Armenian-Canadian director Egoyan considers film in Turkey
Thursday, July 29, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
World-renowned Armenian-Canadian director Atom Egoyan wants to make a film in Turkey, saying he welcomes all manners of projects. Inviting Turks and Armenians to engage in dialogue, Egoyan says, 'We need to speak about the events of 1915. Because we have failed to speak, the West has not hesitated to [exploit] our wounds out of political interest'
Atom Egoyan
Though known the world over for his critically acclaimed independent films, Atom Egoyan is most synonymous in Turkey with his 2002 film “Ararat,” which examined the events of 1915, attracting great anger from Turkish nationalist circles. Now, however, the Canadian-Armenian director says he could shoot a film in Turkey.
A joint project with Turkish directors “would be a good step toward dialogue,” Egoyan told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review during a recent interview in Yerevan, where he was celebrating his 50th birthday along with his wife, Armenian-Canadian actress Arsinée Khanjian.
A fan of Turkish Nobel laureate author Orhan Pamuk, and especially his novel “Snow,” Egoyan said it would “be a pleasure” to adapt the writer’s work to the silver screen.
Egoyan noted he was following a new generation of Turkish directors, including Yeşim Ustaoğlu, Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Semih Kaplanoğlu, and said he had had a chance to meet several Turkish directors during the International Golden Apricot Film Festival in Yerevan two weeks ago.
‘Ararat’ and Dink
“Ararat,” which provided a unique and artistic view of the tragedy in eastern Anatolia during World War I, elicited a strong reaction not only from Turks, but from the Armenian diaspora as well, Egoyan said.
“The diaspora wanted ‘Ararat’ to be a more striking ‘genocide’ film,” Egoyan said. “I don’t blame them but there was a fact that they forgot: It was my film, not theirs. More than the incidents that took place in 1915, their effects on the younger generation concerned me.”
Despite the Turkish criticism of the film, the director said he believed the country had begun to undergo a positive transformation following the 2007 assassination of Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin and editor of the daily Agos.
“As two publics, we need to speak about these incidents without a mediator,” he said. “Since we don’t speak, the West has not hesitated to [exploit] our wounds for political interests.”
Speaking about the current situation between Turkish and Armenian people, Egoyan said he deeply believed that the iron curtain between both peoples would be torn down as past incidents became topics of discussion.
In contrast to the commonly held view in the diaspora, Egoyan said he believed opening the closed border gate between Turkey and Armenia was a significant step toward a peaceful future.
“Lifting borders will increase peace and welfare in the region,” the director said. “It will provide an environment for dialogue.”
‘I am proud of my roots’
Born in Cairo before moving to Victoria, Canada, at a young age, Egoyan said he was proud to have family roots in Arapgir, a district in the eastern Turkish province of Malatya. “My biggest wish is to visit this land of my roots at least once.”
Though he has long wished to visit Turkey, Egoyan said he had not accepted any invitations from the International Istanbul Film Festival.
“The festival management set the condition that I would not use the word ‘genocide’ if I came to Turkey,” he said. “It was not possible for me to accept this demand. This is why I refused all invitations.”
However, a member of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture Arts, which organizes the festival, told the Daily News that such a demand was impossible because Egoyan had never been officially invited to the festival. Moreover, the official said, the foundation had never any official talk with the director.
Although known publicly as an Armenian director, Egoyan can only understand Armenian, but does not speak the language. “It is completely my fault to not speak Armenian. I did not put any effort to learn it,” he said, adding that he did not have much linguistic talent.
Nonetheless, he said he could understand Turkish, even if he could not speak it; like many Armenians from the diaspora, he said his family occasionally spoke Turkish at home during his childhood.
29 Temmuz 2010 Perşembe
14 Temmuz 2010 Çarşamba
Turkish, Armenian orchestra spreads peace message
Turkish, Armenian orchestra spreads peace message
Monday, July 12, 2010
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The Turkish and Armenian Youth Orchestra is gathering for peace in Turkey. A total of 70 people will come together for three concerts. This is not diplomacy or football, it’s young people meeting in an international environment based in music, says the orchestra’s conductor, Nvart Andreasyan
The Turkish and Armenian Youth Symphony Orchestra is bringing young musicians together for a series of concerts in Turkey in July to give a message of peace to the whole world.
Everything started when Armenian conductor Nvart Adndreasyan decided to go back to the city where she was born. Istanbul meant so many things to her and she decided to use the meanings that are hidden in her heart.
Then she met Cem Mansur, conductor of the Akbank Chamber Orchestra, and he supported Andreasyan’s new project to bring together youth from Turkey and Armenia to build friendships through performing together. The two conductors then chose 35 young people between the ages of 18 and 23 both from Armenia and Turkey.
Speaking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Andreasyan said their project is very important for the process of peace between the two countries.
"This is because our plan means gathering young people in an environment where there is no chance to lose. The environment is international and it is based in music,” said Andreasyan.
Speaking after Andreasyan, Mansur also supported the perception of the Armenian conductor.
“An orchestra is like a body of a person. If a part of a body fails to work properly, then the rest of it cannot work,” Mansur said, adding that the young orchestra members will act as different parts of the body.
The orchestra will bring young Armenian and Turkish musicians together at Boğaziçi University on Tuesday. The youth orchestra will be onstage Thursday at Büyükada Island and it will meet with audiences at Cemal Reşit Rey on Friday.
While the Boğaziçi and Büyükada concerts will be free of charge, tickets are required for the concert at Cemal Reşit Rey and can be purchased through Biletix.
The conductors plan to continue the concert in Yerevan in September. The concert will interpret violin concertos from world-renowned Armenian composer Aram Khacaturyan and Turkish composer Ulvi Cemal Erkin.
There will be also exclusive works from Ottoman Armenian composers.
Hatred becomes love
The symphony orchestra is also supported by Anadolu Culture, a non-governmental organization managed by Osman Kavala.
The orchestra project is planned to be a long-term project.
Nothing that Turkish young people are very curious, he said the same curiosity is present in the Turkish musicians in the orchestra.
“We aim for these young musicians to become friends. The most important thing for them is the music,” said Andreasyan.
“Young Turkish musicians are very exited about this project. We believe that this project may become a really powerful project in the world,” said Mansur.
Music is the common ground for everyone, said Mansur, adding that he took part in a similar project in 2008 and 2009 in South Africa.
“In South Africa I conducted an orchestra with youth of different races and saw the power of music. Before the project those young people in South Africa hated each other because of the misunderstandings that their races had gone through. By the end of our project, those young people hugged each other,” Mansur said.
“Through the power of music, hatred left and in its place came love.”
Invitation to friendship
Both conductors were born in Istanbul, which partly accounts for why the project is important to them.
“I was reminded of the beautiful places of my childhood while I was realizing this project,” said Andreasyan.
Even though Andreasyan says she is a universal citizen, she feels that Istanbul holds a special place in her heart. “It is an great city for me,” she said.
“I remember the time when I was playing on the streets. We fought a lot, but later on we hugged each other and there was peace between us,” she said.
“When I was a child and playing on the streets of Istanbul, we did not know what identity means. We learned it later on.”
Andreasyan said she does not care about the identities of people in the world.
Noting that he has spent his summers on Burgazada Island since he was 12 years old, Mansur said: “When we were small kids, we did not speak only Turkish. We also spoke Armenian and Greek.”
However, he said Istanbul had lost its cosmopolitan nature. “I am very sorry for that,” said Mansur.
“For many years Turkish, Armenians and Greeks lived together in Istanbul. Now I do not what happened,” he said.
“Armenians and Greek people went away and we lost our cultural richness,” he said, adding that nothing will be like it was in the past.
“However, we do have to care for the rest of them,” he said.
“I invite everyone who does not believe in identity, but believes there is something more and deeper in life, to our concerts,” he said.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The Turkish and Armenian Youth Orchestra is gathering for peace in Turkey. A total of 70 people will come together for three concerts. This is not diplomacy or football, it’s young people meeting in an international environment based in music, says the orchestra’s conductor, Nvart Andreasyan
The Turkish and Armenian Youth Symphony Orchestra is bringing young musicians together for a series of concerts in Turkey in July to give a message of peace to the whole world.
Everything started when Armenian conductor Nvart Adndreasyan decided to go back to the city where she was born. Istanbul meant so many things to her and she decided to use the meanings that are hidden in her heart.
Then she met Cem Mansur, conductor of the Akbank Chamber Orchestra, and he supported Andreasyan’s new project to bring together youth from Turkey and Armenia to build friendships through performing together. The two conductors then chose 35 young people between the ages of 18 and 23 both from Armenia and Turkey.
Speaking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Andreasyan said their project is very important for the process of peace between the two countries.
"This is because our plan means gathering young people in an environment where there is no chance to lose. The environment is international and it is based in music,” said Andreasyan.
Speaking after Andreasyan, Mansur also supported the perception of the Armenian conductor.
“An orchestra is like a body of a person. If a part of a body fails to work properly, then the rest of it cannot work,” Mansur said, adding that the young orchestra members will act as different parts of the body.
The orchestra will bring young Armenian and Turkish musicians together at Boğaziçi University on Tuesday. The youth orchestra will be onstage Thursday at Büyükada Island and it will meet with audiences at Cemal Reşit Rey on Friday.
While the Boğaziçi and Büyükada concerts will be free of charge, tickets are required for the concert at Cemal Reşit Rey and can be purchased through Biletix.
The conductors plan to continue the concert in Yerevan in September. The concert will interpret violin concertos from world-renowned Armenian composer Aram Khacaturyan and Turkish composer Ulvi Cemal Erkin.
There will be also exclusive works from Ottoman Armenian composers.
Hatred becomes love
The symphony orchestra is also supported by Anadolu Culture, a non-governmental organization managed by Osman Kavala.
The orchestra project is planned to be a long-term project.
Nothing that Turkish young people are very curious, he said the same curiosity is present in the Turkish musicians in the orchestra.
“We aim for these young musicians to become friends. The most important thing for them is the music,” said Andreasyan.
“Young Turkish musicians are very exited about this project. We believe that this project may become a really powerful project in the world,” said Mansur.
Music is the common ground for everyone, said Mansur, adding that he took part in a similar project in 2008 and 2009 in South Africa.
“In South Africa I conducted an orchestra with youth of different races and saw the power of music. Before the project those young people in South Africa hated each other because of the misunderstandings that their races had gone through. By the end of our project, those young people hugged each other,” Mansur said.
“Through the power of music, hatred left and in its place came love.”
Invitation to friendship
Both conductors were born in Istanbul, which partly accounts for why the project is important to them.
“I was reminded of the beautiful places of my childhood while I was realizing this project,” said Andreasyan.
Even though Andreasyan says she is a universal citizen, she feels that Istanbul holds a special place in her heart. “It is an great city for me,” she said.
“I remember the time when I was playing on the streets. We fought a lot, but later on we hugged each other and there was peace between us,” she said.
“When I was a child and playing on the streets of Istanbul, we did not know what identity means. We learned it later on.”
Andreasyan said she does not care about the identities of people in the world.
Noting that he has spent his summers on Burgazada Island since he was 12 years old, Mansur said: “When we were small kids, we did not speak only Turkish. We also spoke Armenian and Greek.”
However, he said Istanbul had lost its cosmopolitan nature. “I am very sorry for that,” said Mansur.
“For many years Turkish, Armenians and Greeks lived together in Istanbul. Now I do not what happened,” he said.
“Armenians and Greek people went away and we lost our cultural richness,” he said, adding that nothing will be like it was in the past.
“However, we do have to care for the rest of them,” he said.
“I invite everyone who does not believe in identity, but believes there is something more and deeper in life, to our concerts,” he said.
11 Temmuz 2010 Pazar
Peerless Turkish architect claimed to be headless in tomb
Peerless Turkish architect claimed to be headless in tomb
Friday, July 9, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The author of a soon-to-be-released book has said he can prove that the skull of the Ottoman era’s most acclaimed architect was taken from his tomb to try and show that he was an ethnic Turk.
According to Professor Selçuk Mülayim from Marmara University, the corpse of Mimar Sinan, best known for the 16th-century Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, was taken from its modest tomb next to that building Aug. 1, 1935, in order to measure the famed architect’s skull.
Documents show that the team, headed by Turkish Historical Society Director Hasan Cemil Çambel, society member Şevket Aziz Kansu and historian Afet İnan, conducted the excavation in an hour, Mülayim told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review recently.
“The purpose was to prove he was an ethnic Turk,” the professor said. “Kansu took measurements with compasses and other tools and from these measurements it was decided that he was an ethnic Turk.”
At the time of the team’s foray into the tomb, there was a rising appreciation of Mimar Sinan in Europe, where people were increasingly claiming that the great architect could not have been Turkish, Mülayim said. “The excavation was an answer to these claims.”
To this day, few members of the Turkish public know that the man hailed as the greatest of Ottoman architects was actually a Muslim convert of Armenian origin.
Following the excavation of Sinan’s tomb, the Turkish Historical Society team took its findings to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. “He refused to look at the results, saying, ‘Instead of measuring his skull, make a statue of the architect,’” Mülayim said.
The idea that Sinan’s skull is missing from his tomb is not a new one, but one that many experts have avoided repeating in public.
Afife Batur from Istanbul Technical University confirmed that racial studies were conducted in the mid-1930s. “I have not personally studied this subject. But claims that [Sinan’s] skull was taken out of his grave have always existed,” she said. “I don’t think there is a need to look in his tomb. Historical documents will cast light on everything.”
This sort of claim can only do insult to the memory of Mimar Sinan, said historian İlber Ortaylı, director of the Topkapı Palace Museum. “There is not a single piece of truth in these claims. People think they are doing historical research,” he said.
Mülayim’s research will be published as a book in Turkish and English next month by the Islamic Research Center under the title “Sinan Bin Adbülmennân - A World Architect’s Story, Works and Beyond.”
The professor said he was prompted to undertake his longtime research on Sinan by his studies at Atatürk State University, as well as by newspapers from 1935 that revealed interesting details about the famous architect.
In his book, Mülayim suggests that not only Sinan’s skull, but also those of some of the leaders of the Selçuks, one of the Turkic peoples that ruled Anatolia, are missing from their tombs, he told the Daily News.
Mülayim, who has already written two books on the most celebrated of all Ottoman architects, believes that the architect’s skull has either been smuggled abroad or lies among other skulls in storage at Ankara University’s Language, History and Geography Faculty.
The skulls of the Selçuk rulers were also excavated for measurement, Mülayim claimed, adding that there was even talk in earlier years of exhibiting those skulls in the Anthropology Museum being planned for Ankara at that time.
“Had there been such a museum, it would have been a big gain and at least the skulls would not have gone missing,” he said. “We can only find out about the fate of Sinan’s skull if we can reach Kansu’s family and his private notes.”
Mülayim also argued that the tomb of Mimar Sinan was opened one more time in the 1950s to see whether the claims that his skull was missing were true.
“Again we understand from documents in our hands that it was seen that the skull was not there,” he said.
Friday, July 9, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The author of a soon-to-be-released book has said he can prove that the skull of the Ottoman era’s most acclaimed architect was taken from his tomb to try and show that he was an ethnic Turk.
According to Professor Selçuk Mülayim from Marmara University, the corpse of Mimar Sinan, best known for the 16th-century Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, was taken from its modest tomb next to that building Aug. 1, 1935, in order to measure the famed architect’s skull.
Documents show that the team, headed by Turkish Historical Society Director Hasan Cemil Çambel, society member Şevket Aziz Kansu and historian Afet İnan, conducted the excavation in an hour, Mülayim told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review recently.
“The purpose was to prove he was an ethnic Turk,” the professor said. “Kansu took measurements with compasses and other tools and from these measurements it was decided that he was an ethnic Turk.”
At the time of the team’s foray into the tomb, there was a rising appreciation of Mimar Sinan in Europe, where people were increasingly claiming that the great architect could not have been Turkish, Mülayim said. “The excavation was an answer to these claims.”
To this day, few members of the Turkish public know that the man hailed as the greatest of Ottoman architects was actually a Muslim convert of Armenian origin.
Following the excavation of Sinan’s tomb, the Turkish Historical Society team took its findings to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. “He refused to look at the results, saying, ‘Instead of measuring his skull, make a statue of the architect,’” Mülayim said.
The idea that Sinan’s skull is missing from his tomb is not a new one, but one that many experts have avoided repeating in public.
Afife Batur from Istanbul Technical University confirmed that racial studies were conducted in the mid-1930s. “I have not personally studied this subject. But claims that [Sinan’s] skull was taken out of his grave have always existed,” she said. “I don’t think there is a need to look in his tomb. Historical documents will cast light on everything.”
This sort of claim can only do insult to the memory of Mimar Sinan, said historian İlber Ortaylı, director of the Topkapı Palace Museum. “There is not a single piece of truth in these claims. People think they are doing historical research,” he said.
Mülayim’s research will be published as a book in Turkish and English next month by the Islamic Research Center under the title “Sinan Bin Adbülmennân - A World Architect’s Story, Works and Beyond.”
The professor said he was prompted to undertake his longtime research on Sinan by his studies at Atatürk State University, as well as by newspapers from 1935 that revealed interesting details about the famous architect.
In his book, Mülayim suggests that not only Sinan’s skull, but also those of some of the leaders of the Selçuks, one of the Turkic peoples that ruled Anatolia, are missing from their tombs, he told the Daily News.
Mülayim, who has already written two books on the most celebrated of all Ottoman architects, believes that the architect’s skull has either been smuggled abroad or lies among other skulls in storage at Ankara University’s Language, History and Geography Faculty.
The skulls of the Selçuk rulers were also excavated for measurement, Mülayim claimed, adding that there was even talk in earlier years of exhibiting those skulls in the Anthropology Museum being planned for Ankara at that time.
“Had there been such a museum, it would have been a big gain and at least the skulls would not have gone missing,” he said. “We can only find out about the fate of Sinan’s skull if we can reach Kansu’s family and his private notes.”
Mülayim also argued that the tomb of Mimar Sinan was opened one more time in the 1950s to see whether the claims that his skull was missing were true.
“Again we understand from documents in our hands that it was seen that the skull was not there,” he said.
9 Temmuz 2010 Cuma
Yerevan's Golden Apricot Film Festival kicks off with Turkish 'A-list'
Friday, July 09 2010 21:40 GMT+2
Your time is 21:44:07
Yerevan's Golden Apricot Film Festival kicks off with Turkish 'A-list'
Thursday, July 8, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL — Hürriyet Daily news
Armenia’s Golden Apricot Movie Festival readies to celebrate its seventh anniversary this year in Yerevan. Fatih Akın, the world-renowned Turkish-German director, headlines this year’s list of guests. Unlike diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, the festival demonstrates the continuing warm artistic relations between the two countries
Fatih Akın, the world-renowned Turkish-German director, headlines this year’s list of guests.
Demonstrating once again the fraternal ties between Turkish and Armenian artists that contrast their countries’ political relations, Yerevan’s Golden Apricot Film Festival will open Sunday with a number of international guests, including prominent Turkish directors.
Headlining this year’s seventh edition of the festival is “Honey” (Bal), from Turkish director Semih Kaplanoğlu. The film, which won international plaudits after receiving the Golden Bear award during the prestigious Berlin Film Festival in February, will be shown to Armenian audiences during an exclusive screening at the event.
This year the film festival will also host two honored guests, including Turkish-German director Fatih Akın, as well as Greek director Theo Angelopulos.
The festival, which takes place from July 11 to 18, is dedicated to the anniversaries of two prominent directors of Armenian origin: Arni Verno and Atom Egoyan.
A total of 120 movies will be shown during the seven-day festival. The opening movie will be from Verno, whose movie "Mayrig" (Mother) is being eagerly anticipated by Armenian audiences. The festival will also host Italy’s Claudio Cardinale this year.
Turkey and Armenia dialogue
Even though relations and the protocols being negotiated between Armenia and Turkey have become frozen by the countries’ respective parliaments, artists from both neighbors have continued to pursue friendly ties.
During the last two years, Turkish and Armenian artists have conducted important projects on a variety of artistic levels.
Turkish movies were first screened for Armenian audiences within the framework of the Golden Apricot Film Festival in 2008, while the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, or İKSV, also hosted Armenian directors during the Istanbul Film Festival’s “Meeting the Bridge” movie event.
The Yerevan festival’s art director, Susanna Harutyunyan, said they were still in contact with the Istanbul Film Festival board. “We try to exchange Turkish and Armenian directors.”
Tradition of blessing the apricots
Noting that the festival developed a lot within the past seven years, festival director Mikael Stamboltsyan recently told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that the organizers’ aim was to bring world cinema to Yerevan and make the town a center for movie festivals.
“Before this festival, Armenian audiences could not gain access to world cinema, Stamboltsyan said. “It was just a dream for them. With this festival we are not only encouraging Armenian audiences to meet world cinema, but we are also supporting young directors to open to the world.”
As in past years, the festival will begin after a new crop of apricots receives a blessing in a church. Apricots, however, are not the only fruit that will be blessed. During the grape harvest, the Armenian Apostolic Church also blesses other fruits. As grapes are blessed during the second week of August, people also have a “grape fast,” abstaining from eating them until the time of blessing. These celebrations in Armenia come from the pre-Christianity period.
“Seven years ago, when we started to have these celebrations, we decided to start a new tradition with this,” Stamboltsyan said. “We decided that we should also bless the apricots. The apricot is an Armenian fruit. The Latin name of it is ‘Prunus Armeniaca.’”
The festival has hosted many honored guests in the past several years, such as director Egoyan from Canada, Wim Wenders from Germany, Abbas Kirostami from Iran, Catherine Breillat from France, Nikita Mikhalkov from Russia and Goran Paskelevic from Serbia.
More detailed information on the festival is available at www.gaiff.am.
Your time is 21:44:07
Yerevan's Golden Apricot Film Festival kicks off with Turkish 'A-list'
Thursday, July 8, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL — Hürriyet Daily news
Armenia’s Golden Apricot Movie Festival readies to celebrate its seventh anniversary this year in Yerevan. Fatih Akın, the world-renowned Turkish-German director, headlines this year’s list of guests. Unlike diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, the festival demonstrates the continuing warm artistic relations between the two countries
Fatih Akın, the world-renowned Turkish-German director, headlines this year’s list of guests.
Demonstrating once again the fraternal ties between Turkish and Armenian artists that contrast their countries’ political relations, Yerevan’s Golden Apricot Film Festival will open Sunday with a number of international guests, including prominent Turkish directors.
Headlining this year’s seventh edition of the festival is “Honey” (Bal), from Turkish director Semih Kaplanoğlu. The film, which won international plaudits after receiving the Golden Bear award during the prestigious Berlin Film Festival in February, will be shown to Armenian audiences during an exclusive screening at the event.
This year the film festival will also host two honored guests, including Turkish-German director Fatih Akın, as well as Greek director Theo Angelopulos.
The festival, which takes place from July 11 to 18, is dedicated to the anniversaries of two prominent directors of Armenian origin: Arni Verno and Atom Egoyan.
A total of 120 movies will be shown during the seven-day festival. The opening movie will be from Verno, whose movie "Mayrig" (Mother) is being eagerly anticipated by Armenian audiences. The festival will also host Italy’s Claudio Cardinale this year.
Turkey and Armenia dialogue
Even though relations and the protocols being negotiated between Armenia and Turkey have become frozen by the countries’ respective parliaments, artists from both neighbors have continued to pursue friendly ties.
During the last two years, Turkish and Armenian artists have conducted important projects on a variety of artistic levels.
Turkish movies were first screened for Armenian audiences within the framework of the Golden Apricot Film Festival in 2008, while the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, or İKSV, also hosted Armenian directors during the Istanbul Film Festival’s “Meeting the Bridge” movie event.
The Yerevan festival’s art director, Susanna Harutyunyan, said they were still in contact with the Istanbul Film Festival board. “We try to exchange Turkish and Armenian directors.”
Tradition of blessing the apricots
Noting that the festival developed a lot within the past seven years, festival director Mikael Stamboltsyan recently told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that the organizers’ aim was to bring world cinema to Yerevan and make the town a center for movie festivals.
“Before this festival, Armenian audiences could not gain access to world cinema, Stamboltsyan said. “It was just a dream for them. With this festival we are not only encouraging Armenian audiences to meet world cinema, but we are also supporting young directors to open to the world.”
As in past years, the festival will begin after a new crop of apricots receives a blessing in a church. Apricots, however, are not the only fruit that will be blessed. During the grape harvest, the Armenian Apostolic Church also blesses other fruits. As grapes are blessed during the second week of August, people also have a “grape fast,” abstaining from eating them until the time of blessing. These celebrations in Armenia come from the pre-Christianity period.
“Seven years ago, when we started to have these celebrations, we decided to start a new tradition with this,” Stamboltsyan said. “We decided that we should also bless the apricots. The apricot is an Armenian fruit. The Latin name of it is ‘Prunus Armeniaca.’”
The festival has hosted many honored guests in the past several years, such as director Egoyan from Canada, Wim Wenders from Germany, Abbas Kirostami from Iran, Catherine Breillat from France, Nikita Mikhalkov from Russia and Goran Paskelevic from Serbia.
More detailed information on the festival is available at www.gaiff.am.
7 Temmuz 2010 Çarşamba
Turkey gives muted reaction after Clinton visits Yerevan memorial
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News
* Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review correspondent Vercihan Ziflioğlu contributed this report from Istanbul bureau.
Ankara has conveyed its annoyance to Washington over Hillary Clinton’s visit to the genocide memorial in Yerevan, but has chosen to steer clear of exhibiting a bigger reaction since the secretary of state’s visit was personal and did not produce any official remarks
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Armenian President Serge Sarkisian in Yerevan on Sunday. AP photo
Turkey conveyed its annoyance to Washington after the U.S. Secretary of State visited Yerevan’s memorial to the victims of 1915, but refrained from making any public remarks on Armenia’s genocide claims.
“The visit to the monument was a private program and [Secretary of State Hillary] Clinton did not make any official remarks. Anyway, we conveyed our annoyance,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said in an interview Tuesday.
Clinton made an unofficial visit to the Armenian genocide monument in Yerevan on Monday during her tour of the southern Caucasus.
According to official protocol in Armenia, foreign guests first visit the genocide memorial when on official business. After her arrival from Azerbaijan, however, Clinton did not proceed immediately to the memorial, instead meeting with Armenian President Serge Sarkisian and touring Yerevan.
Clinton paid her surprise visit to the memorial before she departed for Georgia on Monday. International news agencies did not carry photos of her visit, which were leaked by Armenian sources to the Internet.
Clinton has preferred to take a balanced stance on genocide allegations, although her party gave signals in favor of Armenian allegations during the last election campaign. The House of Representatives' foreign affairs committee voted 23-22 in favor of a resolution in March that labeled the 1915 massacre of up to 1.5 million Armenians as “genocide."
Clinton, however, said both she and U.S. President Barack Obama opposed the committee vote and wanted to see the process stopped.
She said any action by Congress was inappropriate. "I do not think it is for any other country to determine how two countries resolve matters between them, to the extent that actions that the United States might take could disrupt this process," Clinton said after the House vote.
Known for his hard-line nationalist views, Haykazun Alvrstyan from Dashnakszutyun’s (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Yerevan bureau told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that Clinton’s visit to the genocide memorial was an important step, especially the fact that Clinton's title was written on the wreath that she laid during the ceremony.
“The title 'U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton' on the wreath was a very important political message to Turkey," he said, adding that Clinton’s visit proved that the United States has never denied the Armenian genocide as a fact. “The U.S. will officially recognize the genocide soon,” he said.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News
* Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review correspondent Vercihan Ziflioğlu contributed this report from Istanbul bureau.
Ankara has conveyed its annoyance to Washington over Hillary Clinton’s visit to the genocide memorial in Yerevan, but has chosen to steer clear of exhibiting a bigger reaction since the secretary of state’s visit was personal and did not produce any official remarks
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Armenian President Serge Sarkisian in Yerevan on Sunday. AP photo
Turkey conveyed its annoyance to Washington after the U.S. Secretary of State visited Yerevan’s memorial to the victims of 1915, but refrained from making any public remarks on Armenia’s genocide claims.
“The visit to the monument was a private program and [Secretary of State Hillary] Clinton did not make any official remarks. Anyway, we conveyed our annoyance,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said in an interview Tuesday.
Clinton made an unofficial visit to the Armenian genocide monument in Yerevan on Monday during her tour of the southern Caucasus.
According to official protocol in Armenia, foreign guests first visit the genocide memorial when on official business. After her arrival from Azerbaijan, however, Clinton did not proceed immediately to the memorial, instead meeting with Armenian President Serge Sarkisian and touring Yerevan.
Clinton paid her surprise visit to the memorial before she departed for Georgia on Monday. International news agencies did not carry photos of her visit, which were leaked by Armenian sources to the Internet.
Clinton has preferred to take a balanced stance on genocide allegations, although her party gave signals in favor of Armenian allegations during the last election campaign. The House of Representatives' foreign affairs committee voted 23-22 in favor of a resolution in March that labeled the 1915 massacre of up to 1.5 million Armenians as “genocide."
Clinton, however, said both she and U.S. President Barack Obama opposed the committee vote and wanted to see the process stopped.
She said any action by Congress was inappropriate. "I do not think it is for any other country to determine how two countries resolve matters between them, to the extent that actions that the United States might take could disrupt this process," Clinton said after the House vote.
Known for his hard-line nationalist views, Haykazun Alvrstyan from Dashnakszutyun’s (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Yerevan bureau told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that Clinton’s visit to the genocide memorial was an important step, especially the fact that Clinton's title was written on the wreath that she laid during the ceremony.
“The title 'U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton' on the wreath was a very important political message to Turkey," he said, adding that Clinton’s visit proved that the United States has never denied the Armenian genocide as a fact. “The U.S. will officially recognize the genocide soon,” he said.
Armenian musician calls for peace during Istanbul visit
Armenian musician calls for peace during Istanbul visit
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Ara Dinkjian, an Armenian-American lute virtuoso and composer, issues a call for peace in the wake of a concert in Istanbul last week with local group Kardeş Türküler. Aiming to strengthen ties between Turkey and Armenia, the musician hopes to end the enmity and hostility between the two neighbors through greater cross-border artistic collaboration
Using a visit to Istanbul last week as a platform to sound off on Turkish-Armenian relations, Armenian-American lute virtuoso and composer Ara Dinkjian said it is time to end the “grudges and hatred” between Turkey and its eastern neighbor.
“We should follow the oath of peace, not hatred,” Dinkjian told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, directing his comments to Turkish and Armenian societies following a well-received concert in Istanbul.
Dinkjian dedicated his latest song to the long-running group Kardeş Türküler, with whom he recently performed in Istanbul.
Kardeş Türküler is renowned for its wide repertoire that includes folk songs from all the ethnic and religious groups of Anatolia.
‘My dark place:’ a melody of deep grief
Dinkjian titled his song as “My Dark Place,” because "no matter where we come from or which religion or culture we belong to, we all carry deep grief in our hearts, even when we have a smile on our faces.”
Although he was born and raised in the United States, Dinkjian said he had never lost his contact with Turkey, from which his ancestors came, and is very eager to participate in projects with Turkish artists.
Dinkjian said the desire for such collaboration is unsurprising, because “there is no discrimination in music. [Musical] notes do not judge people by their race, religion or nation.”
Further displaying his links with Turkey, Dinkjian said that when he was a child, his father had an unprecedented Turkish classical music collection. “I grew up listening to that music,” he said.
Diaspora not monolithic
Although his family suffered during the 1915 events, he said: “They never taught us to bear grudges or hatred. This is extremely important.”
Asked about the Armenian diaspora, which is often known for its extreme hostility toward Turkey, Dinkjian said it was wrong to define diaspora as a homogenous whole.
“There is another ‘unmentioned’ diaspora where people still do speak Turkish as their second language,” he said. “They sing in Turkish and they still feel that they belong to these lands. They cannot belong to where they live currently.”
Dinkjian said he Turkey and Armenia would establish close relations similar to the relations now enjoyed between Turkey and Greece thanks to the efforts of artists from both countries. “All we need is a little effort and self-sacrifice.”
‘I teach my children love, not hatred’
Recalling the concert he performed last week together with Kardeş Türküler, Dinkjian said thousands of people sang along with him and gave him a standing ovation.
"It was an incredible experience, I will never forget this,” Dinkjian said. “I truly believe that we can make it."
He said he had also taken his kids to Turkey to let them sight see, adding that he would not allow them to be poisoned with hatred. “I of course do tell them about the painful events but I also advise them to love all human beings without discrimination.”
When he visited the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, the home of his ancestors, five years ago with his father, Dinkjian said he felt like how a mother feels for her children.
“I cannot really express my emotions but if somebody kidnapped me and took me to outer space and let me have one last look at the world, I would pick the one spot on the blue globe – and that would be what my grandfather and grandmother told me fairytales about, that is, Anatolia,” he said. “That is where I belong.”
Dinkjian said he would not cut his ties with Turkey for as long as he lives. “It is not even possible for me to do so.”
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Ara Dinkjian, an Armenian-American lute virtuoso and composer, issues a call for peace in the wake of a concert in Istanbul last week with local group Kardeş Türküler. Aiming to strengthen ties between Turkey and Armenia, the musician hopes to end the enmity and hostility between the two neighbors through greater cross-border artistic collaboration
Using a visit to Istanbul last week as a platform to sound off on Turkish-Armenian relations, Armenian-American lute virtuoso and composer Ara Dinkjian said it is time to end the “grudges and hatred” between Turkey and its eastern neighbor.
“We should follow the oath of peace, not hatred,” Dinkjian told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, directing his comments to Turkish and Armenian societies following a well-received concert in Istanbul.
Dinkjian dedicated his latest song to the long-running group Kardeş Türküler, with whom he recently performed in Istanbul.
Kardeş Türküler is renowned for its wide repertoire that includes folk songs from all the ethnic and religious groups of Anatolia.
‘My dark place:’ a melody of deep grief
Dinkjian titled his song as “My Dark Place,” because "no matter where we come from or which religion or culture we belong to, we all carry deep grief in our hearts, even when we have a smile on our faces.”
Although he was born and raised in the United States, Dinkjian said he had never lost his contact with Turkey, from which his ancestors came, and is very eager to participate in projects with Turkish artists.
Dinkjian said the desire for such collaboration is unsurprising, because “there is no discrimination in music. [Musical] notes do not judge people by their race, religion or nation.”
Further displaying his links with Turkey, Dinkjian said that when he was a child, his father had an unprecedented Turkish classical music collection. “I grew up listening to that music,” he said.
Diaspora not monolithic
Although his family suffered during the 1915 events, he said: “They never taught us to bear grudges or hatred. This is extremely important.”
Asked about the Armenian diaspora, which is often known for its extreme hostility toward Turkey, Dinkjian said it was wrong to define diaspora as a homogenous whole.
“There is another ‘unmentioned’ diaspora where people still do speak Turkish as their second language,” he said. “They sing in Turkish and they still feel that they belong to these lands. They cannot belong to where they live currently.”
Dinkjian said he Turkey and Armenia would establish close relations similar to the relations now enjoyed between Turkey and Greece thanks to the efforts of artists from both countries. “All we need is a little effort and self-sacrifice.”
‘I teach my children love, not hatred’
Recalling the concert he performed last week together with Kardeş Türküler, Dinkjian said thousands of people sang along with him and gave him a standing ovation.
"It was an incredible experience, I will never forget this,” Dinkjian said. “I truly believe that we can make it."
He said he had also taken his kids to Turkey to let them sight see, adding that he would not allow them to be poisoned with hatred. “I of course do tell them about the painful events but I also advise them to love all human beings without discrimination.”
When he visited the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, the home of his ancestors, five years ago with his father, Dinkjian said he felt like how a mother feels for her children.
“I cannot really express my emotions but if somebody kidnapped me and took me to outer space and let me have one last look at the world, I would pick the one spot on the blue globe – and that would be what my grandfather and grandmother told me fairytales about, that is, Anatolia,” he said. “That is where I belong.”
Dinkjian said he would not cut his ties with Turkey for as long as he lives. “It is not even possible for me to do so.”
2 Temmuz 2010 Cuma
Istanbul Governor’s Office appoints new head of Armenian community
Istanbul Governor’s Office appoints new head of Armenian community
Friday, July 2, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s Governor’s Office has acted against Armenian Apostolic Church canon by appointing Aram Ateşyan as acting archbishop without notifying the congregation, according to the new spiritual head of the church himself.
Because Mesrop II, the current patriarch, is suffering from dementia and cannot fulfill his duties, confusion has surrounded the post. According to the Armenian Apostolic Church’s canon, a new patriarch cannot be assigned until the previous one passes away.
"The Governor’s Office clearly expressed their view. They said there could be no co-patriarch so long as the patriarch is alive. This is against the patriarchate’s regulation but we must respect this decision,” he said. “Of course some people from the community will react to the decision, because they had contrary expectations.”
The church’s spiritual committee insisted that a co-patriarch must be elected, a view that was seconded by the initiating committee.
The initiating committee, however, has been concerned that legal conflicts could arise if a co-patriarch is elected.
The assignment of an election date by Istanbul’s Governor’s Office was made more difficult because both committees made their cases in two separate submissions to the authority at the end of 2009.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review last month, Setrak Davuthan, a member of the initiating committee and the community’s attorney, said they had made an application to the Governor’s Office to be informed of possible election dates, adding that they would take legal action unless they were given a date for the election.
The office consequently appointed Ateşyan as acting archbishop, who told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that his assignment was based on the order from the governor’s office which makes it the decision of the government.
Asked what would now change for the community, Ateşyan said, “Everything will continue as it has been.”
The Armenian community will not be able to choose a new patriarch until the current patriarch Mesrop II dies.
Friday, July 2, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s Governor’s Office has acted against Armenian Apostolic Church canon by appointing Aram Ateşyan as acting archbishop without notifying the congregation, according to the new spiritual head of the church himself.
Because Mesrop II, the current patriarch, is suffering from dementia and cannot fulfill his duties, confusion has surrounded the post. According to the Armenian Apostolic Church’s canon, a new patriarch cannot be assigned until the previous one passes away.
"The Governor’s Office clearly expressed their view. They said there could be no co-patriarch so long as the patriarch is alive. This is against the patriarchate’s regulation but we must respect this decision,” he said. “Of course some people from the community will react to the decision, because they had contrary expectations.”
The church’s spiritual committee insisted that a co-patriarch must be elected, a view that was seconded by the initiating committee.
The initiating committee, however, has been concerned that legal conflicts could arise if a co-patriarch is elected.
The assignment of an election date by Istanbul’s Governor’s Office was made more difficult because both committees made their cases in two separate submissions to the authority at the end of 2009.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review last month, Setrak Davuthan, a member of the initiating committee and the community’s attorney, said they had made an application to the Governor’s Office to be informed of possible election dates, adding that they would take legal action unless they were given a date for the election.
The office consequently appointed Ateşyan as acting archbishop, who told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that his assignment was based on the order from the governor’s office which makes it the decision of the government.
Asked what would now change for the community, Ateşyan said, “Everything will continue as it has been.”
The Armenian community will not be able to choose a new patriarch until the current patriarch Mesrop II dies.
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