Author: Badalian Vardan

Fire in Yerevan Botanical Garden

TERT.AM
20:52 – 03.03.13

The Ministry of Emergency Situations received Sunday evening a report
on burning bushes in the Yerevan Botanical Garden (1 Acharyan Str.).

A firefighting team which went to the scene minutes later managed to
extinguish the blaze. Grassland with a total area of 1,000 sq. meters
had come under fire.

Another fire alarm was reported about 30 minutes later. The blaze
isolated at about 6:26 pm, had left bushes on 300 sq. m. grassland
burnt.

300 Year-Old Shipwreck Traced Back to Armenians of India

11:37, March 3, 2013

VADODARA: In 2007, when Indiana University’s (IU) Underwater Research
projects’ director, Prof Charles D Beeker first dived into the shallow
sea waters off the Dominican Republic coast to have a look at a
300-year-old shipwreck, he had no inkling that the discovery would one
day lead him to Surat.

Beeker not only discovered a treasure trove of 17th century’s maritime
history of the region, but also got a chance to see 300-year-old
ship-building techniques, identical to those that he found in a wreck
in the Caribbean sea. Since 2007, he has successfully connected the
dots based on his diving expeditions and researches made in the
national archives of UK to establish the ship’s identity as the same
‘Quedagh Merchant’ or ‘Cara Merchant’, which was built in Surat, was
owned by Armenians and was the last ‘prize’ of Privateer, Capt William
Kidd, who had caught the imagination of 17th century Britain and
Armenia for the circumstances under which he was hanged for
commandeering the ship in the Indian ocean.

Beeker, accompanied by Pavel Galoumian-an Armenian physicist and
researcher-told the story of his discovery to history buffs,
researchers and students of MSU on ‘Capt Kidd’s ‘Quedagh Merchant’ on
Wednesday evening, here. The address was jointly organized by Darshak
Itihaas Nidhi, MSU’s history department and The Times of India. But
while much has been talked of the “international intrigue” involved in
Kidd’s case, Beeker would much rather draw the attention of the
Indians towards the rich maritime history and heritage that he has
seen in India during his ongoing trip.

The Times of India; February 28, 2013

“ARMENPRESS” INTRODUCES 7TH BESTSELLER BOOKS LIST

11:24, 1 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS. “Armenpress” introduces the 7th
bestseller books list composed in accordance with the inquiry made
by “Armenpress” News Agency in the bookstores of Yerevan. Armenian
children’s writer Suren Mouradyan tops the bestseller books list. His
collected poems entitled “On Book’s Wings, through Hundred Means”
appears in the ranking list for the first time and immediately occupies
the first position. It is followed by “The Book of Lamentations”
by outstanding Armenian author St. Gregory of Narek.

This masterpiece by St. Gregory of Narek has always been included in
our bestseller books list. “Tales” by Hovhannes Toumanyan occupies
the third position this time. The fourth place goes to the fable in
novella “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”, written by American author
Richard Bach. “Nineteen Eighty-Four” novel by George Orwell is in
the fifth position.

“The Clay of Memory” by contemporary Armenian writer Hovik Hoveyan
occupies the sixth position. Novels “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and
“Autumn of the Patriarch” by Columbian author Gabriel García Marquez
occupy the seventh position of the bestseller books list introduced
by “Armenpress”. They are followed by the Armenian National Tales,
which always remain interesting for the children. This time Ashot
Aghababyan’s “Lonely” appeared in the ninth position. This novel used
to top the previous list. “The Unsent Letters” by Hambardzum Galstyan
occupies the final position of the Bestseller Books List introduced by
“Armenpress”. The author dedicated his book to the 25th anniversary
of the Artsakh Movement.

– See more at:

AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY OUSTED FROM GEOPOLITICS
Naira Hayrumyan

12:35 01/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Azeris are already intolerable. The more they get convinced that
their pretensions get less attention in the world, the more aggressive
they become. Yesterday they provoked a brawl at the French National
Assembly, and earlier they had held a series of aggressive actions
in a number of countries of the world.

In Armenia they rightly think that there is no need to juxtapose
the massacre of Armenians in the Azerbaijani town of Sumgait to
Azerbaijan’s claims relating to Khojalu which is desired by Baku.

Propaganda produces some fruits but it is clear that geopolitics
is outlined not in line with their actions. Otherwise, the United
States would have recognized the Armenian genocide, while Tibet would
be independent.

Only the geopolitical tendency is interesting. Apparently, the world,
not only the West but also Moscow, declines Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s
pretensions.

Angela Merkel visited Turkey and stated that Turkey may hope for
association but not EU membership.

In Moscow the demonstration of Azerbaijan on the day of Khojalu was not
authorized. The White House declined the request for a presidential
statement on Khojalu and reminded Aliyev that the Karabakh conflict
defies solution by force. The parliament of Lithuania has set up a
friendship group with Artsakh. Earlier, Mexico had dismantled the
monument to Aliyev Sr.

Turkey and Azerbaijan are ousted from regional politics, which makes
them angry. It may be related to changes of borders in the Near
East which may affect Turkey and Azerbaijan. Apparently, the closer
the year 2015, the more aggressive Azerbaijan will be, and Turkey’s
readiness for a dialogue will grow.

The Armenian lobby has had a role in outlining this geopolitical
trend. Apparently, however, they were not deciding, and the Western
countries themselves came to the understanding of the necessity to stop
Turkey’s expansion. They also appreciated the technique of Armenians
who have found their own way of stopping the Turkish expansion.

JIRAYR SEFILYAN: TIME TO CREATE NEW-QUALITY COUNTRY

12:56 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Jirayr Sefilyan, a senior member of the Sardarapat Movement initiative
group, says on March 1, 2008, Armenians were fusilladed in their
own country.

“Geopolitical centers neglected this fact and continued to cooperate
with the regime,” Sefilyan wrote on his Facebook account.

“From that day on, it became clear that the current system of
government is not only inefficient, but also hostile. There could be
no doubt that it became a tool in the hands of the anti-national and
inhuman regime in serving the interests of foreign forces. At the
expense of the ten victims, people came to realize that Armenia is
not a sovereign state and is actually an occupied country.

The awakening of the political consciousness led to the idea of forming
an alternative system to replace the existing colonial system and to
create a new-quality country.

This alternative idea is becoming the property of broad strata of
society and turning into a nationwide program after the rigged February
18 presidential elections and their endorsement by foreign forces.

The 25 year-long national-liberation movement of Artsakh is entering
a new phase, which will end with creation of a new-quality Armenia
and establishment of full sovereignty of Armenia.

The alternative program will enable us to find ways out of the
political deadlock, avoid repetition of March 1, 2008, post-election
unrest ands liberate our Homeland. The sooner our people start
implementing the program, the quicker and easier we shall reach our
goal,” he said.

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the March 1, 2008 post-election
clashes between protesters and riot police that left ten people dead
and at least 200 injured in the Armenain capital.

GREATER WASHINGTON DC AREA ARMENIAN AMERICANS REMEMBER SUMGAIT, KIROVABAD AND BAKU POGROMS

12:31 01.03.2013

Shouting “We Remember Sumgait” and “Justice for Gurgen Margaryan,”
Greater Washington, DC area Armenian Americans braved freezing
temperatures today to commemorate the victims of twenty-five years
of Azerbaijani violence and to stand in solidarity with the people
of the independent Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, in their effort to
secure a fair and lasting peace.

The protest, organized by the Greater Washington, DC Armenian Youth
Federation “Ani” Chapter and the St. Mary’s Armenian Church Youth
Organization of America (ACYOA), took place in front of the Azerbaijani
Embassy and coincided with February 27-29,1988, pogroms against the
Armenian population of Sumgait, which set the stage for attacks
in Baku in 1990, outright Azerbaijani aggression, and a cycle of
anti-Armenian violence that continues to this day. The demonstrators
also called special attention to Azerbaijan’s destruction of the
1,300 year old Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, Nakhichevan, where they
demolished thousands of intricately carved cross-stones (Khatchkars).

“In February, 1988, the Karabakh legislature’s democratic action to
reunite with Armenia was met with the brutal pogroms in Azerbaijan’s
second largest city, Sumgait,” said AYF Ani Chapter Chairwoman Narineh
Abrahamian, who was among those leading chants during the protest.

“Twenty five years later, the Azerbaijani government’s threats and
violence continue unabated, with Gor Kazaryan the latest victim of
sniper fire last week. “We stand in solidarity with the people of
independent Artsakh – committed to ensuring that their fundamental
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not quashed
by the dictatorial Aliyev regime.”

Following the protest, Soorp Khatch Armenian Church pastor, Fr. Sarkis
Aktavoukian led activists in a prayer in honor of the Sumgait,
Kirovabad, and Baku victims.

In a surprise move, Azerbaijani groups abandoned their annual
counter-protest in defense of their ambassador and embassy.

Previously, flag-wearing Azerbaijani and Turkish protesters jovially
celebrated the Sumgait atrocities, dishonoring the memory of those
who perished. AYF members had taken additional security measures this
year in the face of the brawl incited by pro-Aliyev youth at a solemn
remembrance of Sumgait victims held at the French National Assembly
earlier this week.

LE PM TURC AFFIRME QU’ IL NE VA PAS TOLERER UNE ENTITE SEPAREE DANS LE NORD DE LA SYRIE

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a declare lundi que
la Turquie n’ acceptera pas a une entite distincte dans le nord de
la Syrie, au milieu des rapports que les Arabes et les Kurdes ont
recemment signe un accord pour gouverner conjointement des territoires
a la frontière turque.

Le Premier ministre a declare aux medias turcs dans un avion en cours
de route des Emirats Arabes Unis a Ankara que l’integrite de la Syrie
est “très, très importante” pour la Turquie et qu’Ankara n’ aimera
pas que la situation dans le nord de l’Irak se reproduit pas en Syrie.

Le journal “Today’ s Zaman” a cite M. Erdogan comme disant que l’Arabie
saoudite, la Jordanie, l’Egypte et la Turquie sont contre la division
de la Syrie et que “nous n’ accepterons pas – si Dieu le permet –
qu’ une telle situation se reproduit”.

Toute entite autonome dans le nord de la Syrie va entraver l’integrite
du pays, a-t-il note, ajoutant qu’Ankara ne tôlera pas un developpement
qui apporte ce genre de changement.

M. Erdogan a declare que la frontière syrienne avec la Turquie n’est
pas totalement contrôlee par des militants kurdes lies au Parti des
travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK). Il y a des zones contrôlees par les
Arabes, les Turkmènes et les Kurdes qui ne sont pas affilies avec
les militants kurdes, et cette situation pose des defis importants
pour la Turquie, a-t-il conclu.

vendredi 1er mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

Republican party behaves as if it enjoys people’s love, expert

17:25 – 02.03.13

The Republican faction making a majority in the parliament, in reality
is being perceived as minority in the public but behaves in a way as
if it enjoys the constitutional majority and love and sympathy of
people, Avetik Chalabyan, McKinsey’s Metals & Mining practice in CIS
and Eastern Europe Director, told Civilnet.am.

The co-relation formed during the previous elections does not reflect
the real co-relation of the forces and this majority does not have
majority among the people.

`The tough position of the Rule of Law and Republican parties, which
is permanent, brings to the toughening of your opposition as well, and
the circumstance that the people are in the square now, is its
result,’ McKinsey representative said.

Casting a retrospective glance to the formation of this parliament, he
said that Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to conduct the election campaign
alone centralized all the `negative’ on him.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 1 2013

Educated Ignorance

by Etyen Mahcupyan

If I had attempted to assess the political orientation of the German
government or the way it administers the country based purely on the
reports issued by some international organizations and the news
stories that appear on some papers, how would people react to me?
Possibly people would find my assessments superficial and immature
because I tend to turn a blind eye to the complexity of the politics
created by a society that has its unique history, social texture,
cultural codes and psychological perceptions. Talking about another
country or society will obviously produce only superficial
information. Even a German who has lived away from Germany for many
years does not have a better position to make sense of today’s
Germany. We can add profundity to our analysis about a country only if
we live inside the social, political and cultural veins of that
country and having the intellectual endowment and intuition for an
insider analysis of what we observe closely. I would be in a
ridiculous position if I act and make a pedantic analysis as if I
understand, say, Germany.

Westerner observers and some people who showed close interest in
Turkey several years ago feel competent enough to talk about today’s
Turkey. Behind their confidence can be found what we can call
“psychological Orientalism.” That is, “we the Westerners” can talk
freely about the rest of world and our assessments will naturally be
correct. This confidence is enough for some people who parrot certain
cliches and figures to assume themselves as “knowledgeable.” Yet their
knowledge has nothing to do with “making sense” of what really happens
in the society concerned. They merely reate popular ignorance about
any society .

With the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) coming to power,
educated ignorance in Turkey has come to the fore. Virtually once a
week, the Western media networks mark an assessment by a Turkey expert
who is reputable in his/her own country, but who is really very
amateurish as s/he repeats the same stereotypes about Turkey. They
have several common arguments. The most popular is that the AKP has
become more authoritarian and political freedoms and democratic rights
in Turkey have regressed. Second, they suggest that there are
significant pressures on the press freedom in Turkey and many
journalists are in jail. Third, they argue that the trials about
Ergenekon – a clandestine organization nested within the state trying
to overthrow or manipulate the democratically elected government – and
the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) coup plan are actually witch-hunts, and
these trials lack any basis. Interesting, all analyses parrot the same
sentences and refer to the same “evidence.”

However, none of these analysts seems inclined to make mention of the
fact that it has been established that there were attempts to
overthrow the democratically elected government until 2009 and that
revolutionary steps have been taken to solve the Kurdish issue and AKP
supporters have started to promote the rights of non-Muslim
minorities, and unprecedented initiatives have been introduced in the
field of the freedom of expression including the Armenian genocide.
Moreover, no analyst acknowledges that the source of the resistance
against the ruling AKP is the highly politicized judicial bureaucracy.

They don’t inquire why all of the journalists who were jailed for
their journalistic activities are Kurdish. The most ridiculous
argument from this educated ignorance is certainly that Ergenekon and
Balyoz are sham trials designed to intimidate the AKP’s rivals.
Perhaps they don’t know that the prime minister initially opposed the
arrest of former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and he
reiterates at every opportunity that the trials are lengthy and cause
some people to be victimized. Which is not very surprising, as these
educated but ignorant experts tend to rely mainly on “objective”
commentators such as Dani Rodrik and Gareth Jenkins and the people in
Turkey who categorically oppose the AKP.

This approach has three harmful ef fects. First, it openly misguides
the Western world. Second, it closes Turkey’s ears to the West as even
ordinary citizens in Turkey can detect the ignorance of these Western
experts and perceive their assessment as “ill intention.” Third, the
West’s potentially positive effect on Turkey is waning.

One is urged to ask: Is this a manifestation of simple convenience and
ignorance or is this a known “phobia”?

Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency website, Greece
Feb 27 2013

Armenian Protest at Azerbaijani Consulate

Members of the Armenian community staged a protest at the consulate of
Azerbaijan in Athens on Wednesday [27 February] to commemorate the
“25th anniversary of the massacre of Armenians in Sumgayit.”

Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Greece Tavit Bedrosian
told AMNA, “In 1988, as soon as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared
its independence, Azerbaijan attacked the city of Sumgayit, near the
Caspian Sea, where the population was predominantly Armenian, and
within two days killed at least 150 people as revenge for the Armenian
movement for independence.”

Bedrosian said the committee held a protest annually “to remind the
international public opinion that Azerbaijan’s gas and oil will not
bend the will of Armenians,” and called for the Greek government to
convey, in any contacts with the country, the Armenian anger.

The participants also gave a memo to the consulate requesting that
Azerbaijan come to the negotiation table “for a peaceful, just and
final resolution to the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh.”