Month: February 2015

TURKEY’S MISSILES TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH NATO SYSTEMS

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Feb 23 2015

DAILY SABAH WITH WIRES

Turkey will make its newly planned long-range missiles compatible
with NATO systems, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Monday.

“As one of the most important countries in NATO’s security line, we
will definitely ensure this integration and harmony,” Kalin stressed.

A proposal evaluation process regarding Turkey’s long-awaited,
billion-dollar, long-range missile defense system has not been fully
finalized, according to an official for Turkey’s Defense Industries
Undersecretariat. Media reports have recently said that Turkey will
wait until April 24, which is the anniversary of the 1915 incidents to
select a winner for the missile defense system. Rumors in political
circles in Ankara said that no decision will be made on the missile
defense system winner before the date since Turkey wants to first see
France and the U.S.’s position on the 1915 incidents. An agreement
may be made with China if the U.S. and French administrations take a
“pro-Armenian” stance.

The Turkish Long-Range Missile Defense System Project is one of the
defense industry’s biggest projects in which Chinese, American and
Italian-French companies are vying for contracts.

LAWYER ASKS WHY TESTIMONY OF POLICE INTEL CHIEF NOT TAKEN IN DINK MURDER TRIAL

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 23 2015

February 23, 2015, Monday/ 17:55:21/
by FARUK ALAN / ISTANBUL

A lawyer representing a police officer who was detained in January in
an ongoing probe into the 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink has questioned why the current head of the National Police
Department’s intelligence unit has not been summoned to testify,
despite being the top official responsible for the failure to prevent
the murder from taking place.

As the investigation into Dink’s murder deepens, eyes are now on
the chief of the National Police Department’s intelligence unit,
Engin Dinc, who headed the intelligence unit in Trabzon at the time
of the killing, after several people working under him were arrested
on charges of involvement in the murder.

Three police officers who worked under Dinc in the intelligence unit
of the Trabzon Police Department were arrested in January as part of
an expanded probe into Dink’s murder. Dinc has since been promoted and
is now the chief of the National Police Department’s intelligence unit.

Speaking with Today’s Zaman, Zafer Kiremitci — the lawyer of Ozkan
Mumcu, one of the three officers arrested in January — said it was
Dinc who warned the Ä°stanbul Police Department’s intelligence unit
chief, Ä°lhan Guler, about Dink’s possible assassination in a report.

“His [Dinc’s] signature is on the intelligence report. Where is Engin
Dinc, who appointed Erhan Tuncel [another suspect in the murder trial]
as an informant for the Trabzon Police Department, although he should
not have done this?” Kiremitci said.

Tuncel is accused of initiating efforts to have Dink murdered.

Lawyer Kiremitci also asked: “Is the fact that the testimony of Engin
Dinc has not been taken yet a result of a failure of the law or a
result of a relationship based on self-interest?”

Reiterating that Mumcu was serving his compulsory military service at
the time of Dink’s murder, Kiremitci said it is highly questionable
that Mumcu was arrested when he was not even on duty during the murder,
while Dinc has not yet been summoned to testify in the trial, although
he is the person who signed an intelligence note in which he warns
about a possible Dink murder.

The three police officials — Ercan Demir, Ozkan Mumcu and Muhittin
Zenit — said in their testimonies that Dinc was the highest authority
at the Trabzon Police Department’s intelligence unit.

According to a report in the Taraf daily late in January, Demir,
in his testimony, said, “The authority to inform provincial police
departments about suspects or conduct operations against suspects
belonged to Engin [Dinc].”

Zenit and Trabzon Police Department Deputy Commissioner Mumcu were
arrested on Jan. 13 on charges of negligence and misconduct in Dink’s
murder. An Ä°stanbul court arrested former Cizre Police Chief Ercan
Demir, who turned himself in on Monday after a warrant for his
detention was issued on Jan. 16.

Dink was shot and killed by an ultranationalist teenager. The hitman,
Ogun Samast, and 18 others were brought to trial. Since then,
the lawyers for the Dink family and co-plaintiffs in the case have
presented evidence indicating that Samast did not act alone. Another
suspect, Yasin Hayal, was given life in prison for inciting Samast
to commit murder.

From: A. Papazian

AZERI ENVOY BAGHIROV: LIBERATION OF OUR LANDS FROM ARMENIAN INVASION TOP PRIORITY

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Feb 23 2015

ALI UNAL

Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, which have similar histories,
are described by the expression “two states, one nation.” The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which started between Azerbaijan and
Armenia in 1992, is the top-most priority of Azerbaijani foreign
policy, as well as one of Turkey’s, with the aim of achieving regional
stability. Daily Sabah spoke with Azerbaijani ambassador Faig Nusrat
Baghirov regarding recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh region
and the future of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of the most prominent topics in
Azerbaijani foreign policy. Could you tell us the historical background
of this dispute?

I would like to emphasize that solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is one of the most important goals of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.

Armenia invaded one-fifth of Azerbaijani land, and the liberation of
this land, thus our territorial integrity, is of top priority.

If we are to look at the core of this issue, it can be traced back
to two years before the dissolution of the Soviet Union to 1988. The
main reason behind this issue is that the Armenian administration of
the time, with the support of the Soviet Union, aspired to confiscate
Nagorno-Karabakh and the land surrounding it, and the issue started
with border transgression. On the day of 26 February 26 1992 in
Khojaly, 613 people were brutally massacred, including children, women
and the elderly. In the time until 1994, one-fifth of Azerbaijani land
was invaded and more than 1 million Azerbaijanis were sent into exile.

The important part is all of these events transpired right in front
of the eyes of the world and they have chosen to just disregard them.

This week is the anniversary of one of the most vicious massacres
that contemporary history has witnessed – the Khojaly Massacre. What
happened in Khojaly during the Nagorno-Karabakh War?

This year is the 23rd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, and a
memorial service will be held along with events. On the night between
25 February and 26 February1992, 613 people were brutally killed in
Khojaly, just because they were Azerbaijani. What happened in Khojaly
can be described as genocide according to the definition set by the
international community. It is important to highlight this fact again.

This genocide happened right in front of the whole world. These are
all documented, and there are witnesses still alive. The international
community has still not reacted to this genocide. There are resolutions
regarding the Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute. There are four U.N. Security
Council resolutions that state Armenia is the occupier and should
withdraw from Azerbaijani lands. These resolutions are U.N.

Security Council Resolution 822 adopted on 30 April, 1993, Resolution
853 adopted on 29 July, 1993, Resolution 874 adopted on 14 October
1993 and Resolution 884 adopted on 12 November 1993. However, none
of these were put into action.

Twenty-two or 23 years have passed since these resolutions were
issued and unfortunately, they are still not implemented. To put the
aforementioned resolutions into action, Armenia should be pressured by
the international community. But on the contrary, Turkey and Azerbaijan
are put under pressure wrongfully. As the anniversary of the so-called
Armenian genocide approaches, many international institutions are
publishing various human rights reports on Turkey and Azerbaijan,
but none of them talk about over 1 million Azerbaijanis who are unable
to live in their own land.

Despite all the international appeals, Armenia continues to occupy
20 percent of Azerbaijani land. What are the recent developments on
this issue?

They tried to conceal the massacre at Khojaly and prevented this
from being announced. However, in the past 12 years, Azerbaijan has
worked hard to reverse this situation and made concerted efforts to
document what happened in Khojaly as genocide. Azerbaijan has brought
forward this issue on many international platforms and provided
the international community with the testimonies of witnesses,
photos and other related materials. Many countries recognize it as
genocide. The event is documented, and witnesses are still live. As
long as the criminals who committed this horrible crime are not
punished, Azerbaijan will continue to bring this issue up.

Thousands of people died during the Nagorno-Karabakh War, and more
than 1 million Azerbaijanis had to leave their homes. Has Azerbaijan
fully recovered from these wounds?

Azerbaijan will recover when all of those people’s land is liberated.

However, as Azerbaijan’s president said, Azerbaijan will always
preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty. No one will ever
doubt that. Azerbaijan is a strong country and we will not allow any
kind of project to be imposed on us. Azerbaijan is getting stronger
by the day in politics, economy and military. Therefore, Azerbaijan
will do whatever it can to liberate its land from occupation.

While the Azerbaijani government provided housing for displaced
Azerbaijanis, it is not the same as living on their own land.

While there has been an ongoing and fragile cease-fire between
Azerbaijan and Armenia for 20 years, we have witnessed an increase
in border clashes, especially in 2014. Is there a possibility for a
new Armenian-Azerbaijani war?

Sometimes it is said that this issue is a suspended one, but it is
not true. Unless the issues are solved, it cannot be called suspended
and these kinds of issues are prone to become reignited. To solve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, an international organization,
the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
Minsk Group was established. The chairs of the group are the U.S.,
Russia and France. With their participation, the resolution process
has continued for 21 years. However, it still has not been concluded
due to Armenia’s non-constructive behavior. Armenia does not want
the resolution to happen because Armenia still craves land, and it
shows the same attitude toward Turkey as well. The Armenian president,
while appealing to the youth, said: “We took the Upper Karabakh. Mount
Ararat will be your doing.” This shows that they are the ones who do
not want this issue to be solved.

What happened in 2014 further shows Armenia’s unwillingness in the
resolution process. Firstly, a meeting was held in Sochi in 2014
with the initiative of Russia, then the one with U.S. Secretary of
State John Kerry presiding and another one with the French President
Francoise Hollande in France. All of these meetings failed due to
Armenia’s provocative actions. Armenia intentionally did this to put
the blame on Azerbaijan. The border clash of yesteryear is the result
of Armenia’s provocative actions.

How would Azerbaijan react to possible cooperation between Turkey
and Armenia, before Armenia withdraws from the occupied territories?

The Turkish president and prime minister along with the minister of
foreign affairs have said that cooperation was not possible without
the withdrawal of Armenia. Everyone expects a move from Turkey,
however the genocide and invasion are Armenia’s doings. Who committed
genocide in Khojaly in 1992, has committed the so-called genocide of
1915. They disregard a genocide committed just 23 years ago that has
living witnesses, while there is not any evidence of the so-called
genocide of 1915.

I do not think cooperation between Armenia and Turkey is possible
because as Azerbaijan becomes prosperous, so does Turkey, and as
Turkey consolidates its power, so does Azerbaijan.

The TANAP project that is going to transport Azerbaijani natural gas
to Turkey and Europe is still under construction. How important is
this project for Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan is a country rich with oil and natural gas. For the first
time, in 1850 the oil industry began in Baku. Extraction of oil from
the sea for the first time again was realized in Azerbaijan. However,
in 1994, Azerbaijan also started to produce natural gas. As a result
of wise council between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the TANAP project
was decided upon in in 2012. This project was signed by President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was prime minister at the time. According
to this project, Azerbaijan will sell its own natural gas through
Turkey, and Turkey will keep some of the natural gas. Therefore,
Turkey will be the leader of a large-scale energy project. With this
project Turkey and Azerbaijan will become the countries that provide
energy security to Europe – 80 percent of the pipes will be produced
by Turkish corporations, and the construction will also be undertaken
by Turkish corporations.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad project will be opened for service
this year upon its completion. How do you evaluate this project’s
impact on the economies of both countries?

This will be the first transportation project after the energy
projects. The railroad should open for service this year and test
drives have been completed. The means of transportation between Turkey
and Azerbaijan is usually achieved overland, which costs more than by
railroad. With this project, roads to Beijing, and thus Asia, will be
accessible. Also, in the same way, through Turkey via the Marmaray,
access to Europe will be available. This will create opportunities
both for passengers and business people. This is a project realized
through strategic partnership.

From: Baghdasarian

BAKU: LETTER FROM MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, THE PARLIAMENT OF THE UK TO PRESIDENT ALIYEV

The Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency
Feb 23 2015

>From Members of the House of Lords, the Parliament of the United
Kingdom:Lord David Evans, Baroness Detta O’Cathain, Lord Risby, Lord
Michael German, Lord Anthony St John, Viscount Trenchard, Baroness
Zahida Manzoor

23.02.2015 [14:33]

Dear President Ilham Aliyev,

We, the undersigned, write to express our solidarity with the people of
Azerbaijan as you commemorate 23rd anniversary of Khojaly massacre,
killing of 613 innocent civilians by the invading Armenian armed
forces with the support of the Soviet infantry regiment 366 in the
town of Khojaly on 26 February 1992. We share the grief of Azerbaijani
people on this very sad anniversary and support your tireless efforts
to settle the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno
Karabakh on the basis of the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Many of us have been to Azerbaijan
and have witnessed the plight and sufferings of IDPs at refugee camps.

What happened in the town of Khojaly is undoubtedly a human tragedy
and it is important that perpetrators are brought to justice. The
ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh
represents obstacle to bringing lasting peace and stability to the
Southern Caucasus. As an important strategic and economic partner
of your country, United Kingdom has long-standing interest to see
the conflict resolved peacefully making South Caucasus a stable and
peaceful region. Therefore, it is essential that international peace
talks conducted under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group further
intensify with a view to starting the work on comprehensive peace plan.

Your Excellency, please accept our condolences on this very sad day
for your people.

Yours sincerely,

Members of the House of Lords:Lord David Evans, Baroness Detta
O’Cathain, Lord Risby, Lord Michael German, Lord Anthony St John,
Viscount Trenchard, Baroness Zahida Manzoor

VASKEN BERBERIAN AL CENTRO CONGRESSI DELL’UNIONE INDUSTRIALE

La Stampa (Torino Sette), Italia
21 feb 2015

Presentazione del libro di Vasken Berberian. “Sotto un cielo
indifferente”, vincitore della 47a edizione del Premio Acqui Storia
2014. Ci sono libri che, seppur capaci di emozionarci, scordiamo dopo
aver chiuso l’ultima pagina, e libri che, per quanto interessanti,
risultano aridi ed infecondi. Infine, merce rara e preziosa, ci sono
libri necessari. A quest’ultima categoria appartiene il volume di
Berberian. E’ un testo coinvolgente dove le vite si moltiplicano, si
uniscono, si separano, si ritrovano. E’ una scatola cinese di Storia e
storie legate al genocidio armeno, in cui ci si guarda costantemente
allo specchio, con i piedi perennemente in movimento. Dalla Turchia
alla Grecia, e poi i campanili delle chiese di Venezia e la tundra
siberiana spazzata dal vento gelido dell’insensata ferocia sovietica.

L’essenza stessa della vita come un viaggio senza fine, come una
fuga continua, come prigione e anche come anelito alla liberta. Il
preside emerito Giovanni Ramella e la semiologa Caterina Schiavon
accompagneranno l’autore di questo testo ambizioso ed avvincente,
che sembra fatto apposta per sfidare la rappresentazione più comune
di quello che è il vero protagonista del romanzo: il popolo armeno.

Modera l’incontro Luca Indemini. Le tessere d’ingresso, gratuite e
valide per due persone, potranno essere ritirate – fino ad esaurimento
dei posti – al Centro Congressi in Via Vela 17 oppure scaricate dal
sito

Dove: Via Vela 17, Torino Quando: Da lunedì 23 febbraio Alle 15
Agenda: Libri

GENOCIDIO ARMENO. CONFERENZA A ROMA, TRA COMMEMORAZIONE E NAGAZIONISMO

Notizie Geopolitiche- Italia
22 feb 2015

feb 22nd, 2015 | By redazione 1 | Category: Qui Europa, Ultimissime

di Giuliano Bifolchi –

La John Cabot University, in collaborazione con l’Associazione
della Comunita Armena di Roma e del Lazio, ha organizzato lo scorso
giovedì 19 febbraio 2015, presso l’Aula Magna Regina dell’universita
stessa, l’evento “Remembering and Narrating the Genocide: Learning
>From ArmenianWomen and ChildrenSurvivors”, serata dedicata alla
commemorazione del Genocidio Armeno con l’obiettivo di promuovere
la conoscenza tra il pubblico italiano e gli studenti di una della
pagine più cupe della storia del XX secolo.

I partecipanti hanno potuto ascoltare l’introduzione all’evento
di Franco Pavoncello, Presidente della John Cabot University, e
gli interventi di Zara Pogossian, professoressa presso la stessa
universita ospitante l’evento specializzata in Storia dell’Europa
Mediavale e di Bisanzio e Storia della Chiese Cristiane Orientali,
Ara Sarafian, storico britannico di origine armena e direttore del
Gomidas Institute di Londra, e Sua Eccellenza Sargis Ghazaryan,
Ambasciatore della Repubblica di Armenia in Italia.

Per Genocidio Armeno, conosciuto anche con il nome di Medz Yeghern, il
“Grande Male”, si intende il processo sistematico avviato dall’Impero
Ottomano di eliminazione della componente etnica minoritaria armena
all’interno del territorio attualmente facente parte della Turchia. Il
Genocidio, la cui data di inizio viene convenzionalmente indicata
con il 24 aprile 1915, ha causato la morte di un numero di vittime
pari ad 1-1,5 milioni di persone, tra cui circa 250 intellettuali e
leader della comunita armena di Costantinopoli.

L’intervento di Zara Pogossian, oltre a ripercorrere brevemente gli
eventi ed i numeri che hanno caratterizzato questa pagina di storia
di inizio XX secolo, ha posto l’attenzione sul termine “genocidio”,
coniato nel 1943 da Raphael Lemkin,il cui significato indica lo
sterminio premeditato e sistematico di un gruppo di persone sulla
base della loro etnia, religione, credenze politiche, status sociale
o altre particolarita. Prendendo in considerazione questa definizione
è possibile quindi etichettare con il la parola genocidio gli eventi
accaduti a partire dal 1915 all’interno dell’Impero Ottomano che hanno
visto impegnate le autorita turche dell’epocain una attivita diretta
allo sterminiodella componente armena, motivo per cui Medz Yeghern
può essere visto come uno dei primi genocidi moderni. L’intervento
della Pogossian si è concluso con la citazione toccante del poeta
turco naturalizzato polacco Nazim Hikmet il quale, in merito al
Genocidio Armeno, scrisse:

“This Armenian citizen won’t forgive his father’s slaughter in the
Kurdish mountains. But he likes you, because you also can’t forgive
those who blackened the Turkish people’s name”

Ara Sarafian, storico britannico di origine armena, ha portato la
propria esperienza di ricercatore all’interno dell’attuale Stato turco
ed ha tenuto a sottolineare come la stessa Turchia stia cambiando al
suo interno la propria politica e visione circa il Genocidio Armeno.

Secondo Sarafian i turchi che negano il Genocidio perpetrano questa
causa non sulla base di un odio nei confronti degli armeni ed il
fenomeno del negazionismo sarebbe in fase di declino.

Studioso dell’Impero Ottomano e della storia dell’Armenia del XX,
Sarafian ha posto l’attenzione sul termine Crypto-Armenians (in
armeno Õ®ÕºÕ¿ÕµÕ¡Õ¬Õ°Õ¡ÕµÕ¥O~@ “tsptyalhayer” ed in turco Kripto
Ermeniler) descrivente quelle persone in Turchia le cui origini sono
parzialmente o totalmente armene le quali generalmente nascondono la
propria identita armena alla societa turca. In molti dei casi tali
persone sono discendenti degli armeni islamizzati sotto la minaccia
dello sterminio fisico durante il Genocidio Armeno.

Il giornalista turco Erhan Basyurt aveva descritto i Crytpo-Armeni
come quelle famiglie, ed in alcuni casi interi villaggi o vicinati,
convertite all’Islam per scappare alla deportazione e alle “marce della
morte” del 1915; tali famiglie continuano a vivere le proprie vite
come armeni in segretezza, sposandosi fra di loro ed in alcuni casi
professando la religione cristiana clandestinamente. Tra i membri della
comunita Crypto-Armena è possibile annoverare personalita importanti
come ad esempio Fethiye Cetin, avvocato, scrittore ed attivista per i
diritti umani, Ahmet Abakay, giornalista, Muslum Gurses, cantante di
musica araba popolare ed attore, e Yasar Kurt, cantate di musica rock.

Di carattere maggiormente politico ed istituzionale è stato
l’intervento dell’Ambasciatore della Repubblica di Armenia in Italia
il quale ha voluto evidenziare che il fenomeno del negazionismo viene
inteso come una minaccia da parte dell’Armenia: negando il Genocidio
Armeno, attraverso la sua politica estera, il Governo della Turchia
continua a rappresentare una minaccia per lo Stato armeno e palesa
l’eventualita che un altro genocidio possa ripetersi nuovamente.

La sfida che deve affrontare Erevan attualmente, secondo quanto
espresso da Ghazaryan, è data sia dal ricordare a livello
internazionale una politica sistematica ottomana causante la morte di
più di un milione di persone e sia dal regolare le proprie relazioni
internazionali ed i propri rapporti con la Turchia, attore politico
importante a livello regionale con il quale la disputa è accesa
proprio in merito al Genocidio Armeno, e di conseguenza con lo stesso
Azerbaigian, alleato di Ankara impegnato contro l’Armenia per quel che
concerne la questione del Nagorno-Karabakh rappresentante a sua volta
una minaccia per la sopravvivenza della nazione e del popolo armeno.

Al termine dell’incontro di grande interesse è stato il dibattito
che si è acceso grazie anche all’intervento di Tahir Bora Atatanir,
rappresentante dell’Ambasciata della Repubblica di Turchia in Italia,
il quale ha tenuto a precisare le posizioni di Ankara in merito
al Genocidio Armeno mettendo in discussione il termine genocidio
applicato a tali eventi e la relativa mancanza di una posizione
ufficiale internazionale, i numeri delle vittime armene fino a
quel momento citati ed affermando inoltre che, negli episodi che
caratterizzarono l’Impero Ottomano a partire dal 1915, entrambe le
parti, quella armena e quella turca, registrarono delle vittime
causate dallo scoppio di tensioni e contrasti Occorre ricordare
che alla fine gennaio il Presidente turco Recep Tayyip Erdogan si
espresse sul Genocidio Armeno dichiarando che la Turchia è pronta a
“pagare il prezzo” per l’uccisione in massa degli armeni iniziata nel
1915 soltanto se una “commissione di storici imparziale”, dopo una
scrupolosa ricerca, arrivera ad ammettere la colpevolezza dell’Impero
Ottomano in merito a tale crimine.

Giuliano Bifolchi è analista geopolitico specializzato nel settore
Sicurezza, Conflitti ed Energia. Laureato in Scienze Storiche presso
l’Universita Tor Vergata di Roma, ha conseguito un Master in Peace
Building Management presso l’Universita Pontificia San Bonaventura.

Email di contatto: [email protected]

GREGORIO DI NAREK SARA DOTTORE DELLA CHIESA

La Stampa, Italia
23 feb 2015

Papa Francesco conferma la decisione della Congregazione dei santi. È
nato nel 950 nel territorio dell’attuale Turchia

andrea tornielli (vatican insider)

Un santo armeno diventa dottore della Chiesa. Nell’udienza di
sabato scorso con il cardinale Prefetto della Congregazione delle
cause dei santi, Papa Francesco ha approvato la decisione espressa
dalla plenaria dei cardinali e vescovi del dicasteri e ha stabilito
che venga conferito il titolo di “dottore della Chiesa universale”
a Gregorio di Narek.

Sacerdote e monaco nato ad Andzevatsik (allora Armenia, ora Turchia)
circa nel 950 e morto a Narek (allora Armenia, ora Turchia) circa nel
1005, Gregorio di Narek era nato in una famiglia di scrittori. Il
padre, Khosrov, è stato arcivescovo. Dopo aver perso la madre in
tenera eta, Gregorio era stato educato dalla cugina, Anania di Narek,
fondatrice della scuola e del villaggio. Il santo ha vissuto gran parte
della sua vita nei monasteri di Narek (in quella che era chiamata
la Grande Armenia), dove insegnava presso la scuola monastica. È
considerato uno dei più importanti poeti della letteratura armena.

Il culto di san Gregorio di Narek è previsto nel martirologio romano
il giorno 27 febbraio, dov’è definito “monaco, dottore degli Armeni,
insigne per la dottrina, gli scritti e la scienza mistica”.

La decisione papale arriva a poche settimane di distanza dalla
celebrazione che il 12 aprile Francesco terra in San Pietro per
ricordare il centenario del massacro degli armeni (Medz Yeghern)
avvenuto nel 1915.

From: A. Papazian

XAVIER MORET AFIRMA QUE EL DOLOR DEL GENOCIDIO ARMENIO “PERSISTE CIEN ANOS DESPUES”

EuroNews, EU
22 feb 2015

EFE, 22/02 12:55 CET

Barcelona, 22 feb (EFE).- El periodista Xavier Moret siempre tuvo
interes por Armenia, un lugar “lejano y literario”. Desde joven había
leído sobre el país, su diaspora o el genocidio que sufrio en 1915.

Sin embargo, no piso esta tierra caucasica hasta abril de 2013,
como cuenta en su nuevo libro, “La memoria del Ararat”.

En una entrevista con Efe comenta que, acompañado por el fotografo
Alfons Rodríguez, viajo en busca de las raíces armenias, encontrandose
con sus gentes, sus montañas, sus monasterios y viendo en el horizonte
la montaña del Ararat, que aunque actualmente pertenezca a Turquía
sigue considerandose el símbolo nacional.

Como es habitual en cada una de sus múltiples salidas, el escritor
intenta hablar con personas originarias de la zona o que tengan que
ver con ella antes de partir y, una vez allí, camina por las calles,
se acerca a los mercados y conversa con sus habitantes.

Todos los armenios con los que trato antes del viaje y que eran hijos
de la diaspora hablaban maravillas, pero el pudo contrastar aquella
Armenia con la real, “que no es tan perfecta como la que sueñan”
y con una capital, Erevan, “muy segura, pero donde reina la pobreza
y la miseria”.

En este punto de la conversacion, Xavier Moret rememora que viven
en la Armenia de 2015 unos tres millones de personas, aunque un 40
por ciento desearía emigrar, y otros siete millones de armenios se
encuentran diseminados por el mundo, en países tan diferentes como
Argentina o Uruguay, Francia y Canada.

Todos ellos, sin embargo, coinciden en estar “muy marcados por el
genocidio que sufrieron en 1915”, que acabo con un millon y medio de
muertos en territorio turco.

Subraya que esta “gran matanza les pesa”, que es todavía, cien años
mas tarde, una herida abierta, y agrega que todas las familias cuentan
con alguna víctima. “Y lo peor -prosigue- es que el mundo no la ha
reconocido, el dolor persiste y pasa de generacion en generacion”.

En el libro, publicado por Ediciones Península, relata como en
Erevan cada 24 de abril se conmemora el aniversario de la masacre
ante un monumento que cuando llego a la ciudad se encontraba en “una
explanada desierta” y ese día se convierte en “un mar tumultuoso de
memoria y solidaridad”.

Una multitud sube durante la jornada hasta el lugar, donde dejaran
flores hasta el atardecer en recuerdo del millon y medio de muertos,
lo que provoca una montaña de mas de dos metros de altura, que dos
días despues sera recogida por grupos de niños, que separan los
petalos y los reciclan para hacer papel.

Xavier Moret, en este indagar por la historia armenia, tambien pudo
conversar con Movses Haneshanyan, quien a sus 103 años de edad,
en aquel momento era uno de los pocos supervivientes del genocidio,
y quien de viva voz le conto como grupos de armenios cavaban con sus
manos las rasas en las que luego serían enterrados tras ser asesinados
por los turcos.

Su padre pudo salvarse porque, acabada la rasa en Musa Dagh, le
hicieron caminar por el desierto hacia Siria y allí se topo con un
arabe al que conocía, quien pago dinero a los turcos para liberarlo.

Moret tambien se muestra impresionado por la historia del abuelo de
Shushan, una argentina-armenia, quien le explico que este hombre,
en el momento del genocidio, había sobrevivido escondido durante una
semana dentro de la barriga de un asno, “sin atreverse a salir ante
el horror que veía”.

Shushan y su familia conocieron esta vivencia gracias a un dietario que
descubrieron a la muerte del abuelo, porque el, instalado en Argentina
despues de aquello, nunca quiso hablar de lo ocurrido en 1915.

Preguntado sobre como ve el futuro del país, Xavier Moret espera que
reviva de alguna manera, especialmente si apuesta por la cultura,
aunque no obvia que hoy la lucha es “por la supervivencia economica
y en contra de la corrupcion”.

From: A. Papazian

ALIANZA LIMA: MAURO GUEVGEOZIAN Y SU POSIBLE SALIDA DEL EQUIPO

Perú.com
23 feb 2015

El delantero ‘blanquiazul’ debe estar preparado para cualquier
sorpresa. A pesar de sus importantes actuaciones, el ‘armenio’ ha
demostrado lo que vale.

Mucho se rumorea de su posible salida del plantel debido a sus
malas actuaciones que ha realizado con camiseta ‘blanquiazul’. Sin
embargo, luego de anotar frente a Sport Loreto (gol que le dio el
triunfo a Alianza Lima), el delantero ha sido cuestionado por su
bajo rendimiento.

Ante ello, Guillermo Sanguinetti, tecnico aliancista, sabe que el
atacante es una pieza fundamental en el once titular y, hara saber
a la directiva ‘grone’, que no lo dejen libre por que luego no habra
marcha atras.

Los hinchas aliancista han mostrado su total respaldo al ‘huevo’
por las tantas alegrías que regalo en la última temporada.

De concretarse este hecho, el reemplazo sería Wilmer Aguiire,
exdelantero ‘blanquiazul, quien brillo con la camiseta de Alianza
Lima en la temporada 2010, donde destaco de manera internacional
frente a Estudiantes de la Plata por la Copa Libertadores.

From: A. Papazian

LA SERENA BELLEZA DEL TEMPLO ARMENIO

Clarín.com, Argentina
23 feb 2015

Secreta Buenos Aires.En la calle de Palermo que recuerda a la
colectividad esta la sede del credo cristiano que se identifica con
San Gregorio.

Eduardo Parise

Suena contradictorio pero es una realidad: el edificio esta hecho
con una lujosa austeridad y eso se refleja tanto por fuera como en el
interior. El secreto parece radicar en la luz natural que recibe sobre
las paredes y que se cuela por los coloridos vitrales y la gran cúpula
central que, con un diametro de diez metros, alcanza los 35 metros de
alto. La imponente catedral esta en el barrio de Palermo y pertenece
a la Iglesia Apostolica Armenia, una comunidad cristiana que tiene
a los apostoles San Judas Tadeo y San Bartolome como sus primeros
evangelizadores y, por lo tanto, como fundadores de la Iglesia Armenia.

Consagrada en 1938, la catedral esta identificada con la figura de
San Krikor (Gregorio), considerado por los armenios como “Lusarovich”
(Iluminador) ya que consagro su vida “a difundir la luz del Evangelio”
que habían llevado los apostoles. San Gregorio El Iluminador fue
el primer patriarca de la Iglesia Armenia y quien hizo construir la
Catedral de San Echmiadzin, aún existente en ese país. Esa catedral
es el equivalente a lo que significan San Pedro y El Vaticano para los
catolicos y es la sede del patriarca Karekin II, maxima autoridad. El
altar de la iglesia de Palermo (Armenia 1353) es justamente una
replica en miniatura de esa catedral.

La de Buenos Aires se comenzo a construir en 1937 en base a un proyecto
del arquitecto Arslan, quien uso elementos propios de la arquitectura
religiosa armenia. Es decir: una gran nave sin columnas en el medio,
donde tanto la cúpula como el techo con arcos se apoyan sobre las
paredes laterales. En esas paredes hay columnas estilo dorico y cada
una tiene tallada la cruz armenia, un símbolo del arte del país. La
cruz se denomina Jachkar (jach significa cruz y kar, piedra) y comenzo
a esculpirse sobre granito desde el año 301, en los tiempos de la
conversion del rey Tiridates III, a instancias de San Gregorio. Se
la implanto sobre antiguos ritos paganos. Dicen que en Armenia se
las encuentra en todo el territorio.

Para entrar a la catedral (de unos 70 metros de largo por 20 de
ancho) hay que subir una gran escalera de marmol blanco. Se accede
por una puerta hecha en roble, igual que las laterales, los bancos y
la balaustrada que antecede al altar. Adentro se destacan tres grandes
arañas con sus brillantes caireles. A la derecha de la entrada hay un
pequeño altar donde cada concurrente enciende una vela en homenaje a
su nacionalidad y a sus antepasados. Sobre la izquierda, otro altar
tambien es importante: en una pequeña urna se guarda como reliquia un
hueso de San Judas Tadeo. En el marmol y en la pequeña puerta estan
talladas las simbolicas jachkar.

Un parrafo aparte merecen las pinturas en las paredes de toda la
catedral. Entre ellas estan las imagenes de San Pedro y San Pablo,
los evangelistas Juan, Marcos, Mateo y Lucas y, obviamente, el
retrato de San Gregorio. El tambor de la cúpula esta rodeado por
doce oleos que representan momentos de la vida de Jesús. Todas las
pinturas fueron realizadas por Baltasar Ayvazian, un hombre nacido
en 1896 y que llego a la Argentina en 1923. Ayvazian sobrevivio a
una masacre ocurrida en Cilicia en 1909 y al gran genocidio cometido
por los turcos en abril de 1915 (en un par de meses, en el mundo y
en Argentina, se recordara el centenario de ese tragico hecho en el
que fueron asesinados un millon y medio de armenios).

Ademas de la catedral del culto armenio, en Palermo esta la sede del
Arzobispado (desde 1990 el arzobispo primado para Argentina y Chile
es Kissag Mouradian; reside en el país desde 1975), el Centro Armenio
y la Sala Siranush, un teatro de los años 50, muy bien restaurado.

Tambien en el lugar se cumple otra tradicion de los colegios armenios:
los viernes las madres de los alumnos preparan comida típica para
que la disfruten quienes van al lugar. La recaudacion sirve para los
gastos del viaje de egresados, cuando los alumnos visitan Armenia.

Pero esa es otra historia.

From: A. Papazian