Author: Badalian Vardan

ARTIST SELECTED FINALIST IN PARAMOR PRIZE

South West Advertiser
February 4, 2015 Wednesday

by Kirstie Chlopicki

A circuit board taken from a disassembled computer served as the
foundation for an art work submitted by Gary Deirmendjian for this
year’s Paramor Prize.

The Armenian artist, who is visiting his family home in Bonnyrigg,
has been chosen as one of 40 finalists whose work is displayed at
the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre for the inaugural exhibition.

Mr Deirmendjian said that he was working at a merchant bank when he
was inspired by the circuit board that would become his futuristic
artwork METROPOLIS NEW – The savage loses heart.

“These circuit boards as I was pulling them out just sort of connected
with me; they looked like a town plan, they hinted at regularity and
containment,” he said.

“It’s like a model of a future city.

“There’s this notion of futurism and what the future may hold.”

Mr Deirmendjian teaches at the National Arts School, Darlinghurst,
and said he aimed for his work to be socially critical and question
where we were as a society, where we are going and what we are
leaving behind.

“You communicate through your work,” he said.

“I’m a maker, so I make what I feel.

“I’m very dubious about this notion of progress.”

Although he feels strongly about the message of work, Mr Deirmendjian
hopes viewers will take away their own meaning.

“You’re planting seeds.

“The aim of many works is to help the viewer see themselves, to go
away with a part of yourself.

“All I can do is put what I understand in front of them.”

Powerhouse curator Adam Porter said the artists were selected from
a shortlist and they each showed excellence in art.

The theme of the exhibition is innovation and the prize was named
after local artist Wendy Paramor, in memory of the 40th anniversary
of her death.

Artist Erica Seccombe received the $20,000 top prize for her work
Virtual Life at the exhibition opening on the weekend, while Susanna
Strati received the $5000 mayoral award for her work Wreath #2.

Visitors to the exhibition can vote for their favourite art work to
determine the winner of the $1000 People’s Choice Award, which will
be announced on March 15.

“TODAY THERE ARE NO AUTHORITIES”: VARDAN OSKANYAN

16:29 | February 5,2015 | Politics

“The process of Karabakh issue resolution has never been in such a deep
deadlock,”- announced BHK deputy Vardan Oskanyan during BHK conference
today. He thinks that even during the years of war there wasn’t so
much distrust between the sides. Oskanyan assessed negatively also
Armenian-Turkish relations. He considered the relations with Georgia
and Iran deteriorative, “We have lost the respect of Russia and the
confidence of the West. The only solution is regime change.”

Mr. Oskanyan says that today there are no authorities, there are
only individuals, “There are no results, instead there is a group,
which has turned the state into a private business. When looking at
the attitude of these authorities we come to a conclusion that they
don’t want to change anything.”

“ARMENIA SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF PALESTINE”

February 5 2015

“Armenia must demonstrate a clear stance on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. I think that the first step should be the recognition of
Palestine by the Parliament of Armenia”, such a statement was made
by the Head of “Globalization and Regional Cooperation” NGO, also
political scientist Stepan Grigoryan in the interview with “Aravot”.

He does not consider this move beyond the context of Armenian matters
or outdated.

Moreover, he thinks that it should be prior to marking the centennial
of the Armenian Genocide. “Israel has a rather one-sided approach on
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Israel is also selling advanced offensive
weapons to Azerbaijan, and it built several military factories in
this country and so on. In other words, Israel is obviously running
an anti-Armenian policy in the region,” he said, adding that Israel
is also obviously running a subjective, even hostile policy on other
issues. “For example, on January 28, the Holocaust Remembrance Day,
the Israeli leader said in his speech from the UN podium that the
other genocides should be condemned, including the “Khojaly massacre”.

Such a statement ahead of the Genocide Centennial is obviously a
hostile attitude,” opines the political analyst and believes that the
Armenian side should not leave this statement unanswered. The move of
recognizing the independence of Palestine by Armenia, according to him,
will be viewed quite well by Europe and Russia, which also supports
the interests of the Palestine on this issue. “Several European
countries’ parliaments, and Sweden even at the government level,
recognized the independence of Palestine. But most importantly, the
Arab world will respond to Armenia’s move positive, which will boost
the future Genocide recognition process.”

Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at:

KOCHARYAN METHODS ARE COMING BACK

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

February 5 2015

SDHP Chairman Narek Galstyan about the tradition of “beating
a person in mask” and “declaring one or two needles or
toothbrushes more”

– On Saturday, the incident happened in Berdzor between the Founding
Parliament of Artsakh and the NKR police during the automobile march
was differently interpreted. In your estimation, what happened and why?

– Frankly speaking, the question here should be divided into two
parts. What happened in Berdzor is definitely condemnable. I have seen
the footage posted on the internet. They were beating with special
severity, broking the car windows. As I understood, there were also
cameramen from Artsakh, let them present their understanding of the
events. But, anyway, likewise treating unarmed and peaceful people
does not fit in the conscience, the law, nor in our understanding of
political logic.

Here, however, there is a second important factor. For us, the style
of the Founder Parliament’s actions, the logic of moves have
never been acceptable. Now, they are talking about the “regime
change” on April 24. On the day of the Centennial of the
Genocide, if a single Armenia’s nose bleeds in the city center,
we will decry our Cause in front of the whole world. It is clear that
in these days, the whole world’s attention will be concentrated
on Yerevan. Moreover, the logic of going out of Yerevan and holding
a demonstration in Artsakh is not acceptable. Artsakh has a plenty of
problems apart from going out of Yerevan and holding a demonstration
there. The border is a few kilometers away, every day subversive
acts are taking place, so why it is necessary to involve Artsakh in
domestic political matters. Absolutely, not.

– Recently, the beating of civil activists and politicians often
manifests as an attitude. Isn’t the time actually a passed
phase for us?

– You are right, lately, regular physical settlement of accounts are
taking place. After Robert Kocharyan’s tenure, such phenomena
were not find in our political and social life, which, indeed, was
welcomed. In recent months, the occurrences are beyond the logic in
general. There is no other disgracing and more villainous phenomenon
than beating a person in a mask. In 2007, I was attacked in the same
sneaky style, but perhaps a few times cruel. You know, somehow I will
understand that if someone curses him on the Internet, you shall go
and openly settle account with him.

In many cases, they go beyond the red line, involve families, which
is no way perceivable. But in contrast to it, the attacks in masks do
not also particularly shine by their honesty. At the same time, taken
objectively, there are thousands of problems in our country. What
does it mean, should there be no oligarchy in Armenia after making
the civil activists silent? Should the monopolies be eliminated?

Should the corruption in the public-sector stop ruling as a
cornerstone of building public relations? Of course, not. These are
our country’s real problems, these are the challenges before
the authorities and the whole public, rather than the Facebook users.

– You have repeatedly announced that SDHP party will act from the
interests of small and medium-sized businesses. It has been several
months since the RA Law on “Turnover tax” has made hundreds
of people to come out to the street, the talks with the government are
underway, but there is no final solution. Whom does the SDHP support?

– One gets the impression that a class struggle has begun in Armenia
against all small and medium-sized businesses. It seems we are back
to the 20’s of the 20th century, when the USSR as viewed
as a “hostile” class to all people who had more than
two chicken. Under this difficult social situation, the SDHP party
believes that it would be much righteous for the government to be
focused on bringing the oligarchy to the taxation field. After that,
everything will be regulated. Or else, by declaring one or two needles
or toothbrushes more, you would only make the social severity further
deep. SDHP Party shares the concerns of SME representatives, support
their claims, but our representatives do not participate in their
rallies only for one reason – no need to politicize people’s
legitimate social requirements.

Interviewed by Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at:

TRAILER OF MOVIE ABOUT AURORA MARDIGANIAN UNVEILED

February 5, 2015 15:12

Aurora Mardiganian

Photo: hammer.ucla.edu

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute has unveiled
the first official trailer of the documentary recounting the story
of Aurora Mardiganian and the first Armenian Genocide movie shot in
Hollywood in 1918 based on her memoirs.

“Aurora” movie is about Arshaluys Mardikyan (later Aurora Mardiganian),
an Armenian girl who survived the Armenian Genocide. She was 14 when
in summer of 1915 the wave of massacres and deportation also reached
the province of Kharberd where her birthplace – Chmshkatsag village
– was located. Surviving the massacres and going through all the
horrors of the Armenian Genocide Arshaluys moved to Tiflis, then to
Petrograd. She then moved to Norway and following it, to New York, U.S.

It’s where she started to put down the story of her life which drew the
public attention in the U.S. Later “Ravished Armenia” book presenting
the memoirs of Aurora Mardiganian was published. The book prompted a
huge response among Americans and an idea to shoot a Hollywood movie
recounting this story occurred.

Aurora Mardiganian herself played the main role in “Ravished Armenia”
movie (also known as “Auction of Souls”).

DORTMUND HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH MKHITARYAN, WATZKE SAYS

16:39, 05 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The struggling Bundesliga giants downplay suggestions that the Armenia
international is unhappy at Signal Iduna Park amid rumours linking
him with Serie A side Juventus, Goal.com reports.

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke insists that the club do
not have any problems with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The 26-year-old’s agent Mino Raiola declared recently that Mkhitaryan
has set his sights on a summer exit, with Juventus keeping a close
eye on his situation.

“Perhaps there is a problem between Raiola and Borussia Dortmund,”
Watzke told Kicker, “but there is definitely no problem between
Mkhitaryan and the club.”

WHAT WILL HINDER THE BROTHER OF SERZH SARGSYAN?: LEVON ZURABYAN’S QUESTION (VIDEO)

14:55 | February 5,2015
Levon Zurabyan

HAK deputy Levon Zurabyan thinks that the law on “Income tax”
is anti-market.

What will hinder the brother of Serzh Sargsyan to monopolize this
sector?, asks Levon Zurabyan- based on the thesis of the law.

LOOK WHO WAS ARRESTED BY ARMENIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES!

Lragir.am
Law – 05 February 2015, 10:25

Yesterday Mnatsakan Alexanyan of Sarnaghbyur village was arrested. He
took part in the demonstrations in Gyumri on January 14-15 demanding
to hand the case and suspect of the manslaughter in Gyumri to the
Armenian law enforcement agencies. The demonstrators clashed with
policemen who were blocking the central street of the city where the
Russian Consulate is located.

The Armenian law enforcement agencies vowed to call on the Russian
side on this matter, as well as not to persecute the participants of
the demonstrations. However, a real hunt began on the following days
of the demonstrations. People were invited to the police stations,
underwent violence and were intimidated, as the press and the people
who experienced this reported.

And yesterday the participant of demonstrations was arrested.

According to Hetq.am, Mnatsakan served in NKR, completed his service
two years ago, has a lot of awards, fought against and pushed back
three Azerbaijani commandos, served in the military unit of commander
Artak Budaghyan. The same Budaghyan who was wounded, and his brother
was killed during the tragedy near Liska’s house. Liska’s son was
acquitted for this murder.

Mnatsakan’s father fought in the war in Artsakh. Now he is knocking at
the police doors trying to find out what is happening to his son who
merely stood up for the dignity of the same law enforcement agencies
to save their face.

ACADEMIC CONFERENCE: THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’S LEGACY, 100 YEARS ON

14:57, 05 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The University of Southern California Institute of Armenian Studies
has joined with the Centennial Project Foundation and the Netherlands
Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies to convene a
two-day conference at The Hague Institute for Global Justice, in the
Netherlands, on March 6-7, 2015, Massis Postreports.

This major interdisciplinary gathering will bring together academics
and professionals from various fields to discuss the impact of the
Genocide. Experts will examine such issues as impunity, sexual
violence, demographics, compensation, memorializing, political
discourse and media approaches.

Keynote speaker, Ronald Suny, Professor Emeritus, University of
Chicago and University of Michigan, will open the conference. He will
be followed by experts in the field of Law (Geoffrey Robertson – QC,
Susan L. Karamanian, Nolwenn Guibert, Sun Kim, Najwa Nabti, Alexis
Demirdjian, Hannibal Travis), historians Ugur Umit Ungor, Jakub Bijak,
Lorne Shirinian, experts in social sciences and humanities (Levon
Chorbajian, Seyhan Bayraktar, Nanor Kebranian, Ayda Erbal, Eugene
Sensenig-Dabbous, Anthonie Holslag), literature, media, education
and journalism scholars Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Lisa Siraganian,
Esra Elmas, Marie-Aude Baronian, Joyce Sahyouni.

Alexis Demirdjian, Director of the Centennial Project Foundation and
a trial attorney in the Office of the Prosecutor at the International
Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, said, “We are pleased
to partner with the University of Southern California Dornsife
Institute of Armenian Studies. We look forward to a conference that
is significant going forward beyond the centennial.”

DZIDZERNAGAPERT DANS LE CALENDRIER OFFICIEL DU MINISTERE TURC DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES

TURQUIE

Le ministère turc des Affaires étrangères a publié a “tort” une photo
du mémorial dédié au génocide arménien de Dzidzernagaper comme
photographie pour le mois d’Avril dans un calendrier officiel,
préparé pour commémorer le 100e anniversaire de la bataille de
Gallipoli, a rapporté hier le quotidien Hurriyet.

Un responsable du ministère des Affaires étrangères a déclaré au
quotidien Hurriyet que l’image avait été “accidentellement incluse
avec d’autres photographies.”

Une enquête a été lancée concernant cette erreur et que la
personne responsable sera puni, a dit l’officiel, ajoutant que tous
les calendriers a ce jour n’avaient pas encore été distribués.

Le fonctionnaire a énergiquement réfuté les revendications que
l’image fait partie d’une nouvelle ” ouverture arménienne ” de la
part d’Ankara, soulignant que les éléments de toute ouverture sur
le dialogue avec les Arméniens sont livrés soit par le président
turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan ou le Premier ministre Ahmet Davutoglu.

jeudi 5 février 2015, Stéphane ©armenews.com