Author: Andres-Papazian

VAN : UN TURC, UN KURDE ET UN ARMENIEN, DANS UNE EGLISE

Publie le : 24-10-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – L’editeur
d’Armenian Weekly, Khatchig Mouradian, revient d’un voyage a
Dikranagerd/Diyarbakir, Sassoun et Van, situes en Armenie historique
(territoires actuellement en Turquie). Cet article est le premier d’une
serie qu’il a ecrite au sujet de ce voyage et relate sa randonnee aux
alentours de Van, en compagnie d’un militant kurde et d’un designer
urbain turc. Une recherche interieure qui parle de ” genocide, de
depossession et d’une quete de sens. ” Le groupe visite le monastère
armenien de Garmravank (Gorundu Kilisesi) : ” deux grands trous dans
son dôme se font face, indiquant que l’eglise a recu des boulets de
canon avant etre abandonnee aux forces de la nature.

Toutefois, de très beaux khatchkars (des croix de pierre armeniennes)
et des sculptures ornent les murs exterieurs de l’eglise abîmee et
saccagee. ” Le Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction de l’article
en anglais de Khatchig Mouradian paru sur le site Armenian Weekly le
18 octobre 2012.

Legende photo : Deux grands trous dans son dôme se font face, indiquant
que l’eglise a recu des boulets de canon avant etre abandonnee aux
forces de la nature. (Photo de Khatchig Mouradian)

Un Turc, un Kurde et un Armenien entrent dans une eglise

Armenian Weekly

Poste par Khatchig Mouradian le 18 octobre 2012

Nous nous sommes gares près du lac de Van et nous avons entame notre
longue randonnee en direction de la colline, où les ruines d’un
monastère medieval armenien nous attendent. C’est une longue marche
sur des surfaces inegales complètement parsemees de fumier sec. Nous
avions rencontre les coupables un peu plus tôt près du lac – un grand
troupeau de moutons, qui couvrait le paysage s’etendant entre deux
collines. Quelques bergers nous ont salues et offert du the.

Presque une heure après, l’eglise etait en vue. ” Je n’ai jamais autant
marche pour aller dans une mosquee ! “, s’est exclame en plaisantant
l’un de mes compagnons, un Kurde activiste de Diyarbakir.

Je souris, mais je veux aussi profiter de cette occasion pour faire
une remarque a l’intention de notre petit groupe. ” Vous savez,
je ne marche pas pendant des heures pour aller dans des eglises
aux Etats-Unis. Ou n’importe où ailleurs “, dis-je en plaisantant a
moitie. ” Il s’agit de genocide, de depossession et d’une quete de
sens… ”

Il le sait.

Je suis moralisateur, me disent les yeux de mon amie americaine. Je
remarque la boîte de loukoums turcs, qu’elle avait achetee avant,
depassant de son sac a main. ” Ton sac est tellement delicieux*
“, dis-je, essayant d’etre drôle. Nous perseverons malgre tout.

Le monastère, historiquement connu sous le nom de Garmravank, mais que
les gens d’ici appellent Gorundu Kilisesi, du nom du village voisin,
est majestueusement perche sur le versant d’une colline. Deux grands
trous dans son dôme se font face, indiquant que l’eglise a recu des
boulets de canon avant etre abandonnee aux forces de la nature.

Toutefois, de très beaux khatchkars (des croix de pierre armeniennes)
et des sculptures ornent les murs exterieurs de l’eglise abîmee
et saccagee.

Nous entrons. Mon compagnon turc, un designer urbain d’Istanbul,
a la voix douce, montre un grand trou creuse au milieu de l’eglise :
des chasseurs de tresors sont passes par la ! Après six visites dans
des villes et des villages armeniens historiques, au cours de ces deux
dernières annees, c’est une vision qui ne m’est que trop familière.

Quelques minutes plus tard, je suis seul dans l’eglise. Je passe ma
main sur ses murs, ceremonieusement, comme je l’ai fait dans chaque
eglise que j’ai visitee en Armenie historique. Je sais que cela me
donne de la force.

J’aimerais croire que l’eglise aussi veut une main rassurante et
qu’elle lui dit : ” Reste la ! Au fond de mon c~ur je sais qu’un
jour nous serons reunis. ”

L’editeur d’Armenian Weekly, Khatchig Mouradian, revient d’un voyage
a Dikranagerd/Diyarbakir, Sassoun et Van. Cet article est le premier
d’une serie qu’il a ecrite au sujet de ce voyage.

Khatchig Mouradian est l’editeur d’Armenian Weekly, le coordinateur
du programme intitule Programme du genocide armenien a l’Universite
Rutgers et doctorant du cursus d’Etudes de l’holocauste et du genocide
a l’Universite Clark. Il a donne de nombreux cours et a participe a
des conferences universitaires en Armenie, en Autriche, a Chypre, au
Liban, en Norvège, en Suisse, en Syrie, en Turquie et aux Etats-Unis.

Ecrivez-lui : [email protected]. Suivez-le sur Twitter :

*NdT : Jeux de mots avec le terme anglais pour loukoum, Turkish Delight
(delice turc)

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 19 octobre
2012 – 18:00 –

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Armenian Weekly

From: A. Papazian

SOME STEPS CAUSED DAMAGE TO ARMENIAN-MEXICAN RELATIONS, EDWARD NALBANDYAN SAID IN MEXICO

Mediamax
Oct 23 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. At the meeting with members of Mexico Senate,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said that “some steps
have caused damage to Armenian-Mexican relations”.

Mediamax reports that Edward Nalbandyan said that he meant the
“adoption of a resolution on Nagorno Karabakh by Mexico Senate and the
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico of last convocation, which ran counter
to the position of the international community and contributed to
the destructive position and aggressive steps of Azerbaijan.”

Edward Nalbandyan also delivered a lecture at the Institute of
Diplomatic Studies after Matias Romero in Mexico.

In his speech, the Armenian FM noted that “having a rich corruption
experience inside the country, Baku is trying to shift it into the
sphere of international relations.”

Unfortunately, in some countries some politicians get entrapped
by Azerbaijan, exhibit weakness and cannot resist the corruption
temptation coming from Baku. There is an impression in Baku that
everything is bought and sold in international relations,” Armenian
Foreign Minister said.

The tour of the Armenian Foreign Minister to countries of Latin
America began from Mexico.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY UNION HITS AT ‘HATE CRIME’ SCHOOL BOOKS

Agence France Presse
October 22, 2012 Monday 3:28 PM GMT

A Turkish education union pressed Monday for the impounding of a
series of books mocking non-Muslim historical figures that were given
out at several Istanbul schools last month, accusing the editor of
“hate crime”.

“The books include phrases that are unscientific, anti-Semitic,
anti-Armenian and humiliate Christians, non-religious people and
people with a left-wing philosophy,” read a statement released by
the Egitim-Sen union.

The legal complaint was filed after parents notified Egitim-Sen of the
15 books titled “Big Steps Biographical Series,” which were distributed
free to some 1,000 elementary school children in Istanbul’s central
Maltepe district.

“We want the books impounded, and all those responsible held
accountable for their part in their distribution into the hands of
10-year-old children,” said Mehmet Aydogan, chief of the union’s
Istanbul bureau which filed the charges.

“The fact that these ostracising books are being handed out freely
shows the type of mentality we are up against,” Aydogan told AFP,
noting that the incident was not the first and might be pointing to
an increasing religious intolerance in Turkey.

The controversial books describe Albert Einstein as a “dirty and
sloppy” child who walks barefoot and loves eating soap “despite the
sad part that, in those years, Gestapos were putting Jews in ovens
and making soap out of them.”

Another prominent scientist, Charles Darwin, is portrayed as a
“clandestine Jew who hated his big nose” and spent 20 years to prove
his evolution theory, “knowing he was only fooling himself.”

The mock biographies have caused outrage in social media and from
Turks across the country, who said they were amazed to see Sigmund
Freud described as the “father of perverts” and Santa Claus as a
“bloke who should be prosecuted for housebreaking” in the series.

The union has filed charges of “hate crime” against the books’ editor,
Ahmet Sirri Arvas, who is also the chief editor of Turkey’s oldest
childrens’ magazine, Turkiye Cocuk.

“Those are not direct biographies, they are storified, abridged
books… They are not scientific or academic pieces, or university
dissertations either,” Arvas was quoted as saying by liberal daily
Radikal on Sunday.

The phrases that drew criticism will be fixed in future editions,
according to Arvas, who was not available for further comments
on Monday.

The union complaint also asks for charges against the district
governorate and district education authorities, on the grounds they
committed “neglect of duty” by allowing the books to be handed out.

The incident was among several cases where a publication made its way
to young students, bypassing authorities who failed to investigate
their contents, according to Aydogan.

Back in March, the union filed a legal complaint against another book,
after it was delivered in a similar way to several high schools in
Istanbul’s Kartal district.

The book entitled “I Am Removing This File: Armenian Issue,” which
branded Armenian genocide as “a bloody lie” and labelled Turkish
sympathisers of Armenians as “devils among us,” was impounded after
the complaint.

But unions and concerned parents manage to spot only some of those
books which seem to be resurfacing in a different district every few
months, union officials warned.

“There are so many weird publications out there, it is next to
impossible for us to keep track on all of them,” Unsal Yildiz, head
of Egitim-Sen, told AFP.

“We manage to spot some of them, but the real question is: what else
is out there that we are not aware of?” Aydogan agreed.

In 2009, a popular television series titled “Farewell” was taken
off the air after it sparked controversy for what critics branded an
anti-Semitic narration of the stories of Palestinian victims during
Israel’s “Cast Lead” Gaza offensive.

The series aired on Turkish state television dramatically strained
ties between Turkey and Israel, with the latter summoning the Turkish
ambassador to complain of the portrayal of Israeli soldiers as
“murderers of innocent children.”

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN CONTINUES ANTI-ARMENIAN PROPAGANDA

news.am
October 23, 2012 | 22:04

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijani MFA still keeps details on the upcoming
meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs Edward Nalbandian
and Elmar Mammadyarov in secret. Information regarding the movement
of the Azerbaijani FM is confidential in connection to the alleged
treats by the “ASALA terroristic organization,” Azerbaijani MFA press
secretary Elman Abdulayev told ATV-int.

However, Azerbaijani FM’s movement details are no longer confidential
and it is disrespect toward readers to insist the confidentiality of
the meeting between the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and Armenian FM.

Media outlets covered the upcoming meeting for many times and there
is no need to speak about confidentiality in this context. Hence,
the statement by Abdulayev is nothing else but a regular attempt
to use any prerequisite, in this case the ASALA, as a means of
anti-Armenian propaganda.

From: A. Papazian

I LOVED ARMENIA FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY OF MY ARRIVAL: IVAN KUKHTA

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 23, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian- Ukrainian friendship
relations date back from the centuries. Historians date the beginning
of these relations 11th century and started from those times all
politicians, diplomats, public figures are making efforts to further
develop the friendship. Armenpress had an interview with Ivan Kukhta,
Ukrainian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia on
the current level of bilateral relations, existing unused capacities
and programs.

To Armenpress reporter question how Armenian- Ukrainian bilateral
relations develop and which areas have opportunities to boost in
the future, Ambassador was quoted as saying ” Armenian- Ukrainian
relations have significantly intensified in the course of the past
two years. Activity is observed in all spheres namely political,
economic, humanitarian- cultural. Definitely economic sphere is the
most essential aspect in the bilateral relations, which is related
to the fact that the increase of bilateral trade volume contributes
to the increase of material well-being of ordinary people.

Particularly the expansion of trade contributes to the increase of job
places in Armenia and Ukraine, thus increasing the revenues of the two
countries. According to Ambassador Kukhta currently Armenia and Ukraine
are more attractive as to the tourism. Reportedly they are attended not
only by former Soviet Union residents but the habitants of the Europe.

From: A. Papazian

L’AEROPORT ZVARTNOTS A ACCUEILLI PLUS DE 900000 PASSAGERS ENTRE JANVIER ET JUILLET
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 23 octobre 2012

L’aeroport international de Zvartnots a acceuilli plus de 900 000
passagers et 6 611 tonnes de cargaison entre janvier et juillet 2012,
selon une declaration du Departement Principal de l’Aviation Civile
d’Armenie.

Pendant la periode annoncee 432 117 personnes sont arrivees en Armenie
par l’aeroport et 472 955 ont quitte le pays. Environ 3 044 tonnes
de marchandises ont ete importees vers le pays par la porte aerienne
et 3 567 tonnes ont ete exportees.

Les chiffres representent une hausse avec 852 345 personnes et 5011
tonnes de cargaison traitees au cours des sept premiers mois de
l’annee dernière.

L’aeroport de Shirak a acceuilli plus de 39 021 passagers et 29,5
tonnes de cargaison.

From: A. Papazian

BACHAR EL ASSAD ANNONCE UNE AMNISTIE GENERALE
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
mardi 23 octobre 2012

Le president syrien Bachar al-Assad a annonce mardi une amnistie
generale pour les crimes commis “a ce jour”, selon une information
delivree par la television d’Etat.

L’exception ne s’applique pas aux ” infractions liees au terrorisme”,
a declare la television. L’amnistie ne s’appliquerait qu’aux crimes
et que si les fugitifs decident de se rendre.

Elle s’etendrait aux actes de l’opposition armee, qui depuis plus d’un
an mènent une lutte armee contre les autorites syriennes actuelles,
rapporte ” Interfax “.

From: A. Papazian

OVER 20 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH ANTHRAX SYMPTOMS IN ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza
Oct 22 2012
Russia

At least 22 people have been hospitalized with anthrax symptoms
in Armenia.

The first reports were made on October 20 when 21 people were
hospitalized at the Martuni Hospital at Lake Sevan of the Gegarkuniksky
Region of the republic. One more person has been hospitalized in
Yerevan today.

Armenian Healthcare Minister Anait Aytayan said that more detailed
information will be available later.

Anthrax is a common infection among domestic and wild animals and
people. The disease causes intoxication, skin ulcers, problems with
lymphnodes and inner organs. The disease may be obtained by contacting
with animals, eating contaminated meat or drinking water.

From: A. Papazian

ARCHITECT MICHEL MOVSSESSIAN TO BUILD A PLANETARIUM IN ARTSAKH?

Mediamax
Oct 22 2012
Armenia

Yerevan /Mediamax/. On October 21, President of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) Bako Sahakyan received in Stepanakert the professor
of the European Astrophysical Scientific Center Garik Israelian and
prominent architect of Armenian descent Michel Movssessian.

At the meeting the parties discussed issues related to the construction
of a planetarium in Artsakh. The President noted that the presence
of planetarium will significantly contribute to the development of
science and education in NKR.

Mediamax recalls that Michel Movssessian visited Armenia this July
and met with Yerevan Mayor.

Astrophysicist Garik Israelian has already realized a number of
important projects in Artsakh this year.

In particular, thanks to his efforts legendary British rock-musician
Glen Hughes performed in Stepanakert this September.

Garik Israelyan also organized “Man and Space” scientific conference
in Stepanakert this September, which was attended by Charles Duke,
a former astronaut for NASA and member of “Apollo 16” Moon mission.

From: A. Papazian

ODZOUN POVERTY: VILLAGERS WANT JOBS BUT NOT WORKING THE LAND
Larisa Paremuzyan

09:32, October 22, 2012

Visit the village of Odzoun in Armenia’s northern province of Lori
and you’ll hear the locals point to the uncultivated fields as the
main source of the community’s deep-seated poverty.

Rafik Hovasapyan, one of the village’s 5,600 residents, is a 76
year-old pensioner who says it’s impossible for him to feed his family
on the 28,000 AMD ($69) pension he gets every month.

There are 110 families receiving state assistance in Odzoun, a rural
community that has abundant fertile lands for farming. But only 150
hectares of the total 1,500 are currently being planted with grains.

Many say this is why the price of bread is so expensive. Mr.

Hovasapyan says that 1 kilo now costs 500 AMD.

Mayor Arsen Titanyan boasts that every year since being elected to
office in 2008 the acreage being cultivated has risen by 5%.

Mayor Titanyan adds that that repairs to an 800 meter irrigation pipe
has allowed a 160 hectare pasture to have water after many years. The
World Bank contributed $30,000 and the Odzoun municipality kicked in
600,000 AMD of its own. Two combines were also purchased.

To assist the villagers with their fall planting the mayor offered
them diesel fuel and seed at reduced prices. Unfortunately 70-80%
of residents don’t have the means to work the land even with the
mayor’s help.

Alisa Gasparyan says what the village needs is jobs and not work
linked to the land.

“I haven’t been able to cultivate the 4,000 meters of land I have for
the past twenty years. It’s too expensive. I want to sell but there
are no buyers.”

When we spoke top Mayor Titanyan, he mentioned several underlying
reasons why so much land is not being cultivated. First off, there
are some 1,000 residents who have left and their plots remain fallow.

Other families, comprised mostly of seniors, aren’t physically or
financially able to work the land. He also mentioned the fact that
much of the fields are located 7-8 kilometres from the village.

In the mayor’s view, the government has to step in and draft a land
reform package that would include seizing the lands of absentee owners,
who haven’t been paying taxes, and turning over the land over to
the community. He also believes that larger plots of land need to be
distributed to make farming more cost effective. Mayor Titanyan said
that large landowners could employ village residents to work their
lands and transport them back and forth to the fields in buses.

In the near future, Odzoun will discuss the 2013-2017 socio-economic
development plan and how it envisages dealing with the urgent issues
facing the village.

Mayor Titanyan singles out the development of agriculture and repairs
to the road leading to the school as top priorities.

We wanted to hear what Odzoun residents had to say about their most
pressing problems.

Levon Asryan, an unemployed teacher who we stopped while he was
transporting grass back from the field, said that more activities
and events should be planned for the village cultural center.

Many other residents said that what was needed above all else were
jobs.

“I’m a pensioner with health issues. I believe that what Odzoun
needs first is jobs. My wife just passed away and I have a son and
a daughter at home. They’re in their mid-20s and we have to make due
on my small pension,” said Avag Kostandyan.

From: A. Papazian