Month: November 2009

AMBASSADOR MORGENTHAU’S PERSONAL LIBRARY DONATED TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM OF AMERICA

armradio.am
25.11.2009 11:21

The personal library of U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, renowned
for his extraordinary efforts to bring American and international
attention to the Turkish government’s deportation and massacres of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, has been donated to the Armenian
Genocide Museum of America (AGMA) in Washington, DC.

"We are extremely grateful to the Morgenthau family for entrusting this
invaluable collection of books to the museum, which provides a window
into the breadth and depth of the Ambassador’s intellectual acumen and
his humanitarian outlook," said Van Z. Krikorian, museum trustee and
chairman of the project’s Building and Operations Committee. "In the
pantheon of heroes who have fought against genocide, the Morgenthau
name is legendary. This collection is priceless and wonderful
Thanksgiving news," added Krikorian.

The gift of Ambassador Morgenthau’s personal library, which has
been privately held by his family since his death in 1946, comes to
AGMA from Henry Morgenthau III, the son of Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
and the grandson of the Ambassador. In making the gift to AGMA,
Henry Morgenthau III said "I am only putting Ambassador Morgenthau’s
effects where they belong."

Ambassador Morgenthau’s personal library includes books he acquired
during his term of service in the Ottoman Empire, and others obtained
in preparation for his diplomatic posting to expand his knowledge
of the region, its history and people. The collection also includes
Ambassador Morgenthau’s autographed copy of the official State
Department publication "Instructions to the Diplomatic Officers of
the United States," which he was provided upon his appointment.

Krikorian said the Ambassador Morgenthau collection will be used by the
research library, and to enhance the museum’s exhibits depicting the
Ambassador’s life and work. Ambassador Morgenthau was a naturalized
American from a German Jewish family and a successful lawyer active
in Democratic Party politics. With the election of President Woodrow
Wilson, he was appointed United States Ambassador to the Sublime
Porte in 1913.

"Ambassador Morgenthau played a central role in documenting the
Armenian Genocide, and the items related to his diplomatic service
are critical pieces of his life story," Krikorian said. "No one
individual before Ambassador Morgenthau had so prominently alerted the
international community to the consequences of the mass atrocities
perpetrated against the Armenian population in Ottoman Turkey and
analyzed the mechanisms of a state system devised to extinguish an
entire people. Remarkably, the recent publication of Talaat Pasha’s
diary dispositively confirms what Ambassador Morgenthau reported and
wrote at the beginning of the last century."

While in Constantinople, Ambassador Morgenthau had personal contact
with the Young Turk leaders of the Ottoman Empire and architects
of the Armenian Genocide, especially the Minister of the Interior,
Talaat. When news of the deportations and massacres began to reach the
Embassy in April 1915, Ambassador Morgenthau attempted to intervene
to alleviate the plight of the Armenian population. He forwarded to
Washington the stream of alarming reports he received from U.S.

consulates in the interior of the Ottoman Empire that detailed the
extent of the measures taken against the Armenians.

On July 16, 1915, Morgenthau cabled the U.S. Department of State his
own dispatch whose alarm resonates to this day. He called the Young
Turk policy of deportation "a campaign of race extermination." In
effect, he became the first person to officially transmit to the
American government news that a state-sponsored systematic genocide
was underway.

Drained by his disappointment in averting this disaster, Ambassador
Morgenthau returned to the United States in 1916. For the remainder of
the war years he dedicated himself to raising funds for the surviving
Armenians. Ambassador Morgenthau was particularly instrumental in the
founding of the Near East Relief organization which became the main
U.S. private agency to deliver critical assistance to the survivors
of the Armenian Genocide.

To bring his case to the attention of the public, he published
"Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story" in 1918, a memoir of his years in
Turkey in which he stressed the German influence and role in the
Ottoman Empire. While he held Germany responsible for starting World
War I, he placed the blame for the atrocities committed against the
Armenians entirely upon the shoulders of the Young Turk Ittihadist
cabinet which he characterized as a violently radical regime.

Ambassador Morgenthau titled the chapter on the Armenians "The Murder
of a Nation," and described the deportations and the atrocities as a
"cold-blooded, calculating state policy." He avowed at the time "I
am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no
such horrible episode as this."

ARMENIA FM TO VISIT JAPAN

armradio.am
25.11.2009 11:35

At the invitation of the Government of Japan, the Foreign Minister
of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, will pay an official visit to Japan
November 25-27.

Minister Nalbandian is expected to meet Crown Prince Naruhito and
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Edward Nalbandian will make a speech at the Foreign Relations Institute
of Japan. In Tokyo the Armenian Foreign Minister will have meetings
in the Parliament and the Foreign Trade Organization of Japan.

PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF CYPRUS CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
25.11.2009 13:32

President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Marios Garoyian
has underlined the need to restore the historic truth as regards the
Armenian Genocide.

"We ask for justice. We demand the restoration of the historic truth,
not its falsification, which is the attempt of the Turkish government,
which uses methods and so called initiatives for peace with Armenia,"
he stressed.

Speaking after a mass at the Armenian Church in Nicosia, he said
that "on days like this one, I believe we have the duty to remember
the Armenian Genocide and reaffirm our steadfast faith towards the
struggle for international recognition of that terrible crime which
marked the fate and the course of the Armenian people."

THE OSCE PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
25.11.2009 15:01

Kazakhstan will assume OSCE Presidency in 2010. For the first
time a CIS member state will preside over the OSCE for a year. The
perspectives of Armenian-Kazakh cooperation were discussed today at
a conference in Yerevan initiated by the Kazakh Embassy in Armenia
and the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation.

How can Armenia benefit from the OSCE presidency of its partner
country? The OSCE is important to us primarily from the point of view
of the activity of the Minsk Group.

"The OSCE plays a pivotal role in the settlement of the Karabakh
issue. We highly appreciate the mediating efforts of the Minsk Group
Co-Chairs and we are confident that the negotiations should continue
exceptionally in this format," said Victor Biyujov, representative
of the OSCE Division of the MFA Department of Europe.

"Kazakhstan has not undertaken to solve unrealistic issues. We do not
prioritize the protection of the interests of the CIS countries only,"
Kazakhstan’s Charge d’Affaires Nurbolat Alinbayev said.

"It’s not true that Kazakhstan has a pro-Azerbaijani position in the
Karabakh issue. Kazakhsta’s stance is unbiased," Nurbolat Alinbayev
told reporters. There is the Minsk Group to solve this issue, he said,
adding that Kazakhstan is not going to interference in the process. It
will just be glad to help if possible. The representative of Kazakhstan
refrained to comment Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s bellicose
statements.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALEXANDER MANASYAN: ALIYEV’S BELLICOSE STATEMENTS CAN BE IGNORED
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
25.11.2009 15:52

Alexander Manasyan, Head of the Philosophy and Logics Chair of the
Yerevan State University, considers that the bellicose statement of
the Azerbaijani President ahead of the Munich meetings is not worth
discussing much. He does not think the statement can be viewed as
a ultimatum.

According to the analyst, it can even be ignored, since it was
addressed to the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Turkey and Azerbaijan rather
than Armenia. He believes it is one of the tricks of Azerbaijani
propaganda.

Touching upon the Munich meeting, Alexander Manasyan stressed much
should not be expected from such meetings, until the real format of
the talks is resumed, i.e. until Nagorno Karabakh becomes a party to
the talks.

"16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE" CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
25.11.2009 16:52

A campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence" aiming to
increase public awareness on gender-based violence was launched today
in Yerevan.

The campaign is carried out jointly by Armenian authorities, the UN
Resident Coordinator a.i., UNFPA, UNDP, UNDPI, UNHCR, as well as by
civil society organizations and media.

Ms. Lala Ghazaryan, the Head of family, women and children issues
department within the Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Issues
presented the current challenges and results achieved by the government
in the field of combating gender based violence. Also, the message
of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, on the International Day
for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was read out to the
audience. "In every country, women and girls continue to be plagued
by violence, causing tremendous suffering. Such violence undermines
development, generates instability, and makes peace that much harder
to achieve. We must demand accountability for the violations, and
take concrete steps to end impunity. We must listen to and support
the survivors." UN Secreatary-General, Ban Ki Moon.

Ms. Jina Sargizova, UNFPA National coordinator of "Combating Gender
Based Violence in the South Caucasus" project and "16 Days" campaign in
Armenia talked about various activities, such as press conferences,
public hearings, public service announcements broadcasting, film
screenings, roundtable discussions with participation of refugees,
rural women and local government representatives, youth and journalists
in Yerevan and throughout Armenia. UNFPA is organizing these activities
together with governmental and non-governmental partners.

The planned activities focus on cultural and national aspects of
violence against women, including domestic violence, trafficking and
HIV/AIDS twin pandemics, men’s participation and role in combating
gender-based violence and the importance of the youth involvement.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international
campaign that runs from November 25, the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, International
Human Rights Day and symbolically links gender violence and human
rights issues.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including
December 1, World AIDS Day, December 2, International Day for the
Abolition of Slavery and December 6, the anniversary of the 1989
"Montreal Massacre".

OSCE MONITORING REGISTERS NO CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS

armradio.am
25.11.2009 16:58

On November 25, in accordance with the earlier achieved agreement with
the NKR authorities the OSCE mission conducted Á regular monitoring of
the line of contact of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani Armed Forces
near Yusifjanli settlement.

>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was conducted
by Coordinator of the OSCE Office, Lieutenant-Colonel Imre Palatinus
(Hungary) and Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Irji Aberle (the Czech Republic) and Zhaslan
Nurtazin (Kazakhstan).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the planned schedule. No
violation of cease-fire regime was registered.

The monitoring mission from the Karabakhi side was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

GOVERNMENT WANTS GRAND CANDY TO RAISE ITS COMPETITIVENESS

ARKA
Nov 25, 2009

YEREVAN, November 25, /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian
visited Grand Candy company Tuesday saying the government is interested
in raising its competitiveness.

Speaking to journalists after walking around the company he said the
number one task of the company is to improve its productivity and
become highly competitive.

"We are interested in this not only because the company employs some
2000 Armenian citizens, but also because it is a key Armenian company,’
he said to journalists.

The prime minister commended the company for using local products
for production of a wide variety of confectionaries, which he says
creates related jobs in agriculture and services sectors.

Grand Candy was founded in 2000 and shortly afterwards it became
the leading Armenian confectionary company producing 300 verities
of sweeties, candies, ice-cream, tarts, chocolates and so. It is the
only company in the South Caucasus which processes cocoa beans.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SIGNS DECREE ON RECRUITMENT AND DEMOBILIZATION OF RESERVE FORCE MEDICAL OFFICERS

ArmInfo
2009-11-25 15:31:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed decree on Tuesday
on recruitment and demobilization of the reserve force medical
officers, the presidential press-service reported.

Thus, the first group of reserve medical officers under 35 will be
recruited in December for 2 years of service. Demobilization of the
same category of officers will be announced in the same period of time.

VICTORY OVER ‘SEVAN APPETITES’ OF GEOPROMINING IS PUBLIC VICTORY: LOCAL ECOLOGICAL EXPERT

ArmInfo
2009-11-25 15:20:00

ArmInfo. Victory over "Sevan Appetites" of GeoProMining Company (GPM)
is the victory of the public, Ingan Zarafyan, EcoLur NGO, told ArmInfo.

Earlier in 2008 GeoProMining Company announced an intention to build
a gold-reprocessing enterprise in the area of Sevan basin despite the
ban on such activity in the area of Lake Sevan. Caring for its own
economic interests and permanently complaining that construction of
the reprocessing plant in Ararat and Gagarino is not profitable, the
company has been insisting on a project of moving the enterprise to the
area of Sotk gold deposit for over a year. As a result, a large-scale
campaign "SOS Sevan" has been launched. Organizations from the USA,
Great Britain, Mexico, Venezuella, Kirghizia, Bulgaria and Uruguay have
already joined the campaign "SOS Sevan". Ecologists have repeatedly
alarmed that the project does not reflect such hazards like 100 tons
of toxic waste, hundreds of hectares of dead areas, a cyanide tailing
with cyanide compounds, arsenic, antimony, pyrites and etc. These
toxic elements will penetrate into the ground waters that pour into the
water basin of Lake Sevan. The plant will comprise a gold-mining plant,
cyanides’ and pesticides’ stock, and a dump-tail of the cyanide wastes.

I. Zarafyan recalled the statements by Vladimir Movsisyan, Commission
on Lake Sevan, saying that construction of the re-processing plant
in the area of Sotk is a closed issue. "Such statement voiced during
the visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Gegharkunik region
in November was essential, since the Commission on Sevan had never
put the issue of Sotk on agenda before despite our demands and
statements," she said. "V. Movsisyan used to give the same answer:
"It is senseless speaking of the plant’s movement to Sotk because it
is banned by the law." Now, one can suppose from his words that GPM
had actually launched that process, which was stopped thanks to the
political will of the president," she said.

Inga Zarafyan highlighted that the public has declared its last word in
the case of "Sevan Appetities" of GeoProMining. "Public has strongly
opposed the project. Everyone, starting from public organizations
up to ecologists have actively fought that project so dangerous for
Sevan," she said.