Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Sabah Daily News, Turkey
Oct 18 2014

REPORTERS MEET TO TURN A NEW PAGE ON TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

AA

IZMIR ‘ A new engagement program brought together 18 journalists and
bloggers, 10 from Armenia and eight from Turkey, to spend a fortnight
travelling around Turkey and Armenia, two countries that share a
divided and troubled past.

Vazgen Karapetyan, 44, studied medicine but never practiced, claiming
it was difficult to find a job in Armenia just after its independence
from the Soviet Union in 1991. He is the deputy director of the
Yerevan-based Eurasia Partnership Foundation, a mainly U.S. and
EU-backed institution. “If, fifteen years ago, someone had told me
that I would be working on Armenia-Turkey relations, I would have
said: ‘No, you are joking’,” Karapetyan says.

The tour claims that it will provide an opportunity for participants
to explore the neighboring country while rediscovering their own
nation.

Relations between Ankara and Yerevan have historically been poor owing
to bitter disagreements over events in 1915 which the Armenian
diaspora and government describe as “genocide,” fuelling demands for
compensation.

Turkey says that, although Armenians died during deportations in 1915,
many Turks also lost their lives in attacks carried out by Armenian
gangs in Anatolia.

In April this year, Turkey’s then-prime minister-now president-Recep
Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, became the first Turkish statesman to offer
condolences for the Armenian deaths.

As diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan stall, engagement
between the two countries is now mainly through non-governmental
groups and civil society.

Karapetyan’s family is originally from Turkey’s eastern city of Van
which was once an important center of Armenian culture.

When Karapetyan had a chance to visit Istanbul for the first time in
2004, he didn’t want it “because I was prejudiced about Turks and
Turkey.”

“I said I would never visit eastern Turkey, historical Armenian land,
because it is painful,” he adds.

Speaking in Turkey’s Aegean province of Izmir he says: “I couldn’t
imagine even talking with a Turkish person because Turks were our
enemies. When I started to communicate with Turkish intellectuals, I
saw that it wasn’t true.”

Karapetyan has since been working on normalization projects, first
between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and then Armenia and Turkey,
that bring together civil society and non-governmental organizations.

He recalls his first visit to Van in eastern Turkey where his
grandfather was born.

“It was OK,” he says, reflectively. “I wouldn’t say it was painful, no.

“My grandfather, who died in 1994, had always dreamed about going back
to his hometown, to see the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross on
Akdamar Island in Lake Van. It was gorgeous. It was also reconstructed
under the current [Turkish] administration.”

According to Karapetyan, Armenia was a closed society during the
Soviet era and the 1915 events were not openly discussed as a result
of Russian central government policies until 1965 when Moscow
permitted the building of a memorial in Yerevan.

Turkish-Armenian relations also mean Armenian-Azerbaijan relations as
Turkey closed its border in 1993 to protest Yerevan’s occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“When the Turkish government decided to close the border, it was
perceived in Armenia as a hostile step. It increased the notion that
Azerbaijanis and Turks are the same and they are against Armenia,”
says Karapetyan.

Turkey’s foreign ministry says Ankara was one of the first to
recognize the independence of Armenia in 1991 and “actively supported
the country’s integration with regional and Euro-Atlantic
organizations.”

“It is not only an Azerbaijan-Armenia problem, there is also Russia,”
says Mensur Akgün, a professor from Istanbul Kültür University, who
adds that today Moscow almost wholly controls Armenia’s security, for
example at airports.

Pointing out that Armenia agreed to become part of a Russia-led custom
union on October 10, Akgün foresees that Moscow’s influence in the
Caucasus country will increase.

The Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union will come into force on Jan. 1,
2015 and it is seen as an alternative to the EU for Russia and former
Soviet countries.

One of the Armenian participants in the project is Gayane Arustamyan,
a 44-year-old freelance journalist who was born in Nagorno-Karabakh
says, “The new custom union limits the independence of Armenia.”

Arustamyan points to Russian influence on Armenia-Turkey relations:
“The question of influence on the Caucasus becomes an issue for
Russia,” she says.

“Armenia is on the verge of losing its independence. It depends on
Russia. In Armenia people are demanding a halt to this process. The
opposition doesn’t want to be part of a custom union.

“I am one of those people who are against it. Because it doesn’t
matter how small your country is you should govern yourself,” she
adds.

In May this year, Turkey’ current prime minister, then-foreign
minister, penned an article for British newspaper The Guardian. Ahmet
DavutoÄ?lu recalled a protocol signed in Zurich on Oct. 10, 2009 –
derailed at the last moment – which would have normalized relations
between Turkey and Armenia.

DavutoÄ?lu wrote: “I believe we now have the opportunity to recapture
the engagement and reconciliation that eluded us in 2009.”

“What we share is a ‘common pain’ inherited from our grandparents,” he added.

Another traveller is Meri Musinyan, 37, from Yerevan who works for
state-owned Public Radio of Armenia.

According to Musinyan, who visited Turkey for the first time last
October, ordinary people living in the two countries have a huge role
to play in normalizing relations.

“This kind of visits are very important because governments make their
politics but the ordinary people should talk to each other,” she says.

“I have met a lot of people who are open-minded and very open to
discussing things which were dangerous to discuss before” she
explained, adding that she was not aware that in Turkey the new
generation and intellectuals were more ready to discuss the 1915
events.

From: Baghdasarian

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
October 17, 2014 Friday

The Milli Majlis on creation of Friendship Group with Karabakh in the
the European Parliament

Baku/17.10.14 / Turan: Baku’s reaction to the creation of the European
Parliament Friendship Group on Nagorno-Karabakh in the European
Parliament is restraint.

Today, the principle of justice does not work in the world, and we
should be accustomed to this policy of double standards, said speaker
of Azerbaijani Parliament in the Parliament on Friday, commenting on
the creation of such a group.

Assadov called MPs not to make harsh criticism on this issue. “Report
on the establishment of the Friendship Group of the European
Parliament and of Nagorno-Karabakh – unofficial information
disseminated only by the Armenian media. There is no official
confirmation on this issue,” he said. In turn, the MP Fazil Mustafa
initiated preparation of special treatment of the Milli Majlis to the
European Parliament.

The Azerbaijani MP Ganira Pashayeva proposed the preparation of a
special law on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. According to
her, the work of the Foreign Ministry on creation blacklist of those
who illegally visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, is not
enough.

More stringent measures are required to prepare a separate bill on the
occupied territories, and to pass laws on inviolability of the
territorial integrity of the country, she said. According to her,
Georgia has adopted a similar regulatory law, and this is a positive
example. -02D-

From: Baghdasarian

The government authorities are closing the topic of installation of a
customs checkpoint between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

October 18 2014

Mediators are getting prepared for the next Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting On
October 27, the meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
initiated by the French side is planned on October 27, in Paris. A few
days ago, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to
Armenia, Henri Reynaud, confirming this earlier published information
on the media, added that France is seeking for the peaceful settlement
of the Karabakh conflict. “The parties should decide themselves on how
the agreement should be. Mediators assist them, but they cannot decide
instead of them.” At a briefing with journalists on October 15,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan
expects major shift from the tripartite meeting of presidents planned
in Paris. He mentioned that Azerbaijan is for “intensive preparations”
of the great peace treaty for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
Later, Mammadyarov informed that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have
made a couple of questions involving recommendations. “We came to the
decision that we can pass to drafting the peace agreement based on
structural recommendations, which also include liberation of the lands
and the return of refugees. We are fully prepared to a new stage and
expect a similar move from Armenia, too,” announced Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister, according to agencies of Azerbaijan, adding,
“Azerbaijan is ready to start such negotiations on the level of
experts.” OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are in the region since October
15. To what extent Mammadyarov’s statement are accurate with regard to
the recommendations made by the co-chairs, perhaps it will be clear to
them after the visit to Armenia. Pertaining to the “great peace
treaty”, the official Baku is speaking not for the first time. At
times, Azerbaijan government officials voice that they are ready for
drafting the “great peace treaty”, whereas it is obvious that they
just are not ready for any concessions, even respecting the agreements
reached during the on-going negotiations. While the preparation of
Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting is underway, the issue of installation of the
customs checkpoint between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh remains open
after Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Union. First, everything
started with the statement of the President of Kazakhstan months ago,
when in the Astana summit, he voiced Aliyev’s letter addressed to the
EaEU member countries leaders. Now, Nazarbayev himself made it clear
that everything is settled. Official Yerevan is trying to put an end
to this issue. Recently, by “R-Evolution” TV broadcast, the deputy FM
of Armenia, Shavarsh Kocharyan, emphasized that the issue of
installing a customs checkpoint has not been a subject of
negotiations. “Moreover, there is nothing about it in the agreement. I
am surprised at when there are analysis saying that such a thing is
derived from the agreement. It just states a very logical formulation
that the customs territory is their territory. In other words, the
customs territory falls under the territory of the state. This is what
is fixed, and it applies to all member states. The Republic of
Armenia, naturally, could not accept a selective approach to itself to
have a tougher statement. They do not have it.” But with regard to the
remark made by Nazarbayev recently, Sh. Kocharyan mentioned, “The
problem is as follows. The matter here is not about mutual concession.
We have just reconfirmed the approach that Armenia had initially,
since the days of independence. This means that Karabakh is not a part
of Armenia. We have built our relations with Karabakh as a de facto
established state, recognizing de jure, and our relations are
horizontal.” The Minister of Economy of Armenia, Karen Chshmarityan,
in his turn, stated that there is no clause in the agreement of
Armenia’s accession to the EaEU saying about installation of the
customs checkpoint between Armenia and Karabakh, and that in all
agreements of Armenia it reads, “RA borders”. Meanwhile, Russian
experts continue voicing views that there will be customs checkpoints.
Russian expert, also former editor-in-chief of the “Regnum” agency,
also currently editor-in-chief of the REX news agency, Modest Kolerov,
for example, believes that there will be customs checkpoints between
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. “Also, there will be a Customs Service
representative on already existing border between Armenia and
Karabakh.” He, however, added that it is also obvious that the
Karabakh production, today, comes out to the European market under the
name of the Armenian product, and so it will continue. “If the product
reads that it is made in Armenia, no problem will arise.” In the
interview with 1in.am, the Russian political scientist, also
publicist, also Russian President Vladimir Putin’s opponent Andrey
Piontkovsky also expressed an opinion that a customs checkpoint will
be installed between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. “Formally, it will
be installed, perhaps, the custom rules will not function there, but
it will be formally installed. This is going to have a political
importance rather than economic. Kazakhstan and Belarus would not go
for exclusion of the customs checkpoint. They cannot subordinate their
relations with Azerbaijan. Whereas Russia is playing a double game in
the South Caucasus, so it is also advantageous to Russia.” As to which
allegations on existence or non-existence of the customs checkpoint
are close to reality, time will tell. However, it should also be noted
that in those days, there were also publications in the Russian press
that Moscow seeks to smooth the relations with Azerbaijan after
Armenia’s accession to the EaEU, therefore, Russia’s Defense Minister
Sergei Shoygu left for Baku. Such information was reported by
“Kommersant”, the military source standing close to the Kremlin. The
military and technical cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan
gaining a new impetus, as well as some information that in 5 years
Azerbaijan will receive from Russia another 5 billion dollars arm, as
to why it should be considered an equivalent “comfort” in terms of
easing down Azerbaijan, to put it mildly, is not clear.

Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at:

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia justice minister not commenting on verdict handed down to activist

14:25, 18.10.2014

While speaking with reporters on Saturday, Armenian Minister of
Justice Hovhannes Manukyan did not make any comments on the court
ruling that was handed down in the case into the events that occurred
in capital city Yerevan on November 5, 2013.

“For the moment, I will refrain from giving any evaluation because
this judicial act is not [yet] in legal force. In all likelihood, this
court decision will be appealed at the Court of Cassation,” Manukyan
told reporters.

Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash General Jurisdiction Court on Friday
found guilty–and primarily on charges of hooliganism–the thirteen
defendants in the aforementioned case, and handed down prison
sentences ranging between one and seven years. Activist Shant
Harutyunyan, who had organized the demonstration on November 5, was
sentenced to six years in prison.

The United National Initiative leader and activist Shant Harutyunyan
who had announced about starting a revolution, on November 5, 2013–and
with close to one hundred supporters wearing Guy Fawkes “Anonymous
masks”–had started a march toward the Presidential Palace, but the
police had stopped the march.

As a result, there was a scuffle and explosions, and the police
detained 38 activists. As a result of the melee, sixteen people,
including eight police officers, were injured. Subsequently, criminal
charges were laid against fourteen people, including Harutyunyan and
his 15-year-old son.

From: Baghdasarian

Tatul Manaseryan: Armenia must not cherish hopes that EEU membership
will give it more investments

by Gayane Isahakyan
Saturday, October 18, 11:53

Armenia must not cherish hopes that its membership to the Eurasian
Economic Union will give it more investments, economist, Head of
Alternative Research Center Tatul Manaseryan said at a forum on the
prospects of Armenia’s membership to the EEU on Friday.

The organizers of the forum were the World Armenian Congress and the
Union of Armenians of Russia.

“We must not hope for direct foreign investments but must stimulate
home investments and develop SMEs. If we do it, foreign investors will
come as this will be a signal for them that we have healthy and
competitive business environment,” Manaseryan told ArmInfo.

The Armenian President’s advisor Karine Minasyan said that now that
Armenia has joined the EEU its policy has become clear for the world
as now Armenia knows what economic model it will apply in the next
decade. “This means stability and for an investor there is nothing
more important than stability,” Minasyan said.

She noted that despite its EEU membership Armenia will continue its
partnership with the EU.
Meanwhile, the National Statistical Service reports that in Jan- June
2014 the inflow of foreign investment into Armenia made up $597.4mln
(20.5% annual drop), including $271.2mln in direct foreign investments
(52.2% annual drop).

On Oct 10 Armenia signed an agreement to join the Eurasian Economic
Union. The Union will start its activities in Jan 1 2015.

ÊA30B40-569B-11E4-B58C0EB7C0D21663

From: Baghdasarian

Ouest-France
jeudi 16 octobre 2014

Nina Karapetyan expose au cinéma

par Johann FLEURI

Nina Karapetyan expose au cinéma Manivel. Sa principale inspiration :
la nature qu’elle peint à l’infini.

Après une vingtaine d’expositions en Bretagne et en Arménie, c’est au
cinéma Manivel de Redon que Nina Karapetyan a installé ses toiles.
L’artiste, d’origine arménienne, expose une trentaine de ses toiles,
jusqu’au 27 octobre.

Émotions et couleurs

Passionnée de nature, de voyages et de découvertes, Nina Karapetyan
s’exprime par le biais de la peinture « depuis l’ge de 5 ans ». Dès
l’ge de 14 ans, elle commencera à fréquenter le centre national
d’éducation esthétique d’Erevan. Avant de décrocher, à 23 ans, une
place à l’Académie des Beaux-arts d’État, en Arménie, au sein de
l’atelier d’Anatoli Papyan, « l’un des grands maîtres de la peinture
contemporaine en Arménie ».

Son style ?« De l’émotionnel avant tout. Je dessine des couleurs. » Sa
matière fétiche :« L’huile, répond-elle sans hésitation.J’ai essayé la
gouache, l’aquarelle ou l’acrylique mais j’ai moins aimé. Avec
l’huile, je peux aller plus loin. Je peins plus spontanément: avec
beaucoup de transparence et de profondeur. »

Mariée à un Breton et mère d’un petit garçon de 10 mois, Nina s’est
installée à Redon. « Il y a trois mois seulement. Pour suivre mon mari
qui est architecte ici. J’aime beaucoup l’esprit et l’ambiance qui
règne à Redon. Cela m’inspire énormément. »

Exposition de Nina Karapetyanau ciné Manivel, à Redon. Jusqu’au 27
octobre. Plus d’infos :

From: Baghdasarian

Tasnim News Agency, Iran
Oct 19 2014

New Power Transmission Line to Be Constructed between Iran, Armenia

October 19, 2014 – 13:15

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian and Armenian energy ministers agreed on
the construction of a new power transmission line from Armenia to Iran
in line with the two country’s efforts to boost energy ties.

In one-hour closed-door meeting in Tehran on Saturday evening, Hamid
Chitchian and his Armenian counterpart Yervand Zakharyan held talks on
ways to boost electricity for gas trade, based on which Iran supplies
gas to Armenia and receives electricity.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chitchian said during the
talks it was agreed that the third power transmission line between the
two countries and two hydroelectric power plants be constructed in a
bid to increase the potential for energy exchange.

He said that over the past two decades, the two countries have had
good cooperation in the area of energy and the Saturday meeting was an
emphasis on the continued cooperation between Iran and Armenia.

Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister Houshang Falahatian
had said that the two sides have recently held meetings with Armenian
officials and, based on agreements, are constructing new power
transmission lines (from Armenia to Iran).

In May 2009, Iran and Armenia started trading gas and electricity.
According to a contract previously signed between the two countries,
Iran was planned to supply gas to Armenia until 2029 with or without
exchanging electricity with the country.

Falahatian also said that the amount of gas that has been exported to
Armenia and an amount of electricity imported from the country did not
match the agreed amount based on the contract between the two sides.

The financial resources for the new transmission line have been
supplied by Export Development Bank of Iran, he added.

From: Baghdasarian

L’AZERBAIDJAN BAILLONNE LEYLA YUNUS, FIGURE DE’OPPOSITION

REVUE DE PRESSE

La répression s’accentue dans l’ancienne république soviétique
d’Union soviétique, dirigée par la famille Aliyev. Décorée de
la légion d’honneur, la militante des droits de l’homme Leyla Yunus
est incarcérée depuis la fin juillet 2014.

En Azerbaïdjan, une légion d’honneur n’est pas un talisman contre
un régime autocratique. Honorée par la France pour son combat contre
les droits de l’homme, Leyla Yunus a cessé de faire entendre sa voix
discordante dans cet Ã~Itat du Caucase contrôlé fermement par le
président Ilham Aliyev.

Cette mère de famille de 59 ans qui avait échappé a la prison
sous l’ère soviétique est emprisonnée depuis la fin juillet,
a la suite d’une vague d’arrestations menées parmi les opposants
locaux. Accusée de trahison et fraude

Menue silhouette a l’allure fragile, Leyla Yunus était sur
la liste noire des autorités de l’ancienne République d’Union
soviétique. Elle n’avait pas caché ses craintes aux journalistes
francais qui accompagnaient Francois Hollande, lors de sa visite a
Bakou en mai dernier. Même sa rencontre avec le président francais
ne l’a pas protégée.

Accusée de ” trahison ” et de ” fraude ”, elle a rejoint la
liste des 120 prisonniers de conscience dans les geôles du régime
d’Ilham Aliyev. Son mari a également été placé en détention. La
question du Haut-Karabakh

Pourquoi les autorités ont-elles décidé d’arrêter Leyla Yunus
après trois décennies de combats pour les droits de l’hommeâ~@~I
? Sa fille Dinara Yunus évoque ses efforts pour nouer le dialogue
avec les représentants de la société civile arménienne a
travers la création d’un site web. Il s’agissait de la première
tentative de rapprochement entre deux pays qui se divisent au sujet
du Haut-Karabakh, ce territoire situé en Azerbaïdjan conquis par
les Arméniens au terme d’un conflit sanglant (1988-1994).

Parler de paix, c’est prendre le risque de passer pour un complice de
l’ennemi arménien. ” Le gouvernement a pris le prétexte de cette
initiative pour accuser ma mère de trahison ”, estime Dinara Yunuf,
venue a Paris plaider la cause de ses parents auprès du ministère des
affaires étrangères. Les diplomates du Quai d’Orsay lui ont promis
d’examiner sa demande, sans s’engager plus avant. ” Les Européens ont
le regard tourné vers la crise ukrainienne ”, constate Dinara Yunuf.

Un Etat qui se pose en rempart contre le terrorisme

L’Azerbaïdjan cultive des relations étroites avec les Occidentaux.

Ilham Aliyev, président de cet Ã~Itat majoritairement musulman,
se pose en rempart contre le terroriste islamiste qui menace
d’ébranler la région. Il tente aussi de transformer son pays en
‘Qatar du Caucase’ grâce aux richesses tirées d’importants gisements
d’hydrocarbures de la mer Caspienne. Des précieuses réserves
énergétiques qui permettraient de diminuer la dépendance des
Européens au gaz et au pétrole russe.

Président du conseil de l’Europe, l’Azerbaïdjan suit la voie tracée
par les pays du Golfe en parrainant des musées comme le Louvre et en
investissant dans des compétitions sportives. L’ancienne république
soviétique organisera en 2015 les premiers Jeux européens, sur
le modèle des Jeux asiatiques, avant d’accueillir un Grand Prix de
Formule 1 a Bakou l’année suivante. Autant d’événements destinés
a rendre plus ” respectable ” l’image du régime.

samedi 18 octobre 2014, Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

THE STRINGING OF THE CHEESE

Herald News (Passaic County, NJ)
October 16, 2014 Thursday

by Elyse Toribio, Staff Writer; Email: [email protected]

It took parishioners nearly nine hours to make 500 pounds of their
famous Armenian string cheese for the St. Leon Armenian Church’s
annual food and arts festival, taking place this weekend in Fair Lawn.

To accomplish the feat, they enlisted the help of a multi-generational
dream team that values food, family and tradition above all: Arline
Dadekian of Mahwah, her daughter-in-law Diane of Upper Saddle River
and 12-year-old granddaughter Lauren.

The three are experts when it comes to making tel banir, the flavorful
Armenian string cheese that resembles only in name the rubbery dairy
snacks often found in kids’ lunch boxes.

Arline grew up eating tel banir, made from mozzarella curd and seasoned
with salt and black caraway seeds, in her native Massachusetts. When
she moved to New Jersey in the 1960s, she was happy to join in on
the tradition – and camaraderie – of preparing the recipe for the
annual event.

“It’s good to pass along the tradition,” Arline said in her thick
New England accent. “Otherwise your history dies. Food is part of an
ethnic person’s heritage.”

When Diane joined the Dadekian clan 20 years ago, she learned to make
the cheese, too, and later taught her daughter the same when she was
just 6 years old.

Off from school on a recent weekday afternoon, Lauren sat at a table
in the St. Leon community kitchen, focusing intently on weighing
pounds of mozzarella curd before placing it on a large baking sheet
and passing it off to her mother, who was on oven duty.

“I used to come into the kitchen and watch when I was little,” said
Lauren, who is the spitting image of her mother. “It was a lot of fun.

I enjoy making it and spending time with everyone.”

Not far away, her grandmother, along with three other women, awaited
the next step of the process.

Once the curd is melted and the tray removed from the oven, the excess
whey is poured into a pitcher (it’s later used to make choereg, a
braided Armenian bread) and black seeds and salt are sprinkled onto
the mounds of still piping-hot cheese, which are thoroughly mixed in
with spoons.

While it’s still soft, the cheese is pulled, stretched and twisted
into thick ropes, while it firms and begins to take shape.

Occasionally, the women will have to dip their gloved fingers into a
bowl of cool water to briefly relieve their nevertheless lobster-red
hands.

After the stretching and twisting, the cheese is looped into a knotted
ball that is then tossed by Lauren into a bowl of ice water. Once
chilled and firm (about 15 to 20 minutes), the cheese can be sold,
stored in the freezer for later use, or cut into chunks to be freshly
pulled apart into strings, “like shoelaces,” Lauren declared.

The string cheese is often enjoyed with watermelon and paired with
a slice of choereg, which Diane noted “makes a nice breakfast.”

Lauren’s favorite after-school snack is homemade tel banir with
pita bread or basterma, an Armenian cured meat. Does she enjoy the
store-brand sticks as much? Lauren wrinkled her nose in response.

The Armenian string cheese is a top seller at the festival. It costs
$8 per pound, and if any is left over, it’ll be sold after Sunday mass.

Also on sale at the festival: shish kebab, the cheese phyllo turnover
boreg, hummus, yalanchi (stuffed grape leaves), paklava (Armenian
baklava) and more. For those who wish to simply take food home,
the church will set up a booth up front for express takeout.

“My grandkids, I call them cheese monsters,” Arline said with a laugh.

“They love it.”

Done preparing that day’s batch of tel banir, the members of the
church gathered around a plate of the freshly finished product,
each with a fork in hand.

Email: [email protected]

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN ORPHAN RUG TO GO ON DISPLAY AT WHITE HOUSE VISITOR CENTER IN NOVEMBER

Washington Post
Oct 16 2014

By Philip Kennicott October 15 at 5:23 PM

The White House has confirmed that a controversial historical
artifact known as the Armenian Orphan Rug will go on display at
the newly renovated White House Visitor Center next month. The rug,
woven by Armenian orphans in the 1920s and presented to President
Calvin Coolidge in 1925, was a gift thanking the United States for
its role in assisting Armenians after the mass killings and genocidal
relocations at the hands of the crumbling Ottoman Empire a century ago.

The rug had been scheduled to be displayed at a Smithsonian Institution
event in December, but that was canceled suddenly after the White
House, without explanation, declined to release the carpet.

At the time, Armenian American groups speculated that the Turkish
government, which has long resisted acknowledging the events of 1915
as a genocide, was behind the White House’s refusal.

In April, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) said the White House had
agreed to allow the rug to be seen, but the White House didn’t offer
specific details about where or when. With tensions rising between the
United States and Turkey over how best to handle the crisis in Syria,
the decision today still came as a surprise. The U.S. government
has been pressuring Turkey to assist Kurdish forces in their fight
against the Islamic State, while Turkey has tied its participation in
stepped-up action against the extremist group to a firmer U.S. resolve
to remove Turkey’s longtime foe, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,
from office.

A senior administration official said the timing of the announcement
was unrelated to current events and that the decision was made months
earlier. At issue was where and how to display the object, and there
was concern about the proper care of the valuable carpet. The colorful
textile is approximately 12 by 18 feet, with more than 4 million
knots. It took some 10 months for the orphans, under the protection
of the Near East Relief Society, to make it.

The carpet, originally scheduled to be seen as part of a reception
and book launch last year, will now be displayed as one of three key
objects in an exhibition devoted to gifts thanking the United States
for humanitarian assistance. Included in the display will be a 1930
French vase given to President Herbert Hoover and a work known as
Flowering Branches in Lucite, a gift of the Japanese government after
the earthquake and tsunami of 2011.

The new exhibition will somewhat blunt the explosive symbolic power of
the rug’s display by contextualizing it with other objects in a show
titled “Thank You to the United States: Three Gifts to Presidents in
Gratitude for American Generosity Abroad.”

But Armenian groups will be watching how the rug is displayed and what
action the United States takes in the coming year, which will mark the
100th anniversary of the genocide. Of particular concern is a public
acknowledgment by the United States that the killing and starvation
of the Armenians, which caused an estimated 1 million to 1.5 million
deaths, was technically genocide. Although then-presidential candidate
Barack Obama said he would support such a position, Armenian groups
have criticized him for not explicitly using the word “genocide”
to refer to those events. That dissonance has been particularly
pronounced since last June, when Obama nominated Samantha Power to
be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Power, author of the
well-regarded 2002 book “A Problem From Hell,” used the term throughout
her history of genocide to refer to the treatment of the Armenians.

Although grateful that the rug will now be seen, Aram S. Hamparian,
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America,
is concerned that this may be a symbolic gesture meant to appease
the Armenian American community and that 2015 will pass without
the president allowing the U.S. government to formally acknowledge
the genocide.

“We hope the display of this rug will mark real progress, not a
substitute for progress,” Hamparian said.

He is also concerned about how the rug will be explained in the
exhibition, and whether information accompanying it will forthrightly
use the word genocide. If the display doesn’t speak directly about
the events, he says, the rug’s appearance for the first time since
1995 may yet leave a sour taste among many Armenian Americans.

“I would go see it, but it would pain my heart if it was shown in
the context of euphemisms and evasive language,” Hamparian said.

The rug will be on display Nov. 18-23.

The Turkish Embassy was not able to immediately comment.

Philip Kennicott is the Pulitzer Prize-winning Art and Architecture
Critic of The Washington Post. He has been on staff at the Post since
1999, first as Classical Music Critic, then as Culture Critic.

From: Baghdasarian