The IWF Junior World Championships are being held in Wroclaw, Poland on 4-13 June.

Armenia’s representatives are Antranig Garabedian (77 kg weight category), Norair Avedisian (85 kg) and Simon Mardirosian (superheavyweight).

On June 9, bronze medalist Antranig Garabedian is competing in the European championship for adults. The Armenian weightlifter performed wonderfully and scored a gold medal in the 355 kg biathlon (155+180).

In the snatch drill, Garabedian scored the small gold medal after lifting 155 kg, but only after the third approach was he able to lift the 155 kilograms. In the full snatch, Garabedian lifted 180 kg and scored the small silver medal. The best weightlifter in that category was 19-year-old Iranian weightlifter Ali Miri, who became the world vice-champion after lifting 332 kg (150+182). Romanian weightlifter Ilie Stoyan, 18, lifted 320 kg (148+178) in the biathlon.

Let us add that Norair Avedisian will perform on June 10, followed by Simon Mardirosian on June 13.

A collection of about 2,000 posters from the World War One era, considered to be one of the world’s finest and amassed over more than a decade by a U.S. Army officer, will be sold at auction later this month, Guernsey’s auction house said on Tuesday.

The collection, which will go under the hammer during an online, unreserved auction with no minimum bids on June 30 and July 1, includes the famous poster of a stern-looking, top-hatted Uncle Sam pointing a finger with the words, “I Want You for U.S. Army.”

Another patriotic poster shows the American flag and laborers with the words “Teamwork Wins,” while a third is of French women working in a laundry inscribed “Four Years in the Fight.”

Although all of the posters, works of art which are expected to fetch between $200 to $5,000 apiece, are patriotic, their topics range from fundraising and food rationing to women’s war efforts, enlistment and animal aid.

About half of the posters are from the United States, while others are in various languages from more than 15 countries such as France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Cuba and China.

The largest poster is a massive 9- by 14-foot American work urging people to “Give, or we Perish,” that was made on behalf of the Armenian Relief Fund.

On June 6, France’s Minister of Culture and Communication Fleur Pellerin granted the Order of Arts and Literature of France to artistic director and principal conductor of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia Serkey Smpadian.

The award is granted to artists who are over the age of 30 and have made great achievements in the arts and literature. The age of a candidate is disregarded, if the artist has special merits, and 27-year-old Serkey Smpadian is one of those special candidates.

On June 1, International Children’s Defense Day, Chinese and Armenian children presented Armenia and Armenian culture during an event held at New Oriental Star Kindergarten in Nanjing,China. They performed Armenian folk dances, tasted Armenian dishes, listened to Armenian music and waved the Armenian national flags everywhere…

The Armenian community of China continues to make Armenia beloved and recognizable in China through public diplomacy.

On June 8, President of the Union of Writers of Armenia Eduard Militonian and delegates of the Union visited Tbilisi. The purpose of the visit was to transfer the house of Hovhannes Tumanian in Tbilisi to the Armenian Diocese of Georgia, reports the press divan of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia to Hayern Aysor.

After viewing the exhibition dedicated to Komitas at Hayartun Center, the guests visited the Khojivank Pantheon of Armenian writers and public figures and laid flowers near the tombs of Poet of All Armenians Hovhannes Tumanian and other great Armenians. The President of the Union of Writers of Armenia and the leader of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, with the accompaniment of Tbilisi-Armenian intellectuals and representatives of the prelacy, headed towards the house of Hovhannes Tumanian in Tbilisi where they were joined by Adviser of the RA Embassy in Georgia Karen Melikian, secretary of the Union of Writers of Georgia Maghvala Gonashvili and editor of “Tsiskari magazine and writer Baghater Arabuli and others.

A part of Hovhannes Tumanyan’s house, that is, a 150 square meter area that has turned into a library, was obtained through the unwavering efforts of the late President of the Union of Writers of Armenia Levon Ananian and under the sponsorship of former mayor of Gyumri Vartan Ghukasian in 2012. The acquisition of the house in its entirety was in the focus of RA President Serge Sargsyan, and the RA Embassy in Georgia was also working consistently on that. Just recently, by the appeal of the leader of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, the part that had been left for the inheritors was purchased through funding provided by the fund of the St. Gevorg Armenian Church and was donated to the Diocese as property.

The meeting of the presidents of the Unions of Writers of Armenia and Georgia was symbolically held in Tumanyan’s house. President of the Union of Writers of Armenia Eduard Militonian solemnly handed the keys to the house over to leader of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, His Grace, Father, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian. From now on, the house will be called “Tumanian Vernatun for Culture and the Arts”, and its activities will be geared towards the development and deepening of cooperation between the two Christian nations, the friendly relations and the ties between creators. The “Tumanian Vernatun for Culture and the Arts” will also hold discussions and book presentations and various events for Georgian and Armenian writers. The building will house a hall, a library of books in four languages, the AGBU Armenian Virtual University, and one of the rooms will be named after Levon Ananian. Secretary of the Union of Writers of Georgia Maghvala Gonashvili, President of the “Vernatun” Union of Armenian Writers of Georgia Gevorg Snkhchian, Adviser of the RA Embassy in Georgia Karen Melikian, poet-translator Givi Shahnazar and writer and translator Anahit Bostanjian gave speeches in which they expressed their congratulatory remarks.

Leader of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, His Grace, Father, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian gave his blessing, expressed his appreciation and referred to the day as a truly historic day since the house of the Poet of All Armenians would soon serve its goal again. On behalf of the Diocese, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian assumed the duty to renovate the house and furbish it with necessary items. Afterwards, President of the Union of Writers of Armenia Eduard Militonian and secretary of the Union of Writers of Georgia Maghvala Gonashvili signed a memorandum of cooperation, to which the “Vernatun” Union of Armenian Writers of Georgia, the Hayartun Center and the “Kamurj” Armenian-Georgian Cultural Relations NGO also joined.

P.S.: Great Armenian writer Hovhannes Tumanian’s house in Tbilisi is located at 18 Amaghleba Street (formerly Davitashvili Street) where Tumanian lived between the years of 1909 and 1923. In 1952, the items were moved to Yerevan. Four of the six rooms had been turned into a library, and the other two had been left for the writer’s inheritors. After independence, due to certain circumstances, Tbilisi Municipality transferred a part of the library to a citizen of Georgia, from whom it was necessary to obtain the house.

Turkey exerted pressure on the deputies of the Bundestag in April in the Armenian Genocide issue, though the determined position of the German’s President managed to make some changes in the German political stance. Though the discussion of the Armenian Genocide resolution was postponed in the Bundestag for several times, the Doctor of History, Professor and German Studies expert Ashod Hayruni assures that the process has not been completed yet.

Armenpress reports that during the meeting held on June 8 Hayruni said that it is anticipated that the issue will be debated in the Bundestag before the vacation and will last by the second half of July.

“There are both acceptable and at the same time unacceptable elements in the resolution. If we compare it with that of 2005, this resolution is several steps ahead certainly, but there are issues which are still disputable. For example, the resolution recognizes the uniqueness and specificity of the Holocaust and it seems that this uniqueness is in contrast to the Armenian and other genocides. The resolution says that the demolition of the Armenians must become a training material in the context of the ethnic conflicts study. In this case the term “ethnic conflict” is not right and it should have been “ethnic cleansing””,- ­ said Ashod Hayruni, adding that the Turkish side will continue making certain efforts so that the resolution is not adopted.

The mission of the world famous rock band System of a Down is not only entertaining people but also informing them about the Armenian Genocide.

The reporter of The Oakland Press Gary Graff states about it in his article, which is as follows: “It’s been a decade since System of a Down released a new album —and all has been quiet on the studio front since the artsy heavy rock quartet came back from a four-year-hiatus in 2010. But the wait — which is the operative word — may come to an end soon. “We do want to get together after the tour to talk about writing, but who knows?” says drummer John Dolmaian.

Right now SOAD’s focus is on the current Wake Up The Souls tour, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide during World War I, “But who knows.” Dolmaian adds. “Maybe things will happen on this tour that will inspire songs. Anything can surprise you.” For Dolmaian and his mates — all of Armenian heritage — the tour, of course, “transcends the music.” “This is more important than the next System of a Down album,” he says. “This is something that’s far-reaching, and it’s actually even bigger than the Armenian genocide itself. This is a world issue.” SOAD has been at the forefront of that issue since forming during 1994 in Los Angeles, and its campaign has carried more weight thanks to the success of five platinum albums, the last two of which — “Mesmerize” and “Hypnotize,” both in 2005 — debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

The spread-out, 14-date tour began during April in Los Angeles and included an April 23 stop in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, the day before the annual worldwide observance of the genocide, which also was SOAD’s first-ever performance in Armenia. For frontman Serj Tankian, it’s not only another opportunity to talk about the genocide and promote worldwide recognition of it but to also tie that in with events going on today. “What’s important to us is the fact that genocide still occurs today,” Tankian explains. “There is no international, executable agreement, irrespective of the Genocide Convention and many ad hoc committees around the world.

There’s nothing that all nations have signed that says when a genocide is occurring, all bets are off. … It’s important to us to not just raise awareness but to help bring justice to this cause.” But, Dolmayan adds, SOAD is careful about how it delivers that message to crowds coming to hear the group play “Chop Suey!” “Aerials,” “Hypnotize,” “Toxicity” and its other favorites. “You don’t want to get too preachy,” the drummer acknowledges. “You want to provide information, but you don’t want to push it down people’s throats. So we will have some information available and we have some video presentations we put together that will be taking place during the show. “We’ve been very fortunate in that we’re in a position we can entertain people and also give them information at the same time, if they’re open to it.”

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has managed to pursue a dynamic European and global foreign policy. Not bad for a country that wasn’t officially recognized. Lucas Goetz stated this in his article published in Open Democracy website.

Lucas Goetz particularly stated: “Even before the polls closed, reactions from the international community came in. A spokesperson of the European foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini stated that ‘the European Union does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework of the elections’. The United States State Department indicated that ‘it will not accept the results of the elections’. Romania’s foreign ministry labeled the elections ‘illegal’. For Spain they were ‘illegitimate’. Ukraine stated that the results of the elections cannot have ‘any legal consequences’.

These statements concerned an election which was described by about 100 international observers as ‘in line with international standards’, ‘orderly, free, secret and equal’ with a turnout ‘many European countries would dream of’. The only problem was that these parliamentary elections took place in an internationally unrecognized state: the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.”

“The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has actively sought to strengthen its ties with Europe, which is home to a large Armenian community. In doing so it has bypassed traditional diplomatic channels and used other means to attract wider support for its cause.

David Melkumyan has recently been elected to the National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. ‘The top priority is achieving international recognition’ he says. ‘We have not been recognized by any country, so we have a lot of work ahead of us. Europe is a natural choice for us because we identify ourselves as Europeans and share the European values.’

Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa is the director of European Friends of Armenia. He believes that despite not being able to secure recognition from the European Union and its members states, Nagorno-Karabakh is successful in its foreign policy.

‘There is an EU Nagorno-Karabakh friendship group in the European Parliament which supports Nagorno-Karabakh,’ he argues. ‘It has within its ranks MEP’s from all important groups within the European Parliament. The European Parliament has also adopted three documents encouraging European institutions to engage with civil society in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh has been visited by the vice-president of the European Parliament. That is not bad at all for a country that ‘officially does not exist’.

In April Mr Melkumyan’s party, the Democratic Party of Artsakh became an ‘associated member’ of the European Free Alliance, a European political party which has 12 MEP’s in the European Parliament. Shortly after this was made public, the Azeri ministry of foreign affairs released an angry press release, followed by an even angrier phone call to the European Free Alliance headquarters in Brussels.

Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa is not surprised by the Azeri reaction. ‘For Azerbaijan this is a defeat. For them this should not have happened because to them the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic should not exist and they believe that people should respect this,’ he says. ‘Secondly it is also a defeat because the ruling party of Azerbaijan has not been able to enter any European political party itself.’

Being an unrecognized state limits the diplomatic options of Nagorno-Karabakh. Though it cannot open embassies abroad, it has however opened ‘permanent missions’, or ‘representations’ in countries where there is a big Armenian community such as the United States, France, Germany and Lebanon. Even though they are not officially recognized as embassies, they facilitate Nagorno-Karabakh representatives meeting foreign politicians and diplomats. These representations are also actively conducting an ‘information campaign…aimed at politicians and media in order to gain recognition for Nagorno-Karabakh.’

‘The missions in Paris in Washington are working reasonably well. I do not think it is a coincidence that another Nagorno-Karabakh friendship group exists in the French national assembly,’ says Mr Lorenzo Ochoa. Märta-Lisa Magnusson agrees: ‘They give lectures, organize cultural activities and meet audiences in the countries were they are established. They are quite successful in keeping Nagorno-Karabakh on the international agenda’.

With an estimated eight million Armenians living outside of Armenia or the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the Diaspora is of paramount importance to the Nagorno-Karabakh republic’s international efforts. Countries like France boast a large Armenian population, many of which are descendants of immigrants who arrived after the Armenian Genocide. In France they play a prominent role in the political, economical and cultural life of the country.

André Gumuchdjian is a third generation Armenian who lives in Antwerp. His grandfather arrived in Belgium in 1908. He maintains a very strong link with the country of his ancestors and was until recently the vice-president of the Armenian Committee in Belgium.

‘I think that for many Armenians Nagorno-Karabakh represents a revenge on history,’ he says. ‘Instead of always losing, for once it is us who won something. The Diaspora loves Karabakh for its pro-active and positive side. The trauma of what we lost 100 years ago is still there and we have not resolved the issue; not only have we lost territories but Turkey still has not recognized the Genocide. Karabakh is the story of Armenians who succeed, rather than Armenians which get massacred.’

As an entrepreneur Mr Gumuchdjian has actively invested in the local economy. ‘I have started several economic projects in Karabakh; agriculture being one of them,’ he explains. ‘I only take part in projects which have economic perspective, this is done to develop the country, create employment but also not to lose money. I try to encourage others to do so as well. Despite remaining problems there are interesting options in Karabakh. In my case, the economy is in the service of the affective’.

‘The Diaspora has helped a lot in terms of raising awareness. 15 years ago nobody knew about Nagorno-Karabakh besides the terrible images we saw on the television during the war,’ remembers Mr Lorenzo Ochoa. ‘The Diaspora is raising awareness and some of them also participate financially. In Nagorno-Karabakh you will frequently see signs point out that the road you are driving on has been financed by, for example, the Armenians in Argentina’.

Mr Melkumyan who is also a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations in the Nagorno-Karabakh National Assembly also emphasizes the importance of the Diaspora: ‘You know how strong the Armenian Diaspora is throughout the world,’ he says. ‘If you find one single Armenian citizen or person of Armenian origin, he will be willing to represent Nagorno-Karabakh.‘

For Mr Gumuchdjian it is inconceivable for Nagorno-Karabakh ever to return under Azeri dominion. ‘It will remain an independent entity. For the moment living in peace with its neighbor is sadly not on the cards. I am interested in seeing Karabakh developing economically and I want the population to live without worries because its first right should be to live in security. The future of Karabakh is independent.’

Undeterred by the obvious obstacles the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has managed to conduct an independent foreign policy securing itself a place on the European agenda and in public consciousness. It looks unlikely that Azerbaijan, despite its frequent threats, will try to take Nagorno-Karabakh by force in the foreseeable future,” the author concluded.

As was expected, the Turkish Foreign Ministry on June 8 announced that it has recalled its ambassador to Brazil after the Federal Senate in Brasilia recognized the Armenian Genocide, reports “Civilnet” according to Agencia Prensa Armenia.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry condemned the resolution, “which distorts the historical truths and ignores the law, and consider it as an example of irresponsibility.”

“Political decisions of this nature, taken under the influence of the Armenian lobbies can neither change the historical facts nor the legal norms. In this context, our views have been conveyed to the Ambassador of Brazil in Ankara who was summoned to the Ministry on 3 June 2015,” the statement continued. “Turkish Ambassador in Brasilia, Mr. Hüseyin Diriöz has also been recalled to Ankara for consultations.”

The Genocide resolution, introduced by Senators Aloizio Nunes Fereira Filio and Jose Serra was adopted on June 2. The resolution “recognizes” the Armenian Genocide and offers its “solidarity” with the Armenian people. Furthermore the Senate denounced the “systematic denial, pressure and intimidation against those who try to reconstruct historical events” and urged the Brazilian government to join the recognition. The representatives of the Armenian community in Sao Paulo had described the resolution as “the most important in the history of the Armenian Cause in Brazil.”

While the resolution was officially adopted on June 2, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry had jumped the gun and erroneously announced that it had been adopted earlier. On May 29, Armenia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian issued a statement regarding the resolution: “The irrevocable process of international recognition of the fact of the Armenian Genocide is underway. Armenia welcomes the Resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide adopted by the Federal Senate of the Federative Republic of Brazil. With the adoption of this Resolution Brazil made a significant step in support of international community’s efforts in the prevention of acts of genocide and new crimes against humanity.”

On the same day, President Serj Sarksian’s Chief of Staff Viken Sarksian also wrote on his Facebook page: “Brazil became the 24th country to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. I remember and demand.”