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JUDITH FARNWORTH APPOINTED AS HER MAJESTY'S
AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
12 May 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Ms Judith Farnworth has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to
the Republic of Armenia in succession to Mrs Katherine Leach, who
will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms
Farnworth will take up her appointment during September 2015.
Ms Farnworth joined the FCO in 1991 and is currently serving as
Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. A specialist in
post-Soviet and Central European Affairs, Ms Farnworth began her career
at the FCO as a Research Analyst before taking up postings in Ukraine,
the Czech Republic, Latvia and the Kyrgyz Republic.
On her appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of
Armenia, Ms Farnworth has said:
I am delighted to be appointed as British Ambassador to the Republic
of Armenia. It is a great privilege to serve in a country with such a
rich history and culture. Building on the achievements of the current
Ambassador and the Embassy team, I look forward to working with the
Armenian Government to strengthen further the bilateral relationship
for the benefit of Armenia and the United Kingdom.
2015 VENICE BIENNALE ARMENIA, ADRIAN PIPER WIN VENICE
Artnews
BIENNALE’S GOLDEN LIONS
BY The Editors of ARTnews
12 May 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Ms Judith Farnworth has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to
the Republic of Armenia in succession to Mrs Katherine Leach, who
will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms
Farnworth will take up her appointment during September 2015.
Ms Farnworth joined the FCO in 1991 and is currently serving as
Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. A specialist in
post-Soviet and Central European Affairs, Ms Farnworth began her career
at the FCO as a Research Analyst before taking up postings in Ukraine,
the Czech Republic, Latvia and the Kyrgyz Republic.
On her appointment as Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of
Armenia, Ms Farnworth has said:
I am delighted to be appointed as British Ambassador to the Republic
of Armenia. It is a great privilege to serve in a country with such a
rich history and culture. Building on the achievements of the current
Ambassador and the Embassy team, I look forward to working with the
Armenian Government to strengthen further the bilateral relationship
for the benefit of Armenia and the United Kingdom.
2015 VENICE BIENNALE ARMENIA, ADRIAN PIPER WIN VENICE
Artnews
BIENNALE’S GOLDEN LIONS
BY The Editors of ARTnews
05/09/15
This afternoon, at a ceremony in the Most Serene Republic, the organizers
This afternoon, at a ceremony in the Most Serene Republic, the organizers
of the Venice Biennale announced the full slate of winners for this, the
56th edition of the exhibition. Adrian Piper and Armenia took home
Golden Lions, the top honors—Piper in connection with her participation
in Owkui Enwezor’s central show, “All the World’s Future,” and Armenia
for its offsite pavilion on the Island of San Lazzaro, which includes the
work of Mher Azatyan, Grigor Khachatryan, and Astghik Melkonyan.
“Piper has reformed conceptual practice to include personal subjectivity
“Piper has reformed conceptual practice to include personal subjectivity
—of herself, her audience, and the publics in general,” the jury said in a
statement. Piper presented an interactive piece in Enwezor’s show that
asked visitors to sign written contracts with themselves to agree to one
of three publicly posted statements, like “I will always do what I say I am
going to do.” Her work, they wrote, “invite us to to engage in a lifelong
performance of personal responsibility.”
The jury lauded Armenia, in a statement, “for forming a pavilion based
The jury lauded Armenia, in a statement, “for forming a pavilion based
on a people in diaspora, each artist engaging their specific locality as
well as their heritage.” This year marks the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, it noted, and their official commendation said that
the pavilion “marks the resilience of transcultural confluence and
exchanges.”
Officials also presented Golden Lions that were announced last month,
Officials also presented Golden Lions that were announced last month,
to artist El Anatsui and curator Susanne Ghez, the former long-serving
director of the Renaissance Society in Chicago.
For each edition, the biennial also awards a Silver Lion to a promising
For each edition, the biennial also awards a Silver Lion to a promising
young artist, which this year went to South Korean Im Heung-Soon for
his documentary Factory Complex , which examines women’s working
conditions in Asia.
The jurors—Sabine Breitwieser, Naomi Beckwith, Mario Codognato,
The jurors—Sabine Breitwieser, Naomi Beckwith, Mario Codognato,
Yungwoo Lee, and Ranjit Hoskote—also singled out three artists for
special mentions: in the main exhibition, the late Harun Farocki (whose
entire film catalogue is being screened there); the Aboundaddera
collective, which is presenting videos from Syria; and Algerian artist
Massinissa Selmani for “working in a modest medium which has the
capacity to act beyond its scale.”
Finally, one national pavilion received special notice: that of the United
Finally, one national pavilion received special notice: that of the United
States, which is showing Joan Jonas—“an artist of significant oeuvre
Why Armenia turned to Russia instead of the West
By Fred Hiatt,
By Fred Hiatt,
Not long before Ukraine signed the agreement with the European Union
that precipitated a crisis with Russia that continues to unfold,
Armenia, Ukraine's small neighbor to the south, made a different
decision.
Following a discussion with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan announced that his country would affiliate
for trade purposes with the Eurasian Economic Union -- Russia, Belarus
and Kazakhstan -- rather than the European Union.
Sargsyan, who is in Washington this week for events commemorating the
100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, offered a practical
explanation when I asked him about the alignment during his visit to
The Post on Thursday.
"Armenian cognac can't really be sold in Paris," Sargsyan, speaking
through a translator, said. "But it does well in the Russian
Federation."
In other words, he said, he took a "pragmatic decision." One-third of
Armenia's exports go to Russia and its partners, including
agricultural products on which thousands of jobs depend. In addition,
Russia sells natural gas to landlocked, energy-poor Armenia "at quite
a good price."
The president stressed that Armenia still pursues good relations with
the European Union. But a free-trade agreement with Europe would not
have delivered much, he said, especially as long as Armenia's border
with Turkey remains blocked. Armenia's economy would have to evolve
over ten to fifteen years to take advantage of a free-trade regime
with Europe. "But in the meantime there is a need to survive," he
said, "and people are not ready to suffer during this long term."
Armenians are suffering now from the rift between Russia and the West,
he said, in three ways: Armenian exports to Russia, Russian investment
in Armenia and remittances from Armenians working in Russia -- which
account for one-fifth of Armenia's GDP -- all are down. This hurts in a
country of 3 million people that in 2013 ranked 152nd in the world in
income per person.
But, he added, "had we not acceded to the Eurasian Union, we would
have faced more painful problems."
Sargsyan said he will not be seeing President Obama on this trip, but
he was diplomatic on the president's refusal once again, in deference
to Turkish objections, to use the word "genocide" to describe the
crimes against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago.
"I think had he said it, it could have been useful," Sargsyan said.
"The United States should have put values over interests."
lragir.am
that precipitated a crisis with Russia that continues to unfold,
Armenia, Ukraine's small neighbor to the south, made a different
decision.
Following a discussion with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan announced that his country would affiliate
for trade purposes with the Eurasian Economic Union -- Russia, Belarus
and Kazakhstan -- rather than the European Union.
Sargsyan, who is in Washington this week for events commemorating the
100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, offered a practical
explanation when I asked him about the alignment during his visit to
The Post on Thursday.
"Armenian cognac can't really be sold in Paris," Sargsyan, speaking
through a translator, said. "But it does well in the Russian
Federation."
In other words, he said, he took a "pragmatic decision." One-third of
Armenia's exports go to Russia and its partners, including
agricultural products on which thousands of jobs depend. In addition,
Russia sells natural gas to landlocked, energy-poor Armenia "at quite
a good price."
The president stressed that Armenia still pursues good relations with
the European Union. But a free-trade agreement with Europe would not
have delivered much, he said, especially as long as Armenia's border
with Turkey remains blocked. Armenia's economy would have to evolve
over ten to fifteen years to take advantage of a free-trade regime
with Europe. "But in the meantime there is a need to survive," he
said, "and people are not ready to suffer during this long term."
Armenians are suffering now from the rift between Russia and the West,
he said, in three ways: Armenian exports to Russia, Russian investment
in Armenia and remittances from Armenians working in Russia -- which
account for one-fifth of Armenia's GDP -- all are down. This hurts in a
country of 3 million people that in 2013 ranked 152nd in the world in
income per person.
But, he added, "had we not acceded to the Eurasian Union, we would
have faced more painful problems."
Sargsyan said he will not be seeing President Obama on this trip, but
he was diplomatic on the president's refusal once again, in deference
to Turkish objections, to use the word "genocide" to describe the
crimes against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago.
"I think had he said it, it could have been useful," Sargsyan said.
"The United States should have put values over interests."
lragir.am
Share of Armenians in "Great Victory": Interesting Data
Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
09 May 2015
World War II killed about 50 million people. In percentages, more
Armenians were killed than other nationalities. According to
statistics, in the count of soldiers of all the countries of the
Soviet Union Armenia had the most victims: 11% of the population of
Armenia was killed. Belarus is the second: 6.8% of its population was
killed.
What is the reason of such terrible inequality? What were so many
Armenians killed for? Did someone intentionally send the Armenians to
death? A similar situation is in Karabakh which used to be part of
Azerbaijan.
According to the census taken in the Soviet Union in 1939, the
population of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region was 150,838 of which
90% were Armenians. During the war over 45,000 people or 32% of the
population of Armenia were drafted. In percentages, more people were
mobilized in Nagorno-Karabakh than even in Nazi Germany.
"A lot of historians and analysts argue that mobilization in
Nagorno-Karabakh which had joined to the Azerbaijan SSR against its
will was total and was part of the ASSR's policy of ethnic cleansing
of Armenians. 22,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh were killed in the
battlefields of the Great Patriotic War," Regnum wrote.
In fact, 25 years past the Armenian Genocide and World War I the
Armenians underwent a new genocide. Historians still have to find out
who had instructed to mobilize more Armenians. Interestingly, the
Armenians are the only nation who did not get anything from the
victory of 1945, including promised West Armenia.
And when Turkey declared war to Germany at the end of the war, though
it never took part in it, Stalin recognized Turkey's right to Armenia
and Azerbaijan's right to Nakhidjevan.
The Armenians played a huge role in achieving the victory but did not
gain anything in reward.
In the early 90s the Armenians fought in Karabakh for their land, for
themselves and liberated their country.
massispost.com
Armenian Military Units Participate in Moscow Victory Day Parade
May 9, 2015
MOSCOW -- A huge military parade has been held in the Russian capital,
Moscow, to commemorate 70 years since victory over Nazi Germany by
Allied forces.
Some 16,000 troops took part in the Victory Day parade in Red Square
with President Vladimir Putin, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu
and 30 world leaders in attendance. Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian
and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian also attended the parade.
An Armenian military unit was among the troops that marched through
Moscow's main square in the biggest parade staged in Russia yet. The
Armenian military's subdivision was led by Colonel Ashot Hakobian.
Addressing the gathering, Putin thanked the Allies for their
contributions to the victory, singling out France, Britain, and the
United States. Putin said "our grandfathers lived through horrible
suffering."
He criticized the "folly" of creating a "unipolar" world, an apparent
swipe at the United States.
High-tech military equipment was on display, including the Armata
T-14, the country's first new battle tank to be deployed in 40 years.
Most Western leaders boycotted the event in Moscow in protest over
Russian actions in Ukraine.
In an address released by his press service earlier in the day
President Sarkisian extended congratulations to the Armenians on the
occasion of what is marked as Victory and Peace Day in Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Today is a special jubilee day. It marks the 70th anniversary of the
historic victory in the Great Patriotic War. It was the crushing blow
of the multinational Soviet army that decided the outcome of the war
in Europe in May 1945," said Sarkisian.
"From fighting on the frontline and in guerilla detachments to getting
involved in underground and resistance activities, Armenians brought
their contributions towards the total defeat of Nazi forces. We
struggled in the trench of justice, freedom and humanism against an
anti-humanistic ideology, violence and vandalism. By fighting
heroically on various fronts and working in the rear day and night, we
thus defended our homeland, Armenia, as well," he continued.
"This victory afforded the Armenian people who had survived the
genocide real and broad opportunities for peaceful work and
reconstruction and for their total revival.
"It was a symbolic coincidence that on the same day in May 1992 the
ancient Armenian fortress town of Sushi was liberated. Following the
example of their fathers and grandfathers, our modern-day heroes
repeated their ancestors' feat, fighting in the same trench of
justice, freedom and humanism against Armenophobia, violence and
vandalism.
"I once again congratulate all of us on this great holiday. Peace to
the world and peace to our country!"
Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
09 May 2015
World War II killed about 50 million people. In percentages, more
Armenians were killed than other nationalities. According to
statistics, in the count of soldiers of all the countries of the
Soviet Union Armenia had the most victims: 11% of the population of
Armenia was killed. Belarus is the second: 6.8% of its population was
killed.
What is the reason of such terrible inequality? What were so many
Armenians killed for? Did someone intentionally send the Armenians to
death? A similar situation is in Karabakh which used to be part of
Azerbaijan.
According to the census taken in the Soviet Union in 1939, the
population of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region was 150,838 of which
90% were Armenians. During the war over 45,000 people or 32% of the
population of Armenia were drafted. In percentages, more people were
mobilized in Nagorno-Karabakh than even in Nazi Germany.
"A lot of historians and analysts argue that mobilization in
Nagorno-Karabakh which had joined to the Azerbaijan SSR against its
will was total and was part of the ASSR's policy of ethnic cleansing
of Armenians. 22,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh were killed in the
battlefields of the Great Patriotic War," Regnum wrote.
In fact, 25 years past the Armenian Genocide and World War I the
Armenians underwent a new genocide. Historians still have to find out
who had instructed to mobilize more Armenians. Interestingly, the
Armenians are the only nation who did not get anything from the
victory of 1945, including promised West Armenia.
And when Turkey declared war to Germany at the end of the war, though
it never took part in it, Stalin recognized Turkey's right to Armenia
and Azerbaijan's right to Nakhidjevan.
The Armenians played a huge role in achieving the victory but did not
gain anything in reward.
In the early 90s the Armenians fought in Karabakh for their land, for
themselves and liberated their country.
massispost.com
Armenian Military Units Participate in Moscow Victory Day Parade
May 9, 2015
MOSCOW -- A huge military parade has been held in the Russian capital,
Moscow, to commemorate 70 years since victory over Nazi Germany by
Allied forces.
Some 16,000 troops took part in the Victory Day parade in Red Square
with President Vladimir Putin, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu
and 30 world leaders in attendance. Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian
and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian also attended the parade.
An Armenian military unit was among the troops that marched through
Moscow's main square in the biggest parade staged in Russia yet. The
Armenian military's subdivision was led by Colonel Ashot Hakobian.
Addressing the gathering, Putin thanked the Allies for their
contributions to the victory, singling out France, Britain, and the
United States. Putin said "our grandfathers lived through horrible
suffering."
He criticized the "folly" of creating a "unipolar" world, an apparent
swipe at the United States.
High-tech military equipment was on display, including the Armata
T-14, the country's first new battle tank to be deployed in 40 years.
Most Western leaders boycotted the event in Moscow in protest over
Russian actions in Ukraine.
In an address released by his press service earlier in the day
President Sarkisian extended congratulations to the Armenians on the
occasion of what is marked as Victory and Peace Day in Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Today is a special jubilee day. It marks the 70th anniversary of the
historic victory in the Great Patriotic War. It was the crushing blow
of the multinational Soviet army that decided the outcome of the war
in Europe in May 1945," said Sarkisian.
"From fighting on the frontline and in guerilla detachments to getting
involved in underground and resistance activities, Armenians brought
their contributions towards the total defeat of Nazi forces. We
struggled in the trench of justice, freedom and humanism against an
anti-humanistic ideology, violence and vandalism. By fighting
heroically on various fronts and working in the rear day and night, we
thus defended our homeland, Armenia, as well," he continued.
"This victory afforded the Armenian people who had survived the
genocide real and broad opportunities for peaceful work and
reconstruction and for their total revival.
"It was a symbolic coincidence that on the same day in May 1992 the
ancient Armenian fortress town of Sushi was liberated. Following the
example of their fathers and grandfathers, our modern-day heroes
repeated their ancestors' feat, fighting in the same trench of
justice, freedom and humanism against Armenophobia, violence and
vandalism.
"I once again congratulate all of us on this great holiday. Peace to
the world and peace to our country!"
Manchester Evening News, UK
May 10 2015
Latest West Didsbury bar is named after an Armenian fruit seller
10 May 2015
By Andy Cronshaw
Cosy watering hole taps into history of premises whose former
immigrant owner sold exotic fruit back in the 1890s
A new addition to West Didsbury's bustling bar scene had paid tribute
to one of Manchester's Armenian settlers.
George Charles The Fruiterer is due to open on Burton Road in May and
takes its name from the building's previous occupant, a fruit seller.
George Charles was moved to Manchester from Armenia and married an
English girl before opening the shop which sold exotic fruits.
Pub manager Ben Brown said he was keen to name check the fruiterer,
whose shop was the focal point of Burton Road back in 1890.
He said: "We looked into the history of the shop because I thought
something that old must have an interesting story behind it. We are
trying to get hold of his relatives because the more we know about
him, the better.
"It's really exciting, I can't wait to get in and start serving. It's
the first pub I have set up and it's been quite a big challenge."
George Charles has been financed by ex-Manchester City star Mike
Johnson with the backing of director John Moly as part of their
NCompass Taverns group.
Situated on the corner of Nell Lane and Burton Road, on the site of
the former Wellington Food Store, the owners are promising a relaxed
and 'cosy' atmosphere.
Ben, 30, learnt much of the pub trade from his dad - who ran a village
pub near Huddersfield - and honed his craft working at The Parlour, on
Chorlton's Beech Road.
He said: "Burton Road has a lot of nice places to have a drink but I
feel like it's missing that place where people want to stay all night,
meet up with friends and have a nice cosy time. The style of the place
is going to be quite traditional.
"My history has always been in 'old men's' pubs. I grew up in a
village pub just outside of Huddersfield which was the centre of the
community.
"I want this place to be the same."
The new bar is due to open in May
It is hoped that George Charles The Fruiterer will open within the
next three weeks, initially taking on seven staff before and expanding
to 17.
The pub will serve traditional food and bar snacks but the emphasis
will be focused on serving hand picked Mancunian and continental
beers.
Planning chiefs gave the green light to NCompass Taverns to create the
new bar late last year following initial concerns from residents about
potential noise and disturbance within the conservation area.
armradio.am
FRENCH ARMENIAN MUSICIAN RAFFI ARTO ROCKS THE STAGE
May 10 2015
Latest West Didsbury bar is named after an Armenian fruit seller
10 May 2015
By Andy Cronshaw
Cosy watering hole taps into history of premises whose former
immigrant owner sold exotic fruit back in the 1890s
A new addition to West Didsbury's bustling bar scene had paid tribute
to one of Manchester's Armenian settlers.
George Charles The Fruiterer is due to open on Burton Road in May and
takes its name from the building's previous occupant, a fruit seller.
George Charles was moved to Manchester from Armenia and married an
English girl before opening the shop which sold exotic fruits.
Pub manager Ben Brown said he was keen to name check the fruiterer,
whose shop was the focal point of Burton Road back in 1890.
He said: "We looked into the history of the shop because I thought
something that old must have an interesting story behind it. We are
trying to get hold of his relatives because the more we know about
him, the better.
"It's really exciting, I can't wait to get in and start serving. It's
the first pub I have set up and it's been quite a big challenge."
George Charles has been financed by ex-Manchester City star Mike
Johnson with the backing of director John Moly as part of their
NCompass Taverns group.
Situated on the corner of Nell Lane and Burton Road, on the site of
the former Wellington Food Store, the owners are promising a relaxed
and 'cosy' atmosphere.
Ben, 30, learnt much of the pub trade from his dad - who ran a village
pub near Huddersfield - and honed his craft working at The Parlour, on
Chorlton's Beech Road.
He said: "Burton Road has a lot of nice places to have a drink but I
feel like it's missing that place where people want to stay all night,
meet up with friends and have a nice cosy time. The style of the place
is going to be quite traditional.
"My history has always been in 'old men's' pubs. I grew up in a
village pub just outside of Huddersfield which was the centre of the
community.
"I want this place to be the same."
The new bar is due to open in May
It is hoped that George Charles The Fruiterer will open within the
next three weeks, initially taking on seven staff before and expanding
to 17.
The pub will serve traditional food and bar snacks but the emphasis
will be focused on serving hand picked Mancunian and continental
beers.
Planning chiefs gave the green light to NCompass Taverns to create the
new bar late last year following initial concerns from residents about
potential noise and disturbance within the conservation area.
armradio.am
FRENCH ARMENIAN MUSICIAN RAFFI ARTO ROCKS THE STAGE
AT LONDON COLISEUM
12 May 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
French Armenian musician Raffi Arto, 13, rocked the stage at the BBC
Easter Night Show at London Coliseum.
In this Easter special, award-winning comedian Michael McIntyre hosted
a star-studded night of entertainment from the majestic Coliseum in
the heart of London's theatreland.
Michael was joined on stage by a stellar line-up of fellow comedians,
singing superstars and jaw-dropping specialty acts.
12 May 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
French Armenian musician Raffi Arto, 13, rocked the stage at the BBC
Easter Night Show at London Coliseum.
In this Easter special, award-winning comedian Michael McIntyre hosted
a star-studded night of entertainment from the majestic Coliseum in
the heart of London's theatreland.
Michael was joined on stage by a stellar line-up of fellow comedians,
singing superstars and jaw-dropping specialty acts.
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