Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ZIYAFAT ASGAROV: “THE SOLUTION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT MEANS PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE ENTIRE CAUCASUS”

APA, Azerbaijan
Dec 2 2013

[ 02 December 2013 14:02 ]

Tbilisi. Nizami Mammadzadeh – APA. “If Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
solved, there will be peace and stability in the entire Caucasus,”
first vice-speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov, who is
attending the 6th meeting of GUAM PA in Tbilisi, told journalists,
APA’s Georgia bureau reports.

He said Azerbaijan has always raised issues on the solution of
conflicts.

“We have always raised this issue at NATO PA, PACE, European Union.

Nagorno Karabakh problem is number one issue for us and of course, we
always try to tell the international community that Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict should be solved within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

The solution of this conflict means establishment of peace and
stability in the entire Caucasus. Therefore, the Azerbaijani
territories occupied by Armenian Armed Forces must be liberated,”
he said.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S SECURITY DILEMMA BRINGS IT TO EURASIAN UNION

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 2 2013

by Alin Ozinian*

2 December 2013 /

Developments in the aftermath of bilateral talks between Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sept. 3 are
being commented on by the media and Caucasia experts in Turkey.

During the meeting, Armenia expressed interest in joining the Customs
Union created by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan and in the Eurasian
Economic Union that will be created in the future. The main argument
that experts raise, relying on a traditional point of view, is that
Armenia had remained stuck between the European Union and Eurasian
Union but in the end, it surrendered to Russia. However, a review
of the current outlook and developments show that such superficial
discourses and arguments are not coherent or adequate to explain what
is really happening.

In the election campaign on February 2013, Sargsyan defined
Armenian-Russian relations as strategic whereas when it came to
relations with the US and Europe, he referred to a good neighborhood.

Sargsyan clearly stated that the support of Russia should be preserved
so that they would be able to keep Nagorno-Karabakh. Right after
the elections, international experts and the media expected that
cooperation with Russia would be deepened and that in the new era, and
that Armenia would be in closer cooperation with Russia particularly
in the field of security.

Armenia had to develop strong ties with its big brother Russia as
a result of its one-dimensional policy where it failed to diversify
its options in the fields of security, military, economy and politics
since its independence. This option still offered a good perspective
for Armenia considering the economic embargo imposed by Turkey, which
had closed their borders, and its deteriorating relations with its
other neighbors with the exception of Iran.

Maybe an option for Armenia between the EU and the Eurasian Union never
existed. The opening of the Turkish-Armenian border, which has been a
heated discussion over the last two decades, was not achieved despite
the reestablishment of diplomatic relations without prior conditions,
the freezing of progress made through “soccer diplomacy” because of
the interests of Turkish foreign policy and Turkey’s insistence on
not making any concessions on its position despite the fact that it is
member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s
(OSCE) Minsk Group seeking to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the
recommendations by the US and the EU’s efforts under Swiss mediation;
as a result of this failure, Armenia has been “involuntarily” and
desperately marching towards its one and only option for the last
two decades.

First place in Armenia’s foreign trade

Russia still holds first place in Armenia’s foreign trade, some
national strategic facilities have been transferred to Russia which —
perhaps intentionally — does not operate them, Russia has a military
base in Armenia, there are nearly 2 million Armenians living in
Russia, most of whom have become Russian citizens, Armenia is almost
fully dependent on Russia in economic terms (gas, electricity and
enriched uranium for its Metsamor nuclear power plant); given all
these factors, it is only natural that Armenia wants to deepen its
relations with Russia.

On the other hand, the reservations of Yerevan, which has been
disturbed by the recent attitude and discourse of Russia on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the surprise visit to Baku by Putin who
expressed support for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the coming
elections, its arms sales to Azerbaijan in large amounts, the Russian
announcement that the price of gas sold to Armenia would increase
sharply; in short, the indirect threats and warnings by Russia to
Armenia were the main reasons and factors for the Armenian government
making a swift decision to seek admission in the Customs Union.

Sargsyan’s statements that they are ready to take the necessary
steps were also confirmed by Putin’s remarks that they would extend
assistance to ensure that the process of Armenia’s admission would
be accelerated. In addition, on the occasion of Sargsyan’s visit, the
state-run Russian Railways decided to make a $400-million investment
in the Armenian railway infrastructure.

This “carrot diplomacy” was further backed by promises made by Russia’s
former ambassador to Yerevan, who delivered a speech in a meeting on
Nov. 8 called “Armenia and Customs Union: The social measurement of
Eurasian integration.” Vyacheslav Kovalenko, who pointed out that
Armenia and Russia are two Christian countries, also argued that
should Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence be recognized, the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh may also be admitted in the Customs Union as
full member.

EU acting cautiously

At the same meeting, the EU commissioner for enlargement said the EU
is acting cautiously so as not to publicly raise the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue as a condition, adding that efforts to achieve a deal with
Azerbaijan should also be increased. Eurasia expert Thomas de Waal
noted that the Armenian authorities’ decision is all about security
and that they would not dare lose their only military ally. Yerevan’s
alignment with the Eurasian Union was a development which all parties
would have expected.

Even though the Armenian people favor European culture and values,
the vast majority have full confidence in the security service Russia
provides. But when they recall Turkey’s regional and military power
and its support for Azerbaijan, they feel disappointed. To this
end, in addition to some of the minor protests in Yerevan and the
overall state of disappointment, the majority seem to be supportive of
Sargsyan. The reactions by the opposition — “We do not want Russia”
— will no longer be heard if they come to power because it is all
about Armenia’s security conundrum rather than being a supporter or
an opponent of the West or Russia.

Armenia’s relations with the EU, as noted by the EU authorities, will
be preserved in the fields of reforms, democracy, human rights and
cooperation with civil society. The progress made over time following
the talks on the issue of facilitated Schengen visa procedures for
selected delegations is raising hopes.

While Turkey is physically Armenia’s closest and oldest neighbor, this
role has been replaced by Putin, who said, “Armenia’s first trading
partner is Russia and this trend will continue.” If Georgia is taken
out of the equation between Armenia and Turkey, in other words, when
the Turkish-Armenian border is reopened and bilateral trade resumes, in
fact it becomes clear who the unrivaled trading partner of Armenia is.

After his visit to Switzerland, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu said, “We are paying attention to normalization of relations
between Turkey and Armenia.” This was really important. As 2015
approaches, everybody knows that the ball is in Turkey’s court. It
is expected that the government would take steps in the issue of
the Armenian issue, similar to those taken in respect to the Kurdish
and the minority issues. If Turkey admits that the protocols between
Turkey and Armenia, signed four years ago, were frozen by itself for
some lame excuses and restarts an impartial policy in the region,
this will not only resolve the issues between the two countries but
will also liberate Armenia, which has been pursuing an inward policy
due to security concerns.

________________________________

*Alin Ozinian is an independent analyst.

From: Baghdasarian

PUTIN VISITING ARMENIA

Democracy & Freedom Watch
Dec 2 2013

by DFWatch staff | Dec 2, 2013

TBILISI, DFWatch-Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Yerevan
today for the first time in five years.

Russian media report that during his visit, Putin will meet with his
Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan.

There will also be held a Russia-Armenia regional forum, and the
Russian leader will visit the Russian military base in Gyumri. He is
also expected to sign a number of important documents.

Armenia announced September 3 that it would join the Eurasian Customs
Union, a proposed free trade bloc of former Soviet republics which
Putin has advocated for. EU’s foreign policy spokesperson Catherine
Ashton has said for Armenia to join the Customs Union would be
incompatible with the country getting a Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Agreement with the EU.

The last time Putin visited Yerevan was in 2008.

From: Baghdasarian

INTERVIEW: RUSSIA-ARMENIA TALKS HAVE “INVISIBLE” PARTICIPANTS: EXPERT

Global Post
Dec 1 2013

MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming
visit to Armenia pursues objectives much wider than those within
the bilateral framework, with other countries and blocks invisibly
“participating” in the talks, a local expert has said.

Putin is due to visit Armenian cities of Gyumri and Yerevan on Monday
and Tuesday.

Close relations between Moscow and Yerevan are of great importance
to both sides due to Armenia’s geopolitical location, Arkady Dubnov,
an expert in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) affairs said.

“Armenia is the only CIS country where Russia maintains its military
base since Soviet times, and Yerevan insists that the base remain there
for ever,” said Dubnov, pointing out the vital importance of Russian
military presence for the security of the South Caucasian country.

For Russia, the 102nd military base with 5,000 personnel in service
has been the only one which serves as an outpost against NATO’s member
Turkey and other potential threats from southern direction, he said.

For Armenia, an alliance with Russia is the only guarantee of its
security in a hostile surrounding involving Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a bitter dispute over the
mountainous Nagorno-Karabagh region, which Armenian-backed forces
seized in 1991. The two sides have been holding peace talks mediated
by the OSCE Minsk Group since 1994.

The expert noted that Putin and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan
could sign a formal agreement on Armenia’s accession to the Russia-led
Customs Union (CU) and, later, to the Eurasian Union expected to be
set up in 2015.

“For Yerevan, participation in the CU is more than just an economic
issue. This is one more step to counterbalance Azeri-Turkish unfriendly
power,” Dubnov said, reminding that while Armenia participates in
the Collective Security Treaty Organization along with Russia and
four other CIS countries, Azerbaijan does not.

Armenia’s way to the tripartite economic block could be shorter
compared to the other aspirants such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,
Dubnov said, pointing out that Sargsyan expressed Yerevan’ s desire
to integrate into the CU as recently as in September.

The fact that Putin agreed to turn a blind eye to the lack of common
border between Russia and Armenia — which Moscow once cited as a
reason to reject Tajikistan’s application — highlights that the
two countries actually feel some common “geopolitical chemistry,”
the expert said.

Dubnov believes it was not a coincidence that Moscow and Yerevan
announced their plans in September, when Ukraine’s preparations for
rapprochement with the European Union were in full swing.

After Kiev made a U-turn, Moscow received one more stimulus to
integrate Armenia in Russia-dominated geopolitical entity, Dubnov said.

“Putin wants to utilize the momentum for confirming Russia as the
‘natural’ center of gravitation on the Eurasian space, to demonstrate
that the former Soviet republics have no alternative but to gather
under Moscow’ s umbrella,” the expert noted.

If Armenia will be fast-tracked into the Eurasian economic space,
this will be a clear hint to Kiev to follow Yerevan’s example, he said.

With the Armenians mostly support closer ties with Russia and see
it as a brotherly nation, Putin’s visit to that country is bound to
succeed, Dubnov said.

Copyright 2013 Xinhua News Agency.

All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten, or redistributed.

From: Baghdasarian

Oppositionist speaks of attempts to divert public attention from
current problems

12:38 – 01.12.13

The Preparliament member Zhirair Sefilyan believes that the hullabaloo
over the construction near the Yerablur pantheon is aimed at diverting
public attention from Yerevan’s Covered Market.

`But they will fail,’ he told Tert.am.

The MP Samvel Alexanyan (who is affiliated with the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia – RPA) is reportedly building a house for his family
near Yerablur.

`I know that he privatized that plot of land more than ten years ago.
It turned out later there was a quarry there. I think it is a
well-thought-out plan to divert public attention from the current
problems,’ Sefilyan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
La vie culturelle de Gyumri inébranlable malgré la catastrophe qui change la vie

L’énergie culturelle est l’emblème de Gyumri – un mélange de routine
quotidienne de la vie, le sens de l’humour inégalé dans toute
l’Arménie, les histoires de vie de ses habitants, dont chacune
pourrait devenir un terrain pour un bon livre ou un film. Deux
décennies et demi après le séisme de 1988, ils disent toujours que la
culture est un organisme vivant à Gyumri – cela a aidé à survivre,
faire pousser la vie et leur a donné la force de créer. « Cinq mois
après le tremblement de terre, Gyumri a accueilli le concert du
[célèbre violoniste russe Vladimir] Spivakov. Les cercueils pouvaient
encore être vus autour de la ville, il y avait des gens qui n’avaient
pas encore trouvé les membres de leur famille portés disparus sous les
ruines. Je pleurais, j’ai dit à Spivakov que personne ne viendrait. Il
m’a dit de ne pas s’inquiéter et que, même si quelques personnes
venaient seulement il jouerait pour elles. Ensuite, ils étaient là –
des femmes couvertes de chles noirs, des hommes en habit noir,
poussiéreux, venant lentement, de retour des cimetières. Les larmes
coulaient sur le visage de Spivakov et il a dit : « Quel genre de
personnes sont-elles – elles viennent de cimetières vers une salle de
concert ». La salle a explosé sous les applaudissements car la musique
a remplit leur c`ur … Cette année, lors de son concert, il a vu une
salle joliment décorée avec des fleurs, le public bien habillé, mais a
dit : « Jamais de ma vie je n’oublierai ce jour-là », se souvient
Hasmik Kirakosyan conseiller du gouverneur de Shirak.

Survivant à la première réplique de la catastrophe, elle a recueilli
les instruments de musique, les a enfermés, puis a recueilli les piles
de livres éparpillés dans les rues, les a chargés sur des nes et les
a envoyé dans les villages voisins, où les gens les ont stockés dans
leurs maisons. Aujourd’hui, ces livres forment la bibliothèque
régionale de Gyumri.

Un an après que Gyumri ait été ébranlé par la catastrophe naturelle
qui a pris des milliers de vies, le Musée des Beaux-Arts a ouvert, où
la première exposition d’art moderne a eu lieu, éclairé par
l’utilisation d’un générateur.

« La ville était en ruines, les personnes en deuil qui visitent les
tombes de leurs proches disparus n’avaient pas le c`ur pour des
expositions, des musées. Vivant dans des abris temporaires, la faim,
le froid, pas d’avenir, pas d’électricité, et tout à coup dans une
salle éclairée ils ont vu des `uvres d’art, et de l’art contemporain »
a dit Artur Lazarian le directeur du Musée et de la Bibliothèque
centrale de Gyumri. « Le musée a été fondé pour montrer que la vie
continue : nous ne sommes pas morts, ceux qui ont survécu vont combler
les lacunes laissées par les morts. C’était la vie, ce musée, ce
thétre – ils ont prouvé que la vie n’est pas finie ».

L’artiste Samvel Galstyan formé à l’école des arts Merkurov qui est
presque centenaire, a dit que le post-séisme à Gyumri lui a rappelé un
rêve.

« La ville était dans la forêt, ou la forêt était dans la ville, il
est difficile de dire … dans notre quartier appelé Antaravan, il y
avait trois couches de forêt pour rotéger la ville des vents du nord.
Des fontaines ont été construites dans ce cadre naturel, la création
d’un environnement de boulevard intéressant, où les fêtes avaient
lieu, chacun d’entre elles était une grande fête de toutes sortes. Je
suis tombé amoureux de Gyumri » dit-il. « C’est une ville de
l’artisanat, et quand l’artisanat se transforment en pathologie, l’art
est né ».

Kirakosyan, avec l’expérience de ses 38 années de travail dans le
domaine de la culture, dit que le professionnalisme dans l’art et la
culture ont augmenté après le tremblement de terre.

« La culture semblait avoir grandi encore plus fort en tant que
contre-mesure à la catastrophe naturelle, garder les gens vivants. Le
nombre de groupes d’amateurs a diminué, en raison de la destruction
des ateliers industriels, à la place, après 1988, le nombre
d’orchestres de l’Etat – symphonique, folklorique nationale – a
augmenté. Aujourd’hui, nous avons neuf musées, en plus de groupes
professionnels venus de suite » dit-elle.

Le directeur du musée ne peut pas s’empêcher d’admirer l’approche
exceptionnellement douce des résidents Gyumri vis-à-vis des valeurs et
de l’art culturel.

« Quand je visite l’Europe et vois la culture prospère et l’approche
publique de l’art, cela est compréhensible pour moi, mais quand 1200
personnes remplissent une salle de 600 places pour le concert de
Spivakov … Je connais des gens qui ne n’arrivaient à avoir de la
nourriture à la maison mais qui viendrait pour un concert ou un
exposition. Les paroles de notre barde sont vraiment justifié : « Ils
n’ont pas d’argent, mais ont construit sept églises, regarder combien
ils sont intelligents » explique le directeur du musée.

Mme Kirakosyan a dit que l’amour de la culture est dans les gènes,
transmis aux générations de Gyumretsi :

« Vous ne trouverez pas une maison à Gyumri où vous n’entendrez pas
une chanson lors de l’ouverture de la porte d’entrée. Sur la table
d’un Gyumretsi, côte à côte avec de la confiture, il y a toujours
l’humour et une conversation engageante. Même au moment de servir du
pain pur ils le font d’une manière spéciale. Ce que je vais dire est
une chose triste, mais après le tremblement de terre, il y avait des
cas où le corps d’un enfant a été trouvé et le père dit : « Attendez
une minute, je vais aller chercher du pain et de la vodka pour vous le
donner parce que vous êtes venus à la cérémonie [d’enterrement] … ».

Artur Lazarian tente de résoudre l’énigme des gènes artistiques des
Gyumretsi. Il a dit qu’en 1837, quand Alexandrapol a été créé,
plusieurs sont venus ici d’Arménie occidentale, et les cultures russes
et d’Europe « importés » par les locaux se sont mélangés faisant
d’Alexandrapol une extension de l’Europe, son point le plus éloigné.
Il dit que le vieux Gyumri, Amsterdam, Cracovie, ainsi que de
nombreuses petites villes françaises et anglaises ont été construits
principalement de la même manière – l’esprit et l’environnement sont
semblables, seuls les matériaux sont différents.

« Quand ils ont commencé la construction de la ville, il a été dicté
aux gens de s’intégrer dans l’environnement. Les officiers russes
étaient ici, leurs femmes en chapeaux mignons, le parc Gorki avec une
femme tenant le bras de son mari, se promener, la fanfare – forment
les valeurs municipales et conditionnent le développement culturel.
Ensuite, les familles d’entrepreneurs ont commencé à se former – les
Dzitokhtsyans, Tsaghikyans … ils fondèrent des écoles
exceptionnelles – l’école Yevangulyans de broderie, le Gymnase Tsar
entre autres. Tout cela a formé une société consciente et
reconnaissante des arts et de la culture » dit Lazarian.

Dans tout le Caucase, Gyumri est devenue la deuxième ville culturelle
après Tbilissi.

« La graine culturelle a été plantée et génétiquement transmise sur
quatre ou cinq générations, sans exception » dit-il avec fierté.

Malgré les conditions socio-économiques pauvres, les écoles et les
bibliothèques d’art de Gyumri ne manquent pas d’étudiants. Les
résidents de cette ville, où 4000 personnes n’ont toujours pas un
logement permanent et continuent de vivre dans les quartiers «
temporaires », contiennent des valeurs spirituelles élevées dans
l’éducation de leurs enfants.

L’école des arts Merkurov vieille de 92 ans dispose de 60 étudiants
dans de très mauvaises conditions. Le Directeur Galstyan dit qu’une
forte génération grandit avec une puissance exceptionnelle
d’expression de soi.

« La mentalité de la jeunesse me laisse perplexe, elle me prend par
surprise – ils ont des idées fantastiques, à couper le souffle »,
dit-il.

Les gens des arts se plaignent que tout est centré à Erevan seulement,
alors que cela devrait être réparti uniformément sur tout le pays. Ils
suggèrent un musée des arts graphiques soit fondé à Gyumri et toutes
les `uvres d’art graphiques soient transférées de la Galerie Nationale
située au centre-ville d’Erevan. Ils disent que déplacer le ministère
de la Culture à Gyumri serait également approprié.

La Bibliothèque russe Tchekhov est en cours de construction pour le
moment. Les Bibliothèques occidentales et des Arts sont prévues pour
être construites ici.

« La bibliothèque des arts aura des salles de concerts, fera des
présentations, des projections de films ; les bibliothèques
scientifiques auront des encyclopédies et des dictionnaires. Nous
prévoyons d’ouvrir quatre bibliothèques pour enfants dans différentes
parties de la ville pour cultiver la lecture pour les petits »,
explique Lazarian avec enthousiasme au vue de ses perspectives
heureuses.

Par Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow

dimanche 1er décembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Actualitté.com
25 nov 2013

Sur la route de l’exil : un témoignage du génocide arménien

Le lundi 25 novembre 2013

Au soir du 11 avril 1915, dans tous les quartiers de Constantinople,
les forces de police Jeunes-Turcs font converger tous les Arméniens
qu’elles ont pu identifier vers des lieux de rassemblement à partir
desquels elles organisent un vaste processus d’exil qui va conduire au
génocide de toute une population.

Issus de tous les métiers et de tous les milieux sociaux, ces hommes
sont emmenés, sous couvert de rassurantes paroles, qui à pied, qui en
bateau, qui en charrette tirée par des mules, qui en train, vers des
destinations qui s’éloignent chaque instant un peu plus, qui les
éloignent de leurs femmes, de leurs enfants, de leurs familles.

Ces rassemblements, qui sont diversement appréciés par tous ces hommes
plus ou moins bien, plus ou moins mal traités par leurs gardes,
avaient été pressentis quand, quelques jours auparavant, traînaient,
dans les rues de Constantinople, des rumeurs de listes de noms
dressées avec le concours de collaborateurs eux-mêmes parfois
arméniens.

Ballottés de lieux en lieux qui ne portent pas ouvertement le nom de
prisons, encadrés sévèrement par des foules d’hommes en armes, ces
colonnes de détenus, dont il semble que tout soit fait pour ne pas les
appeler explicitement ainsi, subissent ce qui va devenir une véritable
déportation dans une ambiance qui, parfois, ressemble à une joyeuse
foire même si certains perçoivent intuitivement le destin funeste qui
attend la grande majorité d’entre eux.

Aram ANDONIAN est de ces hommes raflés !

Des années après, survivant de cet exil où nombre de ses amis ont
laissé la vie, il raconte les premiers jours de ces déplacements de
populations vers leur enfer.

Ce livre est le recueil de deux textes d’Aram ANDONIAN qui
apparaissent comme la transcription de souvenirs de cet épisode
dramatique de sa vie, de sa « nation » comme il le dit.

Lien de cause à effet ? Le premier texte n’a pas de fin véritable et
se termine sur des pointillés qui interdisent de savoir comment et
pourquoi il a réussi à survivre là où tant d’autres ont péri.

Le texte est factuel,, sans ornement ni fioriture. Juste une sorte de
journal intime qu’il aurait complété chaque jour afin de consigner les
évènements de la journée.

Mais c’est cette application quasi adolescente (évocation de
fous-rires, absence persistante de prise au sérieux des évènements,
comportements de potaches, de gamins en vacances loin de leur famille,
…) qui rend encore plus froide cette marche vers l’horreur qu’un
lecteur du XXIème siècle ne peut plus ignorer.

Au delà d’un épisode historique d’un grand intérêt pour moi puisque je
n’en connais que la partie émergée de l’iceberg, plusieurs choses
m’ont marqué dans cette lecture.

D’abord le fait que cet exil soit exclusivement consacré aux hommes
qui tentent, à chaque occasion possible, d’envoyer un mot rassurant
aux membres de la famille qui n’ont pas été emmenés.

Ensuite une certaine incohérence dans les victimes de cette rafle qui
sont parfois vues comme les seuls membres de l’intelligentsia
arménienne de Turquie alors que d’évidence, toute les couches de la
population constituent ces colonies de déportés.

Enfin un étonnement profond devant le mépris et la haine dont
l’orateur fait preuve à l’égard des Turcs et dont il est évident
qu’ils sont bien antérieurs et donc ne sont pas une conséquence de
cette journée du 11 avril 1915. Ce constat m’a profondément troublé au
point de brouiller un peu la qualité du témoignage.

C’est cela cependant qu’il convient de retenir : un témoignage !
Envoyé du c`ur d’une opération de destruction massive.

Comme l’exprime avec beaucoup plus de talent que moi R.H. KEVORKIAN
dans la préface de ce livre, de « nombreux matériaux d’archives (…)
montrent avec évidemment plus de rigueur » une situation qui était
inaccessible à l’auteur car « il lui manquait le recul nécessaire, le
savoir-faire de l’historien (…). Ce qui n’enlève rien à la force de
son travail ».

Pour la mémoire, celle-là et toutes les autres qui ont vu l’homme
s’acharner sur l’Homme en génocidaire, cette lecture est utile.

From: Baghdasarian

Sin Chew Jit Poh, Malaysia
Nov 30 013

Armenian monastery finds unlikely saviour in Arab sheikh

– Features

2013-11-30 15:33
By Mariam Harutyunyan

HAGHARTSIN MONASTERY, November 30, 2013 (AFP) — Standing next to a newly
refurbished bell tower, priest Aristakes Aivazyan says it needed divine
intervention to save Armenia’s medieval Haghartsin monastery.

But it also took a lot of money from a very unlikely benefactor — the
Muslim ruler of the resource-rich Arab emirate of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan
bin Mohammed al-Qasimi.

“I cannot recall anything similar to this happening in our history that
some Arab sheikh, a Muslim, helped to restore and rescue an Armenian
Christian church,” Aivazyan told AFP.

“Without doubt it was God who brought the sheikh to Haghartsin,” the
priest, dressed in long black robes, said.

Perched spectacularly amid thickly forested mountains about 100 kilometres
northeast of Yerevan, Haghartsin monastery is a masterpiece of medieval
Armenian ecclesiastical architecture.

Founded in the tenth century, the monastery — which includes three
churches and once housed some 250 monks — survived attacks from Arab and
Ottoman invaders and anti-religious campaigns under Soviet rule during its
turbulent history.

But after weathering those storms, decades of neglect in recent years meant
the complex looked headed for collapse as plants twisted through walls and
cracks threatened to send buildings tumbling.

‘In need of serious reconstruction’

“The monastery was in need of serious reconstruction but the repairs were
always delayed by the lack of finances,” father Aivazyan said.

That was until a fortuitous visit from al-Qasimi, who had been invited to
Armenia by former president Robert Kocharian on a trip set up by the
Armenian business community in the emirate.

“In 2005 his royal highness visited Armenia and generously offered to
renovate the complex during a tour of various Armenian regions,” says
Varouj Nerguizian, a Sharjah-based Armenian businessman who has advised the
sheikh.

Nerguizian refused to say how much the sheikh had given for the
refurbishment but local media reported that it could be around $1.7 million.

Now, after years of building work including a new road up to the monastery
to help boost visitor numbers, the refurbished structure was finally opened
last month.

“It falls within the natural context of his royal highness’ philanthrophy
as well respect for other religions,” Nerguizian.

Perched on the Persian Gulf, after Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Sharjah is the
third largest of the seven emirates that make up the UAE.

Al-Qasimi, 74, — who came to power in 1972 after his brother, then king,
was killed in a failed coup — has sought to boost the emirate as a tourist
and cultural hub in the region.

The emirate has a thriving community of Armenian businessmen that now
boasts its own church. But there have nonetheless been few links between
Yerevan and Sharjah.

‘The word of God was heard here’

For those working at the monastery, the surprise of seeing an Arab leader
visiting the holy Christian site remains a vivid memory.

“He came with his entourage of about 10 people and looked around for quite
a while at all the churches and stone crosses before asking to go into the
main Church of Our Lady,” recalled Artak Sahakyan, who sells candles to
visiting worshippers.

“When he came out he said that he believed that the word of God was really
heard here,” Sahakyan said.

Armenia is considered to be the oldest Christian country in the world and
its Apostolic Church belongs to the ancient Oriental Orthodox branch.

The church is hugely influential in Armenia and two monasteries and its
main cathedral are already listed on UNESCO’s list of world heritage site.

After a history of conflict between Armenia and its Muslim neighbours of
Turkey and Azerbaijan, those working at the Harghartsin monastery say they
hope the support they have received from a Muslim ruler shows that the two
faiths can get along.

“The sheikh is a deeply religious man so seeing a monastery is such a bad
state it is not surprising that he felt touched,” says father Aivazyan.

“It is as if the with this generous gesture the sheikh is saying that we
need to be tolerant of other religions as in the end we all serve one God,”
Aivazyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

ITAR-TASS, Russia
November 29, 2013 Friday 06:51 PM GMT+4

Armenia builds its statehood on European pattern – president

VILNIUS November 29

– Armenia is building its statehood on the European pattern, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan said in Vilnius on Friday.

“Building and strengthening Armenia’s statehood on the European
pattern was our conscious choice, and this process is irreversible,”
the president said at the Eastern Partnership summit.

“Eastern Partnership made it possible to impart a new pace to the
efforts aimed at modernization of our country and the society on the
basis of democracy and supremacy of law,” the president said. “It gave
an impetus to our agenda of large-scale reforms,” Sargsyan added.

As “a tangible result” he mentioned “three major election processes in
Armenia within just a year-and-a-half” – the parliamentary election,
the presidential election and the election to the Yerevan Municipal
Council.

These elections “set a new bar in that sphere, sizably strengthening
the election system of Armenia,” he said. “In the Declaration of the
Vilnius summit, we confirm our commitment to promoting reforms,
carried out in our countries,” Sargsyan stressed.

From: Baghdasarian

Serzh Sargsyan Left Vilnius Through Back Door

The Eastern Partnership project has a primarily geopolitical
importance, and the ongoing developments are worth scrutiny only in
terms of geopolitics. The project itself was controversial since
France and Germany were not enthusiastic though later Germany changed
its stance, realizing the mostly pro-German bias of the project.

In contrast, the United Kingdom that supported Poland and Sweden in
this project has realized that its implementation requires additional
spending which it has always been against. The new EU-members in
Eastern Europe are not interested in spending more. However, the most
unfavorable factor was the reduced interest in foreign policy by the
United States, including in Eastern Europe.

On the whole, the project was implemented under unfavorable
conditions, and the shortcomings and inadequate schemes of economic
integration would not have been noticed at all had the political
component been more complete.

Russia did not need a thorough plan to thwart the project at this
stage. However, any consideration in the political games with the West
will sooner or later require comparison of effort and resources, as
well as political and ideological issues which are now called value
issues.

Russia’s method of political gangsterism stole from the countries of
the region several years of more successful development and put off
global changes in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. At the same time, it is
beyond doubt that Russia has found itself in a more intense
international isolation and blockage which it is trying to avoid
through expansionist methods.

In this situation the countries benefitted which have minimum economic
and political relations with Russia, i.e. Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Moldova. These countries gained the right to distance in their
relations with Russia, and despite a number of social and political
problems they went one step closer to the Western community.

The bid is on Ukraine whose government had domestic and foreign
political resources to be, if not equal, at least an actor in this
game, trying to get maximum use from both Russia and the West, and
Ukraine will achieve it quickly, being in a more favorable position
indeed.

In Armenia it is impossible to prove anything to anyone, and everyone
is right, proceeding from their senses and deeply private interests.
Armenia again demonstrated political dilettantism and inability of the
political elite to build state politics. And now it is time to tell
what one was reluctant to tell during the whole process.

It became clear that the only state that took part in the project but
did not get any closer to the West is Armenia because Ukraine gained
new positions, and the other three countries decided a lot in their
pretensions. During the summit in Vilnius anything and anyone was
discussed except Armenia. Armenia just was not at the summit, it was
not noticed.

Earlier it had been stated that Armenia would be forgotten and
disappear from the international political arena. However, it was also
stated that expectations could have been worse than they are. Now it
means that Armenia is out of the discussion, and the Western community
thinks it is unable to make decisions independently, therefore it had
better remain Russia’s vassal.

How would one set up relations with a state that has lost its
sovereignty? It is dangerous and meaningless. Hence, the West left the
game delicately, letting everyone understand that it `respects
Armenia’s choice’ to remain a vassal. In fact, the West sheds
responsibility for the economic and social development and security of
Armenia, even to the limited extent that was in place so far. The West
hands responsibility for Armenia to the West. It is more convenient.
`They understood everything.’

3-4 years of deception is enough to draw conclusions for a long term.
Hopes to enter through the backdoor next time are naïve and not
political. All kinds of hints that some time later Armenia will be
able to sign some `corrected’ document with the European Union are
nonsense.

As a result, plans on geopolitical construction in Eastern Europe will
be corrected, and Armenia is viewed as a territory, not a state.
Armenia may be mentioned but only in two cases: when it will be needed
to put pressure on Russia or when it will be necessary to satisfy
Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s ambitions.

In addition, the Armenian society should not be offended by the West
which, by the way, observes ethics. Even if the United States intends
to restore the Armenian sovereignty, proceeding from its own
interests, in a dialogue with the European Union will demand
guarantees of decency which do not exist.

Is everything so sad? No. The Armenian society is quite comfortable
and almost indifferent to the loss of its sovereignty. Now one can
only follow the great developments of the 21st century.

Igor Muradyan
15:51 30/11/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

From: Baghdasarian