Author: Babajanian Karo

Detroit Free Press, MI
Oct 14 2012

Event part of effort to raise money for Armenians in need in Syria

The Greater Detroit United Committee for Syrian Armenian Relief Fund
is hosting an evening called “Support the Syrian Armenians” on Oct. 26
at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Lillian Arakelian Hall.

The 7:30 p.m. event includes guest speaker Khatchig Mouradian of
Boston who is editor of Armenian Weekly. Mouradian is a doctoral
candidate in genocide studies at Clark University and program
coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at the Center for the
Study of Genocide Conflict Resolution and Human Rights at Rutgers
University. A reception will follow.

The committee is raising funds for Armenians living in Syria. All
donations will be transferred to the Pan Armenian Committee Relief
Fund for Syria — which includes 40 religious, humanitarian and
political organizations — and will be delivered to Armenians in need
in Syria. It also will be used for rebuilding churches, schools and
homes.

For more information, go to the Facebook page for Greater Detroit
United Committee for Syrian Armenian Relief Fund.

[parts omitted]

Tourisme
Vu dans l’hebdomadaire Valeurs actuelles

Dans le numéro du jeudi 11 octobre de l’hebdomadaire Valeurs
Actuelles, on découvre à la page 49 un encart publicitaire proposant
un voyage découverte du sanctuaire funéraire des têtes géantes du
Nemrud Dag situé entre Malatya et Adyaman en Commagène. Un domaine qui
a jadis fait partie de l’Arménie sous Tigrane le Grand.

Le sanctuaire a été édifié au premier siècle avant JC par le roi
Antiochos 1er. Il a été découvert en 1881 par Karl Sester, un
ingénieur allemand, et classé au Patrimoine Mondial de l’Unesco depuis
1987.

dimanche 14 octobre 2012,
Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

Neither First President nor former FM nor Prosperous Armenia Party
leader alone can do anything in presidential elections – former
Karabakh FM

NEWS.AM
October 13, 2012 | 11:51

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s main political opposition forces went along the
path of division and this is ongoing, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s
former FM Arman Melikyan stated during a press conference on Saturday.

In his words, at present, the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) is the
more influential force in the National Assembly and the PAP
representatives wish to portray the party as Armenia’s main opposition
force. The formerly-active political opposition, on the other hand,
has exhausted its potential and has appeared in parliament in a
depressed state. `This is the sole and final phase of their triumph,’
Melikyan said.

`The ruling power’s representative, [namely, President] Serzh Sargsyan
is best positioned in the presidential [election] season. [But] We
need a new quality for the political system,’ he noted, and
distinguished two factors in connection with next year’s elections.
First, the ensuring of fair elections, and, second, the ruling power
should have a worthy opponent that could receive the people’s votes.

`I don’t think the opposition’s [single presidential] candidate will
be able to defeat the authorities,’ Arman Melikyan noted stressing
that the other possibility is that the opposition political forces
accept a neutral person – and by way of a consensus – as presidential
candidate. `This could become a road to finding national unity once
again,’ he said.

In Arman Melikyan’s conviction, neither First President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan nor PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan nor former FM and PAP’s
second person Vartan Oskanian nor even the opposition ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Party will be able to do anything alone plus they do
not have the presidential candidate that will be acceptable for
everyone.

Arman Melikyan noted that he stands ready to be nominated as a
presidential candidate, but only if the political forces decide to
seek a non-party-affiliate and consensus-based candidate, and if this
would be a nomination supported by those citizens who do not want to
tolerate the current situation.

Greeks and Armenians press for answers from Romney and Obama

12:14, 13 October, 2012

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Two of the leading Greek and Armenian
American advocacy organizations, representing nearly five million
citizens from across the United States, today jointly called upon
President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Romney to end
their respective campaigns’ silence on Armenian and Greek issues, by
issuing public statements outlining their views, reports Armenpress
citing ANCA. “As two of the leading Greek and Armenian American
advocacy organizations, we join together today in calling upon
President Obama and Governor Romney to publicly present the specific
principles, priorities, and policies that would guide their
Administration’s actions on issues of special concern to our nation’s
nearly 5 million citizens of Greek and Armenian heritage,” said
American Hellenic Institute President Nick Larigakis and Armenian
National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian. Both
the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) and the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) have, separately, written to both the
Obama-Biden and the Romney-Ryan presidential campaigns, providing them
with candidate questionnaires, and inviting them to share their views
with voters, many living in swing states, that may prove decisive in
what is widely expected to be a close electoral contest. Two recently
launched Facebook pages reflect and reinforce the enduring bonds
between the Armenian and Greek nations.

ARMENIE
L’Arménie va importer autour de 640 tonnes de graines de blé russe

L’Arménie importera environ 640 tonnes de graines de blé de haute
qualité de Russie a annoncé le vice-ministre de l’agriculture
d’Arménie Grisha Bagiyan.

Le programme de développement de la sélection de blé de haute qualité
a été lancé en 2010. En conséquence l’Arménie a importé sept variétés
différentes de graines de blé de Stavropol, qui ont été distribuées
entre les principales fermes à la condition d’un retour et que les
terrains des fermes fassent entre 0,4 et 3 hectares.

« Nous avons déjà importé presque 100 tonnes de graines vers la région
de Shirak et le reste sera livré prochaînement. Le volume des graines
importées a été identifié par la demande annoncée par les
administrations locales au Ministère » a-t-il noté ajoutant que les
régles de distribution pour les fermiers n’ont pas changé.

Grisha Bagiyan a dit que l’année dernière la sélection a été faite de
façon incorrecte en raison des conditions météorologiques, c’est
pourquoi les fermiers éprouvaient quelques problèmes.

« Cependant, la qualité des graines n’est pas en cause ici. La même
situation a été annoncée en Russie, en Ukraine, en Biélorussie, au
Kazakhstan, aux Etats-Unis, au Canada. Ces graines ont déjà été
éprouvées par les fermiers, un rendement moyen par hectare est presque
de 3800 kilos et dans quelques fermes jusqu’à 7000 kilos. L’année
dernière le rendement moyen dans le pays était de 2800 kilos » a-t-il
dit.

Le vice-ministre a aussi dit que les graines ont été importées et
approuvées il y a cinq ans et qu’une mise à l’épreuve dans des
laboratoires a été faite.

« De plus, chaque nouveau groupe de graines importées en Arménie est
évalué dans des laboratoires, c’est pourquoi nous n’avons pas de
doutes sur la qualité » a-t-il ajouté.

Annuellement, l’Arménie emploie de 650 à 720 000 tonnes de grain dont
435 à 450 000 pour des buts alimentaires. Le déficit est comblé par
l’importation qui s’est élevée à 420 000 tonnes annuellement ces
récentes années.

samedi 13 octobre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

La Croix, France
12 oct 2012

Décès du patriarche arménien de Jérusalem, Torkom II Manoogian

Le patriarche arménien apostolique de Jérusalem, Torkom II Manoogian,
est décéde le 12 octobre 2012 à l’ge de 93 ans, a indiqué le
patriarcat.

Né en 1919 en Irak, Torkom II était devenu le 96e patriarche de
l’Eglise arménienne en 1990. Après sa jeunesse passée en Irak et à
Jérusalem, le théologien et musicologue a été professeur au séminaire
de théologie de Jérusalem puis aumônier aux Etats-Unis.

En 1962 il a été désigné comme évêque du diocèse de l’Eglise
arménienne pour l’ouest des Etats-Unis siégeant à Los Angeles. En
1966, il a gagné la côte est comme évêque résidant à New York. Il est
devenu archevêque en 1968. Torkom II Manoogian était aussi connu comme
auteur de nombreux livres, poète et compositeur.

Voix de la Russie
12 Oct 2012

L’émigration : un sujet sensible pour l’Arménie

Elina Kazarian

Le programme fédéral russe d’accueil des compatriotes est vivement
débattu dans la société arménienne. Fonctionnant depuis 2006, ces
derniers temps il concerne toujours plus d’Arméniens. L’émigration est
actuellement au nombre des sujets les plus sensibles du pays.
Le thème a été soulevé à la récente réunion du gouvernement arménien,
ainsi qu’à la conférence de presse de l’Ambassadeur Extraordinaire et
Plénipotentiaire de Russie en République d’Arménie, Viatcheslav
Kovalenko. Reportage de l’envoyée spéciale de La Voix de la Russie en
Arménie Elina Kazarian.

Selon des données officielles, le programme russe de rapatriement a
intéressé 26 mille personnes, dont 1 500 ont renoncé à leur
nationalité arménienne et résident déjà en permanence en Russie. Le
nombre réel des personnes émigrées dépasse de plusieurs dizaines de
fois les données statistiques officielles. L’Ambassadeur
Extraordinaire et Plénipotentiaire de Russie en République d’Arménie,
Viatcheslav Kovalenko voit toutefois les causes du problème ailleurs.

« La représentation du Service fédéral des migrations coordonne ses
activités en vue de limiter l’immigration clandestine, pour que les
personnes qui viennent travailler en Russie soient protégées,
sécurisées, aient des conditions de vie normales et un bon salaire.
Elles émigrent de leur plein gré, et si nous fermons notre
représentation, l’émigration ne s’arrêtera pas. Il faut chercher les
causes ailleurs ».

Elles sont avant tout d’ordre économique et social. Selon les données
officielles, le taux du chômage dans la république est de 6 %, les
experts parlent de 30 %.

Les autorités arméniennes ont présenté plus d’une fois la situation
démographique actuelle comme une menace directe à la sécurité
nationale. Le problème de l’émigration a été discuté lors de
l’audition des ministres au parlement d’Arménie. Et ce vendredi la
deuxième édition du forum interrégional russo-arménien entame ses
travaux à Erevan. Il sera axé également sur le problème des
migrations.

Football Italia
Oct 12 2012

Montolivo: ‘Deserved victory’

By Football Italia staff

Riccardo Montolivo made his Italy comeback and was pleased with the
3-1 victory over Armenia. `My position is not easy to interpret.’

The Milan midfielder had not featured due to injury over the summer
until today’s World Cup qualifier.

`My last game with the Azzurri was the Euro 2012 Final, so I really
wanted to do well this evening,’ he told Rai Sport.

Montolivo has always insisted he is not a trequartista, but was again
played behind the strikers by Cesare Prandelli.

`My position is not easy to interpret in our midfield. In the first
half we played well. It was not an easy victory, but a deserved one,
as in internationals the level is always going to be high.

`I must also admit Gigi Buffon did well to save us on a few occasions.’

Football Italia
Oct 12 2012

Line-ups: Armenia-Italy

By Football Italia staff

Italy have Sebastian Giovinco and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in tonight’s
World Cup qualifier in Armenia, as Mario Balotelli is only fit for the
bench.

The Azzurri have stuttered so far in Group B, earning a 2-2 draw in
Bulgaria and 2-0 home victory over Malta.

This evening’s game kicks off in Yerevan at 18.00 UK time, 21.00 local.

Angelo Ogbonna pulled out of the squad with an injury, but Giorgio
Chiellini is dropped in favour of the returning Domenico Criscito.

The Zenit St Petersburg defender has been ignored since being dropped
from the Euro 2012 squad due to the betting investigation, which
cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Balotelli was in doubt after coming down with a cold and high
temperature overnight, so is only considered fit for the bench.

Instead, Juventus talent Giovinco steps into the breach alongside Roma
striker Osvaldo, supported by Riccardo Montolivo in a trequartista
role.

Armenia: Berezovski; Aleksanyan, Mkoyan, Arzumanyan, A Edigaryan;
Ozbiliz, Lazarian, A Edigaryan, Manoyan; Mkhitaryan, Movsisyan

Italy: Buffon; Maggio, Barzagli, Bonucci, Criscito; De Rossi, Pirlo,
Marchisio; Montolivo; Osvaldo, Giovinco

Voice of Russia
Oct 12 2012

Quirks of Ukrainian election campaign

The Armenian Diaspora addressed the administration of the Kharkov
region offering financial support to the Party of Regions’
pre-election campaign. In exchange for that, the Armenians suggest
that the Ukrainian authorities should no less than consider
recognizing the genocide of the Armenian people. In any case, the
Ukrainian FORUM.GIGA.UA Internet forum asserts that information.
On the FORUM.GIGA.UA forum, journalists of our radio station came
across an alleged photocopy of a letter marked `secret’, printed on
the letterhead of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and looking
rather like an internal document of the special services. The document
is not dated, and we can’t confirm its authenticity. However, the
letter is addressed to President Viktor Yanukovych and is not
registered, that is, there is no incoming number, which is usually
written down by the Secretariat. The letter is signed `V.
Khoroshkovsky’, and the position of the author is stated as `Golova’
(Head). Perhaps, this is the current First Vice Premier of Ukraine
Valery Khoroshkovsky. Previously, until this January, he was heading
the Ukrainian Security Service. At the top of the document there is a
visa `To Azarov N. Y.’, apparently, pointing at the Prime Minister and
the first person in the Party of Regions’ list for the upcoming
elections.

The document tells about certain representatives of the Armenian
Diaspora in Kharkov, who addressed the regional administration and
personally the head of the region Mikhail Dobkin offering financial
support to the Party of Regions at the parliamentary elections. In
exchange for this offer, Head of the Armenian Community Mr.
Khandemiryan suggested that a bill `on recognition of the genocide of
the Armenian people’ should be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada. The
Voice of Russia asked Head of the Kharkov region Mikhail Dobkin to
acknowledge the receipt of the letter, but he refused to comment on
the situation.

But the behavior of the Armenian Diaspora is a really interesting
nuance of this story, especially their ambiguous proposal. The letter
states that Khandemiryan `supports the political course of the Party
of Regions’. According to the document, representatives of the
Armenian community suggest paying attention `to the experience of
European countries’ regarding the recognition of the genocide, as well
as to regional initiatives of the Izium, Uzhgorod, Cherkassy and Kiev
city councils. The representatives of the Diaspora also refer to `the
official Yerevan’, stating that in Armenia their initiative was
allegedly supported at the highest level.

By the way, the genocide of Armenians is recognized by several
European states, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.
Some countries have more than once passed resolutions condemning the
deeds of the Ottoman Empire. As for Ukraine, the fact of the
extermination of the Armenian people is officially recognized only by
the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. But the copy of the letter to the
SBU shows that the Armenian Diaspora by all means seeks to ensure that
the events of the beginning of the 20th century are recognized
throughout the country.

It is noteworthy that the solution of the European states was based on
the evidence, which took many years to collect and which persuaded the
parliamentarians that the massacre at the borders of the Ottoman
Empire was systematic and directed against a certain nation. However,
the Ukrainian Armenians have, apparently, chosen another way – based
not on the evidence, but on finances.

Unfortunately, we have failed to come in touch with the Armenian
National Community. But one of the Diaspora’s representatives in
Ukraine, Armenian artist Boris Yeghiazarian, believes that it is
necessary to recognize the fact of the genocide:

`If states recognize the facts of the genocide that took place, if
many states recognize them, then Turkey will have to recognize this
fact, too. And this will lead to specific consequences. I mean, first
of all, to correcting historical injustice in order not to allow its
repetition. A lot of Armenians live in Turkey now. The genocide took
place and it was terrible, scary: one and a half million Armenians
were killed, who were living on their own land’.

The Armenian community of Ukraine has already appealed to the
authorities with the request to officially recognize the fact of the
genocide. In May 2011, the Narodna Rada, which unites four and a half
thousand organizations, wrote an open letter to the President of
Ukraine. If we are to believe the document posted on the Internet, now
the Diaspora has decided to take another approach to the problem.
Instead of letters it now offers financial support to the party in
power, and a peculiar one at that. The thing is that it will be
granted through purchasing some real estate from the Avantazh
investment-construction company, one of the sponsors of the Party of
Regions’ local branch.

But such a step will not bring the members of the Diaspora closer to
their goal. Even hypothetically, a regional financing of the party in
power cannot outweigh the national interests of the country, the
political analyst at the Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation
Vladimir Gorbach believes. According to him, as far as international
policy is concerned, relations with Turkey are of a higher priority
for Ukraine than relations with Armenia.

`Relations with Turkey are of a higher priority for us in respect of
both economy and politics, and even in respect of logistics. Of
course, Turkey is more important in respect of economy, than Armenia.
Turkey will not recognize the genocide of Armenians in the current
Turkish territory. For them, it is one of the priorities of their
foreign policy. Among other things, they build their relations with
other countries on the basis of this quite symbolic and important
issue. There are not too many links between Ukraine and Armenia as
regards both economy and relations. For example, let’s take the
balance between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a closer partner
of Ukraine, than Armenia. This is connected with oil and gas, and
military supplies, too. Moreover, friendship at the level of the
peoples should be regarded by itself, while such purely pragmatic,
first of all, economic and geo-economic, calculations make the
recognition of the genocide of Armenians in Turkey at the beginning of
the 20th century an undesirable risk for Ukraine.’

According to the copy of the document posted on the Internet, the
official Kiev advises the Kharkov authorities `to refrain from any
specific response’ to such proposals, and first of all, consult with
higher authorities, and only then make final decisions. The Party of
Regions’ election campaign is the most expensive one in comparison
with all other political forces of the country.

Kiev, Voice of Russia.