Author: Badalian Vardan

ZHOGHOVURD: ANC GIVES EUROPE ASYLUM DOCUMENTS

11:47 06/03/2015 >> DAILY PRESS

Representatives of opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) give
people documents for getting asylum in European countries, Gevorg
Manukyan, a convict in the March 1 case, told Zhoghovurd.

“In particular, proxy documents are given. So, people who had nothing
to do with ANC during the elections can get a proxy document, apply to
migration services of European countries and be granted a political
asylum. Gevorg Manukyan told about one such case. He did not rule
out the possibility that the document was sold, not given for free,”
the newspaper says.

Source: Panorama.am

HRAIR HAWK’S NEW BOOK DOCUMENTS RICH ARMENIAN HERITAGE IN TURKEY AND WORLDWIDE

12:08 06/03/2015 >> SOCIETY

Panorama.am presents an interview with renowned Canadian-Armenian
photographer Hrair Hawk Khatcherian on his recently published 516-page
photography book 100: 1915-2015 dedicated to the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide. The book presents the riches of the Armenian
cultural and historical heritage through photographs taken in more
than 40 countries within 17 years. It also demonstrates the ongoing
destruction of Armenian churches in Western Armenia (presently occupied
by Turkey).

Nvard Chalikyan: Your photography book titled 100: 1915-2015 presents
extensive documented evidence of the Armenian presence and rich
cultural heritage all over the world, including Western Armenia. What
is the main message that your book delivers to Armenian as well as
non-Armenian readers?

Hrair Hawk: For almost four thousand years Armenians have lived in
and around present day Republic of Armenia, surviving invasions by
armies travelling Eastbound or Westbound, and my message is simple,
that of a nation who has and still is living against all odds.

N.C.: You note that your book begins by victorious pages and shows
the wealth of Armenia instead of focusing on tragedy. Can you say
more about this?

H.H.: My book starts with majestic biblical Mount Ararat where the
arch of Noah rested; on the foothills of the mountain Armenians built
the church of Sourp Hagop, which was destroyed in an earthquake – only
the khatchkars have survived till today. This is followed by the coins
of past Armenian kings starting by Tigranes II (95-55 BC) and by the
Armenian, Greek and Persian gods of Mount Nemrut. It then portrays
Armenians as the first nation who adopted Christianity in the year
301 and built thousands of churches in every corner of ancient Armenia.

The book also includes photographs of magnificent manuscripts, costumes
and artefacts following the creation of the Armenian Alphabet in the
5th century.

N.C.: How many photographs of Western Armenian sites are included in
your book? What century does the photograph of the oldest Armenian
coins and churches in your book date back to?

H.H.: The book includes well over 1000 photographs. The coins date
back 2000 years and the churches to the 4th and 5th century in the
region of Van.

N.C.: While working on this book you visited Western Armenia 30 times
throughout 17 years! What can you say about the changes, particularly
about level of destruction and plunder of the Armenian monuments that
you have observed throughout these years?

H.H.: During the first trips we were always followed by secret police
and rocks were hurled at our vehicles… all this has changed and
nowadays we are met with friendlier people, however the destruction has
been ongoing. Especially in the seventies major Armenian pilgrimage
sites were destroyed like Sourp Garabed and Sourp Arakelots of Moosh
and Khdzgonk, also the monastery of Nareg near Van is completely
destroyed. Gold diggers still dig inside and around the churches
looking for gold, thus weakening the structure, and nature finishes
off what humans have started. Thousands of holy sites were desecrated
and houses were demolished, entire villages were wiped out.

For example at Kharpert (Harput) an old photograph shows packed
Armenian houses and in the same location today we notice no dwellings
but trees instead. On the other hand in the recent years many Armenian
churches were renovated by the Turkish government under pressure from
the European Union and the United States.

N.C.: What is their current state? Are many of them being destroyed
at this moment in present-day Turkey?

H.H.: Many Armenian graveyards are destroyed, not only Christian but
also Seljuk ones – gold diggers believe they are wealth to be unearthed
and no sacred site is spared. At present time the destruction goes
on but has slowed down.

N.C.: Did you witness such destruction of Armenian heritage in other
countries you have visited?

H.H.: In Syria I have photographed the Armenian churches and due
to the civil war which is raging till now many of the photographs I
have taken have historical value, as ISIS has demolished many of them;
same atrocities are happening in Iraq and Egypt. In Iran some Armenian
churches have been damaged by time as the Armenian population relocates
in other countries. In Georgia the locals are defacing the Armenian
churches and replacing them with Georgian inscriptions. In the USA
many small communities unable to support the church are forced to
sell them. In Armenia many historical monasteries are abandoned and
require immediate attention and care.

N.C.: What steps, if any, do you think can be taken to prevent further
destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Western Armenia?

H.H.: Some Armenian churches are used as storage by the locals
in Turkey and in a way this prevents the building from collapsing
altogether; restoration is not always the solution if the church will
not be used. The Armenian Diaspora is building new churches wherever
the community is thriving… In rare occasions like Sourp Giragos of
Diyarbekir the Diaspora participated in the cost of rebuilding and it
is taken care of by local Armenians. Time and nature are destroying
the abandoned churches.

N.C.: How do you think your book can contribute to the actual campaign
of Armenian Genocide reparations?

H.H.: While working on my book I travelled to Venice, Italy and Vienna
to the Mekhitarist brotherhood and photographed Armenian manuscripts
and artefacts as well as costumes kept in their museums that had
been rescued from the Genocide. I have photographed manuscripts
at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Lebanon, the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul, at
Matenadaran in Armenia, at the history museum of Armenia, as well as
at the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) in Boston – all
these are solid proof of the richness of the Armenian nation and thanks
to these rescued relics we have proof about the existence of Armenians
throughout history and throughout what is today Turkish territory.

Each photographed manuscript, each photographed artefact has the town
and dates marked, thus the proof of Armenian existence in Turkey then,
from 2000 years ago up till today.

N.C.: What response has your book received so far?

H.H.: This book is enlightening to everyone, and the positive energy
can be seen in every page.

N.C.: Two of other photographic books you have published document the
Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh (Artsakh: A photographic journey
(1997), Karabagh: 100 Photos (2002)). Did you cover the territory
of the whole NKR, including the liberated territories? What can you
single out in terms of the Armenian historical presence there?

H.H.: Yes I have travelled inside Artsakh and the liberated territories
and photographed churches and khatchkars. Three monasteries there
stand out as jewels of Armenian architecture – Gandzasar, Dadivank
and Dzidzernavank – all are exquisite, few monasteries and churches
have survived invasions, same for khatchkars.

N.C.: Where can those who want to purchase your book “100” obtain it?

H.H.: In about two months my books will be ready for shipping and
they can contact me in person by email [email protected].

Hrair Hawk Khatcherian was born in Lebanon; his grandfather was a
Genocide survivor born in Zeytoun. Hrair came to Armenia first time
in 1992 during the Artsakh (Karabakh) war and inspired by the courage
of his fellow Armenians fighting for independence, he shortly took
to photographing the rich Armenian heritage in Karabagh, in Republic
of Armenia as well as in Western Armenia and later in different parts
of the world. Hrair continues this mission till today and has perhaps
taken more photos of Armenian churches than any other photographer.

Hrair Hawk has published 12 photography books, among them Artsakh:
A Photographic Journey (1997), 40 Nudes (2001), Karabagh: 100 Photos
for the Independence (2002), Yergir (2005), Armenian Ornamental Art
with Armen Kyurkchyan (2010), Armenian Ornamental Script (2012) and
One Church, One Nation (2013). For almost three decades now Hawk has
been presenting exhibitions, conferences, photographic lectures all
around the globe. His photographs have appeared in numerous magazines,
newspapers, books and publications.

By Nvard Chalikyan

ZHAMANAK: SAMVEL BABAYAN TO BACK OPPOSITION PARTY IN KARABAKH ELECTIONS

12:17 06/03/2015 >> DAILY PRESS

Nagorno-Karabakh’s former Defense Minister Samvel Babayan, who resided
in Moscow over several past years, is planning to back the National
Revival opposition party in Artsakh’s parliamentary elections due in
May, Zhamanak reports.

According to the newspaper, Tigran Grigoryan, a member of the party’s
political team, said this to Radio Azatutyun.

“It is not clear yet, however, what kind of support this is going to
be,” the newspaper adds.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIAN TOURISM STUDENTS QUALIFIES FOR THE FINALE OF MARIANNE MULLER CONTEST

YEREVAN, March 6. /ARKA/. Student of the Armenian Institute of Tourism
Tatev Saroyan has qualified for the finale of prestigious Marianne
Muller Award held by EURHODIP.

The Armenian Institute of Tourism is a full member of EURHODIP.

Representatives from nine countries will compete in the finale to be
held in May 2015 as part of the 22th EURHODIP conference in Tel Aviv,
and five-year student Tatev Saroyan is one of them, the press office
of the Institute told ARKA.

Students of the Armenian Institute of Tourism participated in Marianne
Muller also in 2013 and 2014. Marietta Vanoyan was the winner in the
2013 contest in Slovenia and Toma Martirosyan received the second-place
award in Marianne Muller contest in 2014 in Vilnius.

EURHODIP is an international association supporting hospitality and
tourism education and training, founded in 1989.

The Armenian Institute of Tourism is a branch of one of the biggest
Russian higher schools, the Russian International Academy for Tourism,
founded in 2001.

The Armenian Institute of Tourism is the only higher school in Armenia
and the region offering higher education in tourism management. -0–

TURKEY WILL EMERGE AS MAJOR REGIONAL POWER, STRATFOR SAYS

March 6, 2015 10:37

Turkish tanks near the Syrian border

Photo: REUTERS

Yerevan /Mediamax/. By 2025, Turkey will emerge as the major regional
power, and Turkish-Iranian competition will increase as a result.

It is stated in the Decade Forecast published by Stratfor U.S.

analytics center on developments in the world within 2015-2025.

“We have entered a period in which the decline of the nation-states
created by Europe in North Africa and the Middle East is accelerating.

Power is no longer held by the state in many countries, having devolved
to armed factions that can neither defeat others nor be defeated. This
has initiated a period of intense internal fighting.

The United States is prepared to mitigate the situation with air
power and limited forces on the ground but will not be able or
willing to impose a settlement. Turkey, whose southern border is made
vulnerable by this fighting, will be slowly drawn into the fighting”,
the document reads.

“As the reality sinks in, it will emerge that, because of its location,
only one country has an overriding interest in stabilizing Syria
and Iraq, is able to act broadly — again because of its location —
and has the means to at least achieve limited success in the region.

That country is Turkey. At this point, Turkey is surrounded by
conflicts in the Arab world, in the Caucasus and in the Black Sea
Basin. Turkey will not be ready for a completely independent policy in
the Middle East and will pay the price for a U.S. relationship. That
price will open the path to extending the containment line to Georgia
and Azerbaijan”, noted the U.S. analysts.

“Whatever its reluctance, Turkey cannot withstand years of chaos
across its border, and there will be no other country to carry the
burden. Iran is not in a position geographically or militarily to
perform this function, nor is Saudi Arabia. Turkey is likely to try
to build shifting coalitions ultimately reaching into North Africa
to stabilize the situation. Turkish-Iranian competition will grow
with time, but Turkey will keep its options open to work with both
Iran and Saudi Arabia as needed. Whatever the dynamic, Turkey will
be at the center of it.

This will not be the only region drawing Turkey’s attention. As Russia
weakens, European influence will begin inching eastward into areas
where Turkey has historical interests, such as the northern shore of
the Black Sea. We can foresee Turkey projecting its power northward
certainly commercially and politically but also potentially in some
measured military way. Moreover, as the European Union fragments and
individual economies weaken or some nations become oriented toward
the East, Turkey will increase its presence in the Balkans as the
only remaining power able to do so.

Before this can happen, Turkey must find a domestic political balance.

It is both a secular and Muslim country. The current government has
attempted to bridge the gap, but in many ways it has tilted away
from the secularists, of whom there are many. A new government will
certainly emerge over the coming years. This is a permanent fault line
in contemporary Turkey. Like many countries, its power will expand in
the midst of political uncertainty. Alongside this internal political
conflict, the military, intelligence and diplomatic service will need
to evolve in size and function during the coming decade. That said,
we expect to see an acceleration of Turkey’s emergence as a major
regional power in the next 10 years”, Stratfor concludes.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY IS ‘MORE POLITICAL’ NOW – KAREN KOCHARYAN

12:24 * 06.03.15

As a party, the present-day Prosperous Armenia party is “more
political” than the one led by Gagik Tsarukyan though is it common
knowledge it is going to be much weaker, political engineer Karen
Kocharyan told reporters on Friday.

“There are no political actors in Armenia,” he said. Populism is
dominating Armenia’s politics.

“Politics is not a charity, and it is not the Prosperous Armenia
party alone that is in question. Politics is turning into business,”
Mr Kocharyan said.

| A successful businessman was involved in politics and was suffering.

“I think he is happy now because he can do what he loves. Politics
has its rules of the game. He was so much told that he could that he
himself believed.”

RAFFI HOVHANNISYAN JOINS FIGHT OF “NAIRIT” EMPLOYEES

13:23 | March 5,2015 | Economy

Today “Heritage” party leader Raffi Hovhannisyan has also come
to support “Nairit” plant employees. On his coming, the employees
decided to march to the Presidential residence. Raffi Hovhannisyan
thinks that the demand of “Nairit” plant employees is fair and he is
joining the struggle.

Raffi Hovhannisyan noted that he wouldn’t march with “Nairit” employees
for a long time and after some time he would go to the Erablur Pantheon
to pay tribute to the memory of Vazgen Sargsyan.

With the request of “A1+” he also touched upon the recent shots fired
in Yerevan and he noted that all we must fight against it.

CITY OF CARSON UNANIMOUSLY VOTES AGAINST ATATURK MONUMENT

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

By MassisPost
Updated: March 5, 2015

Proposed Mustafa Kemal monument in the City of Carson.

CARSON – Voting unanimously, the Carson City Council opposed a
monument on March 4, 2015 commemorating Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the
city’s International Sculpture Garden, which aims to honor world
leaders who have promoted peace during their lifetimes, reported the
Armenian Council of America. (ACA)

“In an unprecedented show of opposition to the proposed
monument, the Armenian American community including the ACA, Armenian
National Committee (ANC) and the Armenian Caucus of the Service
Employees International Union Local 721 (SEIU 721) filled the Council
Chamber to express, in solidarity, their vehement opposition to the
project,” said ACA Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian. “The
proposed monument glorifies Ataturk, a man deemed by historians as
a dictator and promoter of ethnic cleansing of Armenians, Greeks,
Assyrians, and other minorities; a movement that provided the basis
for the persecution of minorities in Turkey.”

Barry Heads II, representing the office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson,
read a letter written by Assemblymember Gipson and co-authored by
Assemblymembers Atchajian, Gatto, Wilk and Nazarian.

Barry Heads II, representing the office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson,
read a letter written by Assemblymember Gipson and co-authored by
Assemblymembers Atchajian, Gatto, Wilk and Nazarian.

Barry Heads II, representing the office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson,
read a letter written by Assemblymember Gipson and co-authored by
Assemblymembers Atchajian, Gatto, Wilk and Nazarian.

“The proposed moment…. is incredibly insensitive and
insulting to the memories of those who died, and their surviving
families,” the letter read. “To erect a statue of Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk ignores the sensitive political context behind this
controversial individual, and goes against the stance taken by our
representative bodies at the state and federal level. Out of respect
for those who perished and the loved ones they left behind, we voice
our opposition.”

Speaking on behalf of the Turkish community was Consul Genaral
of Turkey, Raife Gulru Gezer, who listed the names of political
and religious leaders who have praised Ataturk. She continued by
citing names of Armenians who were honored by Ataturk and insisted
that the monument would be commemorating a remarkable leader and
founder of the modern Republic of Turkey. Aris Aganos, founder of
the American Hellenic Council, shared with the Council his memories
of the haunting stories told by family members about the burning of
Smyrna by the Turks.

ACA Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian, along with Armen Sefyan Esq.;
Glendlae City Clerk Ardashes Kasakhian, and Glendale City Mayot
Zareh Sinanian

ACA Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian, along with Armen Sefyan Esq.;
Glendlae City Clerk Ardashes Kasakhian, and Glendale City Mayot
Zareh Sinanian

Other elected officials who voiced their concerns in opposition to the
monument included City of Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian, a direct
descendant of the atrocities committed by Ataturk, who told the City
Council that they would be honoring a man who murdered his family if
they voted in favor of the monument. Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan
also revealed historical information about Ataturk as Glendale City
Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian shared an emotional story about his Greek and
Armenian ancestors who both suffered inhumanity under Ataturk’s
reign of power.

Both sides of the aisle provided testimony, however only 6 speakers
from each side were allowed to speak due to time constraints and an
overwhelming number of speakers – there were 298 speakers in opposition
to the monument and only 101 in support of the monument.

The Mayor had proposed a motion to move the item to the next Council
Meeting, however Councilmembers Robles and Holmes insisted on voting
for the motion. After speaking to the audience about the importance
of reconciliation and moving forward in unity, Mayor Dear, a history
instructor, expressed that he is a proponent of acknowledging the
Armenian Genocide and that there are revisionists who try to deny
that such an event occurred in history.

“The monument would bring bad notoriety to the City of
Carson,” said Councilmember Holmes and continued by stating
that city should not accept the gift.

The Armenian Council of America is a grassroots organization dedicated
to working with all political leaders, offering Armenian related
news, analysis and resources for policymakers, media, students and
activists, advocating issues important to Armenian Americans. The
Armenian Council of America aims to strengthen U.S. – Armenia and
U.S. – Nagorno Karabakh ties, the development of programs promoting
sustainable economic growth and good governance in Armenia, while
promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship.

Letter to Carson City Council by Assemblymembers Gipson, Atchajian,
Gatto, Wilk and Nazarian

Letter to Carson City Council by Assemblymembers Gipson, Atchajian,
Gatto, Wilk and Nazarian

[City-of-Carson1-225×300.jpg]

[City-of-Carson2-300×225.jpg]

[City-of-Carson3-300×225.jpg]

urk-monument/

###

Carson City Council Unanimously Rejects Ataturk Monument Measure

Posted on March 5, 2015

CARSON, CA – Earlier this evening, the Carson City Council unanimously
rejected the proposal to erect a memorial monument for Genocide
Perpetrator and Denier Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the city’s
International Sculpture Garden.

The 4-0 vote came after an overflow crowd of community organizations,
leaders, activists and Thank you Carson concerned community members
packed Carson’s City Hall to voice their concerns during the
public comment session. While over 298 members opposing the monument
and 101 in favor submitted cards to speak, only 6 from each side were
afforded the opportunity to comment.

In the weeks leading up to today’s vote, the ANCA-WR, Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Youth Federation, American Hellenic
Council, elected officials from neighboring cities, and the concerned
citizenry of the local South Bay community, respectively had all
been educating the Carson City Councilmembers who had been lobbied by
the Los Angeles Turkish American Association with the ill-conceived
proposition for erecting a statue of Ataturk on public grounds and
rallying the community for tonight’s meeting.

“We thank our grassroots and the community based organizations
for their unrelenting vigor to time and again advocate for the
truth, which Turkish lobbyists shamelessly and unsuccessfully, as
evidenced today, try to bury with corrupt funding and preposterous
schemes,” stated ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan.

“We applaud Mayor Jim Dear, Mayor Pro Tempore Elita Santarina,
and Councilmembers Lula Davis-Homes and Albert Robles for listening
to the testimonies and comments from our community and allies and
voting against such revisionist agendas,” added Asatryan.

Glendale City Mayor Zareh Sinanyan was the first to speak in opposition
of the proposal, and 11034301_10153094804831147_3323654472151318119_n
recounted his family’s personal story of survival of the
Armenian Genocide.

He informed the Carson City Council that Ataturk was idolized by Nazi
Germany and by Hitler for how he ‘liberated’ Turkey. This
liberation, however, included trying to finish what the Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey attempted but failed-total
annihilation of the Armenians. At the end of his comments Mayor
Sinanyan urged the Council to vote against the measure and noted that
having an Ataturk Memorial would be the same as having one of Hitler.

“To honor Ataturk is to honor murder, rape, dictatorship,
repression, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Today the Armenian community
of S. California made sure there is no place for that here or anywhere
else in the civilized world,” stated Mayor Sinanyan.

Sinanyan’s statements were followed by Honorable Mayor
of Montebello Jack Hadjinian, Glendale City Clerk Ardashes
“Ardy” Kassakhian, Professor Levon Marashlian, and the
Vice Chairman of the American Hellenic Council Aris Anagnos who shed
light on the historical facts surrounding the Armenian Genocide and
Ataturk, all urging the Council to reject this ridiculous measure.

In his remarks, Anagnos posed the question that crossed the minds of
many “Why would an American city choose to honor a General who
fought against Americans?”

Professor of History, Dr. Levon Marashlian during his public comment
recounted the words spoken by Ataturk himself who once asserted,
“I am a dictator so that Turkey will never again have a
dictator.” Marashlian noted that Mustafa Kemal continued
the crimes of the Armenian Genocide and read an excerpt from
American nurse Edith Woods’ eyewitness testimony in 1922 of
the atrocities committed against the Armenians during Kemal’s
forced deportations of the Armenians from Turkey. “The children
would often be dead before I had taken their names. 40 to 50 of the
older women died each day, their mouths were massive sores and their
teeth were dropping out and their feet, those poor bleeding feet.

Deportation assured death, and a far more horrible death than
massacre. Unless one sees these things it is difficult to believe
that such monstrous cruelty and barbarity exists in the world.”

“As elected officials it is our responsibility to properly
identify real historical figures and honor photo (10) them for their
true heroism or public service rather than ignore the facts and
glorify villains who thrived from the blood of our ancestors or of
any innocent man,” stated Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian.

“Ataturk built the modern republic of Turkey upon the bones
and ashes of its minorities – Greeks, Armenians and others. My own
family survived the burning of Smyrna – one of the worst catastrophes
of the 20th century. To honor such a man is not only insult to
Armenian-Americans but to all Americans who believe that every
person is born with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness,” remarked Glendale city clerk Ardashes Kassakhian.

“Ataturk and his regime denied thousands of these rights. It
is upsetting that the Mayor of Carson has invited upon his city the
stain of honoring a Genocide denier by proposing such an inappropriate
monument. A more appropriate monument would be one to honor the
victims of Ataturk’s regime,” added Kassakhian.

California State Assemblymembers submitted a letter in opposition to
the monument, which was presented at the meeting by a representative
of Assemblymember and former Carson City Councilman Mike Gipson,
and co-signed by Assemblymembers Adrin Nazarian, Katcho Achadjian,
Scott Wilk and Mike Gatto.

When Turkish Consul General of Los Angeles
Raife Gulru Gezer, who was one of the 6 to speak in
11025734_10206083551588985_3664930548140104248_n favor of the proposed
monument, addressed the City Council, an overwhelming majority of
the crowd in attendance turned their backs to her in protest.

Carson Mayor Jim Dear, who initiated the monument proposal and
used unfair tactics including initially permitting an additional
speaker in favor of than in opposition to the monument and providing
unlimited speaking time to foreign agent Turkish Consul General of Los
Angeles Raife Gulru Gezer, while curtailing the voice of the American
citizenry, made a motion to table the item to a future meeting. The
motion was rejected by the other Councilmembers who did not want to
delay the vote.

Prior to making a motion to reject the monument Councilmember Robles
stated “This type of monument would bring bad notoriety to
our City.” In the end, Dear changed his vote and spent over
10 minutes talking about the atrocities that took place during the
Armenian Genocide.

Armenian press, including Asbarez, was not allowed to enter the City
Council chamber. However, CNN Turk and ABC7 were allowed to cover
the proceedings from inside the chamber.

Upon confirmation of today’s scheduled
vote, ANCA-WR disseminated an action alert, to which
its11051903_863466380359231_7555945855876169548_n highly mobilized
grassroots responded swiftly. Phone calls and e-mails expressed
the grave concerns of Armenian-Americans who questioned why the
city of Carson would ever consider memorializing a genocide denier,
perpetrator and profiteer, calling their attention to the precarious
timing of the vote just weeks away from the Centennial anniversary
of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923, committed by Ottoman Turkey,
a crime still unpunished, and for which recognition, reparations and
restitution are justly sought.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

L’AEROPORT DE SHIRAK VA EXEMPTER LES PASSAGERS DE >

ARMENIE

Le ministre armenien de l’economie Karen Chshmarityan declare que
tous les passagers qui utilisent l’aeroport Shirak de Gyumri afin de
quitter le pays seront exemptes du paiement de la taxe aerienne.

S’adressant aux journalistes après une seance du Cabinet le ministre
a dit qu’une decision speciale a cette fin a ete adoptee par le
gouvernement

SEDRAK BAGHDASARYAN: THEY HAD BETTER SAY THEY ARE ALIENATING OUR HOMES FOR ROBERT KKOCHARYAN (VIDEO)

12:39 | March 4,2015 | Social

Laws are not violated by ordinary citizens, they are violated by the
state, says Sedrak Baghdasaryan, Chairman of the Victims of State Needs
NGO, who was deprived of his property in Yerevan about ten years ago.

Mr Baghdasaryan has been seeking justice ever since. Speaking at the
discussion on “Violations Regarding Eminent Domain” held at the Media
Centre NGO, he said courts have not yet explained to him the meaning
of the phrase ’eminent domain.’

“They had better say they are alienating our homes for Robert
Kkocharyan ,” Mr Baghdasaryan said.

In 2007, residents of buildings at 23, 25 Teryan Str. and 37 Lalayants
Str. were evicted from their homes after the government declared
their property ’eminent domain for public needs.’

Vardan Geravetyan, a member of the Our City Initiative, says the areas
were given to Local Development Company headed by Samvel Mayrapetyan.

The latter is known to have close ties with former president Robert
Kocahryan. It is still unknown what the company plans to build in
the area.

Speaking at the discussion, Sedrak Baghdasaryan said the residents
of the alienated buildings are not going to leave their homes.

“Every day, we receive letters from the Judicial Acts Compulsory
Enforcement Service, saying that we are to vacate the flats. The
compensation offered by the company is ridiculous, even offensive.

They are driving you out of your home in your country,” said resident
Flora Udumyan.