Author: Andres-Papazian

THE PLACES OF THE EAST: ALEXANDER SPENDIARYAN
by Phillip Butler

Argophilia Travel News
Jan 27 2011

The Alexander Spendiaryan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is
located in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. It takes its name
in honor of Alexander Spendiaryan, an Armenian composer who wrote
the opera Almast. This opera was the first one that was performed
at the complex. The facility did not take on this name until 1938,
five years following its official opening.

The groundbreaking for the complex took place in November of 1930
as part of Soviet Armenia’s 10th anniversary celebration. The doors
officially opened in January 1933, and a ballet troupe was established
shortly thereafter. The first ballet performed in the building was
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

The theater underwent constant construction improvements, and the
second phase of the construction reached completion in 1940.

Construction continued until 1953. In 1956, the opera-theater received
the status of National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater because of
its success in promoting and developing many new national ballets
and opera performances, including Aram Khachaturian’s Happiness and
Gayane, both ballets. Gayane performed so well that it has now been
performed worldwide.

Numerous other Armenian composers have written ballets and operas for
the theater. Anoush has been a part of the theater’s repertoire since
1935. The facility has hosted more than 200 different operas written by
composers from Armenia, West Europe, and Russia. The theater’s company
has performed across the globe in more than 20 countries, including
Germany, Greece, Russia, Spain, the United States, and Lebanon.

This facility is not only one of Yerevan’s architectural highlights,
but it is also a prime destination for visitors passionate about
theater, opera, and ballet.

See Photos at

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN FM: “RUSSIAN, AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS HELD DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE PRESIDENTS IN ASTRAKHAN”

APA
Jan 27 2011
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. The issues on the regulation of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict within the framework of the instructions given by the
presidents in Astrakhan were discussed at the meeting of the Russian,
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Moscow on January 24,
official representative of Russian FM Alexander Lukashevich said at
the briefing on Thursday, APA reports quoting Russian Mass Media.

According to him, it was the 4th meeting on the ministerial level
within the past three months: “It demonstrates the intensity of the
work in that format.”

Asked whether a concrete agreement was reached at the ministers’
recent meeting, Lukashevich said that he had no information about any
agreement because the meeting was held without the participation of
the press. The FM’s representative also said that the visit of the
co-chairs to the region was discussed at the meeting.

APA reports that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs didn’t attend the
recent meeting of the ministers.

From: A. Papazian

JOURNALIST ARSLAN RECEIVES BULLETS, THREATENING CALLS OVER NEW BOOK

Today’s Zaman
Jan 27 2011
Turkey

Journalist Adem Yavuz Arslan received a package containing four
Kalashnikov bullets and a white beret, similar to the one that Dink’s
assassin was wearing on the day of the murder.

Journalist Adem Yavuz Arslan, the author of a book that seeks to shed
light on some of the shady aspects of the murder of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink, has said the death threats he has been
receiving lately prove that his book is telling the “truth” about
the Dink murder.

On Wednesday, Arslan received a package containing four Kalashnikov
bullets and a white beret, similar to the one that Dink’s assassin
was wearing on the day of the murder. In addition, he said he has
been receiving threatening phone calls from unidentified sources
since his book first hit the shelves.

The package was sent to Arslan’s office. He is both a columnist and
the Ankara representative for the Bugun daily. Police officers from
the counter-terrorism department examined the parcel. The examination
revealed that it was sent from the Yerköy district of Yozgat province.

An investigation is still under way into the incident.

Arslan also said the packet contains a “direct message” for him. “The
senders of the bullets are implying that I will get killed like Dink,”
he noted.

The journalist has recently dominated the agenda with his new book,
“Bi Ermeni Var: Dink Operasyonunun Å~^ifreleri” (There’s this Armenian:
The Codes of the Dink Operation), which puts forward new evidence
indicating that the murder of Dink had been masterminded from the
start by dark forces.

Dink was shot dead by a nationalist teenager in broad daylight in
front of his office in 2007. Dink’s assassin was captured, but the
real plotters of the murder have yet to be captured.

According to Arslan, the threats have come to prove that his book is
telling the truth behind Dink’s assassination. “The bullets and the
white beret show that I am being targeted because of my new book. Now
I see that my book is really shedding light on the murder. I see that
I am on the right track. Otherwise, some would not be so disturbed,”
he stated.

In his book, the journalist expresses the belief that the Dink murder
was not committed just by a few ultranationalists. Rather, that it was
carefully planned in minute detail from the start as part of a shady
plan to create chaos in the country. Arslan also believes that the
investigation should start from scratch in light of the new evidence
he provides in his book.

Arslan’s book also details many connections between members of
Ergenekon — a clandestine gang with members nested within the
state hierarchy whose members are currently on trial for attempting
to overthrow the government by force. Ergenekon is accused of being
behind many atrocious crimes and plots that sought to create chaos
in Turkey, which they hoped would trigger a military takeover.

However, the journalist is not hopeful that the sender of the
bullet-filled package will get caught. “Police sources said the sender
used a fake name when sending the package. This means it will be very
hard to find the sender. The cargo bureau from where the package was
sent does not have security cameras. I believe that this is not the
work of an amateur.”

Arslan also said he asked police to provide security assistance for
him and his family. “This is really bothersome. Suppose that you
are working to shed light on the murder of a journalist and you are
subjected to remorseless criticism from your colleagues. Then you
receive death threats. They are sending you bullets and a white beret.

I am clever enough to understand the message here,” he stated.

Nevertheless, the journalist defied the threats, saying: “Only God
will take my life away. I believe that death is one and it cannot be
changed. If the state that failed to protect Dink will not manage to
protect me, then I have nothing to say.”

Currently there are 20 suspects in the Dink murder case, eight of whom
are under arrest. Following Dink’s murder, numerous reports suggested
that the police had been tipped off about the planned assassination
more than once before his murder but had failed to prevent it. Some
gendarmes later confirmed that they had been tipped off about the
plot to kill Dink before the murder was committed. Two gendarmes are
currently standing trial for having ignored warnings about the plot
against Dink.

More from Arslan’s book The title of Arslan’s book comes from the
testimony of Ogun Samast, the self-confessed murderer of Dink,
in a court. According to Samast, one day when he was hanging out
at a local Internet café playing games, his friend Hayal — who
is now accused of inciting him to murder — came up and told him:
“There’s this Armenian. You should kill him.”

The book provides new evidence that confirms links that were suspected
earlier between key Ergenekon suspect Veli Kucuk, a retired general,
and Col. Ali Oz, who was gendarmerie regiment commander in Trabzon —
the hometown of hitman Samast and other suspects in the trial and
the city where the plot to assassinate Dink was hatched.

A prosecutor filed a lawsuit in 2008 against Oz and six soldiers,
demanding up to two years of imprisonment for dereliction of duty in
the Hrant Dink murder case. The men are being accused of ignoring
tips from various sources about the plot being hatched during the
run-up to the murder. No convictions have yet been made in that trial.

Kucuk had also threatened Dink when he was still alive due to his
articles and writings. According to different accounts from various
members of the Dink family, Kucuk and ultranationalist lawyer Kemal
Kerincsiz — also a suspect in the Ergenekon case — had threatened
Dink. The journalist’s brother, Orhan Dink, remembers that his brother
was highly unnerved by the involvement of Kerincsiz and Kucuk.

Arslan also points to various shortcomings that he spotted in the
investigation. He asserts in his book that Dink’s murder was a stage
in a larger plan to launch an anti-Christian campaign and stir up
ultranationalist sentiment.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH VICAR MEETS BSEC REPRESENTATIVE

news.am
Jan 27 2011
Armenia

Armenian patriarch vicar of Constantinople Aram Ateshyan on Thursday
discussed the issues concerning Armenian community with Mikael
Vardanyan, acting Armenian representative at the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).

The sides stressed importance of contacts between Armenian
representation and community structures.

Mikael Vardanyan presented main directions and achievements of the
Armenian representation at BSEC. The sides agree to continue contacts
and discuss issues of mutual interest.

From: A. Papazian

ZARUHI PETROSYAN MURDER CASE: HUSBAND GUILTY

news.am
Jan 27 2011
Armenia

The investigation into the murder of 20-year-old Zaruhi Petrosyan
will soon be completed, and the case will be sent to court within
10 days, Tigran Sargsyan, Military Prosecutor Tigran Sargsyan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The young woman was regularly beaten by her husband Yanis Sarkisov.

Witnesses said he brutally beat her on September 26 and caused her
fatal injuries.

Yanis Sarkisov was charged with causing fatal injuries to a person.

The relevant article provides for six to ten years` imprisonment.

Sarkisov is a contract soldier.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH PRESIDENT TO TAKE ACTION ON DINK CASE

Hurriyet
Jan 27 2011
Turkey

President Abdullah Gul has revealed plans to take action in the
controversial Hrant Dink murder case upon his return to Turkey,
telling reporters in Strasbourg that he planned to order further
investigations.

Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin who wrote on subjects
such as how a reconciliation process could be made possible between
Turks and Armenians, was murdered four years ago.

The Dink family recently made a new plea that police and gendarmerie
officials not questioned during the investigation be brought into the
scope of the investigation, given a recent European Court of Human
Rights decision that found Turkey guilty of both failing to protect
Dink and his freedom of speech and not properly investigating civil
servants suspected of being involved in the murder.

Gul said was ashamed that the Turkish government was not able to
protect one of its citizens and that the system in place in Turkey
had proven to be “deeply troubling” given that the Dink case remains
unsolved after four years.

Gul said he planned to instruct the State Audit Board, or DDK, to
further investigate the Dink case and bring to light what remains
hidden. Leaving the murder unsolved would be a “stain” on the country’s
history and raise concerns regarding the judiciary process, he said,
adding that solving the case with a determined approach would prevent
similar incidents from happening in the future.

The DDK recently called for a new investigation into a 2009
helicopter crash that killed a right-wing political party leader,
Muhsin Yazýcýoðlu, after it found serious flaws in the Turkish state’s
response to the incident.

CHP: Gul can reveal the truth

Asked about President Gul’s decision to include the DDK in further
investigations into the case, opposition Republican People’s Party,
or CHP, leader Kemal Kýlýcdaroðlu said the investigation could finally
reveal the truth.

The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, “conceals evidence,
instead of revealing it. We know that those who hide evidence are
elevated to high positions. It is a great development that the
president is stepping in. Maybe the public can finally learn the
facts that have been hidden,” Kýlýcdaroðlu said.

From: A. Papazian

MAINTENANCE OF PEACE IS BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMENIAN ARMY, HERITAGE MP SAYS

news.am
Jan 27 2011
Armenia

The biggest achievement of the Armenian army within the recent 19 years
is maintenance of peace, MP from “Heritage” Party Armen Martirosyan
told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Despite Azerbaijan’s belligerence, peace is maintained and this is the
achievement of the Armenian army. Baku realizes Azerbaijan-launched
hostilities will damage itself. This also indicates fighting efficiency
of the Armenian army, he said.

The parliamentarian recalled he also served in the Armenian armed
forces. “Despite its great achievements, there are problems on
interpersonal relations in the Armenian army, mainly due to sense of
impunity of some officers. However, these problems will be solved, if
adequate measures are taken,” Martirosyan noted. He hailed it positive
that transparency has recently been observed in the activities of
the Armenian armed forces.

On January 28 the Armenian Army marks its 19th anniversary.

From: A. Papazian

ARCHBISHOP HIGHLIGHTS ARMENIAN EXPERIENCE IN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE
By staff writers

Ekklesia

Jan 27 2011

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams ,has issued a statement
marking Holocaust Memorial Day, which emphasises the need to hear the
‘Untold Stories’ of those who suffered similar tragedies to those
experienced during the Shoah – the calculated mass murder of European
Jews and other groups by the Nazis during World War 2.

“If the stories are not told over and again, we lose the memory
of those who suffered and we risk losing something that protects
our humanity…I commend for our remembrance the untold stories of
Jewish people living in Britain during the medieval era, those of the
Holocaust and the stories from the genocidal tragedies of many other
contexts in our deeply damaged world today,” declared Dr Williams.

Among the crimes he mentioned was the Armenian genocide of 1915-23, for
which there has been a longstanding campaign for full international
recognition. At present the Turkish government still denies the
genocidal nature of what occurred, despite overwhelming historical
evidence.

Campaigners say that hearing the hidden crimes and unheard voices is
vital to the task of challenging and ending the kind of systematic
murder visited on 6 million Jews and others during the Nazi Holocaust
– which remains unique in scale and execution – but also many other
victims, including recent ones such as those in the Democratic Republic
of Congo, where 5.4 million people have been killed since 1998;
Cambodia, where an estimated 1.7 million were murdered by the Khmer
Rouge between 1975 and 1979; the war in Bosnia in the 1990s which
claimed at least 98,000 lives; Burundi, with 50,000 deaths in 1993
and Rwanda, which saw 800,000 deaths in 1994, due to tribal conflict.

Dr Williams’ inclusion of Armenia in his statement was welcomed by
Dr Harry Hagopian, an ecumenical, legal and political expert on the
region. He told Ekklesia that those who still carried the memory
of these events and those working to reverse the climate of denial
around them would be “profoundly grateful” to the Archbishop for
his acknowledgment.

In November last year, Dr Hagopian gave the Constantinople Lecture
2010, sponsored by the Anglican and Eastern Churches Association, on
the theme of ‘The Armenian Genocide: A way forward?’ The lecture was
published by Ekklesia ()
and others.

The annual Holocaust Memorial Day in Britain, and related observances
across the world, have been marked across the country, in local
communities and places of worship, on 27 January 2011.

The full text of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s message is as follows:

“On this national Holocaust Memorial Day we are asked to remember
the ‘Untold Stories’ from other genocides that have occurred
since the Holocaust. The poems of Paul Celan attempt to express the
inexpressible: to tell the ‘Untold Story’ that chronicles each detail
of human degradation and loss during the Holocaust. Although other
poets have spoken for those killed in Armenia, Cambodia and Darfur,
many stories from these and other genocidal events remain untold. They
do not lessen or relativise the unique horror of the Holocaust,
but rather serve to remind us of the loss of humanity that remains
present in our midst to this day.

“Testimony, poetry and autobiography allow us to attend to the distinct
stories of individuals rather than trying to comprehend the statistics
of different genocides of recent history. Writers like Paul Celan and
Etty Hillesum create the most vivid remembrance because their voices
are so distinct and their suffering can be felt in every detail of
their work.

“Sometimes objects and mementos themselves can carry a story and the
recently launched Jewish Museum in Camden displays hand-crafted sacred
objects alongside small items carried by Jewish children on the kinder
transport as they escaped from Germany. The crafted objects, such as a
roll of scripture in a silver fish case, reveal something of the soul
of the craftsman. The children’s toys likewise still carry the marks
of the soul of their owner. But there at least are the memorials of
survivors. It is impossible ever to forget the sight at Auschwitz of
children’s toys taken from those killed in the camp. Who can speak
of what they signify of pain and degradation?

“The Jewish Museum presents an overview of Jewish life in Britain
starting with immigrations first recorded in 1066. There is no Paul
Celan or Etty Hillesum telling the story of medieval Jews in Britain.

However, the timeline on the wall preserves an important memorial
of events now almost completely lost to public awareness – who can
now tell the full story of the blood libel case surrounding William
of Norwich in the 12th century or of King Edward’s expulsion of all
Jews from England? If the stories are not told over and again, we
lose the memory of those who suffered and we risk losing something
that protects our humanity.

“On this 2011 Holocaust Memorial Day I commend for our remembrance
the untold stories of Jewish people living in Britain during the
medieval era, those of the Holocaust and the stories from the genocidal
tragedies of many other contexts in our deeply damaged world today.”

From: A. Papazian

CAUCASIAN CHALLENGE 2011

CMG Online News (Canadian Motorcycle Magazine)

Jan 27 2011

You’ll travel through former and current areas of conflict. Sounds
smashing.

Feeling adventurous? Want to travel across 11 countries and former,
as well as existing conflict zones? Then sign up today for the 2011
Caucasian Challenge (relating to Caucasus region of Asia, not white
folks).

Touted as an “amateur, drive-anything, minimal assistance, low budget
rally” (hmm, except for the ‘drive anything’ clause it sounds like
the Mad Bastard rally) the Caucasian Challenge is a competition
and adventure tour lasting 17 days and traversing some of the most
culturally diverse areas of this planet.

The rally will leave Budapest, Hungary on August 15 and head across
Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Albania. It will
then leave the Balkans and cross Greece and Turkey before entering
Georgia and the Caucasus Mountains.

But the rally doesn’t end there, as competitors will then cross
into Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh before heading back to
Armenia, where it wraps up in the country’s capital, Yerevan.

You’ll be on your own when it comes to food and lodging (tents seem
to be the preferred accommodations) and competitors are encouraged
to collect donations and hand them over to a yet-to-be determined
school or orphanage in Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh.

The rally is open to all vehicles, including motorcycles, though only
three brave motorcyclists have entered the rally since its inception
in 2008.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA ALLEGATIONS SHOULD BE LEFT TO HISTORIANS – PACE PRESIDENT

news.az
Jan 27 2011
Azerbaijan

Armenian allegations on the 1915 incidents were brought up at PACE’s
winter session as President Abdullah Gul addressed the Assembly.

The so-called Armenian allegations were brought up again when President
Abdullah Gul, who went to Strasbourg by official invitation of the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Speaker Mevlut Cavusoglu,
addressed the parliamentarians at the 2011 Winter Session and replied
to questions posed by them.

Parliamentary Assembly Speaker Mevlut Cavusoglu said the Armenia
allegations should be left to historians and politicians should not
take decisions without having opinion and information about what
really happened.

Cavusoglu said President Gul’s answers were sincere and full of
confidence. Turkey is now an important actor at the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly.

Turkish MP Mevlut Cavusoglu who has been the speaker of the
Parliamentary Assembly for a year now is to retain his position
for another term. This achievement which is tantamount to a vote
of confidence is also an element enhancing Turkey’s influence in
the Council.

Cavusoglu said that it is the first time a Turkish deputy has become
the speaker of Parliamentary Assembly and Turkey’s aim is to show how
Turkey, with its government and people, can contribute to Europe. He
said further that Turkey is now a country which can register its
success on every platform and that is why Turkey should keep its
horizon wide and its goals hefty.

From: A. Papazian