Author: Badalian Vardan

AZERBAIJAN WAITING FOR ARMENIA TO GO BANKRUPT: DE WAAL

epress.am
11.18.2011

The possibility of renewed hostilities between Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh is very small, Thomas de Waal, an expert on the
South Caucasus and senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace in Washington, said in an interview with
ArmRADIO-FM107.

“In July of this year, I travelled to Baku, and their reaction after
Kazan was that they don’t want war and they’re spending money on
weapons not to fight but to force Armenia to join the arms race and
go bankrupt. I think that Azerbaijan is living an illusion,” he said,
reports Russian-language news agency Regnum.

According to the analyst, regardless of financial means, Armenia won’t
make unilateral concessions. “If you go back 10-15 years ago, Armenia
and Azerbaijan were equal. Now Azerbaijan is clearly a richer and
stronger country. However, can this be linked with the Karabakh issue?

No, I don’t think so, because even if Armenia is poorer and weaker,
it will do everything in its power to protect Karabakh. And although
I don’t think Armenia has very good social and economic prospects,
I also don’t think that Armenia will be forced to cede Karabakh.”

CYBER SECURITY FOCUS OF MODEL OSCE CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
18.11.2011 12:38

Around 60 students from Armenia embarked on discussions and
negotiations on the importance of cyber security in a globalized
world, and possible OSCE action at a two-day Model OSCE Conference
that started today in Yerevan.

The Model OSCE Conference is an exercise during which the work of
the Permanent Council, the main decision-making body of the OSCE,
is simulated, with students playing roles of representatives of
OSCE participating States and bodies. The aim of the initiative
is to educate students about the OSCE and give them an opportunity
to experience first-hand the challenges of international diplomacy
in action.

This time, the conference participants will discuss and suggest
a course of action to tackle the challenge posed by an internet
grouping calling itself “The Shadow”, which threatens the security
of the region, inflicting substantial harm to hypothetical OSCE
participating States of Kartonia, Syland and Lotyko.

“In our interconnected world, people and institutions in participating
States of the OSCE, rely on the Internet for everything. We look
forward to hearing innovative ideas and fresh views on possible
ways of countering cyber threats, which the OSCE places high on its
agenda,” said Carel Hofstra, the Acting Head of the OSCE Office in
Yerevan. “At the same time, negotiating a common approach to combating
cyber crime requires from participants the application of diplomatic
and negotiation skills, and their development is another objective
of the Model OSCE initiative.

Prior to the conference, participants were trained in public speaking
and negotiation skills, and also participated in thematic workshops
on the OSCE, international relations and diplomacy, as well as
cyber crime.

Nvard Sununu, who played the role of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office,
said: “The simulation exercise hits three targets at the same time:
it presents the role of OSCE in the international relations, informs
young people of a certain problem, and provides them with a unique
opportunity to learn and develop debating, negotiating and public
speaking skills.”

The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been holding Model OSCE Conferences
since 2008.

TSVETANA PASKALEVA PRESENTS “THE KARABAKH’S WOUNDS”
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
18.11.2011 16:45

Bulgarian journalist Tsvetana Paskaleva prepared today a series of
films titled “The Karabakh’s Wounds” on the occasion of three jubilees
– the 20th anniversaries of the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh and twenty years of her residence in our country. The CDs with
seven films in six languages are already on sale in Armenia. 500 out of
the 1 000 copies released will be distributed among the military units.

The documentaries will be presented in Artsakh, Russia, France,
Bulgaria and other countries. Today the author handed the first copy
to President Serzh Sargsyan.

The “Wounds of Karabakh” includes seven documentaries on the
Artsakh liberation war. The films have been translated into Russian,
Spanish, English, Bulgarian and French. Tsvetana Paskaleva and the
“Armenian Music Center” Company intend to distribute the films in
the above-mentioned countries.

“The world seems to forget about Karabakh. I want to remind the
international community about the path Artsakh has passed and present
how it has achieved its victories,” the author said.

Tsvetana Paskaleva first visited Artsakh in May 1991. Artsakh changed
her destiny.

“Armenia and Artsakh became the basis of my professional outlook. I
realized my role as a documentalist. I just found myself in the right
place at the right time.”

Tsvetana Paskaleva expressed gratitude to all those who have
contributed to the creation of the series of documentaries.

LA-based KCAL Channel 9 to air Armenia Fund’s Telethon

November 19, 2011 – 12:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The last 4 hours (4:00pm-8:00pm PST) of Armenia
Fund’s 14th International Thanksgiving Day Telethon will be broadcast
over Los Angeles-based KCAL Channel 9, a subsidiary of CBS
Corporation, one of the largest network-owned station groups in the
United States.

Raising funds for drinking water and irrigation projects in Artsakh,
the Telethon will air live from Hollywood on November 24, 2011,
8:00AM-8:00PM PST coast-to-coast and around the world. Airing for 12
hours, Telethon 2011 will reach every continent through satellite,
cable and the internet.

`Our cause is humanitarian that is close to the heart of every human
being regardless of ethnicity, race or nationality,” said Sarkis
Kotanjian, Executive Director of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region.
`You don’t have to be Armenian to realize that there can be no life
without water and to want to make a difference in the lives of tens of
thousands by providing something very basic – water.’

Last year’s Telethon raised enough funds to provide 27,000 residents
in Armenian towns and villages with round-the-clock supply of clean
drinking water. This year, with the support of its donors, Armenia
Fund has a real chance to make sure that no resident in Artsakh is
left without water.

In Southern California, the Telethon can be viewed on KSCI Channel 18,
KVMD, Shant and USArmenia networks for full 12 hours.

In the Glendale/Burbank/Pasadena/La Canada areas in addition to Shant
(Charter Channel 388) and USArmenia (Charter Channel 386), the
Telethon broadcast will be also shown on AABC (Charter Channel 384),
HighVision (Charter Channel 381), ICFN (Charter Channel 382), Horizon
(Charter Channel 385), RUSTV (Charter Channel 387) and AMGA (Charter
Channel 380) Armenian TV channels for full 12 hours.

In Armenia, the Telethon can be viewed for full 12 hours on H1,
Armenia, Shant and Yerkir Media networks beginning 20:00.

The live 12 hour high-quality webcast can be viewed anywhere in the
world at

ALMA to host workshop on Armenian dance

November 19, 2011 – 12:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Curators of the Armenian Library and Museum of
America (ALMA) Gary and Susan Lind-Sinanian will teach a special
workshop focused on Armenian Village Dance at ALMA on Sunday, December
4, 2011.

The Armenian dance heritage has been one of the oldest, richest and
most varied in the Near East. Traditional dancing is still popular
among expatriate Armenians today and all dancers wear the traditional
costume to embody the history of their culture and bring their
ancestors stories alive. The beautiful movements of the Armenian
cultural dance are adored by all audience around the world, ALMA says
in a press release.

Gary and Susan Lind-Sinanian are specialists in the traditional dances
of Armenia. Over the last 35 years, they have collected more than 200
original Armenian folk dances and have lectured and taught extensively
in North America, Asia and Europe.

Dink murder suspect reportedly traveled to Azerbaijan prior to assassination

November 19, 2011 – 14:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The father of one of the suspected conspirators in
the murder of journalist Hrant Dink has released new information on
his son’s connections with police informants and said the real people
behind the assassination must be revealed.

`We learned that my son had gone off to Azerbaijan before the murder,
even though he had no passport or money,’ suspected instigator Yasin
Hayal’s father, Bahattin Hayal said, Hürriyet Daily News reported.

The case will never be illuminated unless police informant Erhan
Tuncel’s connections are revealed in full first, he said, adding that
his son was used as a pawn.

`They stayed at a luxury hotel in Akçaabat [a district in the Black
Sea province of Trabzon]. My son was introduced to two persons in the
hotel. Erhan Tuncel had told [him] that one of these was the Chechen
chief of staff,’ Bahattin Hayal said, adding that his son’s trip to
the Akçaabat with Tuncel constituted yet another point that needed to
be further investigated.

`I am deeply saddened by this murder. I have no courage to venture
near Rakel Dink [Hrant Dink’s widow]. This case will not come to light
unless Erhan Tuncel’s connections are found. The true criminals must
be revealed,’ he added.

Bahattin Hayal said he attempted to meet with the Dink family’s
lawyers several times, and added that they had told him to convince
his son to reveal the truth. However, one of Dink family’s lawyers,
Bahri Belen, said he had not been previously aware of the father’s
statements.

`I do not know how serious Tuncel’s statements are. I do not know
whether he was specifically selected to issue such statements either.
He gave us no information regarding Azerbaijan or Akçaabat,’ Belen
said.

TURQUIE: LES KURDES SE DENONCENT AUPRÈS DES TRIBUNAUX

MediaPart
Publie le : 18-11-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
presente cet article de Maxime Azadi publie le 17 novembre 2011 sur
son blog heberge sur Mediapart.

Photo: Selahattin Demirtas

Des responsables du principal parti legal kurde qui siège au parlement
turc se denoncent auprès des procureurs de la Republique, dans le
cadre de la campagne ” Je me denonce ” pour protester contre les
arrestations massives.

Alors que le premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordonne la
poursuite des operations visant le Parti pour la paix et la democratie
(BDP) et toute opposition dans le cadre l’affaire KCK, accuse d’etre
la branche politique du PKK qui, selon Erdogan, ~uvre pour un Etat ”
parallèle “, le BDP lance une nouvelle campagne pour protester contre
l’injustice et les pratiques ” fascisantes “.

Des membres du BDP, dont le co-president Selahattin Demirtas, se
sont denonces le 16 novembre auprès du procureur de la republique
d’Istanbul dote de pouvoirs speciaux. ” Nous avons commis les memes
crimes et nous continuerons a les commettre ” a declare le BDP,
avant de soumettre la petition ” je me denonce ” au procureur.

Un processus fragile

“Nous sommes dans un processus fragile ” a affirme le co-president du
parti kurde, rappelant que des milliers de personnes, dont des elus,
universitaires, journalistes, syndicalistes, etudiants et des auteurs
ont ete incarceres avec des accusations ” mensongères “.

Parmi les detenus figurent notamment l’editeur Ragip Zarakolu et la
professeure Busra Ersanli, arretes lors de la dernière grande rafle
menee le 28 octobre a Istanbul contre le BDP. Ces arrestations ont
provoque une grande vague d’indignation de la part des organisations
internationales de la societe civile.

” Nous ne pouvons pas acceptez cette injustice. Notre campagne se
propagera dans tous le villes et les districts ” a ajoute Demirtas.

Erdogan menace

“Les dernières operations visant le KCK. Personne ne doit s’attendre
a ce qu’elles se terminent ” avait declare le 7 novembre le premier
ministre dans sa ville natale de Rize, menacant de poursuites
judiciaires pour les medias et les milieux democratiques turcs qui
denoncent la repression contre les kurdes. ” Que ce soit dans la presse
ou autre part, il faut faire attention a ce que l’on dit sur le KCK,
cela revient a soutenir le terrorisme. ”

” Les libertes ont des limites ” a-t-il encore insiste mardi 15
novembre, avertissant une nouvelle fois les journalistes.

La liberte d’expression est plus que jamais menacee en Turquie qui
est devenue la plus grande prison du monde pour les journalistes,
avec environ 70.

Un coup politique

L’affaire KCK est un ” coup politique ” du gouvernement AKP, denonce
Demirtas, lors d’une reunion avec des responsables de son parti a
Istanbul. “Il ne s’agit pas d’un processus legal. C’est carrement un
coup politique. Les coups ne se font pas uniquement avec des fusils
(…) Mais nous ne plierons jamais devant Erdogan ”

Depuis 2009, près de 8 000 membres du BDP ont ete arretees pour des
faits d’exercice de la liberte d’expression, sans compter l’arrestation
des milliers d’autres personnes accusees d’entretenir des liens avec
le PKK. Au moins 18 maires sur 99 et six deputes BDP sont parmi les
detenus, ce qui fait la Turquie d’Erdogan la plus grande prison du
monde pour les elus.

Retour a la rubrique

LE CHEF DE LA POLICE D’UN DISTRICT D’EREVAN ACCUSE DE CORRUPTION
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 18 novembre 2011

Le chef de la police du district d’Erebuni a Erevan, Grigor Grigorian,
a ete mis a la porte mercredi après avoir ete accuse de corruption.

La police affirme que l’officier, Mihran Keshishian, est entre en
clandestinite après avoir ete formellement accuse d’exiger 13000 $
pour mettre fin a une enquete criminelle sur un traffic de drogue
dans la prison de Nubarashen a Erevan.

Le chef du departement de police d’Erevan, le General Nerses Nazarian,
a reconnu la liaison directe entre le renvoi de Grigorian et le cas
de corruption pris en charge par le Service Special d’Investigation
(SIS). ” Chaque manager est responsable de son personnel ” a-t-il
dit au service armenien de RFE/RL (Azatutyun.am).

” Je pense qu’il serait assez prudent qu’il se livre ” a dit Nerses
Nazarian, en ce qui concerne l’officier fugitif. ” Dans le cas
contraire il sera certainement traque. Il ne peut pas rester dans la
nature “.

Au moins une douzaine de hauts fonctionnaires de la police a ete
ecartee ou deplacee vers d’autres positions depuis la nomination
de Vladimir Gasparian par le President Serge Sarkissian en tant que
nouveau chef de la police il y a une semaine.

Dans une declaration publiee mercredi, la police a accuse les
medias d’etendre de fausses ” rumeurs et commerages ” derrière ces
changements et ainsi ” d’empecher le travail normal de la police “. ”
Les changements de cadre en cours dans l’organigramme [de la police]
… visent a l’amelioration de son travail et de son efficacite ”
dit la declaration.

Dans ce cadre respect, Nerses Nazarian a refute une information
de la presse annoncant qu’il allait aussi perdre son travail. ”
Le ministre m’a dit que nous allons mieux travailler ensemble et
pendant une longue periode de temps ” a dit le general de la police.

UNIQUE WORKS OF SAMVEL HAMBARDZUMYAN OPENS AT LEFT COAST GALLERIES
By Mike Szymanski

Patch.com
Nov 18 2011

The Armenian artist has had his work shown in more than 25 museums
throughout the world.

The artist attended the opening, and he said:

“I see myself as an Armenian artist, perceiving the universal as well
as the cultural significance of art, highly valuing the precious
achievements of classical artists. The power of my art is hidden
in the efforts to connect the discoveries of my predecessors with
contemporary ideas eager to see the eternity of their birth.

“The world to me is the big theater where my characters have roles
to enjoy with their dramatic, mysterious, or joyful even grotesque
images. Some of them display the promise of love; others awake various
emotions with outlined demonstrations of their bodies. Some characters
serenely swing on ropes or dance to fast rythmns. Other characters
with the tension of a tight string grasp onto unstable ladders trying
to maintain their balance. The rest for into passionate crowds,
escaping to indistinct directions.”

Watch video at

TIGRAN HAMASYAN: A FABLE
By Sharonne Cohen

JazzTimes Magazine

Nov 18 2011

Tigran Hamasyan’s fourth album, a vibrant solo recording drawing from
the music and poetry of his native Armenia, further solidifies the
acclaim the 24-year-old pianist has garnered since his teens. While
demonstrating his monster chops, the emphasis here is on simple,
captivating melodies-both traditional songs and original compositions,
imbued with a sense of veneration and longing.

Hamasyan interprets “The Spinners,” a song recorded by mystic
philosopher G.I. Gurdjieff and composer T. De Hartmann in the 1920s,
with his unique, lyrical touch. The Armenian folksong “Kakavik (The
Little Partridge)” is played in alternating tempos and oscillating
temperaments. Based on a medieval religious Armenian hymn, “Mother,
Where Are You?” resonates with an aching tenderness. Hamasyan expresses
his love of poetry through “The Legend of the Moon,” a wistful original
inspired by 20th-century poet Gegham Saryan. And on the melancholy
“Longing” he sings two verses by renowned Armenian poet Hovhannes
Tumanyan, capturing a yearning for “my native forests …

calling me to come back.”

The pianist contributes vocals on several other tracks: His
singing and whistling on the cascading “What the Waves Brought” skew
otherworldly; the driving “Carnaval” is enhanced by wordless song and
percussion. “Someday My Prince Will Come,” the lone jazz standard,
is re-harmonized and re-imagined within the framework of the album’s
concept and mood. Darker and more somber, it nonetheless maintains
a sense of hopefulness.