Author: Badalian Vardan

TURQUIE – UN REPRESENTANT DU CHP CRITIQUE L’ETAT DES RELATIONS TURCO-ARMENIENNES
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 6 juin 2011

Le specialiste en politique etrangère du parti de l’opposition en
Turquie le CHP et ancien Ambassadeur Osman Koruturk a critique la
politique du gouvernement envers l’Armenie en reiterant ses promesses
après ses visites aux leaders religieux cette semaine.

” Les douleux [les evenements de 1915] sont reciproques ; nous avons
besoin de parler tete a tete [avec les armeniens]. La diaspora pretend
qu’elle a ete la seule a souffrir ; la douleur des Turcs Musulmans a
besoin aussi d’etre reconnue. Nous pouvons avancer si nous soignons nos
blessures et laissons le passe aux historiens. Meme les Allemands et
des Juifs ont reussi a surmonter tout cela. Pourquoi ne pourrait-on
pas ? ” a demande Osman Koruturk. Il a ajoute que son aprti veut
de bonnes relations avec les voisins de la Turquie et a signale la
possibilite de revoir la question de la frontière fermee entre la
Turquie et l’Armenie.

Osman Koruturk a aussi dit que des erreurs significatives ont ete
commises dans la decision du Ministère de l’Interieur de nommer
Aram Atesyan comme vicaire en exercice du patriarcat de l’eglise
armenienne. Le representant du CHP a dit que l’esprit du Traite de
Lausanne doit etre suivi a cet egard.

” L’AKP a commence son initiative avec l’Armenie par un associe
inopportun dans des circonstances inopportunes. Considerez le fait que
quiconque qui dit qu’il n’existe pas de genocide est puni en Suisse,
qui est le pays servant d’intermediaire ” a dit Osman Koruturk qui
a aussi accuse l’AKP d’avoir echoue dans son Initiative Kurde aussi.

” L’AKP a echoue a agir dans la coordination. L’Azerbaïdjan n’a pas ete
tenu suffisamment informe … le problème du Karabagh exige beaucoup
d’annees avant une resolution comme le problème de Chypre.

Quand il a recu des reactions negatives de l’Azerbaïdjan, l’AKP a pris
une mauvaise tournure et a pousse en avant la question du Karabagh,
[suite a quoi ] le processus a perdu son elan. Si les choses avaient
ete coordonnees avec l’Azerbaïdjan et [l’Azerbaïdjan] avait ete
suffisamment tenu informe, tout ceci ne serait pas arrive ” a dit
Osman Koruturk en ce qui concerne les protocoles initialises en 2009
entre la Turquie et l’Armenie pour normaliser leurs relations.

IDF : NOUVELLES MANIFESTATIONS AU LENDEMAIN DE L’INTERPELLATION DE 5 KURDES
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 6 juin 2011

De nouvelles manifestations ont eu lieu dimanche a Arnouville
(Val-d’Oise) et Evry, au lendemain de l’interpellation mouvementee,
dans ces deux communes, de cinq personnes d’origine kurde, dont trois
“cadres importants” du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).

A Arnouville, 1.500 personnes ont manifeste dans le calme, sous la
surveillance d’un helicoptère de la securite civile, pour demander
la liberation des Kurdes interpelles samedi.

Une banderole noire portait la mention : “Non a la repression contre
les Kurdes de France”. Des drapeaux a l’effigie du chef rebelle kurde
Abdullah Ocalan, emprisonne en Turquie, etaient brandis, ainsi que
des pancartes avec des inscriptions telles que “Le PKK n’est pas une
organisation terroriste” ou “Non aux arrestations”.

Le depute-maire (PS) de Sarcelles (Val-d’Oise), Francois Pupponi, et
le maire (PS) de Villiers-le-Bel, Didier Vaillant, qui ont participe
a la marche, ont appele au calme.

Sept personnes ont ete interpellees en marge de la marche, a
precise le porte-parole du ministère de l’Interieur, Pierre-Henry
Brandet. Il a ajoute que 13 personnes avaient ete interpellees samedi
a Arnouville, en marge de la manifestation spontanee qui avait suivi
les interpellations.

A Evry, la manifestation, qui a rassemble environ 350 personnes, s’est
deroulee dans le calme et s’est achevee vers 17H00. Des projectiles
ont ete envoyes sur les forces de l’ordre, par des jeunes gens qui
se sont meles a la manifestation, selon une source policière. Il n’y
a pas eu d’interpellation.

Dans un communique diffuse lors de la marche a Arnouville, la
Federation des associations kurdes en France denonce le fait que Paris
“n’envisage la question kurde que sous l’angle d’une cooperation avec
la Turquie +en matière de lutte contre le terrorisme+ avec comme
corollaire l’arrestation des militants kurdes et l’eradication du
militantisme kurde”.

Cinq personnes d’origine kurde, dont trois “cadres importants”
du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), ont ete interpellees
samedi a Evry et Arnouville (Val-d’Oise), et la Maison culturelle
kurde d’Arnouville a ete perquisitionnee.

Ces interpellations ont eu lieu dans le cadre “d’une enquete diligentee
depuis plusieurs mois par la sous-direction anti-terroriste (SDAT)
sur instruction du parquet anti-terroriste de Paris”, a precise le
porte-parole du ministère de l’Interieur.

A l’origine de la procedure figure “des plaintes pour extorsion de
fonds qui devaient servir au financement d’activite terroristes menees
par le PKK”, a ajoute M. Brandet.

Samedi, des affrontements avaient eclate entre manifestants et forces
de l’ordre après ces interpellations.

Onze membres de la communaute kurde ont ete legèrement blesses après
l’intervention des forces de l’ordre a Arnouville, selon le maire PS
de la ville voisine de Gonesse, Jean-Pierre Blazy, pour qui l’operation
policière a ete “mal maîtrisee”.

Le ministère de l’Interieur a refute dimanche toute provocation ou
usage excessif de la force dans cette operation.

Le conflit kurde en Turquie a fait plus de 45.000 morts depuis le
debut de l’insurrection du PKK en 1984, selon l’armee.

En decembre 2010, six membres presumes du PKK avaient ete mis en
examen a Paris par le juge antiterroriste Thierry Fragnoli, pour
association de malfaiteurs en relation avec une entreprise terroriste
et financement d’une entreprise terroriste.

Alex Pilibos School Receives WASC Accreditation Renewal

asbarez
Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Pilibos students during a persentation

LOS ANGELES- Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School Administration with
the participation of its faculty, staff and parents prepared for the
WASC accreditation since early 2010. The WASC Accreditation committee
visited the school for 4 days from March 26 through March 30 2011.

After conducting a thorough inspection of school facilities and
classrooms, and conducting countless interviews and meetings with
staff, parents and students, the committee issued a 26 page report
praising the school for its commitment to academic excellence and its
adherence to WASC standards.

On Thursday, the Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School was notified by
the Western Association of Schools and Colleges that it was granted
the maximum (six year) term accreditation which expires on June 30,
2017. In the letter the WASC Commission Chair Dale J Mitchell said
`the Western Association of Schools and Colleges is pleased to
announce the action taken by the Accrediting Commission for schools
granting Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School a six-year term of
accreditation with a midterm review expiring on June 30, 2017. Please
accept our congratulations on the quality of instruction being offered
in your school’.

The WASC Committee report said `The Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian
School has made significant progress on the previously identified
growth areas, and has instituted programs, policies, and organizations
that have become part of the institution.’

Among some of the strengths mentioned were `a clear and unified vision
for the school that is supported by all stakeholders, effective
communication on student progress through email, school website and
online grading system, staff ownership of curriculum development and
academic freedom, a strong level of support for collaboration among
staff, a safe campus.’

The report also mentions that `the school leadership has demonstrated
a commitment to the faculty through retention of staff despite the
economic downturn. The school strives to create a familiar and
collegial relationship among all school personnel. The level of
involvement of the faculty in extracurricular and student activities
illustrates that the faculty participation is valued.’

`This is an honor for the school and a reward for all the stakeholders
who worked and continue to work for the betterment of our school and
the continual progress of the school’s academic and educational
standards and quality,’ said Pilibos principal Nazo Apanian.

Reuters
June 4 2011

Azeri defense ministry says Armenia making war inevitable

Sat Jun 4, 2011 1:39pm EDT

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Azerbaijan’s defense ministry was quoted Saturday
as saying Azeri troops would eventually be sent to seize back the
Armenian-backed breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Russia’s Interfax news agency said the ministry accused Armenia of
repeatedly obstructing talks to resolve the dispute, which in the past
two years has seen the worst skirmishes since a 1994 ceasefire.

The comments came only weeks before the presidents of Russia, Armenia
and Azerbaijan were scheduled to meet in the Volga river city of Kazan
as part of efforts to settle a major source of instability in an oil
and gas transit zone.

“Eventually, Azerbaijani soldiers will meet the expectations of the
people, the government, and the supreme commander-in- chief and will
liberate the occupied land from the enemy,” Azeri defense ministry
spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu told a news conference, according to
Interfax.

In a separate report, the agency cited an Armenian defense ministry
press officer who accused the Azeris of “preparing ground for new
provocations” by disseminating misinformation.

The two southern Caucasus countries fought a six-year war over the
territory which broke away from Muslim Azerbaijan with the help of
Christian Armenia during the collapse of the Soviet Union. The
mountainous territory, and considerable lands around it, were wrested
entirely from Baku’s control.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who has ramped up his country’s
military power with recent arms deals, has said Azerbaijan is willing
to go to war with Armenia to reclaim Nagorno-Karabakh.

(Reporting by Alfred Kueppers; Editing by Ralph Boulton and Jon Boyle)

news.am, Armenia
June 4 2011

Yerevan to host campaign against smoking

June 03, 2011 | 20:49

YEREVAN. – On Saturday Yerevan will host a campaign in support of the
ban of smoking in public places. The campaign is initiated by
Kanachastan NGO in cooperation with Yerevan city hall, with support of
USAID and Armenian representative of Counterpart International.

In the framework of the event 100 youngsters will visit those public
spots of Yerevan, where smoking is prohibited or there are special
smoking salons. In these places they will leave letters of
acknowledgement with inscription `Thank you for caring about our
health and prohibition of smoking in the institution’, Kanachastan NGO
informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Harvard professor Edward Khantzian discovers Armenia
by Tom Vartabedian

Published: Saturday June 04, 2011

Dr. Khantzian in Armenia.

Cambridge, Mass. – Life is hardly a retirement mode for Dr. Edward
Khantzian. At 76, he serves as a clinical professor of psychiatry at
Harvard University, consults at a hospital and still plays an active
game of tennis.

He’s spent more than three decades studying psychological factors
associated with drug and alcohol abuse and just returned from Yerevan
where he was a keynote speaker at a regional meeting of the World
Psychiatric Association.

The experience left an indelible impression upon him, being his first
visit to Armenia and seeing the impact of his presentation upon his
prominent peers.

“Being aware of our history as a ravaged culture and country with
recurrent disasters and national upheaval through most of the 20th
century, I had expected to witness many indications of remorse,” he
indicated. “Instead, I was repeatedly struck by many examples of
national pride and resilience.”

The professional meeting attracted more than 250 international
psychiatrists, including a heavy representation from Eastern Europe.
The event was launched by a gala reception at the Opera House,
featuring extraordinary performances by an ensemble and renowned opera
singer Anna Mayilyan.

The group was housed at the Armenia Marriott Hotel over three days
where keynote speakers were presented inside the large ballroom.

Theme was: “Mental Health in a Changing World.” Special attention was
given to the worldwide impact of disasters. A special symposium was
devoted to the Armenian Genocide including the effects of denial and
trauma. Almost without exception, the presentations were in English.

Dr. Khantzian spoke about addictive disorders such as opium which, he
says, remains a growing concern in that part of the world.

“The problem of alcoholism is very prevalent in Armenia and associated
with a lot of other problems, including domestic violence,” he notes.
“I was informed there is an emerging addiction to opium. One solution
is the use of drug methadone which was emphasized in my presentation.”

Dr. Khantzian has a distinguished resume in his field. After working
as a technical writer at Raytheon for one year, off he trekked to the
medical side. The doctor was born and raised in Haverhill to parents
from Malatia, Turkey. Both parents were shoe workers. His mother was a
genocide survivor.

“She did not hide or protect me from that segment of history – a grim
folklore of sorts,” said Dr. Khantzian. “Her stories were full of
resourcefulness.”

He and his wife Carol have been married over 50 years and share the
love of four children and 13 grandchildren while living in nearby
Groveland.

An Armenian-Iranian psychologist at the University of Southern
California was familiar with his work on addictions and recommended
him to the organizing committee for this conference. It didn’t take
much convincing to attend.

“One of my goals was to explain how the substitution of a legal
medication such as methadone in place of illegal opium works best,” he
brought out. “My hope is that such a perspective will help clinicians
appreciate the enormous suffering involved with addiction and how
individuals try to self-medicate such pain.”

During his stay, Dr. Khantzian visited numerous museums and
monasteries, including Etchmiadzin, along with a day trip to Lake
Sevan. He got to sample the very best Armenian cuisine and took
advantage of the finest hospitality shown.

The trip served another purpose for Dr. Khantzian. It brought him back
to his roots.

“Being married to a non-Armenian, I had grown apart from the Armenian
community,” he admitted. “But I never denied my proud ethnicity.
Although I had seen pictures of the monasteries, visiting these
historic sites made a tremendous impact upon me. I was deeply touched
by the genocide memorial at Tzezernagapert and that eternal flame.”

Two examples of trauma which remain indelible in his mind are the
genocide and the earthquake of 1988 which took nearly 30,000 lives in
and around Gyumri and Spitak.

“Through all this suffering and human/natural catastrophes,” he says,
“Armenians have remained ambivalent, even during their years under the
Soviet regime. The landmarks, lore and historical sites mark the
important role Armenians have played toward the development of Western
civilization.”

Among the other speakers were Dr. Armen Soghoyan, president, Armenian
Psychiatric Association, who directed the conference; Dr. Armen
Goenjian, professor of psychiatry, UCLA; Dr. Samvel Torossian, chief
psychiatrist, Republic of Armenia; Dr.Hagop Akiskal, professor of
psychiatry, an internationally-recognized expert on mood disorders;
Dr. Vahe Simonyan, psychiatrist; Kristine Torossian, psychologist, and
Dr. Louis M. Najarian, professor of psychiatry at Hofstra North
Shore-LU School of Medicine, who was part of a symposium covering two
decades of rehabilitation work following the earthquake.

news.am, Armenia
June 4 2011

Turks destroy tombstones at Cathedral of Ani-newspaper

June 04, 2011 | 09:01

YEREVAN. – The tomb of Queen Katramide and two tombstones of priests
were located at the Cathedral of Ani.

`Following archaeological excavations, obvious changes were made at
the site. As a result, the tombstones were overturned and the
inscriptions were concealed. This was a deliberate move, even the
bones were thrown out. Are monuments preserved in this way?’ architect
Ashot Hakobyan stated in an interview with Hayots Ashkharh newspaper.

Panorama, Armenia
June 4 2011

Hillary Clinton: US committed to work through Minsk Group to resolve NK conflict

`We are committed to continuing to work through the Minsk Group to
try to resolve the longstanding conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh,’ US
State Department quotes Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as making
her remarks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Azerbaijani FM thanked for all the words of trying to bring more peace
and stability to the region, particularly the resolution of
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh problem. `There was a recent
statement by the presidents which I believe also helpful from the
point of view that this unresolved conflict is on the screen of the
international community.’

`And we all together have to work harder to make a breakthrough,’
Azerbaijani FM said.

Defense Army: Karabakh soldiers don’t shoot civilians

June 4, 2011 – 10:59 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The situation at the line of contact between Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces remains tense.

The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire 230 times during the
period of May 29 – June 4, said the press office of the NKR Defense
Army.

`After the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries
adopted their statement in Deauville to once again rule out the use of
force as a conflict resolution means, Azerbaijan’s ceasefire
violations have become more fierce. Baku launched a propaganda
campaign aiming to accuse the Armenian side of provocative acts,’
press office head, colonel Senor Hasratyan said. `Specifically, on
June 3 Azeri media circulated information that as result of Armenian
firing civilian Elmar Piriyev was allegedly killed.’

`We reiterate that Karabakh army strictly observes the ceasefire along
the entire contact line and did not fire either upon military
positions or civilians,’ col. Hasratyan said.

He also informed that 400 shots were fired in the direction of NKR
positions on June 3.

Khamenei: Iran backs all Muslim uprisings except pro-U.S.

June 4, 2011 – 16:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iran backs all Muslim uprisings except those stirred
up by Washington, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on
Saturday, June 4, a stance that explains Tehran’s lack of support for
anti-government protesters in ally Syria.

According to Reuters, addressing a crowd commemorating the death of
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei said the leader of the 1979
Islamic Revolution had predicted events in the Middle East over the
last few months where Arabs have risen up against oppressive regimes.

Tehran has also voiced support for pro-democracy movements elsewhere
in the region, especially Bahrain where the Sunni monarchy was aided
by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to put down democracy
protests led by majority Shi’ite Muslims.

But the Islamic Republic, which crushed its own mass protests after
the disputed re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in
June 2009, has not expressed backing for demonstrators in Syria where
President Bashar al-Assad is a key regional ally.

“Our stance is clear: wherever a movement is Islamic, popular and
anti-American, we support it,” Khamenei told the crowd which
punctuated his speech at Khomeini’s mausoleum on the outskirts of
Tehran with chants of “Death to America.”

Without mentioning Syria by name, he continued: “If somewhere a
movement is provoked by America and Zionists, we will not support it.
Wherever America and the Zionists (Israel) enter the scene to topple a
regime and occupy a country, we are on the opposite side.”