Collectif VAN : L’Ephemeride Du 15 Novembre 2011

COLLECTIF VAN : L’éPHéMéRIDE DU 15 NOVEMBRE 2011

Publié le : 15-11-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – La rubrique “Ephéméride”
du Collectif VAN a été lancée le 6 décembre 2010. Elle recense
la liste d’événements survenus a une date donnée, a différentes
époques de l’Histoire, sur les thématiques que l’association suit au
quotidien. L’éphéméride du Collectif VAN repose sur des informations
en ligne sur de nombreux sites (les sources sont spécifiées sous
chaque entrée). Vous pouvez retrouver tous les éphémérides du
Collectif VAN dans la Rubrique Actions VAN, en cliquant sur ces liens:

Les éphémérides du Collectif VAN (1ère partie)

Les éphémérides du Collectif VAN (2ème partie)

Légende photo: 15 novembre 1895 — Empire ottoman : Journal de la
femme d’un Consul de France en Arménie. L’effroyable tragédie qui,
a la fin de 1895, inonda l’Arménie de sang chrétien, est mal connue
dans ses détails. Sans doute quelques missions publièrent alors des
lettres de témoins oculaires; sans doute aussi, un Livre Jaune donna,
avec des statistiques des massacres, un certain nombre de rapports
de nos consuls MM. Carlier, Meyrier, Cillière, et les documents de
plusieurs enquêtes officielles. Mais tous ces éléments réunis
restaient insuffisants pour nous mettre a même de revivre par la
pensée cette sinistre époque.(Masson-Forestier) Emilie Carlier,
épouse d’un consul de France, a tenu, au cÅ”ur de la crise de 1895,
un journal qui figure parmi les premiers grands témoignages recus
en Occident. Extrait: ” Il paraît que c’est vraiment fini. Les
derniers Arméniens quittent l’église et Mehemet, leur gardien,
rentre chez nous. Toute la ville sent une odeur de charnier ; on est
obligé de fermer les fenêtres.

J’apprends que les soeurs voudraient me voir. J’y pars, suivie
des deux cawas. Aucun cadavre sur la route, mais du sang partout,
poissant aux pieds, des débris de cervelle, des cheveux. Partout
des maisons saccagées.

Photo: Janina. – Quartier du consulat de France barricadé.

Ca s’est passé un 15 novembre (les événements sont classés du
plus ancien au plus récent) :

15 novembre 1491 — A La Guardia, près de Tolède, 6 juifs et 5
conversos, accusés de tuer des chrétiens a l’aide de la magie noire,
sont condamnés a mort. Ils sont brÔlés sur le bÔcher le lendemain.

Israelvivra.com

15 novembre 1895 — Empire ottoman : Journal de la femme d’un Consul
de France en Arménie. L’effroyable tragédie qui, a la fin de 1895,
inonda l’Arménie de sang chrétien, est mal connue dans ses détails.

Sans doute quelques missions publièrent alors des lettres de
témoins oculaires; sans doute aussi, un Livre Jaune donna, avec
des statistiques des massacres, un certain nombre de rapports de nos
consuls MM. Carlier, Meyrier, Cillière, et les documents de plusieurs
enquêtes officielles. Mais tous ces éléments réunis restaient
insuffisants pour nous mettre a même de revivre par la pensée cette
sinistre époque.(Masson-Forestier) Emilie Carlier, épouse d’un consul
de France, a tenu, au cŔur de la crise de 1895, un journal qui figure
parmi les premiers grands témoignages recus en Occident. Extrait: ”
Il paraît que c’est vraiment fini. Les derniers Arméniens quittent
l’église et Mehemet, leur gardien, rentre chez nous. Toute la ville
sent une odeur de charnier ; on est obligé de fermer les fenêtres.

J’apprends que les soeurs voudraient me voir. J’y pars, suivie
des deux cawas. Aucun cadavre sur la route, mais du sang partout,
poissant aux pieds, des débris de cervelle, des cheveux. Partout des
maisons saccagées. Panayoti me montre l’endroit où, le 12, quand il
est passé, une voix, la voix d’un Turc, lui a crié tout a coup :
Jette-toi a droite ! Il a obéi et une balle lui a rasé l’oreille,
une autre a déchiré sa tunique. Il a vainement cherché a savoir
qui tirait. Sur la route, il a vu tuer sept ou huit Arméniens, comme
des moutons, sans qu’ils aient tenté de se défendre, muets. Et
pourtant ce sont de solides gaillards. J’arrive chez les soeurs, qui
ne peuvent s’empêcher de m’embrasser en pleurant. Je leur demande
des détails, mais elles ne savent rien. Au contraire, ce sont elles
qui m’en demandent. Elles s’étaient enfermées dans leur maison,
qui est au milieu d’une cour, et sont restées en prières avec les
enfants qu’elles avaient recueillis.

Elles disent que, selon Panayoti, c’est moi qui ai proposé qu’il
aille chez le vali bien que le Consulat n’eÔt plus de défenseurs. Je
leur assure que c’est Maurice, – ce qui est la vérité. Au Consulat,
nos hôtes sont toujours bien terrifiés. Nous avons 37 personnes
a nourrir.

” Carlier, Emilie. Au milieu des massacres, Journal de la femme
d’un Consul de France en Arménie. Paris, Félix Juven, 1903
Imprescriptible.fr : JOURNAL De la femme d’un Consul de France en
Arménie Imprescriptible.fr : Avant-Propos du journal d’Emilie Carlier
Imprescriptible.fr : Au milieu des massacres

15 novembre 1912 — Empire ottoman : Les premiers groupes de
volontaires sont déja apparus a Sofia, sous la direction de Ghougas
Minassian, membre de la FRA locale, alors que d’autres contacts
se nouent entre Onnik Karakeuzian et le commandant de la garnison
de Plovdiv. Le bataillon, constitué de près de 300 hommes et de
volontaires bulgares, commandés par Antranig et K. Nejdéh, est
rassemblé a Plovdiv a la fin octobre. Il se distingue dans plusieurs
batailles, notamment celle du 15 novembre 1912, au cours de laquelle
Antranig et ses hommes font prisonniers toute la division de Haver
pacha. © Revue d’Histoire Arménienne Contemporaine pour toutes les
éditions |© Yves Ternon pour le texte Mardin 1915 Imprescriptible.fr
: Les relations entre le Comité Union et Progrès et la Fédération
Révolutionnaire Arménienne a la veille de la Première Guerre
mondiale d’après les sources arméniennes

15 novembre 1914 — France : publication du N°1638 du périodique ”
Les Annales”. Au sommaire : ” Pensées vers Stamboul . ” Archives
Imprescriptible

15 novembre 1914 — Empire ottoman : L’agent consulaire d’Italie
chargé des intérêts francais a Van, a S. E. Mr l’ambassadeur de
France, a Petrograd. ”…..Une semaine après le départ de M. de
Standfort, c’est-a-dire le 15 novembre 1914, le secrétaire du vilayet
et le directeur de l’Instruction Publique, accompagnés des agents de
police, se présentèrent sans aucune délégation de la part de cette
agence consulaire, chez les R. Pères Dominicains et les Soeurs de
la Présentation, et les sommèrent de quitter immédiatement leurs
couvents et de remettre tous leurs établissements scolaires et de
bienfaisance au gouvernement ottoman. Les religieux furent obligés
de quitter leurs demeures le jour même, ne pouvant obtenir des
fonctionnaires ottomans que la permission d’emporter avec eux quelques
objets de première nécessité. . . . . ” Imprescriptible.fr :
Document Italien

15 novembre 1915 — Empire ottoman : Le chargé d’affaires allemand
baron Konstantin von Neurath, accueille le nouvel ambassadeur,
le comte von Paul Wolff-Metternich, qui représentait l’Allemagne
impériale a partir de cette date jusqu’a 3 Octobre 1916. Le chargé
d’affaires avait été en charge de la représentation diplomatique
allemande en Turquie depuis le 2 Octobre 1915.

ANI : Chronology of the Armenian Genocide — 1915 (October-December)

Début octobre a mi-novembre 1915 — Empire ottoman : camp de transit
d’Arabpunar (vilayet d’Alep) : 4 000 déportés y meurent en six
semaines, victimes d’épidémies.

** (Kévorkian, 2006 :802).

Mass Violence – par Raymond Kévorkian

15 novembre 1916 — Empire ottoman : le gouvernement francais a
décidé de prêter son concours aux populations arméniennes et
syriennes désireuses de combattre contre les Turcs. En conséquence,
le ministre de la Guerre a décidé, a la date du 15 novembre 1916,
la création d’une Légion d’Orient composée d’hommes de troupe
auxiliaires d’origine ottomane, recrutés par voie d’engagement
volontaire. Cette légion sera a la solde du gouvernement francais
; toutefois, les légionnaires étant des militaires auxiliaires,
non incorporés dans l’armée francaise, n’auront droit, en cas
d’inaptitude au service résultant de blessure, maladie ou accident,
a aucune pension de retraite ou gratification de réforme. La Légion
d’Orient sera encadrée par des officiers et sous-officiers francais,
ou servant a titre étranger, auxquels pourront être adjoints des
cadres auxiliaires pris parmi les légionnaires. Elle sera constituée
a Chypre. Elle est destinée a des opérations éventuelles en Turquie
d’Asie, et sera placée pour son emploi sous le haut commandement
du contre-amiral commandant la division navale de Syrie. La Légion
pourra être licenciée par le ministère de la Guerre. © Revue
d’Histoire Arménienne Contemporaine pour toutes les éditions |©
Yves Ternon pour le texte Mardin 1915 Imprescriptible.fr : La légion
d’Orient et le mandat francais enbCilicie ANNEXE N°1 Instruction
sur l’organisation de la Légion d’Orient

15 novembre 1917 — France : publication du N°161 du périodique ”
Le Pays de France”. Au sommaire : ” Musa Dagh”.

Archives Imprescriptible

15 novembre 1917 — Empire ottoman : le colonel Chardigny, attaché
militaire francais a l’armée du Caucase, lui remit a Ourmiah même,
la Croix de guerre pour le récompenser de sa courageuse attitude
durant l’occupation turco-kurde. Le gouvernement francais voulait
même le faire nommer consul. Il fut décoré également par le Shah
de Perse le 20 janvier 1917. Mgr. Sontag s’attacha a développer les
écoles, les orphelinats, les dispensaires, le séminaire chaldéen
de Khosrawa, l’imprimerie d’Ourmiah et encouragea l’apprentissage de
la langue araméenne.

Imprescriptible.fr : Un Francais Alsacien martyr pour les
Assyro-Chaldéens : Monseigneur Sontag

15 novembre 1918 — France : publication du N°22 du périodique ”
La voix de l’Arménie”. Au sommaire : ” L’Armistice” par René
Pinon , ” France et Arménie ”, ” Un interview de S.E. Boghos
Nubar Pacha ”.

Archives Imprescriptible

15 novembre 1920 — Première assemblée générale de la Société
des Nations. Elle écarte une proposition roumaine d’intervention en
Transcaucasie et rejette la demande d’adhésion de la République
arménienne sous prétexte de la non-ratification du traité de
Sèvres.

Clio

15 novembre 1922 — Conférence de Lausanne : malgré l’attitude peu
encourageante des Puissances, les deux Délégations arméniennes se
rendirent a Lausanne, et présentèrent, le 15 novembre 1922, a la
Conférence, un Mémoire exposant leurs revendications nationales. Rien
n’est plus navrant que la lecture de ce document où se reflètent
le désespoir des représentants responsables de la nation, aussi
bien que la soumission a toute sentence des Puissances garantissant
aux débris du peuple un minimum d’existence nationale. En voici
un résumé : Après avoir rappelé une fois de plus toutes les
promesses solennelles qui leur ont été faites, les Arméniens
y constatent très sobrement que 700.000 des leurs se trouvent
actuellement hors de leur sol natal, voués a la plus dure misère ;
que 73.350 femmes et enfants se trouvent séquestrés dans les harems
turcs ; qu’une partie des restes des Arméniens en Turquie a péri
lors de la catastrophe de Smyme, ou a été massacrée a Brousse,
a Bigha et a Balikesser ; qu’un certain nombre dépérit dans les
camps de concentration et dans les services de l’armée kémaliste ;
et que le reste des Arméniens de l’Asie Mineure est sous la menace
d’un arrêt du gouvernement d’Angora. ” Pendant la guerre, et depuis
l’armistice, la communauté arménienne de Turquie a été spoliée de
ses biens évalués a plus de 10 milliards de francs, ses églises,
ses écoles et ses institutions de bienfaisance ont été saisies
et détruites ”. Mandelstam, André. La Société des Nations et
les Puissances devant le problème arménien, Paris, Pédone, 1926 ;
rééd. Imprimerie Hamaskaïne, 1970.

Imprescriptible.fr : La question des minorités et le problème
arménien

15 novembre1935 — Première définition officielle du juif: quiconque
ayant trois grands-parents juifs; quiconque ayant deux grand-parents
juifs et se déclarant membre de la communauté juives.

Jewishgen.org

15 novembre 1938 — Tous les enfants juifs sont exclus des écoles
allemandes.

Compagnienomades.free.fr

15 novembre 1939 — Les juifs de Rypin (Pologne centrale) doivent
s’installer a Varsovie, Ciechanov et dans d’autres villes. 2
cimetières juifs sont détruits. Quelques juifs parviennent a franchir
la frontière soviétique. Ils seront déportés en Sibérie.

Israelvivra.com

15 novembre 1939 — Début de la déportation de 200 000 Polonais et
100 000 Juifs du Wartheland vers le Gouvernement général.

ajpn

15 novembre 1940 — Pologne : le ghetto juif de Varsovie est
complètement isolé et coupé du reste de la capitale. A ce jour, il
compte officiellement, de source allemande, 378979 personnes. Tous les
juifs de Legionovo (district de Varsovie) sont conduits a Ladwiszyn.

Les juifs de Varsovie et de la province sont concentrés sur une
superficie très exiguÔ. Au cours des semaines qui suivent, 4 000
juifs de Sochaczev viennent s’ajouter a ceux du ghetto.

Seconde-guerre.com Israelvivra.com

15 novembre 1941 — 30 000 juifs de Czernovitz (capitale de la
Bucovine, R.S.S. d’Ukraine) sont déportés en Transnistrie. Le maire
de la ville, Traian Popovici, qui sympathique avec les juifs, obtient
des autorités allemandes que 4 000 d’entre eux restent a Czernovitz.

Les SS fusillent 500 juifs de Kolomyya (R.S.S d’Ukraine).

Au cours d’une Aktion sur une grande échelle a Sarajevo (capitale de
la Bosnie-Herzégovine, Yougoslavie), 3 000 juifs sont arrêtés et
déportés vers divers camps de concentration, où ils périssent. Une
petite partie seulement de la communauté survivra, en rejoignant
des unités de partisans ou en se réfugiant dans la zone italienne.

Israelvivra.com

15 novembre 1941 — CREATION D’UN CAMP DE TRAVAIL : sous la supervision
du responsable des SS et de la police du district de Varsovie, les SS
créèrent un camp de travail près de Malkinia, un village situé a
environ 80 kilomètres de Varsovie, dans la région nord dépendant
de l’administration générale.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

15 novembre 1942 — 3 500 juifs de Klementov (province de Kielce,
Pologne) sont déportés au camp de Sandomierz.

2 300 juifs de Dembice (district de Cracovie) sont assassinés par
les SS au cours d’une ultime Aktion.

Les SS assassinent les 350 juifs restés a Holonie (Polésie,
R.S.S. de Biélorussie). 4 000 juifs du ghetto de Zamosc (Pologne)
sont déportés au camp d’extermination de Belzec, où ils sont tués
quelques heures après leur arrivée.

Un transport de 3 000 déportés quitte le ghetto de Tarnov a
destination de Belzec, où tous sont tués. 3 800 juifs de Tyszviec
(district de Lublin) sont conduits au village de Piatidin, où ils
sont tués.

1 000 juifs du ghetto de Gniewoszov (Pologne) sont déportés au camp
d’extermination de Treblinka.

Israelvivra.com

15 novembre 1943 — Les SS et la police ukrainienne assassinent les
12 000 derniers juifs de Budzanov (province de Tarnopol, R.S.S.

d’Ukraine).

Un transport quitte le camp de regroupement de Westerbork avec 1 149
juifs, déportés au camp d’extermination d’Auschwitz.

Israelvivra.com

15 novembre 1983 — Indépendance de Chypre du Nord. Chypre du Nord,
en forme longue la République turque de Chypre du Nord, abrégée
en RTCN, en turc Kuzey Kıbrıs et Kuzey Kıbrıs Turk Cumhuriyeti,
en grec moderne ΤουÏ~Aκική ΔημοκÏ~AαÏ~Dία Ï~DηÏ~B
Î’Ï~LÏ~AειαÏ~B Î~ZÏ~MÏ~@Ï~Aου, est une république non
reconnue internationalement. Elle a été proclamée le 15 novembre
1983 après l’occupation militaire de la partie nord de l’île en
1974 par la Turquie, officiellement en réponse au coup d’Ã~Itat de
la garde nationale sous la direction d’officiers grecs qui voulaient
rattacher l’île a la Grèce. L’Ã~Itat de Chypre du Nord n’est reconnu
que par la Turquie ; l’ONU et le Conseil de l’Europe considèrent la
partie nord de l’île comme occupée par la Turquie où les forces
armées turques maintiennent une présence militaire de près de 30
000 hommes et ont favorisé l’implantation de quelque 120’000 colons
anatoliens depuis 1974. Depuis la proclamation de son indépendance,
Chypre du Nord recoit des aides d’ordre économique, politique et
militaire de la part de l’Ã~Itat turc.

Wkipedia Wkipedia: Chypre du Nord

15 novembre 2000 — Parlement européen : Fidèle a la résolution
du 18 juin 1987 reconnaissant le génocide arménien, le Parlement
européen a réaffirmé ce principe par le vote le 15 novembre 2000
d’une résolution sur le rapport concernant les progrès réalisés
par la Turquie sur la voie de l’adhésion dont le rapporteur était
M. Philippe Morillon. Le paragraphe 10 de cette résolution “invite
le Gouvernement turc et la Grande Assemblée Nationale turque a
accroître leur soutien a la minorité arménienne – qui représente
une part importante de la société turque – notamment par la
reconnaissance publique du génocide que cette minorité avait subi
avant l’établissement d’un Etat moderne en Turquie”. La résolution
du Parlement européen va très loin puisqu’elle lie l’entrée de
la Turquie dans l’Union européenne a la reconnaissance du génocide
arménien. Le 17 novembre 2000, la Chambre des Députés du Parlement
italien a adopté une résolution reprenant les termes de celle du
Parlement européen. A la même période le génocide arménien a
été évoqué par les Eglises. Le Pape Jean Paul II et le Catholicos
Karenine II ont évoqué le génocide des Arméniens du début du
XXème siècle dans une déclaration commune qui faisait suite a leur
rencontre au Vatican les 14 et 15 novembre 2000. Ils ont souligné que
“le génocide arménien avait été le prélude des horreurs qui ont
suivi, les deux guerres mondiales, d’innombrables conflits régionaux
et des campagnes d’extermination délibérément organisées, qui
ont supprimé des fidèles”. Cette référence au génocide arménien
replacé dans une perspective historique constitue une novation pour
le Saint Siège.

Assemblée nationale

15 novembre 2004 — France : a Paris, dans le procès en appel
du CDCA contre le Consul Général de Turquie a Paris et France
Télécom-Wanadoo, le jugement du TGI (du 15 novembre 2004) est
confirmé. L’argumentation du Tribunal pour ne pas donner suite a la
demande a l’encontre de l’hébergeur Wanadoo est la suivante : 1) le
TGI indique que le génocide arménien ne fait pas partie des crimes
dont la contestation est punissable 2) la loi du 29 janvier 2001,
reconnaissant l’existence du génocide arménien de 1915, ne crée
pas de délit de contestation de ce génocide.

Le lundi 15 novembre a 13h45, le Comité de Défense de la Cause
Arménienne (CDCA) a pris acte du délibéré de la 17ème chambre du
Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris. Dans son jugement, le tribunal
déboute le Comité de Défense de la Cause Arménienne ” de ses
demandes formulées contre la société France Télécom venant aux
droits et obligations de la société Wanadoo” et ” fait droit a
la fin de non-recevoir tirée des immunités consulaires définies
par la convention de Vienne du 24 avril 1963 ” déclarant par
conséquence irrecevables les demandes visant Aydin Sezgin, Consul
Général de Turquie a Paris. Cette double décision renforce le
Comité de Défense de la Cause Arménienne sur la nécessité qu’il
y avait a poursuivre et a mettre en lumière le négationnisme d’Etat
organisé par la Turquie. ” Nous savions que l’immunité consulaire
nous serait opposé mais nous avons eu raison de faire ce procès car
personne aujourd’hui ne peut dire que la Turquie actuelle n’organise
pas officiellement le négationnisme a l’égard du génocide arménien
”, a déclaré Harout Mardirossian, Président du CDCA.

Collectifvan.org CDCA

Compilation réalisée par le site

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Armenian IT Companies To Participate In GITI Conference In Georgia

ARMENIAN IT COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN GITI CONFERENCE IN GEORGIA

Tert.am
15.11.11

Armenia’s IT companies will for the fourth time participate in the
GITI conference in Tbilisi, Georgia, Nov. 17 to 19.

The following Armenian companies will participate in the conference:
Armenian Programs, D-Link, Nork information center, CHS Vericell
Services, Xinect, Lime Tech, Essential Solutions, SouthTech Consulting,
Norma Plus, as well as the State Revenue Committee of Armenia.

The Armenian companies’ participation is aimed at promoting the
Armenian IT and communication sector’s progress in the international
market.

At the Armenian Corner to be run at the conference, the Armenian
companies will present the best digital solutions to the Georgian
market and to their foreign partners. They will hold business
demonstrations and participate in a contest of the best IT projects
in the region.

The Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) has organized
and coordinated the Armenian companies’ participation in the
conference.

The main aim of the conference is to create and promote the cooperation
between the state and private sectors, information and communication
technology companies in the countries of Central and Easter Europe,
Central Asia and Baltic States. The conference has been organized by
the Business Council of Georgia and the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

Youth Football Team Of Armenia Plays Draw With Wales

YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM OF ARMENIA PLAYS DRAW WITH WALES

ARMENPRESS
November 15, 2011
YEREVAN

Today in the qualifying match of the 5th sub-group of the European
Championship 2013, Armenia national under-21 football team played draw
(0:0) with Wales team.

Armenian football players did not manage to show an active play.

Actually, the factor of the own playing field did not help the
Armenian footballists.

Philip Kotler: Yerevan Should Discover Its "Must-See" Component To A

PHILIP KOTLER: YEREVAN SHOULD DISCOVER ITS “MUST-SEE” COMPONENT TO ATTRACT VISITORS

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 15, 2011 – 18:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Yerevan lacks a “peculiarity”, a must-see component
which would attract visitors to the city, according to S.C. Johnson
& Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at the
Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

In this context, Philip Kotler suggested Armenia take better effort
at increasing awareness of its religious heritage.

“This is my first visit to Yerevan, and though I’ve been here for only
a short while, I noticed the city has vast religious heritage which
might emphasize its uniqueness, by becoming a “peculiarity” to look
for,” the marketing guru stated during a lecture titled Student Forum –
Certified Training held at Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University.

Armenian Americans Urge Hillary Clinton To End Arrest Of Publisher R

ARMENIAN AMERICANS URGE HILLARY CLINTON TO END ARREST OF PUBLISHER RAGIP ZARAKOLU

ARMENPRESS
November 15, 2011
YEREVAN

Armenian Americans have joined with free speech and human rights
advocates in calling upon Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to
end more than two weeks of official silence regarding the Turkish
government’s October 28th arrest of long-persecuted publisher Ragip
Zarakolu.

“Ragip Zarakolu has – for no reason other than his commitment to
freedom of speech – been dragged, once again, to rot in a Turkish
prison – without a single word of protest from the U.S. State
Department,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.

“This is a disgrace. The leaders of the Obama Administration – who
have, by now, made it painfully clear that they lack the courage to
honor their own commitments to speak out honestly about the Armenian
Genocide – appear, now, also unwilling to even speak up when those,
like Ragip Zarakolu, demonstrate the audacity to stand up for the
truth in the face of threats of prosecution and persecution.”

Mr. Zarakolu, the owner of the Belge Publishing House, was rounded up
as part of a politically motivated series of arrests of largely Kurdish
political and human rights leaders. He has, among his many titles,
published a series of books on the Armenian Genocide – actions that
have made him and his family the target of prolonged prosecutions
and incarcerations over many years.

Despite public protest by rights groups including Human Rights Watch
and PEN International, the U.S. State Department has remained silent
in response to the Zarakolu arrest. When asked a direct question by
H1 Television correspondent Haykaram Nahapetyan regarding the State
Department’s position on the issue, the Spokesman’s office dodged the
question, and simply reported: “The United States is a strong defender
of freedom of expression in Turkey and in all countries around the
world. We do not want to comment at this time on specific cases before
the courts. We urge that the prosecution proceed transparently, and
that all defendants be assured due process and a fair hearing in a
timely manner.”

Many Companies In Armenia Already Use Some Instruments Of The Concep

MANY COMPANIES IN ARMENIA ALREADY USE SOME INSTRUMENTS OF THE CONCEPT MARKETING 3.0 – PROJECT MANAGER

/ARKA/
November 15, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 15. /ARKA/. Many Armenian companies in Armenia
already use some instruments of the concept Marketing 3.0, said
the head of the program “Phillip Kotler in Armenia: 11.11.11” Armen
Sargsyan to ARKA News Agency.

The program “Phillip Kotler in Armenia: 11.11.11” initiated by
the Armenian Marketing Association is called to provide dynamic
development of Armenia and transfer from extensive management to
developed and prosperous management. It is also targeted at changing
the understanding of the role and meaning of marketing in Armenia,
introduction of new and modern rules of business conduction applying
new marketing instruments, including Kotler’s program “Marketing 3.0”.

For participation in the given program, Professor of international
marketing of high school of management of J.L.Kellog in North-West
University of USA, classic of marketing Phillip Kotler arrived in
Yerevan on Sunday with five-day visit.

Sargsyan said that the majority of the instruments of Marketing 3.0
can be fully applied in Armenia, and there are many companies in the
country having many clients and their opinion is very important.

“There are companies in Armenia which, from one side carefully think
through all their marketing steps and think more strategically.

Mainly, all these companies use the elements of the concept Marketing
3.0. I can not say that it is Marketing 3.0 in pure form. It is a
model that is in clouds and everyone takes from it something its
own and makes it a product which he wants to offer to its consumer”,
said Sargsyan.

Marketing 3.0 reduces time between the production and consumption
to some extent, “that is, we know what and when the consumer needs
anything”.

“If the consumer needs it tomorrow, we do it tomorrow. The companies
should expect from the consumer his participation in the production
of the product which will be targeted at him in future”, he said.

Sargsyan also compared the primary concepts proposed by Kotler to
the world – Marketing 1.0 and Marketing 2.0.

“According to the concept Marketing 1.0 products are produced which
are tried to sell. That is, it is pure industrial concept. In the
concept Marketing 2.0 it is implemented quite in another way. They
try to understand what the consumer needs, considering some of his
requests… In Marketing 3.0 we consider quite different requests of
the person. In this concept not only client characteristics of the
consumer in a pure form are considered, but also his values of life,
some key points and the lifestyle”, said the expert.

Noting certain problems in the Armenian business, Sargsyan separated
the lack of education and overabundance of advertising. In this
connection, he mentioned the necessity of continuous communication
and experience exchange.

In the frames of the program “Phillip Kotler in Armenia: 11.11.11”,
the company “Kotler Impact” plans to establish in Armenia a “Center
of Excellency of Phillip Kotler” which will become the only center of
marketing and management on international level in the region. Local
and foreign marketing specialists from the countries of the region
and CIS countries will study and increase qualification in the center.

ARKA News Agency is the general information sponsor of the program
in Internet.

Mekhitarist fathers mark bicentennial of Vienna presence

Mekhitarist fathers mark bicentennial of Vienna presence
by Hovsep M. Melkonian

November 13, 2011

Views of the Vienna Mekhitarist Library.

Members of Mekhitarist Congregation in 1961.

Washington – This year marks the 200th anniversary of the establishment
of the Mekhitarist Fathers in Vienna.

The Austrian Postal Authorities have already issued a commemorative
stamp to mark the occasion. Earlier, the Central Bank of the Republic
of Armenia also issued a commemorative coin with a face value of 1000
drams meant to pay tribute to a unique Armenian institution that has
played a critical role in engineering the Armenian Renaissance in
the 19th century, thus opening new horizons of learning and knowledge
before the Armenian people.

The Mekhitarists of Vienna, along with their brethren in Venice,
belong to the Mekhitarist Congregation established by Abbot Mekhitar
in 1700 in Constantinople, capital of the Ottoman Empire, and
headquartered since 1717 on the island of San Lazaro, near Venice.

The Congregation was established with the express wish, objective and
goal of its founder to serve “God and Nation”, by bringing education
and enlightenment to the Armenians through their studies, research
and publication of our classical literature and history, while at the
same time trying to cleanse the classical Armenian language from the
foreign influences that had marred its original beauty and expression.

This concerted, dogged and planned effort by the Mekhitarist Fathers
in Venice and Vienna was ultimately instrumental in reviving the
interest of Armenians in the ancient treasures they had neglected
for centuries and enabled Armenians to reconnect with their forgotten
heritage, to discover its riches and thus take pride in the achievement
of their forefathers. It was a period of enlightenment, knowledge,
progress and new found dignity in the 19th century. It is this period
that both Armenian and non-Armenian scholars have aptly called the
“Armenian Renaissance”, attributing its emergence to the actions,
scholarly activities and dedication of the Mekhitarist Fathers.

In an article titled “Literature and Intellectual History from 1700
to 1915” critic and poet Vahe Oshagan writes: “What makes these elites
remarkable is the fact that it was committed to the preservation of
the traditional culture, to the faith and language of its forefathers,
and to the survival of the Armenian nation”.

It is within this context, therefore, that the bicentennial of the
establishment of Mekhitarist Fathers in Vienna assumes a particular
historical importance on account of the unique role they played in
engineering this revival and leading it for two centuries. They had
inherited this vision from their founder Abbot Mekhitar (1676-1749),
and true to their calling, sacrificed their comfort, their life and
their earthly belongings to achieving this noble objective.

The darkest of times: decade and despair in the 18th century The
actions of the Mekhitarist Fathers, both in Venice and Vienna, are
best understood when viewed against the backdrop of the times in which
the Congregation was founded and the nature of the goals they set
out to accomplish.

“At the beginning of the 18th century the Armenians and the entire
east, were in the throes of the middle ages “writes historian Hrant
Pasdermajian in volume II of his “History of Armenia”, published in
French in 1971 in Paris. French historian Edouard Jean Dulaurier
(1807-1881), provides a broader perspective of the times in question
in an article titled “Contemporary Armenian Society” also published
in French in the “Revue de deux mondes ” on April 15, 1854. In that
article Dulaurier states that “the Armenian nation after all the
disasters it had suffered , enslaved and under pressure, was quickly
heading towards total intellectual failure. Her language and traditions
were being lost bit by bit every day succumbing to the dialects and
customs of the surrounding populations”.

By 1700 the incessant and successive foreign invasions, persecutions
and exactions of the earlier centuries had taken their toll on the
Armenian population and were causing important population shifts away
from traditional Armenian centers in favor of newer centers in Europe
and Asia, thus creating a far flung diaspora with weaker internal
links that could promote cohesion and ethnic unity, thus jeopardizing
the continued existence of the Armenians as a single national entity.

Moreover, Armenians living in their historical homeland under three
different political rules (i.e. Tsarist Russia, the Ottoman Empire
and Persia), were slowly and gradually losing the vital national
connections that make the concept of “one nation, one language and one
entity” a viable proposition. Literally separated from each other by
these warring and competing powers, Armenians found themselves serving
three masters while slowly developing separate identities, reflecting
the socio-economic and political realities of the environments in
which they lived.

The visionary: Abbot Mekhitar (1676-1749)

It was in such dire circumstances for Armenia and Armenians that a
child named Manoug was born at Sebaste (Sivas) on February 7, 1676.
History will later recognize this child as Abbot Mekhitar or Mekhitar
of Sebaste.

At age fifteen Manoug entered the monastery of Surp Nshan and was
ordained a deacon, taking the name of Mekhitar. The young Mekhitar,
thirsting for knowledge and spiritual guidance, travelled from one
monastery to another (i.e. Etchmiadzine, Sevan and Pasen) in search
of knowledge and learning but was deeply disappointed at the limited
opportunities he found there for acquiring the knowledge he sought.
Returning to Surp Nshan monastery he devoted himself to studies and
self-improvement and was ordained a priest on May 17, 1696 by bishop
Anania.

>From the very first moment of his ordination, Mekhitar pursued two
objectives. In the first place he wanted to set up an order of learned
preachers (vartabets) devoted to the service of the Armenian people
and its cultural and spiritual renewal. He also wanted to travel to
Europe to acquaint himself with the ideas and changes that were taking
shape there so that he could bring the benefits of these changes to
his compatriots.

It was in Constantinople that Mekhitar gathered nine followers in 1700
to establish his cherished religious order that became known as the
Mekhitarist Congregation after his death. However, facing
inter-communal, sectarian and religious persecutions, he and his
followers soon decided to move to Morea, a Greek city under Venetian
rule, to be safe from religious persecution he had faced in the
Ottoman capital. His stay in Morea was cut short by the war between
Venice and the Ottoman Empire. The war resulted in the defeat of the
Venetians and the loss of Morea as Venetian territory. Fearing Ottoman
reprisals, Mekhitar and his followers moved again and finally found
refuge on the island of San Lazzaro, near Venice, where he established
his monastery in 1717. Since that date the monastery of San Lazzaro
has become the center of Armenian culture and learning in Europe and
the world. It also became a center for scholarly publications that
brought fame to its academy of scholars and made it a point of
reference for Armenian studies to worldwide specialists.

Mekhitar and his followers had already begun the publication of
scriptural, spiritual, and theological works and texts while in
Constantinople. These activities were continued by Abbot Mekhitar,
his followers and the next generations of monks in San Lazzaro, Venice.
The Mekhitarist Fathers under the guidance of Abbot Mekhitar busied
themselves also translating a large number of books, ranging from the
early Fathers of the Church and the works of St. Thomas of Aquinas
to Homer and Virgil as well as to the best known poets and historians
of later days.

Mekhitar distinguished himself with a literary output of 14 personal
works and 27 translations or editions of scriptural, spiritual,
theological or classical works. The most notable one is the “Dictionary
of Armenian Language”, which took almost twenty years to complete
and which was published three weeks after his death in 1749 while
the second volume was published in 1769. This marked the beginning of
the tradition of philological and linguistic studies that characterized
the work of the Mekhitarist Congregations both in Venice and
Vienna. Abbot Mekhitar also undertook and completed the publication
of a new edition of the Bible in November of 1735. This was an epoch
making publication that ranks high in the long list of achievements
of the Mekhitarist Fathers.

The score of Mekhitarist mission

There were two main avenues through which the Mekhitarist Fathers
carried out their mission. The first was in the field of linguistics
which Mekhitar himself pioneered. In 1727 he published a grammar
book for vernacular Armenian and in 1730 a more substantial and
authoritative grammar of classical Armenian. The crowning moment of
his efforts was the publication in 1749 (three weeks after his death)
of Volume I of the first comprehensive dictionary of the Armenian
language. Mekhitar had worked on this for over twenty years and
produced a definitive dictionary after much research of the original
meanings of the words. Volume II was published in 1769. Through his
dictionary of classical Armenian, Abbot Mekhitar established the
foundations of the Armenian language as a modern and standardized
literary medium, expunging from it foreign words and regional
variations that had deformed its original and classical beauty.

The second avenue which the Mekhitarist Fathers pursued to accomplish
their mission was printing. Principally, by means of the innumerable
periodicals, pious manuals, Bibles, maps, engravings, dictionaries,
histories, geographies and other educational and popular literature
they published over the years, they provided the nation with scientific
and scholarly references that established Armenian learning on solid
grounds. In doing so, the Mekhitarist Fathers pioneered numerous
academic disciplines in Armenian learning that did not exist until
then.

Recognizing the unique role the Mekhitarist Fathers have played in the
history of the Armenian nation, and paying tribute to them for their
multifaceted achievements , Pope Paul John II (1920-2005) in a pastoral
letter dated on July 3, 2001 and addressed to the Mekhitarist Order
marking the 300th anniversary of establishment of this Armenian
Catholic Congregation wrote: “The characteristic element of the
Mekhitarist spirituality is the search for holiness, through an
intense prayer life and no less demanding dedication to cultural
studies, primarily focused on the great Armenian patristic sources.
Mekhitar wanted to safeguard the Armenian monk-doctor from losing
himself in an itinerant life, with the weakening of the profound
sense of his own identity. For this reason he laid down that the monks
should live a common life in monastic house, under the protection of
obedience. The monasteries thus became centers of spiritual formation
and cultural studies , and exercised an extraordinary influence on
that intellectual aristocracy that was in great part at the origin
of the cultural , political and social rebirth of the Armenian people
in successive periods” (see Vatican Archives:

).

The social, cultural and political rebirth that the Mekhitarist
Fathers brought to their nation is usually referred to as “the 19th
century Armenian Renaissance” by the majority of Armenian historians
and scholars. This renaissance, renewal or rebirth came as a result
of the planned, interconnected and focused effort undertaken by
the Mekhitarist Fathers that manifested itself specifically through
notable achievements in the following fields:

Publication of Armenian classical texts: The Mekhitarist Fathers were,
from the very first day of the establishment of their congregation ,
instrumental in the study, and publication of texts of classical
Armenian authors of the 5th century. This covered historiographical
and theological works that were long forgotten and neglected by
generations of Armenians. Thanks to these efforts the works of these
classical writers and authors (i.e. Khorenatsi, Agathangelos, Goriun,
Yeznig, Pausdos, and Yeghisheh etc.) as well as others were brought
to the attention and appreciation of Armenian readers. The Mekhitarist
Fathers translated a wide range of such works into Latin and other
European languages, thus showcasing the treasures of Armenian
literature to academic circles. Before long, the Mekhitarist Fathers
came to be known as scholars who delivered to Europe the long-lost
knowledge of the Armenian past while bringing to Armenians the culture
and heritage of Europe, both ancient and modern.

Cleansing of the classical Armenian language: The Mekhitarist
Fathers produced and published also grammar books and dictionaries,
standardizing the rules of the classical Armenian language. They also
adopted modern European techniques (chiefly German) for the study of
classical works and pioneered the study of linguistics among
Armenians. “The Dictionary of the Armenian Language” prepared by
Abbot Mekhitar and published in 1749 was a pioneering work from that
perspective. Already in 1727 he had published a grammar book for
vernacular Armenian and in 1730 a more substantial and authoritative
grammar of classical Armenian. Others soon followed. During 1836-1837
the Mekhitarist Fathers published “The New Dictionary of the Armenian
Language” jointly authored by Mekhitarist Fathers Gabriel Avedikian ,
Khatchadoor Surmelian, and Meguerditch Avkerian. To this eminent list
of linguists we must add the names of such luminaries as Father
Arsen Pakradouni, (1790-1866 ), Mathew of Eudocia ( 1715-1777) and
Meguerditch Asgerian ( 1720-1810) who through translations of foreign
texts showed how Armenian could be written in its purest aesthetic
form and construction.

Research and Study of Armenian history: The Mekhitarist Fathers also
excelled in historiography. The towering figure in this endeavor was
Father Mikael Chamchian (1723-1823). Chamchian wrote a three volume
“History of the Armenians” (published in 1785 through1786). This
became the definitive Armenian history text in this formative period
of the modern Armenian scholarship. He used all the available sources
of the time, both Armenian and foreign, to author and publish in 1785,
the complete history of the Armenian nation. The three-volume
publication became the basis of the Armenian critical history.

An impressive number of Mekhitarist Fathers devoted their life to the
study of Armenian history. The most celebrated and prominent figure
among them is Father Ghevont (Leo) Alishan (1820-1901), a beloved and
cherished name in Armenian literature. He produced a varied and rich
literature on history, geography, ethnography, philology, botany
and archaeology. Among the most notable works he produced are the
Illustrated Geography of Armenia (1853), Fragments and Vestiges of
Armenia (1870-1902), and monographs devoted to certain regions of
Armenia such as Shirak (1881), Sisuan (1885), Ayrarat (1890) and
Sisakan (1893) that enhanced our knowledge and understanding of the
past of our historical homeland.

Translation from and into Armenian: The Mekhitarist scholars
translated, between 1825 and 1850, some 130 volumes of European
literature, including major works of Greek and Latin as well as
Italian and French classics. Translating European literature into
Armenian has served the triple purpose of enlightening the uneducated
public, perfecting a literary language and catching up with the
civilized world. The most important works belonging to antiquity and
modern times in Greek, Latin, Italian, French, German and English
were translated into Armenian by the Mekhitarist fathers during this
period. For example, Father Haroutiun Avkerian (1774-1849) translated
John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” in 1824. Followed translations
from Plato, Lamartine, Dante and other major figures of European
literature. The Mekhitarist Fathers translated into Latin and Greek
also the texts of the early fathers of the church whose originals were
lost, but whose Armenian translations dating to the 5th, 7th and 10th
centuries were miraculously preserved in Armenian manuscripts. Among
these documents were the “Letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch”, some
works of St. Ephraim the Syrian, notably a “Commentary on the Epistles
of St. Paul” and an edition of Eusebius’ “Ecclesiastical History”,
just to name a few. Father Meguerditch Avgerian (1762-1854) was the
scholar who undertook this task. The publication of these works caused
a great sensation among academic and church circles in Europe at the
time, a fact that enhanced further the reputation of the members
of this congregation and the importance of Armenian manuscripts as
repository of universal heritage.

Education and the network of Mekhitarist schools: In addition to the
literary and historical studies the Mekhitarist fathers created a
network of Armenian schools, persuaded that education and enlightenment
were essential for saving Armenia and Armenians from darkness and
ignorance. These schools were opened particularly in areas where
the local Armenian population was devoid of institutions devoted to
Armenian learning. The first schools were opened in Hungary in 1746,
and then spread to cities and centers of Armenia and Western Armenia
from thence to cities in Ottoman Empire and Persia, Iran. After World
War I, Mekhitarist Fathers opened schools in Paris, Constantinople,
Aleppo, Beirut, Buenos Aires and Los Angeles to cater to the needs
of the survivor communities of the Ottoman Genocide of Armenians. The
Armenian school in Istanbul today, known as The Pangalti Lyceum,
was established in 1825 and is the oldest Mekhitarist School in the
world still serving the Armenian community since its inception.

Collection of ancient manuscripts: Abbot Mekhitar and his successors
collected Armenian manuscripts and saved them from destruction thus
protecting our cultural heritage. With the collection of manuscripts,
the Mekhitarist Fathers were also collecting primary sources for
further and future research. Thus a treasure began to accumulate first
on the island of San Lazzaro, then in Vienna. To-day the Mekhitarist
libraries in Venice and Vienna have more than 8000 manuscripts
jointly. This collection is second to the collection held in the
Armenian Repository of Manuscripts in Yerevan (Madenataran) and the
one found at the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem.

Vienna Mekhitarists’ path to scholarly reputation

Following internal disputes, a number of Mekhitarist Fathers separated
from the Mother House in Venice in 1773 and settled first in Trieste
then Vienna in 1811. The Mekhitarist Fathers soon were busy there
too training new seminarians and organizing missions into historical
Armenia in pursuit of the goals and objectives of their founder.

A decree signed by the Austrian Emperor Franz I on December 5, 1810
recognized the presence of the Mekhitarist Fathers in Vienna and
permitted them to set up a printing house .

In time, the Mekhitarist monastery in Vienna, like the one in San
Lazzaro in Venice, became a major center and point of reference for
Armenian culture and studies worldwide. It amassed collections of
antiques, artistic ceramics, sacred silverware, mostly of Armenian
origin.

The monastery amassed collections of antiques donated by benefactors,
in particular coin collections (5000 historical Armenian coins and
20,000 from other nations). The art gallery prides itself with a wide
collection of works by well-known Armenian painters. Moreover, the
Mekhitarist Fathers of Vienna collected a total of 2800 ancient and
valuable Armenian manuscripts.

As in Venice, the Mekhitarist Library in Vienna accumulated significant
ancient and modern printed books that formed the basis of research
on a large scale. The result today is over 170,000 volumes and the
largest collection of Armenian newspapers and periodicals in the
western world. As a result, the Vienna branch of the Mekhitarist
Congregation became a center for scientific research in the
philological disciplines, a trait that distinguished it from the
center in Venice. Influenced largely by the German academic standards,
the Mekhitarist Fathers of Vienna devoted their considerable energies
to the critical analyses of classical historians, to linguistics to
archaeological research and the study and revival of the classical
Armenian language known as “Krapar”.

The Mekhitarists of Vienna made great strides in linguistic studies
with the works of Father Hovsep Katerdjian (1820-1882) who excelled
also as a translator of Cicero, Xenophon and Bossuet, in addition to
authoring a “Universal History”; Another prominent figure was Father
Matatia Karakashian (1808-1913) who focused on the Armenian of what
was known as the “Golden Century” and published a critical “History
of the Armenians” (1895). Ghevond Hovnanian (1817-1897) philologist and
translator; Clemens (Kghemes) Sibilian ( 1824-1878) Archeologist and
numismatist; Arsen Aydenian ( 1825-1902) Linguist, author of “Grammar
of the Modern Armenian Language” (1866); Hagop Dashian (1866-1933)
Philologist ,linguist ;. Grigoris Kalemkerian ( 1862-1917) philologist
and linguist; Gabriel Menevishian ( 1864-1936) linguist and
Armenologist; Nerses Akinian (1883-1963) philologist; Hamazasp Voskian
( 1895-1968),expert on Armenian monasteries, Vahan Inglizian
(1897-1968) and Bedros Der Boghossian (1898-1980), philologists are
some of the Mekhitarist Fathers in Vienna who achieved fame in their
research of Armenian history, linguistics.

The Mekhitarist Fathers achieved fame in other areas as well. Their
printing house in Vienna became a point of reference for the imperial
government that ordered in 1849 the printing of Hungarian banknotes,
and in 1854, ordered school books to be printed for the Ministry of
Education. With its ability to print books in a multitude of foreign
languages, the Printing house of the Mekhitarists in Vienna became
an institution by itself in modern times.

The Mekhitarist Fathers of Vienna also founded in 1887 a periodical
named “Handes Amsorya” that soon became a noted philological and
linguistic publication. In addition the Mekhitarist Fathers started
publishing ,beginning in 1889, a series or collection named “National
Library” that encompasses the new research and studies on Armenian
History. Approximately 300 volumes have been published in these series
that are constantly replenished with new research and studies published
by the Mekhitarist Fathers in Vienna.

Appreciation

A handful of dedicated , learned and selfless priests, called to
action by the vision of their founder, have succeeded in engineering
one of the most impressive and awe inspiring miracles in the history
of Armenia and Armenians, building upon the work and traditions of St.
Mesrob Mashdotz, the creator of the Armenian alphabet and the “Golden
Age” in our Literature”. In doing so the Mekhitarist Fathers played
the most crucial of roles in the “national awakening” of Armenians
in the 19th century.

They retrieved and researched the Armenian history, literature,
geography and language, and presented these to Armenians and the
contemporary world through their publications. They were also
instrumental in disseminating nineteenth-century European ideological
and cultural currents in Armenia and among Armenians. Thus they
consciously and systematically carried out an enlightenment project
on behalf of the nation and laid the groundwork for future development.

Historian John Douglas gives the following appreciation for the role
they played in Armenian history : ” Both monasteries (i.e. Venice and
Vienna) served and continue to serve as important strongholds for
the Armenian culture in the diaspora dedicated to scholarship and the
preservation of the Armenian traditions. The monks wrote and published
books and periodicals and helped develop the modern language” (
see The Armenians, John M. Douglas, New York, 1992,p.273). Another
historian, Reuben Adalian adds: “There has been no institution in
Armenian history to compare with theirs, and the scientific and
research centers operating today in Armenia and in the Armenian
diaspora have not been in existence long enough to begin to match the
Mekhitarian output” ( see Reuben Adalian, From Humanism to Rationalism:
Armenian Scholarship in the Nineteenth Century, University of
Pensylvania,1992, p.1).

These are some of the laudatory expressions of appreciation given
by Armenian and non-Armenian scholars with regard to the mission and
objectives achieved by both the Mekhitarist centers in Venice and
Vienna that give an idea to the scope and extent of the national
mission carried out by the Mekhitarist Fathers in the past centuries.
The accumulated knowledge, studies and treasures kept in these two
European centers would require extensive and comprehensive research to
make fully justice to the content and scope of the work accomplished
by these Fathers.

In the meantime, the mission continues both in the diaspora and
independent Armenia. To face the challenges of the modern times, the
two branches of the Mekhitarist Congregation have been reunified
now after a “schism” that lasted more than 250 years. Indeed , at a
general extraordinary meeting held at San Lazzaro from July 10 to 21,
2000 the members of the Mekhitarist Congregation decided to create a
unified congregation, with the convent at San Lazzaro being considered
the mother monastery, and the convent in Vienna being considered the
first principal monastery.

Welcoming this development , His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of
All Armenians in a letter addressed to the Mekhitarist Congregation
wrote on July 22, 2000: “We are confident that the reunified
Mekhitarist Congregation will continue to serve the needs of the
Armenian nation with greater vigor and energy in the spiritual and
cultural fields for the glory of God.”

Pope John Paul II, in his pastoral letter of July 3, 2011, called upon
“the dear sons of Mekhitar … to hold on to this heritage and keep
it alive… Do not be afraid to be open to new horizons, rethinking
and updating ancient forms, if the needs of the time require it”.

In the ancient monasteries of the Mekhitarist Fathers in Venice and
Vienna these words resonate with the praise and thanks of a grateful
nation that has seen and experienced the benefits of a cultural
miracle.

Sources consulted

Books:

Adalian, Reuben Paul, From Humanism to Rationalism: Armenian
Scholarship in the Nineteenth Century, University of Pensylvania, 1992
Bezdikian, Haroutiun, Rev.: Abbot Mekhitar and the Contribution of
the Mekhitarist Fathers to Armenian Culture ,Yerevan, 2003.

Douglas, John M. , The Armenians, J.J. Winthrop Corporation, New
York,1992

Dedeyan Gerard, Histoire du Peuple Armenien, Editions Privat, Toulouse,
2007 ( in French).

Goode, Alexander: A Brief Account of the Mechiaristican Society
Founded on the Island of St. Lazaro, with Paschal Aucher, Venice,
1835 ( Library of Harvard University).

Oshagan, Vahe , Literature and Intellectual History from 1700 to 1915
Panossian, Razmik , The Armenians : From Kings and Priests to Merchants
and Commissars,Columbia University Press, New York,2006

Pastermadjian, Hrant: History of the Armenian People, Volume II, From
Turkic invasions to the Treaty of Lausanne , in French (Paris 1971)
and in Armenian (Beirut, 1980).

Redgate, Anne E., The Armenians, Blackwell Publishers, Oxford ,1998

Tololian, Minas : A Century of Literature, Vol. I, 1850-1920, Second
Edition, Boston, 1977 ( in Armenian)

Yardemian, Dajad, Rev. : The Contribution of the Mechitarist Fathers
to Armenian Culture and Armenological Studies, Los Angeles, 1987

Others:

The Mekhitarist Website :�

PAZMAVEB, Armenological Review, Volume 158, No 1-4, 2000

Vatican Archives

http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-11-13-mekhitarist-fathers-mark-bicentennial-of-vienna-presence-
www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2001
www.mekhitar.org
www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2001

It Is A Strong Positive Signal

IT IS A STRONG POSITIVE SIGNAL

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:07:36 – 16/11/2011

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice
President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton’s exclusive
interview to Mediamax

Armenian PM and other senior officials stated recently that in 2012
they aim to hold “the most transparent and fair elections over the
whole 20-year history of independence”. How important are such pledges
for the EU-Armenia political dialogue?

This is very important. It is a strong positive signal that we expect
now to be translated into concrete steps to prepare the elections
well. As always we stand ready to offer support and advice, to the
elections and to the many other aspects which together make up the
concept of “deep democracy”, which lies at the heart of the Eastern
Partnership: freedom of association, expression and assembly, rule of
law administered by an independent judiciary and the right to a fair
trail, the effective fight against corruption, as well as security
and law enforcement sector reform.

European officials are saying that EU should play a more active role
in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Taking into account the
fact that EU doesn’t want to replace the OSCE Minsk Group, how do
you see this more “active role”?

We fully support the OSCE Minsk Group in its efforts to achieve a
peaceful resolution of the conflict on the basis of the principles of
the non-use of force, territorial integrity and self-determination
of people. The EU’s aim is not to change the format, nor to gain
influence over the different sides, but to offer more active and
stronger support.

We can help create a positive environment, including through
confidence-building measures. From our own history, we have experience
in conflict resolution and reconciliation, which we are willing to
share. We also think it is high time to achieve a settlement, as it
would provide a boost to the development of the region, help ensure
stability and make it easier for the people of the region to travel
and trade. It will help create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

There should be no further delay. The conflict is holding the region
hostage.

It is no secret for anyone that Azerbaijani President and Government
members are frequently making bellicose statements and saying
that war is an option for settling the NK issue. During this year
you have at least twice publicly criticised Azerbaijan for human
rights violations. Why don’t you also call on Azerbaijan to stop
war propaganda?

There can only be a negotiated solution to the conflict, and rhetoric
suggesting otherwise is unhelpful, from whichever side it comes. What
counts is progress in the talks, and the readiness on both sides to
make difficult compromises.

European Parliament adopted a “European Neighborhood Policy
Review” Resolution this April 7. It contains an urge to develop
“informal contacts and consultations with the societies of breakaway
territories”? It is realistic to expect that European Commission is
going to follow this urge?

Confidence building, including through people-to-people contacts,
is necessary to promote mutual understanding. The EU can help both
sides engage with each other, prepare the ground for a solution,
show the advantages of peace and of a peaceful Caucasus strongly
connected to the EU.

http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics24226.html

Does Surik Khachatryan Have Compromising Materials?

DOES SURIK KHACHATRYAN HAVE COMPROMISING MATERIALS?
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:52:07 – 16/11/2011

Will the Governor of Syunik Surik Khachatryan be sacrificed for the
sake of democratic elections? Many people started wondering about this
as soon as criminal proceedings were launched against the governor. If
television already reports this information, then they will sacrifice
him, the viewers thinks.

Despite the scandal, neither Surik Khachatryan nor his bosses have
said anything about his resignation.

No resignation means that this issue has not been yet raised yet.

Possibly, the story of Gyumri mayor Vardan Ghukasyan repeats whose
fellows were publicly accused of murder. Then, according to the press,
Ghukasyan promised to publish information which is unfavorable for
the government. The fact that he still holds his position of mayor
means that the compromising material was to forceful. Does Surik
Khachatryan have somethings similar? Does he have business relations
with Serzh Sargsyan or do his ties go to somewhere else? And the main
issue is whether the compromising material will remain forceful in
the political show of Armenia.

http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country24224.html

Defense And Victim Agree: Investigation Into Army Officer’s Death Wa

DEFENSE AND VICTIM AGREE: INVESTIGATION INTO ARMY OFFICER’S DEATH WAS BOGUS

epress.am
11.16.2011

The trial in the case of rifle platoon commander Artak Nazaryan,
who died suddenly while serving during peacetime on Jul. 27, 2010,
took place at the Court of First Instance of Shengavit Community of
Yerevan today. Note, this was the first court session held in Yerevan
– all other previous sessions were held in the city of Berd in Tavush
marz (province).

According to the defense ministry, Nazaryan committed suicide. Five
of his colleagues are named as the accused in the case: battalion
captain Hakob Manukyan, senior lieutenant stationed at the nearby Luys
military point Vahagn Hayrapetyan, and three rank and file soldiers:
Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, Adibek Hovhannisyan and Harutik Kirakosyan. All
except Kirakosyan (who is under the supervision of the military unit)
are in custody.

Today’s court session began with a motion by Hakob Manukyan’s attorney,
in which it said that the charges are not based on the facts of the
case, the criminal case was examined based on one version, and the
accusations against his client are based on assumptions. The defense
attorney noted that all the accused have become scapegoats. The
remaining defendants and their attorneys agreed with this claim.

Ruben Martirosyan, representative of Artak Nazaryan’s successor,
also agreed that the the accused have become scapegoats, adding that
a bogus investigation was carried out and a new criminal case has to
be launched into the killing of Artak Nazaryan.

Also expressing her opinion in court today was Nazaryan’s mother and
legal successor, Hasmik Hovhannisyan, who said that the investigation
was one-sided, several evidence materials were rejected and the case
has to be reviewed.

“The case should be based on charges of Artak Nazaryan’s murder, not
‘incite to suicide’ – there’s no suicide here,” she said.

Military prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan, however, said that the
defense attorney’s request is unreasonable and there’s no point in
reviewing the case.

>From the gallery could be heard the reaction of Gohar Sargsyan,
mother of Tigran Ohanjanyan, who also died while serving in the
Armenian army and whose case also involved the same prosecutor.

Sargsyan was shouting that Harutyunyan is a criminal and her son’s
case rests on his conscience.