Author: Badalian Vardan

Armenian Canadian Conservative Association
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Sevan Hajinian
Email: [email protected]

The Armenian Nation is an idea that transcends borders

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I would like to bring to your attention the below YouTube link of the Hon.
Jason Kenney’s speech at the launch of the Armenian Canadian Conservative
Association in Toronto on Nov. 22, 2014.

The Canadian-Armenian community is privileged and fortunate to call a
principled and brave leader such as the Hon. Jason Kenney a friend of our
community.

To listen and watch the entire speech, please visit the link below

The Launch of the Armenian Canadian Conservative Association in Toronto on
Nov. 22, 2014

Published on Dec 20, 2014

`The Armenian Nation is not just the four-million people living within the
borders of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian Nation is an idea that
transcends borders. The Armenian Nation is a spirit of tenacity, of
survival, of overcoming adversity, of fidelity– fidelity to your faith and
to your ancestors.

`To be Armenian throughout history has meant to make a choice. To make a
choice to overcome very often waves of persecution and violence and
dislocation, but to maintain that fidelity at an incredibly high price.

`To be Armenian means never to forget. Not just 1915 but never to forget
that yours was the first Christian Nation. Never to forget what that meant
during all of those years in Anatolia, in the Middle East, and in the
world-wide Diaspora.”

Hon. Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister of Employment and Social Development
and Minister for Multiculturalism, during his keynote speech at the launch
of the Armenian Canadian Conservative Association in Toronto on Nov. 22,
2014.

RFE/RL JOURNALISTS ROUNDED UP IN BAKU

Prague Post, Czech Republic
Dec 29 2014

Police going to reporters’ homes and denied the right to counsel

WASHINGTON — Dec 27, 2014 — Journalists with RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani
Service reported that police are pursuing them individually, going
directly to their homes to take them in for questioning following a
raid on the service’s Baku bureau Dec. 26.

In a move the bureau’s legal team is calling “unprecedented –
even by Azeri standards,” police late in the evening on December 27
knocked on the doors of at least four bureau reporters demanding that
they accompany them to the prosecutor’s office for questioning. An
additional eight journalists were told to report for questioning
on Monday.

“These people are being dragged to the prosecutor’s office by force
and by threats,” said one of the lawyers, who asked that his name be
withheld out of concerns for his personal safety. “By being summoned
over the weekend, they are being denied the opportunity to have
any legal defense, despite the fact that by Azeri law a witness is
normally summoned by phone or official summons to enable a lawyer to
be present.”

RFE/RL Editor in Chief and Co-CEO Nenad Pejic condemned the police
action, and said Azeri authorities are “terrorizing our staff and
their families.”

In one case, a journalist’s mother answered the door and was told by
police that RFE/RL’s bureau is closed and that the daughter must go
with them to have “a conversation.” In addition to the journalists,
the bureau’s cleaning woman was also confronted at her home by
Azeri police.

The employees, who have all requested legal representation for their
questioning sessions, have been told they will be taken by force to
the prosecutor’s office if they do not cooperate. A lawyer for the
bureau who demanded that his clients’ right to counsel be respected
was threatened by Iqbal Huseynov, a senior investigator in the case,
with being disbarred.

Siyavoush Novruzov, deputy executive secretary for the ruling Yeni
Azerbaijan party, commented on the raid on Friday, characterizing it
as a national security issue. Speaking to the local web portal Media
Forum, he said, “Every place that works for foreign intelligence and
the Armenian lobby should be searched.”

In a related development, a Baku court yesterday heard and rejected
the appeal of investigative reporter and RFE/RL contributor Khadija
Ismayilova, who remains in prison after being sentenced on December
5 to two months’ detention on charges of inciting a colleague to
attempt suicide.

In an environment of total government control over national media,
RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service, Radio Azadliq has built a solid
reputation as one of the only independent outlets in Azerbaijan. On
the air since 1953, Radio Azadliq content is available in Azerbaijan
via satellite, the Internet and social media including YouTube and
Facebook.

RFE/RL is a private, independent international news organization
whose programs — radio, Internet, television, and mobile — reach
influential audiences in 21 countries, including Russia, Iran, Iraq,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, the republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

It is funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of
Governors (BBG).

RFE/RL was headquartered at Englischer Garten in Munich, Germany,
from 1949 to 1995. In 1995, the headquarters moved to Prague. In
addition to the headquarters, the service maintains 20 local bureaus
in countries throughout their broadcast region, as well as a corporate
office in Washington, D.C.

Edited from information provided by RFR/RL and other sources

AN ARMENIAN TALE OF REBIRTH, SURVIVAL IN ANCIENT IRAN

Jakarta Globe, Indonesia
Dec 29 2014

By Wahyuni Kamah

Having spent a few days in Iran, a republic that implements shariah
law, I began to wonder if the country had any churches.

My curiosity was answered when I stayed in Isfahan, 340 kilometers
south of Tehran. Although the cities that I visited in Iran are all
uniquely stunning, I must say that Isfahan is the most beautiful,
with splendid mosques, amazing palaces, wide boulevards, artistic
bridges and minarets.

The beauty of Isfahan can be traced back in its history. When Persia
was ruled by the Safavid Dynasty (1502-1736), its Emperor Shah Abbas
the Great (or Shah Abbas I), reigning from 1588 to 1629, moved the
capital from Qazvin to Isfahan. He transformed Isfahan into a beautiful
center for the arts.

During his reign, Shah Abbas I made significant changes to the
military, politics as well as the empire’s economy. The Persians were
then at war with the Ottoman Empire. Both struggled to capture, among
others, Nakhichevan, a region that consists of what is now Azerbaijan
and parts of Armenia.

In 1603 the two empires agreed to split Nakhivhevan, with its
north-western frontier allocated to the Persians. Fearing that
his enemy will once again attempt to seize the region, Shah Abbas
implemented the “scorched earth” strategy of destroying any resources
— buildings, farms, crops — that may be of use to invading forces.

The policy forced residents (Armenians) to move from their home
city of Julfa and resettle in Isfahan, where a district located on
the south of the Zayandeh River was renamed New Julfa (Nor Jugha)
to accommodate them.

Though he was a Shiite Muslim, the emperor allowed the newcomers to
continue practicing their Apostolic Christian faith. The Armenians
were also given the right to elect their own mayor and hold their
own courts.

They were encouraged to produce wine and no Islamic restrictions were
imposed on them. However, Muslims could not live in New Julfa.

When the Armenians first came to the district, their duty was to
construct churches and monastery for their priests. Out of the 24
churches built during that era, only 13 now remain standing, including
the Surp Amenaprgitch Vank (Armenian Cathedral of Holy Savior).

To encourage financial independence, Shah Abbas I granted Armenian
merchants a monopoly on the silk trade. They also received interest
free loans for establishing businesses. This allowed them to expand
their network and trade with other countries, from Sweden in the north,
to Indonesia in the east.

The district not only prospered, it transformed the Persian Gulf into
a critical center for trade and culture. The quality of its schools
attracted students from across the region.

My friend Shirin took me to New Julfa. As soon as I entered the
district, I sensed a different atmosphere, not only from its buildings
but also the layout of the district. It is a neat complex and is
different from the other parts of Isfahan I had seen. It looks like
an enclosed settlement with smooth, cobblestoned roads connecting
parts of the quarter.

The roads are clean and the area looks well-maintained. The buildings
are mostly made of light yellow bricks. With the exception of the
Julfa Hotel and the district’s churches, all other buildings are only
two floors high.

Houses by the road have inner courtyards protected by high walls.

Despite being an Armenian quarter, all buildings bear Safavid
architectural influences as in the ayvans, wooden doors and pillars.

Even from a distance, I could easily spot the crosses perched on
top of the structure were searching for. After a 10-minute walk,
we turned left and I spotted a tower clock rising from behind a long
wall. A large group of tourists had already gathered in front of a
large gate that lead to the tower.

“Unfortunately, today is a holiday and the church is closed to the
public,” Shirin told me.

Along the wall, a number of small shops were open, selling souvenirs
to visitors who did not want to leave without a keepsake. Signs and
labels were all written in Farsi.

On a small pond, I saw a bronze statue of archbishop Khachatour
Kesaratsi in his long cloak. The archbishop set up the Middle East’s
first publishing house 1636. The first book ever to be printed in
Persia was a translation of the Book of Psalms into Armenian. The
first book printed in Farsi was published 192 years later.

The Surp Amenaprgitch Vank, popularly known as the Vank Cathedral (vank
means “monastery” in Armenian), is considered Iran’s most historically
significant church. Originally built in 1606 during Shah Abbas I’s
reign, its entire architecture reflects a striking mix of European,
Safavid and Armenian influences.

The cathedral is now on the entry list for a United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco)World
Heritage Site status.

Shirin and I continued to stroll down the paved walkway. We passed
some small cafes boasting a modern decor and playing Western music.

For a moment, I felt as if I was somewhere else — certainly not
in Iran.

We reached Julfa Square, an elegant shopping district surrounded by
a lovely colonnade. With a small fountain and chairs scattered across
the square, the place looked ancient yet stylish.

I then spotted several women wearing Islamic hijabs.

“They are Armenians,” Shirin told me, explaining that though they are
still free to practice their religion, the women must now adhere to
Iran’s Islamic dress code of wearing headscarves.

Some 120,000 Armenians currently call Iran their home; a quarter of
them live in Isfahan.

DEPUTY CULTURE MIN. MEETS ARMENIAN ARCHBISHOP

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Dec 29 2014

TEHRAN, Dec. 29 (MNA) – Ahead of New Year, cultural deputy of Culture
and Islamic Guidance Ministry visited the Archbishop of Armenians
this morning.

Seyed Abbas Salehi visited Armenian Church and Archbishop in Tehran
and congratulated the arrival of New Year while pointing to the
long history of coexistence of Iranians and Armenians and their
well-intentioned relations.

Salehi said “Armenians have never been separated from Iranians and
they have been beside us at the critical moments of Revolution and
Sacred Defence.”

The official also highlighted the Islamic Republic’s approach on
ethnic and religious minorities, stating that Islamic Revolution has
always considered the minorities and praised Armenians for putting
Iran’s national interests ahead of other issues.

Pointing to the activities of Office of Assemblies under his management
as deputy minister, Salehi said the office tried to be a connecting
bridge between Armenian society and the officials and would work to
solve their problems; “our government also looks for unity among all
groups and minorities in the society.”

Archbishop Sibuh Sarkisian, for his part, appreciated the efforts
made by officials in solving the issues concerning Armenian and other
religious minorities.

Robert Baklarian, the Armenians MP from southern Iran, Karen Khanlari,
the Armenians MP for northern Iran, the officials of Armenian council
in Tehran, Ali Fereydouni, the head of Office of Assemblies, and Saeid
Taghavi, the head of Religious Minorities Office, accompanied Salehi
in the meeting.

NATO MEMBER STATES ARE CONSIDERING SUPPLYING WEAPONS TO ARMENIA

Igor Muradyan, Political Analyst
Comments – 29 December 2014, 17:08

NATO’s concept of “soft power” means elaboration of NATO regional
policy which covers regional issues, as well as includes new partners.

Decisions made at Chicago Summit remain topical, and the problem is not
the concept but the lack of necessary means. Wales Summit put forth
ambitious objectives, and the U.S. and leading countries of Europe,
including France and Germany, support these decisions and intentions.

The problems relating to the unprecedented threat of the Islamic State
have necessitated revision of some NATO problems, understanding that
it is necessary to get down to decisive actions with the existing
resources.

The countries of Eastern Europe, including Georgia and Armenia,
encounter big issues in the economic and social sphere, there are
serious political problems, including in the sphere of foreign policy,
relating to external conflicts. Though Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
are participating in the peacekeeping actions in Afghanistan, their
role is more important in terms of military and other transit. This
is an important matter, and these countries implement large-scale
tasks in logistics.

Now that NATO troops are being withdrawn from Afghanistan, South
Caucasus is acquiring special importance but over time after
implementation of these objectives South Caucasus may lose its
importance to NATO.

It is hard to tell how long this period will last. However, the
countries of the region must realize that the role of the South
Caucasus is going to change along with the objectives of NATO and
the United States.

One can state with confidence that NATO and the United States will
maintain a significant level of military presence in Central Asia,
which will define the function of military transit in the South
Caucasus.

Armenia has missed a lot in cooperation with NATO but now cooperation
is being accelerated, and the alliance is accepting this with great
interest and approval. Armenia is in a complicated situation and is
facing the prospect of continuing arms race because Azerbaijan bid
on buying a lot of weapons. This has enabled Russia to impose vassal
relations on Armenia.

Methods of political regulation are highly important but balance of
forces may be violated in the region, which boosts the risks and
threats of war in which neither NATO, nor the European Union are
interested. For this purpose, several states, including Germany and
France, set to discuss supply of arms to Armenia, considering its
financial situation. Formally, this does not concern NATO and is the
sovereign right of separate countries but NATO-Armenia cooperation
is highly important to the solution of these problems.

Since Armenia has strong commitments to Russia and CSTO, its
initiatives for cooperation with NATO are limited though, nevertheless,
development of relations is important.

It would be easier for Armenia to develop relations with NATO if the
purpose set were to join the alliance instead of some projects of
cooperation with new partners. In this case, Armenia would have to
put forth more comprehensible conceptual and specific issues.

Turkey has active participation in the preparedness of the Azerbaijani
armed forces, development of its military industry. Apparently,
Azerbaijan will make a decision on resumption of war when it agrees
with Turkey.

Now Turkey submits to NATO assessments of preparedness of the
Azerbaijani armed forces, considering it insufficient. On the whole,
Turkey finds that Azerbaijan is not ready for war. The agreement on
mutual assistance between Turkey and Azerbaijan will hardly matter
as a mechanism for Turkish military intervention.

Turkey may intervene either by its sovereign right or by the UN
decision. However, it is hard to assume that the UN will make such
a decision but in this case NATO cannot approve unless circumstances
of aggression against Turkey are present. Turkey’s participation will
be indirect, “volunteers” may take part in the military actions.

The development of relations of NATO and the European Union with the
states of the South Caucasus is based on the possibility of avoidance
of military conflicts and continuation of integration.

The United States is negotiating with Turkey within NATO over issues
relating to Armenia. Germany, France and the United Kingdom may also
conduct such negotiations but these states have no wish and either
ignore Turkey’s position or address those issues to the United States.

Experts think controversies between the United States and Turkey,
as well as NATO and Turkey have not been settled, and the prospect
of normalization of those relations is not clear. Nobody is likely
to spend significant political resources to resolve issues relating
Turkey in the nearest future. It is becoming a more acceptable tactics
to ignore Turkish objectives and requirements, including within NATO.

It is assumed that close cooperation with NATO and the EU,
strengthening the Armenian armed forces with the assistance of the
Western community, acquisition of weapons from NATO and EU member
states at reasonable prices and other preferential arrangements is
an important direction of Armenia’s security.

At the same time, military presence in NATO plans or strengthening
of functionality of the South Caucasus is not expected in the South
Caucasus. NATO does not intend to boost political efforts to prevent
military actions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. NATO means its
reputation as a factor of prevention of military actions.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONDOLES OVER VAHAN HOVHANNESYAN’S DEMISE

19:24 * 29.12.14

President Serzh Sargsyan has expressed his condolences over the demise
of Vahan Hovhannesyan, Armenia’s ambassador to Germany.

In an address to the politician’s family and colleagues, the president
expresses his great sorrow over the irrevocable loss.

“It is with a deep grief that I was learned of the death of Vahan
Hovhannesyan, the Republic of Armenia ambassador to the Federal
Republic of Germany.

“Vahan Hovhannesyan’s presence was remarkable both on Armenia’s
political arena and during the years of the Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh]
war and later.

“It isn’t easy to imagine that his outstanding image of an ideological
champion, educated intellectual, state and party figure and brilliant
orator will no longer form part of Armenian and pan-Armenian political
processes. Vahan Hovhannesyan’s death was a big loss for not only
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaksutyun but also all of us.

QAGHTSRASHEN GRAVITY IRRIGATION PROJECT ANTIENVIRONMENTAL AND ANTISOCIAL

18:08 December 27, 2014

EcoLur

EcoLur thinks that Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation project bears
antisocial and anti-environmental risks. The letter addressed to
Nature Protection Ministry says, ‘Currently the Qaghtsrashen gravity
irrigation project undergoes environmental expertise. The project
plans to take water from the Azat River in pipes for the irrigation
of Aygestan, Berdik, Getazat, Deghzut, Hnaberd, Mrganush, Narek,Nerqin
Dvin, Norashen, Vardashen, Verin Dvin and Qaghtsrashen communities.”

The project has anti-environmental nature taking into consideration
the data laid down in the project. The system will be constructed
in the immediate proximity to Khosrov State Reserve and Symphony of
Stones – a monument of nature. The Azat River is the main factor in
forming the ecosystem of the Azat Gorge. Khosrov reserve, Garni gorge,
Symphony of Stones and other communities are in the project affected
zone, as well as all other communities, which use the water of the
Azat River and Azat reservoir.

Currently “Yerevan Jur” Company uses 1.560 l/s water from Azat and
Goght river water basins. From June to October Garni Village takes
11.44 million cum water and 1.32 million cum water from Goght River.

The project doesn’t mention anything how much water is needed for the
villages in Ararat. The project only says that 0.85 m3/sec water will
be left in the river as environmental flow.

The project risks are as follows:

1. Even the project says that the remaining flow in the river will
be reduced in the dry and hot weather, which means that the riverbed
can get dry.

2. The project area is located in the semi-desert and desert zones,
while the absence of water will promote desertification processes in
Garni Gorge, where lack of water has already been observed.

3. Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation project will be constructed with
World-bank funded “Improvement of Irrigation System” project. The
liability for the project bears the project implementer – State
Committee on Water Industry.

Qaghtsrashen gravity irrigation project shall be turned down due to
antisocial and anti-environmental nature.

UNE SOCIETE UKRAINIENNE ENREGISTREE DANS UN TERRITOIRE OFF-SHORE DEVIENT ACTIONNAIRE A 49% DE LA COMPAGNIE AERIENNE AIR ARMENIA

ARMENIE

Hayots Achkhar, Haykakan Jamanak, 168 Jam, Hraparak et Joghovourd
rendent compte de la conference de presse du directeur general d’Air
Armenia, Arsen Avetissian, qui a annonce l’acquisition par une societe
ukrainienne, East Prospect Fund, de 49% des actions de la compagnie
aerienne armenienne. Celle-ci a actuellement interrompu ses vols faute
de tresorerie. Bien que la reprise des vols d’Air Armenia ait ete
annoncee pour le 20 decembre, le directeur general a indique comme
echeance la deuxième moitie de mars 2015. Le nouvel actionnaire de
la compagnie aerienne devrait investir 30 M USD dans la societe. La
societe ukrainienne est enregistree dans le territoire off-shore des
Iles Vierges britanniques.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 20 decembre 2014

lundi 29 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

UN GROUPE DE L’OPPOSITION ACCUSE LE GOUVERNEMENT POUR LA DERNIERE ATTAQUE CONTRE UN MILITANT

ARMENIE

Un nouveau mouvement d’opposition appele “100e anniversaire sans le
regime” a condamne l’attaque durant week-end dernier contre l’un de
ses militants, le decrivant comme la dernière preuve que

PERQUISITION ET INTERROGATOIRES AU BUREAU AZERI DE RFE/RL

Liberte de la presse

Les journalistes du service azerbaïdjanais de Radio Free Europe
/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) ont ete poursuivis individuellement
samedi. Des policiers sont alles directement a leur domicile pour
des interrogatoires suite a une perquisition de leur bureau survenue
la veille.

Dans un geste que l’equipe juridique du bureau nomme de “sans precedent
– meme selon les normes azeries”, la police a, tard dans la soiree de
samedi, frappe aux portes d’au moins quatre journalistes du bureau
en exigeant qu’ils les accompagnent au bureau du procureur pour un
interrogatoire. Huit autres journalistes ont ete avises que leur
interrogatoire aura lieu aujourd’hui.

“Ces gens ont ete traînes au bureau du procureur par la force et
par des menaces”, a declare l’un des avocats, qui a demande que son
nom ne soit pas divulgue pour sa securite personnelle. “En etant
convoque le week-end, ils sont prives de la possibilite d’avoir une
defense juridique, malgre le fait que, dans la loi azerie, un temoin
est normalement convoque par telephone ou par convocation officielle
pour permettre a un avocat d’etre present.”

Le redacteur en chef et co-directeur de RFE / RL, Nenad Pejic,
a condamne l’action de la police, et dit que les autorites azeries
“terrorisent notre personnel et leur famille.”

En plus des journalistes, la femme de menage du bureau a egalement
ete confronte a son domicile par la police azerie.

Les employes, qui ont tous demande une representation juridique pour
leur interrogatoire, se sont vus repondre qu’ils seront emmenes de
force au bureau du procureur s’ils ne coopèraient pas. Un avocat de
RFE / RL, qui a exige que le droit a un avocat soit respecte, a ete
menace d’etre radie par Iqbal Huseynov, un enqueteur de l’affaire.

Siyavoush Novruzov, secretaire general adjoint pour le parti au
pouvoir en Azerbaïdjan, a qualifie vendredi cette perquisition de
grande ampleur comme une question de securite nationale. “Chaque
endroit qui fonctionne pour le renseignement etranger et le lobby
armenien doit etre recherche.”

Un peu plus tard dans la journee, un tribunal de Bakou a rejete
l’appel du journaliste d’investigation et contributeur a RFE / RL,
Khadija Ismayilova, qui reste en prison après avoir ete condamne le 5
decembre a deux mois de detention, accuse d’avoir inciter un collègue
a tenter de se suicider.

lundi 29 decembre 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com