Author: Badalian Vardan

POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF ARMENIA URGES EDUARDO EURNEKIAN TO RENOUNCE PLAN OF PURCHASING MFA BUILDING

Panorama.am
12/10/2012

The Chairman of Political Science Association of Armenia, Doctor of
Political Science Hayk Kotanjian, has released the following address
of the Association:

Political Science Association of Armenia is in agreement with estimable
Mr. Vazgen Manukyan, Chairman of the Public Council of the Republic
of Armenia, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, who
considers the sale of the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia as a political mistake.

Based on the observation of historical experience and modern reality,
the Association believes that for the Armenian people – living in
Armenia and Diaspora and building its independent state in response to
the Genocide and its recurrence threat – the symbols of statehood both
in the political and spiritual-cultural aspects are identified with
the Armenian statehood. In such a case, the vital principle “not on
bread only” becomes an additional factor, by which it has balanced its
far-sighted pragmatism throughout its long history. Therefore Armenia’s
state bodies and officials, as well as prominent representatives of
the nation have vocation for carrying out their activities taking
into account these priorities.

The status of the Republic Square – symbolizing the nation-state’s
political center from the viewpoint of the citizens of Armenia,
Diaspora, foreign states, and international organizations – first of
all is associated with the Government of the Republic of Armenia and
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Taking account of the aforesaid, the Association addresses to:

– estimable Mr. Eduardo Eurnekian, the proprietor of the “Tango”
Company, patriot and benefactor appealing to him to reappraise the
situation and renounce the plan of purchasing the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs’ building of and its transformation into hotel;

– the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the person of Prime
Minister estimable Mr. Tigran Sargsyan to repeal the decision of the
sale of the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

BELGIQUE : LE COMMUNAUTARISME AUX ELECTIONS 2012

Publie le : 11-10-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Un groupe des personnalites
belges viennent de diffuser la lettre ouverte suivante a propos du
communautarisme polluant gravement la campagne et contaminant tous
les partis. Dogan Ozguden, redacteur en chef d’Info-Turk, fait suivre
cette Lettre ouverte de ses remarques fort pertinentes. Il conclut
” Laissons tranquilles les victimes des genocides et des repressions
interminables, au moins dans leur pays de refuge qu’est la Belgique. ”

Legende photo : Dogan Ozguden, redacteur en chef d’Info-Turk

Info-Turk

Quelques remarques* sur la lettre ouverte a propos du communautarisme
aux elections 2012

Un groupe des personnalites belges viennent de diffuser la lettre
ouverte suivante a propos du communautarisme polluant gravement la
campagne et contaminant tous les partis.

Dimanche prochain, certains d’entre-nous voteront socialiste,
humaniste, liberal, ecolo, communiste ou FDF, d’autres ne voteront pas.

Certains d’entre nous sont chretiens, musulmans, juifs ou athees.

Mais, tous, nous partageons la meme conviction et le meme engagement.

Il n’y a pas de place dans notre pays pour le racisme et
l’antisemitisme qui relèvent dangereusement la tete au cours de la
campagne electorale.

Il ne devrait pas y avoir de place non plus pour les replis
communautaires de quelle que nature qu’ils soient, religieux, ethnique
ou nationaliste.

Malheureusement, et chacun peut le constater, dans certaines communes
le communautarisme fait rage, pollue gravement la campagne et contamine
tous les partis.

Des candidats sont stigmatises, souvent de manière anonyme, par des
tracts diffuses a large echelle, pour leur appartenance, vraie ou
supposee, a telle religion ou a tel groupe ethnique.

Toute forme de negationnisme historique est evidemment hautement
condamnable mais il n’est pas acceptable que des conflits exterieurs
a notre pays, presents ou passes, et sans aucun lien avec l’enjeu
des elections communales, (israelo-palestinien, turco-kurde,
turco-armenien, saharoui-marocain, sunnite-chiites, hutu-tutsi, etc.)*
soient exploites par certains a des fins bassement electorales.

Nous nous insurgeons donc et crions ” casse-cou ” contre ces pratiques
inacceptables et hautement dangereuses pour notre democratie et
l’indispensable necessite du ” vivre ensemble “.

Nous demandons instamment a toutes et a tous les candidats concernes,
TOUS partis politiques confondus de cesser cette course ” attrape voix
” de menaces et exigeons que les campagnes electorales se focalisent
exclusivement sur les vrais enjeux, politiques, economiques, sociaux
et environnementaux vitaux pour nos concitoyens, quelles que soient
leur religion ou leur origine ethnique.

Josy Dubie, Senateur Honoraire; Louis Michel, Depute europeen; Marie
Arena, Senatrice; Georges Dallemagne, Depute; Didier Gosuin, Depute;
Fouad Lahssaini, Depute; Jean Claude Defosse, Depute; Rachid Madrane,
Depute; Bernard Wesphael, Depute; Fatiha Saidi, deputee; Carine Russo,
Ancienne Senatrice; Michel Graindorge, Avocat; Sam Touzani, Comedien;
Ralp Coeckelberghs, Ex reponsable ONG; Simone Suskind.

* Remarques de Dogan Ozguden, redacteur en chef d’Info-Turk:

En tant qu’un des premiers militants de la lutte pour la reconnaissance
des droits politiques aux citoyens d’origine etrangère, je soutiens
de tout c~ur cette demarche.

Toutefois, je ne partage nullement la citation de conflits “turco-kurde
et turco-armenien”.

Les peuples kurde et armenien sont les victimes depuis plus d’un siècle
de la dictature genocidaire des pouvoirs successifs des Unionistes,
Kemalistes et Islamistes.

En Turquie, il y a une defense legitime contre une repression
ultra-nationaliste interminable d’un Etat turco-islamiste.

La campagne electorale qui se deroule actuellement dans les communes
de Schaerbeek et de Saint-Josse n’a rien a voir avec les Kurdes et
Armeniens. A Schaerbeek, il n’y a aucun candidat issu des communautes
kurdes et armeniennes.

D’ailleurs, après plusieurs tentatives d’epuration ethnique entamees
par des nationalistes turcs instigues et proteges par l’Ambassade de
Turquie, les citoyens d’origines kurde, armenienne et assyro-chaldeenne
s’eloignent de cette partie de la cite.

Ce qui se passe aujourd’hui a Schaerbeek est un règlement de compte
entre des politiciens autochtones entoures des candidats nationalistes
turcs qui donnent toutes les concessions anti-democratiques et
anti-laïques afin d’obtenir quelques votes de plus dans la communaute
turque.

La campagne electorale de ces politiciens se deroule souvent soit dans
les marches, cafes, restaurants, mosquees ou boîtes de nuit turcs,
soit directement en Turquie dans une ville habitee uniquement par
les citoyens turco-turcs.

Il est vrai que les dirigeants de tous les partis concurrents a
Schaerbeek et Saint-Josse se sont rendus depuis des mois a Emirdag.

Un secretaire d’etat (PS) qui s’est egalement declare etre le “futur
bourgmestre de Saint-Josse” est souvent a Emirdag et meme a Ankara.

Il accueille souvent des notorietes turques dans son cabinet, par
exemple le chef de police d’Istanbul, Celalettin Cerrah, accuse de
ne pas avoir empeche l’assassinat du journaliste armenien Hrant Dink.

Les sites et les journaux au service du lobby turc sont pleins
d’informations et de photos sur cette mobilisation communautariste.

Laissons tranquilles les victimes des genocides et des repressions
interminables, au moins dans leur pays de refuge qu’est la Belgique.

INFO-TURK 53, rue de Pavie 1000 BRUXELLES

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Info-Turk

AZERI MEDIA MISREPRESENT OSCE ENVOY’S REMARKS

Panorama.am
11/10/2012

Azeri media misrepresented my remarks, Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk said in
response to a question from Haylur news program of whether he made
the controversial statements on Stepanakert airport attributed to
him by Azeri media.

Azeri media reported on Wednesday that Andrzej Kasprzyk allegedly
had said, “Stepanakert airport is on the sovereign territory of
Azerbaijan. In this issue, much depends on Azerbaijan’s position.”

According to Azeri media, the OSCE envoy allegedly added, “This move
represents a provocation and violation of all international norms, and
damages the process of negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.”

FRENCH TOURISTIC ORGANIZATIONS REVEAL ARMENIAN GEGHARKUNIK PROVINCE

ARMENPRESS
11 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s Gegharkunik province has
wonderful nature, rich historical, architectural monuments yet there
are infrastructures that are in a poor condition. Rafik Grigoryan
Gegharkunik Province Administrative Union head had a meeting with
Martin Shalien French “Afrat” touristic company coordinator.

Grigoryan stated Province needs long-term and stable cooperation with
the French side to improve the state of those infrastructures .

Economic and cultural cooperation has been established between Armenian
Gegharkunik and French Izeri Provinces in the field of tourism, health
and French teaching. The head of the administrative unit presented
the works done in the sphere of tourism when Province former head Nver
Poghosyan in office. Namely a cognitive book on Gegharkunik Province
attractive sights and touristic centers has been issued. Young men
from Vardenis, Martuni, Gavar, Chambarak regions have been trained as
tourist specialists , mutual visits were launched at the level of the
administration of two Provinces. Eco-tourism and sustainable tourism
were in the focus of attention of the touristic field. Only the works
pertain to Internet portal creation and trilingual posters erection in
the four main entrances of Gegharkunik Province were left half done,
Armenpress reports.

Administrative union head Grigoryan noted he is well familiarized
with Gegharkunik -Izeri coopetaion project, and reportedly Gegharkunik
new leadership will continue it on sustainable basis.

Gegharkunik Province delegation is scheduled to travel to France
in the near future aimed at elaborating three year joint touristic
programs and launch discussions refer to its implementation. Cognitive
tours will be organized by Izeri department and “Afrat” by the help
of which many French touristic organizations will reveal Armenia and
its attractive sights for them.

LA NOUVELLE MAISON D’EDITION IPY SANCTIONNEE PAR LE POUVOIR
Ara

armenews.com
jeudi 11 octobre 2012

Pression sur les medias en Turquie

Une enquete judiciaire est lancee par le procureur de la republique
d’Istanbul contre le livre “5ème Republique” du journaliste-ecrivain
Erol Ozkoray, qui est la preuve d’une nouvelle violation de la liberte
d’expression en Turquie. Les Editions Idea Politika (Idea Politika
Yayinlari – IPY), est une nouvelle maison d’edition qui se positionne
pour la liberte d’expression dans ce pays. Fondee en mai 2012, les
trois premières publications de IPY sont parues ce 1er octobre 2012.

Il s’agit de deux livres en turc du journaliste, politologue et
editeur Erol Ozkoray, “Ordu ne iþe yarar ?” (A quoi sert l’armee ?) et
“5. Cumhuriyet” (5ème Republique). Le troisième ouvrage, quant a lui,
est celui en anglais de Nurten Ozkoray “Individualism & democracy
in Turkey”.

La ligne directrice des editions IPY est celle de
l’anti-totalitarisme. IPY traite de tous les types de totalitarisme,
d’autoritarisme, de fascisme, et d’autocratie et oeuvre pour la defense
des libertes, de l’egalite et de la justice. En ligne de mire : l’Armee
turque, les generaux, les reseaux Ergenekon, l’Etat-profond turc et
le pouvoir islamiste. Ainsi, la “5. Cumhuriyet” analyse les dangers
du derive autoritaire du pouvoir islamique, qui peut se degenerer
avec la nouvelle constitution vers un “fascisme vert”.

L’etude en anglais de Nurten Ozkoray se penche sur le phenomène de
l’individualisme en Turquie, et les liens avec la democratie. Entre
valeurs traditionnelles et modernisation, la societe turque se
trouve dans une phase de transition fascinante. Commence comme thèse
de maîtrise a l’Universite de Boðazici, le livre “Individualism &
democracy in Turkey” offre un instantane de la societe turque vis-a-vis
de certaines valeurs et concernant sa relation avec la democratie. Les
principales conclusions de l’etude indiquent une forte emprise du
nationalisme et de la religion en Turquie et montre la necessite du
pluralisme afin de stimuler une veritable democratie.

Selon Erol Ozkoray, l’absence de “liberte d’expression va etre la
principale faille politique de ce pays au 21ème siècle” et une grande
lutte dans ce cadre va etre lancee très prochainement contre le pouvoir
islamique avec la participation de la societe civile de Turquie.

HOLLANDE ‘SHARED’ WIFE WITH SARKOZY’S ARMENIAN MINISTER – REPORT

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 11, 2012 – 13:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – French first lady Valerie Trierweiler was the
shared mistress of Socialist president Francois Hollande and a married
conservative minister, as it was revealed Oct 10, The Sun reported.

In a scandalous insight into the adulterous nature of Gallic politics,
details of the 47-year-old’s passionate affair with Patrick Devedjian
of Armenian descent have been made public for the first time.

Mr Devedjian is an arch right-winger and a close personal friend of
Nicolas Sarkozy, the conservative former president who was defeated
by Mr Hollande in the May presidential election.

Since then, Ms Trierweiler – who is nicknamed “Valerie Rottweiler”
and “First Concubine” by the French media – has become one of the
most unpopular first ladies in recent history.

She began an affair with Mr Hollande, 58, while he was still living
with Segolene Royale, the mother of his four children and a senior
Socialist politician in her own right.

Now it has been revealed that not only was Ms Trierweiler herself
married at the time, she was also alternating secret sex sessions
with the right wing Mr Devedjian, now 68.

Miss Trierweiler frequently asked Mr Devedjian, who is still a senior
member of the opposition UMP coalition, to leave his wife of more
than 30 years for her, and when he refused to do so she concentrated
her affections on Mr Hollande.

Incredibly, both Mr Devedjian and Mr Hollande knew they were sleeping
with the same woman, and developed “a great respect for each other”,
according to a new book.

Miss Trierweiler was at the time married to her second husband, her
fellow Paris Match magazine journalist Denis Trierweiler, with whom
she has three sons. It means she was effectively in a relationship
with three men at the same time.

Details of the complicated love triangles are contained in La Frondeuse
(The Rebellious One), an unauthorized biography of Miss Trierweiler
by the French political writers Christophe Jakubyszyn and Alix
Bouilhaguet, which comes out tomorrow.

Mr Jacubyszyn points out that Mr Hollande and Mr Devedjian were at
one stage general secretaries of their respective parties.

Miss Trierweiler, who was a political affairs reporter while sleeping
with the two men, would have accordingly been party to some intriguing
pillow talk from either end of the political spectrum.

The authors compare the situation to the famous 1962 film Jules et Jim
by French director Francois Truffaut, in which a married woman played
by Jeanne Moreau has numerous affairs before sharing her affections
with her husband and another man.

SYRIAN MINISTER ACCUSES TURKEY OF “AIR PIRACY”

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 11, 2012 – 14:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Syria said on Thursday, Oct 11, a Damascus-bound
plane forced to land in Ankara by Turkish fighter jets while en route
from Moscow had been carrying legitimate cargo, according to Reuters.

“The plane was not carrying any illegal material,” Ghaida Abdulatif,
head of Syrian Arab Airlines, told reporters in Damascus. “When the
plane was inspected it was clear that there were … civilian packages
with electrical equipment which are allowed to be transported and
had been officially registered.”

Meanwhile, Syria’s transport minister accused Turkey of “air piracy.”

Lebanon’s al-Manar Television quoted minister Mahmoud Said as saying
the move amounted to “air piracy which contradicts civil aviation
treaties.”

Turkish officials said they suspected the plane was carrying military
equipment, and seized some of the cargo.

MY MOTHER’S VOICE: A GENOCIDE SURVIVOR’S STORY

asbarez
Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Elise Kalfayan
Premiering at Toronto’s Pomegranate Film Festival October 14

BY ELISE KALFAYAN

My Mother’s Voice, a genocide survivor documentary based on the novel
A Gift in the Sunlight, premiers this weekend at the Pomegranate
Film Festival in Toronto. Kay Mouradian presented the book, based on
her mother Flora Munushian’s story, at the Glendale Public Library
back in 2009. I first met Mouradian there, then found opportunities
to talk with her when we saw each other at civic, literary, and
networking events. Her family and her extensive “community links”
gave her resources, determination and encouragement to write the
book, as well as professional contacts to help her translate it into
a historical documentary.

“I am my mother’s voice,” Mouradian says in the film, echoing the
prediction in her book’s preface: “she told me in no uncertain terms
that I was going to write a book about her life.” This hadn’t been
her goal or even a thought until her mother’s last years. Although
she was the author of two professional books, she had never written
fiction before. Presenting the story of her mother’s teenage years
as a novel was an excellent decision. The narrative is well-paced and
action-packed, with the right amount of carefully researched details.

Told from her mother’s point of view, the story highlights Flora’s
drive to get an education, her youthful idealism and her inner
strength. The book is a great read for both young readers and adults,
with a positive message and story arc.

The film based on the book is more of a history of the genocide’s
impact on Flora and her family. Among its visuals: a copy and
translation of the deportation order posted in Hadjin, where the
family lived before their march toward Der Zor; a photograph of Rev.

Hovhanness Eskijian, who rescued Flora, her sister and hundreds of
Armenian orphans in Aleppo; and a photograph of Flora’s family –
most of whom perished during the march or in Der Zor.

Mouradian’s cousin, ABGU benefactor Jack Munushian, was an important
family link to sources she needed for the story. He gave her an uncle’s
letter describing a mass slaughter along the Euphrates where Hadjin
deportees perished. “Jack’s parents had kept a lot of materials I
was able to use,” Mouradian said.

A local writers’ group was another community link cheering Mouradian
on to reach her goal. After meeting her at the library, I talked with
her at these writers’ meetings. Each time she had important progress
to report about her book’s impact and the documentary. Besides myself
and Catherine Yesayan, no one else in that group had an Armenian
background or was familiar with personal accounts of the Armenian
genocide, so Mouradian’s story had a great impact.

At subsequent library events, and at other professional events in the
community, I would see Mouradian and catch up on her latest news. One
of her South Pasadena neighbors had introduced her to his colleague,
award-winning filmmaker Mark Friedman. Friedman agreed to produce
the film with her. “He was so far-sighted, and very resourceful,”
Mouradian said. Together they searched out original film footage and
were able to use portions of the 1919 silent film Ravished Armenia
that appears on Zareh Tjeknavorian’s DVD Credo.

Tjeknavorian wrote to Mouradian, “Congratulations to you and Mark for
so beautifully and affectingly bringing the message of your mother’s
life to the world. Her voice speaks so eloquently through your own.

This film, and the vast history it artfully distills into such a
poignant and positive personal story is as much a testimony to the
resiliency of family and culture across generations as it is to the
evil that sought to destroy them. I am sure it will go a long way to
honoring the memory of Flora and the millions she speaks for.”

Mouradian’s South Pasadena community links not only got her introduced
to a top-notch film collaborator, they have also supported and
recognized her educational and civic endeavors. While serving as LA
Community College Professor of Health and Physical Education, she
published guidebooks and studies on yoga. She was honored for her
professional and literary achievements by Congressman Adam Schiff,
who named her 2012 Woman of the Year for South Pasadena. She is one
of the original members of Women in South Pasadena Political Action
(WISPPA) , a group that encourages well-qualified
women to become active in city government and civic organizations.

WISPPA’s 2012 annual meeting in September drew close to 50 people,
women and men. Some fellow writers and I were invited as guests,
because a private screening of My Mother’s Voice was scheduled
right after the organization’s business concluded. This audience
also (except for perhaps four Armenian-Americans) was unfamiliar
with personal genocide stories, and it was clear the whole room was
strongly affected by the film. “The film is tastefully, artfully done,
the music is beautiful, and your narration hit all the right notes,”
one viewer wrote later. “It’s a shock (and a shame) that this subject
is not taught in high school history classes. I sure didn’t know
much about it until I moved to Glendale and started talking with
Armenian friends.”

In furthering her mission to tell her mother’s story, Mouradian
reached out to and beyond her higher education community, our mutual
library and literary connections, and her civic advocacy contacts. She
established links with the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, the Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan, The Genocide Education Project,
the Near East Archive, and many individuals who have collected and
published original research. She has published a wonderful book and
produced a moving documentary. See it in Toronto if you are there
this weekend! Read more about Kay Mouradian’s work on her website,
KayMouradian.com.

AN ARMENIAN KILLED BY A SNIPER BULLET IN SYRIA : JIRAYR REISYAN

ARMENPRESS
11 October, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Free Army sniper bullet resulted in
the death of Syrian citizens, including one Armenian. The incident
was orchestrated in Armenian populated New Village district adjacent
territory, Aleppo National Primacy press secretary Jirayr Reisyan
told Armenpress.

In the words of the interlocutor our compatriot has already been taken
to hospital and currently is under the supervision of doctors , his
state is estimated satisfactory. According to Reisyan the situation in
Aleppo Christian and Armenian populated districts is relatively calm,
yet it may change any moment. Mainly city outskirts become the arena
of clashes.

Syrian SANA agency reports cashes are continuing in some Aleppo
districts on October 11. Six cars belonging to the rebels piled with
various types of weaponry were shelled in Ophthalmological Hospital
nearby territories at Askar Kad square. As a result rebels have been
arrested and killed.

More than 30 thousand people were killed in the course of 18 months
ongoing clashes in Syria, including three dozen Armenians.

OSCE OFFICE PROMOTES COMMUNITY POLICING IN ARMENIAN SCHOOLS

hetq
17:20, October 11, 2012

Four days of activities organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and
the Armenian police as part of its ‘Safe School’ initiative concluded
today in Yerevan.

The activities, held in schools 189 and 130 in the Arabkir and
Mashtots districts of Yerevan, were aimed at addressing security
problems in schools, such as drugs and smoking, road safety, cases of
violence and enhancing co-operation between the police and the local
community. This is a follow-up from an OSCE-supported study visit to
the Netherlands in April for a group of Armenian police officers to
learn about the Dutch experience of police-school partnership.

“Community policing means close co-operation between the police and
local people, identifying problems and areas of concern, finding
effective solutions to community problems and rendering quality
policing services. Raising awareness among the younger generation about
this new policing method will help them understand the positive changes
that it can bring to society,” said Lilian Salaru, Politico-Military
Programme Officer of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The events included meetings between district community policing
officers, school students, faculty and parents as well as presentations
on the community policing concept. Prior to the initiative, a survey
was conducted among students to identify their most pressing security
concerns. Its results were presented and discussed in school meetings.

Nico van Ooik, a community policing expert from the Netherlands, said:
“It is important for community policing officers to influence citizens
and co-operate on security issues. This is a good preventive mechanism
especially for the younger generation so that they do not get involved
in unsocial behaviour such as drug and alcohol abuse.”

The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been supporting the introduction
and implementation of the community policing model in Armenia for
several years now, as part of efforts to establish democratic policing
practices in Armenia. The community policing was launched throughout
Yerevan in June.