Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIAN LEGACY TO BE DISPLAYED IN DIYARBAKIR CHURCH

10:36 * 10.09.13

One of Diyarbakýr’s most famous churches, the Armenian church of
Surp Giragos, is set to become a city museum hosting artwork and
artifacts depicting the Armenian history in the city, the Hurriyet
Daily News reported.

Earlier, Diyarbakýr Metropolitan Mayor Osman Baydemir and Surp Giragos
Armenian Foundation President Ergun Ayýk were reported to have signed
a protocol to turn the church, which was recently restored and opened
to prayer, into a museum.

According to the protocol, the church’s Hidir Ilyas section will
be given to the municipality and converted into a museum featuring
belongings and ethnographic artifacts.

Ayik said the church was the largest church in the Middle East but was
in ruins until it was restored and reopened to worship three years ago.

Noting that the church was surrounded by many famous buildings and
artifacts in the city, Ayik said, “The representatives are evaluating
the buildings around the church.”

The Diyarbakýr City Museum will display Armenian heritage and Armenian
art. “We are currently meeting with the municipality and we have
signed a protocol to open this part,” Ayik said.

“We will first collect artifacts before decorating the museum. The
decorations and the curation will be made according to the artifacts,”
said Ayik, noting that there would be information about the family,
social and cultural life of Armenians.

Very few artifacts have survived over the past 100 years, but Ayýk
said they were able to collect letters from 1913 from a family who
lived in the province’s Lice district, as well as kitchen appliances,
musical instruments and other examples of writings from elsewhere.

During the last 100 years, many artifacts that belonged to Armenian
families have been lost, he said. “We are currently collecting
artifacts to display in the museum. This is the first time that
something like this has happened in Turkey, and many people are
approaching this with suspicion.”

The written documents are very valuable because they reflect the
lifestyle of Armenians at the time, he said. “We have collected
these documents from Turkey and also from foreign countries. We have
succeeded in collecting these artifacts.”

Noting that there were also many financial documents, Ayýk said these
revealed the debts and the trade that Armenians had in history.

The artifacts that have been collected have been sent to Istanbul to
be analyzed and researched.

Collecting the data and the artifacts has taken a long time, he said,
adding that the job was an important task that only professionals
could do.

After analyzing the works, the artifact will be sent to the museum
for display.

Surp Giragos, which boasts seven altars, originally had an earthen
roof, although a new roof of wood was subsequently erected over the
restored church. It was closed in 1915-1916 before being returned to
the local Armenian community in 1960.

A new bell that was made for the reopened church was made in Russia
especially for the place of worship.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S FIRST PRESIDENT TER-PETROSYAN WARNS AGAIN ANTI-RUSSIAN RHETORIC

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. The first president of Armenia and
leader of the oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) Levon
Ter-Petrosyan called upon his supporters to avoid anti-Russian rhetoric
in connection with the situation around official Yerevan’s decision
to join the Russia-initiated Customs Union.

“Today I see there is a danger for us. Recently Serzh Sargsyan was
being presented as a broadminded pro-Western politician, whereas we
were portrayed as obscure pro-Russian forces. Now, after Sargsyan
turned around 180 degrees, the same forces are trying to label us as
Russophobes”, Ter-Petrosyan said at an ANC board meeting.

The first president reminded he warned against both an-Russian and
anti-Western moods many times.

No ANC leader should make any outrageous statement against Russia,
its people or Putin, Ter-Petrosyan said.

“We should realize we are not a marginal and irresponsible element,
but an alternate serious institutional political force having a full
understanding of state responsibility”, the first president said.

According to Ter-Petrosyan, after having received an offer from Europe
to sign an association agreement, Sargsyan should have met with Putin
and told him “Europe offers this, what could you offer in response”.

“It is a natural partnership diplomatic obligation, and if the
outcome anyway should be the membership in the customs union, it
would be a more worthy and more advantageous partnership and Armenia
would gain much more than in the current humiliating situation”,
Ter-Petrosyan said.

Yet, according to Ter-Petrosyan, Brussels would not burn bridges with
Armenia, will not give up “flirting” with it and will keep hoping
for a success in future.

The ex-president also said he cannot make assessments
of the customs union before professional economists
study its limitations and advantages.-0- – See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

WINNERS OF ‘SILK ROAD CHALLENGE’ BLOGGERS’ INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION VISIT ARMENIA

11:06 10/09/2013 ” ECONOMY

On September 8-14, 2013, the National Competitiveness Foundation of
Armenia will host the winners of the ‘Silk Road Challenge’ bloggers’
international competition.

Armenia, represented by the National Competitiveness Foundation of
Armenia, is the general sponsor of the competition organized by the
United Nations World Tourism Organization.

The international jury recognized Jonathan Powell and Nailah Hayward
as the winners of the competition, according to which the NCFA gave the
two bloggers the opportunity to explore various tourist attractions in
Armenia and get acquainted with its rich cultural heritage, spiritual
values, national traditions and city life.

A meeting with Armenian bloggers will be organized in an effort to
exchange experiences and establish ties between the two sides.

The bloggers will further reflect their impressions and findings in
their blogs raising awareness about Armenia among the international
blogging circles as well as community at large, reported the Public
Affairs Office of the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

22-YEAR-OLD PROTESTER DIES IN TURKEY PROTESTS

13:35 10.09.13

A 22-year-old protester in the southern province of Hatay has died in
continuing protests tied to the Gezi Park demonstrations, reportedly
after being struck in the head by a tear gas canister fired by police,
The Hurriyet Daily Newsreports.

Ahmet Atakan passed away at around 2 a.m. on Sept. 10 in Antakya’s
flashpoint neighborhood of Armutlu after taking part in a march that
was called to show solidarity with students and locals in Ankara
resisting against the construction of a road through Middle Eastern
Technical University (ODTU), as well as to commemorate Abdullah Comert,
another Armutlu local that was killed by police in early June at the
beginning of the Gezi protests.

Atakan was allegedly hit by a gas canister in the head by the police.

State-run Anadolu Agency, however, claimed that it had footage showing
Atakan falling and rolling on the ground, as well as footage of stones
and a water tank being thrown on police vehicles from the roofs.

The Hatay Governor’s Office released a statement about the death of
Atakan, stating that an ambulance had been sent to where the protester
was injured but that he was taken to hospital by other protesters.

“Upon an announcement made by the security forces, which were
patrolling on Gunduz Street, that one person had fallen on the street
from a building, an ambulance was sent [to the scene] by contacting the
112 Emergency Service, but the people on the scene wanted to take the
injured person to the hospital on their own. Our citizen named Ahmet
Atakan, who was brought in injured later to the Antakya State Hospital,
could not be saved despite all medical efforts,” the statement said.

Atakan was briefly resuscitated at the hospital, but his heart stopped
beating once again 15 minutes later.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

UN DIPLOMATE RUSSE ASSASSINE EN ABKHAZIE

Georgie-Abkhazie-Russie-diplomatie-meurtre

(AFP) – Un diplomate russe dans le territoire separatiste georgien
d’Abkhazie a ete tue par balles lundi par un agresseur non identifie,
ont indique les agences russes.

Dmitri Vichernev, Premier secretaire du consulat russe dans ce
territoire dont la Russie a reconnu l’independance en 2008, a ete tue
et son epouse grièvement blessee a Soukhoumi, la capitale abkhaze,
a indique le ministère des Affaires etrangères d’Abkhazie dans un
communique.

Une enquete a ete ouverte sur ce meurtre, destine a “nuire a la
relation strategique et fraternelle” entre Moscou et Soukhoumi,
selon le ministère.

Selon de premières informations, M. Vichernev a ete abattu d’une
balle dans la tete devant son garage, a indique Ria Novosti citant
la police locale.

Un porte-parole du ministère local de l’Interieur a declare a l’agence
Interfax que les preuves recueillies sur le lieu du drame laissaient
penser a une “attaque terroriste”.

L’Abkhazie, un petit territoire frontalier de la Russie près de Sotchi
(sud), borde par la mer Noire au pied de la chaîne du Caucase, a
declare son independance et l’a defendue lors d’une guerre avec les
forces georgiennes au debut des annees 1990.

La Russie, qui soutient l’Abkhazie ainsi que l’Ossetie du Sud, une
autre region separatiste georgienne situee a sa frontière, a reconnu
l’independance de ces deux territoires a l’issue de la brève guerre
qui l’a opposee a la Georgie en août 2008.

mardi 10 septembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Tigran Ter-Yesayan. `If the Russians say from this side, the other
from the other side, it means that we are taken into account…’

September 8 2013

`We need to take into account that together with our neighbors, we
are all Council of Europe members, in other words, when the Soviet
Union collapsed as such, a legal transformation happened and all the
Soviet Union states became a member of the European Council, also the
European countries, then the regulation was developed a Convention,
European Court, which has been so far working for the Council of
Europe countries, and the Council of Europe summit always takes part
in the debates, MPs are always going, and now the question is what
body the EU is. We are all Council of Europe members, we have signed
the treaties and conventions together with our neighbors, but there is
also the European Union, which subordinates to the Council of Europe.
The EU is a hybrid. Euro functions in EU countries, but there is a
European country that is in the EU, however, is not a European
currency. In short, it is a fuzzy thing’, – said the director of the
`Forum’ Legal Center Tigran Ter-Yesayan in the interview with
Aravot.am. Ter-Yesayan notes that Russia is also a member of the
Council of Europe, but it is not a member of NATO, unlike us. `We are
a modest nation, we have entered into this fuzzy stuff. Today, the EU
announces that Armenia need to answer, but to what, to the
comprehensive economic trade … If you know what comprehensive is,
well, well, tell Turkey to open the road. I am asking a question,
Turkey is the EU’s comprehensive friend, member of the Council of
Europe, it imposes blockade against us for years, well, let them say
in a comprehensive form, respected powerful NATO member Turkey, for
you have captured Armenian lands, why don’t you give way, and I put
condition. The EU is very good, with all of its values, but there is a
delicate problem. We say that we do not want to be under the heel of
Russia, a yoke, but Russia is also a member of the Council of Europe,
isn’t it? And not the EU member. For 23 years, NATO member Turkey does
not allow to open the border, it puts conditions, well, if you are so
strong, the Russians have a good word, they say the European Union,
you are not an ordinance for us, i.e., the EU legally cannot give
orders to the members of the Council of Europe, by status. Well, if
you are so brave, why do not you solve the Karabakh problem, or tell
Turkey to to open the road…’ According to Ter-Yesayan, Turkey and
Azerbaijan have closed us for 23 years, and now if we sign the
Association Agreement, they need to tell Turkey to open the road, but
Turkey is not a member of the EU. `We have become a boot, the Russians
say from this side, the other from that side … It has its good side
also. This means that we are taken into account. If Russia of 140
million population asks us to sign Customs agreement, the EU of more
than 300 million population is also asking, then Armenia of 3 million
population, which has a turnover of 3.5 billion budget, which is
ridiculous, and similar international issues should have been
conducted by the referendum, and today 28 countries are saying Armenia
`what are you doing. Diplomacy is diplomacy, but we need to say
directly that you are both the donkey and the outpost. But we should
have a culture, and our leaders should have understood that such
issues should definitely be conducted by the referendum, we are people
of the election size of a village mayor, it would not be difficult,’-
added Ter-Yesayan. Eva HAKOBYAN

Read more at:

From: Baghdasarian

REVUE DE PRESSE
Yeprem et Aznavour unis pour une cause : soutenir les écoles
arméniennes du Liban

L’ Orient-Le Jour, Liban

Dimanche 18 Août 2013

Yeprem et Aznavour unis pour une cause : soutenir les écoles
arméniennes du Liban

Coupures d’électricité, crise économique, malaise social, clivages
politiques accrus, tensions communautaires…

Face à l’ambiance générale quelque peu délétère, L’Orient-Le Jour se
lance un défi : trouver une bonne nouvelle chaque lundi.

La joaillerie libano-arménienne, Yeprem, a lancé une initiative pour
soutenir les écoles arméniennes du Liban, mais aussi du monde entier.

L’entreprise a produit un bracelet en or orné de diamants sur lequel
est incrusté le célèbre `Khachkar`, une croix sculptée dans la pierre
ou pierre-croix, si particulière à l’art arménien.

Selon l’agence Armenpress, 5% des revenus de la vente du bracelet sont
offerts aux écoles arméniennes.

`Mettre ce bracelet c’est mettre l’Arménie sur son poignet`, affirme
le directeur de la joaillerie Yeprem, Ludvig Chakardemian, à

lorientlejour.com.

`Le +Khachkar+ est le symbole de l’Arménie, premier État chrétien du
monde, explique-t-il.

Cette sculpture historique qu’on retrouve un peu partout en Arménie
représente l’identité du peuple arménien`.

Outre le `Khachkar`, une grenade est représentée sur le bracelet, ce
fruit étant le symbole de la vie en Arménie, ajoute le directeur de
Yeprem.

Le but de l’initiative est de soutenir et surtout renforcer les écoles
arméniennes au Liban, et partout dans le monde où le bracelet est
vendu, afin que la nouvelle génération arménienne connaisse son
histoire, ses origines et sa langue.

Quelque 140.000 Arméniens vivent au Liban, la plus importante
communauté au Moyen-Orient.

La majorité d’entre eux sont des descendants des survivants des
massacres survenus il y a 98 ans sous l’Empire ottoman.

.

Et qui mieux que le chanteur d’origine arménienne, Charles Aznavour,
pour soutenir cette cause ?

Contacté par Yeprem, Aznavour, qui est également ambassadeur d’Arménie
en Suisse, a salué l’initiative et promis de soutenir la cause, son
bracelet `Khachkar` sur le poignet.

`Charles Aznavour ne nous aide pas à promouvoir le bracelet dans un
but lucratif, mais en vue de soutenir la cause arménienne partout dans
le monde`, tient à préciser Ludvig Chakardemian.

Surnommé le `Sinatra français` par la presse américaine, Charles
Aznavour est né à Paris en mai 1924 dans une famille arménienne (de
son vrai nom Aznavourian).

Lancé par la chanteuse Édith Piaf, il devient une légende vivante de
la chanson française et l’une des plus célèbres vedettes
internationales d’origine arménienne, avec plus de cent millions de
disques vendus dans le monde.

Pour ses 80 ans, Aznavour avait été nommé en 2004 `héros national` de
l’Arménie par le président de l’époque, Robert Kotcharian.

En 2001, une place d’Erevan avait été baptisée à son nom, avec une
statue à son effigie.

En décembre 2008, le chef de l’État arménien, Serge Sarkissian, lui
avait conféré la citoyenneté arménienne.

dimanche 8 septembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Tasnim News Agency, Iran
Sept 7 2013

Iran, Armenia to Get Railway Project off Ground

September 07, 2013 – 14:04

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A top Armenian official said Tehran has expressed
readiness to finance the construction of a railway which is due to
connect Iran with Armenia.

Iran is ready to cover the expenses for the construction of the
Iranian part of the Iran-Armenia railway, Armenpress quoted Secretary
of the National Security Council of the Republic of Armenia Arthur
Baghdasaryan as saying on Friday.

`Armenia continues the negotiations with Iran on the launch of the
construction works of the Iran-Armenia railway’, Baghdasaryan pointed
out.

He further added that Yerevan has made the necessary arrangements to
provide funding for the Armenian part of the project.

The Armenian official was also quoted as saying that several companies
from Russia, China and Iran have shown interest in the railway
construction project in his country.

According to experts, around $1.7-2.8 bln is required for
implementation of the project.

Iran attaches great importance to constructive interaction with
foreign countries, particularly its neighboring states.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in August that Tehran would
focus efforts on strengthening relations with Armenia.

`Tehran’s effort will be focused on enhancement of relations (with
Armenia) and raising the level of cooperation in all fields,’ Rouhani
said in a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsian at the
time.

He also pointed to cultural commonalities between the two neighboring
countries, and said, `Relations between Iran and Armenia have been
always friendly, close and on the basis of fulfillment of mutual
interests.’

From: Baghdasarian

World War 4 Report
Sept 7 2013

Syria: minority peoples face cleansing

Submitted by WW4 Report on Fri, 09/06/2013 – 18:21

Syria’s minority peoples are especially targeted by the jihadist
rebels – and therefore generally wary of foreign intervention against
the Bashar Assad regime. The Armenians, like other Syrian Christians,
face growing attacks, with the US-based Armenian Weekly July 31
reporting a wave of abductions and slayings, including of children, by
unnamed rebel factions. Zarmik Poghikian of Aleppo-based Armenian
journal Gandzasar told Radio Free Europe Aug. 31: “The Armenian
community is neutral, but it is concerned, because this possible
strike will be delivered against the whole country and everyone
without exception will suffer. Leaders of the Armenian community have
urged people to remain cautious during these days and refrain from
attempting to leave the city, but even if someone wanted to do so
there is no opportunity anymore, as all roads are closed.”

Syria’s Armenians, numbering some 100,000, are mostly in Aleppo, many
descended from survivors of the forced deportations from their
Caucasus homeland by the Ottoman Turks during the World War I-era
genocide. International Armenian news site Asbarez on Sept. 6 ran an
editorial opposing US air-strikes on Syria, calling on readers to
voice their opposition.

Many of Syria’s Circassians, another predominantly Christian people,
have already fled the country. Sameer Qardan, a former English
professor at Damascus University who now heads the office of the
International Circassian Association in Nalchik, southern Russia
(Kabardino-Balkaria Republic), is petitioning Moscow to allow Syria’s
100,000 Circassians to return to their ancient Caucasus homeland. He
told Irish Times Aug. 22: “Syria is being destroyed by both sides. We
are not with the regime – we want reforms in a nonviolent way. But with
all its faults, the dictatorship is not as bad as the Islamists. They
will never recognize the rights of anyone who does not share their
beliefs.”

The Circassians fled their homeland in a wave of persecution and
atrocities after its conquest by Russia in the 19th century, only to
find themselves persecuted in Turkish-dominated lands as well,
prompting many to flee to Syria and other Arab areas of the Ottoman
empire. Qardan’s family settled in the Golan Heights in 1899, and
farmed there until the enclave was seized by Israel in 1967, and the
family lost its land. They moved to Damascus and then to Kuwait, where
they again lost their property when Iraq invaded in 1990, prompting
them to return to Syria. “And now it is happening once more,” he said.

Also now being forced to flee a Syria that once provided refuge for
them are the Mandaeans – followers of the world’s last remaining
indigenous Gnostic faith, nearly all 60,000 of whom have had to flee
their homeland in Iraq over the past decade. While some have received
asylum in Canada, Australia and elsewhere, many have remained in
Syria, hoping to reconstitute the community and eventually return to
Iraq. Now they may have to give up that dream, Canada’s National Post
reported Aug. 10. The Damascus suburb where they have settled,
Jaramana, has suffered three bombings this year, leaving 10 dead and
nearly 70 wounded – blamed by the government on “terrorists.” In recent
weeks, it has started to come under shelling by rebel forces.

From: Baghdasarian

Ekklesia, UK
Sept 7 2013

Geneva exhibition raises awareness of Armenian genocide

By staff writers
7 Sep 2013

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Armenian Apostolic Church
are hosting a one-month exhibition on the Armenian genocide.

It will display information on the history of genocidal events in the
Ottoman Empire which killed more than a million Christian Armenians
between 1915 and 1923.

Open to the public until 30 September 2013, the exhibition is being
held at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, addressing the
theme `Because I live, you too shall live’ (St John 14.19, New
Testament).

The exhibition is organized by the Armenia Inter-Church Round Table Foundation.

At the opening of the exhibition, Fr Mesrop Parsamyan, vicar general
of the South from the Armenian Diocese of France, declared starkly:
`People need to know what happened.’

`Knowing the history of the Armenian genocide is one way to make sure
that such atrocities never happen again. There is still a need for
churches, communities and governments to recognize the Armenian
genocide, and condemn these events in order to pave the way for
reconciliation and healing of the scars from the past,’ said Fr
Parsamyan.

The Armenian genocide has been recognized as the first genocide of the
20th century, with several historians documenting the number of
Armenians killed at around 1.5 million. It is alleged that their
deaths were brought about by agents of the Ottoman Empire through
deportation, torture, starvation and massacres.

Turkey, however, denies that there was a planned campaign to eliminate
Armenians but says both Turks and Armenians lost their lives during
World War I and in the post-war years. Turkey also says no more than
300,000 Armenians lost their lives in the clashes.

Fr Parsamyan went on to say that the `exhibition on Armenian genocide
is timely’ given the theme of the WCC 10th Assembly, ‘God of life,
lead us to justice and peace’. The WCC assembly is set to take place
from 30 October to 8 November in Busan, Republic of Korea.

`The God of life has let Armenians carry on their journeys for justice
and peace,’ he said. The WCC assembly theme is important for the
Armenians who are demanding condemnation of the Armenian genocide from
the international community, added Parsamyan.

Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri, the WCC’s associate general secretary for
Public Witness and Diakonia, voiced appreciation for the exhibition
project and affirmed the WCC’s support of the initiative.

`We acknowledge and recognize the injustice faced by Armenian
Christians during the genocide,’ said Phiri. `It is a pity that after
so many years the Armenian genocide is still not acknowledged. This is
why initiatives like this exhibition are important,’ she added.

Phiri also mentioned the WCC’s efforts in the past toward recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian genocide.

The WCC 6th Assembly at Vancouver, Canada in 1983 issued a report
focusing on the historic realities of the Armenian massacre and its
aftermath, while the WCC member churches have commemorated an annual
remembrance day of the Armenian genocide for several years.

The exhibition displays banners in English and French, attracting the
local and international community in Geneva, and will travel to other
countries.

Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think-tank
Ekklesia, which has been helping to raise awareness of the Armenian
genocide since 2007, has welcomed the initiative.

“Facing up to crimes of the history with honesty and addressing the
pain of the past with hope is essential to negotiating a better future
for us all in a still-divided world,” he said.

“This ecumenically supported exhibition will help in the task of
recovering a proper memory of what the Armenian people endured during
the first genocide of the twentieth century, in addition to developing
an understanding of how and why it has resonated down the ensuing
decades. It will also assist with the healing of memories and the
encouragement of a common quest for justice.”

Ekklesia associate Dr Harry Hagopian, an ecumenical, legal and
political consultant and commentator on Middle East and interfaith
issues, is also an adviser to the Primate of the Armenian Church in UK
& Ireland, and author of The Armenian Church in the Holy Land. He has
worked closely with the Campaign for Recognition of the Armenian
Genocide (UK).

* Armenian Orthodox Church:

* World Council of Churches:

* More about the Armenian Genocide on Ekklesia:

* Harry Hagopian on Ekklesia:
and his own website:

From: Baghdasarian