Zhamanak: Clouds gathering over Ishkhan Zakaryan
11:35 22/03/2013 » DAILY PRESS
Head of Armenia’s Control Chamber Ishkhan Zakaryan is facing an
atmosphere of distrust in the power elite, Zhamanak daily says.
The paper reminds that Zakaryan was member of Prosperous Armenia Party
but his membership in the party was frozen following his appointment
as Control Chamber head in November 2007.
Source: Panorama.am
CHAMPIONNATS D’EUROPE DE LUTTE
Mousa Mourtazaliev (Arménie) vice-champion d’Europe de lutte libre
Hier soir, sous les couleurs de l’Arménie, le Daghestanais Mousa
Mourtazaliev a offert à l’Arménie un titre de vice-champion d’Europe
de lute libre dans la catégorie des 84 kg. A Tbilissi (Géorgie) où se
déroulent les compétitions européennes, parvenu brillamment en finale,
le représentant de l’Arménie affrontait Dato Marsakishvili. Mais
devant son public, le Géorgien était intraitable. Il remportait le
combat sur le score de 3-0. Cette médaille d’argent est la seconde de
l’Arménie lors de ces championnats d’Europe de lutte libre. David
Safarian (66 kg) avait le 19 mars remporté la médaille d’or offrant le
premier titre européen à l’Arménie.
Krikor Amirzayan
samedi 23 mars 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com
AGRICULTURE
Les exportations des fruits et légumes et jus de fruits d’Arménie en
hausse importante
Les conserves de fruits et légumes jus de fruits d’Arménie exportées
en direction des Emirats Arabes Unis, France, Russie ainsi que
d’autres pays ont connu l’an dernier une croissance très forte. En
2012 ce furent 182 de légumes congelés ou frais qui furent expédiés
vers les Emirats Arabes Unis contre 42 tonnes en 2011. Les jus de
fruits et légumes en conserve d’Arménie exportés vers la France en
2012 furent multipliés en un an par 2,5 en passant à 112 500 litres.
En Russie, l’un des principaux marchés de l’Arménie, en 2012 furent
exportés 1,489 millions de litres contre 1,286 en 2011. Selon Karen
Petrossian le directeur du secteur de la société de boissons
naturelles « Noyan », la qualité de la production arménienne est l’un
des éléments moteurs de cette croissance sur les marchés étrangers. «
Les fruits qui bénéficient d’un grand ensoleillement dans notre pays
sont bons. Les jus de fruits arméniens sont encore meilleurs que ses
concurrents étrangers » dit K. Petrossian. Cet intérêt est davantage
porté vers les jus d’abricot, la pêche ou d’églantine selon le
responsable de « Noyan ». De plus la production de fruits en 2012
étant abondante, les prix n’ont pas connu une hausse. En 2012
l’exportation de la production arménienne vers la Russie fut de 4,408
millions de dollars et 280 millions vers la Russie. L’exportation
totale de l’Arménie fut l’an dernier de 1,428 milliard de dollars.
Vers la Communauté européenne l’Allemagne arrivant en tête des
destinations (153 millions de dollars) devant la Bulgarie (129), la
Belgique (127) et les Pays Bas (79).
Krikor Amirzayan
samedi 23 mars 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com
ARMENIE
Richard Hovannisian : « Les Turcs sont mieux préparés que nous à la
veille du centenaire du génocide »
Hier, à l’Hôtel Ani Plaza d’Erevan, une conférence internationale
intitulée « le génocide arménien : les défis à la veille du centenaire
» a débuté.
Le célèbre historien américain d’origine arménienne Richard
Hovannisian a fait une critique sur les approches et les activités
mises en `uvre jusqu’à présent, à la fois en Arménie et dans la
diaspora, à peine deux ans avant le 24 avril 2015.
Il a commencé son discours sur le thème « Réflexions sur les approches
de la commémoration du 100e Anniversaire » en confessant qu’il était
sous l’impression que la conférence serait plus une session
d’élaboration de stratégies qu’un recueil de savants donnant des
présentations académiques.
M. Hovannisian a clairement indiqué quelles étaient pour lui les
insuffisances, les plans organisationnel et en termes d’orientation,
les efforts pan-arméniens pour commémorer le 100e anniversaire de 1915
d’une manière significative et influente.
L’historien a souligné la nécessité d’une nouvelle approche de la
commémoration 2015, arguant que la communauté internationale n’est pas
du tout intéressé à entendre de nouveaux discours sur le génocide et
que les Arméniens doivent se tourner vers les arts et les domaines
culturels afin d’ouvrir de nouvelles voies pour présenter la réalité
de 1915 aux peuples du monde entier.
Il a parlé de l’idée de former un orchestre philharmonique
pan-arménien qui pourrait faire le tour du monde comme façon plus
attrayante et efficace pour commémorer cet anniversaire.
Richard Hovannisian a dit aux participants que la Turquie se prépare
pour cet anniversaire et que « les Turcs sont mieux préparés que nous
à la fois en termes de financement et d’organisation ».
L’historien a souligné la nécessité pour les Arméniens de préparer des
réponses sérieuses et substantielles aux revendications négationnistes
qui peuvent être attendus de la partie turque. À cet égard, il a
souligné plusieurs sources tels que la Turquie, en les sortant de leur
contexte, a utilisé et utilise pour nier les revendications
arméniennes qu’un génocide a eu lieu.
Il n’a pas mché ses mots aussi sur la préparation malheureusement
insuffisant des médias du gouvernement arménien, en déclarant : « J’ai
honte quand je regarde les sites internet de différents organismes
gouvernementaux arméniens, en particulier en termes de génocide et
d’l’histoire arménienne ».
Lors d’une pause-café avec un journaliste d’Hetq lui demandant de
disserter sur sa critique du gouvernement, il a répondu : « Nous
venons de cultures différentes, mais je crois que la nouvelle
génération de fonctionnaires arméniens, après avoir été exposés à
l’Ouest, va remédier à ces insuffisances ».
Au cours de la période de questions et réponses qui a suivi Richard
Hovannisian et les autres orateurs dont Hayk Demoyan, qui dirige le
Musée du Génocide à Erevan, ont reconnu que beaucoup de travail
restait à faire.
Néanmoins, il a souligné les réalisations du musée pendant son mandat
et a noté que le complexe du musée est en cours d’expansion.
L’espace d’exposition pour les expositions permanentes et temporaires
devrait plus que doubler, a-t-il noté, ajoutant que beaucoup de
nouveaux documents recueillis au fil des années peuvent maintenant
être présentés correctement. Une nouvelle annexe comprendra une salle
de conférence et des salles de classe pour les étudiants et les
chercheurs.
Le complexe sera équipé avec la dernière technologie afin d’améliorer
la visualisation sur la réalité du génocide et ses conséquences.
M. Demoyan a terminé en notant l’importance de la création d’une école
pan-arménienne sur le génocide pour la préparation et la formation
d’une nouvelle génération de spécialistes du génocide, ce qui
permettrait une plus grande interaction et une coopération
interdisciplinaire entre universitaires.
Le directeur du musée du génocide a dit que ce qui était vital était
une approche unifiée, à la fois en Arménie et dans la diaspora, de la
question du génocide, en particulier en ce qui concerne la poursuite
de la justice et des réparations.
samedi 23 mars 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com
Openings & Closings: Saint Arnold for Lunch, Goro & Gun for Dinner
Houston Press
Fri., Mar. 22 2013
By Katharine Shilcutt
A happy Friday morning comes with some happy news from around the
city. First is the announcement that Goro & Gun — the hotly awaited
downtown ramen shop on Main Street — will officially be open for
business today at 4 p.m. Goro & Gun is only serving dinner for now,
but lunch looks to be in its future.
Saint Arnold Brewery also started serving its lunch program this week,
with today as its third day in operation. “Getting hungry for today’s
@SaintArnold lunch,” wrote founder Brock Wagner on Twitter yesterday
afternoon. “Come eat the noble swine cooked with root beer. Claim you
only drank root beer too.” Chef Ryan Savoie will be serving a new,
three-course prix-fixe menu every weekday from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m,
with menus announced in advance on Saint Arnold’s website.
A reader wrote in earlier this week worried that Cafe Rita — the much
loved Armenian-Lebanese mom-and-pop restaurant — on Dairy Ashford had
closed. Don’t worry, foul fans: Cafe Rita has simply moved. Its new
address is 2352 Dairy Ashford, which westsiders will know as the old
Steak It Easy spot.
Now for the sad news: Houston is losing a legend. Marfreless is
closing after 40 years of being known as the city’s preeminent makeout
bar and one of its hidden treasures. The bar behind the blue door in
the River Oaks Shopping Center never had a sign, but its fans always
found their way.
“Marfreless’ owners have been trying to do whatever they could to keep
the bar operational but other entities involved weren’t budging in
regards to the rising cost of doing business, making it impossible to
keep the business at this location,” the bar stated on its
website. “To save this distinguished community establishment,
Marfreless is currently looking at other locations.”
Meanwhile, Montrose juice bar Roots Juice closed after less than a
year in business. Whitney Radley reports in CultureMap that “while the
details following former general manager Becki O’Brien’s late-February
departure are unclear, we’re happy to report that the juices are still
on the menu and back to normal — except that they’re now on the menu
next door at Roots Bistro.”
In other noteworthy closures, Les Givral Kahve on Market Square served
its last banh mi last Friday. Owner Qui Ly was tight-lipped as to why
the shop was closing — especially in the wake of all the new openings
around a reinvigorated Market Square — but told the Houston
Chronicle’s Syd Kearney there “is a slight chance that [Les Givral]
will come back with [its] BanhMieria concept.”
Lastly, two Houston locations of nationwide chain Seasons 52 Fresh
Grill are scheduled to open soon. One at 4410 Westheimer, which is the
location of a silly-sounding development called High Street (this
isn’t England; we don’t have High Streets in our towns or cities) and
one in Memorial at CityCentre. At least Seasons 52 Fresh Grill’s
incredibly silly name matches its silly new spot on Westheimer.
Archbishop visits Chelmsford’s Armenian Church
WickedLocal.com
Mar 22, 2013
Chelmsford – His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) recently presided
over a number of events at Sts. Vartanantz Church of Chelmsford.
The Women’s Guild organization hosted a New England area observance of
Saintly Women’s Day, which included a religious service and program
commemorating the oil-bearing women at Jesus’ tomb – Mary Magdeline,
Mary Salome, and Mary (wife of) Clopas.
Following the service, some 100 guests gathered for a dinner and
program in the Kazanjian Memorial Ballroom. Participants included
clergy and Women’s Guild members from the following Massachusetts
Armenian parishes: Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, St. James Church
of Watertown, Church of Our Saviour of Worcester, and the Armenian
Church at Hye Pointe of Haverhill. In addition, Women’s Guild members
from Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, R.I., and the pastor
of Holy Translators Church of Framingham took part in the
commemoration.
Keynote speaker, the Honorable Mary Anne Sahagian, Essex probate and
Family Court first justice and a Sts. Vartanantz parishioner,
reflected on how her faith guided her throughout her career, and how
it helped her handle difficult cases surrounding children and
families. Judge Sahagian also spoke of her grandmother’s influence on
her as a child and described personal faith experiences. She added
that women play an important role in carrying forward the mission of
the Armenian Church and serve as role models for their families.
Remarks were also made by Milka Jeknavorian, chairwoman of the
Sts. Vartanantz Women’s Guild, Parish Council chairwoman Carol
Hildebrand, and Zita Butler, vice chairwoman of the Diocesan Women’s
Guild Central Council.
“It is inspiring to see women of faith from our parishes come together
in prayer and fellowship,” said the Rev. Father Khachatur Kesablyan,
pastor of Sts. Vartanantz. “We not only learn from the example of the
pious women at Christ’s tomb, but also from the many dedicated
servants of the Lord among us today.”
Archbishop Barsamian expressed his gratitude to the Chelmsford Women’s
Guild for organizing the commemoration, which was served by members of
the parish’s Men’s Club.
“May God continue to strengthen our Women’s Guild chapters across the
diocese,” he said. “Following in the example of the oil-bearing women,
they bring the light of Christ into our homes and communities.”
On Saturday evening, the primate met with members of the
Sts. Vartanantz Parish Council and diocesan delegates to review recent
and upcoming parish activities. Archbishop Barsamian outlined
resources available from the diocese for the parish’s various
ministries stressing the many available youth programs, both here and
abroad, that connect Armenian youth across the country through their
Armenian Christian heritage. On Sunday, March 3, Father Kesablyan
celebrated the Divine Liturgy with Archbishop Barsamian presiding. A
40th-day requiem service was also conducted in memory of the Very
Rev. Father Ghevont Samoorian, who had served as pastor of
Sts. Vartanantz for 25 years. Father Samoorian was responsible for
moving the parish from Lowell to Chelmsford in 1974, and inspired and
managed the construction of the new church on Old Westford Road.
In his homily, Archbishop Barsamian spoke about the period of Great
Lent, emphasizing the parable of the Unjust Steward, which was the
theme of the Sunday service. He reminded the faithful that we are
called to be good stewards in the vineyard of our Lord. His Eminence
also spoke about the life of the late Very Rev. Father Samoorian and
the special role he played in the Chelmsford parish.
“Father Ghevont was one of the earliest American-born Armenians to
enter the priesthood of our church,” he said. “In many ways, he showed
that a new generation of our people, born in a new land, could indeed
feel at home in an ancient heritage. Through his efforts, he even
managed to bring that heritage to others – as he did most visibly
through the construction of this magnificent church, Sts. Vartanantz
Church in Chelmsford, which he affectionately called `Little Ani.'”
Later in the day, Archbishop Barsamian joined members of the parish
youth group (ACYOA) and Father Kesablyan to visit the parish’s most
senior member. The group surprised Tatios Tom Magarian, the last
remaining local area survivor of the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide, with
a cake and warm birthday wishes on the occasion of his 99th
birthday. Archbishop Barsamian said a prayer for Mr. Magarian and
blessed him on this special occasion. The visit was organized by
Father Kesablyan as part of the ACYOA’s ongoing ministry to visit
elderly parishioners.
“Our visit with Mr. Magarian was a touching ending to an enriching
weekend,” said Father Kesablyan. “The primate’s visit always injects
our community with new energy. It is in this spirit of renewal that we
look forward to the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord.”
PRESS RELEASE
RAFFI HOVANNISIAN HEADQUARTERS
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]
Website:
22 March 2013
Raffi Hovannisian presents final offer at Liberty Square
Yerevan–Standing before tens of thousands of citizens at Liberty
Square, Raffi K. Hovannisian unveiled today what he called `the
authorities’ last chance’ to meet the people half way and to create
together a New Armenia.
The document, which was read aloud then sent to the presidential
office, gave voice to two possibilities: 1) the immediate conduct of
new presidential elections, or 2) a comprehensive power-sharing deal
between the people and their de facto authorities.
`The time for change has come,’ Hovannisian proclaimed. `Either the
authorities will change their attitude toward the people, or the
people will rise to change their authorities once and for all. One way
or the other, on April 9, we shall have our New Armenia.’
Standing behind Hovannisian as he spoke were his parents Richard and
Vartiter, and daughter Shushi. They were joined by representatives of
major political forces, civic activists, intellectuals, and freedom
fighters.
`Today I command my men,’ declared Samvel Aslanyan, the commander of
the Shatakh brigade, which fought victoriously for the liberation of
Artsakh. `I address all those who swore to defend the Armenian
people–to come now and stand with the Armenian people, who have come
to struggle and to triumph here at Liberty Square.’
Earlier in the day, Hovannisian had received Archbishop Yeznik and
Archbishop Artak of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin–who came at
the behest of His Holiness Garegin II–as well as United States
Ambassador John Heffern and his wife Libby.
The document presented by Raffi K. Hovannisian:
A) The immediate conduct of new presidential elections
or
B) The sharing of power between the authorities and the people
1. The conduct, by the end of the year, of snap parliamentary
elections. The implementation, before then, of revisions in the
Election Code–to eliminate the majoritarian electoral system and to
realize a transition to a completely proportional system; to allow for
the publication of lists of citizens who actually voted; to reinstate
the political-party principle in the formation of the Central Election
Commission and district election commissions; to secure the
participation of citizens living abroad or to ensure the removal of
their names from the voter lists.
2. The removal of at least five regional governors, to be replaced by
candidates proposed by Raffi K. Hovannisian.
3. The removal of all city and village mayors who violated the law and
their own authority in falsification of the outcome of the February 18
elections.
4. The prosecution of all election falsifiers, including governors,
mayors, party organizers, and other officials.
5. The appointment of candidates proposed by Raffi K. Hovannisian to
head the following ministries and government offices:
a. Prosecutor General
b. Tax and Customs
c. National Security
d. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
e. Education and Science
f. Oversight Chamber
g. Justice Council
h. Anti-Corruption Commission
This contract is indivisible and is subject to bilateral signature.
Its provisions shall remain in force until the conclusion of the snap
parliamentary elections.
Raffi Hovannisian Headquarters
EURASIAN YOUTH FORUM “A STEP CLOSER” TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON 26-28 APRIL
Belarusian Telegraph Agency, Belarus
March 22 2013
MOSCOW, 22 March (BelTA) – The Eurasian Youth Forum “A Step Closer”
will take place in Yerevan on 26-28 April, BelTA learnt from the CIS
Youth Union, the organizer of the forum.
The participants of the forum will discuss ways to encourage
cross-culture communication between youth unions, integration of the
youth into the single Eurasian political, social and cultural space.
“Expo 2013 of the Single Economic Space” will be held on the sidelines
of the forum. This international expo will offer an opportunity to
showcase technical and technological achievements. Taking part in
it will be company representatives from the Single Economic Space –
Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as Armenia that expressed
interest in this project.
The forum will be held under the auspices of the Russia President
Administration, the Eurasian Economic Commission, and the Institute for
Strategic Development, and with assistance of the foreign ministries
of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan.
EU ASKS ARMENIA TO DESIST FROM NUCLEAR USE
Power Engineering International
March 22 2013
22/03/2013
By Diarmaid Williams
International Digital Editor
Earthquake-ridden Armenia has come under renewed calls from the
European Union to halt the use of Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.
The head of the European Union Delegation in Armenia Traian Hristea
presented the European Neighbourhood Policy on Armenia this week when
he stated, “We are still concerned about the use of the nuclear power
plant. We have repeatedly appealed to the government of Armenia asking
it to develop a programme for the conservation of the nuclear plant
as soon as possible.”
Mr Hristea added that the EU are willing to discuss solutions for
Armenian energy security, once nuclear power generation is discontinued
in the country.
The plant was originally closed after the 1988 Spitak earthquake but
resumed in 1995. The region is particularly susceptible to earthquake
activity, with a large number of minor earthquakes in the past 10
years in this area.
There has been an intensification of seismic processes indicated by
seismologist research, and growing evidence of the potential for a
major accident for any such plants in the Caucuses region.
PLEASE LET ASBED DECIDE IF THIS SHOULD BE POSTED
KATIA
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
March 22 2013
Web Essay: WWI atrocities against Armenians not ‘genocide’
Written by
FERMAN KONUKMAN
Guest Essayist
As a Turkic-American, member of the Pax Turcica Institute, I welcome
the idea of teaching about the recognized crimes against humanity,
such as the Holocaust, Srebrenica and Rwanda Genocides, in our public
schools. But I am deeply disappointed that the Pennsylvania House
Bill 176 and Senate Bill 47, currently referred to the education
committees of each chamber, include the spurious “Armenian genocide”
in their proposed amendment for the state Public School Code of 1949.
The World War I-era atrocities in the Ottoman Empire were never tried
by any competent tribunal and no intent to exterminate Armenians
was established as required by the 1948 United Nations Convention
on Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. The International Court of
Justice – a primary authority to determine the applicability of the
“genocide” term – has never opened a case or drawn a conclusion on
these genocide allegations. According to Bernard Lewis, a renowned
Princeton scholar of the Ottoman history, there was no “deliberate
preconceived decision of the Ottoman government” to eliminate
Armenians.
Neither federal government nor Congress recognizes the alleged Armenian
genocide. In December 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit overturned the California court decision in the Movsesian
vs. Victoria Versicherung AG case – that of the controversial insurance
claims based on state legislature’s faulty recognition of Armenian
genocide. The Ninth Circuit conclusion referred to the prior Supreme
Court decisions that a state law that conflicts with a federal action
such as a treaty, federal statute, or executive branch policy is
“unconstitutional under the foreign affairs doctrine.”
Furthermore, between 1914 and 1922, an estimated 523,955 Turks,
Kurds, Azeris and other Muslims were mass murdered by the Armenian
nationalist forces seeking to create their own state in Anatolia and
the Caucasus. The figure does not include those missing or buried
in mass graves. So, if any arbitrary unrecognized claim of genocide
is considered for teaching in state public schools, the SB 47 and HB
176 shall be amended to include the above mentioned Turkish suffering.
Ferman Konukman is a Brockport resident.