06 03 22 - GIBRAHAYER- aemenian e-magazine

VARTKES MAHDESSIAN TO CONTEST ARMENIAN MP POST IN MAY ELECTIONS
Vartkes Mahdessian, a successful businessman, active in Armenian community affairs, is contesting the post of representative of his community, in the upcoming Parliamentary elections of 21 May 2006. His motto is reconciliation, meritocracy, transparency and a meaningful working relationship between the government, Parliament and the community.
Within these guidelines, he proposes to improve community life and serve the needs of all Armenians in the community.
Vartkes Mahdessian was born in Nicosia in November 1950. He attended Melikian Ouzounian Armenian elementary school and graduated from The English School in 1970. He studied Business Administration in England and completed his post graduate management studies in 1974.
His professional career began in 1975 with an Italian-Greek cable manufacturer as Area Manager for Iran. In 1978 he moved to the United Arab Emirates, first as Marketing Manager, then as Managing Director and shareholder of International Cable Corporation, a post that he holds until today. In 1986 he returned permanently to Cyprus and acquired ownership of Troodos Electric Cables Ltd.
Vartkes Mahdessian has served AYMA Club as Chairman for a number of years. He is an elected member of the Armenian Diocesan Council, and for six years has served as a member of the Board of Management of The English School, Nicosia.
Vartkes Mahdessian has also served on the Board of Directors of a number of international companies.
He is married to Maggie.They have two children, Vicken aged 15 and Carla aged 12

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GIBRAHAYER e-magazineA BOLSAHAY ART HISTORIAN AMONG US
After completing a successful trip of seven cities in the US and Canada last year, organised by the Tekeyan Cultural Association, art historian Mayda Saris, art director of the bilingual Armenian-Turkish language weekly AGOS newspaper of Turkey, has been invited to Cyprus by the Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Cyprus Oshagan Chapter, to promote her latest art book, Armenian Paintings:From the beginning to the Present. The book presentation and lecture will take place on Friday, 24th March, at 8:00 pm, at the Utudjian Hall, Nicosia. A slide presentation and a book signing will follow the lecture.
Saris was born in Constantinople and still resides there. This illustrated book was originally published in Turkish and was widely popular there, and now has been translated into English, published by AGOS.
The groundbreaking 262 page book with more than 400 illustrations explores Armenian art from ancient to modern times. The author gives a comprehensive overview of the origin of the Armenian people, their folklore, lifestyle, culture, art and faith, which has been a source of inspiration for the Armenian artists and architects throughout centuries.
GIBRAHAYER e-magazine Art critic Kaya Ozsezgin, a member of faculty at the Academy of Fine Arts of Turkey wrote about Saris’ book, “ Mayda Saris’ book helps us become better acquainted with the generations of Armenian artists, and in the meantime fills a void in the art libraries.”
Hakan Celik, a columnist of Posta daily newspaper wrote, “Did you know that Armenian painters who were born and raised in Turkey, but hardly known in Turkey, have greatly contributed to the development of the Ottoman art of painting.”

Ferit Edgu, art critic and faculty member of the Academy of Fine Arts wrote about the book, “Mayda Saris’ book is the first of its kind in Turkey and should have been written and published a long time ago. The book brings together numerous Armenian painters, past and present, forgotten or neglected, well known or little known and reflects the richness of Armenian Painting Art, while fulfilling a moral obligation.”


Saris has previously translated two books from French into Turkish, “La Patrie,” a novel

by Jean Kehaian, and “Les Armeniens Dans l’Empire Ottoman,” a scholarly volume by Raymond H. Kevorkian and Paul B. Paboudjian.
You can visit her site at www.maydasaris.com

ASSASSINATION OF TALAAT PASHA MARKED IN YEREVAN
The anniversary of the assassination of Armenian genocide perpetrator Talaat Pasha was marked on Wednesday at the unveiling of a Soghomon Tehlirian monument in Yerevan. ARF Dashnaktsoutiun representative Armen Rustamian explained the importance of the day and underlined the efficiency of the plan "Nemesis," named after the Greek Goddess of vengeance, meant to punish the main organizers of the Armenian genocide. On March 15, 1921, one of the main perpetrators of the Armenian genocide, Talaat Pasha, was gunned down in Berlin by then 24 year old student Soghomon Tehlirian. A Berlin court later acquitted Tehlirian and posthumously convicted Talaat.
tatiana's corner by Tatiana Ferahian

GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

news in brief

A conference titled “The Role of Women in the Process of Creation of Civil Society” was held in Yerevan last week by the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun's Committee of Armenian Women which was also attended by Marlene Haas of the Socialist International.
Investigations by The Veterinary State Inspection on a dead dove and a dead crow found by children in Gyumri, have showed that the birds did not carry the bird flu virus.
The Council of Europe body Eurimages, to which Turkey contributes 1 million euros annually, has decided to sponsor a film supporting Armenian genocide claims, sparking anger in Ankara. The decision to fund the Italian movie "The Farm of the Skylarks," which portrays Armenian claims of genocide, was taken during a Eurimages general council meeting with the participation of 32 culture ministers, although Turkey voted against and Macedonia abstained.
French youths protesting against a new employment law ended up in an unexpected clash with Turks demonstrating against an Armenian memorial when their separate marches crossed paths in this eastern city on Saturday. Riot police used water cannon to separate the two groups after about 2,500 Turks opposed to the construction of a memorial in the city centre to Armenian victims of a 1915 massacre attacked the demonstrating youths, police said.

your emails click here for all emails
Dear Simon,
Referring to the subject in your last issue on minorities in Cyprus going to the army, I read in Phileleftheros last Saturday a front-page article which said that the only time that a few members of the minority communities had been to the army was in the beginning of the 60's.
Well, the reporter has not done his homework right, because as everyone remembers, ALL Armenians completing the age of 18, as law-abiding citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, were recruited to the National Guard during the years 1988-1993, during the 5-year period of presidency under Giorgos Vassiliou.
No one can verify exactly why this law was enforced in 1988 and relaxed in 1993, but it became known in those days, that Vassiliou had promised during his pre-election campaign that all minorities would serve in the army if he was elected, so he had to fulfill his pre-election promise.
I suspect that the recent return of this issue to the news might have something to do with the up-coming elections in May 2006.
I might add that the subsequent decision by the then newly-elected President, Glafkos Clerides, in 1993 to dismiss all members of the minority communities from the army (and stop recruiting others), was connected to the rumours that Rauf Denktash had decided to recruit Maronites in the Turkish army in the occupied north.
Therefore, to avoid a ridiculous situation of Maronites serving on either side of the Green Line in opposing armies in a probable war, logic and wisdom must have prevailed in those days.
Thanks
Vahan Aynedjian
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Hi Simon,
I wonder if you can help. I am desperately seeking an (preferably female) Armenian pen friend of any age, and from anywhere in the world.
I was born in Cyprus some 50 years ago, and would be delighted to hear from anyone. Do feel free to pass on my e-mail address to any interested party.
Many thanks, Haigo - paulrailway@btinternet.com
latest issue of Armenian language newspaper Artsagang click here

sports
GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

Nine year old Yiannos Kouyoumdjian finished second in the Pancyprian under 12 Ski Competitions that took place in Troodos at the end of February while his big brother, 12 year old Mano - who took part in the Giant Slalom of the 12-15 category - finished third. The Pancyprian Games took place in Seli - Greece from 11 - 12 March 2006. On the right the two promising athletes in recent photos. Gibrahayer e-magazine wish the two brothers more successes to honour the colour of our community.
After losing the 2005 - 2006 Championship to arch rivals Parnassos, Ararat AGBU were also eliminated from the Cyprus Futsal League Cup from Parnassos. In a unexpected turn of events, having won the first leg 3-0 against Parnassos, Ararat lost the return leg by a margin of four goals 7-3 and were eliminated from the League Cup competition.
AYMA drew 1-1 against Karakatses on Saturday and are second in the table of the Amateur Second Division Football Championships behind Coopers.

Paradoxical Armeno-Turkish relations by Alkan Chaglar
Armenians have lived in Cyprus for centuries, but the present community on the island is mainly the result of immigration during and after the Armenian deportations of 1915-23 in Turkey. Currently, some 6000 Armenians live in Cyprus, mainly in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol. Many of the Armenians who fled to Cyprus were Turkahayer, or Turkish Armenians, despite the fact that some Gibrahayer (Cypriot Armenians) had lived in Cyprus for centuries.
Fleeing from war, they huddled together in open boats, unfurled their sails and left Silifke to Cyprus. Armenians arrived bedraggled, dispirited and sick from war, but with heavy hearts and with an entrepreneurial spirit they made the island their new home. Cyprus for them was a sanctuary from the misery of war and domestic strife in Anatolia.
more at: www.toplumpostasi.net/?action=journalist&aid=926

Armenian music by Arek Dakessian in Beirut
GIBRAHAYER e-magazine
ELEMENT BAND PRESENTS ARMENIAN CD, Yev O Phe
Band incorporates sounds of Europe and the Mediterranean, while maintaining purity of original compositions, Element Band's first Armenian CD brings a refreshing and long-awaited sound to Armenian music by partnering distinct vocals with colorful, warm and exotic arrangements.
While the sounds of Europe and the Mediterranean come to life through the use of classical guitar, violin, bass, accordion, bouzouki, mandolin, and keyboard, Yev O Phe remains free to be distinctively Armenian.
The band takes great pains to keep the Armenian songs pure, but uses bold arrangements and genuine sounds of instruments to introduce exciting twists and compositions of traditional songs.
Element Band members include Ara Dabandjian (arrangements, keyboards, classical guitar, accordion, string instruments), Saro Koujakian (songwriter, vocals and guitar), Gars Sherbetdjian (vocals), Shant Mahserejian (violin), Jeremy Millado (bass).
Yev O Phe will be available on March 19 at www.cdrama.com, www.amazon.com, www.cdbaby.com, info@elementband.com Or visit www.elementband.com
VISIT THE FOLLOWING CONSTANTLY UPDATED PAGES OF OUR E-MAGAZINE RECOMMENDED SITES FROM OUR READERS:
• Sign the online petition: www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?pbspanel and forward it to friends. More than 10,000 people have already signed it.
• A document listing a number of the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide "recycled" by later Turkish governments www.turquie-memoire.com/recyclage.html

www.pyunic.org/ , www.panarmenian.net/interviews/eng/?nid=22 , www.springday2006.org ,
www.pbs.org/ombudsman/2006/03/coming_soon_to_viewers_like_you_the_armenian.html

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ARMENIA'S ENTRY AT EUROVISION 2006 IN ATHENS
View the video clip by Andre "Without your love" online at www.armtv.com/eurovision/without_your_love.wmv
It is destined to be a hit at this year's Eurovision song contest.

latest on tennis champion Zaruhi Harutyunyan

ZARUHI ON THE WAY TO THE U.K.
Gibrahayer Monday 20 March, 2006 - Armenia's tennis start Zaruhi Harutyunyan currently practicing in Cyprus is leaving for the UK to participate in ITF tournaments in Sutton and Nottingham. Details to follow.
HELP ZARUHI HARUTYUNYAN'S TENNIS TOUR by contributing to:
Laiki Bank Strovolos Industrial Area, Stavrou 96 I, 2034, Strovolos
Account Number 101-08-037631 for Zaruhi Harutyunyan under guardian S. Aynedjian
International transfers at IBAN CY30 0030 0101 0000 0101 0803 7631
Swift Code address LIKICY2N

gibrahayer calendar
BOLSAHAY ART CRITIC IN CYPRUS: Friday, 24 March 2006 - The Hamazkayin "Oshagan" Chapter has organised a book presentation and slide show by Bolsahay art historian/critic MAYDA SARIS who will present her monumental work - "Armenian Painting: From the beginning to the Present". Utudjian Hall, 8 p.m. Don't miss this opportunity to meet our Bolsahay compatriot intellectual, who is also the art critic of AGOS newspaper. Book signing price £35.20 - http://www.moufflon.com.cy/book_events.htm
Michink - Sunday March 26, 2006 lunch time - Organised by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) Sosse Cyprus Chapter at AYMA
31 March 2006 at 7.30-9.30 p.m. Utudjian Hall in Nicosia - FREE YOUTH WORKSHOP KENTHEA - Information center for Drugs and Narcotics, Will present a free workshop in English on "Adolescent Prevention In Drug Use" All Teenagers aged 13-18 are invited to attend. Bring your friends.
Monday April 3, 2006 - Opus 39 Gallery presents an exhibition of new work by Tatiana Ferahian, on at 8:00 p.m. Opening by Garo Keheyan, President of the Pharos Trust.
Panda Software’s TruPreventTM Technologies win the “CeBIT Highlights” award for best software - This award from CHIP Magazine in the Software category, recognizes the most innovative technological solutions. Panda Software’s TruPreventTM Technologies have won the “CeBIT Highlights 2006” award for best software, at the world's largest IT fair, CeBIT. TruPreventTM intrusion prevention system won the award, against competition from nominees such as Microsoft and H264, thanks to its proven effectiveness against unknown malware. These “CeBIT Highlights” awards, which have been running for the last 14 years, are organized by the prestigious German magazine, CHIP, and recognize the most innovative solutions in six categories: Hardware, Software, Communication, Digital Photography, Entertainment and Innovation. Thomas Pyczak, editor-in-chief of CHIP, presented the award to Jan Lindner, General Manager of Panda Software Germany. For more information and evaluation versions of all Panda Software solutions, visit our website at: www.pandasoftware.com

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