Month: February 2015

February 18, 2015

USC INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, USA
Contact: Salpi Ghazarian, Director
[email protected]
213.821.3943

USC’S YEAR100.ORG DOCUMENTS HOW THE WORLD COMMEMORATES THE GENOCIDE

The University of Southern California Institute of Armenian Studies
has launched a global directory of events — Year100.org — to boost
awareness of the variety of publications, conferences and other events
and activities, marking the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, and
thus augment their impact.

“Year100.org does more that just shed light on the past and its place
in memory and scholarship today; it is, in its broadest sense, a
centralized indicator of directions that scholarship and community can
take,” said Salpi Ghazarian, Director of the Institute of Armenian
Studies.

“It is heartening to see how scholars, artists, writers, activists
throughout the world are commemorating the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide in myriad new and significant ways. The directory includes
not just the work of Armenians, or scholars, but of people of
conscience everywhere. We believe it is our responsibility to share
information about events, activities, books and websites, in order to
maximize the flow of information and the conversation around the
content,” said Ghazarian.

The site is in three languages: English, Armenian and Turkish. The
purpose is to reach a broad range of scholars, students and anyone
wanting more information about the Genocide itself, or trying still to
understand its causes and consequences, and the ways in which it is
remembered, studied and discussed. This is a work-in-progress and will
continue to grow as new events are added.

The content on Year100.org is significantly enhanced by the
presentation of evocative images by photographers Hrair Hawk
Khatcherian (Canada), Stepan Norair Chahinian (Brazil) and Matthew
Karanian (US). New publications and exhibitions by each of these
photographers constitute a part of Year100 activities. In addition,
these pictures are the most direct representation of the loss of land
and way of life that are being memorialized through the events listed
on the site, as well as survival and revival.

“It’s the 100th year after the genocidal events of 1915. And this
directory demonstrates that this nation and people have moved past
survival to revival and growth and creation,” concluded Ghazarian.

Year100.org intends to be comprehensive, not selective. The
availability of information and its accuracy depends on organizers
from around the world ready to share their programs and
plans. Submissions are encouraged and welcomed at

“One of the positive outcomes of this commemorative year is the
readiness of many in the international scholarly and artistic
community to share in the memorializing. The variety of types of
events – readings, concerts, books, conferences, exhibitions, lectures
– and the variety of locations from South America to Southeast Asia —
will also spur further sharing by communities, institutions,
organizations thus broadening the reach and impact of each activity,
and supporting deeper inquiry into the subject,” concluded Ghazarian.

Year 100.org is a project of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies
which supports multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and
study the complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian
experience — from post-Genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia
to the evolving Diaspora. The Institute encourages research,
publications and public service, and benefits from communication
technologies to link together the global academic and Armenian
communities.

###

Relations of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan: Potential friends and enemies
By Bahman Aghai Diba, PhD International Law of the Sea
Feb. 18, 2015

Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan may seem as
potential close allies or at least two neighboring countries with very
good relations. The two countries have land, river and sea borders.
Iran, as the first and biggest Shiite country in the world, is run by
a Shiite clerics who claim to be promoting their religious messages
and supporting like minded trends. Therefore, Azerbaijan Republic, as
the only other mostly Shiite country of the world, should be Iran’s
best friend. Iran has a big Azeri minority that is from the same
cultural backgrounds as the people of the Azerbaijan Republic. In
fact, the Iranian Azeri minority is bigger than the entire population
of the Republic of Azerbaijan. However, since the independence of the
Republic of Azerbaijan from the former USSR (1991), the Islamic
Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have had one of the
worst neighborly relations in the region and the existing trends
indicate that even worse relations may be in the way.

Problems between the two countries:

For a start, Iran and Azerbaijan Republic are both among the littoral
states of the Caspian Sea and the Caspian Sea littoral states have not
yet succeeded to define a commonly accepted formula for the legal
regime of the Caspian Sea and the two countries of Iran and
Azerbaijan have deep disagreement regarding what this regime should
be. (1)

The Azeris on both sides of the border of Iran and Azerbaijan have
common culture and language. They speak almost exactly the same
language, which is different from the Turkish language of the Turkey.
In fact some parts of the present Azerbaijan Republic consists of the
territories separated from Iran, after 20 years of unequal wars
between the Iran and Tsarist Russia, and by two imposed treaties.
Therefore, there are important unifying feelings on both sides. The
government of Azerbaijan has supported some of the separatist Azeri
groups of Iran that call for unity of Azerbaijan with the clear
intention of separating 4 Azeri provinces of Iran.(2) at the other
side, Iran fears Aliyev, backed by Israel and even the United States,
could support a revolt by its Azeris, who comprise about one-quarter
of the population. So it supports Azerbaijan’s regional rival,
Armenia, in its deadlocked dispute with Baku over Nagorno-Karabakh,
currently held by Armenia.

Shiitism: the two countries are mainly Shiite Muslims, but the
government of Azerbaijan has always been cautious not to let the
Shiite elements to get to any place of power. For the same reason, the
government of Azerbaijan has been systematically eliminating the
chances of Iran for influencing the Muslims of Azerbaijan. The
activities of the Shiite groups are strictly under control. And any
relations of these groups with Iran are under scrutiny. A number of
them have been arrested. (3)

Relations with Armenia and the issue of Nagorno Garabagh- due to the
military standoff with Armenia over the region of Nagorno Karabagh,
the Azerbaijan Republic has entered into an axis of
Azerbaijan-Turkey-Israel. Iran on the other hand is afraid of the
Western presence and considers this as a part of preparations for
possible military intervention in all or parts of Iran by US (after
getting the tacit agreement of the Russians who have always wished to
see the disintegration of Iran). In order to counter the Azeri moves,
Iran is supporting Armenia. `Azerbaijan believes the clear economic
and political support of Iran from the Republic of Armenia is a kind
of declaration of war against Baku’. (4)

Another point of contention is the foreign policy of the two
countries. Azerbaijan considers itself a European country and wants
to become a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO as soon as
possible. As the relations of Iran with Western countries goes bad due
to several issues (especially the nuclear program of Iran, Iran’s
intervention in the Middle East peace process, and support of Iran to
international terrorism), Azerbaijan is mentioned as one of the places
that may used by the West, especially the US, (instead of or along
with Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia) as a possible route for the
Western attack or against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

However, none of these are as important as the issue of relations of
Azerbaijan Republic with Israel. In 2008, Azeri daily Yeni Musavat
cited a political analyst at the University of Washington’s Institute
for Middle East Studies as pointing out `extensive covert and overt
preemptive cooperation in security, intelligence and military areas
between Azerbaijan and the Israeli intelligence services, Mossad’ in
the ex-Soviet republic. He also referred to installation of
`highly-advanced satellite espionage equipment on the Azeri soil,
wiretapping centers in frontier areas, eavesdropping centers in the
Caspian Sea and continuous training of Azeri intelligence and security
agents in Israel’ as instances of the collaboration. (5) According to
another report: ` Israel has been quietly building intelligence and
military links with oil rich Azerbaijan, a largely secular Muslim
state, since the collapse of the Soviet Union two decades ago. The
Israelis sell significant amounts of weapons and unmanned aerial
vehicles to the government in Baku, on the Caspian Sea, as its
intelligence services dig in along the border with Iran. That gives
Israel a forward operating base to monitor Iran, particularly its
contentious nuclear program, which Jerusalem views as a major
existential threat.’ (6)

Dr. Afshar Sulaimani, the former Ambassador of Islamic Republic of
Iran to the Republic of Azerbaijan, has told `Diplomacy Irani’: `The
Republic of Azerbaijan has many important points for Israel,
including: Presence in the northern borders of Iran. The relations of
Israel and Azerbaijan Republic have more secret aspects than open
ones. Azerbaijan tries to use the Israeli lobby in the US in its
favor, use the capability of Israeli intelligence service for
identifying the Armenian elements mostly stationed in Lebanon who are
active against the Azerbaijan, getting help for curtailing the
political Islam, stopping the effects of Iranian media and remarks of
Iranian politicians, and eventually to contain the political worries.
On the other side, Israelis use their relations with Azerbaijan as a
model of relations with a Muslim country, and trying to get
recognition among the Muslim countries, reducing the influence of Iran
in Azerbaijan, and weakening Iran in order to cut its relations with
Hamas and Hezbollah and Syria, affecting relations with Turkey and
Russia’.(7)

At the same time, worsening of relations between the Western countries
and Russia has created a new atmosphere of closeness between the Iran
and Russia and at the same time, it has opened the way for concern on
the part of some regional countries, especially the Republic of
Azerbaijan. The new trend in Iran-Russian relations, combined with
harsh moves of Russians in Ukraine, the experience of Georgia and mild
reaction of the West to such developments, have important implications
in the regional context.

The Russians have historically been very active against the interests
of the people of Iran. The old Russian Empire tried to destroy Iran in
order to devour the smaller parts one after another. Peter the Great
left guidance to destroy Iran in order to get to the `warm waters’ of
the Persian Gulf. In 1907 and 1915, the Russians twice tried to
destroy Iran in collaboration with the British. The Russians separated
and devoured several parts of Iran (in 1813), including a major part
of the present territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Russians
have violated the rights of Iran in the Caspian Sea and at the moment
they have a position strictly against the position of Iran in the
Caspian Sea. However, the hardliners and extremists in Iran consider
the entire events in Ukraine as Western conspiracies and they persuade
the Iranian society for closer relation between Iran and Russia.

Conclusion

The main reason for unfavorable relations between the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic is not the dispute on the Caspian
Sea, the suppression of the Shiites or the religious people in
Azerbaijan Republic, and similar issues. The Islamic Republic is
really careless how other countries treat the Muslims when the
problems related to its survival and security are concerned. The
biggest example of this is the close relations of Iran with the
Republic of Armenia which has no special reason but trying to put
pressure on the Azerbaijan Republic (which is a Muslim Shiite
country). Also, Iran is careless to what is happening in the Abkhazia,
Chechen and Dagestan to the Muslims under the Russian rulers. Even the
opposition of Iran to plans such as Trans-Caspian pipelines should be
looked in the light of the following fact. The main reason for the
negative attitude of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the
Azerbaijan Republic is the close relation of Azerbaijan with the West,
and the increasing presence and activities of Israel.

Sources and references:

1. Regarding this point please refer to the author’s multiple articles
in `Payvand News of Iran’ on the legal regime of the Caspian Sea and
also to: Aghai Diba, Bahman, the Law and Politics of the Caspian Sea,
Booksuege, 2006, VA, US.

2, (3) and (4) Ali Jafari, writing for Alborz site.

(5) Press TV

(6) UPI

(7) IR Diplomacy

Azerbaijan: Grim Year for Press Freedom
By IWPR Caucasus
Feb. 18, 2015

Country ranks among world’s worst for freedom of information.

After a year in which numerous leading human rights defenders,
journalists and opposition figures were arrested and jailed in
Azerbaijan, the country has slid two places to 162nd in a leading
global index on press freedom.

The 2015 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without
Borders ranks Azerbaijan alongside the likes of Rwanda (161), Saudi
Arabia (164), Uzbekistan (166), Turkmenistan (178), Cuba (169), North
Korea (179) and the worst violator of press freedom, Eritrea (180).

Azerbaijan’s regional neighbours Armenia and Georgia performed much
better, and were ranked 78th and 69th, respectively.

The 2015 rating comes after Azerbaijan fell three places in last
year’s rankings. According to a report released by Reporters Without
Borders to accompany its findings, the sheer number of journalists and
bloggers in jail in Azerbaijan makes it `Europe’s biggest prison for
news providers’.

`Azerbaijan suffered an unprecedented crackdown on critics and
registered the biggest fall in score among the index’s 25
lowest-ranking countries,’ the report stated. `With media freedom
already limited by one-sided regulation and control of the advertising
market, the few remaining independent publications were either
collapsing under the impact of astronomic damages awards or were
simply closed by the police.’

Azerbaijan’s poor score reflects a massive crackdown on free speech
and human rights defenders which has seen the authorities jail several
journalists on trumped-up charges in the last year.

On January 29, a court sentenced Seymur Hezi, a journalist and
opposition member, to five years in prison. He was arrested last
August and charged with disorderly conduct `using a weapon or
weapon-like object’. His lawyer Adil Ismailov, supported by witnesses
who testified in court, argued that Hezi had done nothing wrong. His
legal team said he was attacked by a man and hit back in self-defence
with a water bottle. (See Dubious Assault Charge Against Azeri
Journalist
[].)

Hezi writes for the Azadliq newspaper and presents Azerbaijan Hour, a
programme carried on a Turkish TV channel.

Speaking in court, he spoke about the battle for free speech in Azerbaijan.

`My grandfathers were purged in 1937. Now we are being purged by a
system created by KGB general Heydar Aliyev [late president, succeeded
by his son Ilham Aliyev],’ he said. `Ours is not a struggle between
government and opposition, it is a struggle between good and evil.’

On February 13, a lawyer for the leading investigative reporter
Khadija Ismayil said prosecutors had brought fresh charges against his
client, including embezzlement, illegal business activity, tax
evasion, and abuse of office. These charges could bring a 12-year
sentence, he said.

Ismayil has been in custody since she was arrested on December 5. At
that point the charge was `pressuring someone to commit suicide’. (See
Top Azerbaijani Journalist Behind Bars for details of the allegation
[].)

Ismayil reports for the Prague-based radio station RFE/RL and has
conducted in-depth probes into financial wrongdoing by top Azerbaijan
leaders.

The authorities seem to have added extra charges because they could
not make the initial one stick.

In a letter which Ismayil wrote from prison on February 10 and which
was broadcast by RFE/RL, she said, “Judging by what’s happened, they
have realised they cannot prove these absurd charges, so now they’re
compiling a new fairy-tale.”

It emerged this month that Emin Huseynov, a rights defender and
director of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) in
Baku, has been hiding out at the Swiss embassy in Azerbaijan since
August.

Huseynov took refuge in the embassy after the Azerbaijani authorities
froze IRFS’s bank accounts, searched its offices, and seized equipment
and documents.

The head of IRFS’s Geneva office, Florian Irminger, said Switzerland
must continue to protect Huseynov on humanitarian grounds.

“His stay at the embassy is justified by the level of repression in
the country, fraudulent charges brought against human rights defenders
in Azerbaijan, as well as their lack of opportunity to defend
themselves in court largely due to the lack of independence of the
judiciary and the pressure on their lawyers,” Irminger said.

Irminger reported that Huseynov’s family had come under pressure while
he was in hiding. On November 10, Huseynov’s brother Mehman, who also
works for IRFS, was stopped and questioned at Baku airport. He was
released but barred from leaving the country. The authorities also
interrogated his mother.

Irminger’s statement noted that if Huseynov were detained, there would
be particular concerns about his health as he was still suffering the
effects of police beatings in 2003 and 2008.

In a letter to Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev’s wife, UNESCO
goodwill ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva, and others, the international
free expression network IFEX urged her to intervene.

“We believe the charges against Huseynov are politically motivated.
Other international organisations including the OSCE have condemned
the charges,” it said. “We appeal to you as a UNESCO goodwill
ambassador to support us. You have the ability to ensure the security
and freedom of Emin Huseynov and other defenders of freedom of
expression and human rights violations in Azerbaijan.”

The Turan news agency reported that the political affairs chief in
President Aliyev’s office, Ali Hasanov, declined to comment on
Huseynov’s stay at the Swiss embassy, saying he `had no information’
about it.

Huseynov faces charges similar to those brought against Ismayil and
others including Rasul Jafarov, head of the Human Rights Club, and
Intiqam Aliyev, who leads the Legal Education Society. The charges
encompass tax evasion, illegal business activity and abuse of power.
(For background on these cases, see Activists Arrested in Azeri
Crackdown and Azerbaijan Tidies Away Human Rights Critics
[].)

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has been in touch with the
Azerbaijani authorities about allegations that Intiqam Aliyev was
tortured, giving them until the end of May to respond.

Human rights activist and lawyer Javad Javadov said the ECHR was
treating Aliyev’s case as a priority.

Similar charges of financial wrongdoing were brought last year against
human rights activist Leyla Yunus, who prosecutors also accuse of
helping the secret service of enemy state Armenia. (Top Azeri Rights
Defender Held on Treason Charge
[].)

Other leading human rights figures received prison sentences in 2014
after criticising the government.

In May, Anar Mammadli, head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy
Study Centre, and Bashir Suleymanli, the organisation’s executive
director were sentenced to five-and-a-half and three-and-a-half years,
respectively.

Mammadli’s lawyer said the real reason for convicting his client was
that he had reported that the October 2013 election, in which
President Aliyev was re-elected with more than 85 per cent of the
vote, could not be considered free and democratic. (Five Years’ Jail
for Finding Fault With Azerbaijan Election
[].)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

February 18, 2015

USC INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, USA
Contact: Salpi Ghazarian, Director
[email protected]
213.821.3943

INNOVATE ARMENIA

Innovate Armenia, a festival of innovation, is a program of the USC
Institute of Armenian Studies, and will take place all day on the USC
Campus, in Founders Park, on Saturday, February 21.
The tightly-packed schedule for the day begins at 10.00 a.m. with
artist Vahe Berberian on the indoor stage and the band Ooshatsank on
the outdoor music stage. The program will continue by featuring tech
companies from Armenia, tech entrepreneurs from California, innovative
civil society, as well as media and educational organizations from
Armenia and the Diaspora.
The outdoor stage will be a festival of old music fused with a
contemporary flair, performed by familiar and new names: Sima
Cunningham, Bei Ru, Element, Palm of Granite, Greg Hosharian Trio,
Antranig Kzirian, Artyom Manukyan and Vahagni, Capital Cities’ Sebu,
and the Collectif Medz Bazar from France.
Throughout the afternoon, global change-makers Alexis Ohanian, Raffi
Krikorian and Lara Setrakian will be speaking about innovation and the
importance of asking the right questions and searching for
out-of-the-box answers. In the same spirit, #InnovateArmenia will be
the hashtag used by participants and those in the Twitterverse will be
invited to articulate the issues facing community and nation. Some
questions require rigorous scholarship and
ongoing research; others need new thinking and new approaches to
reformulate questions.
Everyone is invited to participate. The event is free. Public is
invited to arrive early, enjoy innovative food, listen to creative
music and engage
in thoughtful conversations. Exit the 110 Freeway at Exposition
Boulevard, make a right on Figueroa Street, and follow the signs.

For updates and more information, please follow the USC Institute of
Armenian Studies on social media:
Twitter: @ArmenianStudies
Facebook: /USCArmenian

INDOOR STAGE – ENTREPRENUERS
Taper Hall of Humanities, Auditorium 101 (First-come, First-seated)
10:15 am Artist Vahe Berberian
10:45 am Filmmaker Eric Nazarian
11:15 am Al Eisaian presents Zangi, LionSharp, HIVE, Teamable, as well
as Paolo Pirjanian of iRobot, Zareh Baghdassarian of Armorway and
Alexander Seropian of HALO
12:30 pm Alexis Ohanian
1:00 pm Alex Sardar presents TUMO, Homeland Development Initiative
Foundation, Paros Charitable Foundation, Houshamadyan, American
University of Armenia, Foundation for the Protection of Wildlife &
Cultural Assets
2:00 pm Lara Setrakian
2:30 pm Alex Sardar presents CivilNet, Birthright Armenia, Repat
Armenia, Urban Lab, Impact Hub, the Armenian Center for Contemporary
and Experimental Art
3:30 pm Raffi Krikorian
4:00 pm Raffi Krikorian, Alexis Ohanian & Lara Setrakian in
conversation with Salpi Ghazarian

In between presentations, photos from Scout Tufankjian’s ARMENIAN
DIASPORA PROJECT will be featured.

OUTDOOR STAGE – MUSIC, OLD & NEW
Founders’ Park (Outdoor Seating)
10:00 am Ooshatsank
11:00 am Sima Cunningham
11:45 am Palm of Granite
12:30 pm Greg Hosharian Trio
1:15 pm Antranig Kzirian, Artyom Manukyan & Vahagni
2:00 pm Bei Ru
2:30 pm Bei Ru (Speaking)
3:00 pm Element Band
3:40 pm Collectif Medz Bazar
4:10 pm Sebu

###

PRESS RELEASE
The Genocide Education Project
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 264-4203
Web: ,
FB:
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Raffi Momjian at [email protected]

PDF Version of this email ()

PRESS RELEASE | February 18, 2015 | Contact: Roxanne Makasdjian
Join GenEd & the UC Berkeley Armenian Studies Program for an evening
with Dana Walrath, author of Like Water on Stone, a novel in verse for
young adults

Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 7:30 p.m.
Vaspouragan Hall
51 Commonwealth Ave, San Francisco

Like Water on Stone is a young adult novel in verse about the Armenian
Genocide of 1915. This haunting novel tells the story of
fourteen-year-old twins Shahen and Sosi who flee into the mountains
when Ottoman pashas implement their plans to eliminate all
Armenians. The orphaned twins and their younger sister hide by day and
run at night, crossing mountain ridges and rivers red with
blood. Lyrical language wraps the description of the Armenian genocide
in a note of magical realism with Ardziv, an eagle, describing the
children’s escape.

Dr. Walrath will speak about her experiences in Armenia as a Fulbright
Scholar, her travels to Western Armenia in 1984 and how these journeys
influenced the book, which is being adapted as an animated film,
premiering in Armenia in April, 2015, in commemoration of the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Dana Walrath is the granddaughter of survivors of the Armenian
Genocide. She earned a PhD in anthropology from the University of
Pennsylvania, an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and
a BA from Barnard College, Columbia University. She completed Like
Water on Stone (Delacorte/Random House, 2014), her first novel, during
her year as a Fulbright Scholar in Armenia working on a project for
her award-winning graphic memoir series Aliceheimer ‘s (Harvest,
2013). When not in the mountains of Armenia, she lives in the
mountains of Vermont where she is on faculty at the University of
Vermont’s College of Medicine.

Praise for Like Water on Stone:
* 2015 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People & 2015
Notable Book for a Global Society
* “A shocking tale of a bleak moment in history, told with stunning beauty.” Publisher’s Weekly, starred review
* “I have walked through the remnants of the Armenian civilization in
Palu and Chunkush; I have stood on the banks of the Euphrates. And
still I was unprepared for how deeply moved I would be by Dana
Walrath’s poignant, unflinching evocation of the Armenian genocide.
Her beautiful poetry and deft storytelling stayed with me long after I
had finished this powerful novel in verse.” -Chris Bohjalian, author
of The Sandcastle Girls and Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands

Hosted by The Genocide Education Project and the UC Berkeley Armenian
Studies Program. For more information, email
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or call
(415) 264-4203.

Dr. Dana Walrath

—
The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3)
organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and
genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and
distributing instructional materials, providing access to teaching
resources and organizing educational workshops.
Copyright © 2015 The Genocide Education Project, All rights reserved.

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 N. Belmont St., Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
818.500.1918

See What Advocacy Day Is All About | Register Today

ANCA WR – Advocating the Armenian Cause in the CA State Capitol

On Monday, April 20, 2015, the Armenian National Committee of
America-Western Region (ANCA-WR), the California State Legislature,
and California activists will join to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the State Capitol in
Sacramento.

Hundreds of dedicated supporters across California are expected will
gather for Advocacy Day to educate and motivate public officials on
the legislative process and on issues significant to Armenian
Americans who live across the State. This year, the commemoration of
the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will begin with
ceremonies on both the California Assembly and Senate floors, where
legislators will deliver remarks about the Genocide. A vote on the
Armenian Genocide resolution will follow. Also, throughout the date,
members will meet with their legislators to advocate current issues of
interest to Armenian Americans. “The annual Armenian Genocide
commemoration reaffirms California’s commitment to combating genocide
and its denial, while providing Armenian Americans an opportunity to
connect with representatives and engage the political process,” said
Raffi L. Kassabian, ANCA-WR Board Member.

For individuals/groups who are interested in participating from the
Los Angeles area, bus transportation to and from Sacramento as well as
lodging will be provided. The bus will depart on Sunday, April 19,
2015 at 9AM and will return the following evening on Monday, April 20,
2015.

For more information or to register
visit ANCAWR.org/AdvocacyDay | email [email protected] | call (818) 500-1918.

ARF-D WANTS TO FORM COALITION WITH AUTHORITIES

20:38 / 18.02.2015

Nyut.am sources report that ARF-D leadership offered Serzh Sargsyan
to form a united coalition government but asked to do it in a way as
if the offer comes from Serzh Sargsyan.

The president though faces an issue: the other parliamentary forces
will not join the coalition and having the ARF-D having gathered just
5 is senseless. Though the Rule of Law may join too.

Anyway, only the ARF-D wins in the Sargsyan-Tsarukyan reconcilation
process. Speaking to reporters, ARF-D representative Armen Rustamyan
said, “If we see that the authorities display political will to
implement our proposals we are ready to form a coalition with the
authorities.”

Serzh Sargsyan took the ARF-D’s wish into consideration.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA, POLAND DISCUSS LEGAL COOPERATION

YEREVAN, February 19. /ARKA/. Armenia’s minister of justice Hovhannes
Manukyan has discussed possibilities for strengthening the cooperation
in legal field with Poland’s ambassador to Armenia Ezhi Novakovski,
the press office of the ministry reported.

Manukyan congratulated the ambassador on the appointment and wished
him success in facilitating the interaction between the countries.

The minister also expressed hopes that Novakovski’s mission will help
intensify the bilateral cooperation and that results will be achieved.

The sides discussed also issues on multilateral legal cooperation.

The minister and the ambassador agreed to develop a joint agenda on
legal and judiciary issues.

Ambassador Novakobski thanked the minister for reception, praised
the multi-sided cooperation between the countries and said Armenia
is an important partner to Poland. He also stressed the need for new
formats in cooperation. -0–

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN’S POLICY NOT TO AFFECT THE WILL OF KARABAKH PEOPLE -PRESIDENT SAYS

YEREVAN, February 18. / ARKA /. Azerbaijan’s aggressive policy will
not affect the will of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, President of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan said today when meeting
with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Igor Popov (Russian Federation),
Pierre Andrieu (France) and James Warlick (USA) to discuss the Karabakh
conflict and the situation on the border.

“President Sahakyan noted that gross violations of the ceasefire by
Azerbaijan acquired new negative quality and manifestations, which
pose a serious threat to the peace process, the work of the mediators
and the preservation of stability in the region,’ Sahakyan was quoted
as saying by his press office.

Sahakyan added that this policy is not able in any way to influence
the will and determination of the people of Karabakh to build a free,
independent state and consistently strengthen its security.

The meeting was attended by Karabakh foreign minister Karen Mirzoyan,
the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk and other officials.-0-

From: Baghdasarian

THE KEY GOAL OF RUSSIA’S POLICY IN ARMENIA IS TO PREVENT FUSION OF PUBLIC PROTESTS WITH ANTI-RUSSIAN MOODS

ArmInfo’s interview with Russian political expert Sergey Markedonov.

by David Stepanyan

Thursday, February 19, 09:27

Some analysts believe that the internal political conflict in Armenia
is part of the global confrontation between Russia and the West. Do
you share their opinion?

The confrontation has become vivid in the political field after the
Armenian President’s unprecedentedly harsh speech targeted against
Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader. The latter underwent criticism,
insults and humiliations, regardless of biased assessments of his
political figure. Like in the countries with a hybrid political regime,
all this is generally followed by loss of other statuses, too.

The first time the Republicans mentioned constitutional reforms was
last spring…

Yes, but in reality this process started in September 2013 after the
second victory of Serzh Sargsyan at the presidential elections. Though
the results of the second elections allowed Sargsyan to get rid of
the reputation of just Robert Kocharyan’s successor, the elections
did not become his triumph. 36.74% of Heritage Party leader Raffi
Hovannisian’s votes demonstrated the tangible public discontent
with the authorities. Therefore, from the very first day Sargsyan
started strengthening his positions in the 2017-2018 electoral
cycle. The constitutional reform concept that emerged in October
2014 and implied Armenia’s switch to a parliamentary regime is the
key element of these plans. Naturally, the “reformers” did not care
for the favorable influence of the parliamentary regime and European
values on the public and political culture in the republic. The
formal redistribution of the powers is the best way to prolong the
existence of the current pro-power elite. As for Gagik Tsarukyan,
he has become a fly in the ointment of the RPA.

Does the visit of Victoria Nuland to Armenia have anything to do with
the internal political tensions in the country?

I think the latest meeting of Gagik Tsarukyan, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and
Raffi Hovannisian would never become the focus of such attention unless
the upcoming visit of the Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs to Yerevan. The growth of anti-American sentiments
in Russia allows perceiving the current situation in Armenia as a
preface of a new “color revolution” with possible defeat of Russia or
at least attempts to minimize Russia’s influence in Armenia. In fact,
today the West considers Russia as a country whose interests can be
neglected. Washington, for instance, dislikes the Russian dominancy
in Armenia, particularly, Yerevan’s refusal to initial the AA/DCFTA
with the EU. Nevertheless, one should not restrict the confrontation in
Armenia to the pro-Russian power-anti-Russian opposition format. Gagik
Tsarukyan has been one of the close teammates of Robert Kocharyan
for many years. But it is hard to consider Kocharyan a pro-Western
politician, especially following the 1 March 2008 bloody events.

Yes, but there are also Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Raffi Hovhannisian…

Even today many in Russia suspect Levon Ter-Petrosyan of immanent
sympathies for the West. In fact, the situation is not so simple as
it seems to be, because almost the whole basis of the current Russian
military presence in Armenia was laid in the 1990s during his term
in office. As regards Heritage leader Raffi Hovannisian, his stand
really looks pro-Western. On the other hand, Heritage’s radical demands
concerning Armenia’s recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s
independence completely destroys the short-circuit logic of perceiving
the opposition as a force ready for unreasonable high concessions.

This speaks volumes.

In other words, do you think that it is wrong to associate the
protests against the ruling regime in Armenia with the externally
inspired protests against Russia’s interests in the South Caucasus?

Luckily there are no signs that the current public protests may grow
into anti-Russian moods. But if Russia fails to shortly find efficient
operators for pushing its interests in Armenia, it may face growing
anti-Russian moods. So, the key goal of our policy in Armenia now
is to prevent fusion of public protests with anti-Russian moods. We
must be more balanced in our policy and must rely on the contacts of
Russian businessmen with Robert Kocharyan, Gagik Tsarukyan and other
Armenian politicians.

Do you see any link between the internal political tensions in Armenia
and the Armenian President’s decision to withdraw the Armenian-Turkish
protocols from the agenda of the Armenian Parliament?

Such a link is well backed taking into consideration an extremely hard
domestic political background of Sargsyan’s statement. I should say,
that besides the “main troublemaker” Gagik Tsarukyan, Serzh Sargsyan
has got other opponents too which are extremely displeased with the
ways and results of his ruling Armenia.

Many people have taken it like a challenge. But actually, Sargsyan has
simply formalized the true state of normalizing of the Armenian-Turkish
relations for all the post-Zurich years. Just the parliamentary
ratification has become a barrier which neither Ankara nor Yerevan
could overcome. Armenia did not manage to separate the Karabakh
settlement process from establishing relations with Turkey.

For its part, Ankara using the factor of isolation and regional
closeness of Armenia, did not manage to force Yerevan to adaptableness.

Sargsyan’s recent step does not at all mean that both countries
will never return to normalization of relations. The geo-political
isolation of Armenia is an impartial reason for finding the ways on
normalization of relations with Turkey. The latter is not so much
popular in the Middle East. For this reason, Turkey is still concerned
about improvement of relations with the European Union, which is
rather problematic without the pragmatics at the Armenian direction.

Was the forthcoming Centennial of the Armenian Genocide a catalyst
for this decision?

Against such a background, not only in Armenia but in Turkey as well,
it is necessary to any leader simply to demonstrate his commitment to
the historical memory. Serzh Sargsyan is not an exception, especially
if we take into consideration that if he did not do that, his numerous
opponents would remind him of that for many times.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress