Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIAN AND TURKISH YOUNG FILMMAKERS MET IN ISTANBUL

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:59:24 – 14/05/2012

Ten young filmmakers from Armenia and Turkey participated in the
Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform (ATCP) workshop held in Istanbul on
April 12-13, 2012 on the sidelines of the 31st Istanbul International
Film Festival. The participating film projects, five per country,
were handpicked by the ATCP pre-selection committee from among 35
applications.

The two-day workshop program included one-to-one meetings between
Armenian and Turkish filmmakers and project pitching to the ATCP jury.

The ‘Grandchildren of Giaour… My Armenian Grandfather’
documentary film project by Devrim Akkaya and Josefina Markarian
won the prize worth $10.000. The film project exposes Devrim’s
great grandfather’s – Yusuf’s – identity and its further impact on
the family’s psychological world. Yusuf’s Armenian origin and its
concealment for decades have greatly affected Devrim’s inner world
and personality development. Through the documentary Devrim tries to
establish a connection between her feeling of loneliness and lack of
belonging, and the hidden identity of her great grandfather. Project
producer Josefina Markarian’s roots come from Istanbul, from where her
ancestors later moved to Athens. As a result, she shares the feeling
of lack of belonging, which initially drew her into the project.

The author of ‘Homeport’ Helen Kurkjian won the Jury Special Prize.

The film project explores a similar theme, where Helen’s father, now
based in Germany, sets out on a journey to the Middle East together
with Helen to trace back his roots.

The jury board was composed of the founding director of the Golden
Apricot International Film Festival and director Harutyun Khachatryan,
well-known Turkish director Yesim Ustaoghlu, artistic director of
the Golden Apricot International Film Festival Susanna Harutunyun,
director from ‘Ajans 21’ production company Nurdan Arca, and the
competition programmer of Sarajevo Film Festival Elma Tataragic.

ATCP was born out of cooperation between Anadolu Kultur (Turkey)
and the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival (Armenia)
in 2008 with the aim of establishing a common network through which
filmmakers from both countries are able to cooperate and produce films
together. Since its foundation, ATCP has supported the production of
11 films by filmmakers from Armenia and Turkey.

Over the past two years, ATCP has been supported through
the USAID-funded ‘Support to Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement’
project implemented by the the Eurasia Partnership Foundation,
International Center for Human Development, Yerevan Press Club and
Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia, and a number of
core partners in Turkey. More specifically, three workshops were
held as part of the Istanbul International Film Festival and Golden
Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival (two in

Istanbul, and one in Yerevan) for about 30 filmmakers from both
countries. Two films – ‘Wonderful, Very Nice: from Bitlis to America’
by Lusin Dink and Soner Alper, as well as ‘Back to Gurun’ by Adrineh
Gregorian and Vahe Ohanyan are currently in post production, with
two other films expected to be released in 2013.

ARMENIA AND LATVIA SIGN CONTRACT ON CO-OPERATION IN TOURISM

news.am
May 15, 2012 | 01:29

YEREVAN. – The contract concerning tourism co-operation between
Armenia and Latvia is on the Agenda of the Armenian Government Seating
on Thursday.

As part of the agreement, the parties will encourage mutual
participation in international exhibitions, fairs, forums, seminars
and other international events on tourism held in Armenia and Latvia.

Special attention will be paid to organizing Armenian days in Latvia
and days of Latvia in Armenia.

CHICAGO ARS HOLDS MEMORIAL BLOOD DRIVE

Armenian Weekly
May 14, 2012

GLENVIEW, Ill.-On April 22, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) held
its 20th Annual Genocide Memorial Blood Drive at the All Saints
Apostolic Armenian church in Glenview. The community came together
with overwhelming support to make the blood drive successful, with
21 units of blood donated, which has the potential to impact 63 lives.

A scene from the blood drive “The blood drive is my favorite event of
the year because we have the chance to give back to the community
that opened its arms to our ancestors, who were forced out of
their ancestral homelands many years ago,” said Silva Panossian,
the president of the Chicago “Zabelle” ARS Chapter. “We are all
descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. So this
is an excellent opportunity to commemorate our ancestors who lost
their lives and to serve the country that became our new home. We
happen to love our new home and the diverse community that we are
a part of now. Our members have community service in their blood,
no pun intended,” Panossian said.

“All of my grandparents were genocide survivors,” said donor Sonia
Akellian, who gave an astonishing two pints of blood that day. “They
are no longer with us, but this event makes me feel close to them. The
needles are nothing compared to what they endured. Also, a little pin
prick is nothing in comparison to what patients need to go through
to get well,” she said.

ARS members Taleen Aivazian and Silva Bedian worked with Sharon
Fulgenzi from LifeSource to coordinate this year’s blood drive.

Aivazian has been coordinating the blood drive with Bedian since she
became an ARS member in 2002.

“We wanted to thank Sharon for helping to make this blood drive a
success. She picked an excellent staff that day. Keila Maxwell was the
drive manager. She was really professional and easy to work with. This
year, we did the electronic registration and all of the equipment was
new. This was hands down the best blood drive experience. We can’t
wait to do it again next year,” Aivazian said.

Local Clothing Company Lands Distribution Deal with Nordstrom

asbarez
Thursday, May 10th, 2012

ARKA Founders (from left to right) Sevan Aliksanian, Burag Celikian,
and Shant Der Ashodian display their T-shirt designs at their showroom
located in the Fashion District in Downtown L.A (phoro by Karen M.
Guzelian)

BY KAREN M. GUZELIAN
Special to Asbarez

A few years after its establishment, ARKA Clothing launched its
collection in Nordstrom’s online store. Last month a variety of ARKA
production began retailing at the Nordstrom stores.

Since 2009, ARKA has been distributing its collection of t-shirts and
accessories to several retailers across the U.S. and more than 11
countries worldwide, with Nordstrom being its most valuable contract
to date.

`It still hasn’t kicked in yet because it’s still very fresh,’ said
ARKA co-founder Sevan Aliksanian, regarding the company’s biggest
partnership. `I say in about a couple of months, it’ll start sinking
in.’

Co-founders of ARKA, Shant Der Ashodian, Burag Celikian, and
Aliksanian have been working on expanding the company by networking
and working with major retailers.

According to Der Ashodian, the Jan. ENK NYC and Feb. ENK Vegas fashion
trade shows brought ARKA success and nearly 75 additional accounts.
Through the ENK trade shows, the company was also able to land some of
the most prestigious accounts nationwide: Nordstrom, Fred Segal (Santa
Monica), Akira (Chicago), MGM Resorts (Las Vegas), Boogie’s (Aspen),
Bloomingdale’s (Dubai), Simon’s (Canada), and Karmaloop.com.

Each co-founder made lifestyle changes to focus on their new
enterprise. Aliksanian has a background in computer engineering, while
both Celikian and Der Ashodian were working in real state prior to
ARKA. They each had a stable career, but then gave that all up to
pursue their passion and focus on the expansion of ARKA.

The Fashion District in Downtown L.A. is home to the showroom of the
up-and-coming ARKA Clothing company (Photo by Karen M. Guzelian)

`We pretty much dropped everything for this,’ said Der Ashodian.
`Everything was going for us, but this is our passion.’

According to Celikian, the concept of starting ARKA was motivated from
Aliksanian’s dislike of the Ed Hardy craze. `[Sevan] was like, `We
need to make a T-shirt line,” he explained. `We started this as a
need for society. He thinks we’re doing a public service.’

ARKA’s T-shirt designs are based on the founders’ view of the city of
L.A. `If you look at us, you’ll just think we’re really random,’ said
Celikian. `If you look at what [L.A. is] right now, we’re like a
melting pot… Our line kind of reflects that.’

The company’s target demographic is the 22 to 30-year old men who
still want to wear graphic T-shirts. On a few occasions, they have
attracted buyers who do not fit in the target demographic, yet enjoy
ARKA’s designs. `[We] have the 16 to 18-year old loving our stuff,
too. We have 50-year-old moms buying our stuff for themselves,’ said
Der Ashodian.

ARKA got its breakthrough deal from its first participation in the ENK
Las Vegas trade show in Feb. 2011, which landed it a deal to send its
products to Bloomingdales in Dubai.

`It’s cool seeing the reaction of people now that we’re being
distributed… It’s nice to see the appreciation,’ said Celikian.

Family has also played a big role in the founders’ lives, as they’ve
received a great deal of support from all family members. `They saw
the potential and `believed’ in us more than anyone else. One of the
key success factors for ARKA has become the support we have received
from our parents,’ explained Der Ashodian.

Determination, family support, and the bond between three best friends
helped ARKA succeed the way it has. The founders put all their effort
in the company and were willing to do the `dirty work’ to market
ARKA’s one-of-a-kind T-shirts, and not allowing money to get in the
way of their friendship.

`[People] usually tell you not to get in the business with your
friends, but in our case, it works,’ said Aliksanian. `If money gets
between us, the business is done. I’ll keep the friendship.’

In July, ARKA will be part of the Nataline Sarkisyan Foundation
Fashion Show held on the roof-top of the Mercedes-Benz dealership in
Calabasas. To view ARKA Clothing’s latest designs, visit
ARKAClothing.com.

Iran unveils `vast’ crude oil reserve in Caspian Sea

14:14 10/05/2012 » Economy

Iran discovered `vast’ crude oil reserves in the Caspian Sea, Iranian
MEHR news agency said. Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Ghasemi is reported
to unveil details concerning discovery.

Recently Iran has discovered a new gas field in the Caspian Sea,
Iranian state run `IRNA’ news agency reported. The discovered huge gas
field contains an estimated 50 trillion cubic feet of gas. Iran’s
President has stated that the new reserve will improve Iran’s role in
the Caspian region and will change the region’s political and energy
balance.

Related: Iran insists Azerbaijan owns no share in Caspian Sea revealed gas field

Source: Panorama.am

Travelnostop.com, Italia
11 maggio 2012

In Armenia con Rusconi Viaggi

Rusconi Viaggi ha studiato un itinerario di 8 giorni in Armenia, Paese
che vanta una storia intessuta di leggende e miti. Il primo giorno è
previsto il ritrovo dei partecipanti all’aeroporto di Milano Malpensa
per la partenza del volo diretto a Erevan. Tra le tappe in programma:
l’istituto dei manoscritti antichi `Matenadaran’, il Tempio
ellenistico di Garni, il monastero di Geghard, Khor Virap, il
villaggio di Areni, il Monastero Noravank, Alaverdi, Ashtarak, il
Monte Aragatz, Etchmiadzin, le rovine di Zvartnots con il Tempio del
aradiso degli Angeli, il lago Sevan, Dilijan. Nella mattina
dell’ottavo giorno è previsto il trasferimento in aeroporto per il
volo di rientro in Italia.

Per questo viaggio, in programma dal 21 al 28 giugno, quote da 1.490
euro a persona (più 30 euro d’iscrizione). La quota comprende: viaggio
aereo in classe turistica con voli di linea, tasse aeroportuali e di
sicurezza, trasferimenti, visite ed escursioni da programma, guida
locale parlante italiano, ingressi, alloggio in albergo 4 stelle
locali, trattamento di pensione completa, visto d’ingresso, assistenza
tecnica e spirituale, assicurazione medico/bagaglio e annullamento
viaggio, materiale a supporto viaggio.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 13 2012

Armenia — at the beginning of a process

AMANDA PAUL

Last weekend Armenia held parliamentary elections. For months
beforehand the country’s leadership was extremely vocal in declaring
they would be the freest, fairest and most democratic in the country’s
history.
As with a number of other countries that were once part of the Soviet
Union, Armenia has a track record of flawed elections with little
genuine effort being made in the past to change. Armenia’s 2007
parliamentary elections were marred by systemic irregularities, while
the 2008 presidential elections were tainted by election fraud and
violence that resulted in several deaths.

These elections were the first under a new election law, and most
Armenians, according to a Gallup poll, believed they would be freer
and fairer than hitherto. The fact that all eight parties were able to
register without any difficulty and campaign freely, suggested a good
start. The election and the pre-election period were closely monitored
by a number of different international organizations. The EU had
stressed that as part of its `more for more’ approach one of the keys
to further deepening relations (including additional financial
aid/support) would be to demonstrate greater commitment to EU values,
including holding elections in line with international standards.

Compared to previous elections it is clear that progress was made. But
of course we cannot say these elections were wholly free and fair
because it is obvious they were not. Many serious problems, including
a failure to implement some important aspects of the new electoral
code, still remain and need to be addressed. While observers noted a
campaign environment that generally respected the freedoms of assembly
and expression, and candidates were, for the most part, able to
campaign freely, the general lack of confidence in the integrity of
the process amongst political parties and the general public remains
an issue of great concern.

In their 13-page preliminary conclusions of May 7, the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), PACE and the European
Parliament characterized the elections as `a competitive, vibrant and
largely peaceful campaign.’ It goes on to focus on shortcomings and
violations, citing `an unequal playing field due to violations of
campaign provisions and cases of pressure on voters, as well as
deficiencies in the complaints and appeals process were cause for
concern.’ Francois-Xavier de Donnea, head of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly delegation, stated `Armenia deserves recognition for its
electoral reforms and its open and peaceful campaign environment, but
in this race several stakeholders too often failed to comply with the
law, and election commissions too often failed to enforce it. As a
result, the international commitments to which Armenia has freely
subscribed were not always respected.’ However, we should recall the
comments from the head of the European Parliament delegation to the
parliamentary elections in Armenia, Krzysztof Lisek, who said: `I
cannot stress enough how important it is to see these elections and
our preliminary findings in the broader context and as the beginning
of the process, not the end. Our final recommendations, once they are
published, should be taken as the goal to achieve in view of the
upcoming presidential election.’ This is an extremely important point.

The EU foreign policy chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton, welcomed the
efforts by the Armenian authorities but also concluded the need to
address a number of issues in order to fully meet internationally
recognized democratic standards and address the shortcomings
identified ahead of the 2013 presidential elections. Still I believe
the result will help Yerevan in its negotiations with the EU for an
Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Agreement.

While Armenia will now have a more pluralistic and representative
parliament, given that seven parties passed the 7 percent threshold,
the fact that the coalition government of President Serzh Sarksyan’s
Republic Party has a majority, probably means there will be little
opportunity for the opposition to have significant impact on
legislation.

In terms of Armenia’s foreign policy nothing is likely to change.
Sarksyan will be gearing up for the 2013 presidential elections. He
will likely focus on the socio-economic demands of the people. There
is a lot of chatter about his main competitor being former President
Robert Kocharian, who Richard Giragosian, a Yerevan-based
think-tanker, recently labeled the `Moby-Dick’ of Armenian politics —
`Everyone is looking for him, thinking about him and worried about
him.’ Frankly, what Armenia really needs, as do many other countries
in this region, is a new generation of younger, educated and modern
leaders to replace the present `club of pensioners’ that keeps being
regurgitated.

Armenia has a challenging period ahead, and I hope that lessons will
be learned from these elections and that the recommendations from the
international monitors will be adhered to. Each step made, no matter
how small, is to be welcomed and built on.

Today’s Generation Is To Build the Country Their Fathers Dreamed Of

Thursday, 10 May 2012 23:19

Exactly twenty years ago on May 9 Stepanakert citizens sighed with
relief finally getting out of the basements; Shoushi was liberated and
Stepanakert was not under rocket fire any more. The constant missile
blows fired from Shoushi remained in the past though this did not put
an end to the war, Stepanakert was still an ongoing target of rocket
and bomb attacks.

Fortunately, today’s younger generation did not witness this reality;
they were born in more peaceful conditions or maybe they were too
small to understand what was going on. Their peaceful life in an
independent country has been attained at the cost of the hardships
their parents had to suffer.

Today’s young people born in 1992 and a bit later stand at the contact
line of Armenian-Azerbaijani armed forces; they defend their native
land liberated at the cost of their own fathers’ lives thus continuing
the deeds left unfinished by their parents.

Today’s Artsakh is the homeland of this generation since they were
born in this very country, they took their steps and attended school
here… The fathers of many of them fell victim for this country. Today
they are not concerned with the negations around Madrid Principles.
All this is perceived as encroachment upon their liberty and their own
country. The thoughts of ceding some territory or return of
Azerbaijani refugees are intolerable for them.

Today this generation is to reject all the claims of ceding something
to Azerbaijan of which they have heard from the elders and which is
constantly threatening Armenia with warlike announcements.

This generation is to carry the responsibility of building the country
their fathers dreamed of, a country where the liberty soldiers’
children will feel proud, where the notions `natives’ and `aliens’
will never exist, where no one will live on the remains of garbage
dumps, no one will expect benefaction to be conferred, no one will
plead for charity, where no one will live a life unbefitting of the
victorious Artsakh people, where all will be equal before the law.

In short, they are to build the country thousands of our heroes
dreamed of but did not manage to see the glorious victory their
country won.

Karabakh-open.info

TURQUIE
Le Barreau Ottoman en 1886 où la prééminence arménienne

Publié dans la Revue Surp Pergic, mensuel de l’Hôpital arménien
d’Istanbul, le Tableau du Barreau Ottoman (Constantinople) de 1886
laisse apparaître un listing impressionnant d’avocats arméniens et
grecs rédigé en turc ottoman (Osmanli) et en français. Leurs adresses
respectives y sont mentionnées, et l’on peut également noter que 12
d’entre-eux ne sont pas autorisés à plaider devant les Tribunaux
correctionnels et criminels.

Le document témoigne de la prééminence de la société arménienne dans
l’espace public ottoman. A diffuser.

A noter que l’année 1886 signale la naissance du journaliste Hrant
Nazariantz à Üsküdar, défenseur de l’Arménie indépendante. Décédé en
Italie en 1965.

haute résolution

dimanche 13 mai 2012,
Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

SURVIVANTS
Une arménienne de 80 ans turquifiée de force, survivante des massacres
de Dersim exige du Parlement turc un pardon officiel

Fatma Yavouz une arménienne turquifiée de 80 ans survivante des
massacres de Dersim (1937-1938) vient de s’adresser au Parlement turc
en écrivant son histoire et exiger un pardon pour les souffrances
qu’elle a subies. Fatma Yavouz a raconté dans sa lettre que lors des
massacres de Dersim on la confia à des familles turques. Elle fut
souvent battue et subit de très nombreuses vexations. Victime de coups
de btons, elle eut de nombreux doigts cassés. « A 13 ans on m’a marié
avec un homme de 35 ans. J’ai eu une vie pleine de souffrances. Ce
n’est qu’en 1995 que j’ai appris que durant les 57 années passés, on
m’avait caché mon origine arménienne et j’ai appris mon vrai nom qu’à
l’ge de 78 ans » écrit Fatma Yavouz qui réclame le retour de ses
terres, la recherche de ses anciennes amies et des excuses officielles
de la part du gouvernement turc. Rappelons que les autorités turques
avaient noyé dans le sang les révoltes de Dersim qui avait fait près
de 100 000 victimes civiles. Des milliers d’Arméniens survivants du
génocide de 1915 avaient été victimes de ces massacres de Dersim.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 13 mai 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com