Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA’S ACTING PM, FM AND DM LIKELY TO BE REAPPOINTED

21:08 ~U 18.04.13

Armenia’s new cabinet is likely to see the acting premier, and the
defense and foreign ministers continue performing their official
duties for five more years.

Speaking at the ruling Republican Party’s executive board session on
Thursday, President Serzh Sargsyan announced plans for supporting
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s candidacy for the position. There
were also proposals for re-appointing acting FM Edward Nalbandian
and acting Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan.

Under Article 55(4) of Armenia’s Constitution, the president
accepts the cabinet’s resignation upon taking office after election
(re-election). The cabinet members continue officiating until
the appointment of a new prime minister (within 10 days after the
president’s official inauguration) and ministers (within 20 days
after the ceremony).

Tigran Sargsyan has been heading the Armenian cabinet since April 9,
2008. He is the 12th prime minister of the third republic.

Armenian News – Tert.am

ARF URGES CLOSURES ON APRIL 24

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation

GLENDALE-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central
Committee issued an appeal this week, urging community members to
take the day off or close their businesses on April 24 as a fitting
gesture to commemorate the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Below is the translated text of the appeal:

The Armenian Genocide anniversary is upon us and every Armenian,
once again, is preparing to honor the memory of the victims of this
heinous crime by attending commemoration events or protests and
expressing the commitment to our demands and the cause.

We are all mourners. We all have demands. While the struggle for
justice is a daily matter, for all of us April 24 remains the day
to honor the sacred memory of our martyrs. It is the day when we
appreciate the extent of our personal and collective losses and a
time when we must reevaluate our present and determine the course of
our struggle, in the name of justice and the restoration of our rights.

By taking a personal day from work or closing businesses on April
24 many people instinctively express their firm stance befitting our
national day of mourning.

However, some of our compatriots have veered from that tradition and,
just like any other day, they go to work and keep their businesses
open.

April 24 cannot be considered an ordinary day for any Armenian. Hence,
we call on our community to assume responsibility for our martyred
ancestors by closing their businesses and taking part in the day’s
commemorative events.

PENAL CODE 301 ( INTRODUCED SINCE 8 MAY 2008) AND TURKISH SCHOLARS IN TURKEY

Again, another Turkish journalist is to be thrown in jail for –
according to Turkish Penal Code 301 –  “insulting the Turkish Nation ,
the Turkish Republic, its government or governmental institutions”.

The name of that Turkish journalist is Temel Demirer.

At his first trial, he had been charged for the crime cited in Penal
Code 301 and had been sentenced to two years in prison. Then he was
told that the sentence could be withheld if during the coming 3 years
he would refrain from committing the same crime.

Immediately after the trial, just in front of the Court buildings Temel
Demirer said: ” If, for the coming 3 years, I don’t say there was an
Armenian genocide in Turkey, I will be acquitted.

Right now, five minutes after the trial, without waiting for another
3 years I say: the Turkish State is the murderer of Hrant Dink. Hrant
Dink was not killed because he was Armenian. Hrant Dink was killed
by the Turkish State for saying that there had been an Armenian
genocide in Turkey. If the Court security forces or the MINISTRY OF
INJUSTICE that have postponed my trial do not open another trial,
they will be committing a crime”

“I am not inciting anyone to commit a crime. What I am saying is that
ideas can NOT and should NOT  be shackled  . I have learned from ISMAIL
BESICKCI , FIKRET BASKAYA and BASKIN ORAN (all Turkish Academics
imprisoned or tried for their work ) that FREEDOM OF THOUGHT MUST
STAND STRONG. There has been an Armenian genocide in this country. 
The Turkish State DID kill Hrant Dink . These are my thoughts. So,
if you want, you try me again.

On 12th April 2012, I wrote an article, wishing that there would
be one and half million good Turks with a conscience who would, EACH
ONE , do one good deed for ONE of the one and half million innocent
victims of the Armenian genocide .

I never believed, even in my wildest dreams, that my wish would come
true so quickly and from such important quarters; for there is a huge
difference between what is said publicly by an ordinary man  or woman
in the street and what is researched, written , advocated and published
by a journalist. Every journalist’s prerogative and duty is to report
the truth , to report what has happened, to make the reader aware of
that truth and make that reader motivated by what has happened .

Journalists are the conscience of the people. By removing and killing
them, Turkey is killing and removing its own conscience .

Today journalists in Turkey are being prosecuted , tortured – even
killed – for affirming that the Ottoman government of 1915 DID commit
the genocide of one and half million innocent Armenians. Many
journalists have died because of the tortures received, many publishing
houses and offices have been set to fire and dozens of Turkish Scholars
have left their families, their friends and their country in fear
of reprisal and in fear of their lives. Now, protected in foreign
lands, they are writing in foreign papers and are even publishing
in foreign languages but  committed to their ideals of freedom and
justice, they advocate with more effectiveness for the condemnation (
by Turkey and the world at large ) of the Armenian genocide , knowing
that at last they can proclaim the truth without being hunted down,
jailed and tortured.

By removing its journalists and making them disappear in the secret
holes of its jails, by silencing them hoping that they will be so
scared that they will never speak again of the Armenian genocide,
Turkey is, like an ostrich, hiding its head in the sand and is only
delaying what will one day be acclaimed and accepted in Turkey, not
only by its journalists , but by its entire population. Soon there
will be one and half million good Turks with a conscience who will
stand up, will confess to the committed genocide, doing ONE good
deed for each one of the one and half million innocent victims of
the Armenian genocide

Today, in Turkey students are questioning their teachers about the
empty pages of their History books, where the period of Turkish
history between 1915 and 1923 is not mentioned, nor printed, nor
described or discussed. The Turkish student, wanting to know, will
ask its family members. Sometimes there might be an elderly relative
who will describe the atrocities committed. If that student has a
conscience, then it will carry its research and  will find the truth.

It is the moral duty for that student to tell its Turkish compatriots
and the world at large of what has happened in 1915. It is the moral
duty of that Turkish student to become a good Turk and do one good
deed for one innocent victim of the genocide it has found out to have
happened in its country.

Today in Turkey, the young educated Turk is asking why are they so
many churches in Turkey whereas Turkey is a Muslim State , why are
these churches empty ? when and who did worship in them and Where
are these people? Each Turk , be it young or old, male or female,
educated or not , MUST ask where are these people? What happened to
them? and WHY did it  happen?

Today the Turkish dignitaries visit various countries who, having
interests to protect in Turkey would not shy from any injustice, any
lie or deceit to protect these interest, and lobby these countries to
join the Turkish State in its denial of events which are questioned,
publicised, researched and exposed by the Turkish population and
specially by its young intellectuals and its journalists.

Turkey must understand and accept that the process of acknowledgement
and condemnation of the Armenian genocide has already began in
Turkey. It will never be stopped.

Is the Turkish government to  imprison all its journalists, all
its historians, all its intellectuals, all its good people with
a conscience?

Are new jails to be built in Turkey, equal to the same number of mass
graves which were dug in 1915 to bury those million and half innocent
victims, and are these jails to be used to bury the truth?

Now, in 2013, although the dead Armenians will never be able to leave
their graves to testify, but the Turkish journalists who serve their
two or three years sentences in Turkish jails WILL get out one day
andWILL testify .

Most revolutions are instigated by young idealist intellectuals
and are exposed to the public by journalists. So far, the Turkish
government has partly succeeded in keeping its young intellectuals in
the dark and the crimes committed by their ancestors a secret, but,
day by day, with an increasing number, with accrued effectiveness
and sharpened awareness of every citizen’s right, Turkish Scholars ,
historians and journalists are speaking out and are advocating for
the truth about the Armenian genocide .

Similar to the Armenian women who have never been able to bring
themselves to talk about the rapes and the sexual outrages committed
against them by the Turks during the Armenian genocide because of
theSHAME they felt, maybe the Turkish government too cannot bring
itself to talk about the crimes committed by its ancestors because
of the SHAME it feels.

Yes any human being, any government, any state would feel – very
rightly – a deep and dark SHAME to find itself the heir to such
morbid legacy, a legacy of injustice, of crime, of theft, of torture,
of rape and of murder. 

The SHAME felt towards this legacy should generate apologies and
remorse NOT denial and persecution of the ones who expose that legacy 
and that truth .

Ten years ago, my grand-son Connor Bazil whose mother is American ,
wrote in his homework; “Turkey must say yes its great-grand fathers
had killed the Armenians because, like between friends, once a bad
thing has been done, if the guilty party says Sorry , then friendship
can start again, then that bad action can be forgiven and once again
people who are neighbours can live next to each other without hating
each other , so two countries will not be enemies anymore”.

Odette Bazil  UK

17th April 2013 . 

17:38 18/04/2013 [footer_logo.png]  Story from Lragir.am News:

RESTORATION OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IS NOT ONLY A MONEY ISSUE – EXPERT

April 18, 2013 | 16:38

YEREVAN.- The task of restoring the monuments is not always a matter
of money. Equally important is the attitude of the population to the
monuments, expert Samvel Karapetyan said.

Karapetyan, chairman of the foundation studying Armenian architecture,
told reporters he could not give much information because he is not
a representative of a state structure.

“I am very pleased that the historical monuments are so important
to the civilized nations, that one day a year is dedicated to the
monuments,” he said during the Thursday press conference dedicated
to International Day for Monuments and Sites.

Karapetyan said he would like to be a minister of education for five
minutes to instruct all principals to organize trips for school
children and contribute to their knowledge about the Armenian
monuments.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ALL MONUMENTS IN ARMENIA ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR – EXPERT

April 18, 2013 | 16:57

YEREVAN.- All the monuments in Armenia are in need of repair in a
varying degree, expert on monuments Samvel Karapetyan said.

Even those sites that have been restored in the Soviet time, do not
conform to the principles of scientific norms in terms of renovation
methods.

Internationally accepted rules suggest the monument should be
repaired only with the use of the original material it was created
from, Karapetyan explained. Restoration of the monument using other
materials is dangerous from the point of view of seismic resistance.

He also noted that Armenia has talented professionals, but often
excellent projects prepared by our architects are not implemented.

“Our construction companies tend to ignore and not listen to the
architects, in case when the architects have the right to supervise
their work,” he said.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

MA STATE HOUSE TO COMMEMORATE GENOCIDE ON APRIL 19, MARCH CANCELLED

April 17, 2013

BOSTON, Mass.~WEach April for the past 28 years, members of the
Armenian community along with state legislators and guests have filled
the House Chamber at the State House to commemorate the Armenian
Genocide. This year marks the 98th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide and the commemoration will take place on Friday, April 19 at
10:30 a.m. with a program of speakers and honorees.

A scene from last year~Rs State House commemoration (Photo by Aaron
Spagnolo, The Armenian Weekly)
A march that was scheduled after the ceremony from the State House to
the Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway has been
cancelled after the Boston marathon attacks.

The event is both solemn and celebratory, recognizing the Genocide of
1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Turkish
government, as well as honoring survivors and looking forward as
Armenian-American descendants commit themselves to preserving their
culture and working for humanitarian projects and awareness.

Former US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, who served from
2006 to 2008, will deliver the keynote address. Armenian Heritage Park
architect Donald Tellalian will be honored with a Joint House and
Senate Resolution. Dedicated in May of 2012, the park is a gift to
Boston and the Commonwealth from the Massachusetts Armenian-American
community. The split dodecahedron abstract sculpture, which rests atop
a 16-ft diameter reflecting pool, is designed to be reconfigured each
year and symbolizes those who were pulled apart from their country but
reestablished themselves in different ways. Visitors to the park can
also walk a labyrinth that reflects the journey of life.

The committee organizing the event is jointly chaired by state
Representatives Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown), Dave Rogers
(D-Cambridge) and John Lawn (D-Watertown); and state Sen. Will
Brownsberger (D-Belmont), who will host the day.

Survivors of the Genocide will be presented with proclamations at the
State House ceremony and photographs of others will be present through
the participation of attendees in the ~SStand Up For Your Survivor~T
program organized by Arlington High School senior Anahis Kechejian.
~SThere are so few survivors left,~T said Kechejian, ~SThis is one way
for descendants to honor our ancestors, and for youth such as myself
to pledge our efforts to work for justice and preserve our Armenian
heritage.~T

The participation of youth is an integral part of the commemoration.
Members of the Homenetmen Scout Troop will attend, as will students
from the Armenian Sisters~R Academy and St. Stephen~Rs Armenian
Elementary School, who will perform music at the State House.

~STo see our youth involved in this event is particularly meaningful to
me,~T said Hecht. ~SThey are our bridge to the future and our hope that
such atrocities will never take place again. The late Speaker George
Keverian, who began the annual commemoration at the State House in
1985, would be pleased to see the program has now extended beyond the
State House with this year~Rs march.~T

~SWhen the posters of survivors are held high in the House Chamber for
all to see, it reminds us of a history that must be recognized and
remembered, and calls us to the importance of working for human
rights,~T said Brownsberger. ~SI look forward to all ages marching
together.~T

~SThe march to the park is a wonderful addition to the commemoration,~T
said Lawn. ~SThis is a visible way of showing the pride in history and
culture of Armenian Americans as they strive for recognition of the
Genocide.~T

~SIt is time for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As a newly
elected state representative I look forward to hosting the
Commemoration and advancing this worthy cause for years to come,~T said
Rogers.

Free buses to the State House, provided by the Knights of Vartan, will
leave St. James and St. Stephen~Rs Churches in Watertown at 9 a.m.

ARMENIA OPENS EMBASSY IN INDONESIA

April 17, 2013 | 17:27

YEREVAN.- President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has signed a decree on
the opening of an embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Indonesia.

The residence of Armenia’s embassy in Indonesia is Jakarta, president’s
press service reported.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

PROPARCO, THE FRENCH DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERIABANK, PRESENTS ITS FIRST FINANCING PROJECT IN ARMENIA

Proparco (Investment and Promotion Company for Economic Cooperation)
and Ameriabank signed a USD 15 million credit facility agreement, it
being the first investment of Proparco in Armenia and the second one
in South Caucasus. The CFA signatories are Mr. Jerome Bertrand-Hardy,
Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Proparco and Mr. Artak Hanesyan,
Chairman of Management Board-General Director at Ameriabank. The
signing ceremony was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of France in Armenia Mr. Henri Renaud.

Agribusiness plays a key role in the development of Armenia’s economy.

This new financing project implemented by Proparco and Ameriabank
will open new long-term financing opportunities for small and medium
businesses in food processing industry, boosting Armenia’s economy
and adding new jobs.

Jerome Bertrand-Hardy said: As a first operation in Armenia, Proparco
is proud to support Ameria Bank, a leading financial institution with a
dynamic growth strategy which supports investments in the agribusiness
sector. This sector is indeed one of the main focuses of Proparco in
the Caucasus region and in Armenia in particular. Its market position,
financial strength, competent management and privileged partnership
with development finance institutions make it a partner of choice”.

We welcome Proparco’s entry to Armenia. We highly appreciate
our partnership with Proparco, enabling us to diversify our loan
portfolio and increase SME lending. This credit facility will allow
us to keep financing SMEs, particularly those with their focus on
Agribusiness/Food processing, considering them as the main drivers
of our national economy. Under this credit facility SMEs will be
able to obtain long-term financing to expand their businesses,
strengthen their competitiveness ” – commented Artak Hanesyan,
Ameriabank General Director.

14:15 18/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ARE THEY ENGAGED IN “BLACK PR” AGAINST THE PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY (PAP)?

April 17 2013

“It is not surprising at all,” Tigran Urikhanyan, the PAP press
secretary said this during a conversation with in
response to the publication on the iditord website that the Prosperous
Armenia Party had presented residents of Avan with a bus, but they had
refused to take it. Mr. Urikhanyan explained that students had applied
to them with that problem and not only those of that administrative
district, but also those of other districts, not only of Yerevan,
but also of the regions to give them buses for free. He added that
that particular bus had been given by the Kentron TV Company. The
PAP press secretary thinks that other political forces, seizing the
opportunity, made a show of it. “It was deliberately made, as if there
was discontent, the participants were instructed; there was no real
discontent visible at least to me. No one complaining student could
be noticed.” As for which political force was the author of the show,
in his opinion, our interlocutor didn’t wish to go into that.

Nonetheless, according to our interlocutor, they are now trying to
find options how to meet the request of really needy people, at the
same time avoiding provocations. In response to a question why such
incidents coincided with the periods of election campaigns, Urikhanyan
said: “Well, because they have no other place to hit, strike, target;
that is the reason why they start to seize petty opportunities,
which eventually backfire. It is black PR.” By the way, Urikhanyan
also reminds that the Gagik Tsarukyan Foundation hasn’t just started
to carry out multifold programs. Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

ARMENIA’S FORMER FM AND COE CHIEF DISCUSS COUNTRY’S CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION

April 18, 2013 | 11:46

YEREVAN. – Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP and former FM Vartan
Oskanian, who heads the PAP list for the capital city Yerevan Council
election that will be conducted on May 5, on Thursday met with Council
of Europe (CoE) Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, who is in Yerevan
on an official visit.

They discussed Armenia’s recent presidential election and the
subsequent developments, the forthcoming Yerevan municipal voting, the
current political situation in the country and the likely structural
changes, Armenia’s cooperation with European organizations, and the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Oskanian’s office informs.

Armenia’s former FM noted with delight that the period, when Armenia
will assume the chairmanship of the CoE Ministers’ Committee,
coincides with the important political processes unrolling in the
country, and this, as per Oskanian, could have a positive impact on
democracy in Armenia.

He also noted that the absence of political counterbalances is the
main obstacle standing in the way of the development of democracy in
Armenia, and expressed a hope that the forthcoming Yerevan Council
election will enable to start this mechanism within the political
system of the country.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am