Author: Babajanian Karo

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND THE SCANDINAVIAN RESPONSE: A TEMPORARY EXHIBITION IN STOCKHOLM

armradio.am
03.05.2012 14:18

The Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden in cooperation with
the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Yerevan, Armenia, arranged
a temporary exhibition entitled the “Armenian Genocide and the
Scandinavian Response.” The exhibition opened in the Catholic
Cathedral, situated in Central Stockholm.

The exhibition was originally inaugurated during April 2011 by
the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan as part of the
celebration of 150th anniversary of Fridtjof Nansen, the world
known Norwegian explorer and human rights activist. In 2011 foreign
ministers of Sweden and Norway visited the exhibition during their
official visits to the Republic of Armenia. Numerous tourists from the
Scandinavian states had a chance to visit the exhibition during 2011.

The exhibition in Stockholm consisted of the original eleven panels
as well as six new additions, displaying the work of Scandinavian
diplomats, politicians and missionary workers during and after the
Armenian Genocide of 1915-1922. The additional panels also contained 12
selected diplomatic reports from the Swedish embassy in Constantinople
about the “annihilation of the Armenian nation”.

An estimated 400 and 500 people visited the exhibition, it was covered
by three Swedish newspapers, Svenska Dagbladet, Dagen and Varlden
idag. The exhibition will now go on a tour around Sweden and will be
displayed in various libraries, universities and other public places.

ARMENIANS LEAVE BORDER VILLAGES

News.Az
Thu 03 May 2012 09:13 GMT | 10:13 Local Time

10 families left their houses in Tavush province over the last week.

The Armenian villages situated near Armenia-Azerbaijan state
border become empty, the residents abandon their houses and leave
the villages. APA reports quoting the Armenian press that 4 families
left Tavush province’s Dovekh village, 2 families – Aygepar village
and 4 families – Berkaber village over the last week.

Armenian families reportedly leave their houses because of intensive
fights in this front line.

Armenian army has intensified firing since April 20 towards Gazakh
and Tovuz regions of Azerbaijan. Last week Azerbaijani Armed Forces
prevented about 10 attempts of provocation of the opposite side in
the abovementioned direction of the frontline. The Armenian army lost
forces and equipments.

VIDEO: KIM KARDASHIAN ASKS PUBLIC TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ARMENPRESS

13:15, 3 May, 2012

YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS: Kim Kardashian may not have been able
to attend this year’s genocide commemoration events in Glendale,
but organizers hope her 43-second video clip will be the gift that
keeps on giving, reports Armenpress citing Glendale News-Press.

In the video uploaded to YouTube Wednesday, Kardashian – who recently
made headlines after she said she wanted to run for mayor of Glendale –
asks the public to join in commemorating “the loss of those innocent
lives of millions of people worldwide.”

Sitting on a couch with her hair pulled back into a ponytail,
Kardashian also refers to the Armenian genocide of 1915, in which
roughly 1.5 million Armenians were killed at the hands of Ottoman
Turks, as “the modern genocide.”

Kardashian does not specifically refer to Glendale, but city officials
said it was sent in for the official genocide commemoration at the
Alex Theatre last week. It was never aired, however, due to technical
difficulties.

ARMENIAN FM: ZORYAN INSTITUTE BOOSTS AWARENESS ON GENOCIDE, KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2012 – 11:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met
with the President of Zoryan Institute of Canada, Greg Sarkissian
and Executive Director George Shirinian on April 25.

Welcoming the guests, Minister Nalbandian stressed the importance of
Zoryan Institute’s decades-long activities and its input in raising
the awareness of the international community on the Armenian Genocide
and Nagorno Karabakh issue.

Nalbandian also mentioned that the academic projects and various
publications testify to the huge potential of the Institute.

Representatives of Zoryan Institute briefed on the activities of the
institute and their future projects to the Armenian Minister.

The parties also discussed possibilities of further cooperation
between the Ministry and Zoryan Institute.

LE PARTI DASHNAKTSUTYUN REVENDIQUE UNE AUTRE RAISON POUR SA SORTIE DU GOUVERNEMENT
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 3 mai 2012

La Federation Revolutionnaire Armenienne (Dashnaktsutyun) est
sortie de la coalition au pouvoir en 2009 pas uniquement a cause des
fortes objections a la politique du President Serge Sarkissian au
rapprochement avec la Turquie.

Armen Rustamian, responsable du parti en Armenie, a dit que le
Dashnaktsutyun a ete aussi frustree avec l’echec de l’administration
Sarkissian d’effectuer des reformes politiques et socio-economiques.

Le Dashnaktsutyun a cite seulement ” des desaccords fondamentaux
insurmontables ” avec Serge Sarkisian quant aux relations
turco-armeniennes quand le parti a quitte le gouvernement en avril
2009.

” [La Turquie] etait seulement une des raisons [pour le retrait du
Dashnaktsutyun] ” a dit Armen Rustamian au service armenien de RFE/RL
(Azatutyun.am). ” L’observation que malgre etre partie prenante dans
la coalition [au pouvoir] nous ne resolvions qu’incomplètement des
problèmes importants pour nous, nous a pousse a quitter la coalition “.

Armen Rustamian a soutenu que spn aprti a donc un droit moral de
critiquer le bilan de Sarkissian pendant la campagne electorale. ”
Nous n’esquivons pas de responsabilite ” a-t-il dit. ” Nous voulons
juste que nos detracteurs soient justes. ”

” Après tout, nous avions seulement 12 a 13 pour cent [des voix]
et nous avons fait beaucoup de choses proportionnees [cette part]
” a ajoute le chef du Dashnaktsutyun. ” Mais nous n’avons pas reussi
parce que … la force dominante, la majorite [de la coalition] n’a
pas accepte nos approches et nos arguments. Ils n’ont pas accepte
le besoin de changements parce qu’ils n’ont pas voulu abandonner le
système qui reste malheureusement notre fleau principal a ce jour “.

SERGE SARKISSIAN SOUTIENT GAGIK TSARUKIAN
Laetitia

armenews.com
jeudi 3 mai 2012

Le president Serge Sarkissian a appele mercredi 2 mai 2012 les
habitants de la province centrale de Kotayk a voter pour son partenaire
de coalition Gagik Tsarukian, qui est candidat pour la reelection au
Parlement dans une circonscription a mandat unique.

Tsarukian est le seul candidat dans le district englobant la ville
d’ Abovian et les villages a proximite. Il est egalement en tete
de la liste des candidats de son parti Armenie Prospère en vertu du
système de representation proportionnelle. ” Naturellement, dans un
endroit où nous n’avons designe aucun candidat, nous soutenons nos
partenaires de la coalition “, a affirme Sarkissian lors d’un meeting
de campagne organise par le parti republicain d’Armenie (BHK). ”
Ici nous soutenons la candidature de M. Gagik Tsarukian. Je fais
appel a vous tous pour voter pour notre candidat. ”

Les relations entre les deux partis au pouvoir sont glaciales depuis
que Tsarukian a ostensiblement refuse de reaffirmer son soutien a
Serge Sarkissian. Certains observateurs voient desormais le parti
Armenie prospère de Tsarukian (BHK) comme un rival du HHK.

L’ancien ministre des Affaires etrangères, Vartan Oskanian, a critique
a plusieurs reprises Serge Sarkissian. Les representants du HHK ont
accuse le BHK de populisme. Serge Sarkissian a insiste sur le fait
que son administration n’utilise pas les forces de securite a des
fins electorales. ” Un policier, un procureur et un representant d’un
organisme de droit d’application ne sont pas subordonnes au parti
republicain, a-t-il dit. Ils sont tous les serviteurs du peuple de
l’Armenie. ”

” Laissez-nous conjointement renforcer l’independance et la capacite
de ces organismes. Laissez-nous superviser conjointement ces organismes
“, a ajoute le president.

Tsarukian, quant a lui, a fait campagne mercredi dans les villes
et villages a l’ouest d’Erevan, et a encore une fois accuse les
fonctionnaires des administrations locales de faire pression sur les
Armeniens pour voter pour certains partis.

” Ils forcent les gens a voter pour un parti en particulier, afin
de securiser leurs postes “, a declare le chef de file du BHK lors
d’un rassemblement dans le village de Karpi. ” S’ils ne gagnent pas
suffisamment de voix, ils perdront leurs emplois. ”

La grande majorite de ces fonctionnaires sont affilies au HHK.

US WANTS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA TO BE JUST AND FAIR – EMBASSY

news.am
May 02, 2012 | 21:08

YEREVAN. – Armenia has got many friends and together we want to
contribute to fair and just parliamentary elections in Armenia,
US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern told reporters.

“We are trying to be optimists and to see the bright side,” the
American envoy said commenting on the question what violations have
been observed during the pre-election campaign.

According to him, it is very important to train the members of the
election commission but the most important is the political will of
law enforcement agencies, state structures, political parties and
the opposition to conduct fair and just elections.

The ambassador also stressed the importance of the participation of
many observers in the monitoring of the elections.

“There are many positive facts. But there are also concerning facts,”
the ambassador said.

He meant statements about unequal conditions for political parties
and the use of administrative resources.

Eight political parties and one block have presented their nominations
– Republican Party of Armenian, Prosperous Armenia Party, Orinats
Yerkir, opposition Armenian National Congress, opposition Heritage
Party, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, the Communist Party of Armenia, Democratic
Party of Armenia and United Armenians Party.

For entering the National Assembly, parties must poll over 5% of votes,
while blocks – over 7%.

The election campaign will be held till May 5 – the day prior to
elections when campaigning is banned. The parliamentary elections
will be held from 8 am to 8 pm on May 6, 2012.

RALLY OF ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN IN YEREVAN STARTS WITH ARFD ANTHEM PERFORMED BY EMPYRAY

arminfo
Wednesday, May 2, 21:34

Today, at 7 pm, the rally of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party in Liberty Square
in Yerevan started with the ARFD anthem performed by Empyray rock band.

Head of ARFD Faction Vahan Hovhannisyan said that ARFD is the party
that will put into effect what it has said and promised during its
election campaign. “When Armen Rustamyan (member of ARFD Supreme Body)
and I were in jail, we always kept the flags of Armenia and ARFD open
for the sake of one goal – achievement of freedom and justice. And
this goal has not changed today”, he said.

He added that the members of ARFD have already visited almost all the
regions of the republic and, despite the fear in the people’s eyes,
they managed to cause interest in their election program. “We have been
asked numerous questions about our program, and we understood that our
program is not ideal and needs amendments. We have introduced these
amendments and additions and will continue doing this within the next 5
years in case we gain seats in the parliament of the 5th convocation”,
he said. Hovhannisyan added that the party will not disappoint its
supporters, and a new life will start for Armenia on May 7.

Hovhannisyan also called on the people not to yield to the pressure
and promises of the bribers. Several thousands of ARFD supporters
attended the rally.

CSTO MILITARY EXERCISES WILL BE HELD IN ARMENIA IN SEPTEMBER

ARMENPRESS
2 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS: The delegation headed by the Minister of
Defense of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan visited Astana on May 2nd.

Information and public relations department of Ministry of Defense of
Armenia reported to Armenpress, that the minister will take part in
the CSTO Defense Ministers Council, which will be held in the capital
of Kazakhstan, Astana on May 3. During the session will be discussed
some issues regarding the joint military exercise “Cooperation- 2012”,
which will be held in September, in the territory of the Republic of
Armenia and some points on the joint events regarding the development
and the improvement of the military cooperation of CSTO member states.

In the framework of the visit, the Defense Minister of Armenia
will meet his counterpart in Kazakhstan and visit the “KADEKS-2012”
international exhibition of armament and military equipment.

The Defense Ministers of CSTO member states will be received by the
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev as well.

SERGE SARKISSIAN APPELLE A UNE ” NOUVELLE ATMOSPHÈRE ” EN ARMENIE
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 4 mai 2012

Le president Serge Sarkissian a affirme que le parti Republicain
d’Armenie (HHK) et lui-meme travailleint dur pour creer un ” nouvel
et vraiment positif ” climat politique dans le pays.

” Nous disons qu’il est temps d’un changement irreversible de
l’atmosphère dans notre vie politique ” a dit Serge Sarkissian lors
d’une intervention deans le district de Nor Nork a Erevan. ” J’ai
personnellement et le parti Republicaine dans son entier ai tout fait
pour etablir une nouvelle et positive atmosphère en Armenie. Nous
continuerons a le faire “.

” Nous continuerons a construire les ponts de la cooperation et
chercher et trouver les points de convergence avec toutes les parties
interessees ” a-t-il dit, soulignant le besoin d’une longue stabilite
politique.

” Laissez les sceptiques regarder le parti Republicain et voir que nous
sommes la principale force politique qui a recrute des intellectuels,
des jeunes et des femmes ” a dit le chef du HHK aux electeurs de Nor
Nork. ” Laissez les sceptiques regarder le parti Republicain et voir
que nous avons aussi ete ouverts a la cooperation avec des individus
non-partisan et ceux affilies a d’autres partis “.