ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRIA, HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA DISMISSED
news.am, Armenia
Oct 13 2011
YEREVAN. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed decrees whereby
Ashot Hovakimyan is discharged from his duties as Armenia’s Ambassador
to Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia.
With another presidential decree, Hovakimyan is also relieved of
his duties as head of Armenia’s delegation to the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
From: A. Papazian
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS TURKEY’S “SWORD OF DAMOCLES” – FORMER IRANIAN AMBASSADOR
news.am, Armenia
Oct 13 2011
TEHRAN. – “Turkey is outraged. If it recognizes the Armenian Genocide,
new claims processes would begin. The Armenian Genocide is Turkey’s
‘Sword of Damocles,'” former Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad
Farhad Koleini told Irdiplomacy News agency of Iran, referring to
French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s recent declaration made in the
Armenian capital Yerevan.
According to Koleini, Turkey fears that, if it formally recognizes
the Armenian Genocide, the Armenians would claim lands and this would
transfer the process to a new phase.
The Iranian diplomat also invited an attention to the fact that the
European countries, including France, use the Armenian Genocide issue
as a means of pressure against Turkey.
From: A. Papazian
YERAZART EVENT RAISES $17,000 FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS
October 13, 2011 by Editor
Clarinetist Tom Hill and Raffi Festekjian
WINCHESTER, Mass. – The home of Raffi and Nina Festekjian was the
venue for a fundraiser for YerazArt on Saturday, September 24. The
gathering raised about $17,000, with the attendance of 75 guests.
After a performance by several members of the Boston Philharmonic
Orchestra, Nicole Hajjar, chair of the YerazArt board, gave an overview
of the organization’s goals and philanthropic efforts. In previous
years, along with supporting individual musicians, money was spent
to bring to the US a group of young musicians from Armenia, so that
they could get experience performing in diverse venues. This year,
the YerazArt board has decided to send the funds raised to young
music students there who are eager to pursue higher education in
Armenia. In fact, she said, the annual tuition cost of the education
of a young opera singer and a young pianist, has been fully subsidized
by YerazArt.
In addition, she said, the Brutyan School in Gumri, also known as
School No. 4, received a set of new musical instruments from YerazArt.
Similarly, the Karakeravan Art School received an oud, guitar and
kanon.
Anna Afeyan, left, with Katrina Menzigian The group has been able
to cultivate young musicians. Hajjar announced one young pianist,
Aleksandr Iradyan, 20, has been accepted to the graduate program
of the Florida International University. YerazArt will pay for the
schooling. Another recipient of funds is Nara Avetisyan, who has
been admitted to the Cleveland Institute of Music, to study with
Prof. Sergei Babayan. She will receive $4,000 annually from YerazArt’s
Anais Afeyan Foundation, started by Noubar and Anna Afeyan.
The Executive Board of YerazArt includes Anna Afeyan, Nina Festekjian,
Vahe Ghahraman, Avak Kahvejian, Sargis Karapetyan, Sylvie Zakarian
Meguerditchian, Seza Seraderian, Apo Ashjian and Yeghishe Manucharyan.
For more information about the group, visit
– Alin K. Gregorian
From: A. Papazian
ANCA-WR AND VIZA TEAM UP FOR GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Tert.am
00:06 ~U 14.10.11
Socially-conscious rock band Viza will team up with the Armenian
National Committee of America ~V Western Region (ANCA-WR) for its
Saturday, October 22, 2011 show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood,
CA.
In a statement the ANCA-WR said that together with other human
rights organizations they have worked with Viza in the past to raise
awareness and promote understanding of various issues, including
Armenian Genocide recognition, feeding the homeless and providing
assistance to orphans and disadvantaged youth internationally.
A robust act whose music is a blend of rock and eastern melodies
sourced from the oud, duduk and dmbek, Viza is considered to be one
of the biggest locally-grown acts in Los Angeles.
Even though the band calls L.A. home, it has taken its unique music
coast to coast and worldwide, continuously touring throughout the
United States and Europe.
At the forefront of political activism in the Armenian American
community, the ANCA-WR is no stranger to promoting the respect for
human rights and justice through the arts, and particularly music.
The ANCA-WR has, in the past, teamed up with Grammy-Award winning
hard rock band System of a Down, among others, to promote the cause
of justice for the Armenian Genocide.
It may not come as a surprise, then, that the two activist rock bands
not only have a similar outlook on social justice ~V as they also
share the stage: Viza opened for System of a Down front-man Serj
Tankian throughout Europe during the summer of 2010.
~SAs an artist and an activist, it’s important to stay vigilant
about issues that matter to us as citizens of good conscience,”
stated ANCA-WR Chairman and VIZA member Andrew Kzirian.
“The organization and community are proud to join forces with Viza,
as we have with others in the past, to promote a common cause ~V
projecting positive messages of social justice and change through art,”
he added.
~SVoter registration is supremely important to participating in our
form of government ~V and this upcoming show will offer concertgoers
the chance to sign up and get involved,~T he remarked.
Viza performs annually at the ~SSilence the Lies, Rock the Truth~T
concert in Los Angeles. The show~Rs purpose is to remember the martyrs
of the Armenian Genocide and speak out against crimes against humanity
through art and music.
As a result of championing human rights and other worthwhile causes,
Viza has led the L.A. music scene in drawing attention to globally
important issues.
Viza bassist Alexan Khatcherian concurs: ~SWe believe that if we
can use our music to expose or reinforce a message to our fans and
supporters, we should do it and because we believe in the ANCA and
its cause ~V the synergies are already there.~T
For more information please visit
From: A. Papazian
COMMENTARY: SARKOZY’S VISIT TO ARMENIA – A MESSAGE IN MANY DIRECTIONS
By Edmond Y. Azadian
October 13, 2011 by Editor
France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy is a different kind of political
animal, capable of any and every controversial political move. During
his tenure as his country’s interior minister, his harsh treatment
of France’s Muslim immigrant population was severely criticized,
yet it helped to boost his popularity and catapult him to the office
of president. Equally controversial was his policy of packing up the
Roma people and shipping them to their countries of origin.
Less than a year ago, Mr. Sarkozy was offering warm accolades to
Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and today he is on the forefront of the NATO
bombing raids trying to unseat his erstwhile friend. Last week he
was on another mission to the Caucasus. He was on a whirlwind tour of
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. His longest stay in the region was in
Armenia, perhaps thanks to the diplomatic skills of Foreign Minister
Eduard Nalbandian and Charles Aznavour, the latter accompanying him
on the trip. That, in itself, was a message to the region.
We have to remember that following the war between Russia and Georgia,
he was designated by the West to rush to Tbilisi in support of the
Georgian position.
He also conducted shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Tbilisi
to salvage whatever was possible in that relationship. Of course,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia could not be reintegrated back into the
Georgian territory, but the latter was solidly won for the West.
Today, the West has a strong strategic position in the Caucasus thanks
to Saakashvili.
Incidentally, Armenians have every reason to complain about the
Georgian government’s policy with regard to the minorities, but the
West has touted it as a showcase of economic recovery for the rest
of the region to emulate if they wish prosperity. And contrary to
all adverse publicity, Mikheil Saakashvili has apparently stemmed
corruption overnight.
All these developments set the stage for the upcoming changes in the
Caucasus. Vladimir Putin’s announced comeback in Russia, with its
anticipated strong-handed tactics for tighter control of the region,
make this spectacular visit to the region by a major world leader
seem like a pre-emptive strike by the West in order to make inroads
in the region.
The fact that Sarkozy spent more time in Armenia than in the other
Caucasus countries was a message to half a million Armenian voters in
France, who had been hurt more than once before by him. First, during
his presidential campaign he had promised to appoint Patrick Devedjian
the interior minister; instead, he named him the head of Sarkozy’s
conservative Union for a Popular Movement Party, a rather powerless
post. The other offense by Sarkozy was his direct intervention in order
to stop in its tracks the Genocide Resolution, which was headed toward
approval by the French Senate, after sailing through the parliament.
Now comes the bittersweet comeback when Sarkozy, standing in the heart
of Yerevan, makes a spectacular statement about the Armenian Genocide,
of course without any reference to his earlier position. Indeed
a historic statement which is quoted below: “Collective negation
is a more serious problem than an individual problem, unless Turkey
follows the example of other great nations in recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. Before year’s end, France will take serious steps, including
the criminalization of Genocide denial.”
He also evoked the historic ties between Armenians and France, which
had lent a helping hand to the survivors after the Genocide. Of course
it was not the opportune moment to remind him that France directly
contributed to the slaughter and expulsion of the Armenians when it
abandoned Cilicia, after drafting Armenians into the Armenian Legion
to be used as canon fodder during World War I.
Sarkozy also reiterated his position regarding Turkey’s plans to join
the European Union: “My position has not changed in this case and will
not change. Situated in Asia Minor, Turkey has a great role to play
for France and for the world. Turkey is a bridge between Europe and
Asia. It has a great role but that role is not in the European Union.”
He also made a reference to the intolerable policy of closed borders
in the 21st century.
Ankara has been angered by Sarkozy’s statements and has decided
to lodge a protest through a special delegate. There is no word of
severed diplomatic relations or canceling arms contracts, which have
proven to be empty threats in the past. Of course, more current issues
on the table were lost in the media shuffle: the economic agreements,
France’s interest in rehabbing the atomic energy plants, the Karabagh
issue and several others.
President Sarkozy certainly had his uphill re-election bid at home
on his mind when he planned this trip to the region, with rising
discontent about his economic policies.
By the same token, he has taken center stage in Europe, in cooperation
with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, trying to help the economies
of failing European countries.
Besides the euphoria he created in Armenia, Mr. Sarkozy’s visit
certainly helped President Sargisian’s election plans. A very uncertain
future reigns in Armenia regarding next year’s parliamentary elections
and 2014 presidential election.
Thus, President Sarkozy’s tour of the Caucasus, other than being
self-serving, sent many messages in many directions, of which Armenia
will be one of the beneficiaries.
From: A. Papazian
WASHINGTON WANTS TO ORGANIZE A SARGSYAN-ALIYEV MEETING, SAYS AZERI MP
Tert.am
23:28 ~U 13.10.11
Washington wants to organize a meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents, and Azerbaijani MP and political analyst has said.
Speaking to the Azerbaijani news website SalamNews, Rasim Musabekov
said that it can easily be seen that the US makes efforts to hold
such a meeting.
“In the near future US officials are expected to pay visits to the
region, including Azerbaijan,” said he.
“The American side wants Armenia and Azerbaijan to at least agree to
hold a high-level meeting. But it is difficult now to say how the US
will succeed to persuade the sides to hold such a meeting,” he added.
It comes after the Russian langue online daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta
(Independent Newspaper) cited Azerbaijani sources saying that the
next meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev may take place
through the mediation of their French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy.
“The proposal was made during the French leader’s regional visit. It
was discussed and confirmed by Russian and US presidents,” the source
had said.
However, the paper also quoted an Armenian Foreign Ministry
spokesperson dismissing the report.
From: A. Papazian
ARMENIAN BRANCH OF “SUPPORT TO HOSPITALS” FRENCH FOUNDATION OPENS
ARMENPRESS
19:28, 13 October, 2011
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS:The opening ceremony of the Armenian
branch of “Support to Hospitals” French foundation was held today at
the Republican Center of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology of RA
Healthcare Ministry with the support of RA Ministry of Diaspora and
French-Armenian philanthropists. The Chairman of the Armenian branch
of the foundation noted that the goal of the foundation is to support
Armenian hospitals providing medical equipments. “In near future the
activity of the foundation will be completely dedicated to providing
Armenia’s maternity departments with medical equipments,” he said,
adding that the Armenian branch of the foundation must be an advanced
center. “I am sure that we have taken the right path,” the chairman
said. Director of the Republican Center of Perinatology, Obstetrics and
Gynecology Razmik Abrahamyan assured that they will entirely meet the
expectations of the foundation. The Armenian branch of the foundation
will be a regional center, which will also serve Iran and Georgia.
From: A. Papazian
BERNARD FASSIER: KARABAKH ISSUE UNSETTLED BECAUSE OF AZERBAIJAN
ARMENPRESS
21:39, 13 October, 2011
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Today at the end of the autumn
session of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Dubrovnik city, Croatia, a
discussion on “the role of OSCE in Karabakh conflict settlement” was
held. Armenpress reports, citing the Public Television, that during
the meeting the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Personal Representative
to OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Honorary
Chairman of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Joao Soares delivered speeches.
Referring to the settlement process of NK conflict, the Co-Chairs
attested that the only format of the conflict settlement is the OSCE
Minsk Group – on the basis of international three basic principles.
French Co-Chair of the Minsk Group Bernard Fassier noted in his
speech that an opportunity has appeared for several times to settle
the conflict, but because of one of the parties – Azerbaijan, a final
solution has not been adopted. At the same time the co-chairs added
that the Minsk format is the one, and the Azerbaijani attempt to move
the settlement of the issue to other platforms is unacceptable.
From: A. Papazian
AZERBAIJAN BUILDING A WALL ALONG THE LINE OF CONTACT
Anna Balyan
“Radiolur”
13.10.2011 18:19
Azerbaijan has launched construction works in Ota Gerbend village
in Aghdam region. They are constructing a 700 meters-long wall three
meters high. The wall with a total length of 700 meters will stretch
along the border of Nagorno Karabakh from Karavand to Tartar region.
Azerbaijan says the wall is meant to protect them from shooting
from the Armenian side. However, this is another demonstration of
propaganda, which is more important than an armed attack in the
contemporary world.
Ex-Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabakh Arman Melikyan says “they
spend huge sums on propaganda, and some people draw benefits from
this.” “This is propaganda, they follow the example of Israel,
which tried to demarcate its border with Palestinian settlements by
building a wall. It also served propaganda purposes to demonstrate
how endangered Israelis are.”
In the report about the wall the Azerbaijani media once again write
about the killing of the 8-year-old boy. Official Yerevan has declared
on the highest level that the Armenian side has nothing to do with
the murder. The Armenian side is most interested in the maintenance
of peace. This is evidenced by the statements of the NKR Defense Army
officials that Nagorno Karabakh is ready to provide every assistance
to the construction of that wall. “The question refers not only to
the 3-meter-long sector, but also the whole line of contact for both
to be protected from each other,” he said.
“It would be less expensive for Azerbaijan to pull its snipers back
from the line of contact. However, they do not do this notwithstanding
the calls of the OSCE Minsk Group. To be short, if they want to spend
their oil-dollars on the construction of the wall, let them do it,”
Arman Melikyan said.
Spokesman for the NKR President David Babayan says “the construction
of the wall is welcome in some sense, since it will define the border
of Nagorno Karabakh.”
MP Lernik Aleksanyan considers that Azerbaijan is building the wall
for military purposes, as well. “I don’t rule out that it might be
constructed for military purposes. I’m confident they will not build
it all along the line of contact, since it will determine the border
of Nagorno Karabakh.
As “Nezavisimaya gazeta” writes, “it is possible to build a wall,
but neither the Great Wall of China, nor the Berlin Wall could stand
the test of time.”
From: A. Papazian
MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS COMING TO ‘SMASH WALL OF HOSTILITY.’ SARKZOY TO MEDIATE?
epress.am
10.13.2011 15:16
The next meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
might be mediated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, according
to Azerbaijani sources, who stated Wednesday that the suggestion
was made by the French state leader during his recent visit to the
region and discussed and approved by the US and Russian presidents,
reports Nezavisimaya Gazeta, noting, however, that Armenia’s foreign
ministry categorically refuted the report: “Some strange things have
been coming from Azerbaijan in recent years.”
Among those “strange things” is a report by the Azerbaijani news
agency ANS Press that a wall will be built along the Line of Contact
with Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces. The stone structure will stretch
nearly 3 kilometers, ANS Press reported, “to protect the inhabitants
of Azerbaijani villages from Armenian bullets.”
Not the wall of stone but the wall of hostility between Armenians
and Azeris is what the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs once again will be
trying to break down by the end of October, writes Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
Second secretary of the security division of Azerbaijan’s foreign
ministry Elcin Huseynli declared Tuesday that the OSCE Minsk Group
are creating opportunities to artificially delay the Karabakh conflict.
Huseynli lamented the close military and political ties between Armenia
and Russia, which “are the cause of instability in the region,” and
accused Yerevan of not fulfilling its international obligations:
both the armed forces and the staff of Armenia’s Internal Affairs
allegedly exceed the permissible limits set forth in international
treaties, which indicates that Armenia is preparing for war, while
“Azerbaijan is directing its acquired weapons toward protecting its
energy infrastructure.”
Mikhail Alexandrov, deputy head of Caucasus Department of CIS Institute
, described Huseynli’s statement as illogical. “It’s odd to hear
Azerbaijan accusing Armenia of an arms race. It’s Baku that provokes
this and parades its military budget. It’s Baku that insists that a
military solution to the conflict is not ruled out. Azerbaijan, in
general, should review its position. In this country, people don’t
live so well for it to go spending such money on arms,” believes
the analyst.
“Conflict settlement is possibly only if both sides make compromises,
but Azerbaijan doesn’t want to concede anything and blames the OSCE.
It wants everything to go back to how it was before the collapse
of the Soviet Union, which is impossible. Baku should recognize
Nagrono-Karabakh’s independence in exchange for the seven regions
surrounding it: this option is still possible; otherwise, in 10 years
it might also become unrealizable,” believes Alexandrov.
From: A. Papazian