Armenia’s Syunik Region scandalous governor intends to defend academic degree
news.am
January 29, 2012 | 16:16
KAPAN. – Armenia’s Syunik Region Governor Suren Khachatryan intends to
defend his thesis and become a candidate of historical sciences, he
told Armenian News-NEWS.am adding the thesis will dwell on the history
of Syunik in 1918-1929ss.
Using the opportunity, Khachatryan congratulated for the 20th
anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces.
Photographer Hrair `Hawk’ Khatcherian to Speak at ALMA
Posted by Armenian Weekly
January 28, 2012
Photographer Hrair `Hawk’ Khatcherian
WATERTOWN, Mass. – On Sun., Feb. 12, Canadian Armenian photographer
Hrair `Hawk’ Khatcherian will give an illustrated presentation on his
latest book Yergir 2 Yergir (2011), a journey through Western Armenia.
A globe-trotter and a pilgrim, Khatcherian dedicated himself to
photographing the Armenian heritage after surviving lung cancer in
1993. He has been to 44 countries in the last 17 years, documenting
Armenian monuments, mostly churches, around the world.
A renowned photographer, he has published several books of
photography, including Artsakh: a Photographic Journey (1997),
Karabagh: 100 Photos (2002), Yergir: Pilgrimage Through Western
Armenia 1997-2002 (2004), and Armenian Ornamental Art (2010), in
collaboration with Armen Kyurkchyan.
The talk begins at 2 p.m. in ALMA’s Contemporary Art Gallery, 3rd
floor. It is free and open to the public. Books will be available for
purchase the day of the event. A closing reception of Martin
Barooshian’s paintings exhibit will take place after Khatcherian’s
talk.
For more information, visit
PARIS
Les Assises annuelles de lutte anti-négationniste
Le négationnisme d’État
Dimanche 29 Janvier 2012
de 9h30 à 18h
9h30 Accueil
Armand Derhy, directeur de l’ESG Management School, Frédéric Encel,
politologue, professeur à l’ESG Management School
10h00 – Ouverture des travaux
Serge Klarsfeld, avocat, écrivain, chasseur de nazis
10h30-11h45 Techniques et manoeuvres des régimes négationnistes
Christophe Bourseiller, essayiste, journaliste
Valérie Igounet, essayiste, historienne
Gaïdz Minassian, maître de conférences à Sciences-Po Paris
Yves Ternon, ancien chef de la commission d’enquête citoyenne
12h-13h15 Comment combattre le phénomène ?
Jonathan Hayoun, président de l’UEJF
Patrick Klugman, avocat, conseiller de Paris
Alexis Govciyan, conseiller régional, président de Europe de la Mémoire
Dominique Sopo, président de SOS Racisme
Pause
14h15-15h30 La France face au négationnisme d’État
Christian Makarian, rédacteur en chef à « L’Express »
Patrick de Saint-Exupéry, grand reporter, directeur de « XXI »v Yves
Thréard, rédacteur en chef au « Figaro »
15h45-17h15 Qu’en disent les grands partis de gouvernement ?
Valérie Boyer, députée UMP des Bouches du Rhône
René Rouquet, Député Radical du Val de Marne
Ivan Levaï, journaliste
17h30 – Clôture des travaux
Marek Halter, rescapé, écrivain
Grand amphithétre de l’ESG Management School
25 rue St Ambroise 75011 PARIS
dimanche 29 janvier 2012,
Ara ©armenews.com
FRENCH SENATORS GIVEN TIME TO APPEAL ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL?
Tert.am
27.01.12
The French Constitutional Council has allowed time for French senators
and parliamentarians to collect enough signatures to appeal the
recently approved bill on the 1915 killings of Armenians, Hurriyet
Daily News reported, citing a diplomatic source.
The signatures of 60 parliamentary members or senators are required
to appeal legislation to the Constitutional Council in France. A
diplomatic source was quoted as saying that the bill would not be
sent to the Elysee until today. French President Nicolas Sarkozy
is expected to approve the legislation within two weeks. Union for
a Popular Movement (UMP) member and Chairman of the Turkish-French
Parliamentary Group Michel Diefenbacher has said that the number of
MPs of the Lower House of French Parliament to appeal the denial bill
to the high court had reached 35, according to Anatolia news agency.
Head of the European Democratic and Social Rally party (RDSE) Jacques
Mezard was quoted as saying their group had also started to collect
signatures to take the bill to the Constitutional Council. Meanwhile,
the Turkish Embassy in Baku said yesterday it would be best for France
to resign from its co-chair position in the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, Anatolia news agency
reported. The statement is said to have condemned the bill which is
described as an insult to Turkish people. Historians have said France
lost its neutrality with the recent bill, the statement read.
The bill will not contribute to the Turkey-Armenia and
Azerbaijan-Armenia relations but will strengthen hatred among people,
it said.
Another condemnation to the French bill came from Turkish Parliament’s
Human Rights Commission on Thursday. The commission said the bill was
regarded as “a symbol of return to the Dark Ages when the guillotine
was used. ” Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to
make an appointment to listen to the opinions of Turks on the recent
bill, according to the Islamic Council of France deputy president.
Haydar Demiryurek said he conveyed the discomfort of Turks on the
recent bill when Sarkozy received members of the Islamic Council of
France. I conveyed rebuke of French citizens of Turkish origin living
in this country to him, ” Demiryurek said, adding that Sarkozy promised
to make an appointment to listen to the views of Turks.
NAGORNO KARABAKH: THE BLACK GARDEN (PHOTOS)
01/27/2012
Olivia Katrandjian.Journalist and Travel Writer GET UPDATES FROM
Olivia Katrandjian
stumble If you’re looking for an adventure through largely unknown
territory, Nagorno Karabakh, a landlocked autonomous region between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, is the place to go. A country recognized
by no one, it’s the kind of place that’s so contested that not only
does it not have an embassy anywhere, but its “Office of Permanent
Representation” in Armenia doesn’t even ask if you want your visa
pasted into your passport. They know you don’t, so they just attach
it with a paper clip.
Once you make it to Karabakh (which is only accessible through
Armenia), stay at the recently-built Armenia Hotel in the capital,
Stepanakert, and use the city as your base to explore the region.
Feast on shish kebob and grilled vegetables. Go to the local market
where an old Armenian woman will fry you a piece of jengyalov hatz,
a bread stuffed with 13 types of herbs, on a burning hot griddle.
While in Stepanakert, visit the Museum of Fallen Soldiers, where the
walls are lined with photographs the Armenians who died during the
1990-1994 war with Azerbaijan.
Don’t miss the Gandzasar Monastery, meaning “hilltop treasure,”
built in the 10th century. Visit at night when the lighting gives
this ancient church a ghostly presence.
To explore the countryside, use the Janapar hiking trail, which
will take you through snow-topped mountains and fields of yellow and
red flowers.
“Karabakh and Armenia have always had footpaths used by natives to get
from one village to the next, to monasteries and to trade routes,”
said Raffi Kojian, who designed the trail in 2007. “Shepherds have
created a network as well, to graze the animals. The Janapar is a
weaving of these many paths to form one long route for visitors who
want to experience some of the best Karabakh has to offer. Hikers
will meet lots of helpful and curious locals along the route, and no
doubt experience some of the legendary hospitality.”
The trail is designed to end at a different village each night, so you
can easily plan accommodations. If you’re staying with a local, don’t
be surprised if you’re offered homemade mulberry vodka with breakfast.
ARMENIAN EXPERT: BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS MAY FOLLOW FRANCE’S SUIT
PanARMENIAN.Net
January 27, 2012 – 13:00 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Even French Senate’s adoption of the bill
criminalizing Genocide denial will not affect Turkey’s position on
Armenian Genocide recognition, according to an Armenian expert
“Official Turkey won’t recognize the Armenian Genocide until its
public is ready for it. Meanwhile, Belgium and the Netherlands are
likely to follow France’s suit due to having a similar stance on the
issue,” Artak Shakaryan said.
“Turkey itself doesn’t strive to join the EU in face of the eurozone
crisis. Besides, there are a number of more serious issues, Cyprus
dispute, for instance, that hamper Turkey’s accession process,”
the expert stated, dwelling on deterioration of Turkish-EU ties.
Commenting on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s statement
on the draft law penalizing the Armenia Genocide denial, Shakaryan
stressed the need for U.S. to recognize the Armenian Genocide first,
and then only discuss adoption of similar bills.
On January 23 the French Senate passed the bill with 127 votes for
and 86 against.
On December 22, 2011, it was adopted by the French National Assembly.
The bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for
anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by
the Ottoman Empire.
The bill is believed to take effect in France within two weeks,
after it will be signed by President.
TSVETANA PASKALEVA CALLS TO TRUST THE ARMENIAN ARMY
ARMENPRESS
27 January, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian army has proved the
world that it is the most battle-worthy army, Bulgarian journalist,
film director Tsvetana Paskaleva told the reporters January 27, ahead
of the 20th anniversary of formation of the Armenian Army. She noted
with pain that Armenia and Artsakh are permanently facing the threat of
resumption of war, thus Armenian soldiers must be awake and vigilant.
Paskaleva remembered also the heroes of the Artsakh liberation war
with who she was in the battle field. “In my films I was trying to
create the characters of those I recognized and saw, so that they
always be in our memory. I was lucky to communicate with these heroes,
stay alive and transfer their heroic character to you, to the Armenian
and world history,” she said.
Paskaleva said very educated officers are serving in the Armenian army,
they can debate over each issue. But in propaganda war our country
concedes. “Having all the truth in its hands, including documents and
the result of the final victory the Armenian side is more passive
in the propaganda war. Armenians think the world knows the obvious
truth,” she said. But the world has its concerns and it needs to be
told the truth. The political environment is not a vacuum, it is ready
to hear the truth. The bright example of it is the adoption of bill
penalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the French Senate.
Paskaleva said it is necessary to be mobile. Army is a sensitive
place. It is necessary to trust it.
ARMENIA’S STATE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA TO GIVE CONCERT WITH WALTER JONG
ARMENPRESS
27 January, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s State Philharmonic orchestra
will give a classical concert with South Korean Walter Jong February
11 at Aram Khachaturyan concert hall.
The program will include works of Schubert, Paganini, Dworzak. The
soloists will be Nikolay Madoyan, violin and Walter Jong, conductor,
Narine Amiryan, music affairs manager of the concert hall told
Armenpress.
KARABAKH’S DM SAYS DEFENSE ARMY TO ENSURE SECURITY OF THE NKR
ARMENPRESS
27 January, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS: The Defense Army has never made
anyone doubt that it may ensure the security of Nagorno Karabakh,
Defense Minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, Commander of
Defense Army Movses Hakobyan told Armenpress.
Speaking about the formation of the army, Hakobyan said the army was
formed more than 20 years ago, it was just left to form the documents.
“In reality the army was formed quite earlier as the aggression toward
the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia’s borderline villages
started earlier than January 28, 1992,” the DA Commander said, adding
that on January 28 the Defense Ministry was created.
“During these twenty years the army has gone through war, it has been
reinforced and has grown up. I would like our army be victorious both
at the military exercises in peace time and in the battle-field,”
Hakobyan said.
THINGS START MOVING: FRENCH GENOCIDE BILL CHANGES REALITY AROUND TURKEY
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
27.01.12 | 13:46
Photo:
Ahmet Davutoglu and Sergey Lavrov (right)
Turkey is not in a hurry to materialize its threats of economic
sanctions against France, as it deems the law passed by the Senate
of France criminalizing the public denial of the Armenian genocide
is not yet a final decision by Paris. So says Turkey’s Deputy Prime
Minister Ali Babacan.
Turkey has so far limited its actions to some demonstrative steps,
showing what it can do if French President Nicolas Sarkozy signs the
law, which is expected in the coming days.
Immediately after the January 23 adoption of the law in the senate,
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu went to Moscow, after earlier
canceling his trip to Brussels. In the Russian capital, the top Turkish
diplomat made a number of remarkable statements. First, it was stated
there that trade between Russia and Turkey may reach a $100 billion
mark over the next five years. Secondly, Davutoglu said that Turkey
will not become a springboard for attacks on Iran. And before that,
a Turkish minister who visited Moscow said that, along with Russia,
Turkey is in favor of non-interference in Syrian affairs.
Besides, an unprecedented joint statement was issued by the foreign
ministers of Russia and Turkey on the Karabakh problem.
Therefore Turkey tried to show that if pressure continues it will form
an alliance with Russia and Iran, refusing to cooperate with the West.
But, apparently, the West has not been deterred by this either.
Experts do not even rule out that France is intentionally provoking
Turkey into taking some drastic steps to abandon its allied services.
Apparently, Turkey is also aware that her being an Islamic country
and simultaneously a member of NATO sometimes does not satisfy the
Western community. With the adoption of a bill criminalizing the
denial of the Armenian Genocide France’s Sarkozy, who is running for a
second presidential term in spring, hopes to gain the support of not
only ethnic Armenian voters, but also those of the far-right circles
that suffer from Islamophobia and oppose Turkey’s membership in the
European Union, claimed Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu.
The French Senate law criminalizing the denial of the Armenian
Genocide, the discussions of an Armenian Genocide recognition bill
in the Knesset of Israel and a possible adoption of such a law in the
German Parliament show that the process of international affirmation
of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire is unstoppable,
said director of the Yerevan-based Center for Regional Studies
Richard Giragosian.
The Armenian genocide issue has been considered by Israeli
parliamentarians for quite some time now. And recently a German
parliamentarian said that discussions of the issue might soon begin
also at the Bundestag.
Director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan
also believes that “the train of the Armenian Genocide recognition
in the world has set off and it cannot be stopped.” According to him,
this event has changed the reality around Turkey and Europe’s attitude
towards Turkey.
Director of the Institute of Political and Social Studies of the
Black Sea-Caspian region Vladimir Zakharov said: “Now it is impossible
to say that there was no Armenian Genocide as Turkey and Azerbaijan
have tried to do it.” He added that the adoption of such a law by one
of the most influential countries will inevitably lead to a wave of
other recognitions of the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian Genocide is, indeed, a subject being discussed
internationally. Thus, British Prime Minister David Cameron, recently
replying to the question of a Turkish delegate at the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe regarding the French criminalization
of the Armenian genocide denial, said that appalling things were
happening to Armenians and atrocities were committed against them.
“Our position on the issue raised is clear. Appalling things happened
to the Armenian people; appalling atrocities were committed. It is
important to state that, but we have to live in the present,” said
the British prime minister, adding that the UK has a legislation
making it possible to prosecute people for appalling war crimes.
The French Senate’s passage of the bill also appears to have inspired
Armenian American lobby groups with greater optimism for a genocide
resolution in the United States. Aram Hamparian, the Executive Director
of the Armenian National Committee of America, the largest of such
groups, earlier this week again urged U.S. President Barack Obama to
honor his pledge to recognize the mass killings and deportations of
1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
“The courageous vote by the French Senate shines the spotlight across
the Atlantic, on American policymakers, who, for far too long,
have let Ankara block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,”
said Hamparian.