Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

CHURCH HISTORY IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM IN ARMENIA ATTRACTS GEORGIA’S ATTENTION

YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. Introduction of Church history in school
curriculum in Armenia has attracted Georgia’s attention, the press
office of Armenia’s education ministry reported after Deputy Education
Minister Manuk Lazarian with met a delegation of Georgia’s agency
on religion.

Describing the process of introduction of the curriculum in the
state education program to the Georgian guests, he stressed that this
subject is nothing in common with propaganda of religion, but it just
presents the Church as inseparable part of Armenian national culture
and history.

Some professional issues related to methodology of this subject
teaching were discussed at the meeting. —-0—-

From: Baghdasarian

IL PRIMO GENOCIDIO DEL ‘900 IGNORATO PER QUASI UN SECOLO. ANTONIA ARSLAN E IL MASSACRO DEGLI ARMENI PER VINCINCONTRI

Go News, Italia
9 mar 2015

Il genocidio degli Armeni è il primo genocidio del ‘900. Questo lo
sfondo storico che ha caratterizzato la serata di venerdì 6 marzo
nell’incontro con la scrittrice Antonia Arslan a Vinci al Teatro
della Misericordia.

Quello attuato cent’anni fa ad opera dei Giovani Turchi non è un
orrendo massacro, ma un vero e proprio genocidio perche pianificato
e studiato per motivi essenzialmente politici e di logica di potere,
un modello poi ripreso in epoche successive. Se nel corso dei decenni
questo genocidio è stato volutamente dimenticato o ancora oggi viene
negato dal Governo turco, i motivi hanno avuto origine diversa ma
tutti hanno ignorato la verita dei fatti. Ne è prova che anche nei
libri di storia delle nostre scuole solo da 5 o 6 anni si accenna a
questa tragedia che ha causato circa un milione e mezzo di morti.

La pubblicazione del libro di Antonia Arslan “La masseria delle
allodole” nel 2004 ha fatto breccia su un muro di omerta e di
opportunismo, venendo a contribuire notevolmente alla divulgazione
di questa vicenda. Stampato in trentadue edizioni, tradotto in
quattordici lingue ed onorato da vari premi letterari, “La masseria
delle allodole” con la forza di un romanzo che, apparentemente innocuo,
parla di lontane storie familiari reali ha avuto un effetto dirompente.

La strada è stata, poi, percorsa dai fratelli Taviani che nel
2007 hanno girato il film omonimo “La masseria delle allodole”,
moltiplicando la conoscenza della tragedia. Tra poco più di un mese,
il 24 aprile ricorrera il centesimo anniversario del genocidio. Lo
stesso Papa Francesco, al quale il cantante novantenne di origine
armena Charles Aznavour ha chiesto in questi giorni un’udienza,
ha stabilito una celebrazione per gli Armeni il 12 aprile.

La conferenza di Vincincontri, durante la quale è stato accennato
anche al viaggio svolto proprio un anno fa da alcuni parrocchiani di
Vinci in Armenia, è stata caratterizzata da un coinvolgimento pieno
dei partecipanti alle sollecitazioni fornite da Antonia Arslan. Ecco
perche la serata si è conclusa con un applauso interminabile!

From: Baghdasarian

ANALYSIS: NO MAJOR OPPOSITION TO SARGSYAN POWER SEEN IN POST-TSARUKYAN REALITY

ANALYSIS | 09.03.15 | 10:12

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

RELATED NEWS

Prosperous Armenia 2.0: Post-Tsarukyan PAP declares itself opposition

Armenian analysts are trying to find an answer to the question of
who will fill the niche in domestic politics that is now vacant
after Gagik Tsarukyan quit the post of Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP) leader and announced his retirement from politics. Despite its
ideological amorphousness the party led by Tsarukyan managed to gather
around itself opposition forces and civil initiatives protesting some
government policies.

The PAP backed the struggle of some social groups for their rights,
funded a number of opposition media, formed an alliance with a number
of opposition parties, including the Armenian National Congress (ANC)
and Heritage. At the same time, the PAP never called itself opposition,
positioning itself as “alternative” or “non-government”.

Many observers believe, however, that had the PAP been a real force
capable of consolidating protests masses, its members, partners and
allies from social movements would have taken to the streets demanding
an end to the persecutions against the PAP leader that began after
President Serzh Sargsyan declared on February 12 that Tsarukyan was
“evil” and had to be ousted from politics. The absence of such protests
led analysts to conclude that an amorphous party devoid of ideology
that does not even call itself opposition is not in demand in Armenia.

The leaders of the ANC and Heritage, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Raffi
Hovannisian, have already stated that the ‘non-governing troika’
does not exist. Members of the PAP are leaving the party en masse –
ex-Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who was elected to parliament
as number of the PAP list also announced his quitting the PAP recently.

Employees are dismissed from media financed by Tsarukyan, including
from Kentron TV. Tsarukyan himself said that he will be “building
churches, schools and working for the good of the people.” That is, a
huge party that declared about 400,000 members has suddenly evaporated,
leaving a small “sediment”.

Many MPs from the PAP, who renounced membership in the party, did not
give up their parliamentary mandates. According to experts, their
votes are likely to join the majority controlled by the Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) led by President Sargsyan. The RPA starts
the procedure of a constitutional reform to approve which it needs
a constitutional majority in parliament (now the party has only a
simple majority). The constitutional majority for the reform can be
provided by the MPs leaving the PAP.

Armenia will have parliamentary elections in 2017. If the
constitutional reform being advocate by the current administration
takes place, then there will be no more presidential elections in
2018 when Sargsyan’s second and final presidential term ends. The
Parliament elected in 2017 and its majority will become “collective
President” and real and legitimate power in the country.

The constitutional reform is likely to take place already this year
and no opposition party capable of vying for a parliament majority
is likely to emerge in Armenia before 2017. That’s why experts say
that the RPA and its leader Sargsyan have already secured their power
beyond 2017-18.

From: Baghdasarian

SHOOTOUT IN GYUMRI: SIX HOSPITALIZED WITH GUNSHOT, STAB WOUNDS

NEWS | 09.03.15 | 10:22

Six people were hospitalized in Gyumri with gunshot and stab wounds
early on Sunday after what appeared to be a late-night gangster-style
gun battle in the city center.

Shots were heard in Teryan Street shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Doctors at Gyumri’s medical center said three of the men had been
hospitalized in serious condition and were later transported to
Yerevan.

The incident happened at exactly the same place where the son of
Gyumri’s former mayor Vardan Ghukasyan and his men had a gunfight
with another local politician’s son and his friends in 2007.

The shootout in Gyumri came within days after three notorious crime
figures were shot dead near a prison in Yerevan’s Nubarashen district.

Armenian media alleged that the killings were part of an ongoing gang
war in the criminal underworld.

An Armenian police official said in the wake of those killings that
“all theories are being examined.”

From: Baghdasarian

ANTI-ARMENIAN AND RACIST TURKISH FIGURE TO BECOME MP?

01:32, 14.02.2015

The chairman of the “Association to Fight Unfounded Armenian
Allegations” (ASIM-DER), Goksel Gulbey, has been nominated by Turkey’s
main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to run for parliament.

This news has caused quite a stir, reported Gercekgundem website
of Turkey.

Gulbey is known for his anti-Armenian and racist statements and
activities.

Aside from organizing unethical protests against Armenians, he, in
2012, had publicized in social networks the addresses and data of
the Istanbul-Armenian organizations, thus making Armenians a target
for the Turkish nationalists.

In this connection, several NGOs had filed lawsuits against Goksel
Gulbey.

From: Baghdasarian

CONSOLIDATION OF OPPOSITION NOT NEEDED IN ARMENIA, POLITICAL TECHNOLOGIST SAYS

YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. There is no need for political reshuffling
and consolidation of the opposition in Armenia right now, expert on
political and election technologies Armen Badalyan said in a live
Sputnik-Armenia broadcast, as quoted by Novosti-Armenia.

Opposition is formed when the society is interested in consolidating
efforts to protect its interests, the way it happened the Karabakh
movement occurred at the end of the 80ies, Badalyan said.

The expert has not ruled out the authorities may create a pro-western
pseudo-opposition. Similar attempts were made in many countries,
but it has been always a “pocket” opposition, he said.

In speaking about the upcoming elections Badalyan said there are two
kinds of voters in Armenia – 90% vote because of financial reward
and only 10% of voters have political reasons motives.

Even if consolidated, this 10% will hardly achieve major success in
the election, the expert said. -0–

From: Baghdasarian

MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO FEMALE VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE UNVEILED IN PARIS

13:29, 09 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

On March 8, on the initiative of La Croix Bleue des Arméniens de
France, in the frameworks of events, dedicated to the Centennial of
Armenian Genocide and on the occasion of the International Women’s Day,
100 roses were planted in the Yerevan Park in Paris, in commemoration
of women victims of Armenian Genocide. Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and
Ambassador of Armenia to France Vigen Chitechian headed the opening
of the memorial,near the Statue of Komitas, Press Service of the
Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

A number of members of the Council of Paris, politicians, public
figures and officials, representatives of cultural and media circles,
hundreds of French Armenians and Parisiаns participated in the event.

In his remarks, Ambassador Chitechian expressed gratitude to the
authorities of Paris and France for stressed caring and constant
attitude to the commemoration of the predecessors of their citizens
of Armenian origin.

The speech by Ambassador was followed by the solemn opening ceremony.

The inscription of the memorial reads, “In commemoration of the women
victims of Armenian Genocide, those, who are disappeared without a
trace, as well as those, who survived and conveyed the memory.”

From: Baghdasarian

CRIMINAL CASE OPENED IN SHOOTING INCIDENT IN CITY OF GYUMRI

A criminal case was opened by the Shirak unit of Armenia’s
Investigative Committee in connection with a shooting incident in
the city of Gyumri, as a result of which six people were wounded
and hospitalized.

The criminal case was opened under Articles 34-104 (attempted murder
of two or more people), 258 (hooliganism), and Article 235 (illegal
purchase, sale and carrying of weapons).

Investigative and operational search actions are underway.

09.03.15, 15:20

From: Baghdasarian

The Global Dispatch
March 6 2015

Saye Yabandeh previews ‘East of Byzantium: War Gods and Warrior Saints’

Saye Yabandeh returned to Dispatch Radio to preview her work in the
upcoming film East of Byzantium: War Gods and Warrior Saints. The
Iranian born actress talks about the film, what attracted her to the
role and some culture aspects linked to the film.

It’s a “true story” and “part of history” between Armenia vs Persian
(Iran), she says, discussing the film. “I’m an avid polo
rider…archer…and I’m a Persian,” she says of how East of Byzantium
appealed to her. “I very much liked working on that.”

“East of Byzantium: War Gods and Warrior Saints is a two-part special
Docu-tainment miniseries, featuring among other unique elements,
experts from the original Lord of the Rings Trilogy, as well as an
original score by Serj Tankian,” the creators posted about the film,
during the fundraising portion of development in the fall.

Marco Khan plays Attila the Hun with Roman Mitichyan, Ana Corbi, Reem
Kadem, Daniel Messier, Ani Melkonian, Leah Lamarr co-starring in the
film.

Previously Saye spoke with The Dispatch about her many projects and
gives an update on 5th and Alameda, Silk, Blunt Force but here, gives
insight on a new three-part feature drama about an “assassin.”

On this film, The Woman, “she’s an assassin” but that is unknown to
the audience in the beginning of the film, “…she’s just a girl who
likes ice cream,” Saye teases. She does elaborate and discusses The
Woman.

Check out the full interview below.

East of Byzantium: War Gods and Warrior Saints doesn’t have a specific
release date yet, but expect news and updates soon.

From: Baghdasarian

AP Planner
March 6, 2015 Friday

Carnegie Europe marks European launch of new book on the Armenian Genocide

‘Armenians and Turks in the Shadow of 1915’ Carnegie Europe event,
with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Russia and Eurasia
Program senior associate Thomas de Waal in conversation to mark to
European launch of his new book ‘Great Catastrophe: Armenians and
Turks in the Shadow of Genocide’, which looks at the aftermath and
politics of the Armenian Genocide

From: Baghdasarian