Le présentateur de télévision Hrant Tokhatian va s’installer au NK

ARMENIE-HAUT KARABAGH
Le présentateur de télévision Hrant Tokhatian va s’installer au Haut Karabagh

L’acteur et présentateur de télévision Hrant Tokhatian a décidé de
s’installer, vivre et exercer ses activités au Haut Karabagh à partir
du 1er juin. Il vient de recevoir de Stepanakert une proposition
professionnelle intéressante. Néanmoins Hrant Tokhatian n’a pas
révéler dans quel secteur de la télévision il y exercera ses talents
de présentateur et humoriste. « L’Artsakh est un lieu paradisiaque »
dit H. Tokhatian qui y installera également sa famille. « J’ai
toujours aimé et j’aime toujours beaucoup le Haut Karabagh » dit Hrant
Tokhatian qui sera l’une des premières vedettes de la télévision
arménienne à s’installer à Stepanakert. Au regard de la nature riche
et de la qualité de l’environnement et de la vie, le Haut Karabagh
pourrait bien attirer dans les prochaines années de nombreuses
personnalités ou citoyens d’Arménie et de la diaspora.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 13 mai 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

Sudan Supports Azerbaijan In Karabakh Conflict

SUDAN SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN IN KARABAKH CONFLICT

Vestnik Kavkaza
May 11 2012
Russia

Sudan supports the position of Azerbaijan in the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Foreign Minister of Sudan Ali Ahmed Carty
said in Baku at a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar
Mammadyarov, Trend reports.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister also congratulated Mammadyarov on the
election of Azerbaijan as a non-permanent member of the UN Security
Council, the Foreign Ministry press service said on Friday.

The Sudanese minister expressed satisfaction with bilateral relations
and noted the need for their development. At the meeting the ministers
discussed regional development, questions of bilateral cooperation
and its prospects.

From: A. Papazian

1000 Applications From About 70 Countries Received For Participation

1000 APPLICATIONS FROM ABOUT 70 COUNTRIES RECEIVED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE “GOLDEN APRICOT” FESTIVAL

17:37 . 11/05

The 9th Golden Apricot International Film Festival again opens its
doors for the beginner and master film directors on July 8 in Yerevan.

This year, too, the festival will host numerous international
filmmakers.

1000 applications for participation have already been received from
70 countries. Spanish film director Victor Erice is the president
of the jury. The participants can present films of any genre. There
will also be an award named “Nucleus” for short-length films of young
film directors.

A new programme called “Book and Film” on the occasion of declaring
Yerevan the world book capital and the joint forum “Film Directors
without Borders” are foreseen. The best screenings of the Armenian
and world classic works will be presented within its frames.

“So many films have been presented that a part is already ensured
for the next year. We are happy and proud that there is such an
interest towards the festival and the number of the people who wish to
participate in the festival increases year by year,” the director of
the “Golden Apricot” international film festival Harutyun Khachatryan
said.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.yerkirmedia.am/?act=news&lan=en&id=7059

Golden Apricot 9th Yerevan International Film Festival Promises Rich

GOLDEN APRICOT 9TH YEREVAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PROMISES RICH, INTERESTING PROGRAM

tert.am
11.05.12

On May 11 a joint press conference was held at the Ministry of Culture
of RA which announced this year’s Golden Apricot Yerevan International
Film Festival, website reports.

The speakers of the press conference were the Minister of Culture of
RA -Hasmik Poghosyan,VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian,
the Director of the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film
Festival Harutyun Khachatryan, the Festival Program Director Mikayel
Stamboltsyan, and the Festival Artistic Director Susanna Harutyunyan.

Golden Apricot 9th Yerevan International Film Festival will be
held from July 8th till 15th, 2012. This year again the festival is
supported by the general sponsor and devoted partner VivaCell-MTS
and the Ministry of Culture of Armenia.

Overall, 1,020 applications (last year- around 700 submissions) from
around 70 countries were submitted for participation in the festival
this year, which is the evidence of the festival’s yearly growing
popularity. Another proof of this is the participation of renowned
cinematographers, which has grown into just another tradition at
the festival. This year the jury of the festival will be presided by
Spanish director Victor Erice, jury member of the Cannes Film Festival
in 2010. With Yerevan announced the World Book Capital in 2012,
the Golden Apricot will present a new program Book and Cinema. The
program will reflect on the screen versions of the Armenian and world
classic literature.

The competitions in 2012 again will include International Feature,
International Documentary, Armenian Panorama, and Apricot Stone
programs. The latter was launched in 2011 and is particularly
aimed for short films by young cinematographers. The screenings are
promising in Yerevan Perspectives, Retrospect Screenings and Tribute
programs, which promise a number of surprises by the world masters
of cinematography. In particular, film screenings dedicated to the
90th anniversary of Yuri Yerznkyan (Yuri Yerznkyan and his students)
and the 85th anniversary of Frunze Dovlatyan will be organized within
the Tribute program. The 80th anniversary of Andrey Tarkovski will
be celebrated with special remark.

In the frames of the festival Directors Across Borders co-production
forum will be implemented with the EU support. This year the 6th
edition of the forum will be held already in the frames of the European
Union Eastern Partnership. More information on the program are to be
presented at a press conference to come.

“Cinema Journalism Across Borders” training is planned to be held
before the start of the festival and is to be attended by highly
qualified international experts and cinema researchers and critics
arriving from the Eastern Partnership countries. The guests will
participate in the publication of the Golden Apricot Daily throughout
the festival days.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.gaiff.am

Nagorno Karabakh President Receives A Group Of Young People Arrived

NAGORNO KARABAKH PRESIDENT RECEIVES A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARRIVED IN ARTSAKH FROM DIASPORA AND ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
11 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS: On May 11, President of Nagorno Karabakh
Bako Sahakyan received a group of young people who had arrived in
Artsakh from Diaspora and Armenia by the initiative of “To Hayq”
foundation,.

Bako Sahakyan stressed the importance of the youth’s role in
strengthening the homeland-Diaspora unity and preserving the Armenian
national identity, as well underlined the necessity of their frequent
visits to Artsakh, NKR President’s press service told Armenpress.

The head of state rated high the activities of the “To Hayq”
foundation in this direction, considering invaluable the experience
the organization has accumulated in this field.

During the meeting the President also answered various questions of
the young people.

From: A. Papazian

Collectif Van : L’Ephemeride Du 11 Mai

COLLECTIF VAN : L’EPHEMERIDE DU 11 MAI

Publié le : 11-05-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – La rubrique Ephéméride
est a retrouver quotidiennement sur le site du Collectif VAN. Elle
recense la liste d’événements survenus a une date donnée,
a différentes époques de l’Histoire, sur les thématiques que
l’association suit au quotidien. L’éphéméride du Collectif VAN
repose sur des informations en ligne sur de nombreux sites (les sources
sont spécifiées sous chaque entrée). Vous pouvez retrouver tous
les éphémérides du Collectif VAN dans la Rubrique Actions VAN,
en cliquant sur ces liens:

Les éphémérides du Collectif VAN (1ère partie)

Les éphémérides du Collectif VAN (2ème partie)

Légende : 11 mai 1918 — Etats-Unis d’Amérique : lettre de Theodore
Roosevelt : ” Le massacre des Arméniens a été le plus grand crime
de la guerre. Ne pas s’attaquer a l’horreur turque en prenant le mal
a sa racine signifie que parler d’une garantie de paix mondiale pour
le futur est une ineptie grave. ”

Ca s’est passé un 11 mai (les événements sont classés du plus
ancien au plus récent) :

11 mai 330 — Empire romain : Constantinople devient officiellement la
capitale de l’Empire romain. Constantinople (latin : Constantinopolis,
grec : Î~ZÏ~IνÏ~CÏ~DανÏ~DινοÏ~MÏ~@οΔιÏ~B / Konstantinoupolis,
arménien : Ô¿Õ¸Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¤Õ¶Õ¸O~BÕºÕ¸Õ¬Õ”Õ½) est l’appellation ancienne
et historique de l’actuelle ville d’Istanbul en Turquie (du 11 mai
330 a 1930). Son nom original, Byzance (en grec : Byzantion, venant
soit du terme grec buzÅ~M signifiant ” resserré ” en référence
au Bosphore, soit du mot thrace désignant le ” rivage ”), reste
largement utilisé en histoire.

Wikipedia Wikipedia

11 mai 1895 — Conférence de Londres : S. S. le Catholicos actuel,
Georges V, en sa qualité de Chef Suprême de tous les Arméniens,
envoya pour le représenter en Europe une Délégation présidée
par un Arménien, Boghos Nubar pacha, fils du grand Ministre, qui
gouverna longtemps l’Egypte, fut l’auteur de la Réforme Judiciaire,
transforma ainsi l’existence politique et économique du pays, et
mérita le surnom de ” Père de la Justice ”. Cette Délégation se
donna pour programme de ne réclamer ni indépendance, ni autonomie
politique et, s’appuyant seulement sur l’article 61 du Traité de
Berlin, de s’en tenir aux réformes promises, en conformité avec
le mémorandum des Ambassadeurs des Puissances a Constantinople,
du 11 mai 1895. Les Arméniens demandaient donc a rester ottomans,
avec de simples réformes administratives, garanties par un contrôle
international, qui leur assurerait la sécurité de leurs existences
et de leurs biens et une justice égale pour tous. Extrait du livre
d’Emile Doumergue, L’Arménie, Les massacres et la Question d’Orient,
1916, ch.IV Imprescriptible.fr : 1. Traité de San Stéfano –
2. Traité de Berlin – 3. Les Réformes **** Sultan Abdul Hamid II
proclame les réformes pour l’Arménie occidentale. Il les a signées
le 18 octobre 1895, sous la pression.

Elles ne seront jamais appliquées.

American University of Armenia: This day in armenian history

11 mai 1909 — Empire ottoman/Cilicie : stimulé par un vif esprit
de concurrence ” humanitaire ”, et la crainte que le crédit
de la France ne soit entamé ou dévié au profit des Anglais ou
des Américains, très actifs dans la protection des Arméniens,
leur ravitaillement et les soins apportés, un télégramme du 11
mai avertit enfin le vice-Amiral Pivet de la mise a disposition
de la Marine et des consuls de moyens financiers. Cette aide permit
d’acquérir les subsistances et le matériel nécessaire a la création
de l’ambulance francaise organisée par les jésuites et les sÅ”urs de
Saint-Joseph de Lyon installés a Adana, par les capucins a Antioche,
du dispensaire de Hassan-Beyli organisé par M. Roqueferrier, etc. La
Marine participa en effet activement aux activités de l’énergique
et courageux consul Fernand Roqueferrier, qui avait déja pris sur lui
l’organisation d’une caravane de secours a partir d’Alep et avait ainsi
sillonné une vaste zone isolée, gravement sinistrée et abandonnée a
son sort, loin de la présence des marines et des consuls, entre Alep
et la côte d’Adana. © Revue d’Histoire Arménienne Contemporaine
pour toutes les éditions |© Yves Ternon pour le texte Mardin 1915
Imprescriptible.fr : L’intervention de la Marine francaise durant
les massacres de Cilicie d’avril 1909

11 mai 1909 — Empire ottoman/Cilicie : service Historique de la Marine
(Vincennes), SS ED 100, 12 pp. Escadre de la Méditerranée occidentale
et du Levant, dépêche n° 14, recue le 21 mai, n° 726, Alexandrette,
le 11 mai 1909, le Contre-Amiral Pivet, Commandant l’Escadre légère
de la Méditerranée, au ministre de la Marine.

Monsieur le Ministre, […] On continue a se demander pourquoi l’on
accumule dans ce pays tant de soldats turcs dont on ne voit pas
l’utilité. La raison officiellement donnée est que ces soldats,
appartenant pour la plupart aux troupes régulières des corps
d’armée du Nord, viennent remplacer les rédifs ou réservistes que
les soins de la moisson rappellent dans les campagnes. On pense aussi
que ces Albanais ou Macédoniens seraient, en cas de troubles, plus
impartiaux et plus faciles a commander que les rédifs. Peut-être
pourrait-on ajouter encore que ces troupes sont envoyées sur les
côtes pour rassurer la population turque que la présence d’aussi
nombreux bâtiments de guerre ne laisse pas d’inquiéter un peu.

**** Service Historique de la Marine (Vincennes), SS ED 100, 10 pp.

Escadre de la Méditerranée, a Mersina, dépêche n° 15, recue le
27 mai, n° 753, du 14 mai 1909, le Contre-Amiral Pivet, Commandant
l’Escadre légère de la Méditerranée au vice amiral commandant en
chef de l’Escadre de la Méditerranée, copie a Monsieur le Ministre de
la Marine. Télégramme du 14 Mai. ” Les locaux, étant insuffisants
pour permettre d’hospitaliser des malades, ne sont utilisés que
comme dispensaire ; nous faisons construire dans le voisinage des
baraquements destinés a contenir une trentaine de malades et je vais
me préoccuper de la location d’un nouvel immeuble pour agrandir, s’il
se peut, notre sphère d’action humanitaire. La situation a Adana —
ci-joint, a titre de renseignement, le rapport de l’officier en second
du Victor-Hugo sur sa mission a Adana du 9 au 11 mai — paraît assez
calme, malgré quelques bruits tendancieux qui se répandent de temps
a autre et causent des paniques dans la population arménienne. Les
familles ne veulent pas encore rentrer en ville et retourner dans les
logements qui n’ont pas été brÔlés ; d’autre part, les hommes
ne se croient pas encore suffisamment protégés pour reprendre
leurs travaux des champs… ” **** Service Historique de la Marine
(Vincennes), SS ED 100, 9 pp.

Escadre de la Méditerranée, Escadre légère, croiseur cuirassé
Victor-Hugo, recu le 27 mai 1909, n° 754, du Capitaine de Frégate
Prère, Officier en Second, a Monsieur le Capitaine (amiral) de
Vaisseau Com(mandan)t le Victor-Hugo, mai 1909 ” Commandant, Je
vous rends compte de ma mission a Adana les 9, 10, 11 mai. Je devais
pendant mon séjour hâter l’organisation de la distribution des
dons en nature aux victimes des troubles, favoriser l’établissement
d’une ambulance francaise pour les soins a donner aux malades et
blessés, enfin obtenir des autorités l’évacuation des locaux de l’
école que l’incendie n’avait pas détruits et qui étaient occupés
par 60 soldats et 4 officiers. ” © Revue d’Histoire Arménienne
Contemporaine pour toutes les éditions | © Yves Ternon pour le texte
Mardin 1915 Imprescriptible.fr : Documents militaires francais sur les
massacres de Cilicie, en avril 1909, et le sauvetage des Arméniens
de Kessab par la Marine francaise dans la baie de Bazit

11 mai 1915 — Empire ottoman: le président de la cour martiale
d’Istanbul avait annoncé le 28 avril 1915 l’inculpation des chefs
hentchakistes, internés depuis juillet 1914, pour ” nuisance a
l’ordre public et rébellion ”. Le procès des vingt-huit inculpés
commence le 11 mai, en fin de matinée.

Mass Violence – par Raymond Kévorkian

11 mai 1915 — Dyarbekir : fonctionnaires d’Etat, avocats,
intellectuels, négociants, banquiers, architectes, ingénieurs,
propriétaires terriens et chefs religieux, soit un millier d’hommes
[Arméniens], sont arrêtés et torturés sur ordre du vali Resid.

*** (Agouni, 1921 :63; Kieser, 2002 :265, n° 105; Kévorkian,
2006 :442).

Mass Violence – par Raymond Kévorkian

11 mai 1918 — Empire ottoman : a la reprise des négociations de
paix, a Batoum, le 11 mai 1918, la Turquie ne se contentait plus de
l’acceptation du traité de Brest. La Délégation ottomane demandait
la cession de nouveaux territoires et la disposition pour la durée
de la guerre de la ligne de chemin de fer Alexandropol-Djoulfa,
dont les Turcs avaient besoin pour leurs opérations contre les
Anglais en Perse. Mandelstam, André. La Société des Nations et
les Puissances devant le problème arménien, Paris, Pédone, 1926 ;
rééd. Imprimerie Hamaskaïne, 1970.

Imprescriptible.fr : L’Arménie russe pendant la Grande Guerre et
après l’armistice de Lemnos

11 mai 1918 — Etats-Unis d’Amérique : lettre de Theodore Roosevelt
(1858-1919 – Homme d’Ã~Itat américain, président des Ã~Itats-Unis de
1901 a 1909). ” Le massacre des Arméniens a été le plus grand crime
de la guerre (…) ne pas s’attaquer a l’horreur turque en prenant
le mal a sa racine signifie que (…) parler d’une garantie de paix
mondiale pour le futur est une ineptie grave. ” Imprescriptible.fr :
Citations d’hommes politiques personnalités historiques

11 mai 1919 — Empire ottoman : la seizième session du procès sur
les massacres de Trébizonde a eu lieu.

ANI: Chronology of the Armenian Genocide — 1919

11 mai 1920 — Empire ottoman : les délégués turcs convoqués
par la Conférence pour recevoir les ” Conditions de paix ”
virent les représentants de l’Arménie siéger parmi ceux des
Ã~Itats alliés. Et, dans le préambule de ces ” Conditions ”,
devenu ensuite le préambule du traité de Sèvres, l’Arménie fut
mentionnée parmi les Puissances alliées. Voici effectivement le
début de ce préambule : ” L’Empire britannique, la France, l’Italie
et le Japon ” Puissances désignées dans le présent traité comme
les principales Puissances alliées ; ” L’Arménie, la Belgique,
la Grèce, le Hedjaz, la Pologne, le Portugal, la Roumanie, l’Ã~Itat
Serbe-Croate-Slovène et la Tchécoslovaquie. ” Constituant avec
les Principales Puissances ci-dessus les Puissances alliées, ”
D’une part ; ” Et la Turquie, ” D’autre part… ”.

Ces deux faits constituaient bien en eux-mêmes une reconnaissance
tacite de l’indépendance de l’Arménie, indépendance de jure
et non pas seulement de facto, car les Puissances n’auraient pu
conclure un traité d’alliance avec un organisme ne possédant pas
un statut juridique international et existant seulement de fait. Et,
on le sait, c’est un principe établi du droit international que la
reconnaissance d’un nouvel Ã~Itat ne doit pas revêtir des formes
solennelles spéciales, mais peut être simplement tacite. Mandelstam,
André. La Société des Nations et les Puissances devant le problème
arménien, Paris, Pédone, 1926 ; rééd. Imprimerie Hamaskaïne, 1970.

Imprescriptible.fr : L’indépendance de l’Ã~Itat arménien

11 mai 1942 — 2 juifs sont pendus par la Gestapo a Bedzin (Silésie).

1 000 juifs déportés de Vienne (Autriche) arrivent a Minsk (R.S.S. de
Biélorussie), où ils sont conduits devant des fosses, qui viennent
d’être creusées près de la gare, pour y être fusillés.

Israelvivra.com

11 mai 1942 — Déclaration de Darquier de Pellepoix : ” Les Francais
doivent se rendre compte que le principal responsable de leurs misères
est le Juif “.

ajpn

11 mai 1943 — 1 446 internés juifs du camp de regroupement de
Westerbork sont déportés au camp d’extermination de Sobibor.

Israelvivra.com

11 mai 1943 — Samuel Zygelbojm, représentant du Bund auprès du
gouvernement polonais en exil a Londres, se donne la mort le 11 mai
1943 : ” Par ma mort, je voudrais, pour la dernière fois, protester
contre la passivité d’un monde qui assiste a l’extermination du
peuple juif et l’admet ” Wikipedia

11 mai 1944 — Au cours d’une Aktion qui dure plusieurs jours, 15
000 juifs de Kassa (Hongrie septentrionale) et de ses environs sont
déportés au camp d’extermination d’Auschwitz.

A la suite d’une Aktion qui s’étend sur plusieurs jours, 15 000 juifs
parqués dans le ghetto de Satoraljaujhely (Hongrie) sont déportés
au camp d’extermination d’Auschwitz.

Israelvivra.com

11 mai 1960 — Argentine : Adolf Eichmann, criminel nazi en fuite,
est enlevé a Buenos Aires par une équipe du Mossad. Il est capturé
par les services secrets israéliens en Argentine. Eichmann était
responsable de la solution finale appliquée aux Juifs, pendant la
deuxième guerre mondiale.

Wikipedia Seconde-guerre.com

11 mai 2000 — Liban/Chambre des députés : a l’occasion du 85ème
anniversaire des massacres perpétrés par les autorités ottomanes en
1915, qui causèrent la mort de 1,5 million de victimes arméniennes,
la Chambre libanaise des députés reconnaît et condamne le génocide
perpétré contre le peuple arménien et exprime sa complète
solidarité avec les attentes de ses citoyens arméniens. En outre,
il croit que la reconnaissance internationale de ce génocide est
une condition nécessaire pour la prévention de crimes similaires
qui pourraient avoir lieu a l’avenir.

Imprescriptible.fr : Citations : institutions étatiques et
supra-étatiques

11 mai 2003 — Turquie : ” Radikal ”, le 11 mai 2003. Article de
Taner Akcam professeur a l’Université de Minnesota. Extrait. Le
télégramme de Talaat Pacha. ” Quant a cette affabulation
selon laquelle les Catholiques et les Protestants n’auraient pas
été déportés, il est vrai qu’a ce sujet un certain nombre de
télégrammes envoyés aux responsables locaux déconseillent ces
déportations. Mais le premier message envoyé est daté du 4 aoÔt
1915, soit trois mois après les déportations. Le premier document au
sujet des Arméniens catholiques a été envoyé par Talaat Pacha. Il
est dit dans le télégramme que la déportation des Arméniens
catholiques ne doit pas avoir lieu. Un télégramme similaire a
été envoyé le 15 octobre au sujet des Arméniens protestants. La
aussi, il est écrit ce qui suit : ” les Protestants arméniens qui
n’ont pas encore été déportés, ne doivent plus être déportés
”. Comme on peut le remarquer dans ces deux télégrammes, les
Arméniens catholiques et protestants avaient déja été déportés
a cette date. Quant aux télégrammes envoyés le 18 septembre 1915
de Kayséri, Eskishéhir, Diayarbékir et Nigde, les gouverneurs
répondirent que tous les Arméniens de leurs régions respectives
avaient été déportés et qu’il ne restait plus aucun Arménien. ”
Imprescriptible.fr : Taner Akcam, 1915 et les fables turques

Compilation réalisée par le site

Retour a la rubrique

From: A. Papazian

www.collectifvan.org
www.collectifvan.org
www.collectifvan.org

Arf-D Doesn’T Rule Out Coming Out To Streets, Anc Wants 43 More Mand

ARF-D DOESN’T RULE OUT COMING OUT TO STREETS, ANC WANTS 43 MORE MANDATES, OSKANYAN, IN TURN DOESN’T WANT “UNREAL” COALITION

16:12 . 11/05

“The maximum possible was done,” the chairman of the Union of
Politicians of Armenia Hmayak Hovhannisyan announced today.

After circulating the statement on the elections, the representatives
of the united headquarters of public control of the elections spoke
about both the election violations and about their further activity.

The headquarters issued statements before the elections and on the
election day, alarmed about inflated voting lists, recorded that the
vanishing stamps and the unprecedented queues at the voting stations
had an aim of multiple voting, and after all the headquarters submitted
an application to the Constitutional Court for publishing the lists
of the people who had voted.

PAP member Vartan Oskanyan said that after all this he has only to
ask: “Do I have the right to doubt that there is a state plan behind
all this?”

According to ANC coordinator, there was a state plan on May 6 and
an organized crime took place. With such elections, the authorities
damaged both them and the country.

“By this, they buried their authority, at the same time, damaging
the state,” ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan said.

“The ARF-D Armenia Supreme Body provided the minutes on all the
election violations to ANC for applying to the Constitutional Court,”
the Supreme Body representative Armen Rustamyan said.

ARF-D is sure that the election frauds have influenced the election
results and is also sure that the authorities will state the contrary.

Nevertheless, the three parties included in the united headquarters
will continue to join their efforts to transform the defective
election system and to establish mechanisms of really democratic
elections. Today the headquarters also issued a statement on this. The
political forces didn’t specify the forms of the united fight but
they said each of them will also struggle separately, though here,
too, there are uncertainties. For example, in PAP they are still
discussing whether to form a coalition with RPA or not. The party
hasn’t still made a decision, but Vartan Oskanyan is sure: “I will
not assume the responsibility of not real coalition agreements”.

If the elections were fair, according to Levon Zurabyan, ANC would
have 50 MPs’ mandates in the parliament. Today it has only 7 and is
not going to withdraw from them.

“On the contrary, we must seek bringing the 43 back. We are going to
the parliament with that aim,” Levon Zurabyan said.

The plan of making a system authority change, about which ARF-D
announced still before the elections, remains unchanged. The party
goes to the parliament for that not ruling out the fight outside the
walls of the National Assembly, either: “Who said the fight in the
streets will be ruled out, if we are entering the National Assembly?

Does becoming a parliamentary force mean that a force just comes into
the parliament from outside and that’s all? One is going to supplement
the other. We are going to take steps both in the National Assembly
and outside it”.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.yerkirmedia.am/?act=news&lan=en&id=7056

Armenian Elections 2012: Political Hypocrisy

ARMENIAN ELECTIONS 2012: POLITICAL HYPOCRISY
Hayk Khalatyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 10, 2012

Since the very start of its election campaign Prosperous Armenia
showed obvious signs of political amnesia.

Parliamentary elections were held in Armenia on May 6, and people are
now assessing their outcomes, pondering over expectations from the new
“elects”; meanwhile, the political forces are summing up the results
and considering their future moves and potential alliances.

So, I decided to avail of the current political lull and sum up my
own voting outcomes, sharing my views on each of the race participants.

Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) . RPA is the ruling party in the
country, and that’s all; by saying ‘authorities’ we assume the RPA. It
is the major power responsible for the situation in the country and
solution of the current problems.

Considerable part of the Armenian population, neglecting their civil
duties and not bothering to think about the country’s future, are
ready to sell their future for several thousand of Armenian drams to
those who pay more.

As some reasonable voices of the society state, given such attitude to
elections, people in some 20 years might as well favor the referendum
on surrendering Zangezur to Azerbaijan, with no remorse whatsoever.

Authorities must realize that if currently they benefit from such
public attitude towards civil duties, these “citizens” will hardly
be of any use for the state in case of jeopardy.

As to namely the elections, RPA has again dragged some notorious
tycoons through the next parliament, together with several political
bankrupts from other parties. All in all, they will again enjoy
unshakable majority in the parliament.

Also, ordinary people are left now with the RPA’s electoral slogan
“Believe to make a change”. They will definitely need belief, since
after previous RPA slogans saying “All for you, Armenia” and “Go,
Armenia” people saw no significant progress in their living standards,
to say the least.

Prosperous Armenia . Since the very start of its election campaign
Prosperous Armenia showed obvious signs of political amnesia. It
perhaps forgot being a member of the ruling coalition, and strived
to shift off the total responsibility for the hard social-economic
situation towards its major partner, RPA. Some top members of
Prosperous Armenia, in particular, ex-minister of foreign affairs
Vartan Oskanian outdid radical opposition figures in slamming the
authorities and the government.

In addition to political amnesia, the party appeared to have some
eyesight problems: by unmasking the electoral bribery and use of
administrative resources by RPA, it for some reason failed to see
the same actions by its own representatives.

The incident with “Vertu phone” belonging to party leader Gagik
Tsarukyan, or rather the comments it brought forward, is worth special
mentioning. Oskanian was the only person brave enough to admit the
truth, saying Tsarukyan did in fact carry a gun and not a “phone”
allegedly stated by others.

However, Prosperous Armenia deserves some positive remarks as well,
for its care for the development of the national agriculture; indeed,
distribution of tractors ahead of elections had nothing to do with
the voting. This was mere “charity”, of course, and not hidden PR and
electoral bribe, as a dispassionate observer, unaware of the subtleties
of Armenian political “charity” might have inadvertently thought.

Regrettably, the urge for charity and benefaction, also manifested in
the neighborhood road renovation, is awakened in Armenian oligarchs
only a couple of months prior to elections, to vanish shortly
afterwards.

Still, this does not refer to Gagik Tsarukyan who, unlike many,
proceeds with his charity activities after elections as well.

To sum up the Prosperous Armenia topic, I’d mention here the odd
interpretation of the Armenian legislation by Gagik Tsarukyan. When
Prosperous Armenia’s proxies were assaulted at a polling station during
the voting day, Tsarukyan declared that those behind the incident
“will be called to account before the law and him”.

Orinats Yerkir. The party took a thorny path to enter the National
Assembly of the 5th convocation. Orinats Yerkir spared no effort
to develop Armenia’s food industry during its election campaign
(fortunately, agriculture minister shares same party membership),
distributing national production jams to its supporters and ordinary
people.

Import was not ignored either, with mobile phones brought to
support the party in the voting. Leader of Orinats Yerkir, perfect
political speaker and secretary of the National Security Council
Artur Baghdasaryan again distinguished himself in duping the voters.

Opposition

Armenian National Congress (ANC) . The ANC had to pay a high price for
its itch to play on alleged disagreements within the ruling coalition
and spark a conflict between Prosperous Armenia and RPA.

ANC supporters have hardly swallowed the process of the political
dialogue with the authorities, and now they faced the need to take
black for white, i.e. perceive Prosperous Armenia as no longer a part
of the government.

ANC was also selectively struck blind with regard to violation of
electoral legislation, believing that only RPA and its appendix
Orinats Yerkir could break the law, unlike the Prosperous Armenia
that suddenly became dear to the opposition bloc.

Opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian blaming current authorities
for election fraud was also rather touching; the present leadership
just follows the path paved in 1990 by pioneer first president and
his Armenian National Movement team, improving their methods to hit
new heights.

Voters were perhaps puzzled by this complicated logical trick, and did
not provide the support ANC expected to get: Ter-Petrossian and his
team definitely expected to garner far more than just 106000 of votes.

Therefore, the ANC leadership had to claim at its May 8 rally
its intention to appeal against the voting result in Armenia’s
Constitutional Court (being totally aware of vainness of such move).

The heap of charges addressed to “Kocharian-Sargsyan regime” aimed
to merely conceal a simple and obvious thing, that is, ANC is heading
for the next parliament, thus recognizing the voting results and its
defeat in the recent vote.

ARF Dashnaktsutyun . During these elections Dashnaktsutyun compiled
an original “political cocktail” in the inter-party anti-forgery
headquarters with ANC (implying the Armenian National Movement)
and Prosperous Armenia party, a combination which appeared quite
perplexing for an ordinary voter.

Unlike Dashnaktsutyun leadership, the opposition voters did not
understand that politics has no eternal enemies or friends, while
goals sometimes justify methods and allies.

In this regard, an interesting picture emerged on May 6, with
Dashnaktsutyun top member Vahan Hovhannisyan sharing a table with
ex-president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian, who once jailed
Hovhannisyan naming his a “terrorist”.

As a result of such cooperation, Dashnaktsutyun had to overlook
violations of the electoral legislation by inter-party headquarters
member Prosperous Armenia, and issued a belated May 8 statement saying
that all members of the ruling coalition, including the Prosperous
Armenia party, are to blame for electoral fraud, particularly the
forged number of votes they “received”.

Heritage. In case of Heritage, its alliance with Free Democrats was
the most interesting thing perhaps, liberal views being the only thing
these two had in common. Heritage leader had way too romantic views
with regard to political struggle in Armenia, while their allies,
once prominent members of the Armenian National Movement and ANC,
were too pragmatic.

The party’s supporters were somewhat confused to see “newcomers”
rank on electoral list instead of those who served Heritage hand and
foot and were quite active in their parliamentary activities.

However, Heritage has been much illogical over the past years, with
its contradicting statements and moves.

Last but not least . Participation and role of the Democratic Party
of Armenia (DPA), Communist Party of Armenia and United Armenians
party in the recent voting is similar to roles of actors whose names
are listed at the bottom of the Cast section. All the three got less
than 2% in total, running by “Participation is more important than
victory” slogan.

I would also like to mention TV debates between majority system
candidates running in constituency 2, RPA’s Samvel Farmanyan and ANC’s
Vladimir Karapetyan. Both are educated people, even intellectuals,
I’d say, which they however failed to demonstrate during the debates.

Both candidates were absolutely unable to listen to their opponent
and follow the rules of a civilized discussion.

Following these debates, people just wondered: if this was the
battle between the most calm and educated members of these political
forces, what would debates between other notorious and passionate
representatives be like? Just imagine debates between, say, RPA’s
Ruben Hayrapetyan and ANC’s Nikol Pashinyan!

From: A. Papazian

Papken Suni ‘Agoump’ Enjoys New Look

PAPKEN SUNI ‘AGOUMP’ ENJOYS NEW LOOK
by Tom Vartabedian

May 11, 2012

As memory recalls, some of my most productive and meaningful days as
a teenager were spent at the Papken Suni Agoumpin Watertown, Mass.,
attending AYF gatherings with the Somerville “Nejdeh” Chapter.

Kevork and Mania Boyajian get ready to serve up a meal at the Papken
Suni ‘Agoump’ in Watertown.

To get downstairs to the meeting room, you would pass through the
main hall where patrons had gathered, sipping their brandy and smoking
their cigars over a backgammon board.

It was an eclectic piece of my childhood because some of the greatest
people in my organization had tentacles here. Whenever we needed an
educational on Armenian history, the call would reach upstairs and
down would come some erudite individual like a James Mandalian or a
Jimmy Tashjian.

All that’s changed now. Gone are the smoke and tavlou boards,
the pinochle games and politics of their time. In their place is
a restaurant, still operated by the Boston Gomideh, and managed by
Kevork and Mania Boyajian.

They are at your beckoning service, day and night, cooking up a storm
and sending you off with a delectable smile and full palate. And
they’re trying to make it solely with an Armenian clientele, be it
casual dining, weddings, mercy meals, and family outings.

With a capacity of 120, the dining area oozes with personality,
enhanced by Armenian art and other mementos of our proud history. A
hardwood floor adds to the luster.

It’s been an aggressive transformation of its tired self, marked
by a six-figure renovation. It’s “all in the family” around here as
two children, Koko, 15, and Mary, 11, pitch a hand when needed. Two
sisters are also on call, Tanya Giroian and Nora Karamousaian, not
to exclude Kevork Moushilian.

“It’s like inviting you into our home,” says Kevork. “Everyone who
comes in here is like family and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

We’re trying to get the word out.”

The new-look Agoump could very well be the best-kept secret in
Watertown. But not from the ARF-ARS crowd that has quickly hopped
aboard. One regular happens to be oudist Richard Berberian. Another
is Dro Kanayan, a grandson of General Dro who probably frequented
this place as an ARFer, not to exclude his dad Mardik, another Papken
Suni aficionado.

Berberian is part of a group called the Council of Armenian Executives,
a business network that has held its workshops and business meetings
here.

“For the price and quality, how can you go wrong here?” Berberian
says. “The hospitality is only surpassed by the food.”

The Boyajians have been married 16 years. They’re from Aleppo and
settled in Watertown 15 years ago. Managing a restaurant was the
furthest thing from their minds.

He left his job as an auto body mechanic while she worked at a dry
cleaning establishment. The place opened in January. Previously, the
Gomideh had rented the club to the Homenetmen over the last 15 years.

“They tell me it takes about five years for a new business to develop,”
says Kevork, a proud Gomideh member. “Up until that time, this will
continue to be a work in progress. We’re hoping the word gets out
slowly to area communities.”

On this particular night, the Lowell Gomideh gathered for a
dinner-meeting, on Berberian’s eager recommendation. We were 11
individuals, seated at one long table breaking bread together. The
spirit was, well, let’s say “Hye.”

Libations aside, the mezza was just what the epicurean in us might
have ordered. On came the yalanchi, tabouleh, and hummus with fresh
bread, which could have been a meal in itself. All appetizers are
within the $5-$8 range.

But no. Bent on ordering individual meals, our hostess Mania, who
handles much of the preparation work, recommended two platters with
the works. Those were combo plates ($14) with abundant chicken and
beef served over a salad and rice pilaf.

After all the grabbing was done, a half platter remained for
take-home. The unger with the closest birthday got to take it
home. I lost.

The falafel sandwich I’m told is a signature dish. I had a chicken
kebab rollup one other time for lunch and it was a treat. All
sandwiches and rollups are reasonably priced between $6-$8.

Was this the same Kevork Boyajian who showed up the past two
Octobers at Camp Haiastan for the ARF Panagoum? The very same chef
who was called out time and again for his culinary bows after another
scrumptious meal? One and the same.

We left the establishment whistling a merry tune, knowing it was an
evening well spent and digested.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/05/11/papken-suni-agoump-enjoys-new-look/

HAK Official: "Passports Stamped 3-4 Times During Elections"

HAK OFFICIAL: “PASSPORTS STAMPED 3-4 TIMES DURING ELECTIONS”

03:37 pm | Today | Politics

We have photos of passports which have been stamped about 3-4 times
during the May 6 parliamentary elections. It means that certain people
voted more than once, knowing that the ink does not vanish from the
passport, Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) Levon
Zurabyan told during the sitting of the Inter-Party Headquarters for
Public Oversight of the Elections.

The HAK official says about 800-900 thousand people participated in
the voting, the other 700 thousand ‘were involved in election rigging
on a state level.’

“The farther the polling stations were, the more audaciously election
riggers behaved,” he stressed.

Levon Zurabyan underlines that voter turnout has never exceeded 50%
in any democratic country.

“Meanwhile, unprecedented turnout was recorded in Armenia, with 86%
of eligible voters casting ballots in the May 6 polls. The real number
of voters stands at 1 800 000, as 700 000 of the country’s 2 500 000
people are not in the republic,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2012/05/11/levon-zurabyan