Author: Badalian Vardan

JEWISH SETTLER HATE CRIME IN ISRAEL INCREASINGLY TARGETS CHRISTIANS

EuroNews, EU
May 28 2014

Jerusalem: one city, three religions. In the hills of the Judean
desert, earth and sky have always been separated by a thin line. There
are many lines in this city. The western part is mainly inhabited by
Israelis, the eastern side Palestinians. The Old City is divided into
four quarters: Muslim, Christian, Armenian Orthodox and Jewish. It’s
believed here Jesus was crucified, Muhammad went to heaven on a winged
horse and the Ark of the Covenant was laid on Temple Mount. The Old
City’s been fought over for 4,000 years. Its status has repeatedly
derailed modern peace talks. We asked an expert why.

Sociologist and anthropologist Gideon Aran said: “Actually, the divide,
the tension, the conflict is not just a religious one. Please remember
that there’s a national, political divide and conflict, one atop
the other. The political or religious conflict is imposed upon the
national one. And the two of them together obviously are harder to
solve and are much more bitter.”

The latest manifestation of religion-based strife in Israel developed
around four years ago: so-called ‘price tag attacks’, mostly anti-Arab
hate crimes by Jewish radicals: Palestinian olive trees torn up, their
cars burnt, their tombs desecrated and houses or mosques vandalised
with offensive inscriptions. Yet, particularly in the weeks leading
up to the Pope’s visit, the attacks have also increasingly targeted
Christian temples.

According to Aran: “Please remember, this is basically a group of
hooligans, juvenile delinquents who choose their targets randomly, and
they switch from Muslims to Christians — and especially Jews; that is
actually their main objective: to embarrass the Jewish government and
the Jewish leadership in the settlements in the occupied territories.

So actually they are randomly choosing their targets.”

The Israeli security services have created a special anti-price-tag
task force, yet the attacks have multiplied. Most Israelis express
a disgust in the acts.

Our man in Jerusalem, Luis Carballo, said: “The Israeli poet Yehuda
Amihai once wrote that the religious charge is so intense in Jerusalem
that ‘everything can be the beginning of a new religion’. And yet
its holiness to the three major religions and sacredness for half of
humanity does not translate into peace.”

AZERBAIJAN IS CAPABLE OF LIBERATING ITS OCCUPIED LANDS – MINISTER

Thu 29 May 2014 11:20 GMT | 12:20 Local Time

“The Armenian side has recently made an attempt to commit an act
of sabotage on the line of contact and got an adequate response”,
Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov, who is in an official
visit to Georgia, told journalists, APA reports.

He said each time the opposite side will get an adequate response if
provocations continue.

The Minister has also mentioned that Armenia has occupied 20 percent
of Azerbaijan’s territory: “Armenians must unconditionally return our
occupied lands based on 4 UN resolutions. Unfortunately, the invasion
continues. Therefore, Azerbaijan is obliged to strengthen its armed
forces. Currently, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan is equipped with the
most up-to-date weapons, apparatus, and equipments. Today, Azerbaijan
is capable of liberating its occupied lands. However, the Azerbaijani
government is in favor of the peaceful resolution of this issue”.

ELIA KAHVEDJIAN’S PHOTOGRAPHS EXHIBIT OPENS IN SAN FRANCISCO

May 29, 2014 – 15:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Elia Kahvedjian’s photographs are stunning examples
of the history that resides in the walls of Jerusalem – a history
that transcends barriers of race, ethnicity, religion and time. A
new exhibition at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco that
will run through June 21 reveals some of the works of Kahvedjian,
an Armenian refugee who lived in Israel in the early 20th century
and is easily one of the region’s most influential photographers,
SFGate reports.

Many of the black-and-white photographs paint a vivid picture of
pre-state Israel, transporting viewers from Christian to Muslim
quarters, Damascus Gate to the Sea of Galilee, shoe shiners to
dancing Gypsies, communal celebrations to moments of quiet prayer
and reverence.

“There are lots of photos of people, seemingly unobserved, working
at their jobs,” says Lenore Naxon, a curator at the JCCSF. “They form
a remarkable record of the time and place, a real step back in time.”

When Kahvedjian’s son and grandson discovered thousands of negatives in
his Jerusalem shop in 1987, they realized that Kahvedjian had amassed
not only his own photos, but 1,400 images by other photographers that
dated from 1840 to 1947 – some of which are included in the exhibition
– which were immediately recognized as treasures offering us a fuller
picture of Kahvedjian’s life, as well as pre-Israel Jerusalem. His
Jerusalem shop, Elia Photo Services, is still in existence as a museum.

Kahvedjian’s granddaughter Laura Dirtadian says that the exhibition
captures aspects of Israel that few people see nowadays. After the
opening of the show, “There were people coming up to me who were
crying, because of the environment which was portrayed in these
photographs. You see Palestinians and Israelis and Armenians, and
they are living among one another in peace.”

The photographs in the collection, especially the ones Kahvedjian
collected from earlier times, are also particularly poignant, given
that many reveal sites that no longer in exist, SFGate says.

Kahvedjian himself lived through great turmoil. Although details about
his life remain fuzzy, he is thought to have been born in eastern
Turkey around 1910. In 1915, his entire family was killed during the
Armenian Genocide. He spent a few years on the streets in Turkey,
but with the assistance of an American aid organization, eventually
moved to an orphanage in Nazareth. After an apprenticeship with a
photographer, he relocated to Jerusalem to open a photo shop. He died
in 1999.

When Kahvedjian turned to photography, the majority of his work
comprised family portraits and wedding photos. However, Dirtadian
says, her grandfather had a deep appreciation for art, and much of
his attention was focused on stolen moments of beauty.

“He gravitated toward everyday life and routine, to scenes of serenity
and peace,” she says.

Although Dirtadian only saw her grandfather twice, his story has
always been a part of her.

“His photographs remind us of our past,” she said, “of our ability to
live and work with and among one another in harmony and appreciation.”

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY LEARNED OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EMBLEM FROM MEDIA

05.29.2014 17:18 epress.am

MP Alexander Arzoumanian in the National Assembly today asked RA Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Manasaryan about the activities for
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide next year. Arzoumanian
said large sums were spent to design the emblem (pictured); meanwhile,
he said, it turned out that it’s “simple plagiarism” and a Russian
organization’s logo was used.

Manasaryan said the foreign affairs ministry was not involved in
the choice of emblem. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in no way
is involved in these issues. We’re in the commission, but that was
implemented with the commission’s decision. We are not represented
in specific organizations; we simply saw that along with you,” he said.

Arzoumanian said if Manasaryan learned of the emblem from the media,
then a question arises: “Why are we spending enormous sums and
supporting a foreign affairs ministry?”

ON ARMENIA’S ENTRY INTO EURASIAN UNION: “WHAT DOES KARABAKH HAVE TO DO WITH IT?”

05.29.2014 16:26 epress.am

In the Armenian National Assembly today, RA Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Sergei Manasaryan didn’t answer the question of whether the
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh will be in the Eurasian Economic Union
together with the Republic of Armenia.

He said it wasn’t determined that Armenia would sign the contract in
Astana today, so we shouldn’t think that something went wrong.

“The issues weren’t about conceptual issues, but with the road map.

They referred to purely technical issues,” he said.

Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vahan Babayan three times asked the
official whether Karabakh would also be part of the Eurasian Union
or not.

The deputy foreign minister first said, “What does Karabakh have to
do with it?” then avoided answering the question, repeating that the
fundamental issues were resolved, and all that remains is resolving
the technical issues.

“Do you consider the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh technical?” asked
Babayan.

“No, it’s a matter of principle, and the negotiations on such issues
were concluded,” he said, adding that Armenia is entering the Eurasian
Economic Union and Karabakh doesn’t have anything to do with it.

Note, Kazakh Presdient Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana today shared
a letter from Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev to the Eurasian
Economic Union, in which he says that Armenia may join the Union
with the UN-recognized state borders with which it joined the World
Trade Organization.

ZHOGHOVURD: NATURE PROTECTION MINISTER DISMISSES INDEPENDENT EXPERTS

10:48 27/05/2014 ” DAILY PRESS

Newly appointed Minister of Nature Protection Aramais Grigoryan has
dismissed ten independent experts who came to work once in three
months while receiving monthly wages, Zhoghovurd writes.

Tehmine Arzumanyan, a spokeswoman for Aramais Grigoryan, however,
told Zhoghovurd that there is no tension in the Ministry.

Source: Panorama.am

AZERBAIJAN IS WAITING FOR ARMENIA TO BECOME DESERTED AND INVADE THE COUNTRY WITH ZURNA AND DHOL’ (VIDEO)

13:58 | May 26,2014 | Politics

I am inclined to laud [Prime Minister] Hovik Abrahamyan, political
analyst Gurgen Yeghiazaryan told reporters on Monday.

Comparing the new premier with his predecessor [Tigran Sargsyan],
Mr Yeghiazaryan said, “Unlike the hero of the offshore scandal, he
[Abrahamyan] does not use terms which are unknown to him. Nor does
he sing or dance in public.”

The political analyst says Tigran Sargsyan has ruined the political
field in Armenia. “Hovik Abrahamyan is a man of willpower,”
Yeghiazaryan stressed.

He says Armenia has appeared in a terrible plight and it is almost
impossible to improve the situation at this moment. “Systemic changes
are needed in the country and no matter who the prime minister is –
Hovik Abrahamyan or someone else – he will be unable to do anything
in this destroyed country in one year.”

Mr Yeghiazaryan says’ Azerbaijan is waiting for Armenia to become
deserted and invade the country with zurna and dhol.’

NIKOL PASHINYAN: YEREVAN’S AUTHORITIES SHOULD HAVE ERECTED A MONUMENT TO THE VICTIMS OF MARCH 1 EVENTS RATHER THAN ANASTAS MIKOYAN

by Nana Martirosyan

Wednesday, May 28, 00:43

Yerevan’s authorities should have erected a monument to the victims of
the March 1 events rather than to Soviet-time leader Anastas Mikoyan,
opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan said in the parliament on Tuesday.

“Such a monument would be dearer to Yerevan’s residents, especial as
the ten victims of the events were killed in the center of the city,
near the Municipality. It seems that the municipal authorities prefer
erecting monuments not to victims but to butchers like Mikoyan. Ask
historians if you doubt that he was a butcher,”

Pashinyan told Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Kamo Areyan.

Areyan replied that it was the decision of the Council of Elders.

“They received such an initiative and approved it,” he said.

AEROFLOT CLOSES FLIGHTS TO YEREVAN FROM ROSTOV-ON-DON AND MINERALNYE VODY

May 28, 2014 | 14:34

Russia’s leading Aeroflot air company reviewed plans and withdrew
application for flights in 17 directions.

In particular, the air carrier has no plans to carry out flights to
Yerevan from Rostov-on-Don and Mineralnye Vody.

Aeroflot explained the move by saying the air company is not using
these routes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ON MAY 28 ARMENIA MARKS FIRST REPUBLIC DAY

May 28, 2014 | 00:09

YEREVAN. – Armenia celebrates First Republic Day on May 28.

The Armenian regular military forces and volunteers defeated the
Turkish troops, in May 1918, and thus prevented the latter’s invasion
of Armenia’s capital city Yerevan.

This triumph enabled the Armenian people to restore their statehood,
which was lost centuries ago.

It was 96 years ago on this day that the Armenian National Council
declared, in Tbilisi, Armenia’s independence and the creation of the
First Republic of Armenia.

The May 28 celebrations in Armenia are traditionally held at Sardarapat
Memorial, which eternalizes the memory of the Armenian heroes who
prevented a Turkish invasion of Armenia in 1918.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am