Author: Andres-Papazian

ALFORTVILLE
Inauguration de l’exposition sur >

Luc Carvounas, sénateur maire d’Alfortville a inauguré hier la
conférence > organisée par > dans ses locaux, au 148 rue Paul Vaillant Coururier, à
Alfortville. Cette exposition, qui illustre le Carnet de Talaat,
registre macabre des déportations et des morts arméniens en 1915, a
été suivi d’une conférence donnée par Ara Safarian, historien et
Directeur de l’institut Gomidas à Londres. L’exposition est visible de
10h à 19h jusqu’au 13 février.

vendredi 6 février 2015,
Ara (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Azerologist links Azerbaijan’s provocations to the country’s domestic issues

12:42, 7 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 7 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Azerologist Sargis Asatryan links
Azerbaijan’s attempts to intensify the situation to the current
serious problems facing the country. During a February 7 press
conference, he noted that recently Azerbaijan has been making more
attempts to destabilize the situation on the border and that this is
linked to the country’s domestic political issues. “There are many
things that might not appear on the outside, but they are serious
matters of concern for the Azerbaijani authorities. First, the fall of
oil prices has had a great impact on Azerbaijan’s economy, and this
can be seen in the speech by the President of Azerbaijan in which he
mentioned that Azerbaijan needs to reduce expenditures and tighten its
belt. Recently there have also been many extreme Islamists who now
have an ideological basis. The extremists have a strong network in
Azerbaijan, and that helps them engage new people. This is definitely
a matter of concern for the Azerbaijani authorities since those
extremists can join ISIS,” the Azerologist mentioned, according to
“Armenpress”.

According to him, the representatives of ethnic minorities,
particularly the Talishs and the Tats have become active in
Azerbaijan. “I believe Azerbaijan’s attempts to create tension on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border and at the Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of
Contact, the shootings and the diversions are aimed at uniting the
Azerbaijani society around at least one idea and distracting the
people’s attention from the situation that has been created. With such
actions, Azerbaijan is also trying to test the Armenian army’s
potential,” the Azerologist underscored.

From: A. Papazian

Patrick Hickey confirms Armenia’s presence in Baku

15:25 | February 7,2015 | Sports

European Olympic Committee’s President Patrick Hickey announced that
Armenian delegates will also participate in 2015 First European Games
in Baku.

“The sportsmen from committee member 50 countries including Armenia
will take part in European Games in Azerbaijan,”- said Patrick Hickey
during a press conference in Baku.

“Baku-2015” organizing committee chief Simon Clegg informed that it
isn’t known yet how many sportsmen from Armenia will participate.

“We are negotiating with the Olympic committees of all the countries
connected with the number of participants and their placement. While
making decisions we will take into consideration many factors,”- said
Simon Clegg.

It should be added that First European Games will be held on June
12-28 in Baku. During 17 days 7200 sportsmen from 50 European
countries will compete in 20 sports, 16 of which are Olympic-style and
4 aren’t Olympic-style.

From: A. Papazian

SAMUEL FORREST RECEIVES $180,000 VIA GOFUNDME PAGE TO HELP HIM TAKE DOWN’S SYNDROME BABY HOME TO NEW ZEALAND

Mr Forrest is raising money to take his son from Armenia to Auckland

HEATHER SAUL

Friday 06 February 2015

A father who is hoping to move back to New Zealand so his Down’s
syndrome baby has better care has received over $180,000 (£117,000)
in donations on a Gofundme page set up to help him raise his son.

Samuel Forrest, of Armenia, said he appealed for funds to move his
son Leo after being told he had Down’s syndrome.

“When I walked into the [hospital] room they all turned to me and said
‘Leo has Down’s syndrome,” he told ABC News. “I had a few moments
of shock.”

“They took me in see him and I looked at this guy and I said, he’s
beautiful – he’s perfect and I’m absolutely keeping him.”

Mr Forrest says he began making plans to move back to his native
country of New Zealand with Leo shortly after receiving the news.

In the meantime, he set up a fundraising page to gather enough money
for the move and to care for his son as a single parent. His page has
received hundreds of thousands of dollars within just nine days from
supporters across the globe.

From: A. Papazian

American University of Armenia
Diana Manukyan | AUA PR Manager
Office of Communications
40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave. | Yerevan, 0019, Armenia
Tel: +374 60 612 522; Email: [email protected] |

AUA Instructor Commemorates Genocide Centennial with 100 Years, 100 Facts

YEREVAN, Armenia – On February 2, 2015, American University of Armenia
(AUA) Instructor Nareg Seferian gave a presentation on The 100 Years, 100
Facts Project*. *The presentation was part of AUA’s 1915 Centennial series
commemorating the one hundred years since the Armenian Genocide.

The 100 Years, 100 Facts Project*, *accessible through 100years100facts.com,
is a joint initiative of Seferian and friend Lena Adishian. It is a
collection of one hundred facts about Armenians and Armenia, with topics
ranging from those related to the genocide, to Armenian music, language,
religion, notable figures, various Diaspora communities, and much more. The
purpose of the online initiative is to educate and raise awareness about
Armenian history and culture as a way to commemorate the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide.

`Although we have one hundred years of this tragic history, Lena and I
wanted us to celebrate our identity in a diverse way that emphasizes
education and awareness and allows us to know who we are, where we come
from, and where we’re going,’ Seferian said.

The project began on April 24, 2014 and will continue until April 24, 2015,
serving as a year-long campaign that leverages the power of the internet
and social media. In addition to the main website, facts can also be viewed
through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+.

The website has already been translated into Portuguese and French by
self-initiated volunteers. `Of course, this project is aimed at the
Armenian world, but we’d also love to reach out to people in Turkey. We’re
still waiting to hear about whether it can get translated,’ Seferian said.

Nareg Seferian is an AUA instructor, researcher, and writer. He was born
and raised in New Delhi and received his higher education in Yerevan, Santa
Fe, Boston, and Vienna. His writings can be read on naregseferian.com
.

*Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private,
independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the
University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and
the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies,
encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic
values.*

From: A. Papazian

BORDERING ON WAR: RUSSIA REACTS TO DEADLY SKIRMISHES IN ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT ZONE

Karabakh | 06.02.15 | 15:41

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Armenia’s politico-military and economic ally, Russia, has finally
expressed its concern regarding the “serious” situation around
Nagorno-Karabakh calling for de-escalation of tensions.

Russian Foreign Ministry official representative Alexander Lukashevich,
at a news briefing in Moscow on Thursday, spoke about the increase of
ceasefire regime violations in the conflict zone, frequent clashes
and sabotage, expressing his concern about “serious deterioration”
of the Nagorno-Karabakh situation and urging the parties to the
conflict to deescalate tensions.

Border tensions proceeded against the backdrop of a visit to Yerevan
by Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha and Head of Russia’s Federal Migration Service
Konstantin Ramadanovski. They came to Armenia to participate in the
CSTO Coordinating Council meeting of heads of competent bodies on
the fight against illegal migration.

It is noteworthy that Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan
had a meeting with the American, French and Russian co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group in Munich, Germany, on Thursday during which they
continued discussions over the process of peaceful resolution of the
Karabakh conflict.

Russian reactions make many believe that border tension might subside,
considering the fact that the August tensions were deescalated after
the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents’ meeting hosted by Russian
President Vladimir Putin.

Political analyst, Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute deputy director
Sergey Minasyan told ArmeniaNow that the Russian factor is always
existent and influential.

“It is obvious that the Russian factor is in some way considered,
the Russian factor takes different shapes – the Russian military base
in Armenia, Armenia-Russia strategic and technical cooperation, and
the other aspect of it is the fact that Russia is one of Azerbaijan’s
military-technical partners,” the political analyst said.

However, Minasyan sees no immediate solution to the current tense
situation.

“I think that the same tension of this last decade, i.e. the tension
of cyclic nature, will exist, however, on a bit higher level, because
the sides use small caliber mortars, more units take part, but on
the other hand, I do not see the prospect of renewed large-scale
hostilities,” Minasyan said.

From: A. Papazian

OEK LAWMAKER: WE CONDEMN DETENTION OF CITIZEN IN GYUMRI

14:06 | February 6,2015 | Politics

Hovhannes Margaryan, a lawmaker representing the Country of
Law Party (OEK) in the Armenian parliament, says he has had a
telephone conversation with relevant agencies over the murder of
a seven-member family in Gyumri and will soon travel to Gyumri to
study the detention of resident Mnatsakan Alexanyan. The 22-year-old
resident of Sarnaghbyur village, in connection with the street protests
in Gyumri in January, following the arrest of a Russian soldier who
admitted murdering the seven-member Avetisyan family in Gyumri.

“I was in Gyumri on the day of protests and we were able to avert
detentions. We condemn the detention of a citizen. He [Mnatsakan
Alexanyan] demanded the handover of the Russian soldier, charged with
the murder of the Avetisyan family to the Armenian law enforcement
authorities. His demand is justified and fair. I also demanded the
same thing,” the OEK lawmaker said during the parliamentary briefings
on Friday.

In reply to the question whether he was going to join the participants
of an automobile rally to be held in Gyumri, the MP said, “I cannot
say for sure, I shall be participating at a court hearing.”

From: A. Papazian

22 PERCENT OF BANS PROHIBITING ARMENIAN CITIZENS’ ENTRY TO RUSSIA LIFTED

YEREVAN, February 6. /ARKA/. Russia’s Federal Migration Service
has revoked 22 percent of bans it had imposed on Armenian nationals
prohibiting their entry to Russia for breaching its immigration law,
Gagik Yeganyan, head of the Armenian territorial administration
and emergency ministry’s state migration service, told journalists
on Friday.

In his words, more than 4,000 applications have been received since
July 2014, and 3,000 of them have been sent to Russia’s Federal
Migration Service.

He said referring to Russian sources that entry of more than 3 million
people to Russia is prohibited for ten years because they have breached
the Russian law.

According to the same sources, the number of citizens in risk group
is 180,000.

>

He said that in accordance with these arrangements, to have their entry
bans’ lifted Armenian citizens have to appeal to Armenia’s migration
service, which will send applications to the Russian migration service
after considering them.

Yeganyan said that after Armenia became a full member of the Eurasian
Economic Union on January 2, 2015, Armenian citizens need no special
permission for working in the union member countries.

Nevertheless, for living and working legally in Russia, Armenian
citizens need labor and civil law contracts with employers. Armenian
citizens may be employed not only by legal entities, but also by
individuals in Russia. —0—-

From: A. Papazian

NALBANDIAN: AZERBAIJANI LEADERSHIP BLATANTLY DISREGARDS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S CALLS

11:27 06/02/2015 >> POLITICS

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on Thursday, in Munich,
met with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Igor Popov (Russia),
James Warlick (United States) and Pierre Andrieu (France), and Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk,
the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

The sides continued the discussions on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process.

Edward Nalbandian drew the Co-Chairs’ attention to the
increased violations of ceasefire and subversive attacks on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border and Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact,
stressing that Azerbaijani forces violated ceasefire more than 3,000
times during the past weeks, leading to human losses, including deaths
of civilians.

“The Azerbaijani leadership blatantly disregards the international
community’s targeted calls for ceasing tension, and with its
adventurist policy and provocative actions further escalates the
situation and undermines the peace process,” Nalbandian said.

He reaffirmed that Armenia will continue the joint efforts with the
Minsk Group co-chair countries aimed at exclusively peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Source: Panorama.a

From: A. Papazian

“EYEWITNESSES ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE” BOOK SHEDS LIGHT ON OTTOMAN GENOCIDE AGAINST ARMENIANS

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
February 4, 2015 Wednesday

Damascus, SANA, The Damascus-based Commission for Commemorating the
Centenary of the Armenian Genocide held a ceremony for signing the book
titled “Eyewitnesses on Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire” by
Armenia’s Ambassador to Syria Arshak Poladian at al-Assad Library with
the presence of politicians, clergymen, intellectuals and journalists.

Dr. Poladian said in his book, issued by al-Sharq Publishing House
in Damascus that the Ottomans perpetrated genocide that expanded
geographically throughout the Armenian map- from Cilicia to Mount
Ararat through Trabzon and the eastern states- highlighting the
crimes of banishment, killing, burning of houses, pillage, rape and
humiliation against the Armenians, citing heart-wrenching stories of
pain, grief and sadness.

The book includes testimonies of three eyewitnesses (the Syrian
lawyer Fayez al-Ghussein, Naem Bek al-Turki and Father Isaac Armala
al-Syriani).

The 250-paper book contains precise documents featuring the horrible
atrocities which the Ottomans committed against a million and a half
Armenians in late 19th century and early 20th century.

Rasha Milhem/ Barry

From: A. Papazian