Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

PARAJANOV’S “COLOR OF POMEGRANATE” FILM TO OPEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL “GOLDEN APRICOT”

by Karina Manukyan

Friday, June 13, 16:28

Sergey Parajanov’s “Color of Pomegranate” film will open the XI
International Film Festival “Golden Apricot”, Michael Stamboltsyan,
Golden Apricot Yerevan IFF Program Director, said at today’s
press-conference.

This year the film was demonstrated within the frames of the 67th
Cannes Festival. The copy of the film was restored at 4Ð~I laboratory
L’immagine Ritrovata and financed by Film Foundation-World Cinema
Project (New-York).

This year’s Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Armenia,
set to take place from July 13 to 20, is dedicated to the 90th
anniversary of legendary filmmaker Sergei Parajanov.

From: Baghdasarian

ASHOT MANUCHARYAN: IF THE WEST MAKES EUROPE REFUSE FROM RUSSIA’S GAS SUPPLIED VIA UKRAINE, RUSSIA WILL BLOCK THE COMMUNICATIONS IN THE CAUCASUS

Friday, June 13, 16:29

If the West makes Europe refuse from Russia’s gas supplied via
Ukraine, Russia will block the communications in the Caucasus, Ashot
Manucharyan, a member of the Karabakh Committee, Armenian first
president’s adviser for national security, told reporters on 13 June.

According to him, the Karabakh conflict is a good opportunity for
that. “Russia will deploy troops under pretext of a peacekeeping
mission and will block the communications in the Caucasus region. And
Nakhijevan is the best place for such actions,” the expert said.

According to him, this is one of the two possible scenarios of
confrontation between Russia and the West.

The second scenario, as he thinks, is an attempt to ‘fool’ Russia.

“The first time it happened when Turkey pretended supporting Russia’s
stance in the Syrian conflict for a long time before it showed its
real intentions. Now, Azerbaijan tries to do the same criticizing
at the highest level the statements of European top officials and
structures to imitate alleged bad relations of with the West and
Europe,” Manucharyan said. He is sure that a conflict in Nakhijevan
will lead to chaos in Armenia and in the entire region. Manucharyan
thinks that in such situation Serzh Sargsyan must immediately step
down as president, at least because he does not enjoy the public
confidence and his regime just harms the Armenian people. In addition,
Manucharyan said, the Government of Armenia must resign as well before
it finally ruins the country.

“There are hundreds of competent persons in our country who are
able to lead the country out of the chaos is has occurred in,”
Manucharyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENFILM STUDIO MUST BE RETURNED TO ARMENIA’S MOVIE INDUSTRY – FILM DIRECTOR

17:22 * 13.0

The Armenfilm studio must be returned to movie industry and resume
shooting of films, Director of the National Cinema Center of Armenia
Gevorg Gevorgyan told Tert.am.

According to him, the studio run by the CS Films-Studios company,
which is owned by the Cafesjian family, failed to honor 90% of its
commitments.

“We need a commission to study the contract and see what has been
done. I cannot predict a decision, but we need a decision,” he said.

Armenfilm was sold to CS Films-Studios for AMD 350,000,000 nine years
ago. CS Films-Studios pledged to digitize old films, renovate and
equip the studio and resume filming.

“Digitizing was not completed despite numerous points in the contract
and we have the impression that the contract will not be honored,”
Gevorgyan said.

The then minister of culture Hovik Hoveyan stated that Armenfilm
privatization had been suspended.

Gevorgyan pointed out some progress – film studios have been returned
to the movie dustry in all the CIS member-countries.

Film director Tigran Khzmalyan said that even such countries as
Switzerland and Austria had no film studios, while Armenia had two –
‘Armenfilm’ and ‘Yerevan’.

“The year 2004 saw another stage of white genocide, when the then
President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree, with some people’s consent,
the Armenfilm and Yerevan studios were ruined, any record book would
have blown up they had known the price both the studios were sold
at – several offices in Yerevan with a total area of 30 hectares,
special vehicles, devices and – the most important thing – film with
copyright were sold for $600,000,” Khzmalyan said.

According to him, Director of the National Cinema Center of Armenia
Gevorg Gevorgyan and Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of
Armenia Ruben Gevorgyants were “completely disinterested” while
signing that disgraceful document and they “keep on casting a mist
before people’s eyes.”

From: Baghdasarian

U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan believes that his recent sensational
interview has reached its goal

17:12 09/06/2014 >> REGION

“For 23 years since the independence of Azerbaijan we have supported
it and have never interfered in its internal affairs. I have just
shared my thoughts on certain issues, in accordance with the balanced
U.S. policy. And if, after my interview the society and even the
government is still discussing my position, then I believe that it has
reached its goal,” at the “Hesabat” program on ANS TV stated U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar commenting on his
interview with “Radio Liberty” where he had told that the Azerbaijani
government is not monolithic and there is risk of recurrence of the
Ukrainian events, the Azerbaijani news portal “Haqqin.az,” reports.
The ambassador stated that his words were misinterpreted.

“Anyone can read the text of my interview at the official site of the
embassy and make sure that it is balanced and fair,” said the
Ambassador.

He also stressed that he had told the following, “”If you take too
hard a line and do not give enough breathing space to civil society,
arguably, it is more likely that at some point there could be a real
issue; if not today, then in 5, 10, 20 years from now.”

Morningstar stated that to ensure the development and stability in
Azerbaijan it is necessary to create conditions for the civil
society’s activities, “Someone may disagree with me again, each has
its own position, and this is my opinion.”

The U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar stated in the
interview given to the Azerbaijani service of “Radio Liberty” that the
Azerbaijani authorities for no reason cause artificial barriers for
the development of the civil society, persecute and suppress the
freedom of speech and the media. Continuation of this policy may
eventually lead to “Maidan” in Azerbaijan, and there is no need to
blame the West in it, he said.

After the interview of the Ambassador, the deputy heads of the
presidential administration of Azerbaijan Novruz Mammadov and Ali
Hasanov, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev and the head
of the presidential administration Ramiz Mehdiyev have harshly
criticized Ambassador Morningstar and the U.S. as a whole. In its
turn, the U.S. Embassy stated that it does not agree with such a
criticism.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

New highway bypassing central Yerevan opens – Photos

15:49 * 14.06.14

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the opening ceremony
of a new highway which bypasses central Yerevan and connects
Leningradyan Street with Arshakunyats Avenue through Admiral Isakov
Avenue.

The new highway is supposed to resolve the problem of traffic jams in
central Yerevan.

Director of the Yerevan Project CJSC Sirekan Ohanyan told reporters
that the total length of the highway with road junctions is 5.1km,
with that of the highway alone being 2.9km. The AMD 6.1bn (about $15m)
worth highway meets all the international standards.

“This is one of the most important highways designed and constructed
in recent years, to ensure free traffic in central Yerevan. The new
highway enables us to resolve the problem of heavy traffic and traffic
jams in central Yerevan and along Tsisternakaberd highway and
Haghtanak bridge. The highway connects Leningradyan Street with Isakov
Avenues and with the highway running to the Zvartnots airport,”
Ohanyan said.

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan congratulated Yerevan residents and
thanks all the builders that worked at the project.

“This highway was on the agenda as far back as 1970s, but the project
was not implemented for some reasons. We incorporated it in the
Yerevan master plan and have completed the project now. A new
neighborhood will be constructed left of the highway, and architects
are working at the project now,” Margaryan said.

The new neighborhood, Yerevan Berd, will have its own infrastructure.

This is not the only major project. Director of the Yerevan Project
CJSC Sirekan Ohanyan said that the Yerevan Municipality’s development
programs envisage the construction of a 3.1-km-long highway from
Arshakunyats Avenue to Admiral Isakov Avenue, which will ensure free
transport traffic from Arshakunyats Avenie to Leningradyan Street.

From: Baghdasarian

REVUE DE PRESSE
Irak, Syrie : l’heure de l’Iran ? par Laurent Leylekian

Depuis plusieurs mois, les différents groupes djihadistes opérant en
Irak et en Syrie se renforcent. Non content de combattre les régimes
en place dans ces deux pays, l’Etat Islamique en Irak et au Levant
(EIIL) d’une part et le Front Al-Nosra et le Front islamique d’autre
part se paient le luxe de se combattre entre eux, moins en raison de
divergences idéologiques, que pour des questions de tactique, de
pouvoir politique et d’intérêts matériels bien compris.

Après un accès de faiblesse trompeur fin 2013, l’EIIL replié sur ses
bases du Nord de l’Irak a lancé ces derniers jours une vaste offensive
qui a conduit à la chute de Falloujah, Mossoul et Tikrit. C’est
désormais l’ensemble des régions sunnites de l’Irak qui menace de
tomber aux mains de cette faction réputée la plus sanguinaire
d’Al-Qaïda.

Après avoir longtemps joué aux allumettes avec le Front Al-Nosra, la
Turquie vient de se raviser pour s’être aperçue que cela pouvait
brûler. Ankara a bien tardivement inclus ce dernier mouvement sur la
liste de ses organisations terroristes, tout en construisant un mur à
sa frontière syrienne pour éviter les incursions des forces qu’elle
soutenait jusqu’à présent ! En Irak, on est sans nouvelles d’une
trentaine de chauffeurs routiers turcs tandis que le personnel du
consulat turc de Mossoul est actuellement retenu par les miliciens de
l’EIIL. L’ironie de la situation veut que des forces kurdes appuient
le revirement turc puisque des premiers heurts se sont produits entre
djihadistes et peshmergas du KRG, éventuellement appuyés par des
hommes du YPG, la branche syrienne du PKK, qui assurent la retraite de
milliers d’Irakiens fuyant la terreur islamique. Aux dernières
nouvelles, les Kurdes aurait d’ailleurs repris Mossoul.

Dans ce chaos, on imagine d’autant moins les Etats-Unis risquer la
peau d’un seul GI qu’ils ont largement contribué à créer cette
situation depuis 2003. Maintenant que le chaos est là – le vrai – on
se demande qui pourra arrêter son extension, notamment en direction du
petit royaume jordanien, directement limitrophe d’Israël. Car dans la
vision des promoteurs de ce qu’un article récent appelait le >, il ne s’agit de rien moins que de créer un véritable
califat en abolissant les anciennes frontières nationales héritées de
l’accord Sykes-Picot.

Que cela nous plaise ou non, on ne voit guère que l’Iran comme
contrepoids régional au Djihadistan. Il se trouve que les
préoccupations sécuritaires de l’Europe et des Etats-Unis recoupent
assez précisément celles de Téhéran : l’Iran voit avec inquiétude se
développer des forces hostiles à ses frontières. Car si Al-Qaïda
domine désormais de larges pans des territoires syriens et irakiens,
les talibans contrôlent également une bonne partie de l’Afghanistan et
du Pakistan, comme nous l’a récemment rappelé l’attaque de l’aéroport
de Karachi.

Si les pourparlers sur le nucléaire iranien aboutissaient rapidement
sur un consensus international solide et sincère, Téhéran serait en
mesure de devenir un de nos rares alliés fiables dans la région.

Laurent Leylekian

samedi 14 juin 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

TURQUIE
Les arméniens de Turquie critiques la Turquie et les leaders de la
communauté arménienne face aux évènements à Kessab

La communauté arménienne de Turquie a critiqué l’indifférence d’Ankara
envers les Arméniens de la région de Kessab en Syrie fuyant le pays
déchiré par la guerre et cherchant refuge en Turquie tout en
critiquant également l’insuffisance des associations
turco-arméniennes, y compris le Patriarcat arménien à aider les
Arméniens de Kessab à s’installer en Turquie .

La communauté arménienne de Turquie se serait réuni samedi lors d’une
conférence pour discuter des problèmes des Arméniens de Kessab a
rapporté le quotidien turc Zaman. La situation des Arméniens de Kessab
a fait la une des médias en Turquie en Avril quand deux sÅ`urs
arméniennes de Kessab, Satenik (82 ans) et Surpuhi (80 ans ) Titizyan
sont arrivées à Yayladagi après avoir été escortées par des rebelles
syriens à la frontière turco-syrienne. Elles ont obtenu un refuge dans
le village de Vakifli, le seul village arménien en Turquie.

« Les sÅ`urs Titizyan n’ont pas été emmenés en Turquie, elles ont été
enlevées » a déclaré Aris Nalcı, un journaliste turco-arménien.

Il reste maintenant six Arméniens de Kessab à Vakifli. Un vieil homme
qui avait également l’intention de partir pour le Liban est mort d’une
crise cardiaque à Vakifli où il a été enterré.

« C’étaient des gens avec un désespoir profond » a déclaré un ancien
résident arménien de Vakifli, qui a partagé ses expériences et
impressions. Il s’est félicité de l’arrivée des Arméniens fuyant la
Syrie en Turquie de son village.

« Ce fut un moment très émouvant pour moi quand j’ai entendu murmurer
qu’ils étaient Arméniens après avoir remarqué que nous parlions tous
arménien » a dit le vieil homme.

« La tragédie des Arméniens de Kessab a été couvert dans les médias
turcs avec le titre que la Turquie adopte les Arméniens, mais ce n’est
pas vrai » a déclaré Nalcı, ajoutant que l’Arménie a également été
incapable d’aider les Arméniens de Kessab.

« L’Arménie ne pouvait pas accueillir les Arméniens de Syrie..même
nous [les Arméniens de Turquie] n’avons pas été en mesure de leur
offrir de l’aide », a déclaré Nalci.

Un autre commentateur, Alin Ozinian, qui est secrétaire de presse au
Conseil de développement des affaires turco-arméniennes et journaliste
à CivilNet basé à Erevan, a défié le gouvernement turc demandant Ã
Ankara pourquoi il n’y a plus aucun Arménien à Kessab.

« Pourquoi Kessab a été vidé ? Pourquoi la Turquie ne les a pas
protéger et préserver Kessab ? » ont été les principales questions
données en réponse à une question posée par le journal Zaman sur les
principales attentes des Arméniens de Turquie depuis l’attaque de
Kessab.

Faisant écho à la remarque de Nalci, Harout Ã-zer, un représentant de
la Plate-forme pour la pensée, a dit dans son commentaire, cependant,
que ce n’était pas seulement Ankara, mais aussi les chefs de la
communauté arménienne qui sont également responsables des problèmes
rencontrés par les Arméniens, y compris ceux de Kessab , en Turquie.

« Pourquoi sommes-nous en train de blmer le gouvernement turc lorsque
les Arméniens de Turquie n’ont pas beaucoup fourni d’aide ? Quelles
sont les solutions que nous avons produit nous-même avant d’étendre
nos demandes à l’État ? Qu’est-ce que nos hôpitaux et fondations ont
fait ? » a demandé Ã-zer, ajoutant que les Arméniens de Turquie ont
besoin de démontrer une véritable unité et adopter un esprit de
communauté face aux Arméniens de Syrie » au lieu de se tourner vers le
Patriarcat arménien pour chaque petit morceau d’aide ».

Ã-zer a affirmé que le Patriarcat arménien en Turquie suit la ligne de
l’Etat turc au lieu de soutenir sa communauté. « Nous devons justifier
notre existence et arrêter le déclin de notre population. Pour ce
faire, les autorités turco-arméniennes doivent changer leur mentalité
».

samedi 14 juin 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE-JUSTICE
Giorgio Armani poursuit en justice une société arménienne utilisant
l’étiquette > sur ses bouteilles de vin et de brandy

Le journal arménien > (Temps) révèle que le célèbre
couturier italien Giorgio Armani attaque en justice le ministère
arménien de l’Economie depuis un an déjà pour utilisation abusive de
sa marque sur des bouteilles de brandy. Giorgio Armani mène ainsi une
action en justice contre l’usine à vin et brandy >
d’Ardachat (région d’Ararat) pour apposer les étiquettes >
sur ses bouteilles. L’automne dernier, le tribunal administratif en
Arménie avait demandé à la société arménienne de ne plus utiliser
cette appellation > sur les étiquettes de sa production, mais
le propriétaire de cette usine à vin et brandy >, Alexandre
Nahabedian avait fait appel de cette décision. Actuellement le dossier
se poursuit devant le tribunal administratif de Yerevan.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 14 juin 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
June 12, 2014

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

TURKEY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES ACCOUNTABILITY ACT SCHEDULED FOR COMMITTEE VOTE

House Foreign Affairs Committee Scheduled to Consider H.R. 4347 on
Wednesday, June 18th

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed
Royce (R-CA) announced that a hearing and vote on H.R. 4347, the Turkey
Christian Churches Accountability Act, has been scheduled for Wednesday,
June 18th, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). Earlier
this week, Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI) and Adam Schiff
(D-CA) cosponsored H.R. 4347, adding momentum for the House to act on this
important international religious freedom legislation.

A similar `sense of the House resolution,’ H. Res. 306, was adopted by the
full House of Representatives on December 13, 2011. This new measure,
however, goes further than the one adopted in 2011, as it `require[s] the
Secretary of State to provide an annual report to Congress regarding United
States Government efforts to survey and secure the return, protection, and
restoration of stolen, confiscated, or otherwise unreturned Christian
properties in the Republic of Turkey and in those areas currently occupied
by the Turkish military in northern Cyprus.’

Earlier this year, the Armenian National Institute (ANI), Armenian Genocide
Museum of America (AGMA) and the Assembly jointly, and in cooperation with
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute
in Yerevan, and the Republic of Armenia National Archives, announced the
release of a major exhibit consisting of 20 panels with over 150 historic
photographs documenting the role of the Armenian Church during the Armenian
Genocide.

Titled ‘The First Refuge and the Last Defense: The Armenian Church,
Etchmiadzin, and The Armenian Genocide,’ the exhibit explains the
importance of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during the Armenian
Genocide. It also examines the vital leadership role played by the clergy
during the Armenian Genocide, especially the intervention of His Holiness
Catholicos Gevorg V Sureniants in alerting world leaders about the
massacres, effectively issuing the first `early warning’ of an impending
genocide.

As part of its many findings, H.R. 4347 states that `Christian churches and
communities in the Republic of Turkey and in the occupied areas of Cyprus
continue to be prevented from fully practicing their faith and face serious
obstacles to reestablishing full legal, administrative, and operational
control over stolen, expropriated, confiscated, or otherwise unreturned
churches and other religious properties and sites. In many cases the
rightful Christian church authorities, including relevant Holy Sees located
outside Turkey and Turkish-occupied territories, are obstructed from
safeguarding, repairing, or otherwise caring for their holy sites upon
their ancient homelands, because the properties have been destroyed,
expropriated, converted into mosques, storage facilities, or museums, or
subjected to deliberate neglect.’

`The Armenian Assembly strongly supports swift passage of the Turkey
Christian Churches Accountability Act and calls on all Members of Congress
to stand with those who seek to protect religious freedom,’ stated
Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. `The continued destruction of Christian
heritage in Turkey is a glaring reminder of one of the many consequences of
Turkey’s state-sponsored denial of the Armenian Genocide,’
Ardouny said.

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 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###

NR: # 2014-035
Available online:

From: Baghdasarian

ANDRANIK TEYMOORIAN; 60TH TEAMMELLI CAPTAIN MAZIAR

Iran Sports Press
May 26 2014

26 May 2014 Team Melli

Iran Sports Press – Andranik Teymoorian has become the 60th official
TeamMelli captain and the second Armenian players in the 75 history of
the National Team to wear the captain’s armband during the Belarus
– Iran friendly game. According to reports, ever since record
keeping started for TeamMelli, 60 players have worn the captain’s
armband in official FIFA accredited games and Andranik is the second
Armenian-Iranian to wear it with Markar Aghajanyan being the first
in a friendly match against Turkamanistan in 1996. Iran and Belarus
came to a 0 – 0 draw in a friendly match last week in preparation
for World Cup 2014 being held in Brazil.

From: Baghdasarian