Month: February 2012

WHAT AZERIS DON’T WANT TO ADMIT ABOUT KHOJALY

asbarez

Friday, February 24th, 2012

YEREVAN, NEW YORK-A new documentary about the events between November
1991 and February 1992 in Karabakh was screened Friday. The film
recounts the shattering of the blockade of Stepanakert (capital city
of Nagorno Karabakh Republic), as well as criminal activities of the
political elite of Baku which led to the tragic deaths of civilians
in Khojaly, Panorama.am.

A two-part documentary, entitled “Between hunger and fire: Power at
the expense of lives,” presents compelling evidence about criminal
activities of Baku’s political elite, which victimized women, the
elderly and children.

The research group, which initiated the film-investigation, reports
that the documentary for now will be screened in Russian and English,
while it will be translated into seven more languages.

Using a vast trove of materials, the film will be of interest not only
for wider audience, but also for research and the academic community.

The archive, assembled during the investigation of tragic death of
civilians in Armenian-populated Stepanakert and Azerbaijani-controlled
Aghdam region, entails grounds for a wider-scale film. The latter will
counter and shed light on a range of misinformation by Azerbaijan,
which was tasked to deport the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic from their ancestral homeland.

Meanwhile in the United States, a group calling itself the Azerbaijan
America Alliance has launched a massive propaganda campaign of
misinformation on the Azeri version of the Khojaly issue. Full-page
advertisements headlined “Khojaly: A Human Tragedy Against Azerbaijan”
appeared in the national editions of the New York Times on Friday
and the Washington Post on Saturday. Advertisements have also been
placed in Washington Metro stations, buses, bus shelters and other
transportation venues in Washington and New York.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN TO VISIT VIETNAM THIS YEAR

armradio.am
25.02.2012 11:52

Within the framework of the visit to Hanoy, Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with the President of the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam, Truong Tan Sang.

Sang particularly thanked Armenia for helping to train Vietnamese
cadres and students in the past. “Many of our citizens studied in
Armenia and now implement their knowledge in the development of our
country, and the people of Vietnam are grateful to Armenia for this
support. Today we attach importance to the relations with independent
Armenia and wish to take steps in that direction.

The President of Vietnam reconfirmed his invitation to his Armenian
counterpart. Minister Nalbandian informed, in turn, that President
Serzh Sargsyan will visit Vietnam in the first half of the current
year. The parties expressed confidence that the forthcoming visit
will greatly enhance the relations between the two friendly countries.

The President of Vietnam and the Armenian Foreign Minister discussed
the steps to be taken to boost the development of bilateral ties and
dwelt on the integration processes taking place in the Asian region.

In this context, President Sang said his country could serve as a to
link Armenia with ASEAN member countries.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Vietnam Pham Binh Minh and
Edward Nalbandian also held talks in Hanoi. They referred to the
development of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional
and international issues.

Minister Nalbandian presented the main directions and priorities of
Armenia’s foreign policy and, the steps taken towards establishment
of cooperation and security in the Caucasus, the latest developments
on the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue. In this regard
Vietnam’s Foreign Minister expressed his support for the peaceful
resolution of the issue on the basis of principles of international
law.

The parties exchanged views on the events taking place in the Middle
East.

Minister Nalbandian next visited the Diplomatic Academy, where
he delivered a speech on Armenia’s foreign policy and the
Armenian-Vietnamese relations.

From: Baghdasarian

FEBRUARY 25 LEGENDARY ARMENIAN HERO ANDRANIK OZANYAN’S BIRTHDAY

Tert.am
25.02.12

Today marks the 147th birthday anniversary of the legendary Armenian
freedom fighter and general, public and political activist Andranik
Ozanyan.

Andranik Ozanyan (was born in the church quarter of Shabin Karahisar,
Ottoman Empire (present-day Å~^ebinkarahisar,Giresun Province, Turkey).

His mother died when he was one year old, so his elder sister Nazeli
took care of him. Antranik finished the local Musheghian school and
became an apprentice in his father’s carpentry shop.

After losing his wife and son at an early age, Andranik joined the
Armenian freedom movement in the Ottoman Empire, and participated
in various political parties, including Armenian Revolutionary
Federation. He met the military commander Aghbiur Serob and joined
his fedayeen. After the death of Serob (1899) he became the common
leader of Armenian fedayee groups of Vaspurakan and Sassoun (Western
Armenia). All of Andranik’s lieutenants accepted that their leader
possessed undisputed authority and superiority in military matters
and that he was “primus inter pares” (the first among equals). Such
was the popularity Andranik earned among the men he led that they
came to refer to him always by his first name – even formally, when
he later held a general’s rank in the Imperial Russian Army.

During World War I, he participated in the Caucasus Campaign and was
appointed as general of the Armenian volunteer units of the Russian
army. He participated in 20 different offensives where he gained fame
due to his courage and the tactics he employed to defeat the opposing
forces. The Russian authorities made Andranik a Major General in 1918
and decorated him six times for gallantry.

He was the commanding officer of the Armenian volunteer units, which
helped the Van Resistance take control of Van on May 6, 1915. He
helped re-capture the city from Ottoman forces during the Battle
of Van. He was also the commander of the battalion that took the
city of Bitlis (see: Battle of Bitlis) from the Ottoman forces that
was under control of Halil Pasha. Between March 1918 – April 1918,
he was the governor of the Administration for Western Armenia (The
Armenian provisional government of a progressive autonomous region
that initially set up around Lake Van). His military leadership was
instrumental in allowing the Armenian population of Van to escape the
Ottoman Army and flee to Eastern Armenia, then controlled by Russia.

The territory later became the Democratic Republic of Armenia.

After the formation of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (DRA), he
organized and fought alongside volunteer units to combat the Ottoman
army. Andranik was leading his army in combat against the Ottomans
during the signing of the Treaty of Batum, and refused to accept the
borders stated by the treaty. As the commander of Armenian forces
at Nakhitchevan, he “has protected in the name of the Armenian Army
against the peace treaty with Turkey, and has declared that his army
is determined to continue the war against Turks”.His activities were
concentrated at the link between the Ottoman Empire and the Azerbaijan
Democratic Republic atKarabakh, Zanghezur and Nakhichevan. Ozanian
struck back at the Ottoman Fronts, Army of Islam. He was particularly
prominent in the destruction of Muslim settlements and in the planned
ethnic homogenisation of regions with once mixed population through
populating them with Armenian refugees from Turkey.

Andranik tried several times to seize Shusha. Just before the Armistice
of Mudros was signed, Andranik was on the way from Zangezur to Shusha,
to control the main city of Karabakh. In January 1919 Armenian troops
advancing, the British forces (General William M.

Thomson) ordered Andranik back to Zangezur, and gave him assurances
that a favorable treaty would be reached at the Paris Peace Conference,
of 1919.

In 1919 he left Armenia amid political turmoil and power struggles
and went into exile in Fresno, California, United States. The New York
Times reported, that among the passengers who arrived on November 22,
1919 from Havre on the French liner Savoie to ask US for a mandate
“was General Ozanian Antranik, the hero of Armenia, who held out at
Zangezour with a handful of troops against the Turkish Army until
he was relieved on Dec. 13, 1918, by a British expeditionary force,
more than a month after the armistice was signed, and saved 30,000
starving refugees”.He was accompanied on the Savoie by General Jaques
Bagratuni, Captain Haig Bonapartian, and Lieutenant Ter-Pogossian.

Andranik Ozanian lived in Fresno for 5 years until his death on August
31, 1927 at the age of 62. According to county records, he died at
Richardson Springs, Chico, in Northern California. According to the New
York Times, more than 2500 members of the Armenian community attended
memorial services in Carnegie Hall for General Andranik Ozanian.

ARMENIAN STATE APPARATUS IS UNPREDICTABLE IN TERMS OF TELECOMMUNICATION

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 11:50

AGHVERAN. – Armenia’s regions have problems in connection with
developing telecommunication, Transport and Communication Deputy
Minister Andranik Aleksanyan stated during a seminar, being held in
Aghveran village, which is devoted to telecommunication.

In his words, however, the situation is relatively better in the
capital Yerevan, and there is competition.

In his turn, Orange Armenia Company representative Vahe Hovhannisyan
noted that the business does not clearly know what the state wants
to do, specifically in the regions. He argued that very often they
are taken by surprise by the programs of the state.

Yerevan City Hall representative Sargis Manukyan said the activities
of the telecommunication operator companies are not regulated, and
the networks are unsafe.

And as per Vahe Danielyan, the Economy Minister’s advisor, the state
has two documents on the telecommunication domain: the information
and telecommunication strategy, and the “road map” for establishing
an information society.

From: A. Papazian

GREATER WASHINGTON DC AREA ARMENIAN AMERICANS MARK AZERBAIJANI MASSACRES IN SUMGAIT, KIROVABAD, BAKU

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 10:40

WASHINGTON, DC. – Greater Washington, DC area Armenian Americans braved
the cold and rain earlier today to mourn the victims of Azerbaijani
aggression and stand in solidarity with the people of the independent
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, in their effort to secure a fair and
lasting peace.

The silent protest, organized by the Greater Washington, DC Armenian
Youth Federation “Ani” Chapter and the St. Mary’s Armenian Church
Youth Organization (ACYO), coincided with the 24th anniversary of
the Azerbaijani pogroms against the Armenian population of Sumgait,
which set the stage for attacks in Baku in 1990, outright Azerbaijani
aggression, and a cycle of anti-Armenian violence that continues
to this day. The demonstrators also called special attention to
Azerbaijan’s destruction of the 1,300 year old Armenian cemetery
in Djulfa, Nakhichevan, demolishing thousands of intricately carved
cross-stones (Khatchkars).

“We gathered at the Azerbaijani Embassy to remember those who perished
in Sumgait and Baku, but to also condemn the Aliyev regime’s ongoing
threats and attacks against Artsakh and Armenia,” said AYF Ani Chapter
Chairwoman Tevin Polatian. “Just this week, another Armenian soldier
was killed by an Azerbaijani sniper – an all too common occurrence
resulting from an international community that turns a blind eye to
Aliyev’s military build-up and attacks. We will continue to stand
strong with the Republic of Karabakh, as they continue to defend
their right to self-determination – a fundamental value the U.S. was
founded upon.”

Following the vigil, Soorp Khatch Armenian Church pastor, Fr. Sarkis
Aktavoukian and St. Mary’s Armenian Church Pastor, Fr. Hovsep
Karapetyan led activists in a prayer in honor of the Sumgait,
Kirovabad, and Baku victims. Participants lit candles and brought
pictures of those who perished in the massacres – making a memorial
in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy.

In what has now become an expected practice at annual Armenian
Genocide and Sumgait/Baku pogroms commemorative protests, flag-wearing
Azerbaijani and Turkish protesters jovially celebrated the atrocities,
dishonoring the memory of those who perished. This year’s counter
protesters included a group of teenagers from a neighborhood home,
who apparently participated as part of an after-school “drinking game.”

ASK CONGRESS TO PRESS CLINTON FOR ANSWERS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 11:23

WASHINGTON, DC. – Below is an appeal from Elizabeth Chouldjian,
ANCA Communications Director.

Dear Friend,

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in the wake of her offensive
dismissal of the Armenian Genocide “as a matter for historical debate,”
will testify and answer questions before four separate U.S.

House and Senate panels this coming week.

Please take a few minutes today to call on your Senators and
Representative to ask Secretary Clinton questions about her offensive
remarks and on the full range of other issues of special importance
to Armenian American voters.

Please click here to get the names and phone numbers of your Senators
and Representative as a well as a relevant sample phone script
for each.

You will be asked to provide your ZIP code, and our alert system will
guide you through the calls to your Senators and Representative. The
phone script will change depending on whether your elected officials
are on the key committees or not.

All four of these hearings will be webcast live, so please watch to
see if your elected representatives act on your request. Links will
be posted on the ANCA website – .

Tuesday, February 28th at 10:00 pm: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
on State-Foreign Operations

Tuesday, February 28th at 2:00 pm: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Wednesday, February 29th at 10:00 am: House Appropriations Subcommittee
on State-Foreign Operations

Wednesday, February 29th at 2:00 pm: House Committee of Foreign Affairs

Please let us know when you have made your calls to your Senate and
House members by filling in the forms on the action alert pages or
emailing [email protected]

All best,

Elizabeth Chouldjian

NKR ARMY FORMER COMMANDER STAYS AT DELUXE SUITE OF RADISSON ROYAL MOSCOW HOTEL – NEWSPAPER

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 09:27

YEREVAN. – Well-informed sources have learned that Samvel Babayan,
former commander of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army, is in
Moscow these days, Zhoghovurd daily writes.

“What is more, according to the same sources, Babayan currently lives
at the deluxe suite of Radisson Royal Moscow Hotel. Zhoghovurd
telephoned Babayan’s wife, but to no avail. She responded to
our questions with just: ‘I don’t know.’ To note, putting up as
collateral in Armenia’s banks the houses belonging to several former
and incumbent officials [and] to many of his former friends, Samvel
Babayan has disappeared. And no one can find him for a long time,”
Zhoghovurd writes.

FORMER ARMENIAN POLICE CHIEF’S THREE “VICTIMS” – NEWSPAPER

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 09:16

YEREVAN. – Hovhannes Ghazaryan (a.k.a. Gas Hovo), who used to head the
Artashat city department of ArmRusGazprom Company, made interesting
announcements among his friends, Yerkir daily writes.

“He became more recognized with his frequent clashes with former
[National Assembly] NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan and his brother. Our
sources claim that Gas Hovo regretfully confessed that he had fallen
under the influence of former Police Chief Alik Sargsyan, and had done
everything that Sargsyan had instructed. The most noteworthy in all
this is that Alik Sargsyan had allegedly comforted Gas Hovo by saying:
‘You do your work without a worry, the President is informed.’ It
turns out that, by way of Gas Hovo, Alik Sargsyan worked against Hovik
Abrahamyan, to limit his influence in Artashat, [and] possibly also
to remove him from the political field. If we add to this [the fact]
that Sargsyan also had his contribution in the dismissal of Vardges
Hovakimyan-former Governor of Ararat Region-and in the launching
of a criminal case against him, and former Road Police Chief Margar
Ohanyan’s recent statements-with respect to the former Police Chief’s
role in the singling out against him-we would have a quite interesting
picture,” Yerkir writes.

SOME MEMBERS OF ARMENIAN RULING PARTY’S EXECUTIVE BODY WILL LEAVE – NEWSPAPER

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 09:03

YEREVAN. – Aside from its proportional election list for the upcoming
parliamentary elections, the ruling coalition’s Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) is also discussing these days the changes to be made
in its Executive Body (EB), 168 Zham daily writes.

“RPA approves the makeup of its EB during its congress, which is
convened once every two years. [And] It will do the same during its
congress on March 10. This time some RPA EB members will leave [EB],
[and] they will be replaced by new ones. According to our information,
[National Assembly] NA MP Harutyun Pambukyan, who is not in the
country, will not be EB member this time. In all probability, the
Medical University Rector Derenik Dumanyan likewise will leave the EB.

They will probably be replaced by NA Speaker Samvel Nikoyan and
[capital] Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan. The fates of Diaspora
Minister Hranush Hakobyan and former Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan
are still unclear. They, too, could leave the EB and be replaced
by NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov and Education and Science
Minister Armen Ashotyan. [But] RPA deputy chairmen Razmik Zohrabyan
and Galust Sahakyan, as well as former NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
will probably remain EB members,” 168 Zham daily writes.

CZECH ARMENIANS GIVE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO EVENT ON KHOJALY INCIDENT

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 10:38

The Armenians living in the Czech Republic gave an appropriate response
to the event, which Azerbaijanis organized in Prague, devoted to the
anniversary of the Khojaly incidents.

The Azerbaijani Embassy organized, on Friday in a Prague square, and
event devoted to the 20th anniversary of the incidents that occurred
in Khojaly.

The Embassy pitched a tent and raised the Azerbaijani flag beside it.

The objective of the event was to preach the official Azerbaijani
version of the incidents in Khojaly. And to carry this out, they
distributed free food and sold Azerbaijani souvenirs. There also were
commercial advertisements in the tent.

Once the event got underway, however, several Czech Armenians began
distributing, beside the tent, flyers which expose the Azerbaijani
falsification. Also, the Armenian activists entered the tent and
continued distributing the flyers. In addition, they presented to the
panic-stricken Azerbaijanis the truth behind the tragedy in Khojaly.

Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s ambassadors to the Czech Republic also
arrived on the scene.

But in general, the protest was carried out without incidents.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress