Author: Andres-Papazian

GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS ET DES GRECS PONTIQUES
Arméniens et Grecs demandent le retrait de la plaque dédiée à Atatürk
au Hyde Park de Sydney (Australie)

Arméniens et Grecs ont protesté selon Greek Reporter devant le
mémorial d’Atatürk au Hyde Park de Sydney (Australie). La
manifestation était appelée par des organisations grecques et
arméniennes. Elle réunit plusieurs centaines de manifestations qui ont
appelé les autorités de la ville de Sydney à déplacer cette plaque
dédiée à Atatürk. Les médias furent également appelés à diffuser leurs
protestations. Dans un communiqué, le Collectif arméno-grec affirme>. Le Collectif demandant aux autorités locales de démonter la
plaque de souvenir d’Atatürk du Hyde Park de Sydney. Rappelons que
cette plaque avait été inaugurée le 19 février dernier à l’occasion
des manifestations commémorant le 100ème anniversaire de la bataille
de Gallipoli.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 28 mars 2015,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Istanbul-Armenian singer replied to Etyen Mahçupyan’s odd statement

12:23, 28 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 28 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The recent statement of Etyen
Mahçupyan, advisor of the Prime Minister of Turkey, remain a topic of
discussion on the Internet. Mahçupyan said that although he is
Armenian, but feels himself more as an Ottoman. As “Armenpress”
reports that Istanbul-Armenian singer Hayko Cepkin reflected on this
issue in his micro blog on “Tweeter”.

He recalled the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s earlier
words, where he had said by offensive tone. “Sorry, but they even call
me an Armenian”. “It is possible that Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a
comment “Excuse me for my expression Armenian” having example to Etyen
Mahçupyan. If he has been used as an example, it means that in
general I do not take the words on me”, Cepkin has written.

From: A. Papazian

CNF to Provide 445000 Euros To Support Specially Protected Areas

17:28 March 25, 2015
EcoLur

Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF) plans to provide 445,000 Euros to support
specially protected areas of nature in Armenia, as CNF Executive
Director David Morrison said during his meeting with Nature Protection
Minister Aramayis Grigoryan on 25 March.

David Morrison noted that the management plan of “Dilijan” National
Park for 2016-2020will be submitted for the approval of Nature
Protection Ministry already in August.

The perspectives of the activities of Znagezour Biospheric Complex
were discussed in a new format as a single complex. The parties
attached much value to the pilot project of biodiversity monitoring
planned to be carried out in “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve. Minister
Aramayis Grigoryan proposed to introduce a parallel monitoring program
in Zangezour Biospheric Complex area.

From: A. Papazian

Sevak Sarukhanyan: Concerns about possible emergence of ISIS in
Azerbaijan focus Tehran’s attention on Baku

ArmInfo’s Interview with Sevak Sarukhanyan, Fulbright Scholar at
Georgetown University (Washington)

by David Stepanyan
Saturday, March 28, 09:22

The energy sector of the Armenian SSR developed with due regard for
the presence of some 1,400 industrial enterprises in the republic,
which were unique throughout the former USSR. Today, Armenia keeps
developing its thermal and nuclear power stations with Russian
investments and neglects the development of alternative power
engineering. These processes are going on amid the standstill of all
the largest enterprises of the country and minimum export of energy
resources to the neighboring countries. Why should Armenia keep
developing its energy sector?

The main reason for this development is that the Armenian energy
industry will be facing serious problems and challenges in the coming
years. The problems are to be solved only by developing new power
capacities. The problem is that the main power capacities – Metsamor
NPP and Hrazdan TPP are rather old. These capacities will sooner or
later (probably, sooner than later) break down. That is why Armenia
needs new sources of energy production. Armenia prefers thermal power
to alternative energy resources due to the gas cheapness. The price
will not increase in the coming years. The raw materials for
alternative energy resources are to be expensive so that the
alternative energy production can give the TPP a run for its
production. Armenia will not be facing that threat in the near future.

Moscow and Yerevan have signed an agreement for a $300 million loan
for extension of the Armenian NPP’s service life for another 15 years.
Does it mean that Armenia has finally given up the idea of
construction of a new power unit?
Although there is no official refusal from construction of a new
nuclear power unit in Armenia, the chances for construction are
miserable. The reasons are financial: there is neither investor nor
sales market. The new power unit will have a 2.5- fold higher capacity
than the operating one. What to do with the surplus and expensive
electric power that will be generated? Nothing. Georgia does not need
it. Iran will not pay 15 cents for 1kWh of electric power. The border
with Turkey is closed. Even it if opens, I see no reasons for Turkey
to invest dozens of millions to create in its territory a ‘power
island’ that will depend on the electric power generated by the
Armenian NPP. Armenia can consume the electric power to be generated
by the new NPP for domestic purposes, but then what to do with the
electric power generated by the operating thermal and hydro power
plants. I think the new plant, if built, must have a capacity of some
600-650MW, but such reactors are not produced in Russia. Russia, as
the only country that may have some political interest in construction
of a new power plant in Armenia will hardly fund construction of a
French reactor.

According to ArmInfo’s information, the Iranian side has already
transferred 85 million USD to one of the Armenian commercial banks
under the agreements on construction of the third Iran-Armenia power
transmission line. Though Iran has fulfilled part of its obligations,
the project is still far from being implemented. Why?

I do not doubt the implementation of that project. Despite some
technical problems related to the power capacities through which the
energy is to be exported to Iran, I believe the project will be
implemented for it has certain economic feasibility.

The project of the Iran-Armenia railway construction is still on the
agenda of the Armenian-Iranian relations. In the meantime, the issue
of linkage of the Iran-Azerbaijan railway systems through construction
of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara branch line has already been included in
the Tehran-Baku agenda. Why do you think Tehran is playing such a game
and what prospects do the two projects have, given the lack of the
Armenian-Iranian project among Iran’s railway projects?

The project is delayed for a range of problems. The major reason is
lack of investors, while the project is estimated at $4- $6 billion.
The second reason is that the railway is not necessary. If it is part
of the North-South transport corridor, it duplicates the
Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway through which cargoes from the Persian
Gulf will be transported to the Black Sea via the territory of
Azerbaijan and Georgia and to Russia and North Europe via Azerbaijan
and through the Russian ports in the Baltic Sea. If they are building
one railway, there is no sense in building a similar one. The point is
that construction of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway was to be
completed yet in 2010. It is not clear either if the Abkhazian section
of the Russian-Georgian railway will be reactivated. If no, so why do
they build the railway from Iran to Armenia? If they do it to link the
Persian Gulf with the Black Sea, it does not cost $6 billion.
Furthermore, the plans to expand Tabriz-Erzrum road and develop
railway communication in Turkey are enough to settle those tasks. It
is unreasonable to focus on the given project. Armenia just should
properly complete the construction of the North-South transport
corridor which will settle a range of strategic tasks.

Washington’s rather serious concessions in the US-Iran talks on the
nuclear problem demonstrate the enhancement of Iran’s geopolitical
capacities. Iranian experts speak of Tehran’s striving to extend its
presence in the South Caucasus geopolitics. Do you expect any impulses
here?

Tehran’s policy in the South Caucasus has been focused on Azerbaijan
over the past two years. This is proved by Aliyev’s visit to Tehran
and Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Baku, by a number of important documents
signed in the course of those visits, and unfortunately by a
declaration pointing out that there is no alternative to the Karabakh
problem settlement through observing the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan.

Rouhani seeks to minimize the discrepancies with the neighbors while
Tehran is holding active negotiations with Washington. So, today Iran
is playing a “big game” and does not want to abstract from it. Given
that Iran had serious discrepancies with Baku, the Azeri agenda of
Iran is quite active today. It should be noted that Tehran has taken
advantage of the crisis in the Baku-Washington relations and started
feeling comfortable with respect to Baku and this has been reflected
on the interstate relations. One should not neglect the ISIS factor
either. The fears that this factor may emerge in Azerbaijan will focus
Tehran’s attention on Baku, because the emergence of the ISIS in the
South Caucasus is a direct threat to Iran’s security.

Ð8E45B0-D512-11E4-B6110EB7C0D21663

From: A. Papazian

KA-SAT HIGH- SPEED DATA SERVICES TO IRAQ, SYRIA AND ARMENIA

Military Technologies
March 26 2015

TS2 Satellite has recently launched new KA-SAT satellite broadband.

Using the HYLAS 2 spacecraft, TS2 Satellite now provides new high-
speed data services to Iraq, Syria and Armenia.

The HYLAS 2 satellite carries 24 active Ka-band user beams and
six gateway beams. The Ka-band spot beams are providing two-way
communications services to facilitate high-speed delivery of data to
end-user applications such as corporate networking, broadband Internet
access, business continuity services and video distribution.

Marcin FrÄ…ckiewicz, CEO and founder at TS2 Satellite, commented:
“With the launch of new Ka-Band service on Hylas-2, TS2 is proud to
introduce latest technology to customers in Iraq, Syria and Armenia.

New service allows downlink speeds up to 20Mbps, five times the
previous maximum, using a smaller antenna. Higher performance is
gained at a much lower cost, which allows up to four times higher
connection speed at the same cost, if compared to previous Ku-band
service, without compromising connection reliability and stability”.

New Ka-band service is based on the field-tested and proven technology
provided by iDirect. Ka-band service requires smaller antenna,
reducing the equipment and transportation costs and making the
installation easier.

From: A. Papazian

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN: ARMENIA CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM NEEDED NOT ONLY FOR US

13:07, 27.03.2015

YEREVAN. – The constitutional reforms in Armenia are needed not solely
for the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party.

ARF National Assembly (NA) Faction Head Armen Rustamyan stated the
aforementioned at Friday’s NA briefings.

To the query on whether the party is willing to collaborate with
the authorities if the Dashnaktsutyun recommendations for the
constitutional amendments are accepted, Rustamyan responded that the
ARF will enter any coalition if it paves the way for the implementation
of the political programs of the party.

“We have entered any coalition under the same conditions, and came
out when our ideas were disregarded,” Rustamyan added.

To note, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party supports a gradual transition
to a parliamentary system of governance in Armenia.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

THE MOMENT ACTION BRONSON DROPPED HIS MICROPHONE, THREW FAN OFF STAGE, AND THEN WENT BACK TO RAPPING

Daily Mail, UK
March 25 2015

By Ashley Collman For Dailymail.com

New York-native rapper Action Bronson encountered some trouble at a
hometown show Tuesday night, when a fan jumped on stage right in the
middle of a song.

But the disturbance didn’t even phase the rapper, who immediately
dropped his microphone, grabbed the intruder by the collar and threw
him off the stage into the crowd at venue Terminal 5.

Once the audience member was back in the crowd, Bronson picked up
his microphone and continued with song Amadu Diablo – only missing
a few beats.

‘New York City what a f****** night!! Tmrw will be much tighter,’
Bronson tweeted Wednesday, following the altercation.

This isn’t the first time that the rapper has gotten into a fight
on stage.

Last year, Bronson’s show at Portland, Oregon’s Roseland Theater was
brought to a close when he shoved a security guard on stage.

The guard prompted the attack by putting Bronson in a chokehold when
the musician lit up a joint on stage and tossed it into the crowd.

Bronson, 31, was born Arian Asllani in Flushing, Queens to a Armenian
immigrant father and Jewish-American mother.

Before he landed a record deal, Bronson found success as a chef in
New York and even worked for some time preparing meals for the Mets
baseball team.

Music was always Bronson’s hobby but he decided to focus on it more
when he broke his leg and couldn’t work.

Bronson is scheduled to perform again at Terminal 5 on Wednesday,
and then at Rough Trade in Brooklyn on Saturday before taking his
tour national.

He released third album Mr Wonderful earlier this week.

See photos & video at

From: A. Papazian

CITY REMEMBERS THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

The Harvell gazette, MA
March 26 2015

They have not forgotten.

People from across Haverhill and the region gathered earlier this
month to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The event at the Armenian Church at Hye Point featured a church
service with various religious leaders who reflected on the genocide
and other mass killings.

People who attended also enjoyed a dinner in the church hall featuring
Armenian food cooked by volunteers.

From: A. Papazian

LOCALS DISCOURAGE ARMENIA FROM LAUNCHING SPECIAL OPERATION AGAINST AZERBAIJAN

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
March 25 2015

25 March 2015 – 5:23pm

Several people have died and were wounded in a clash at Talish
(Agder District, Nagorno-Karabakh zone). The incident was caused by
a conflict between Armenian elite forces and about 40-50 locals armed
with hunting rifles, Haqqin.az reports.

The locals blocked the Martakert-Matagis-Talish road two Armenian
military trucks needed to cross to start the operation against
Azerbaijan. Shooting started. Vilen Petrosyan, the head of the village,
explained that such operations of Armenian troops often resulted in
counterfire of Azerbaijan at the village.

According to preliminary information, at least two Talish residents
died, one was injured in the head, one was hospitalized in Stepanakert
in grave condition.

From: A. Papazian

ANCIENT WRITINGS SHED LIGHT ON ASENETH, MOSES

The Herald Sun, FL
March 25 2015

The Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill gathers interfaith clergy
for an annual conference with a speaker bringing a new perspective of
religious knowledge. Ancient texts shared by a University of Minnesota
professor were new stories to learn for some longtime clergy at the
event held recently at Beth El Synagogue.

Patricia Ahearne-Kroll was the guest speaker and shared excerpts
from Jewish writings recorded by Christian scribes in Egypt during
the period of the Second Temple, between the fourth century B.C. and
first century. The writings include figures already known to Jews and
Christians, including Joseph of the “coat of many colors” story and
Moses. Ahearne-Kroll is an assistant professor in the department of
Classical and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Minnesota. She
received her doctorate in Biblical studies from the University of
Chicago Divinity School.

In a story about Joseph and his wife Aseneth, the writer focuses
on Aseneth to tell her story with embellishments and detail about
Aseneth’s initial rejection of the idea of Joseph, that is until
she sees the attractive man ride in on a golden chariot. Some of the
story is a repeat of the story of Joseph in Genesis, Ahearne-Kroll
explained. Focusing on Aseneth puts a “different spin on it,” she
said. Aseneth’s mind is changed by the notion of love at first sight,
Ahearne-Kroll said. The initial obstacle to Aseneth’s and Joseph’s
relationship is her religious practices, as Aseneth was a converted
Egyptian. The story shows friendly relationships formed between Jews
and Egyptians, she said.

“Joseph and Aseneth are showing different ways of Jewishness,” she
said, showing that Aseneth married into the faith and didn’t have to
be ethnically Jewish.

Ahearne-Kroll also talked about Artapanus’ writings about Moses, which
diverges and then returns to the narrative found in Exodus. Artapanus’
story reflects amiable relations between Egyptians and Jews, she said,
and shows rich Jewish ancestry.

The Egyptian-Jewish texts, written in Greek, found appeal in Christian
circles, Ahearne-Kroll said. Rev. Rollin Russell, one of the clergy
attending the conference, said he had never heard of the texts and
asked where the texts are located now. Ninety surviving stories
includes 50 in Armenian, and are found in collections of various
literature in Armenian libraries, she said.

The largest fragment of Artapanus’ “On the Jews” writing is about
Moses, and roots Jewish heritage in Egypt. Jews lived in Egypt for
centuries, Ahearne-Kroll said. “Jewish writers put forth an impressive
effort to show how they belonged there, too,” she said. The writings
would have been lost forever were it not for Christian scribes,
she said, though writings were misused later for persecution. The
original writings were written from a vantage point of Jews trying
to form an identity in Egypt, she said.

Ahearne-Kroll was asked what makes a text sacred, if the texts have
divine or human origins.

She said that it wasn’t until much later that there was the notion
of text being fixed, as something that cannot be changed.

“So in this time, the actually building stories, that rewrite the
stories, is an indication that Genesis and Exodus are actually sacred
to these writers,” Ahearne-Kroll said.

From: A. Papazian