Author: Andres-Papazian

PRESIDENT OF ARTSAKH REPUBLIC BAKO SAHAKYAN VISITED THE NKR FOREIGN MINISTRY

Tuesday, 02 April 2013 16:30

On 2 April President of Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan visited the NKR
foreign ministry and partook at the consultation dedicated to summing
up the activities of the structure in 2012 and the 2013 action plan.

Foreign minister Karen Mirzoyan, responsible workers of the ministry’s
different departments delivered reports.

The Head of the State noted in his speech that during the reporting
period the structure overall succeeded in solved the set tasks.

Touching upon the republic’s foreign policy agenda, the President
noted that it remained unchanged with the peaceful settlement of
the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict, international recognition of
the ArtsakhRepublic and the development of multilateral ties with
different states remaining as the ultimate priorities. President Bako
Sahakyan gave corresponding instructions for proper implementation
of the activities in these directions.

The President underlined that the informational-propagandistic sphere
was of particular importance for solving the foreign policy agenda
super-tasks and the main stress here should be put on the dissemination
of accurate and truthful information about our country and different
spheres of its life as well as on intensifying struggle against the
adversary’s fake propaganda. The President emphasized that here we
should abandon the position of reacting and be very proactive, the more
so because we have all the moral, legal and political grounds for that.

Bako Sahakyan also considered significant the activation of our
diplomatic activity in the field of external economic relations,
which would also give an additional impetus to the socioeconomic
development of the republic.

President Bako Sahakyan mentioned that the problems faced by the
structure, the issues of improving working and social conditions of
the staff would remain at the spotlight of the authorities.

From: A. Papazian

AGBU INITIATES NEW LONG-TERM PROJECT IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

April 02, 2013 | 13:25

The plans of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) to create a
cultural, educational and artistic complex in Stepanakert – the AGBU
NKR Campus – are underway.

Last October, on the occasion of AGBU’s 87th General Assembly in
Yerevan, a new AGBU educational and cultural initiative was announced
by Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) President Bako Sahakyan and AGBU
President Berge Setrakian.

This dynamic initiative will provide new and innovative opportunities
to the scholastically diverse urban and rural communities throughout
NKR. The Center will serve students of all ages, Members of Parliament,
Government officials and other entities, and offer courses in English
language improvement, preparatory classes for university entrance
exams, and creative and media technologies (animation, video game
design, web development and more). In addition, classes in music,
management, tourism development and more will be offered.

AGBU President Berge Setrakian remarked, “AGBU is pleased to announce
the latest AGBU program in Nagorno Karabakh. We are convinced that
education and culture are key factors in the development of any
nation. The AGBU NKR Campus will become a hub of learning activity that
will provide people of all ages in Nagorno Karabakh new opportunities.”

President Sahakyan commended AGBU for making education in Karabakh
a priority.

To realize this ambitious initiative, AGBU signed an agreement with
the American University of Armenia (AUA) in February, to develop a
Continuing Education Program (CEP), through its Extension Program.

This program will begin operations in April 2013 at a temporary
location while the AGBU NKR Campus is being built in Stepanakert and
it is expected to serve several hundred students. AGBU has committed
to supporting the CEP in the amount of $575,000, over the course of
five years.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

CANCELING YEREVAN-VAN FLIGHTS IS CONTINUATION OF TURKEY’S ENFORCEMENT POLICY AGAINST ARMENIA – TURKOLOGIST

April 01, 2013 | 23:08

YEREVAN. – The flight between Yerevan, Armenia, and Van, Turkey,
did not pursue any political objectives yet the Turkish authorities
attempted to politicize it. Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences
Institute of Orientology Director, turkologist Ruben Safrastyan told
this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“By canceling the Yerevan-Van flight, the Turkish authorities tried to
put political pressure on Armenia yet again, [and] with an intention
to isolate our country,” the turkologist maintained.

In his words, in this way Turkey wishes to show that solely it decides
on the forms of communication with Armenia.

“This certainly runs counter to the Turkish party’s statements on
normalizing relations with Armenia, and Turkey’s latest moves attest
to this fact,” Safrastyan said, and added that the other countries
likewise must come to understand that Turkey is doing everything to
continue its enforcement policy against Armenia.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

ARF LEADER DR. HRATCH ABRAHAMIAN PASSES AWAY

Monday, April 1st, 2013

Dr. Hratch Abrahamian (photo by Tsolag Hovsepian)

Armenian Revolutionary Federation leader and former member of its
governing Bureau, Dr. Hratch Abrahamian passed away on March 19 after
a long illness in the Greater Washington area.

Dr. Hratch Armen Abrahamian was born October 25, 1921 in Rasht, Iran
to Armenak and Shoushanik Abrahamian. He was the eldest brother to his
twin brothers, Babgen and Vazgen. Hratch and his brothers followed the
footsteps of their father, Armenak and studied dentistry. Dr. Hratch
received his BS degree from Alborz College in Iran, 1941, and his DMD
from Tehran University school of Dentistry in 1945. His craving for
further education led him to Paris where he received his MS degree from
University of Paris in 1947. But still that was not enough, he came
to the US and attended Northwestern University school of Dentistry,
Chicago and received his DDS degree in 1951. He then continued his
training in Memorial Cancer Hospital in NY until 1954.

During his training at the Memorial Cancer Hospital in NY, he met his
beloved wife, Angeline Abrahamian and were married March 17, 1954. In
August of 1954, they moved to Washington DC where he became affiliated
with the Georgetown University School of Dentistry, where he was
associate professor of the Department of Prosthodontics, in charge of
Maxillofacial Prosthetics and the Director of the Cleft Palate Center.

In 1969, He received the second annual Harold W. Krogh Award for
outstanding contribution to control of oral cancer. Dr. Abrahamian
also volunteered at the cancer Society for over 10 years. He was
a consultant at the NIH, VA Hospital, Washington, Hospital Center
(Tumor board), Dc General Hospital, and attending staff at the
Georgetown University Hospital.

He loved dentistry and only retired a few years prior his passing.

Since the independence of the Republic of Armenia, he traveled to
Armenia 36 times, one time with Fulbright scholarship, where he spent
4 months there, consulting and training Yereven University dental and
Medical school residents. He translated many of his dental books to
Armenian and published it at four different times. These books are
currently being thought at the University.

He established a Maxillofacial dental center in the military hospital
in the Armenia with the support of the Armenian American Health
Association of Greater Washington. He trained all the residents and
the center was and is its only kind in the entire region.

During the Lebanon war, he traveled to the war zone four times, helping
the Armenians. He was instrumental in collecting over $1,000,000.00 in
aid from the Armenian-Iranian community for the Armenians in Lebanon.

He had meetings with every Presidents of the US from president Nixon
to George W. Bush, discussing Armenian issues.

He always had a positive attitude toward life, if you ever asked him
~Show are you~T his response was always ~Sgerazantz~T or perfect. He
was the backbone of the Abrahamian family, He was intelligent, hard
working, thoughtful and compassionate. He was a dedicated dentist,
father, grand father, brother, and uncle. He loved his family and
enjoyed spending time with them. Everyone who knew him adorned his
caring and compassionate attitude toward life. He will be missed
dearly, but his memory will always remain in our hearts.

He is survived by his dughter Karen Hatchik, his grand dughters Andrea
and Valerie, four great grandchildren, sister in laws Astghik and
Lida Abrahamian, and his nieces and nephews, Shakeh, Armen, Rouzan,
Teny and Armineh Abrahamian.

From: A. Papazian

CNN PRESENTS TOP 7 THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL LIBRARIES – PHOTOS

17:23, 1 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS: How cool can libraries be in an era of
iPads and Kindles? CNN gives an answer to this quetion by presenting
7 of the world’s most beautiful libraries, reoprts Armenpress. Here
is the list of 7 the most beautiful libraries in the entire world.

1. Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States

The Central Library in Seattle is sleek, modern and sophisticated
and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours.

In its first year, more than 2 million tourists visited the library,
which was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American
designer Joshua Ramus. Tours began in 2006, two years after its
opening.

The library was voted onto the American Institute of Architects 150
favorite structures in the United States. Nevertheless it has received
mixed reviews over the years.

Whatever the verdict, the building is an impressive work of art:
shiny, abstract and unusual.

The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other
events throughout the year, while visitors can stop by the Chocolati
cart for a coffee and browse through the gift shop anytime.

The library offers free self-guided cell phone tours, along with
group tours.

2. Trinity College Library: Dublin, Ireland

The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland,
founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.

Not only is the exterior impressive, it boasts the largest single
chamber library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which
contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books.

The Long Room houses one of the oldest harps in Ireland. Dating to
the 15th century, the oak harp is the model for the emblem of Ireland.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the library last year, the first monarch
to do so since 1911.

3. Geisel Library, University of California: San Diego, United States

Named after Theodor Geisel, widely known as Dr. Seuss, UC San Diego’s
Geisel Library is one of the most modern library buildings in the
world.

At first glance, it looks like a spaceship.

Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch
facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library
in 1970. It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and
novels. For example, the snow fortress in the film “Inception” looks
a lot like the Geisel Library.

4. TU Delft Library: The Netherlands

The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in
1997 and has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions
and its own museum. But it will only take a glance to be mesmerized,
as it is a sight to remember.

The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can’t really
see the actual library. What makes it interesting is the roof, which
is a grassy hill.

A huge cone pierces the grass roof, which symbolizes technology. This
“gives (more) shape to the introverted reading rooms,” according to
the library.

5. Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Alexandria, Egypt

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the revival of the ancient Royal
Library of Alexandria, which was the largest and most influential
library in the Greek world. It was built by Alexander the Great some
2,300 years ago.

The new library was reborn in 2002 on the shore of the Mediterranean
Sea after 10 years of designing, planning and construction.

With its circular yet tilting form, the library looks like a modern
painting. Various carvings and alphabetic inscriptions decorate
the flatter side of the building, which the designers explain is
“a careful display of the library’s basic proviso: language.”

Number 6 is Stuttgart City Library: Stuttgart, Germany and number 7
Bishan Public Library, Singapore.

From: A. Papazian

DID RAFFI HOVANNISIAN ‘SURRENDER’ FREEDOM SQUARE?

07:55 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Why did opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian end his hunger-strike
before the inauguration of Serzh Sargsyan [slated for April 9? Did
he eventually ‘hand over’ Freedom Square to the authorities?

“Hovannisian took a right decision. If the tactical tricks are clear
and you know the scenario plotted by your challenger, you choose the
policy of maneuvering,” says political analyst Levon Shirinyan.

He does not think that Raffi Hovannisian has disappointed his
supporters or lost voters by leaving Freedom Square.

“He is carrying on a struggle to revive the national consciousness
and change people’s mentality. Only those who are aware of the
political history will be able to understand the concepts applied by
Hovannisian,” said the analyst.

He believes that Hovannisian will achieve the desired results if he
works hard and patiently.

Political analyst Gegham Nazaryan says Raffi Hovannisian did not
surrender Freedom Square as he never owned it.

“Hovannisian simply decided to stop the hunger strike a bit earlier. I
think the reason is that he understood that Serzh Sargsyan is not
going to step down,” he said.

Unlike Shirinyan, Nazaryan thinks that people got more and more
disappointed with Hovannisian attending his rallies.

“If Hovannisian continues in the same way, he will soon be unable to
change the existing situation,” he concluded.

From: A. Papazian

FIRST INTERNATIONAL GRAPHIC HUMOR FESTIVAL “THE SUNNY DRAGON” KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN

17:43 01/04/2013 ” SOCIETY

Yerevan is hosting the First International Graphic Humor Festival
“The Sunny Dragon.” Adult cartoonists, illustrators and graphic
artists from all over the world participate in the festival.

The festival has been organized by the Association of Caricaturists
of Armenia and the Union of Artists of Armenia with support from the
Ministry of Culture of Armenia to complete the actions dedicated to
the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing.

The winners will be awarded prizes. They will be decided by online
voting. The prizes for first, second and third places are Gold Sunny
Dragon, Silver Sunny Dragon and Bronze Sunny Dragon. Besides, the
Ministry of Culture, the Association of Caricaturists and the Union
of Artists have instituted special prizes.

The exhibition will run through April 7. The award ceremony will take
place the same day.

The participants include artists from Albania, United States,
Australia, Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, Egypt, Spain, Israel,
Italy, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Poland, India, Czech Republic, Finland,
France and other countries.

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

ISRAEL’S MOVE PREPARED GROUNDS FOR TURKEY TO APOLOGIZE TO ARMENIANS – TURKISH WRITER

April 01, 2013 | 17:28

Conservative Turkish writer Ismet Ozel wrote a shocking article
devoted to Israel’s recent apology to Turkey over the Israeli raid
on the Gaza-bound Turkish ship, “Mavi Marmara.”

Israel’s apology was a part of a CIA operation and the big plan
for 2015-that is, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide-,
Internethaber.com of Turkey reports.

In his article, Ozel brought attention to the fact that Israel would
not directly apologize to any authority.

“Israel is simply opening a road so that Turkey would be able to
apologize to Armenia for 1915. The US directive to Israel reminds
[us] of the ‘give one, take five’ formula. If a compensation is paid
to Armenia, even being a [Turkey’s ruling] Justice and Development
Party [AKP] member will be enough not to grasp that [official] Tel
Aviv and Athens will calculate their maximum interests,” Ismet Ozel
wrote in particular.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

“ARMENPRESS” AND KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY TO SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

14:21, 2 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS. On April 2 the delegation of Kuwait
News Agency (KUNA) paid a visit to Armenia to establish relations with
“Armenpress” News Agency and sign documents on cooperation between the
national news agencies of the two countries. As reports “Armenpress”
the Chairman and General Manager of KUNA H. E. Sheikh Mubarak
Deij Al-Ebraheem Al-Sabah, the Director of International Relations
Department of the news agency Isam Al-Ruwa, and Manager of Staff
Department Salem Al-Duvaysan have been included in the delegation.

Within the framework of the visit the delegation will be hosted by
the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan. After
the delegation will have a meeting with the Director of “Armenpress”
News Agency Aram Ananyan. Due to the cooperation agreement KUNA and
“Armenpress” will exchange news services and strengthen professional
cooperation.

The program of the visit has a cultural part as well. The delegation
will pay a visit to Cafesjian Centre for the Arts, Matenadaran
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, and Mother See of Holy Ejmiadzin.

From: A. Papazian

Giornale di Brescia, Italia
14 marzo 2013

Alla riscoperta delle «pietre urlanti»

Ore: 06:00 | giovedì, 14 marzo 2013

Osip Mandelstam poeta russo di inizio Novecento definì l’Armenia, dopo
aver fatto un viaggio nel Caucaso meridionale, il Paese delle pietre
urlanti.

Una definizione che ben descrive la storia di un popolo perseguitato,
travolto da invasioni e vittima di un terribile genocidio. Le pietre
urlanti possono essere quelle degli antichi monasteri che disseminano
l’intero territorio armeno, alcuni dei quali scampati alle distruzioni
delle varie invasioni che dal 300 dC hanno sconvolto ciclicamente
l’Armenia. Oppure sono le tante croci di pietra che testimoniano di un
cristianesimo antico (la chiesa armena è la più antica chiesa
nazionale del mondo) e che fieramente ha resistito alle dominazioni
dei Selgiuchidi, dei Persiani e degli Ottomani. Infine le pietre
urlanti potrebbero essere riferite anche ad una natura ancora, in
molte zone del Paese, incontaminata e di un territorio per gran parte
montagnoso.
Fare un viaggio in Armenia oggi significa confrontarsi con duemila
anni di storia, da quella più recente, ovvero la dominazione
sovietica, che si vede chiaramente nella capitale Yerevan, a quella
più antica legata all’evangelizzazione degli armeni, testimoniata da
antichi monasteri in zone quasi isolate in mezzo alle montagne.
Gli armeni da parte loro, «intrappolati» geograficamente tra vicini
scomodi come l’Iran, la Turchia (i cui confini sono chiusi),
l’Azerbaigian (con cui è in vigore una traballante tregua dopo il
conflitto in Nagorno Karabakh) e la Georgia, cercano faticosamente di
tenere rapporti con l’Europa. Per questa ragione una delle principali
scommesse per il futuro è quella di attrarre turisti occidentali alla
scoperta delle bellezze naturalistiche e archeologiche del proprio
Paese. La capitale Yerevan, oltre ad alcuni musei, ospita il monumento
dedicato al genocidio, un luogo da visitare per entrare in sintonia
con un popolo che ha dovuto sopportare lo sterminio di oltre 1 milione
e mezzo di cittadini da parte dei Turchi tra il 1915 e il 1920.

Lasciando la capitale si può scegliere di andare verso Sud, a ridosso
del confine turco, dove oltre a troneggiare il monte Ararat si trova
il monastero di Khor Virap dove secondo la leggenda è stato
intrappolato per oltre tredici anni San Gregorio Illuminatore, primo
katolikos della chiesa armena. Costeggiando poi il confine verso est,
fino a ridosso cioè dell’Iran, si possono visitare altri luoghi
religiosi di grande suggestione in vallate innevate d’inverno e
fiorite d’estate.

Oppure si può scegliere di dirigersi a nord della capitale in un’area
boschiva o scegliere come meta il lago Sevan, uno dei più grandi laghi
d’alta quota al mondo (si trova a 1900 metri). Anche in questa zona si
possono ammirare complessi monastici medievali. L’Armenia è dunque una
meta di grandi suggestioni paesaggistiche, con una cultura dalle
radici antiche che rivendica nonostante la posizione geografica uno
stretto legame con quella europea. Il tutto con l’indimenticabile
vista costante dell’Ararat all’orizzonte.

Carlo Muzzi

From: A. Papazian