Author: Andres-Papazian

New AGBU Performing Arts Department off to Exciting Start

March 7, 2013

Competitions, Concerts, and Cultural Events Draw International Attention

This past year, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) unveiled
its new Performing Arts Department (PAD), and has since expanded its
reach broadly to support rising talents – and has plenty more in store
in the months to come.

AGBU Performing Arts Scholarship Fellowship recipients play world
premiere pieces written by Vahram Sargsyan (conducting) at the AGBU
NYSEC Performing Artists in Concert. (Photo by Stewart Isbell)
A central part of PAD’s mission is to connect young Armenian artists
with their musical heritage. In 2012, the AGBU initiated its Musical
Armenia Program, which PAD will continue to administer with AGBU
Yerevan this summer. In its pilot year, Musical Armenia brought
diasporan youth from Greece, Syria, and the United States to their
homeland to train with experts in the field, and, after an intense
three weeks of master classes and excursions, the students
participated in a final gala concert in Yerevan’s Aram Khachaturian
Museum Hall.

Applications for the 2013 Musical Armenia Program are now being
accepted, giving scores more emerging musicians ages 18 and older the
opportunity to learn and perform alongside professional mentors this
summer.

While Musical Armenia participants were discovering the classics in
Yerevan, composers around the world were writing their own original
pieces, hoping to land a prize in the AGBU France 2012 Sayat Nova
International Composition Competition, which was initiated by the AGBU
France District. The first competition was organized in 2006 by the
District in Paris during one of the AGBU’s centennial celebrations.
This past year’s concert showcased more new talents while honoring the
300th anniversary of the legendary Armenian bard. The chance to win up
to 2,500 euros and gain international exposure drew applicants from 18
countries, and proved that a new genre of music is on the horizon – one
that is inspired by traditional Armenian sounds and has a modern,
global twist.

An international ensemble performs the winning pieces from the AGBU
Sayat Nova International Composition Competition at a concert
organized by AGBU France in Paris’s prestigious Salle Cortot.
Winners from each Sayat Nova International Composition Competition,
along with AGBU scholarship recipients, got their moment in the
spotlight at two back-to-back concert events in December 2012, which
drew more than 750 music enthusiasts. The first, presented by the AGBU
New York Special Events Committee (NYSEC) in Carnegie Hall, and the
second, organized by AGBU France at Paris’s prestigious Salle Cortot,
included the world premieres of several works. Generous donations from
the NYSEC concert will continue to support AGBU musical programs and
events, as well as gifted young Armenian performers.

PAD’s artistic director, Hayk Arsenyan, is himself a former AGBU
Performing Arts Scholarship recipient who, with the AGBU’s support,
was able to pursue a career as an internationally acclaimed concert
pianist and composer. He is also as a member of the French Union of
Composers in Paris and a faculty member at New York University’s Tisch
School of the Arts. Arsenyan remarked on PAD’s goals to both connect
Armenian artists worldwide and introduce Armenian art to diverse
audiences, stating, `As a Yerevan native who has worked in France,
Russia, and the United States, I have met artists who were eager to
learn and play Armenian music, though it was largely absent from their
classrooms and concert halls. With PAD, we are changing that by
creating more educational opportunities and performances, while
supporting emerging and established Armenian artists. I’m delighted to
have the opportunity to help establish PAD and look forward to
watching our initiatives unfold.’

Local artists discuss new collaborations at the inaugural AGBU
Performing Arts Department Salon Night in New York, the first of a
series of networking events designed especially for musicians and
vocalists.
Those initiatives include a series of international events that will
bring music lovers and performers together. Plans are already underway
for next year’s annual NYSEC concert; in the meantime the AGBU Artists
project, which is sponsored by AGBU France and supported by PAD, will
introduce new talents to local communities in Europe. In New York,
PAD’s Salon Night, which is being organized every few months at the
AGBU Central Office, is giving local artists the opportunity to
network and forge collaborations. At the kickoff event this winter,
guests enjoyed a screening of Sergey Parajanov’s classic film `The
Color of Pomegranates,’ based on Sayat Nova’s life, celebrating the
man whose legacy has endured through centuries and inspired them to
make the Armenian music of tomorrow.

To learn more about the new AGBU Performing Arts Department and
upcoming events, e-mail [email protected]. To learn more about
the AGBU Musical Armenia Program and submit an application, visit
For more information about the AGBU and
its worldwide programs, visit

From: A. Papazian

Michael G. Grimm stated a statement on Nagorno-Karabakh

Today – 12:33

Michael G. Grimm of New York in the House of Representatives stated
the following statement on Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Mr. Speaker, last month marked 25 years since the people of the
Nagorno Karabakh region took a brave and bold first step in asserting
their right to political freedom and national independence. Since the
early 20th century the Nagorno Karabakh region and its people have
been subject to the territorial squabbling and political gamesmanship
of a number of foreign powers. In spite of this fact, the proud people
of the Nagorno Karabakh have steadfastly asserted their desire for
political autonomy, overwhelmingly approving a popular referendum
declaring independence from Azerbaijan in 1991 and thereby affirming a
distinct national identity driven by deep ethnic, cultural, and
religious bonds.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s steady advances in the industries of
banking, agriculture, and telecommunications, provide further
testament to their promise as a viable independent partner in the
international community. Coupling this with the United States’
longstanding and unambiguous role as a defender of free people’s right
to self-determination across the globe, I hope that my colleagues will
join me in commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh
liberation movement as part of the promotion of peace, stability, and
prosperity in the South Caucusus”.

From: A. Papazian

Russia Wants Bilateral Demilitarization in Syria – Lavrov

© RIA Novosti. Sergei Guneev

MOSCOW, March 8 (RIA Novosti) – Russia could consider steps toward
demilitarizing the conflict in Syria, but wants first some
`explanations’ about foreign weapons supplies to the Syrian
opposition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.
The possibility of demilitarizing the war-torn Syria was first
discussed at a meeting of UN-backed international Action Group for
Syria in Geneva in 2011, Lavrov said in an interview to BBC, the
transcript of which is available on Russian Foreign Ministry’s
website.
But continuing arms supplies to opponents of Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad hamper the demilitarization effort, Lavrov said.
`We want some explanations: How exactly, on what exact routes the
supplies which are heading towards the opposition could be checked,’
Lavrov was cited as saying in English.
`If we are provided such an answer…then, maybe, we can consider some
steps to demilitarize this conflict. But so far, there was nothing,’
he said.
Russia is Syria’s biggest arms supplier and was often accused since
the start of the conflict of providing weapons to Assad’s embattled
regime. Civil strife in Syria has been going on for two years, and the
death toll exceeded 70,000, according to the latest UN estimates.
Lavrov said in the interview that Russian arms supplies are limited to
air defense weapons which `can’t be used in this war,’ as well as a
`couple of helicopters’ that `would not make a difference on the
ground.’ He said last June that Syrian army helicopters were sent to
Russia for maintenance.
The United States, as well as France and Britain, have provided
non-lethal military equipment to the ragtag Syrian opposition, which
was also reported by media to receive infantry weapons from Middle
Eastern countries opposing Assad’s regime, including Saudi Arabia.

From: A. Papazian

Istanbul : Les Arméniens islamisés du génocide de 1915

Publié le : 08-03-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – La Fondation Hrant Dink a
mis en ligne le 24 janvier 2013, un appel à contribution, ouvert
jusqu’au 20 mars 2013, et destiné aux chercheurs qui souhaiteraient
intervenir lors de la conférence qui se tiendra à Istanbul (Turquie)
du 11 au 13 octobre 2013 sur le thème des Arméniens islamisés : “Le
tournant du 20e siècle a été une période de transformation sociale et
politique importante dans la géographie ottomane, et a inclus des
expériences individuelles, ou de masse, de conversion religieuse.
Durant cette période, un grand nombre d’Arméniens a été islamisé,
spécialement au cours des années 1915-1916. Un nombre inconnu de
jeunes Arméniens a survécu aux massacres et aux marches de la mort de
1915, en tant que filles et fils adoptifs de familles musulmanes.
D’autres, moins nombreux, sont devenus des épouses et des maris.
Jusqu’Ã récemment, les histoires de ces survivants ont été réduites au
silence ou ignorées dans toutes les historiographies. Il y a
maintenant un nombre croissant d’études sur les Arméniens islamisés,
sous forme de fictions, de notices biographiques, de témoignages et de
recherches historiques. Cette conférence vise à aborder les
expériences des Arméniens islamisés et les conséquences sociales de
leurs expériences, le long silence sur les Arméniens islamisés, ainsi
que les formes récentes de libération de la parole.” Le comité
d’organisation inclut des personnalités telles que AyÅ?e Gül Altınay et
Fethiye Çetin qui ont publié ensemble en avril 2011 “Les
Petits-Enfants” chez Actes Sud, passionnant recueil de témoignages de
ces Arméniens islamisés. Ils ont été recueillis suite à la
publication, en Turquie, de “Le livre de ma grand-mère”de Fethiye
Çetin, consacré Ã ses origines arméniennes. Saluons celles et ceux qui
sont à l’initiative de cette conférence. Le Collectif VAN vous
présente la traduction de cette annonce en anglais publiée sur le site
de la Fondation Hrant Dink.

La Fondation Hrant Dink

24.01.2013

Conférence sur les Arméniens islamisés

11-13 Octobre 2013 – Istanbul

Le tournant du 20e siècle a été une période de transformation sociale
et politique importante dans la géographie ottomane, et a inclus des
expériences individuelles, ou de masse, de conversion religieuse.
Durant cette période, un grand nombre d’Arméniens a été islamisé,
spécialement au cours des années 1915-1916. Un nombre inconnu de
jeunes Arméniens a survécu aux massacres et aux marches de la mort de
1915, en tant que filles et fils adoptifs de familles musulmanes.
D’autres, moins nombreux, sont devenus des épouses et des maris. Dans
des cas exceptionnels, des familles ou des villages entiers ont
survécu “en devenant” musulmans. Alors que certains de ces survivants
(particulièrement les jeunes hommes) ont retrouvé des années plus tard
leurs familles ou des proches, ou qu’ils ont été emmenés dans des
orphelinats par les missionnaires et les travailleurs humanitaires, de
nombreux autres ont vécu le reste de leur vie comme des «musulmans»,
en prenant des noms turcs, kurdes, ou arabes. Jusqu’Ã récemment, les
histoires de ces survivants ont été réduites au silence ou ignorées
dans toutes les historiographies. Il y a maintenant un nombre
croissant d’études sur les Arméniens islamisés, sous forme de
fictions, de notices biographiques, de témoignages et de recherches
historiques. Cette conférence vise à aborder les expériences des
Arméniens islamisés et les conséquences sociales de leurs expériences,
le long silence sur les Arméniens islamisés, ainsi que les formes
récentes de libération de la parole.

Qu’est-ce que les Arméniens islamisés ont vécu? Comment ont-ils fait
face à la gravité de leurs expériences? Avec qui et comment ont-ils pu
partager ces expériences? Comment se reflètent leurs expériences sur
la vie de leurs enfants et petits-enfants? Comment ont-ils impacté les
différentes localités où ils ont vécu? Comment leurs histoires
sont-elles rappelées et récitées dans ces différentes localités?

Comment les «petits-enfants» de ces survivants donnent-ils un sens Ã
l’histoire de leurs grands-parents arméniens islamisés? Comment
peuvent-ils exprimer leurs identités et leur sentiment d’appartenance?
Comment sont-ils affectés par les divers développements politiques et
les tensions autour de cette question? Comment ce processus se
reflète-t-il sur les différentes localités?

Comment peut-on tenir compte des décennies de silence sur les
Arméniens islamisés dans toutes les historiographies? Pourquoi nous
a-t-il fallu si longtemps pour être au courant des histoires des
Arméniens islamisés, et pourquoi notre connaissance de leur situation
est-elle si limitée? Qu’est-ce que cette forme de survie et son
silence engendrent-t-ils ? Comment sont-ils liés aux notions
dominantes de femmes, d’hommes et de procréation? Pourquoi y a-t-il
aujourd’hui de plus en plus d’intérêt sur cette catégorie particulière
de survivants ?

Comment les histoires des Arméniens islamisés contribuent-elles ou
compliquent-elles la recherche existante sur les génocides en général
et le génocide arménien en particulier? Qu’est-ce que cela implique
dans la connaissance du génocide concernant la catégorie des
«survivants» ? Que pouvons-nous apprendre de l’étude des formes
similaires de survie dans les autres cas de génocide et de violence
politique (comme la Shoah, le cas des enfants autochtones en
Australie, ou les «enfants perdus» du Chili)? Que pouvons-nous
apprendre en explorant les liens et les différences entre les
expériences d’islamisation forcée dans les siècles précédents et
celles de la première partie du 20ème siècle?

En répondant entre autres à ces questions, cette conférence vise Ã
contribuer à la fois aux débats historiques sur 1915 et ses
conséquences, ainsi qu’aux questions contemporaines sur
l’identification ethnique/nationale, le sexe, la responsabilité et la
justice. La conférence vise également à discuter du rôle de la
recherche et de l’érudition dans les processus difficiles visant Ã
faire face à des formes passées et présentes de violence, de
discrimination et d’injustice.

Processus de demande:

La conférence est ouverte à tous les chercheurs de toutes les
disciplines et milieux.
Les langues de travail de la conférence seront l’anglais, le turc et
arménien. Les demandes doivent être faites en anglais ou en turc.
Merci de soumettre un sujet (500 mots maximum) décrivant la pertinence
et l’originalité de votre contribution, accompagné d’un résumé de 200
mots.
Il y a des fonds limités pour les participants qui n’ont pas d’autres
sources de financement pour participer à la conférence.
Lorsque vous soumettez votre sujet, merci d’indiquer votre besoin
d’aide financière. Il n’y a aucun frais d’inscription. Déjeuner, thé
et café fournis pour tous les conférenciers.
La date limite d’inscription est le 20 mars 2013. Pour soumettre votre
article et pour plus d’informations: [email protected]

Comité d’organisation:

AyÅ?e Gül Altınay
Sibel Asna
Fethiye Çetin
Delal Dink
AyÅ?e KadıoÄ?lu
Karin KarakaÅ?lı
Emine Kolivar
Hosrof KöletavitoÄ?lu

Comité scientifique:

Ahmet Ä°nsel (Galatasaray University)
Andrea Petö (Central European University)
Ayfer Bartu Candan (BoÄ?aziçi University)
AyÅ?e Gül Altınay (Sabancı University)
Boghos Levon Zekiyan (Venice Ca’ Foscari University)
Hülya Adak (Sabancı University)
Jackie Mansourian
Murat Yüksel (Koç University)
Raymond Kevorkian (University Paris 8)
Ronald Grigor Suny (University of Michigan)
Selim Deringil (BoÄ?aziçi University)
Vahe Tachjian (Houshamadyan)
Zeynep Türkyılmaz (Dartmouth College)

Traduction Collectif VAN – 8 mars 2013 – 06:30 –

Retour à la rubrique

Source/Lien : La Fondation Hrant Dink

From: A. Papazian

The Province, BC, Canada
March 8 2013

Civil war leaves Syrian minorities stuck between brutal regime and
fears of rebel Islamism

By Ben Hubbard And Steve Negus, The Associated Press

Photo:
In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, broken glass over a religious
mosaic, is seen on the top of a church that was damaged by mortars, at
the Christian village of Judeida, in Idlib province, Syria. Yacobiyeh
and its neighbors, Judeida and Quniya, are some of the first Christian
villages to be taken by the rebel Syrian Army. The rebels stormed
these hilltop villages in late January, after the army used it as a
base to shell nearby rebel-controlled areas. The villages are largely
empty due to the fighting, with a few mostly elderly Christians —
including Roman Catholics and Armenian Orthodox _ living among Sunni
Muslim refugees who have moved up here from the plains. They still
face sporadic artillery bombardment from below. (AP Photo/Hussein
Malla)

YACOUBIYEH, Syria – During the battle over this hilltop village in
northern Syria, many of its residents fled, leaving behind empty
homes, damaged churches and a large statue of the Virgin Mary in the
deserted town square – all relics of its Christian population.

Now Yacoubiyeh is one of the few minority-dominated communities
captured by Syria’s rebels in the country’s nearly 2-year-old
uprising, making it a key gauge of how the opposition fighters mainly
from Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority deal with the country’s broad
patchwork of religious and ethnic minorities.

The Muslim commander of the local rebel garrison appears to be trying
to allay any fears among the around 2,500 Christian residents who
remain in the village since the fighting in January, saying he won’t
impinge on anyone’s rights. But, like many rebel leaders now in charge
of Syrian villages, he is making decisions according to a version of
Islamic law that, though not strict, Christians could find
constrictive.

“To each his freedoms,” said the commander, who goes by the nom de
guerre Hakim, suggesting that Christians could drink alcohol in their
homes, but not in public. “Personal freedom stops where the freedom of
others begins.”

As the regime of President Bashar Assad battles a rebellion capturing
increasing swaths of the country, the old order that governed
relations between the country’s myriad sects and ethnicities is
fraying.

Many of Syria’s minorities find themselves stuck in the middle, unsure
which side poses the greatest danger. While outraged by the regime’s
brutal efforts to quash the opposition, many find equally frightening
the Islamist rhetoric of many rebels, and their heavy reliance on
extremist fighters.

Christians, one of the largest religious minorities at about 10 per
cent of Syria’s 23 million people, have tried to stay on the
sidelines. However, the opposition’s increasingly outspoken Islamism
has kept many leaning toward the regime.

“I am not convinced that these people want freedom and democracy,”
said Fadi, a Christian civil engineer from Damascus, voicing a common
view that the rebels are led by extremists. “I sympathized with them
at the start, but after all the destruction, killing and kidnapping, I
prefer Bashar Assad.”

Like other Syrians interviewed for this article, he spoke on condition
that only his first name be published for fear of retribution.

Syria’s population hails from a mix of ethnic and religious groups, a
diversity reflecting their position at the crossroads of the Levant.

Some three-fourths of Syrians are Sunni Muslims, but the country is
also home to other Muslim groups like Shiites, Druze and Alawites, as
well as Christians and ethnic communities of Kurds, Armenians and
others.

All coexisted with varying degrees of ease under Assad’s regime,
founded more than four decades ago by his father, Hafez, and inherited
by Bashar in 2000. The Assad family is Alawite, a Shiite offshoot sect
that makes up about 13 per cent of the population, and the community
is the backbone of his regime, holding many senior posts. But the
Assads also made sure to bring Sunnis and members of other groups into
some prominent positions in the government and military, and let them
carve out lucrative sectors of trade.

But the uprising against Bashar Assad’s rule that began in March 2011
quickly became an outlet for long-suppressed grievances, mostly by
poor Sunnis from marginalized areas. It has since escalated into an
outright civil war.

So far, rebels have mainly taken control in Sunni majority areas.
There, most commanders do not appear to be aggressively imposing
religious puritanism, as insurgents in Afghanistan or Iraq have.
Still, they fall back on Islamic law as the default way of resolving
disputes and keeping order.

Sectarian violence is increasingly common. Recent weeks have seen
clashes between Sunni and Shiite villages in central Syria, hundreds
of sectarian kidnappings in the north and damage to Christian and
Shiite religious sites after their capture by rebels.

Many rebels increasingly describe their cause in religious terms.
Calls for freedom have been replaced by chants declaring Islam’s
Prophet Muhammad “our leader forever.” Online videos have shown rebels
smashing truckloads of alcohol bottles and mocking executed government
soldiers as “rafideen,” a derogatory term for Shiites and Alawites.
Many hardline Sunnis consider Shiites infidels.

In Taftanaz, a Sunni town near two government-held Shiite enclaves in
a rebel-dominated region, graffiti on a wall shows an ayatollah with a
Grim Reaper’s head, labeled “The Truth of Shiism.”

Further stoking minority fears, Islamic extremists have risen in the
rebel ranks. Jabhat al-Nusra, which the United States considers a
terrorist group, has been at the forefront of most recent rebel
victories.

Activists from minority sects who support the uprising have found
themselves sidelined, sometimes by both the opposition and their own
communities.

An activist from the city of Salamiyeh, where most residents belong to
the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam, said he had been organizing and
filming anti-regime protests since early in the uprising but found
that rebel websites preferred videos featuring the black flags
associated with militant Sunni Islam.

Instead of joining the armed opposition, he and other activists struck
deals with local officials to allow protests as long as they remained
peaceful, he said. That worked well until Jan. 22, when a bomb attack
on a carpet factory killed 36 people. Two weeks later, a second blast
struck a military factory nearby, killing some 50 Salamiyeh residents,
he said.

Jabhat al-Nusra claimed the first bombing, though many suspected that
the regime planned the bombings to turn the Ismailis against the
uprising. Indeed, many residents blamed the local activists for
bringing the war to what had been a peaceful city, he said.

The activist still supports the uprising. But, he said, “I’m afraid
that in the future we could get rid of Alawite dictatorship and get a
Sunni dictatorship.” He spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of
retribution.

The Kurds, Syria’s largest ethnic minority, have tried to use the
security vacuum to increase their independence, often clashing with
rebels who seek to “liberate” their areas.

The opposition’s political leadership, the Syrian National Coalition,
has failed to build ties with minorities. It has few minority members,
and those it does have are not considered leaders in their
communities. The group also has no control over fighters on the
ground.

“To Syria’s Christians, Assad is no saviour, but he is seen by many as
the gatekeeper holding back the floodwaters of sectarian retribution
and religious persecution by Sunni militants,” said Ramzy Mardini,
Middle East analyst at the Jamestown Foundation.

“For minorities, life after Assad looks gloomier and the political
opposition is neither strong nor credible enough to make any genuine
reassurances to them,” he said.

Rebels moved in to capture Yacoubiyeh and two neighbouring villages,
Judeida and Quniya – which together are home to several thousand
Christians – in part because regime forces were shelling rebel-held
areas from the communities. Those who fled appear to have done so
mainly to escape the battle, though worries over the approaching
rebels may have played a role.

Last month, residents met with Muslim clerics to discuss the status of
Christians under the Islamic courts that rebels have organized. One
villager said he didn’t want to be a “dhimmi” – a second-class citizen
under Islamic law – but a Syrian with equal rights, said Mouaz
Moustafa of the Washington-based Syrian Emergency Task Force, who
organized the meeting.

The clerics responded that the courts were a “service” they provide in
the absence of any other government, Moustafa said. They said stricter
Shariah punishments, like amputation of hands and stoning, have been
suspended during wartime, and the courts would try to enlist civil
judges to partner with the clerics. Democratic elections after the
regime’s fall, the clerics said, would ultimately determine the laws.

Analyst Yezid Sayigh of the Carnegie Middle East Center cautioned
against assuming that all members of sectarian groups think alike.
Even among Sunnis and Alawites, there is a range of views: Many want
what they see as best for Syria not just for their own sect – whether
that means Assad or the rebellion. It is also premature to talk of a
Sunni takeover in Syria, he said, noting that many Sunnis don’t follow
the extreme views held by some rebel fighters.

What is more likely, he said, is national fragmentation that leaves no
structure able to handle tasks like rebuilding the economy and
repatriating refugees.

“These are going to be massive issues,” he said.

____

Hubbard reported from Beirut. A Syrian reporter in Damascus, Syria,
contributed reporting.

From: A. Papazian

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
March 7 2013

Georgian Defense Minister calls the idea of shooting civilian planes
“unacceptable”

Thursday 7 March 2013 14:39
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania called
the idea of shooting civilian planes “unacceptable”.

The Georgian Minister said this during a press conference after his
meeting with the Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan in Yerevan,
Mediamax reports.

Irakli Alasania also noted that during today’s talks with his Armenian
counterpart, the sides discussed the issue of regional security for a
very long time.

“We stressed that all the conflicts and discords should be settled
solely in a peaceful way”, said the Georgian Minister.

From: A. Papazian

Why Serzh Sargsyan Needs Tigran Sargsyan

Naira Hayrumyan
14:32 07/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The issue of appointment of prime minister is outdated. Obviously,
Serzh Sargsyan is not going to fire Tigran Sargsyan. The only question
is whether Tigran Sargsyan will change the economic policy during his
next tenure or Serzh Sargsyan is satisfied with the current one.

During the presidential campaign, Serzh Sargsyan praised the
government policies. The Prime Minister is also satisfied. Among the
government’s successes he lists insurance, cadastre and mobile
communication. His income, as well as his wife’s income is increasing.
Banks are happy which opened tens of branches in Armenia and took
under their control almost all financial flows in the country during
premier’s office.

Only people are dissatisfied. Their quality of life is not going up.
Perhaps because the social policies of the government are not
addressed to people but to the infrastructures which serve it and
which are owned by officials.

For example, today the prime minister said that he is not going to
boost social benefits but the government will pay for the education of
poor children. This means that the budget money will not reach poor
families but to the budget of universities. Gas bill compensation is
not paid to people but to the ARG. The important thing is not to allow
any money reach people.

Analysts say that Russia and the West are fighting for the position of
prime minister in Armenia. They say Moscow wants to see `its’ person
in this office and not `pro-West’ Tigran Sargsyan.

However, apparently, the West is not happy with Tigran Sargsyan either
since it does not trust his potential. After his tour to the U.S.
organized by Ambassador John Heffern the U.S. interest in Tigran
Sargsyan has fallen. It was felt mostly in regard to Carrefour in
Armenia. The prime minister publicly promised that the supermarket
will open in Armenia but Ambassador Heffern had to inquire on Twitter
if there is any news. The prime minister didn’t answer.

Apparently, only Serzh Sargsyan trusts Tigran Sargsyan. He benefits
from the prime minister with a pro-Western image who practically
strengthens the monopolists and oligarchs and renders Armenia a
`banking’ isle in the region.

Serzh Sargsyan needs Tigran Sargsyan to refuse politely Russia’s
proposals on economic integration. Tigran Sargsyan has so far proved
able to reject Moscow’s proposals offering reasonable excuses.

From: A. Papazian

Former Armenian presidential runner pledges to fight on

TERT.AM
19:41 – 08.03.13

Former opposition candidate Raffi Hovhanisian said Friday that he is
planning a tour to Artashat (Ararat region) to tell the National
Assembly’s speaker (Hovik Abrahamyan, who is from Artashat by birth)
that the city belongs to the Armenian people.

`It’s not his property. Artashat is our capital and we are going to
say that this is our city and our country,’ he said at a post-election
rally at Yerevan’s Liberty Square.

The politician, who heads the opposition Heritage party, called once
again for President Serzh Sargsyan to step down, adding that he is
determined to bring his struggle to an end.

`This is not the movement of Raffi. The Armenia citizen has said this
is mine. Whoever says [I have] no platform, let him know I am
indivertible, probably unpredictable for you, but indivertible,’ he
said, adding that he expects the ruling Republican Party of Armenia to
become a minority political force very soon.

From: A. Papazian

HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY IN BEIRUT

07.03.2013

Tigran Ghanalanyan

Expert of the Center for Armenian Studies, `Noravank’ Foundation
Among the educational institutions of the Armenian Diaspora Beirut’s
Haigazian University – the only higher educational institution in the
Diaspora – holds a prominent place.

After the formation of the Diaspora one of the main challenges the
Armenian Evangelical Church faced was the organization of the
education process in the Armenian communities. The Armenian
Evangelical educational institutions played an important role in the
educational sphere of the Armenian Diaspora which has manifested
itself best of all in the activity of Haigazian University.

Haigazian University in Beirut was established in 1955 as a college
with English as a language of instruction. It was named after the
former head of the gymnasium in Konia Armenag Haigazian.

It was founded by the Armenian Missionary Association of America
(AMAA) and Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
(UAECNE). The university is managed by the board of trustees, 2/3 of
which consists of the representatives of the AMAA and 1/3 of the
representatives of the UAECNE. On March 25, 1966 the Ministry of
Education of Lebanon recognized the Haigazian College as an
institution of higher education. The B.A. and B.S. degrees granted by
the college were recognized to be equivalent to the license granted by
the Lebanese University. In 1996 the Haigazian College was authorized
to offer several graduate programs at the master’s level and be called
Haigazian University1.

In 1955-1989 Haigazian was a college; in 1990-1996 – College
University and since 1996 it has been a university. And though the
language of instruction is English the subjects referring to Armenian
and Arab cultures are taught correspondingly in Armenian and Arabic.
There are many Armenian students and students of other nationalities
>From Lebanon and other countries of the Middles East studying at the
university. In the first year after its foundation the number of the
students was 43, in 1975-1976 – 650, and in 2003 – 543. The main
purpose of founding this university was to provide the Armenian
communities in the Middle East with high-quality teachers,
intellectuals and ministers of the Armenian Evangelical Church. In
1996 Haigazian started granting Masters Degrees in pedagogy,
psychology and management. Haigazian University has the Department of
Armenian Studies which activity has been greatly contributed by Rev.
Dikran Kherlopian, Dikran kuyumjian, Vahe Oshagan, Yervant Kassouny,
Levon Vardan and other. Today all the Armenian students of the
university must follow at least two subjects relating to the Armenian
studies. Haigazian University has separate Armenian Library which is
supplemented every year by the books in Armenian and in other
languages bought from Armenia and other countries. Since 1970 the
university has been publishing `Haigazian Armenological Review’,
`Haigazian Herald’ (in English) student produced newspaper and `Focus’
(in English) student yearbook2. Besides, the following periodicals are
also placed on the web-site of Haigazian – INSPIRIT – The Haigazian
University Newsletter and HUBS Business Review3. There are a number of
student clubs and associations in the university.

The most remarkable among the Armenian periodicals is, of course,
`Haigazian Armenological Review’ which was started in 1970. The
editorial of the first issue of `Haigazian Armenological Review’
reads: `By initiating the HAIGAZIAN ARMENOLOGICAL REVIEW the
Department of the Armenian Studies of Haigazian College took another
step for fulfilling its mission. We believe in the necessity and right
of existence of such a periodical just as we believe that it can turn
into a meeting place for our intelligentsia interested in different
issues of Armenology. It is safe to say that publishing of HAIGAZIAN
ARMENOLOGICAL REVIEW will even more stimulate interest and excitement
which has been shown recently in regard to the Armenology as well as
it will be an impulse for a new quest and researches. The strength and
capabilities from abroad, undoubtedly, do not run out. Of course, we
seek cooperation between the representatives of Armenian
intelligentsia. The pages of HAIGAZIAN ARMENOLOGICAL REVIEW will be
open for those who are aware of the price of the substantiated and
objective words’4.

The following persons occupied the post of the president of Haigazian
University – Dr. John Markarian (1955-1966, 1972-1982), Dr. Gilbert
Bilezikian (1967-1971), Dr. Verne Fletcher (1983-1985), Rev. Dr. John
Khanjian (1995-2002) and Rev. Paul Ara Haidostian (2002 – present). In
1966-1968 Joseph Spredley was the acting president and in 1985-1995
the university was managed by Vilma Cholakian5. Big role in the
establishment of Haigazian University was played by Rev. Dikran
Kherlopian who was the first head of the Department of the Armenian
Studies at the university.

The graduates of the university receive Bachelor and Master Degrees
which are recognized by the government of Lebanon and Association of
American Colleges and Universities.

Haigazian has two directions of teaching (schools): 1. Science and
humanities; 2. Business Administration and Management. The school of
science and humanities includes three faculties – Faculty of Sciences
– Division of Natural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Medical Laboratory
Sciences, Nutrition Sciences and Dietetics, Physics) and Division of
Mathematical Sciences (Computer Science, Mathematics). The other one
is the Faculty of Social Sciences which includes sociology,
psychology, social work, political science and education. In the
spheres of psychology and education both the BA and MA Degrees are
granted. As for the Faculty of Humanities it includes Arabic, Armenian
studies, English, English literature, history, music, philosophy,
religion, art and intercultural studies. The Faculty of Business
Administration and Management plays an important role as a center for
business education and study. All the leading programs of the faculty
are accredited by the Ministry of Education of Lebanon. Today the
faculty grants BBA and BA degrees putting stress on bookkeeping,
tourism and information system management, finances, advertising and
communications6.

The university also pays attention to the spiritual development of the
students so there is a special position of a Campus Minister. Besides
the spiritual sphere the other important mission of the university is
to preserve the Armenian language and culture. The Department of the
Armenian studies grants the academic degree in this sphere and is
designed to provide a solid academic foundation in Armenian letters,
history, politics, and culture. The program intends to prepare
students for teaching in Armenian schools and for community service
and leadership, as well as for graduate studies. This Department
provides the Armenian component of the general education program too.
It also helps the Armenian library, publishes researches and holds
public lectures and cultural events.

The subjects relating to the history, literature, political issues of
Lebanon are emphasized in the educational programs. Lecturers and
student groups initiate visits to historic places.

In 2005 the 50th anniversary of the university was celebrated. The
guest-list of the event underlines the importance of the university:
the members of the Lebanese government, the representative of Lebanese
president’s office, the member of the Lebanese parliament Hakob
Bagratouni, the representatives of the prime-minister and Ministry of
Education, the Head of the Lebanon Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Bishop Vardan Ashakarian, the president of Union of the
Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East Rev. Megerdich
Karageozian, the rector of the YSU Radik Martirosyan, Head of the
Armenian Evangelical Church Rene Levonian, the executive director of
the AMAA Andy Torigian and others. The delegations from Armenia, U.S.,
Canada, Iran, Cyprus and Syria were present. The then Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan was the honorary guest7.

The eager cooperation of Haigazian University with the educational
institutions from Armenia is important. The relations with the
institutions from Armenia are of special significance. In this aspect
the cooperation of Haigazian with the Yerevan State University should
be mentioned. On October 3, 2009 cooperation agreement was signed by
the president of Haigazian University Paul Haidostian and the rector
of the YSU Aram Simonyan: `Both universities acknowledging that
cooperation for the academic and educational purposes is irreplaceable
stimulus for their development undertake the responsibility to create
all the conditions for the exchange of their employees, students and
publications’ 8.

The important role in the activity of the Haigazian University is
taken by the AMAA. It particularly stands out for its financial
support. From the very beginning the founders of the university tended
to create the opportunity for the students from Armenian Diaspora who
wanted to receive education but did not have sufficient material means
to get it. Due to the scholarship fund no prepared applicant is
rejected to receive education9. Today the doors of the university are
opened for anyone, despite his/her religious or national affiliations.

It is necessary to mention that many of the graduates of Haigazian
University hold appointments in different organization in the Armenian
Diaspora. It is remarkable that the graduates of the university are
eagerly involved in the community life of not only Armenian community
in Lebanon but also in the Armenian community organization in other
countries10.

>From the point of view of the development of the university the campus
and material and technical resources are important. In this aspect the
reconstruction of the building of the university is remarkable. On
April 29, 2010 the new repaired building opening ceremony on which the
prime-minister of Lebanon was present took place11.

In 2011 the number of the Haigazian students was 800, the number of
university faculty exceeds 100 and the number of the administrative
staff is 55. Therefore the number of the university graduates has been
3 thousand people12. The ethnic composition of the students of the
university is remarkable. As it was mentioned before there is no
ethnic discrimination on behalf of the university. Thus, according to
the data for 2007 51% of the students of the university were the
Armenians and 49% – foreigners13.

Among the researches carried out by Haigazian University the studies
referring to different problems of the Armenian Diaspora have always
stood out. In order to make this works more organized and
comprehensive in 2012 the Armenian Diaspora Research Center was
founded.

On January 25, 2012 the opening of the Armenian Diaspora Research
Center took place. The representative character of the participants of
this event proves its significance. In particular the Head of the
Armenian Dioceses in Lebanon Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, the
extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon
Ashot Kocharyan, the former president of the Lebanon University,
ex-minister Dr. Adnan Seyit Husseini, members of parliament, the
representatives of national, partisan unions, etc. were present.
President of university Dr. Paul Haidostian underlined the main
importance of the Armenian Diaspora Research Center and said: `The
availability of the exceptional cultural contribution of the
Armenians, their marked and numerous presence in Lebanon promotes the
perception of Haigazian as the most natural and consistent place for
the study of the Armeniancy and Armenian Diaspora in the Near East’14.
The director of the Center is Dr. Antranik Dakessian.

Thus, Haigazian University in Beirut is one of the most remarkable
educational institutions in the Armenian Diaspora. Being the only
higher educational institution in Diaspora it stands out against the
background of both Lebanese or generally Armenian Diaspora educational
institutions and Armenian Evangelical educational facilities.

Being established in 1955 as a college, Haigazian has a 57-years long
history. Facing some obstacles it managed to develop in all necessary
fields and become a university. As a higher educational establishment
the university plays an important role in the life of the Armenian
community in Lebanon which manifests itself in both passing necessary
modern knowledge to the students and in providing their involvement in
the Armenian language, history and culture. Working with the
foreigners the university contributes to the presentation of the
Armenian culture in the foreign environment.

The development of the relations between Haigazian University and
other educational institutions of the Armenian Diaspora is of great
importance. It can contribute to the consolidation of ties not only
between the educational institutions but also between the communities
in general. Of course it will be difficult to underestimate eager
cooperation of the university with the Armenian educational and
academic institutions. The experience accumulated by Haigazian
Univsersity can be useful for both organization of the educational
process in different Armenian communities in Diaspora and in the
aspect of the development of the educational system in Armenia.
Despite the gradual weakening and decrease of the Armenian community
in Lebanon, Haigazian University still has potential for the
educational and research development.

1 Armenian Evangelical Church, Yerevan, 2002, N 3, p. 5 (in Armenian)

2 Encyclopedia of Armenian Diaspora, Yerevan, 2003, p. 305-306 (in Armenian)

3

4 «Haigazian Armenological Review», Beirut, 1970, p. 7 (in Armenian)

5 Encyclopedia of Armenian Diaspora, Yerevan, 2003, p. 306 (in Armenian)

6 Armenian Evangelical Church, Yerevan, 2002, N 3, p. 6-7 (in Armenian)

7 Ibid, 2005, N 3, p. 7:

8 Idid, 2009, N 4, p. 18

9 AMAA News, 2005, N 3, p. 2.

10 Aniv, Moscow, 2009, N 3 (18), (in Russian)

11 Armenian Evangelical Church, Yerevan, 2010, N 2, p. 9:

12 Ibid, 2011, N 4, p. 4:

13 Forum, Glendale, 2007, N 2, p. 30.

14 Opening of the Armenian Diaspora Research Center in Lebanon

`Globus’ analytical journal, #2, 2013

Return
Another materials of author
ARMENIAN DIASPORA IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC[17.01.2013]
ACTIVITY OF THE ARMENIAN EVANGELICALS IN ARTSAKH [06.09.2012]
THE ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY OF FRANCE[07.06.2012]
EDUCATIONAL ISSUES OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN CZECH REPUBLIC[31.10.2011]
ARMENIAN PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH AMERICA[21.04.2011]
ARMENIAN PROTESTANT COMMUNITY IN GEORGIA[29.03.2011]
ARMENIAN PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES IN THE US AND CANADA [15.09.2010]
ARMENIAN PROTESTANTS[12.04.2010]

From: A. Papazian

Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi says Eurovision song may be ‘slagged off’
Rock guitarist sounds less than optimistic about ballad he wrote for
Armenia’s official Eurovision entry

Sean Michaels

guardian.co.uk, Friday 8 March 2013 12.28 GMT

Tony Iommi: not too cool for Eurovision, where Armenia will perform a
song written by the Black Sabbath rocker. Photograph: Leon
Neal/AFP/Getty Images
Tony Iommi does not have high hopes for the song he wrote for
Eurovision 2013. Despite his uneasy pride at Lonely Planet being used
as Armenia’s official entry, the Black Sabbath guitarist said the
track will probably get “slagged [off], like everything else does”.

“I’ve always thought, ‘Oh no, not the Eurovision’, and here I am in it
now,” Iommi said in an interview with BBC News. It certainly wasn’t
the 65-year-old who got in touch with Yerevan’s Eurovision bosses:
reps for the Armenian public television network contacted the rocker
and asked for his help. “I first said: ‘Oh God, I don’t know,'” Iommi
recalled. “It seemed really strange, me doing a Eurovision song, I
don’t usually do that. But I said: ‘I’ve got a rock ballad, I’ll send
it over.'”

Iommi’s riffing balladry soon became Lonely Planet, with lyrics by
Vardan Zadoyan. It was one of four tracks presented to Armenian voters
by singer Gor Sujyan and his band Dorians. Lonely Planet won out over
tunes with titles such as Toy Planet, No Time and The Truth. “The
singer has a really good voice,” Iommi said on his website.

In interviews with the Armenian press, Sujyan laid out his priorities
as the country’s Eurovision nominee. Iommi’s name wasn’t mentioned
even once. “[The] song calls for peace. We hope that everybody who
listens to this song will think about that message,” Sujyan told ESC
Daily.

In another interview, the singer promised that he and Dorians would
truly rock. “It seems to me that it will be beneficient neither for us
nor to the country if we lose face,” he said.

A competitor since 2006, Armenia has never won Eurovision, and it sat
out last year’s contest due to hostilities with the host country,
Azerbaijan. But Armenia will compete at this year’s event, on 18 May,
appearing in Malmö, Sweden, alongside performers such as the UK
nominee, Total Eclipse of the Heart singer Bonnie Tyler.

From: A. Papazian