Sevan Nisanyan, the owner of Nisanyan Hotels, and a linguist, columnist, academic, and outspoken critic, is facing a demolition order on his hotels throughout Turkey. In a country packed with illegal constructions, the targeting of the Nisanyan Hotels speaks volumes about Turkey’s persecution of its minority citizens who dare to raise their voice against the [...]

LINCOLN, Vt.—Give Chris Bohjalian his family, a bicycle, and a bottle of good wine and he’s one happy fellow.
Best-selling author Chris Bohjalian has his sights set on a book about the Armenian Genocide, with a 2014 publishing timetable.
Somewhere in the mix has to be a burgeoning literary career that has sprouted 13 books, a host [...]

Upon the invitation of President Serge Sarkisian, Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana Medvedeva arrived in Yerevan on a state visit for two days on the evening of Aug. 19.
Medvedev in Yerevan.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov, Transport Minister Igor Levitin, Special Representative of the President in the north-west [...]

DEARBORN, Mich. (A.W.)—Four years ago, Alex Sarafian laid in a hospital ward with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, uncertain about his future. Would he live or die?
Alex and Kara Sarafian
Any plans for a wedding date with his long-time soulmate Kara Derderian were put on hold for obvious reasons. They would let time play its course and hoped for [...]

‘Children of God: Storybook Bible’
By Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Grand Rapids, Michigan: ZonderKidz, July 2010, 127 pp.
Language: English
Price: $18.99
Regardless of where you and I stand on the topic of religion, Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Children of God: Storybook Bible is worthy of praise, not only for the simple way its Nobel Peace Prize-winning author retells his 56 favorite [...]

A scene from the video.
LOS ANGELES, Calif (A.W.)—On Aug. 20, the official video of Serj Tankian’s song “Left of Center” was released online. The song is included in Tankian’s new album “Imperfect harmonies,” which will be available on Sept. 21.
The video was directed by Tawd Dorenfeld, who also directed the music video of Tankian’s “Unthinking [...]

AKHTAMAR, Turkey (A.W.)—A group of Armenian children from Armenia were told to leave Sourp Khatch Church on the island of Akhtamar this month for lighting candles, singing, and praying.
Turkish policeman asks Armenian students singing "Der Voghormia" to leave the "museum."
The children, who were winners of Hay Aspet’s (Armenian Knight) television contest, were on a visit [...]

YEREVAN—After signing an agreement to increase Russia’s military presence in Armenia until 2044, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who was on an official visit to Armenia, said that “Russia treats its commitments as an ally very seriously.”
Presidents Medvedev and Sarkisian after the signing
The comment came in response to an inquiry at a press conference about Russia’s [...]

(A.W.)—On Sept. 7, singer Rihanna is scheduled to perform at the inauguration of the luxury Fashion Castle Hotel in the town of Kyrenia in Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus.  Greek Cypriots and sympathizers have begun a campaign to prevent her performance there.
Rihanna
According to the Vatan, Rihanna is a personal friend of hotel owner Yilmaz Bektas’ wife, Zuleyka [...]

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)—On. Aug. 20, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, accompanied by his wife, Svetlana Medvedeva, arrived in Yerevan on a state visit and were greeted at Zvartnots Airport by President Serge Sarkisian and his wife, Rita.
Medvedev in Dzidzernagapert.
The first stop for Medvedev was Dzidzernagapert, where he laid a wreath at the monument to the victims [...]