Author: Badalian Vardan

VALERY PERMYAKOV FOUND SANE

14:10 09/04/2015 >> LAW

Russian serviceman Valery Permyakov, who is charged with the murder
of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri city of Armenia, was found sane,
Interfax reports citing a source familiar with the situation.

“The psychiatric examination revealed that the serviceman is sane. He
was absolutely aware of his actions at the moment of the murder,”
the source said.

The experts have detected some mental disorders in him, but overall,
he was found sane, the source added.

Meanwhile, Kommersant has learned that the court extended Permyakov’s
arrest on April 8. The Investigation Committee toughened the charges
against him. On two counts alone, he may face life imprisonment.

Six members of one family, including a two-year-old child, were shot
dead in their house in Gyumri on January 12. A six-month-old baby
was hospitalized with stab wounds. He died in hospital on January 19.

Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian military base
stationed in Gyumri, the main suspect in the murder, was detained by
Russian border guards while attempting to cross the Armenian-Turkish
border near Yerazgavors village in Armenia’s Shirak province.

Permyakov is held in custody at the Russian military base. He was
questioned and confessed to the crime. Permyakov is charged under
Article 105.2 and 338.2 of the Russian Criminal Code (murder and
desertion). Also, Armenian Investigative Committee brought a charge
against Permyakov under Article 104 part 2 point 1 (murder of two or
more persons) of the Armenian Criminal Code.

Source: Panorama.am

GENOCIDE STUDIES INTERNATIONAL NEW ISSUE DEDICATED TO CENTENARY OF THE ARMENIAN, ASSYRIAN AND GREEK GENOCIDES

By MassisPost
Updated: April 8, 2015

TORONTO — The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights
Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) is pleased to announce
the release of Genocide Studies International Volume 9, number 1,
Spring 2015. The new issue is dedicated to the Ottoman Genocides of
the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek peoples, marking the upcoming 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in April 2015.

This peer-reviewed journal was edited by Roger W. Smith. The new
issue includes six articles:

– “Introduction: Ottoman Genocides of Armenians, Assyrians, and
Greeks,” by Roger W. Smith

– “Contending Interpretations Concerning the Armenian Genocide:
Continuity and Conspiracy, Discontinuity and Cumulative
Radicalization,” by Robert Melson

– “The Genocide against the Ottoman Armenians: German Diplomatic
Correspondence and Eyewitness Testimonies,” by Tessa Hofmann

– “Academic Denial of the Armenian Genocide in American Scholarship:
Denialism as Manufactured Controversy,” by Marc. A. Mamigonian

– “The Complexity of the Assyrian Genocide,” by David Gaunt

– “The Genocide of the Greeks of the Ottoman Empire, 1913-1923:
A Comprehensive Overview,” by Vasileios Th. Meichanetsidis.

Prof. Smith’s article introduces the themes addressed in this special
issue of GSI and emphasizes how careful consideration of the Ottoman
genocides deepens our understanding of what genocide is and how it
can be enacted.

Prof. Melson’s article examines the relationship between the
Armenian massacres of 1894-1896 and on the process that initiated
the Genocide during and following WWI. One group of historians argue
that the Genocide was a continuation of the 1894-1896 massacres and
that its origins were rooted in Islam and Ottoman culture, whereas a
second group of scholars contend that the Genocide was qualitatively
different from the massacres and that it was driven by a policy of
radicalization during WWI. The article concludes with an evaluation
of some of the assumptions of the second view.

Hofmann’s article documents and analyses the genocide of the 1.5
million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during 1915 and 1916 and is
based mainly on the German diplomatic correspondence of the time,
which is preserved at the Political Archives of the German Foreign
Office, in Berlin. A special subsection of the article is dedicated
to the clandestine intelligence organization, TeÅ~_kilat-ı Mahsusa
(Special Organization), which planned, implemented and largely
conducted the destruction of the Armenians. Germany’s involvement in
the destruction of Ottoman Armenians, Aramaic-speaking Christians,
and Greek-Orthodox Christians is also examined.

Mamigonian’s article traces the early development of Armenian Genocide
denial and focuses on the more recent refinements and the penetration
of denial into mainstream American academia, posing as a legitimate
intellectual position within a historical debate.

Prof. Gaunt’s article focuses on another group targeted by the Ottoman
Empire for extermination: the Assyrians. The Assyrian Genocide involved
many non-Armenian Christian groups native to eastern Anatolia and
northern Mesopotamia. Among them were the Assyrian Church of the East,
the Chaldean Church, the Syriac Orthodox, and some smaller sects.

Meichanetsidis’ article refers to the 1913-1923 Genocide of the
Greeks of the Ottoman Empire and provides a comprehensive overview
of the overall genocidal process. The article aims at providing an
understanding of the Genocide and a sense of the Ottoman projects of
destruction that included Armenians, Assyrians/Arameans and Greeks in
an attempt at a total restricting of Ottoman society and the creation
of a Turkish Muslim national state.

Also included is a book review: The Young Turks’ Crime against
Humanity: The Armenian Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in the Ottoman
Empire by Taner AkÃ’”am, reviewed by Dr. Rouben Paul Adalian, Director
of the Armenian National Institute.

For information on subscribing to the journal,
or to purchase single copies, please visit

or contact the International Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) at
[email protected] or by telephone 416-250-9807.

LES CONCLUSIONS D’UNE ENQUETE SUR LES RELATIONS ENERGETIQUES ARMENO-RUSSES

Contestees au Parlement

Un depute pro-gouvernemental, qui a mene une enquete parlementaire
armenienne sur les relations energetiques controverses de l’Armenie
avec la Russie face a des allegations de l’opposition de fraude,
a presente ses conclusions a l’Assemblee nationale hier.

Le Parlement a debattu de ce rapport de Vartan Ayvazian, adopte par
une commission ad hoc presidee par lui.

La commission multipartite a ete forme il y a un an au milieu d’un
tolle de l’opposition contre un accord gazier signe au cours de
decembre 2013, lors de la visite du president russe Vladimir Poutine
en Armenie. En vertu de cette entente, le gouvernement armenien a
cede sa participation residuelle de 20 % des parts dans le reseau de
distribution de gaz a Gazprom a la Russie et a accorde aux geants du
gaz 30 ans de droits exclusifs sur le marche de l’energie armenienne.

Ces privilèges sans precedent accordes a Gazprom avaient suscite
un tolle auprès des principaux groupes d’opposition. Meme l’ancien
president Robert Kotcharian avait ajoute sa voix aux condamnations,
en disant que l’affaire pourrait tourner prendre en “otage” le secteur
de l’energie armenienne par les Russes.”

Le gouvernement et sa majorite parlementaire avaient nie ses
accusations, avant d’accepter une enquete parlementaire.

S’adressant au Parlement, Ayvazian a dit que l’enquete a conclu que
l’operation etait legale et economiquement benefique pour l’Armenie.

“Nous avons examine entre 5000 et 6000 documents,” a t-il dit.

Cependant, le rapport de la commission a ete rejete comme frauduleuse
par le Congrès national. Levon Zurabian a insiste pour dire que le
document est nul et non avenu parce qu’il n’a jamais ete formellement
adopte par le Parlement. Il a dit qu’Aram Manoukian du HAK et d’autres
membres de la commission representant la minorite d’opposition du
Parlement n’ont pas assiste aux reunions de la commission.

mercredi 8 avril 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com

PRESS RELEASE
Date: April 7, 2015

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Email: [email protected]
Web:

`ICONIC IMAGES OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’ TO BE EXHIBITED AT THE NATIONAL
PRESS CLUB

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly), in
cooperation with the Armenian National Institute (ANI) and the Armenian
Genocide Museum of America (AGMA), is pleased to announce that the `Iconic
Images of the Armenian Genocide’ exhibit will be on display at the National
Press Club on Wednesday, April 22nd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Friday,
April 24th from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Assembly and ANI staff will be on hand
to present and discuss the exhibition with guests.

The fourth in a series of digital exhibits released free of charge, `Iconic
Images of the Armenian Genocide’ brings together as a single collection key
images recording the brutal mistreatment of the Armenian population of the
Ottoman Empire and the utter destruction of their historic communities.
“The exhibit creates a panoramic view of the entire duration of the
Armenian Genocide,” stated ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian. “All facets of
the genocide that the photographic record allows, ranging from the
deportations, executions, massacres, murders, starvation, extermination and
destruction, are reconstructed panel by panel.”

Many invaluable pictures were destroyed during the war years and what
remain today are scattered across continents. In view of how much was lost,
these photographs are also survivors, many waiting for the time when they
would be identified and reconnected to the events to which they attest.
These scattered images are now gathered and organized into a narrative
exhibit that reconstructs many episodes of the Armenian Genocide. Together
they recreate a sense of the terror exercised by the Young Turk regime and
reveal the extent of the dispossession and decimation of the Armenian
people in their historic homeland.

“The exhibit,” stated Assembly Board of Trustees Co-Chair Van Z. Krikorian,
“was created to honor the exemplary figures in the United States diplomatic
service whose conscientious reporting remains a permanent testament to the
horrors of the Armenian Genocide, among them Jesse B. Jackson, US Consul in
Aleppo; Leslie A. Davis, US Consul in Harput; Oscar Heizer, US Consul in
Trebizond; George Horton, Consul-General in Smyrna; and in Constantinople,
Gabriel Bie Ravndal, Consul-General; Hoffman Philip, Charge d’Affaires;
Abraham I. Elkus, Ambassador; and Henry Morgenthau, Ambassador.”

The photographs were collected from numerous repositories, sources and
individuals, including the US National Archives, Library of Congress, Near
East Foundation, Oberlin College Archives, University of Minnesota Library,
California State University Fresno Armenian Studies Program, Republic of
Armenia National Archives, Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, AGBU
Nubarian Library, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Institute
collections, Maurice Kelechian, and National Geographic photographer
Alexandra Avakian.

The exhibition is free and will be open to the public on Wednesday, April
22, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Friday, April 24, 2015 from 9:00 AM
to 11:00 AM in the First Amendment Lounge, National Press Club, 529 14th
Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR: # 2015-020

Available online at:

BOULDER, COLORADO, TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

14:08, 08 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The city of Boulder, Colorado, will recognize April 24 as a day of
remembrance of the Armenian Genocide,Daily Camera reports.

City Councilman George Karakehian opened the City Council meeting
Tuesday night by reading a resolution in support of the Day of
Remembrance, which will be recognized at the state level as well.

Karakehian, who is of Armenian descent, choked up slightly as he
noted that Hitler famously said, “Who, after all, speaks today of the
annihilation of the Armenians?” as he justified a policy of genocide
in Europe. Karakehian asked the people of Boulder to remember the
Armenians.

HEAD OF THE ICRC DELEGATION: 1915 EVENTS MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN

20:47, 08.04.2015
Region:World News, Armenia
Theme: Politics, Analytics

Interview of Sarah Epprecht, head of the ICRC delegation in Armenia,
in connection with the upcoming centennial anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.

What is the ICRC’s position on the massacre of the Armenian people
in the Ottoman Empire?

The events that occurred a century ago are without doubt tragic
and still provoke strong feelings. From a humanitarian perspective,
it is a tragedy.

In line with our mandate, we prefer to focus on the importance of
remembering the tremendous suffering and loss of life endured by
countless Armenians under Ottoman rule. We see this year’s centennial
commemoration as a time to recognize the need to strengthen respect
for human dignity and highlight the importance of efforts to prevent
such tragedies from happening again anywhere in the world.

How does the ICRC classify the events in legal terms?

We are aware that there is a lot of interest in ascertaining which
countries or organizations officially recognize as genocide the
terrible events that took place under Ottoman rule. However, as a
neutral and independent humanitarian organization, the ICRC does not
take part in such debates.

The ICRC is an international humanitarian organization with a history
of working in situations of violence that stretches back 150 years.

What efforts did the ICRC make to assist the Armenian people back then?

One hundred years ago, the ICRC was not yet the organization that it
is today. Unfortunately, at that time, we did not have the extensive
field presence and proximity to victims that now characterizes our
work. The situation at that time made direct assistance impossible.

Nevertheless, in the years that followed, the ICRC focused on providing
relief to Armenian children. It coordinated the efforts of a number
of organizations to help children in Armenia who were suffering from
the effects of the First World War.

The ICRC has an extensive archive of different types of documents
dating back a long time. Does it contain information about those
terrible events?

The ICRC archives from that time are open to the public, so they can
be consulted by anyone who is interested. The resources to be found
there reflect the ICRC’s historical position and actions, which
stemmed from its deep concern about the massacre of the Armenian
people in the Ottoman Empire.

KNITWEAR PRODUCTION GROWS IN ARMENIA

11:56, 8 April, 2015

YEREVAN, 8 APRIL, ARMENPRESS: In the beginning of the year of 2015 the
production of knitwear registered a growth of 42,4% in Armenia. If
in the first two months of 2014 377,700 pieces of knitted products
were produced in Armenia, this year its volume reached 537,800.

Armenpress was informed about it by the National Statistical Service
of Armenia.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN TO ATTEND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MASS IN VATICAN

17:38, 08 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Italy tonight, where
he will have meetings with high-ranking officials, President’s Press
Office reported.

President Sargsyan will visit the Vittoriano Museum of Rome to watch
the “Armenia: People of Ark” exhibition dedicated to the Armenian
Genocide centennial.

On April 11 the President will participate in the Mass to be celebrated
by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, and Cardinal Sepe at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of
Naples. As part of the ceremony the copy of one of the cross-stones
of Jugha will be unveiled in memory of the Armenian Genocide.

In Italy President Sargsyan is expected to meet with the Director
General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

On April 12 Serzh Sargsyan will visit Vatican, where he will
participate in the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Pope Francis will
celebrate to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

ARTUR SAKUNTS: THE SAME CAN HAPPEN TO ANY POLITICAL FORCE THAT WILL SEEK CHANGE OF POWER (VIDEO)

16:31 | April 8,2015 | Politics

Didn’t the law enforcement agencies violate human rights by arresting
seven members of the opposition Founding Parliament group?

“I shall refrain from making any comments as the investigation is in
progress,” Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan said on Wednesday.

Asked how he assessed the arrest as a lawyer, Mr Manukyan said, “From
the legal point of view, I shall assess it as the man who serves as
Minister of Justice.”

The minister does not see a violation of the presumption of innocence
while the Investigative Committee of Armenia said yesterday it
prevented possible ‘mass disturbances’ during public events scheduled
for April 24 – the day when Armenians will be commemorating the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

“No names are given,” said Mr Manukyan.

Human rights activist Artur Sakunts says the arrest of the opposition
activists is ungrounded and the charges are fabricated. “They arrested
the people who, according to Serzh Sargsyan, are key figures in the
movement that is demanding his resignation,” he said.

Mr Sakunts says Serzh Sargsyan is doing everything to retain his power;
he is even applying violence and force against public.

“Today they are trying to intimidate the Founding Parliament. Tomorrow
it can be the Civil Contract or some other political force that will
seek a change of power,” he added.

NAIRA ZOHRABYAN: WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF GAZPROM ARMENIA EMPLOYEES DECIDE TO RELAX IN LUXURIOUS HEALTH RESORTS? (VIDEO)

13:27 | April 8,2015 | Politics

The National Assembly is continuing the discussion of the conclusion
of the NA interim commission studying the gas supply system.

Head of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK faction Naira Zohrabyan
spoke about the costs of images and plants of the document which are
included in the price of gas sold to consumers.

“Can you imagine what might happen if employees of Gazprom Armenia
CJSC develop their their aesthetic tastes and declare that they want to
have a rest in health resorts which are decorated with the pictures of
Titian and Renoir, especially given the fact that their pink colours
have a relaxing effect on viewers. This is a real plunder which is
not appropriate to a political force.”

Speaking about the framework agreement reached in Lausanne last week
on curbing Iran’s nuclear program for at least a decade which forced
Iran to make drastic cuts to its nuclear program in return for the
gradual lifting of sanctions, the BHK leader said, “Serious prospects
open for finding transit routes to export gas to Europe through the
cooperation between Iran, Georgia and Armenia. The question is whether
Armenia is constrained by an infamous vassal treaty with Russia by
2043. WE are given a unique opportunity and we should not miss it,
otherwise we shall make a major political mistake.”