Florida Armenians Congratulate Arman Avedyan
Boca Raton, FL – On Sunday, July 23, Florida Armenians gathered at St. David Armenian Church to congratulate Sub-Deacon Arman Avedyan on his acceptance to Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory in Armenia. During this four-year program, Avedyan will train his voice and master the language of music, while embarking on new adventures and a new life in the homeland.
Like many of his friends in south Florida’s growing Armenian-American community, Avedyan started serving God and fellow parishioners at the age of 14. Beginning as an Acolyte on the altar under the guidance of Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor of St. David Armenian Church, Avedyan began to develop and display his talents, delivering powerful and uplifting renditions of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Badark (Divine Liturgy).
Arman Avedyan (center-left) with family
“In January 2012, at my 20th Anniversary banquet in Mardigian Hall of St. David Armenian Church, Arman Avedyan sang “Nessun Dorma” which is an aria from the final act of Puccini’s opera Turandot, and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera,” stated Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian. “It was then that I realized he would be a wonderful candidate for the Yerevan Conservatory. Since that time, all efforts to admit him to the conservatory have succeeded, and I am extremely pleased to see the fruition of all the many years of work in the Deacon’s Training Program at St. David Church have such an exciting result for him. I am very proud of his accomplishment and am confident he will work hard in continuing his education and nurturing his career at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory in Armenia, and look forward to his success in the future,” stated Fr. Nareg.
Still early in his career, Arman Avedyan has already performed at Florida Atlantic University, Florida Suncoast Opera Guild, Lynn University and various Armenian-American community events throughout Florida. “Years of preliminary training, practice and performances have lead to the opportunity of a lifetime,” Avedyan told FLArmenians. “I cannot wait to begin my studies. This really is a dream come true,” Avedyan said.
Below is Arman Avedyan’s recital of “e lucevan le stelle” Tosca, Puccini, at Lynn University in Boca Raton.
US House of Representatives Defeats Turkey Biased Legislation
Majority of Florida Delegation Opposed Turkey-Skewed Measure
By Taniel Koushakjian
FLArmenians Political Contributor
Washington, DC – Yesterday, the US House of Representatives voted down legislation, on a bipartisan basis, that singled out Turkey for preferential treatment to engage in economic development projects on specific Indian tribal lands in the United States. H.R. 2362, the Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act, was brought to the floor for a vote under the suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage. The measure was defeated 222-160, falling short of the 255 votes needed.
Speaking in support of H. R. 2362 were Representatives Doc Hastings (R-WA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), James Moran (D-VA), Dan Boren (D-OK) along with Delegate Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS), while Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) led the charge against the legislation. On the day of the vote, Congressman Bilirakis, joined by his fellow Hellenic and Armenian Caucus colleagues, issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to House members, urging their opposition to H.R. 2362.
In a statement released by the Armenian Assembly of America, bill sponsor Cole noted in his remarks that the Turkish Coalition of America approached him about the bill. “According to campaign contribution records, Representative Cole has received $6,000 in Turkish PAC money this cycle while Representative Foxx received $10,000,” read the Assembly’s statement.
A majority of Representatives from the Florida delegation opposed giving preferential treatment to the Republic of Turkey. Florida representatives voting in opposition to H.R. 2362 include Reps. Sandy Adams (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Mario Diaz-Bolart (R-FL), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Rich Nugent (R-FL), David Rivera (R-FL), Tom Rooney (R-FL), Dennis Ross (R-FL), Steve Southerland (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), C.W. Bill Young (R-FL), and Allen West (R-FL). Voting in favor of the legislation were Florida Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), John Mica (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL). Congressman Connie Mack (R-FL), who is anticipated to win the Republican nomination in the Florida Senate race, was not present at yesterday’s vote.
According to the Armenian National Committee, “the measure was opposed by a broad spectrum of Hellenic and Armenian American organizations, including the American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association (AHEPA), American Hellenic Institute (AHI), American Hellenic Council (AHC), the ANCA and the Armenian Assembly of America, all of which alerted House members about the negative repercussions of passing the controversial pro-Turkey measure.”
You can watch the debate on H.R. 2362 here.
*Updated July 26, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Florida Armenians 