051206 - GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

LEDRA STREET OPENING UP
(Gibrahayer - Nicosia December 6, 2005) A once vibrant business center - where four decades ago a lot of Armenians made their living with Greek and Turkish Cypriots - could be opening up as the latest crossing point between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish occupied areas.
The historic Ledra street and Odos Ermou junctions have been witnessing a clean up operation by the Turkish army, but this, not without raising eyebrows, as their "operation " is accompanied with new fortifications that have prompted a strong reaction from the Ministry of Defence and Greek Cypriot political parties, claiming that through this action, the Turkish army is gaining a military advantage by advancing to new positions on the Green line, where fierce street fighting had taken place during the Turkish invasion of 1974.

(Cyprus Mail - Nicosia) It was a moving sight to see a bulldozer smashing through the wall on the Turkish controlled side of Ledra Street. Not quite the fall of the Berlin Wall, and unlikely to be followed by the tearing down of the length of the wall along the old city centre, but significant nonetheless.
In contrast to the desolate political stalemate at the national level, Nicosia’s local authorities have been keen to see movement on the ground, egged on by shopkeepers on both sides eyeing increased business in the event of an opening. For years, successive mayors of the capital’s two communities have worked hard towards laying the groundwork for reintegration of the city, taking advantage of UN and EU projects to collaborate wherever possible.
The opening of Ledra Street is the fruit of those efforts and of the good will involved in such collaboration. And while it is unlikely to have any immediate impact on the political situation, it will contribute further to the growing normalisation of everyday relations between the two communities, at the same time uniting the city in a shared commercial interest.

tatiana's corner by Tatiana Ferahian

GIBRAHAYER e-magazine
news in brief
A seminar organised by ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Youth Office on women’s issues was held on December 1 at the ARF Bureau building in Yerevan. 41 members representing ARF’s Youth and Nikol Aghbalian Student Union attended the seminar, and prepared reports on the Youth Socialist Union, women’s problems in the world and Armenia, domestic violence, trafficking and women’s political and public activities.
A large number of Kuwaiti Armenians attended the Holy Mass conducted by His Holiness Aram I in the Armenian Church of Kuwait on November 25 and listened to his Pontifical message. His Holiness demanded that Turkey recognise the Armenian Genocide during a press conference he gave on the first day of his Pontifical visit to Kuwait.
NATO office will be opened in Yerevan, headed by the NATO representative in Armenia. The office will be deployed in Yerevan in accordance with the agreement on the NATO officer in Armenia, who at present moment is Romualds Razhuks. Following this document, Armenia has undertaken an obligation to provide him with an office and a diplomatic mandate.
Clovis businessman convicted of arson will get a new trial after a judge said a court interpreter misrepresented the defendant's testimony. U.S. District Court Judge Oliver W. Wanger said Akop Krboyan's right to a fair trial was violated because he speaks Eastern Armenian, and his interpreter spoke Western Armenian.

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With great pride and anticipation I watched the unforgettable tennis match (Nalbandian-Federer). It gave me lots of emotional ups and down. Two sets down, and the dramatic fifth set. I don't know if David, (who the announcer was calling Daavid) was aware of the fact that how many Armenians were so proud of him at that moment. I am sure I was. With best wishes and success to Gibrahayer keep the good job. Merry Xmas and a happy and lucky new 2006 year.
Berj Kalamkarian, M.D. Fresno, California
more emails from our readers at : www.gibrahayer.cyprusnewsletter.com/index.htm?p=2
Melkonian site on the Internet
AGBU Melkonian Educational Institute - A broken link on the Internet, a broken link in our life.
www.melkonian.ac.cy
Offers information about the school, academic programs, facilities, student life, events, photographs and publications.

professor Pilikian
GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

Post-Modern Turkish Cinema - Firecrackers in north East London
Professor Pilikian’s articles on Turkish Cinema are a revelation. His deep analysis of post-modern Turkish films involving also Armenian-Turkish talent, with learned references to cinema-history, helps define it as a new radical movement within the international medium. If one day people will speak of Turkish Cinema as a unique concept, it shall be because of our Professor’s essays – we are delighted that he is the leading authority in Britain on Turkish films –
Simon Aynedjian - Editor.

You can view his latest article, at http://gibrahayer.cyprusnewsletter.com/index.htm?p=4
You can view Professor Pilikian's blog with all his articles at: http://pilikian.blogspot.com


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Professor Hovhanness I. Pilikian is an internationally acclaimed film producer, theater director, a classical music composer, a classical scholar and social scientist, fluent in many modern languages, including French, German, Arabic, Armenian and Chinese.
sports
At UK's finest member's tennis club, Queen's, an unprecedented three Armenian winners in its annual championships was recorded! Brother and sister combination Christopher & Alexandra Kurkjian (ARM) comfortably won the Open Mixed Doubles title 6-3, 6-1, over their Benelux opponents Philip van Overberghe (BEL) & Marlies van Boven (NED). In the O55 Men's Doubles, seasoned journeyman Dickran Bedrossian (ARM) & Rick Hanreck (GBR) overcame a first set deficit in a thrilling final against tough opposition from Ian Stopps (GBR) & Arnie Ericsson to win the title 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. This is the first time in the club's 120year history that there have been so many Armenian winners.
Long time Cyprus Champion in the fifties and sixties Kegham Bedrossian - father of AYMA/HMEM captain Ara Bedrossian -assisted by his nephew took on the might of Captain Nigel Spink at The Queen's Club (check Cyprus mail archives 1959-1961) and Costas Ioannides (an undisputed Cyprus junior champion 1957-1960).The Bedrossians won in a 3 set thriller (8-6 third set tie-break). Bedrossian turns 80 next month. He was heard saying after the match. "I could have played another set".
AYMA / HMEM recorded another victory by defeating Asklipios 2-1 last Saturday and are continuing their challenge for top spot of the Second Division and subsequent promotion to Division 1. The Armenian goals came from two solo runs from former APOEL striker Ara Bedrossian and Andrew Konyalian who both exhibited extreme composure and talent by emptying the entire Asklipios defence single handedly.
(http://ararat.hayem.org) Ararat - Pneumatics Omonia 9 - 0, Half time score 1 - 0. After a cold start there was no stop for Ararat who managed to make an impressive win. Igor Dassaev the Captain of Ararat gave a very impressive performance and was one of the key players to turn the game to an easy win. Athos Evripidou the goalkeeper of Ararat made some great and crucial saves and kept a clean sheet for Ararat. Next week Ararat is playing the most important match of the season against Parnasos away from home.
In the NHK Trophy Figure skating championships being held in Osaka Japan, Anastasia Grebenkina and Vazgan Azrojan, gave Armenia its first international figure skating medal by winning bronze. Vasken is born in the Ukraine and Anastasia in Russia.
Armenian/Turkish Cypriot seniors double duo Simon Aynedjian and Zafer Hidiroglu were eliminated from a spot in the semi finals of the Aldiana Seniors Open tournament that was concluded last Saturday at Alaminos. Before bowing out they scored an international win over the German pair Stich/Schulter 6-4, 6-2.

armenian DVDs by Arek Dakessian
I HATE DOGS ! Encourage friends and family to gift a copy of the 90th anniversary special edition of award winning documentaries on the Armenian Genocide, now available for the first time on DVD on Amazon.

Back to Ararat (Sweden 1988. 100 min) is the first feature-length documentary film about the genocide of the Armenian people. The film has been shown to audiences worldwide and won numerous awards including the “Guldbaggen” for Best Swedish Film, 1988. Now available on DVD is I Hate Dogs (Sweden 2005. 29min), a film about the art of survival. Both documentary films are by PeǺ Holmquist and Suzanne Khardalian.
Let us help raise this important film on the best selling list of Amazon. Click here

Elif Shafak - a rising star in literature by Vartkes Sinanian
excerpts
......... In 1909, Zabel Yesayan was assigned by the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople to go to Adana on a fact-finding mission right after the massacres there. The result was a grim but a compelling report. She wrote referring to those who perpetrated the massacres of the Armenian community in that city "There was Armenian blood in everyone's fingernails." Yesayan's writings reflected her frustrations of her vision that the Turks and Armenians could peacefully live together. Her "Among Ruins" , "The Curse" as well as series of articles were written after the massacres in Adana. Yesayan's most widely read book was "Gardens of Silihdar" which is based on her autobiography.

Read the whole article by former Cypriot community member Vartkes Sinanian - now living in the U.S - on Elif Shafak's permanent page on Gibrahayer e-magazine at http://gibrahayer.cyprusnewsletter.com/index.htm?p=3

gibrahayer calendar
GIBRAHAYER e-magazineThursday 8 December, 2005 at 10:30 pm. Eric Simonian (piano) & Marie Louise Kouyoumdjian (vocals) and Alexis (guitar) invite you to Orpheas Piano Bar for a bouquet of Greek songs and Jazz melodies.
Friday 9 December, 2005 at 8:00 pm. 9th Opening Exhibition of Armenian Books organised by the Armenian Prelature with the participation of Moufflon Bookstore.
Saturday 10 December, 2005 at 2.30 pm - AYMA/HMEM vs PriceWaterHouse Coopers at The Municipal Grounds of Strovolos - Nicosia
Sunday 11 December, at 8:00 pm. Asmounki Yerego by Marie Rose Abousefian at PASYDY Hall - Nicosia. Entrance 2:00 CYP. Program includes a selection of love poems from her selection called "Siro Dagher".

EVENT OF THE YEAR - Sunday 25 December, 2005 at 8:30 pm. Annual Dinner Dance organised AYMA. December 25, 2005. Cyprus Hilton - Nicosia. Featuring Hratch Kaydzagian and his band from Lebanon. Reservations a must. Entrance 20=
more events at: http://gibrahayer.cyprusnewsletter.com/index.htm?p=1

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