Month: September 2013

TORONTO HOSTS GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS UNIVERSITY PROGRAM

September 3, 2013 – 15:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Zoryan Institute’s twelfth annual Genocide and
Human Rights University Program (GHRUP) was held in Toronto, Canada,
in August, amid atrocities and human rights violations in Syria,
Egypt, and several countries in the Middle East and Africa.

According to gagrule.net, this year, 22 students from ten countries
met to study with ten distinguished genocide scholars. Many of the
students come from backgrounds where gross violations of human rights
and genocide are part of their national or personal experience,
such as Kurds, Nigerians, Pakistanis, Armenians and Jews.

The Course Director, Prof. Joyce Apsel of New York University, noted,
“Several students who are teachers commented on how much they learned
from watching the pedagogy of different instructors, as well as from
the course content. Other students consulted me and other instructors
about which directions and schools to pursue for graduate education.

They proved to be an outstanding group of students, and it was a
privilege to have two weeks in and out of the classroom to exchange
ideas and interests.”

“It was remarkable to see descendants of perpetrator and victim groups
in the Armenian Genocide -students of Armenian, Kurdish and Turkish
backgrounds – find common interests with each other, and within the
academic environment of the program and, based on historical facts,
explore issues of stereotypes, memory, denial and reconciliation
together, seeing each other through the prism of humanity,” said a
statement from the Zoryan Institute.

Realizing that there was a significant gap in the university curriculum
concerning genocide, the Zoryan Institute began planning for a unique
course entitled “The Genocide and Human Rights University Program”
in the summer of 2001.

The course ran successfully in Toronto in August 2002 as a pilot
project under the directorship of Lorne Shirinian. It attracted
students from Armenia, Australia, Canada, England, France, Japan
and the United States. The participants finished the course with a
strong commitment to the ideals of human rights, and the desire to
pursue genocide studies at an advanced academic level. Three students
who attended the pilot course made presentations at the prestigious
Biennial Conference of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars (IAGS) in Galway, Ireland following the course.

The Zoryan Institute and its subsidiary, the International Institute
for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, is the first non-profit,
international center devoted to the research and documentation of
contemporary issues with a focus on genocide, diaspora and Armenia.

AVAN SHUSHI PLAZA HOTEL HOSTS ANNUAL POETRY FESTIVAL

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013

Participants of the AVAN Shushi poetry contest

SHUSHI, Artsakh-AVAN Shushi Plaza Hotel is pleased to announce the
holding of its 2nd Poetry Festival in Shushi. The event which was
held in Avan Shushi Plaza hotel took place on Tuesday August 06,
2013 through Thursday August 8.

More than 90 students ranging in age from 9 to 16 took part in the
2nd annual poetry contest. Students from Tehran, Javakhk, Yerevan and
every region of Artsakh took part in this year’s festival. Students
were grouped into three age groups and competed for prizes in each
age group.

Poetry organizing committee consisted of Alec Baghdasaryan,
President of Avan Ishkhan Partnership Group, Dr. Artsron Avakyan,
Dean of Language, President of the organizing committee; Dr. Gourgen
Melikyan, Dean of Eastern Armenian Studies; Dr. Samvel Mouradian,
Dean of Armenian Literature, Yerevan State University; as well as
Armenian Poetry stars, Mrs. Lala Mnacakanyan and Mrs. Anna Hekikian
who along with Mrs. Naira Martirosyan, education Ministry of Artsakh,
acted as the Jury for the contest.

“We are very excited about the success of our 2nd annual Poetry
Festival,” said Alec Baghdasaryan. “We believe every participating
student was a winner given the opportunity to visit Shushi, form
friendships and to listen to other students as well as Armenia’s poetry
stars perform.” Tours were organized for participating students to
visit Gandzasar, Tigranakert, Stepanakert, Shushi Ghazanchecoc churh
and other touristic sites in Artsakh.

Avan Ishkhan partnership, is continuously looking for ways to return
Shushi to its past glory as a cultural center for Armenians by taking
on projects which will contribute to development of Shushi as a
cultural center. We believe that our Poetry Festival is a fitting
event to be conducted in Shushi annually. We are committed to the
continued success of this project and energized with this year’s
success will work with other Diaspora schools and organizations,
to expand the list of countries participating in the future poetry
festivals. Our goal is to expand the festival in coming years to
include students from Diaspora schools as contest participants as well
as guest presenters from around the world to enrich the program. Avan
Ishkhan Partnership projects include development of the Avan Shushi
Plaza Hotel, the Eastern Shouka (Bazzar), the Eastern Bath as well
as many other historic buildings in the heart of Shushi.

FAAE SENT CONDOLENCES ON LEVON ANANYAN’S DEATH

11:15, 3 September, 2013

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: The administration of the Forum
of Armenian Associations of Europe (FAAE), headed by the President
Ashot Grigorian, sent condolences on the occasion of the death of the
President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan. As reported
by Armenpress, the FAAE message says as follows: “The administration of
the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe and the FAAE President
Ashot Grigorian express their condolences on the occasion of the
death of the President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia, the renowned
writer and public figure Levon Ananyan to his family and relatives and
consider that the loss is irretrievable for the entire Armenian nation.

Everybody knows Levon Ananyan to be a bight partner of the youth
of 70s. By now Levon has remained a freedom fighter of honesty and
justice, proving his principled commitment to the Armenian culture,
the Armenian nation and the highest values of the humanity in general.

Levon Ananyan was a personality and his loss is undoubtedly
irretrievable”.

On September 2 the President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon
Ananyan passed away in Yerevan at the age of 67.

Levon Ananyan was born on October 13, 1946 in Koghb village of Tavush
region. In 1964 he graduated from secondary school in Tavush. Levon
Ananyan is a graduate of the Yerevan State University, Department
of Philology. He has worked for a number of state journals. For
approximately 25 years he worked for the “Garoun” monthly. In 1989,
he became a member of the Writers Union of Armenia, and from 1990 –
2001 he was chief editor for “Garoun”. In 2001, he was elected the
President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia. He lectured at the Yerevan
State University Department of Journalism. He is the president of the
Noyemberyan NGO. He is also a member of the Journalists’ Union. He
has authored many articles on social and political issues, which have
been printed in the state press. He has also translated and published
Russian and English books to the Armenian language; he founded “Apollo”
Publishers (The biography according to Wikipedia free encyclopedia).

Armenpress news agency expresses its condolences to Levon Ananyan’s
family and relatives and shares the grief of its director Aram Ananyan.

ARTSAKH MARKS 22 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013

State officials and guests participated in celebrating the 22nd
Anniversary of the Independence of Artsakh

STEPANAKERT–On September 2, the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, Bako Sahakyan, partook in the festive events dedicated
to the 22nd anniversary of the Artsakh Republic’s proclamation of
independence.

The President visited the Stepanakert Memorial Complex and laid flowers
at the monuments of freedom-fighters who perished for the independence
and freedom of Artsakh. He also laid flowers at the resting place
of the first Speaker of the National Assembly of Arstakh, Arthur
Lazarian, among others.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Primate of the Artsakh
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan,
Arstakh National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghоulyan, Prime Minister
Ara Haroutunyan, Armenian and Artsakh officials, representatives of
the Diaspora, and guests from abroad also attended the events.

“This is a magnificent state holiday, which we traditionally celebrate
with great pride and responsibility,” President Bako Sahakyan said in
his address issued on the occasion of the Day of the Artsakh Republic.

“We’re proud of the heroic people who gained freedom and independence
through the blood of their brave sons and now continue to carve their
own future. We feel responsibility for strengthening the statehood
created through these enormous sacrifices, developing this native land,
and leaving a strong and prosperous homeland for the generations to
come,” Sahakyan said.

President Sahakyan called on the people of Armenia and the Diaspora
to join them in their “daily, painstaking work” in confronting the
issues that face Artsakh.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian also issued an address on the
occasion of the anniversary.

“Dear Artsakhians, today, on this great day, Armenians all over the
world together with you say “Yes.” “Yes” to democracy and universal
human values, “No” to anti-Armenian fascism and the whims of dictators.

“Today, on this great day we state that the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh, as a state, continues to develop comprehensively. The
peaceful toil and creative work of the people of Artsakh have already
cardinally and positively changed its outlook. There are some countries
in this world which are officially recognized by the international
community, but who dream of having the internal orderliness and
stability that Artsakh enjoys; its level of democracy and political
freedom. And all this despite the fact that the people of Artsakh
are compelled to use only one hand for work, because the other must
still hold a weapon.”

Sarkisian added, “Certainly, there is still much to be done; serious
problems still exist ranging from everyday life problems to political
and military issues. However, one thing is clear for us all: there
is no return to the prison cell of a medieval khanate.”

EU SAYS ARMENIA BLOCKED FREE-TRADE DEAL

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevièius

VILNIUS, Lithuania (Agence France Presse)–Armenia has blocked
its chances of signing a free trade deal with the European Union by
choosing to join the Russia-led customs union, EU president Lithuania
said Tuesday.

The EU respects the decision announced by Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian in Moscow earlier Tuesday, but the two systems are
incompatible, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP.

“We respect any choice of countries but they cannot enter both
organizations at the same time because of different tariff
requirements,” he said.

After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Sarkisian
said he had decided to join the 2010 Customs Union that Moscow
currently shares with ex-Soviet Belarus and Kazakhstan.

According to Putin’s vision, the Russian-led Customs Union, is the
foundation of a future Eurasian economic union with its own executive
body and a single currency.

Armenia had been poised to initial an association and free trade
agreement with EU at a November summit in Vilnius with six post-Soviet
states grouped in the Brussels-oriented Eastern Partnership program.

Lithuania, which took over the six-month rotating EU presidency in
July, has actively promoted the partnership.

Launched in 2009, it is aimed at bringing post-Soviet Ukraine,
Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia closer to the EU,
something which Moscow sees as encroaching on its sphere of influence.

Vilnius University analyst Vytis Jurkonis said Tuesday Armenia’s move
was “part of the bigger game” by Russia which has recently warned
Ukraine and Moldova that deals with EU may harm their economic ties
with Moscow.

“Russia is increasing pressure on Eastern Partnership countries so they
do not sign association treaties” with Brussels, Jurkonis told AFP.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, Linkevicius and seven other
ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian
pressure on post-Soviet states.

“Any economic threat or political pressure directed against Eastern
partners because of their European aspirations and engagement with
the EU is unacceptable,” they said.

Russia has for years tried to get neighbouring Ukraine to join the
Customs Union.

Kiev has so far resisted the pressure and hopes to sign a landmark
political and economic agreement with the EU at the Vilnius summit.

From: Baghdasarian

WHERE DID ARMENIAN OFFICIALS SPEND THEIR SUMMER VACATION? – NEWSPAPER

September 03, 2013 | 08:47

YEREVAN. – Haykakan Zhamanak daily took an interest in as to where
Armenia’s several senior officials spent their summer holidays.

“Health Minister Derenik Dumanyan spent most of his rest overseas.

Following his business trip to the US, the minister rested there,
subsequently, four more days in Artsakh [i.e., Nagorno-Karabakh].

“Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan made use of ten working days from
her vacation and organized her rest in the Czech Republic, to solve
her health issues.

“Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan spent his holidays in [Armenia’s]
Jermuk [city] with his family.

“Economy Minister Vahram Avanesyan did not go on vacation because he
is in office ever since May 2013.

“NA [i.e., National Assembly] Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan spent a part
of his vacation abroad, the other part, in Armenia.

“Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan did not make use of the opportunity
to vacation.

“[National] Olympic Committee of Armenia President [and Prosperous
Armenia Party Chairman] Gagik Tsarukyan spent his summer vacation
abroad with his family,” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.

ARMENIA’S SEVAN PENINSULA TO HAVE CABLE CARS

September 03, 2013 | 01:39

A cableway will be built in Armenia’s Sevan Peninsula.

In 2009, Akhtamar company launched an investment program to create
tourism infrastructures, including for alpine skiing, in the area of
the peninsula.

To this end, equipment was imported under the Temporary Import
customs procedure.

But the time period for this procedure has expired, and therefore
the company petitioned to the Government with a request to extend
this customs procedure for three more years.

The aforesaid matter is put on the agenda of Thursday’s Cabinet
meeting.

MELKONIAN: EPOCH OF INDEPENDENT ARMENIAN STATEHOOD STARTS WITH NKR

The epoch of independent Armenian statehood’s restoration starts with
the independence of Artsakh. Asot Melkonian, Director of the institute
of History of Armenia’s Academy of National Sciences, expressed this
opinion during a talk with the correspondent of Aysor.am today when
speaking about the 22nd anniversary of the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.

He stressed that prior to the declaration of Armenia’s independence
on September 21, Nagorno Karabakh declared itself independent on
September 2, 1991, which was a unique event.

“As a manifestation of contemporary Armenian statehood, Artsakh
became a classic example for the Republic of Armenia – both in terms
of democracy and establishment,” Melkonian said.

In his words, many reforms which were at first successfully carried
out in the NKR, were later also implemented in Armenia.

Melkonian said that Armenia and Artsakh are very often bracketed, yet,
when speaking about Armenia, we should understand Armenia, Artsakh, and
Western Armenia, and when the matter concerns two Armenian statehoods,
the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh are meant.

From: Baghdasarian

HUNGARY ARMENIANS ASK GOVT. ABOUT SAFAROV ON ANNIVERSARY

Armenians protest in front of the Hungarian Embassy in Los Angeles,
September 2012

BUDAPEST-The community leadership of Armenians in Hungary has asked
Justice Minister Tibor Navracsics in a public letter whether Hungary
has turned to any international forum since the repatriation of Azeri
officer Ramil Safarov a year ago, politics.hureports.

Safarov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing an
Armenian officer in his sleep in Budapest in 2004, was transferred
back to his home country on August 31, 2012 under an extradition
agreement. Although Azerbaijan formally pledged that the life sentence
handed down to him in Hungary would be directly continued when he
was returned to his homeland, the Azerbaijani president granted
him a pardon and formally recognized him as a “national hero” upon
his arrival.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced the same day that Armenia
suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary.

Two days later State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Zsolt Nemeth summoned
the Azerbaijani ambassador to his office and condemned the Azerbaijani
step as unacceptable to Hungary in a diplomatic note.

In a public letter, the Hungarian Armenian community noted that
Safarov had committed a premeditated murder for a base reason,
calling his brutal act “a continuation of the Armenian genocide”.

“God’s fifth commandment – ‘You shall not murder’ – became weightless
in Budapest in August, 2012, when the government favored Azerbaijan
because of ‘national interests,'” the letter added.

In an interview with Armenpress, community leader Sevan Sargsyan said
about the anniversary, “Nothing has changed. We have just clearly
realized that the Hungarian government’s actions had been planned
beforehand.”

The Armenian community’s leadership asked in its public letter if
Hungary has turned to international forums with a complaint about
Azerbaijan’s action and what measures the government is going to take
to enforce the law.

But Sevan Sargsyan says the government seems to be content with
closing the books on the case.

“They are certain that the deal they made with Azerbaijan was fair
and legal. This case is closed for them and they do not intend to
apologize to Armenia,” Sargsyan said in his interview.

Sargsyan also remarked that Armenians no longer feel safe in Hungary,
feeling betrayed by the government and fearing that their human rights
come second to state interests.

Sargsyan noted, though, that the Armenian community continues to
press for justice.

“We strive to keep [this issue] alive and do not let anybody forget
the awful deed that was committed by the Hungarian government,”
Sargsyan said.

US BIGGEST ROLE-PLAYER IN MIDDLE EAST – EXPERT

15:36 03.09.13

The president of Modus Vivendi Center said Tuesday that the future
developments in Syria are likely to have a key importance for Armenia
and the Armenian people.

“The US, which has remained alone with its policies, receives
assistance only from Turkey and partially France,” Ara Papyan told
a news conference, addressing the conflict in Syria.

According to him, the Middle East faces a fuel supply problem today,
with the United States being considered the number one fuel exporting
country. As for Russia, he said, the country is interested to maintain
the tension to keep the oil prices rising.

“In my estimation, no big war is expected in future. But Syria will
face missile attacks, and that’s because Obama has put himself in a
such a position that he is not able to do anything,” he noted.

Returning to the possible developments in Armenia, Papyan pointed out
to two problems: the Armenian community in Syria and the situation
in Armenia. He said the Armenian community in Aleppo will no longer
resume its one-time size and image because of the war, with the tension
in Armenia expected to rise in the face of Turkey and Azerbaijan’s
interests in a war scenario.