Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIA TO PERFORM THIRD AT JUNIOR EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2013

22:47 25.11.20130Armenia, Junior Eurovision

Armenia will perfom third at Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013. This
evening the running order for the 2013 Junior Eurovision Song Contest
was decided at the Opening Party, according to the official webpage
of the contest.

First of all, two ‘wildcards’ were selected, and these countries
were able to choose their running order position. The wildcards were
randomly drawn as Georgia and FYR Macedonia. After they selected their
positions, Ukraine were asked to draw theirs randomly, followed by
the remaining countries.

The result of the draw, and running order, is:

01 Sweden 02 Azerbaijan 03 Armenia 04 San Marino 05 FYR Macedonia 06
Ukraine 07 Belarus 08 Moldova 09 Georgia 10 The Netherlands 11 Malta
12 Russia

Monica Avanesyan will represent Armenia at Junior Eurovision Song
Contest 2013, which will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine, on November 30.

Armenia has won the contest once, back in 2010 when Vladimir
Arzumanyan’s Mama took the trophy home from Minsk, Belarus. The
country hosted the contest in 2011 in Yerevan.

THOMASSIAN, CHADERJIAN TO DISCUSS ADVANCING THE CAUSE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AT ANCA GRASSROOTS

Monday, November 25th, 2013

>From left: Aris Hovasapian, Paul Chaderjian and Vache Thomassian

GLENDALE-The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region
announced that Paul Chaderjian and Vache Thomassian will serve on the
iZartonk workshop at the ANCA Grassroots Conference, next weekend. The
panel will discuss the importance of social media outlets and activism
through the use of today’s multi-platform contemporary media in order
to advance the Armenian Cause.

The panel will be moderated by Aris Hovasapian, a member of the
ANCA Grassroots Committee, and will be dedicated to the memory of
long-time activists and agents of change, Allen Yekikian and Sose
Thomassian-Yekikian.

“We are excited to have Paul and Vache headline the iZartonk panel
this year and are eager to hear their thoughts on how we can promote
change and reach out to a large interconnected worldwide community
through various social media outlets. This discussion will include
information attendees can take back with them and utilize for causes
they care deeply about,” said Ara Khachatourian, Chair of the ANCA
Grassroots Committee.

Paul Chaderjian is a broadcast journalist with Civilnet in Armenia. He
has worked at ABC News in New York, at the ABC station in Hawaii,
at NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliates in Fresno and at Armenia TV in Yerevan.

He also contributes regularly to the Asbarez Newspaper and Horizon
Armenian TV.

Vache Thomassian has been active on Armenian issues in the Diaspora
for many years, holding leadership positions in several organizations.

He is the Chairperson of Sose & Allen’s Legacy Foundation, a non-profit
dedicated to celebrating the lives and continuing the works of his
sister Sose and brother-in-law Allen Yekikian.

Thomassian is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International
Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and
Public Affairs (SIPA). His area of concentration is Economic and
Political Development with a specialization in International Conflict
Resolution. Additionally, Thomassian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Legal Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and a
Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

Aris Hovasapian is an alumnus of the Armenian Youth Federation
Crescenta Valley Zartonk Chapter and has served on the boards of the
Crescenta Valley and Glendale ANCA Chapters. He was on the organizing
committee for the first ANCA Western Region Grassroots Conference in
2011; he was the moderator for a panel called iConnect: Social Media
and Messaging workshop. He is a graduate of UCLA and currently works
as the Energy Program Manager at Los Angeles Unified School District.

The successful ANCA Grassroots Conference will return on Thanksgiving
Weekend, this time in the heart of Hollywood at Loews Hotel. The event
brings together academicians, artists, historians, legal experts and
political officials who will make presentations about varied topics
regarding the myriad aspects of the pursuit of Hye Tad.

The conference is open to the community, but requires registration.

Register now by visiting itsmyseat.com /ANCAWR or by calling
818.500.1918. To obtain updates on the conference, like the ANCA
Western Region Facebook page at Facebook.com/ANCAWesternRegion or
visit ancawr.org.

The ANCA Grassroots Conference will bookend the annual ANCA Gala
Banquet, which will take place on Saturday, November 30 at the Roy
Dolby Ballroom and will feature a special menu created for the banquet
by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck.

This year’s honorees include, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Primate
of Artsakh Archbishop Barkev Martirosyan, Legendary Coach Jerry
Tarkanian, Lifelong Philanthropist Manas Boujikian, Assemblymember
Katcho Achadjian, and Activist and Filmmaker Ara Soudjian.

The Armenian National Committee of America- Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

COMPULSORY PENSION ACCUMULATION: BITTER EXPERIENCE AND NO PROSPECTS

17:09 ~U 25.11.13

It is common knowledge that 50% of Armenia’s economy is in the shadow,
Chairman of the Consumer Association of Armenia Armen Poghosyan
told journalists on Monday as he spoke of the compulsory pension
accumulation system.

The “revolution” in Armenia’s pension system was launched as far back
as 2008.

“We should speak of the correlation between voluntary pension
accumulation and compulsory pension accumulation. Why no information
on the voluntary system, on the accumulated funds and prospects is
available for us to know if it is the right time for switching over
to the compulsory system?”

The question is whether the accumulated funds will serve the intended
purpose in 30 years, Mr Poghosyan said.

“We have bitter experience – our parents’ money has been lost as well.

We know now that the ex-head of the pension fund and his assistants
are in jail. So who are we trusting?”

“The bank exists as long as the government does. We must know who
guarantees. The current government may not exist tomorrow. We have
seen it many a time!” Mr Poghosyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.a

“YOU HAVE AN ATOMIC POWER STATION BUT SCARCER NATURAL RESOURCES THAN YOU NEIGHBORS”

Mаry Mamyan

16:45, November 25, 2013

Today, the European Union is implementing a number of projects designed
to raise the level of energy saving. How do you view the energy issue,
especially here in Armenia?

The situation in the three countries in the Southern Caucasus differs.

Georgia can export electricity and Azerbaijan, as we all know,
is rich in gas and oil. Baku is developing its natural resources
for transfer from the Caspian Sea to Europe. Armenia has the least
developed electricity resources. You have an atomic power station, but
you don’t have comparable natural resources as your neighbors. Thus,
Armenia must become more energy efficient.

I believe that there is great potential for this in all three
countries, so I don’t place much difference between them in this
respect. All three, starting from their local government bodies,
can begin to start developing energy savings projects, and we are
doing this within the scope of the EU.

Specifically what must Armenia do in terms of energy savings?

I must confess that I haven’t looked at the situation in Armenia. But,
I’d say that what has proved successful for other countries can also
work here. In most countries, the first thing is that the authorities
are focused on what we call the security of supply. In other words,
how do we create a sufficient supply of energy, and how so we supply
it to our citizens and businesses?

Here, there is another issue. Oftentimes, you must make investments
in order to ensure energy savings. The results only appear three or
four years down the line. Thus, the investments must be made now for
results later on.

But we have a good example in Moldova, even though it isn’t a South
Caucasus country. In Kishinev, they improved public buses. Now they
have a fleet of low energy consuming vehicles financed with assistance
by the ERBD. To cut down on energy consumption, attention must be
paid to public transportation, street lights, etc.

Does Armenia have the potential to develop the usage of its water
resources as an energy savings tool?

Of course. Using water resources to create energy is a traditional
method. This is true especially for the countries that are mainly
agricultural, like Armenia. Thus, I believe that the periodic rise
in the index of water resource power can also assist savings over
the long run. I see that potential.

The only problem with water is that the resources are often shared
amongst neighbors. This is true for certain neighbors of yours. Rivers
flow across the borders of several countries. You must come to an
agreement with your neighbors on the issue of water usage. Otherwise,
it can lead to conflict. The main issue is to first conduct serious
research to see which water usage method is the most effective.

(Hetq met with Michael A. Köhler at the “Energy Cities”- (European
Association of local authorities in energy transition) forum held in
Istanbul on November 14-15.)

AZERBAIJAN ACQUIRES MILITARY EQUIPMENT, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN IN ARMENIAN ARSENAL: KARABAKH’S DEFENSE MINISTER

10:08, 25 November, 2013

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The ceasefire regime violation
by Azerbaijan has become an annoying habit. The front units of the
Defense Army of the Artsakh Republic follow and control the situation
in the line of contact. In 2012 and 2013 the Azerbaijani Army had to
suffer 5 deaths or injured for each loss of the Armed Forces of Nagorno
Karabakh. In an interview with “Armenpress” News Agency the Minister of
Defense of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the commander of the Defense
Army Movses Hakobyan introduces the achievements, current issues,
and difficulties of the Defense Army of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

– Mr. Hakobyan, summing up the current year, how would You describe
2013 for the Defense Army of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and a
soldier standing on the border?

– 2013 was a quite efficient year for the Armed Forces of Artsakh both
from the viewpoint of raising of the staff’s military and moral and
psychological readiness and from the viewpoint of the strengthening
of the material and technical base. At the course of the current year
we held certain measures and trainings aimed at raising the tactical
and professional readiness of the Army’s administration system,
command posts, commanders of all levels and the staffs and units
under their control. Also we organized tactical drills for military
shooting. The divisions were equipped with the new batch of modern
armory and technologies. Also, effective activities have been carried
out for strengthening the natural borderlines, rear maintenance of the
troops, as well as we focused on the improvement of social conditions
of the soldiers and their families, and so on.

Notwithstanding, the main achievement of the current year was that
the Armed Forces of Artsakh realize their main mission with credit, i.

e. safeguarding peaceful existence of their own people.

– The vast majority of the society attentively and sympathetically
follows the incidents, which take place in the Army, and particularly
the information on the deaths of the conscripts. Can You introduce
a statistics on the number of soldiers, who died on the border,
and how many soldiers died in time of peace?

– The loss of each soldier deeply grieves the commend staff of the
Defense Army, as they are not just common soldiers for us, but sons,
brothers, and Armenians, who could have a family, strong future,
and contribute to the development of our motherland, if they survived.

But, the neither war, nor peace situation of the region on one hand,
and the peculiarities of the military service on another hand,
willingly or unwillingly, imply unexpected feelings, which cause
undesirable accidents, unfortunately including deaths. It should be
noted that despite the aforesaid reasons, the command staff of the
Defense Army constantly makes efforts to avoid extraordinary situations
as much as possible and reduce the losses to the minimum. I would like
to mention that in 2012 we have recorded the lowest amount of losses in
comparison with the previous years and the losses of the Defense Army
in the current year were reduced by 40 percent in comparison with the
previous year. Notwithstanding, this reduction is not a criterion for
us. It will be a criterion for us, when the deaths in the Army will
be totally excluded. This is a very complicated, but solvable issue.

– Azerbaijan constantly keeps violating the ceasefire regime and
sometimes initiates subversive acts. What is the reaction of the
Defense Army to the rival’s adventurism?

– I have mentioned for a number of times that this purposeful behavior
of the Azerbaijani side is aimed at maintaining intensity in the
region. As to the subversive acts, I should state that they have
been apparently reduced in comparison with the previous years, which
is conditioned by the high level of combat readiness and moral and
psychological preparedness of our troops on the line of contact. The
ceasefire regime violations have just become an annoying habit for
the rival. Our front units follow and control the situation on the
line of contact and respond to them only when it is highly necessary.

– During one of Your interviews You said that the majority of the
Armenian soldiers, killed on the border by the rival, get the injuries
on the head. Can we consider it a result of carelessness, negligence,
and unawareness?

– The military and political situation in the region has taught us,
the militaries, much, including the carrying military duty on the line
of contact with the rival. In fact I made such a statement in 2011,
when we had 10 victims and 18 injured from the rival’s snipers’ shots.

Taking into account the situation, we carried out some concrete steps,
in the result of which to provide for the safe service of the staff
in the military positions our observation system was reequipped along
the entire defense line, the management of the frontline was improved,
quite serious amendments were made in the improvement of the social
and living conditions of the military duty personnel and what is
very important, upon my order some preventive measures were taken to
eliminate the rival’s sense of impunity. All this had a turning impact
on the situation in the entire length of the contact line. I do not
want to get deepen in the figures. I would only say that in accordance
with my promise in 2012 and 2013 the Azerbaijani army gave 5 victims
or injured for each of our loss. Nevertheless, notwithstanding this
statistics, in comparison with the Azerbaijani army, we do not accept
the loss of even one Armenian soldier. We aim at excluding the fatal
cases in the army during military duty or in any other situation.

– Azerbaijan increases its military budget each year and the
Azerbaijani Army is being equipped with new military technologies.

Does it violate the balance of powers and can the Armenian side face
the rival during the war?

– The increase of the military budget volume does not necessarily
imply violation of the balance, especially taking into consideration
the fact that the considered expenditures are aimed at acquiring the
military equipment, which equivalent has already been in our arsenal.

I would also like to mention that unlike Azerbaijan, whose propaganda
always tries to pass the desirable for reality, we calmly and
noiselessly continue enriching and accomplishing what we really have
in possession. This is the most efficient way to become stronger,
which guides us not to war, but to peace.

(THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan

AUTHOR DERANIAN DISCUSSES EVOLUTION OF ORPHAN RUG STORY

COMMUNITY, HISTORY, NEWS | NOVEMBER 24, 2013 8:52 PM

By Gabriella Gage

Mirror-Spectator Staff

WORCESTER – The Armenian Cultural Foundation’s recent publication,
President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug, sheds light on
a little-known piece of American history. It also currently stands
at the center of a political debate surrounding the White House’s
refusal to release the rug featured in the book for an exhibit and
book launch at the Smithsonian. However, for the book’s author,
Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian, the work represents another chapter in
a son’s lifelong journey to honor the memory of his mother and her
battle to survive the Armenian Genocide.

At age 91, Deranian has seen much of the world and has accomplished
much, too. He is a renowned dentist and has served on the faculty of
Tufts University School of Dentistry. Deranian has written multiple
books on Armenian subjects, including Worcester Is America, the Story
of Worcester’s Armenians and Miracle Man on the Western Front: Dr.

Varaztad H. Kazanjian, Pioneer Plastic Surgeon.

In 1929, his mother, Varter Bogigian Deranian, 44, died while visiting
relatives in Providence. “I was 6-years-old when she died. I have
spent the rest of my life in an attempt to accurately trace her story,”
he said.

The younger Deranian was born in 1922 and grew up in Worcester. He
attended Clark University in 1941, a few weeks before Pearl Harbor
and served in the US Navy. He recalled taking an interest in Armenian
history early on. “I wrote my first term paper on the Armenians. I
didn’t get a good grade on it,” he chuckled, “but it tempted my
imagination from there.”

Unimaginable Loss

Varter Bogigian Deranian was born in 1885 in the village of Husenik.

Her father, Bedros Bogigian, had worked for five years in the mills of
Worcester, the city Deranian would one day call home. Her uncle, Hagop
Bogigian, a subject of Deranian’s continued research, emigrated to the
US, becoming a successful businessman and later benefactor of women’s
education, thus further helping establish ties with Massachusetts.

Martin Deranian has painstakingly rewoven the memories of his mother’s
life from family stories, historical research and physical artifacts,
such as his mother’s simple gold wedding band engraved with the date
of her marriage as a young woman to Mugrditch Nazarian, representing
her life prior to the Genocide.

When she began her married life as Varter Nazarian, she had the promise
of a young family and a bright future. However, beginning in 1915,
all that changed when Mugrditch Nazarian was dragged from his home
one day, never to be seen by his young wife again. From there, the
all-too-familiar story of Varter Nazarian’s Genocide survival began
as she faced the deportation march with her children.

Joyce Van Dyke’s acclaimed play, “Deported: A Dream Play,” documents
the journey of Varter Nazarian and her close friend, Elmas Boyajian,
Van Dyke’s grandmother. During the arduous march, the two friends
faced unimaginable pain, losing a total of nine children.

Varter Nazarian reached Urfa, having lost six children. While there,
Swiss missionary Jakob Kunzler, one of the central figures in the
Armenian Orphan Rug, known as the “Father of Armenian Orphans,”
assisted her to reach Aleppo and to safety. Along with his wife,
Kunzler helped to shelter more than 1,400 orphan girls at the Ghazir
orphanage administered by Near East Relief. In response to desperate
need in 1915, Near East Relief, a newly established US humanitarian
organization, dedicated its resources to saving more than 1 million
refugees, raising funds and organizing a group of American medical
personnel, civil servants and various other volunteers to aid those
in need. The book notes the importance of this connection: “It is
this link with Kunzler, never forgotten, that drove [Martin Deranian]
to write about this story of the Near East Relief, the Ghazir Armenian
orphan weavers and President Coolidge.”

“That story has captured my interest and I’ve devoted myself to
whatever I can to tell that story,” Deranian said.

Orphan Rug

Martin Deranian first heard the story of the Armenian Orphan Rug from
Alice Jernazian Haig, the daughter of Rev. Ephraim and Marie Jernazian,
who had forged a strong bond with his mother during the Genocide.

Alice Haig began her journey to find the rug in 1973. She located it
at the home of Calvin Coolidge’s son, John Coolidge, in Connecticut.

She urged Deranian to continue the research she had begun and he,
indeed, spent decades doing just that.

“The relief effort in the wake of the Genocide intrigued me and
captivated my spirit. Coolidge has often been viewed as an austere
figure, and yet, I learned he was actually quite a sentimental,
warm man,” explained Deranian.

Coolidge personally received some of the weavers at the White House
and hosted them, Deranian added.

During the Armenian Rugs Symposium of 1982 in New York, Deranian first
shared the story with the public when he delivered a paper titled
“Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug.” That paper was later
printed in the Congressional Record during the 1984 proceedings of the
US Senate. Later that same year, the rug was temporarily unearthed
from storage for a viewing at the White House with Sen. Carl Levin,
former US Ambassador to the United Nations Set C. Momjian and Deranian
himself. Deranian recalled his own experience touching the rug

“It was like touching heritage,” Deranian recalled.

The orphans wove more than 3,000 rugs. Two of the orphans set up
their own business in Philadelphia years later. After much searching,
Deranian purchased one of these rugs as his own piece of this little
known chapter of history.

In 1995, the White House hosted another viewing of the rug, this time
for Vartoohi (Hovsepian) Gulezian, one of the orphan weavers and one
of the two girls brought to America.

Deranian continued his work and with the help of the Armenian Cultural
Foundation and guidance of its curator, Ara Ghazarians, the book
became a reality. “They helped me refine and bring it to fruition,”
said Deranian. “They played such an important role.”

The release of the Armenian Orphan Rug prompted several cultural
events, the culmination of which was scheduled for December 16,
an event at the Smithsonian which they hoped would include the rug
itself. In early September, the Smithsonian announced that the White
House had declined to lend the rug out, thus prompting the cancellation
of the event. Many have voiced their disappointment with decision to
withhold the rug and by default, continue the denial of the Armenian
Genocide.

Along with US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern, several congressmen
reached out to the White House asking for a reversal of its position.

The common theory among various segments of the Armenian community,
and alluded to in a recent Washington Post article and NPR report,
is that the White House’s denial represents a cautious approach in
order not to offend ally Turkey. The rug’s creation clearly references
the provenance of the weavers and their status as orphans due to to
the Genocide, a reference the Obama administration has steered clear
of since his election.

For Deranian, this development has been met with disappointment. “I
think it is a very unfortunate stance. I see this as a story of
America’s compassion. This [stance] hides that story of America’s
heroic Near East Relief efforts,” said Deranian.

It’s not just about remembering tragedy, but for Deranian, the story of
the rug represents hope. “Approaching the centennial [of the Genocide],
I wanted to show this nation’s goodwill and the altruistic response
of America – an extreme humanitarian act. Many people died serving
in attempts to save these children.”

– See more at:

ATP PARTNERS WITH BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL RESIDENTS TO CREATE NEW GREEN SPACES ALL OVER ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH

This fall, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) marks 40 seasons of planting in
communities across the country. ATP’s Community Tree Planting (CTP)
initiative has surpassed 1.2 million trees planted in every corner of
Armenia and Artsakh. The CTP team planted 27,427 fruit and decorative
trees this fall out of a total of 56,184 for the year. Some of the tree
types included apricot, pear, apple, maple, poplar, and Russian olive.

More and more organizations and companies in Armenia are beginning
to practice corporate social responsibility, with a special focus on
environmental issues. This season, ATP continued its partnership of
several years with Synopsys to plant 1,160 evergreens on the campus
of Yerevan State University. Dozens of Synopsys employees volunteered
their day to help green the area. Employees from another company,
AtTask, planted 50 trees in the Avan community of Yerevan.

In November, volunteers from the Armenian Volunteer Corps joined ATP
in the village of Nor Kharberd, just outside of Yerevan, to plant 100
poplars, 70 evergreens, and 80 fruit trees. The trees were donated to
the Nor Kharberd Boarding school for disabled children, where ATP has
been planting since 1995. The school is one of the first ATP planting
sites, and is home to 286 children, all of whom have some form of
disability. To date, over 1,600 trees have been planted at the school.

After years of concerted efforts by philanthropists and other prominent
advocates led by Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), the brand-new Octet
Music School opened in Gyumri on September 20. Until the opening of
the school, music students had been attending classes in the metal
trailers that were meant to be temporary shelters after the Spitak
earthquake of 1988. ATP provided 312 evergreens and 23 decorative
trees for the schoolyard, which were planted during the opening by
guests including British Ambassador Jonathan Aves, representatives
from FAR, and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

The President was joined by Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan and Do
Something founder Jon Dee, who have had a special connection with this
project and with Armenia dating back to the tragic earthquake 25 years
ago. Approaching the building, Gillan commented that he had tears in
his eyes upon seeing the school. “I already hear the music which will
come from the school. We managed to revive the music,” said Gillan.

ATP works in collaboration with many local and international
development organizations. Near Gyumri, in the village of Maralik,
there was no public green space until Counterpart International
opened the first park in the area on November 1. ATP provided 665
trees to help green the park. In Armavir, ATP partnered with Children
of Armenia Fund (COAF) to plant decorative trees and shrubs at four
school gardens. In the villages of Shenik, Karagert, Argina, and
Lernagog, 880 Syrian roses, ash trees, and poplars were planted this
season. “These communities were chosen because COAF has rebuilt schools
in each village, and ATP continues to support their efforts to help the
villages prosper,” explained CTP program manager Arthur Harutyunyan.

Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been a leading partner,
with a three year project initiated in 2012. “Thanks to a major
grant from Norway, the CTP program continued planting fruit trees and
shrubs in villages across Armenia,” Harutyunyan stated. In Syunik, the
villages of Halidzor, Vaghatur, and Khdzoresq received 1,067 trees; in
Aragotsn, Arayi recieved 860; in Lori, Ghurshalu and Karadzor received
940; and in Armavir, Lernamerdz and Talvorik received 450 trees.

“Ninety percent of the trees funded by this grant were fruit trees,
which will help sustain the people in these communities,” continued
Harutyunyan.

This fall, ATP began a new initiative to help Syrian-Armenian refugee
families in Artsakh.

Thousands of Armenians from Syria have fled to Armenia over the past
two years as a result of the ongoing conflict. The majority of these
refugees settled in Yerevan, or near the city, but there are several
families who have chosen to move to Artsakh. Two families in Berdzor
and 21 in Kovsakan, a village in the very south, will receive 300
pear, plum, apple, sweet cherry, apricot, and quince trees to help
them start over in Karabagh.

ATP’s mission is to develop Armenia through community-based tree
planting and environmental education. ATP seeks to reverse the loss
of Armenia’s forest cover and to advocate for the sustainable use of
our natural resources. ATP’s three major programs are tree planting,
environmental education, and sustainable development initiatives. For
more information, please visit the website

ATP’s CTP program planted more than 27,000 fruit and decorative
trees this fall, including 120 trees with students at Yerevan’s
Ohanyan School

ATP has been providing fruit and decorative trees to Nor Kharberd
boarding school for many years; the latest planting was in November
with diasporans from Armenian Volunteer Corps

16:12 25/11/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

LE PROCESSUS DE PAIX : LES KURDES EXIGENT UNE TROISIEME PARTIE

Publie le : 25-11-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose cet article publie sur le site Actukurde le 21 novembre 2013.

Actukurde

2013-11-21 12:41:25

La politique actuelle du gouvernement Recep Tayyip Erdogan ne permet
pas de relancer le processus de paix, bloque depuis le mois d’octobre.

Si le gouvernement turc persiste sur cette ligne, la confrontation est
inevitable, d’une manière ou d’une autre. Le Parti des Travailleurs du
Kurdistan (PKK) a deja annoncee l’arret du retrait de ses combattants,
accusant le gouvernement de ne pas agir selon l’esprit du processus
de paix, lancee en mars par le leader kurde Abdullah Ocalan depuis
sa prison d’Imrali.

Pourquoi on en est arrive la et qu’arrivera-t-il après? Etant une force
anti-democratique dans sa nature, le gouvernement Erdogan cherche
toujours a faire accepter aux Kurdes un deuxième Traite de Lausanne
sur la table des negociations, toute en evitant d’etablissement d’une
veritable democratie participative en Turquie pour tous les citoyens.

On observe ce caractère anti-democratique dans chaque action du
gouvernement. Il est confronte a l’interieur du pays a une contestation
sociale grandissante, tandis que sa politique formulee comme ” zero
problème avec les voisins ” a ete un fiasco total. Le gouvernement
est tombe dans une impasse surtout en Syrie. Face aux echecs et la
politique de repression du gouvernement, la force croissante du PKK
dans toutes les parties du Kurdistan (Irak, Iran, Syrie et Turquie)
a pousse Erdogan a changer sa politique et sa langue vis-a-vis
des Kurdes.

Sa politique negationniste, repressive et anti-Kurde n’est plus
tenable. Il a ete vaincu dans sa guerre contre les Kurdes via les
jihadistes d’Al-Qaida en Syrie. Jusqu’ici, ses bonnes relations avec
le Kurdistan irakien n’ont pas non plus reussi a isoler les Kurdes
syriens et le PKK.

Lors de l’hiver 2011-2012, le gouvernement AKP a parie sur la defaite
militaire du PKK, comptant sur un scenario sri lankais. Mais il s’est
trompe dans son calcul. L’ete 2012 est devenu un cauchemar pour le
gouvernement quand les combattants kurdes ont frappe sur tous les
fronts et ont pris le contrôle d’une large zone.

GAGNER DU TEMPS JUSQU’AUX ELECTIONS

Ce sont les faiblesses du gouvernement Erdogan et la forte volonte
du peuple kurde qui sont les elements determinants pour la poursuite
du processus de paix. Mais ce que Erdogan entend de ce processus,
c’est de gagner du temps jusqu’aux elections municipales de 2014.

Les declarations d’Erdogan qui fait semblant de vouloir trouver une
solution democratique et durable a la question kurde, sans toutefois
reconnaitre les revendications legitimes du peuple kurde, et son
alliance avec le parti dominant du Kurdistan irakien, le PKD de
Masssoud Barzani, pour marginaliser le PKK montrent ainsi les vraies
intentions de l’Etat turc.

Son paquet des reformes ” democratiques ” n’a satisfait personne,
ni les Kurdes, ni les Alevis. L’education en langue maternelle a
ete limitee dans les ecoles privees qui sont chers. En bref, aucune
revendication kurde n’a ete satisfaite.

LES REVENDICATIONS KURDES

Trois principales demandes sont formulees par la partie kurde, soit
par le BDP et le KCK, le système politique du PKK. Il s’agit de la
reconnaissance de l’identite kurde dans la nouvelle constitution,
l’education en langue maternelle dans les ecoles publiques, et une
autonomie democratique, soit le droit a une autogestion dans la
region kurde.

Par ailleurs, les Kurdes exigent notamment le demantèlement du système
du gardien de village, utilise par l’armee turque dans cette sale
guerre de 30 ans. Mais aussi la modification du système electoral
de 10 % et la liberation des prisonniers politiques dont des elus,
maires, journalistes, avocats, syndicalistes et etudiants.

Fin octobre, cette approche du gouvernement a amener le responsable du
PKK, Cemil Bakik, a dire : ” Le processus de dialogue est termine. Il
n’y a plus rien a parler. Continuer ce dialogue ne serait que de
bavarder. Nous devions passer a la phase des pourparlers le 1er juin.

Le processus est desormais termine par l’AKP. ”

L’EXPERIENCE SUD-AFRICAINE

Un processus de paix ne peut pas etre unilateral. Pour avancer dans
la voie de la resolution politique et pacifique, le chef du PKK
Abdullah Ocalan exige maintenant de passer a une autre phase dans les
negociations, soit des pourparlers profonds avec des resultats. Pour
les kurdes, la première phase est terminee le 15 octobre. Ocalan
rappelle notamment l’experience Sud-africaine qui a conduit a
liberation de Nelson Mandela. La phase de ” pourparlers profonds ”
peut etre interpretee comme une liberte partielle tout comme Mandela
qui a ete mis en residence surveillee en decembre 1988. Maintenant la
balle est dans le camp d’Erdogan et l’Etat turc. Il faut donc sortir
du cadre illegale et renforcer ces negociations sur une base legale.

Si le gouvernement rompe les negociations, ce sera une erreur
historique pour la Turquie. Car les kurdes cherchent toujours une
solution a l’interieur de la frontière de la Turquie, mais dans un pays
democratique avec une autonomie pour preserver l’identite et la culture
kurde. Toutefois, il est clair que le gouvernement ne voit aucun pour
le moment a rompre avec ce processus qu’il considère comme son sauveur.

UNE TROSIEME PARTIE EST EXIGEE

Parallèlement, l’appel des autorites turques pour deposer les armes
n’a aucun sens dans les conditions actuelles, car le terrain n’a
pas ete prepare avec des lois, pour officialiser le processus de
paix. Ce qu’on doit comprendre du mot ” officialiser “, c’est un vote
au parlement et un accord ecrit.

Le PKK a recemment annonce trois conditions pour passer aux
pourparlers. Car, pour le mouvement populaire kurde, les conditions
actuelles des negociations ne sont pas egales pour les deux parties.

Le gouvernement n’accepte ni la supervision d’une troisième partie,
ni l’amelioration des conditions de detention d’Ocalan. En bref,
le PKK exige un allègement des conditions de detention d’Abdullah
Ocalan, des lois pour garantir les droits et des pourparlers sous
supervision d’une troisième partie.

” Les journalistes, academiciens et tous ceux qui veulent jouer un
rôle doivent egalement pouvoir rencontrer Ocalan. Nous voulons la
participation d’une troisième partie. M. Ocalan considère que la
supervision d’un pays de l’Occident peut relancer le processus ” a
declare Gultan Kisanak, co-presidente du principal parti kurde BDP,
lors d’une conference de presse en Allemagne, le 15 novembre.

IL FAUT ARRETER DE DEMANDER A L’AKP DES DROITS

Que se passera-il maintenant puisque le gouvernement ne veut pas
satisfaire les demandes kurdes tout en evitant d’une confrontation
armee dans la conjoncture actuelle defavorable pour le regime turc ?

M. Ocalan a declare lors d’une rencontre avec deux deputes BDP, ” il
faut arreter de demander des choses a l’AKP comme des mendiants. Le
BDP a un grand soutien du peuple, il y a une centaine de mairie et
d’importants moyens. Donc, il doit realiser sa revendication avec
ses propres moyens, sans frapper la porte de l’AKP. ”

Ce qui veut dire que les Kurdes n’ont pas besoin de l’autorisation
des autorites turques pour obtenir leurs droits legitimes. C’est
l’AKP qui doit venir frapper la porte du BDP.

UNE AUTONOMIE DE FACTO

Les Kurdes pourraient ainsi mettre en ~uvre leur projet d’autonomie
democratique avec des moyens legaux, evitant une confrontation
directe avec l’Etat turque. De cette approche, il incombe notamment
aux maires kurdes du BDP de realiser ce projet en creant une economie
alternative, privilegiant notamment les cooperatives, avec d’autres
piliers importants de l’autonomie democratique, comme la justice,
la securite, soit auto-defense, culturel, sociale etc.

Le gouvernement et l’Etat turc ont tort de croire que les kurdes
resteront sans reactions et ouvreront leurs mains pour se supplier,
pour se mendier afin d’obtenir quelques droits proposes goutte
a goutte. Les Kurdes croient maintenant en leur force qui est le
veritable moteur du processus de paix et ont bien l’intention de creer
de facto leur autonomie democratique, si le gouvernement n’annonce
pas des mesures concrètes.

Le KCK/PKK et le parti legal kurde BDP sont aujourd’hui plus forts que
jamais dans tous les sens, surtout après la revolution kurde en Syrie.

Leur alliance avec la gauche turque s’inscrit egalement dans le cadre
de la strategie du mouvement kurde qui propose une confederation
democratique du Moyen-Orient. C’est le cas avec le parti de la
democratie des peuples (HDP), cree recemment, avec la participation
des ecologistes, feministes et homosexuelles. Une alliance fraternelle
et democratique entre les peuples est une approche strategique chez
les Kurdes.

En resume le processus dans son etat actuel est termine. Pour passer a
une nouvelle phase le gouvernement doit adopter une approche serieuse,
en mettant fin a la demagogie, son hypocrisie et sa politique
repressive avec de veritables reformes democratiques.

Par Maxime Azadi

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Actukurde

LA DETRESSE FAIT FUIR LES HOMMES EN RUSSIE

Armenie

M, Le Magazine hebdomadaire du quotidien Le Monde, a publie dans son
numero date du 23 novembre un reportage signe Anaïs Coignac, realise
a Lichk, au Sud-Ouest du lac Sevan, intitule Lichk a perdu ses hommes
(4 pages).

La journaliste independante, accompagnee du photographe Julien Prebel,
brosse un tableau contraste de la situation de ce village de femmes
delaissees par leurs maris, partis gagner leur vie en Russie.

Le constat est sans appel… Fuyant la misère, avec un salaire de 20
000 drams (environ 40 euros) par mois, les hommes sont partis dans
un long exode economique pour faire vivre leurs familles.

Dans les rues de Lichk, on croise des mères, des filles, des soeurs,
mais presque pas d’hommes. 90% d’entre -eux s’exilent huit mois
sure douze en Russie, en quete de travail…. Pour elles, c’est une
vie de galères, rapporte Anaïs Coignac, les citant. Car en effet
elles assument les besognes qui jusqu’alors incombaient aux hommes,
ecrit-elle.

Et, si elles s’interrogent, un tant soit peu sur la fidelite de leurs
epoux, l’aspect economique l’emporte, car l’emigration profite bien sûr
au village qui a vu naître un nouveau quartier, baptise ” Poutinegrad
“.

Voir la version numerisee (payante) ICI

lundi 25 novembre 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

L’ARMENIE RENFORCE SA PARTICIPATION A L’OTAN

Cooperation

Les Etats-Unis ont comble d’eloges l’Armenie vendredi dernier pour
son choix d’etendre sa participation aux operations de maintien de la
paix multinationales dans le cadre de la croissance de la cooperation
militaire avec l’OTAN.

Le gouvernement armenien a insiste, quant a lui, sur le fait que
ses liens de securite avec l’OTAN, et les Etats-Unis en particulier,
ne seront pas affectes par ses plans de rejoindre l’Union douanière.

” Nous ne nous attendons pas a ce que notre cooperation avec les
Etats membres de l’OTAN ou d’autres pays occidentaux soit limitee de
quelque facon que ce soir “, a declare le vice-ministre de la Defense
Davit Tonoyan. Il a ajoute que l’Armenie continuera de solliciter
l’assistance de l’OTAN dans la reforme de ses forces armees et de
renforcer sa capacite de maintien de la paix.

L’ambassade americaine a Erevan a distingue la dernière composante
de la cooperation Armenie – OTAN dans un communique publie a l’issue
d’une ” Semaine de l’OTAN ” dans l’etat du Caucase du Sud. ” L’Armenie
cherche activement a elargir ses engagements de maintien de la paix,
a la fois avec l’OTAN et l’ONU, et negocie pour soutenir les missions
au Liban et au Mali “, a indique un communique. ” Nous nous felicitons
de la volonte de l’Armenie de participer aux operations de paix dans
le monde et sommes impatients de soutenir les contributions armeniennes
aux operations de paix. ”

L’ambassade a precise que les Etats-Unis continuent a donner une
aide technique et materielle a une brigade de l’armee armenienne
speciale qui a fourni des troupes pour des missions en cours de
l’OTAN en Afghanistan et au Kosovo. Environ 200 soldats armeniens
sont actuellement en service, sous commandement allemand et americain.

Erevan prevoit egalement d’engager l’annee prochaine environ 60
troupes pour le maintien de la paix des Nations Unies au Liban.

L’Armenie n’a pris aucune decision finale sur l’adhesion a une mission
de l’ONU similaire au Mali.

” L’Armenie est sur la bonne voie a l’elaboration d’une brigade de
maintien de la paix qui est interoperable avec ses partenaires et
capable d’etre deployes a l’appui de diverses operations de paix
“, a declare l’ambassade americaine. ” L’Armenie fait de grands
progrès vers le developpement de cette brigade hautement qualifie et
l’ambassade tient a feliciter l’Armenie pour ses excellents progrès. ”

Les liens de l’Armenie avec l’OTAN ont ete mis au point en vertu
d’un ” plan d’action de partenariat individuel ” ou IPAP. Le cadre
de cooperation a ete lance en 2005 et a ete modifie a plusieurs
reprises depuis lors. Tonoyan a indique qu’Erevan s’en tiendra a
l’IPAP en depit de son adhesion prochaine a l’Union douanière et de
l’approfondissement de l’alliance militaire russo-armenienne.

lundi 25 novembre 2013, Claire ©armenews.com