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SINGERS TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE THROUGH MUSIC
By Bill Kisliuk
Glendale News Press
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-0203-dignitaries,0,5677554.story
Feb 3 2011
CA
The Armenian government and Glendale music promoters will recognize
the Armenian Genocide through music.
The Armenian government is teaming up with Stevie Wonder and a roster
of international performers to bring a higher profile to genocide
recognition efforts.
On Tuesday night, Armenian dignitaries and music promoters in
Glendale unveiled plans for a five-year series of concerts, dubbed
"Never Again," to keep the Armenian genocide and other human rights
atrocities in the public eye.
The series is scheduled to culminate with performances in 2015, the
100-year anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide, in which
1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman Turks. Supporters
say the effort is a companion to long-standing political and legal
efforts by Armenian-Americans to have the United States formally
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
"Something that may not be done through the power of politics can be
done through the power of music," said Anush Hovsepyan, spokeswoman
for Glendale-based nonprofit Artists for Peace.
Hovsepyan said the program also is intended to highlight the many
atrocities that have occurred even after a 1948 United Nations
resolution condemning genocide, including those in Rwanda, Cambodia
and Sudan.
Armenian diplomats voiced their support for the effort.
Grigor Hovhannissian, the Glendale-based consul general for Armenia
in the western United States, said the Armenian government supports
the effort.
Hranush Hakobyan, minister of Diaspora for Armenia, said that cultural
and educational efforts to spread the word about genocide will spur
better global understanding of the plight of Armenian people around
the world.
For the last several years, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) has sponsored
legislation formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide, but lawmakers
who say the measure would antagonize Turkey, a key U.S. ally, have
worked to keep the bill from coming to a floor vote.
More than 40 states, including California, formally recognize the
Armenian Genocide. Earlier this month, state Assemblyman Anthony
Portantino (D-La Caņada Flintridge) and others introduced the annual
resolution to set aside April 24 as California Day of Remembrance
for the Armenian Genocide.
The first "Never Again" concert is scheduled to take place April 17
at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City with Wonder; Canadian
songwriter and producer David Foster - who has worked with Celine Dion,
Josh Groban and others - and Flora Martirosyan, a popular Armenian
performer who recently recorded the genocide-themed song and video
"Never Again."
Promoters are hoping to add other names to the roster of performers.
Hamlet Nersesian, a Glendale real estate agent who attended Tuesday's
press conference, summed up the vision of the sponsors and the Armenian
diplomats regarding "Never Again."
"This is an important event. This is a meaningful way to raise genocide
awareness, so we can prevent other genocides in the future," he said.
From: A. Papazian
By Bill Kisliuk
Glendale News Press
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-0203-dignitaries,0,5677554.story
Feb 3 2011
CA
The Armenian government and Glendale music promoters will recognize
the Armenian Genocide through music.
The Armenian government is teaming up with Stevie Wonder and a roster
of international performers to bring a higher profile to genocide
recognition efforts.
On Tuesday night, Armenian dignitaries and music promoters in
Glendale unveiled plans for a five-year series of concerts, dubbed
"Never Again," to keep the Armenian genocide and other human rights
atrocities in the public eye.
The series is scheduled to culminate with performances in 2015, the
100-year anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide, in which
1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman Turks. Supporters
say the effort is a companion to long-standing political and legal
efforts by Armenian-Americans to have the United States formally
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
"Something that may not be done through the power of politics can be
done through the power of music," said Anush Hovsepyan, spokeswoman
for Glendale-based nonprofit Artists for Peace.
Hovsepyan said the program also is intended to highlight the many
atrocities that have occurred even after a 1948 United Nations
resolution condemning genocide, including those in Rwanda, Cambodia
and Sudan.
Armenian diplomats voiced their support for the effort.
Grigor Hovhannissian, the Glendale-based consul general for Armenia
in the western United States, said the Armenian government supports
the effort.
Hranush Hakobyan, minister of Diaspora for Armenia, said that cultural
and educational efforts to spread the word about genocide will spur
better global understanding of the plight of Armenian people around
the world.
For the last several years, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) has sponsored
legislation formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide, but lawmakers
who say the measure would antagonize Turkey, a key U.S. ally, have
worked to keep the bill from coming to a floor vote.
More than 40 states, including California, formally recognize the
Armenian Genocide. Earlier this month, state Assemblyman Anthony
Portantino (D-La Caņada Flintridge) and others introduced the annual
resolution to set aside April 24 as California Day of Remembrance
for the Armenian Genocide.
The first "Never Again" concert is scheduled to take place April 17
at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City with Wonder; Canadian
songwriter and producer David Foster - who has worked with Celine Dion,
Josh Groban and others - and Flora Martirosyan, a popular Armenian
performer who recently recorded the genocide-themed song and video
"Never Again."
Promoters are hoping to add other names to the roster of performers.
Hamlet Nersesian, a Glendale real estate agent who attended Tuesday's
press conference, summed up the vision of the sponsors and the Armenian
diplomats regarding "Never Again."
"This is an important event. This is a meaningful way to raise genocide
awareness, so we can prevent other genocides in the future," he said.
From: A. Papazian