur Abraham has arrived in ice-cold Helsinki. Team Abraham flew in from Berlin on November 21 to continue the preparation for the November 27 Super Six World Boxing Classic showdown with Carl Froch. The vacant WBC Super-Middleweight Title will also be on the line.
- WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: On November 18, Hatis Yerevan women’s basketball team hosted Dinamo-GUVD of Russia in the group stage of Euro Cup 2010/2011. The tense struggle ended in 90:99 victory of the Russian team. This has been the third loss of Hatis in Euro Cup 2010/2011 group stage matches.
- CHESS: The FIDE Candidates tournament will take place in Kazan 3rd-27th May 2011. 8 players compete to produce one world championship candidate. The first and second round matches are four games plus rapid and blitz playoffs if required. The final is of six games. The qualifiers are GMs Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Boris Gelfand (Israel), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) and Gata Kamsky (USA).
- CHESS: Armenia’s youth team will take part in the World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad due November 26-December 5, 2010, in Burdur, Turkey. The Armenian team will include Karen Grigoryan, Robert Aghasaryan, Hovhannes Gabuzyan, Davit Shahinyan and Tigran Petrosyan.
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Gibrahay Sports by Sevag Devletian |
- On November 22 Ekaterinburg, Russia hosted the launch of UEFA Futsal Cup Group B rounds. On day one, AGBU Ararat FC were defeated 1-2 by the Araz Naxicevan. The second game saw AGBU Ararat record a 12-1 defeat to a superior Viz Sinara side of Ekaterinburg. It should be noted that hostility and poor refereeing decisions did not help Ararat to get back into the game.
- AYMA/HMEM defeated ESOGBA 2-1 in the Cyprus Amateur League 2nd division. Their next match is tomorrow (Thursday) night 8:30pm at Latsia.
- AGBU Ararat U-17's crushed University U-17's 11-0 in the Cyprus U-17 Futsal League.
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Armenian Premier League |
Pyunik FC were crowned champions of the Armenian Premier League thanks to a last match-day victory over Kilikia FC on November 14. Banants FC finished 2nd, followed by UllissesFC, while Mika FC ranked 4th. |
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