Author: Badalian Vardan

YOU SAID IT: THE HIGHLAND – BERDZOR (ARTSAKH) SISTER CITY PLAN

Highland Community News, CA
Jan 31 2014

Published: Thursday, January 30, 2014 4:21 PM PST

The Highland City Council has recently been discussing the adoption
of Berdzor, Nagorno Karabakh, as Highland’s sister city. Nagorno
Karabakh, next to Armania, is a breakaway nation not recognized by
the U.S. government.

This week we asked online readers: Should Highland recognize Berdzor,
Nagorno Karabakh, by choosing it as a sister city?

In a poll that brought much greater response than usual 95 percent of
voters answered “no.” Three percent indicated they were “indifferent”
to the issue while one percent said they were “unsure.” Two percent
of voters answered “yes” for the adoption of Berdzor as a sister city.

JAILED PKK LEADER PENS LETTER URGING SUPPORT FROM ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

Hurriyet Daily News , Turkey
Jan 30 2014

ISTANBUL

The PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan (L) is seen with the BDP lawmakers
Pervin Buldan (R) and BDP co-chair Selahattin DemirtaÅ~_ (C) at
İmralı Island. DHA Photo

The jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has penned a
letter to the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, calling on the Armenian
community to support the demands of Kurds in Turkey.

“The Kurdish people’s fight for freedom and the cure for the Armenian
people’s sorrows have overlapped in the fight to [be able to] live
in this land as citizens who share the same rights,” Abdullah Ocalan
said in the letter, published Jan. 30.

The letter came after the co-chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union
(KCK), Bese Hozat, controversially described the Armenian, Jewish
and Greek lobbies as a “parallel state,” echoing Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s accusations against the movement of the U.S.-based
Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen (Cemaat).

In the letter, Ocalan also accused anti-democratic powers “from
inside and outside of” Turkey of hampering the resolution of
the Kurdish issue. “Every time that we undertook peaceful paths,
they have interrupted it with provocations,” Ocalan wrote. He cited
“capital lobbies” and “structures such the Cemaat” as groups that
sought to hamper the processes.

He also said the killing of former Agos editor Hrant Dink was
perpetrated with the same logic. “The true friend of the people Hrant
Dink was massacred by the representatives of this dirty mentality,
to serve the purpose that I have attempted to describe above,” Ocalan
wrote, urging the Armenian community to stand against such networks.

“I invite everyone to be more vigilant and consider matters more
objectively against deep, open or parallel structures, and different
structures as lobbies, or the Cemaat, which intend to frustrate our
endeavor for the people,” he said.

In the letter, the jailed PKK leader also urged the Turkish state to
reckon with its past “regarding the Armenian genocide.”

“In our time, it is necessary that the whole world recognizes the
Armenian people’s tragedy, paving the way for the mourning of their
sorrows. It is inevitable that the Turkish Republic will approach
the matter with such maturity and reckon with this bitter history,”
Ocalan said.

The letter comes amid growing uncertainty about the stalled Kurdish
peace process. Ocalan had previously argued the graft probes launched
on Dec. 17 were attempting to prevent the peace process launched over
a year ago.

January/30/2014

U.S. EMBASSY CONGRATULATES ARMENIA, U.S. COMPANY CONTOUR GLOBAL

Targeted News Service
January 29, 2014 Wednesday 6:59 PM EST

YEREVAN, Armenia

The U.S. Embassy issued the following news release:

The United States Embassy welcomes the agreement between the government
of Armenia and the U.S. Company ContourGlobal over the purchase of the
Vorotan Hydro Cascade. This 180 million dollar investment represents
the largest ever U.S. private investment in Armenia and the first
U.S. investment in Armenia’s energy sector. The Vorotan Hydro Cascade
is a series of three hydroelectric power plants capable of generating
405 MW (on the Vorotan River in southern Armenia). It is one of the
largest and most flexible power generating facilities in Armenia
and the Caucasus. The agreement was signed today in the office of
the Prime Minister, by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Armen Movsisyan and ContourGlobal’s Executive Vice President and
CEO for Eastern Europe & CIS, Mr. Garry K.

Levesley. The U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John A. Heffern was also
present.

Under the terms of the agreement, ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade, a direct
and wholly owned subsidiary of ContourGlobal, will supply power to
the Armenian grid under a long-term power purchase agreement. It will
also invest US$ 70 million over the next six years in a refurbishment
program to modernize the plants and improve their operational
performance, safety, reliability, and efficiency.

ContourGlobal expects the modernization to create 150 near-term jobs,
in addition to the 150 long-term technicians that will be employed
at the plants.

ARMED FORCES OF ARMENIA WILL RECEIVE SUPER PRECISE MISSILE SYSTEMS IN 2014

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 29, 2014 Wednesday

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, January 27, 2014, p. 7

Defense Minister of Armenia Seiran Oganian reports that in 2014
Armenian army will receive super precise long-range missile systems.

Earlier, Armenian and Russian mass media reported frequently that
Armenia received and was going to deploy Russian systems Iskander-M
soon. Oganian also adds that the process of creation of unified
Armenian-Russian air defense system will be completed soon too. He
said, “We are currently working together in some directions and
exchange information with Russian colleagues and we have a common
command point. I think that in the near future we will be able to
improve this system.”

[Translated from Russian]

ARMENIA DETERMINED TO FIGHT FOR “FREEDOM” OF AZERBAIJAN’S REBEL REGION – LEADER

Public Television of Armenia
Jan 28 2014

Armenia is determined to continue fighting for the independence
of Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagornyy Karabakh. President
Serzh Sargsyan made this statement at a ceremony to mark the 22nd
anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Armed Forces, the
Armenian Public TV Channel 1 reported on 28 January.

“The armed forces of Armenia and the Nagornyy Karabakh republic
made it clear to all, including an opponent, that freedom of Artsakh
[Karabakh] is above everything else. Freedom is not given as a present,
and we are ready to fight and win,” Sargsyan said.

“The 20th anniversary of the signing of ceasefire will be marked in May
2014. Our army and the public have been living in a no-war no-peace
situation for two decades,” Sargsyan said, adding that the army was
fulfilling its mission with honour in such difficult circumstances.

He went on to praise the army for proving that “arrogant statements
by the opponent are worthless” thanks to the Armenian military’s
determination to safeguard the border. Sargsyan said that the army
would remain at the border as long as necessary.

[Translated from Armenian]

ANCA-SGV ENDORSES TONY MENDOZA FOR STATE SENATE

Wednesday, January 29th, 2014

Tony Mendoza (center) with ANCA-SGV representatives

MONTEBELLO–The Armenian National Committee of America- San
Gabriel Valley is pleased to announce their endorsement of former
Assemblymember Tony Mendoza for the California State Senate seat in
the 32nd district. Primary elections for newly-drawn district will be
held on June 3. The two top vote-getters will move on to the general
elections on November 4.

The Chairman of the ANCA-SGV, Viken Pakradouni stated “Tony Mendoza is
a highly-qualified candidate with years of experience in this region.

We believe that he can make a significant difference for the
communities in this district. The Armenian-American community can
count on Tony Mendoza to advance our issues of concern and prioritize
our community’s needs.”

Mendoza has been an elementary school teacher in East Los Angeles
for over ten years. In 1997, he was elected to a seat on the Artesia
City Council, which he would hold for three successful terms. After
a successful campaign in 2006, Mendoza was elected to the California
State Assembly as the representative of the 56th district. Tony
Mendoza has demonstrated a strong track record of tackling challenges
and working for the betterment of the communities he represents.

Throughout the years, Mendoza has been a tireless advocate for
underserved communities, authoring several bills that promote access
to health and education.

The 32nd Senate district incorporates the communities of Artesia,
Bellflower, Buena Park, Cerritos, Commerce, Downey, Hacienda Heights,
Hawaiian Gardens, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Lakewood, Los Nietos,
Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Rose Hills, Santa Fe Springs and
South Whittier.

The Armenian National Committee of America- San Gabriel Valley is a
local chapter of the largest and most influential Armenian-American
grassroots advocacy organization in the United States. The ANCA-SGV
advances the issues of the region’s Armenian-American community on
the local, state and federal level.

VIDEO. HOLLANDE : “LE TRAVAIL DE MEMOIRE” DE LA TURQUIE SUR LE DRAME ARMENIEN “DOIT ETRE FAIT”

Francetv info-
27 janv. 2014

Le president francais s’est exprime a ce sujet a Ankara, lors de la
conference de presse conjointe avec son homologue turc, Abdullah Gul.

Par Francetv info

Mis a jour le 27/01/2014 | 18:32 , publie le 27/01/2014 | 18:22

Pour Francois Hollande, la Turquie devrait faire son “travail de
memoire” sur lesmassacres de centaines de milliers d’Armeniens par
l’empire ottoman en 1915. C’est ce qu’il a dit lors de la conference
de presse conjointe avec son homologue turc, Abdullah Gul. “Le travail
de memoire est toujours douloureux, mais doit etre fait”, a estime le
president de la Republique, lundi 27 janvier. La Turquie a toujours
refuse de qualifier les evenements de 1915 de “genocide”.

Interroge sur une eventuelle nouvelle loi francaise reprimant la
negation du genocide, le chef de l’Etat assure que la France “fera
le droit et rien que le droit”. Les relations franco-turques sont
emaillees de crises a repetition depuis l’adoption, en 2001, par le
Parlement francais, d’une loi reconnaissant le genocide armenien,
suivie de tentatives legislatives avortees pour en reprimer la
negation.

La dernière en date, adoptee en decembre 2011 par le Parlement avec le
soutien de Nicolas Sarkozy, a ete invalidee en fevrier par le Conseil
constitutionnel. Juste après son election, Francois Hollande avait
confirme qu’il souhaitait penaliser la negation du genocide armenien.

LA FRANCE DEFEND LA CAUSE ARMéNIENNE EN TURQUIE

Respect Mag – France
28 janv. 2014

28 JANVIER, 2014
Par: Matthieu Windey

En déplacement en Turquie le 27 janvier, Francois Hollande a appelé
le gouvernement de Recep Tayyip Erdogan a assumer son ” travail de
mémoire ” sur le génocide arménien.

En visite a Ankara, Francois Hollande a défendu le devoir de l’Etat
turc a reconnaitre le génocide arménien. Les relations entre la
Turquie et la France se sont refroidies ces dernières années,
notamment sous la présidence de Nicolas Sarkozy. Ces tensions
remontent a l’adoption d’un texte reconnaissant le génocide arménien
par le Parlement francais. En réaction a l’appel du président de la
République francaise, son homologue turc Abdullah Gul a déclaré : ”
Il ne faut pas faire revivre aux générations futures les souffrances
vécues il y a cent ans ”.

Mardi 27 janvier, Francois Hollande rencontrera Rakel Dink, la veuve
d’un journaliste arménien abattu par un nationaliste turc en 2007. Peu
après son élection, le président francais s’était engagé en faveur
d’une pénalisation de la négation du génocide arménien en France.

HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOOD REBUILT IN DOWNTOWN FRESNO

ABC30.com, CA
Jan 28 2014

Gene Haagenson
More: Bio, E-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Articles by Gene Haagenson, News Team

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A tiny new neighborhood in Downtown Fresno
is waiting to be brought back to life.

The City of Fresno moved and rebuilt five old houses in the area known
as Armenian Town. The houses are tucked in right next to the Highway 41
Freeway on the corner of M Street and Santa Clara. Fresno’s Historic
Preservation Officer, Karana Hattersley-Drayton said the neighborhood
the oldest part of the city.

“This whole neighborhood was part of the original Central Pacific,
later Southern Pacific railroad town, meaning the original grid mix
of people and then by the First World War in particular it was almost
exclusively Armenian and that’s why they say this is part of that 60
block area called Armenian Town,” Hattersley-Drayton said.

Around the turn of this century the houses were going to be torn
down to make way for a state Court of Appeals building and a proposed
commercial development. But historic groups including Heritage Fresno
went to court to force the city of Fresno’s Redevelopment Agency
to save them. After the legal battles the houses were moved to one
parcel and sat there for a decade before finally being restored.

“RDA and their consultants did a fabulous job they took it to heart,
so all pieces were catalogued and saved. Some things were old, they
fell apart, but everything was stripped painted, kept, stained glass
windows repaired,” Hattersley- Drayton said.

Now the homes are in limbo. The recession stalled plans for an adjacent
development. And the dissolution of the city’s Redevelopment Agency
by the state has made things complicated. The plan to turn the houses
into homes or offices appears to be stalled.

Doug Vagim is with Heritage Fresno, the group that fought to save
the houses. He believes it’s time for the houses to be put to use.

“The only way to make the best of it is to open this up, get this
fence out of here and let those who are interested in doing something
to actually come in and do what they want to do. Right now no one
can do anything,” Vagim said.

The director of Fresno’s former redevelopment agency, Marlene Murphy,
said the hope is to have the original developer of the Armenian Town
project, Gunnar Andros Construction take over. Murphy said another
plan is to sell the homes to an interested party, within the next year.

HOLLANDE IN TURKEY IN BID TO IMPROVE TIES

RFI (English)
January 27, 2014 Monday

French President Francois Hollande, in Turkey for a two day visit
aimed at improving relations between between the two countries,
on Monday attended a ceremony at the mausoleum of modern …

He then met his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, on what is the
first state visit by a French president in 22 years.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s outspoken opposition to
any future membership of the European Union for Turkey strained
relationships between Paris and Ankara.

And relations hit an all-time low after French lawmakers passed a
bill in 2011 making it a crime to deny that the mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I constituted genocide.

Although the legislation was later declared invalid by France’s
constitutional court, it severely damaged business ties.

However France is now keen to benefit from Turkey’s economic growth
and Hollande is accompanied by seven cabinet ministers, and a business
delegation.

Deals are expected to be signed in various fields including nuclear
energy and infrastructure projects.

France’s share of the Turkish market halved to three percent between
2009 and 2012 just as Turkey was growing as an emerging economic power,
tripling the size of its economy over the 10 years to 2012.

But French companies enjoyed a more successful 2013, sealing deals
in Turkey worth 15 billion euros.

Following his talks in Ankara, Hollande will head to Istanbul
to attend an economic forum bringing together Turkish and French
business leaders.

On the political front, the trip comes at a particularly difficult
time for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is embroiled
in a widening corruption scandal that has implicated members of his
inner circle, including ministers and reportedly his own son.

Erdogan blames his woes on what he says is a coup plot by supporters of
an erstwhile ally, US-exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who hold
positions of influence in many parts of the state apparatus including
the police and courts.

But his response to the graft probe, a wholesale purge of police and
prosecutors and moves to tighten government controls on the judiciary,
has provoked deep concerns about the state of democracy in Turkey.

Hollande is expected to follow the line of European leaders who met
Erdogan on his visit to Brussels last week aimed at advancing Turkey’s
EU membership bid.

Paris wants to press home the point that accession talks will not
progress unless Ankara upholds its commitments “to the rule of law,
separation of powers, independence of the judiciary and the respect
for basic freedoms,” a presidential source said.

Negotiations between Brussels and the country of 76 million people
only resumed in November; after a three-year freeze.

Hollande has so far deflected questions on his own view towards Turkey,
saying the EU has ruled out membership before 2020, after his first
term in office ends.

This is also President Hollande’s first trip abroad since his
announcement on Saturday that he has split from his longstanding
partner Valerie Trierweiler.