Author: Andres-Papazian

6000 GENOCIDE SURVIVORS’ MEMORIES IN NEW EDITION OF VERGINE SVAZLYAN’S BOOK

Tert.am
10.11.10

The memories of Armenian Genocide survivors will play a crucial role
in achieving the fair solution of the Armenian cause, ethnographer
Vergine Svazlyan finds.

“I have worked diligently for 50 years, collecting memories from
survivors,” she told Wednesday a news conference.

“Memories should have been collected and submitted to the scientific
community. All this could have a significant role in the recognition
of Genocide,” she said.

Vergine Svazlyan has worked for 55 years to publish various works
related to the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkey
in early 20th century.

In her book titled “Armenian Genocide: Memories of Survivors,”
the author compiled the memories of 6000 Armenians who survived the
great tragedy.

The new edition of the book is due to be published in the nearest
future. It is also available in English and Turkish languages.

From: A. Papazian

ICRC MAY NOT BE AWARE OF SOME ARMENIAN POWS IN AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIAN MP SAYS

Tert.am
10.11.10

For so many years, Armenia has conscientiously complied with the
terms of Geneva conventions, according to Zharangutyun (heritage)
parliamentary group member Larisa Alaverdyan.

“Armenian authorities have always insisted that all the processes
be open and no one be kept a hostage,” she told a news conference
on Wednesday.

The MP didn’t rule out the possibility that the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) may not be aware of the existence
of some Armenian prisoners of war (POW) on Azerbaijani territory,
as no international organization confirms the fact of kidnapping and
such individuals are often declared missing.

“I think ICRC’s activities have declined compared to 1992-1994.

Unfortunately, they have become less active over the recent years,”
Ms Alaverdyan said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION TO HAVE MORE SUPPORTERS IN US CONGRESS THIS YEAR: JOHN KERRY

Tert.am
10.11.10

The Armenian Genocide resolution will find greater support in Congress
this year, Head of US House Foreign Affairs Committee told Turkish
journalists on Tuesday, Turkish daily Hurriyet reports.

“Turkey is expected to face more difficulties. I can’t say what
exactly is going to happen, but the Resolution will definitely have
more supporters,” Kerry said.

During his recent Middle East tour, John Kerry visited Turkey to meet
with the country’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The 2-hour meeting focused on the recent tension in Turkish-Israeli
relations, Iran’s nuclear issue, the deployment of NATO anti-missile
elements, the problems of Kurdish Workers’ Party etc.

The US official called on Turkey to overcome tensions with Israel
and renew close ties to help with peace efforts in the Middle East.

From: A. Papazian

DAVID NALBANDYAN STARTS TOURNAMENT WITH VICTORY

Tert.am
10.11.10

Argentinean tennis player of Armenian decent David Nalbandian
celebrates his victory against Marcel Granollers in the first round
of Valencia’s International tournament.

“The court here is very fast but I think the beginning was very good.

I had some difficulties at the end of the first set, but then
everything was settled. I am satisfied with the way I played,” the
sportsmen said.

During the next match, Nalbandyan will compete against Andy Murray.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA SHOULD APPEAL TO INTERNATIONAL BODIES OVER MANVEL SARIBEKYAN’S CASE: LARISA ALAVERDYAN

Tert.am
10.11.10

When it comes to the case of Manvel Saribekyan, Armenian state bodies
and non-governmental organizations should turn to international bodies,
namely to the International Court of Human Rights and the UN Commission
Against Torture, Press Secretary of Zharangutyun (Heritage) Party’s
parliamentary faction Larisa Alaverdyan told a press conference today.

According to Armenia’s official version Manvel Saribekyan was an
Armenian civilian who inadvertently crossed the border into Azerbaijan
this year in search of his lost cattle, was caught by Azerbaijani armed
forces, held in captivity and later killed before being repatriated
to Armenia.

Baku denies any involvement in Saribekyan’s killing, saying he was
specifically trained to conduct acts of terror in Azerbaijan and was
not killed, but rather committed suicide.

Larisa Alaverdyan mentioned that though a criminal case has been
filed over Saribekyan’s case, the issue should also be raised to the
attention of international bodies not only for adequate response,
but also for implementing the principle of punishment and holding
all those responsible for his death accountable.

Further she said that in an attempt to draw attention to the case a
month ago she had collected signatures over the case and in agreement
with the existing five parliamentary factions and sent a letter to
four international organizations, namely to the UN, Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, European Union and Council of
Europe (OSCE).

Up to date none of those organizations has responded to that
letter, which according to her, is because the letter was something
unprecedented for them. In her words, such bodies do not have any
fixed procedures to respond to such letters.

But Larisa Alaverdian’s efforts are not limited to that letter only.

She has already prepared a new letter and will be consistent to
receiving some response from international bodies.

Speaking about the criminal case filed over Saribekyan’s death,
Alaverdyan said that Armenia can appeal to the European Court of Human
Rights and bring charges against all those guilty for Saribekyan’s
death.

The European court has already had such cases, she added.

Further Alaverdyan said that Manvel Saribekyan’s parents also can
appeal to international bodies, as well as to the UN Commission
Against Torture, and demand that those responsible for theirs son’s
death be punished.

From: A. Papazian

DESPITE MAJOR SHIFTS IN CONGRESS, ARMENIANS FARED WELL; TURKS NOT SO WELL
By Harut Sassounian

Tert.am
10.11.10

The Nov. 2 elections were a referendum on Pres. Obama. He had
disillusioned most Americans by his failed economic policies and
disappointed Armenian-Americans by breaking his promise on the
Genocide.

Despite record Democratic losses in the elections, Armenian-Americans
succeeded in helping elect their congressional friends on both side
of the aisle. Moreover, the newly-elected conservative Congress is
expected to be less tolerant of Turkey’s flirtations with Iran and
quarrels with Israel.

Indeed, Armenian-American voters made a big difference in several
key races. More than 95% of the 152 House members from both parties
endorsed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) were
re-elected, including the two Armenian-American members of Congress,
Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA). Meanwhile, several major
opponents of the Armenian Genocide resolution were defeated, including
Cong. Michael McMahon (Dem.-NY), a staunch supporter of Turkey. He
lost to Michael Grimm, a Republican, after a concerted effort by the
Armenian and Greek communities in New York.

Five of the six Senatorial candidates endorsed by the ANCA were
victorious – Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Barbara Boxer
(D-CA), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD),
and Cong. Mark Kirk (R-IL), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues who successfully ran for the Senate. Other important
victories were scored by Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA) and Gov. Deval Patrick
(D-MA), both strongly supported by the Armenian-American community.

Although many incumbents lost their seats, 95% of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues and over 90% of cosponsors of the
congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide were re-elected.

Overall, Armenian-Americans fared well in these elections, mostly
because they voted on the basis of the individual record of each
member of Congress rather than his or her party affiliation.

Otherwise, more of their supporters would have lost and more of their
opponents would have won.

How will these elections impact Armenian issues? We must remember that
the term of the current members of Congress runs until January 2011,
at which time those elected on Nov. 2 will take their seats. Whatever
unfinished business Congress had before the election remains on its
agenda until January when all pending nominations, resolutions and
bills have to be reintroduced.

The first order of business for both Houses of the current Congress
is passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution. In the Senate, this
bill has yet to be taken up by the Foreign Relations Committee, while
awaiting consideration by the full House, ever since its adoption
last March by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. As the Democrats lost
their majority in the House, this is Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (Dem.-CA)
last chance to redeem herself by keeping her own promise on passing
this resolution before she steps down as Speaker in January. If no
action is taken by then, the Genocide resolution would have to be
resubmitted to the House. Even though the next Speaker, Cong. John
Boehner (Rep.-Ohio), has opposed the resolution in the past, he may
well change his views given the Republicans’ utter displeasure with
Turkey’s anti-western policies.

Also of interest to the Armenian-American community are the nominations
of Matthew Bryza as US Ambassador to Azerbaijan – vacant since
September 2009, and Francis Ricciardone as US Ambassador to Turkey –
vacant since July 2010.

Bryza’s nomination has been blocked by a double “hold” from Senators
Barbara Boxer (Dem.- CA) and Robert Menendez (Dem.-N.J.). It is
highly unlikely that they would lift their hold during “the lame duck”
session. The wisest choice for Pres. Obama at this time would be to
submit a new nominee to the Senate, thus speeding up the appointment
of an Ambassador to Azerbaijan. However, if Pres. Obama insists on
resubmitting Bryza’s name in January, he could be delaying the posting
of a US Ambassador in Azerbaijan for many months.

Ricciardone, on the other hand, has a better chance of becoming
Ambassador to Turkey, as Sen. Sam Brownback (Rep.-Kansas), who had
placed a hold on his nomination, has just been elected Governor
of Kansas. If Sen. Brownback relinquishes his Senate seat before
January, and no other Senator places a hold on Ricciardone, he could
be confirmed before the New Year. Otherwise, Pres. Obama could either
re-submit his name or nominate a new candidate in January, when the
newly elected Congress convenes for its first session. However, if
another Senator places a hold on Ricciardone, Turkey would then be
deprived of a US Ambassador for several more months.

Regardless of Ricciardone’s fate, it is anticipated that Turkey
would have a rough sailing in the new Congress, because most of
the recently-elected Republicans are not too pleased with Ankara’s
Islamist regime and its pro-Iranian and anti-Israeli policies.

From: A. Papazian

GENEROSITY TURNS INTO WEAKNESS: ARKADY KARAPETYAN

Tert.am
10.11.10

In an interview with local Armenian daily Aravot, First Commander of
Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s Self-Defense Army Arkady Karapetyan shares
his concerns over Armenian side’s ceding attitude to Azerbaijan,
particularly in the light of the recent swap of war prisoners and
dead bodies.

“I have an impression that we do more than we can to prove that we are
very generous. We don’t have to do that. We are much more generous
than the Azeris. The problem is that our generosity is treated
differently by Azerbaijan and the entire world. It is perceived as a
sign of weakness,” he, touching upon Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders’
recent meeting in Astrakhan (Ago).

According to him, such generosity was perceived even at wartime,
when Armenians suffered more losses than Azeris. And the tradition
of Armenians’ exchanging living prisoners of war with dead bodies
dates back to those years. But the rules of war dictate the exchange
to be equivalent.

Recalling his many years’ experience, the NKR official notes that
Azerbaijani side in this way highlights its advantages, which is
silently perceived by mediators, while Armenia’s leadership makes no
attempts to break the existing stereotypes.

“I don’t want us to become as inhumane as the Azeris. But we must
realize our advantage. We scream and yell to make the world know that
we are being beaten and slaughtered. But we never speak about our
victory, whereas it is our right to act in the position of a winner.

If they are treating us like that, we must give them a worthy
response,” Mr Karapetyan stressed.

From: A. Papazian

EU OFFICIAL SHOCKED BY HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN ARMENIA: HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK

Tert.am
10.11.10

Member of the EU human rights commission Fernando Piernavieja Niembro
who has arrived in Yerevan to participate in the EU-Armenia Civil
Society conference, expressed his concerns on Tuesday over the policee
violence against the activists of opposition Armenian National Congress
(HAK), local Armenian daily Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Time) reports.

The European human rights defender said ~She is going to prepare
a report on the incident and submit it to the Spanish Lawyers’
Association’s Human Rights Committee and the European Lawyers’
Association.~T

Fernando Piernavieja Niembro also informed journalist that he is
aware of the existence of 12 political prisoners in Armenia and said
he was impressed by the rally taking place near Moscow cinema at the
time of the conference.

From: A. Papazian

SKIRMISH IN KAPAN: HRAPARAK

Tert.am
10.11.10

On November 7 a group of young man was involved in a skirmish with
patrol servicemen in the town of Kapan, Syunik marz (province),
according to local Armenian daily Hraparak (Square).

The young men, according to the source, were cursing out loud in
the street (probably drunk) as the patrol warned them not to disturb
public order. But the young men were physically well trained and the
patrol had to call the police.

The young men would not obey to the policemen either, and Kapan’s
Police Chief Armen Gevorgyan had to come to the scene of the incident
himself, though he was also verbally assaulted by the young men.

As a result the young men were taken to the police through the use
of force.

On November 9 upon a ruling by the District Judge of Syunik Province
Napoleon Ohanyan a criminal case was filed against the young men. They
are charged with Article 316 (violence against the representative of
authority) and Article 258 (hooliganism) of Armenian Criminal Code.

According to Hraparak, Dzorik Vardanyan, an investigator of Sunik’s
Interrogation Department, was hospitalized due to the skirmish, and
the charges that will be brought against those young men depend on
his health condition.

Further the source mentions that the prosecutor initially decided
to release the young men on bail, but Armenia’s Police Chief Alik
Sargsyan was notified of the details of the incident, which made
Napoleon Ohanyan to change his mind.

“A policeman’s dignity must not be transgressed regardless whose
sons they are and what financial standing they have,” Alik Sargsyan
has said.

Further the source mentions that the father of one those young men
are an influential personality in Syunik.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN DINK’S BIRTHPLACE TO BE RESTORED

Tert.am
10.11.10

The restoration of Tashoron Church, located in Cavusoglu, Province
of Malatya, Turkey, will be held as a result of an appeal by Mosque
Building and Preservation Foundation to Turkish Ministry of Culture,
Turkish news agency Anadolu reports.

Tashoron is a 280-year-old Armenian church located in Cavusoglu
neighborhood, the birthplace of slain Editor-in-Chief of
Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos daily Hrant Dink.

Dink visited the church back in 2002 and voiced the necessity of
its restoration.

From: A. Papazian