Author: Aram Torosian

 

 

 

“The only fact that meetings are taking place and dialogue aimed at implementation of confidence-building measures is under way is a positive sign by itself,” French Ambassador to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier told reporters in Yerevan.

“Without dialogue there can be no political solution,” the Ambassador said, adding that dialogue is a chance to get acquainted with each other’s positions.

Ambassador Charpentier hailed the commitment of the parties to continue the periodic meetings and pledged France’s willingness to support the process.

Speaking about the Armenian-French relations, the Ambassador said those have always been on a high level. He said the activity of the French Embassy in Armenia is based on three pillars, the most important of which is the development of economic relations.

“It’s important to intensify the economic ties. The €50 mln commodity turnover is too little for the two countries, and does not correspond to the level of the French-Armenian political and cultural relations,” the Ambassador added.

According to Mr. Charpentier, another important direction is the promotion of social dialogue and any cooperation targeted the protection of human rights.

By Bhavana Gopinath
Kitchissippi Tme

The trauma of genocide threads through Aram Adjemian’s life: he grew up in the shadow of the Armenian genocide, he pursued the topic academically, he met his wife at a genocide conference, and it is the subject of his first book, The Call from Armenia: Canada’s Response to the Armenian Genocide. It documents Canadians’ interest in the Armenian people through missionary involvement, the consequent fundraising for Armenian relief, governmental action, and Armenian immigration and support in Canada.

Aram has been studying genocide for several years. Back in 2002, he attended the first seminar on Genocide and Human Rights hosted by the Zoryan Institute. In 2003, he started his master’s in history at Concordia University, where renowned genocide scholar, Frank Chalk, became his thesis advisor. His 2007 thesis was entitled Canada’s Moral Mandate for Armenia: Sparking Humanitarian and Political Interest, 1880 to 1923.

The 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide was commemorated on April 24, 2015. As part of several cultural and educational initiatives to mark the event, the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) commissioned Aram to write about Canada and Armenia. He took this opportunity to expand upon his thesis research. The resultant The Call from Armenia contains original research and information in the form of hundreds of archival photographs, parliamentary and governmental documentation, and illustrations.

Aram has presented his book across Canada and in Ottawa to parliamentarians and the Armenian community.  On May 27, Aram made a presentation at a reception organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to Canada. H.E. Mr. Armen Yeganian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Canada presided, and presented Aram with a certificate for service to the nation.

Canada’s response to the crisis in Armenia was one of the defining events of Canadian history in the aftermath of World War I. It was a young country’s demonstration of its responsibility, influence, and humanitarian outlook.  Aram points out that this is a typical Canadian reaction — Canada continues to provide aid to many displaced peoples even to the present day.

Aram is originally from Montreal. During his childhood, his Armenian grandparents and parents rarely talked about the genocide; while he was aware that his grandparents had been affected and traumatized, he doesn’t recall his grandmother talking much about it. However, he grew up immersed in Armenian culture, and sensed the lingering trauma of the genocide that his Armenian friends and relatives endured even after decades.

“It is a hard thing to live with,” says Aram. He came to understand that the emotional scars from genocide can be trans-generational.

In 2007, the year Aram completed his thesis, the journalist Hrant Dink was assassinated. Hrant was the chief editor of a bilingual (Armenian and Turkish) Istanbul-based newspaper and a proponent of stronger ties between Turks and Armenians. That incident, Aram says, was a “rude awakening,” with the realization that the issues he addressed in academia still prevailed in real life. In the aftermath of that assassination, Aram has been involved with Armenian and Turkish dialogue groups that formed with the aim of fostering greater understanding. Aram hopes that conversations between ordinary Turks and Armenians will help bring about some degree of amity between the two nations.

Aram met his wife Hoori Hamboyan, a lawyer with the Department of Justice, at Zoryan Institute’s Genocide conference. He describes Hoori as a “very compassionate” person who has always been interested in social justice and helping the vulnerable. Their backgrounds make them both deeply mindful about how genocide-related trauma can transmit through generations so they try to provide a balanced perspective when educating their three children about their heritage.

Talking about the genocide and understanding the other person’s perspective is a necessary step to healing, and for the trauma of genocide to taper off for future generations. While more study is needed, he hopes that his book can provide some information and understanding to that end.

The ANCC is providing copies of the book to those who are interested. It will also soon be available at Octopus Books, and Ottawa Public Library will add it to its catalogue shortly.

The 6th session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held at UNESCO headquarters from May 30 to June 1.

Elections to the Intergovernmental Committee for the term of 2016-2020 were held within the framework of the session.

Armenia was unanimously elected member of the Committee from the second regional group (Eastern Europe) for a four-year term.

Countries elected from other regional groups include Cyprus, Austria, Guatemala, Columbia, Cuba, Philippines, Zambia, Senegal, Mauritius, Palestine and Lebanon.

The core functions of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage are to promote the objectives of the Convention, provide guidance on best practices and make recommendations on measures for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage.

The Committee will further examine requests submitted by States Parties for the inscription of intangible heritage on the Lists as well as proposals for programmes and projects. The Committee is also in charge of granting international assistance.

The Members of the Intergovernmental Committee are elected by the States Parties meeting in General Assembly according to the principles of equitable geographical representation and rotation.

States Members to the Committee are elected for a term of four years, and every two years, the General Assembly shall renew half of them. A State Member of the Committee may not be elected for two consecutive terms.

The Istanbul-based Aras publishing house has released The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in Western Armenian and Hamshen Armenian, reports, quoting CNN Turk.

According to the source, the novella was translated into Western Armenian by Luiz Bakar, a long-time Spokesperson for the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey.

The text has been translated into Hamshen Armenian by Mahir Özkan, editor at the “Gor” magazine.

The Hamshen Armenian translation has been published in Latin script.

The books released on May 18 will be available to readers in June.

On 17 May Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited one of the Defense Army’s training grounds, met with the personnel of a battalion composed of members of the Artsakh Union of Freedom Fighters, got acquainted with their daily life and course of service.

The Head of the State welcomed this initiative, signifying the freedom fighters’ participation in defending the Motherland.

Defense minister Levon Mnatsakanyan, head of the Artsakh Union of Freedom Fighters Samvel Karapetyan, chairperson of the NKR NA standing commission on defense, security and legalism issues Zhanna Galstyan and other officials accompanied the President.

The Turkish minister for European Union affairs has told the he is losing hope of getting a deal on visa-free travel for Turks within Europe.

Volkan Bozkir said changing anti-terror laws in Turkey would be impossible.

The EU insists that Turkey needs to narrow its definition of terrorism – as well as meet four other key criteria – to qualify for visa-free travel.

It is part of a larger agreement between the two sides aimed at easing Europe’s migration crisis.

On Wednesday, Mr Bozkir told the BBC that his hopes of getting visa-free travel for Turkish nationals were “getting less and less”.

He admitted that the negotiations had reached a crucial phase, stressing that Turkey had already done enough.

His comments came after a day of meetings with senior members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The has launched the of its official website.

The website is now available in four languages: Armenian, Russian, English and Azerbaijani.

The draft law on recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic co-authored by Zaruhi Postanjyan and Hrant Bagratyan is on the agenda of the forthcoming government sitting.

According to the Government opinion on the draft law, “the adoption of the bill submitted to RA Government depends on the results of discussions between Armenia and Artsakh, with consideration of the future developments and external factors.”

During the parliamentary discussions on the bill Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan will come forth with a supplementary report.

Although rare ceasefire violations by the Azerbaijani side were reported last night, the concentration of troops and active movement is observed at the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh forces, the NKR Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army follow the steps of the Azeri forces and are ready to take relevant measures if necessary.

No violations of the ceasefire agreement are reported at this point. The situation is under vigilant control of the NKR Defense Army.

George Clooney has arrived in Armenia. In the evening of April 24, Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, Aurora Prize Selection Committee Co-Chair, George Clooney, will present the $100,000 grant to the inaugural Aurora Prize Laureate.

The Laureate will then invite his or her nominated organization(s) to the stage to receive the $1 million award.

On behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and in gratitude to their saviors, the Aurora Prize celebrates the strength of the human spirit that compels action is the face of adversity.

The Aurora Prize will be awarded annually on April 24 of each year in Yerevan, Armenia.