Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

HEROES AND TRAITORS

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

BY MARIA TITIZIAN

Tranquility, stillness, and serenity are words that no longer define
our lives. They were obliterated from our collective narrative
decades ago, maybe centuries ago, perhaps millennia ago. From the
moment I developed the ability to formulate memories I cannot recall
many instances when I was in a tranquil or serene state of mind. We
always seem to be in a whirlpool of distress, in conflict with our
past and struggling to confront the outrages being committed on a
regular basis as we live and breathe in the present.

A recent tragedy that rocked a village, a people and a nation
brought this state of existence more clearly into focus. I do not
want to dwell on the circumstances of this tragedy but rather, I want
to try in a very humble way to celebrate a life that was cut short
but one which possessed an abundance of valor, bravery, patriotism,
love and dedication.

When I read the devastating news of the passing last year of army
doctor Vahe Avetyan after a vicious beating at Harsnaqar, I was
thousands of miles away. I remember vividly the overwhelming nausea
that gripped me when I saw the news. And as I watched hundreds of my
compatriots holding a candlelight vigil for him, I thought my heart
would break with sorrow for not being there to stand beside them,
to express my horror at the action and convey the outrage I felt to
those responsible.

The murdered mayor of Proshian Hratch Mouradian

On April 2, Hratch Mouradian, an Artsakh war hero, compatriot and
friend was gunned down in broad daylight in his native village of
Proshian. I was once again a world away, across the oceans in a country
that is no longer my home. There are no words to describe the feeling
of knowing that the life of a patriot like Hratch meant nothing to the
person who shot that final, fatal bullet. As I read the harrowing news
item about his murder, his wife’s image appeared before me and those
of his four young children, who were now left to grow up and navigate
the difficult currents of their lives without the wisdom and guidance
of their father. I thought of my friends Nigol and Zabelle who lived
in Proshian and who had not only developed a close bond of friendship
with Hratch and his family but were among his most ardent supporters
as village leader. I thought of my husband who had discovered much of
Armenia and Artsakh because of Hratch. I thought of my son who after
years of battling the demons of injustice all around him, finally
felt the strength and understood the value of homeland because of
Hratch and his friends. I thought of my daughter at whose wedding
Hratch and his wife danced for hours….and my heart broke once again.

Whatever the motivation for his murder, whether it was political or
personal, whether the murderer thought of all the lives that had been
saved because of Hratch’s heroism during the Artsakh war, whether he
cared how the lives of the villagers of Poshian had improved because
of his care and benevolence, the fact is that a man who was a hero
of the nation is now only a memory to all those who knew and loved him.

The image of Hratch that I will always remember is of him dressed
in his army fatigues, standing in the warm living room of our friend
in Goris, his feet set wide apart with his arms clasped behind him,
a sparkle in his eye and a crooked smile on his face. But what will
forever be entrenched in my memory is of him dancing the dance of
Sassoun with his wartime friend and confidante Magich – their dance
was an expression of strength and grace that moved me to tears the
first time I saw them; it was the dance of their lives and shared
experiences, something which only they could understand and something
which defined the very essence of our nation. I am thankful to Hratch
for allowing me to experience it.

I don’t want us to forget the Vahe Avetyans and the Hratch Mouradians
of our world. I want us to remember that they were ordinary men who
served for their country and were murdered not by the enemy but by
the traitors of our nation. The continuing impunity and injustice in
our country is the reason why these men and others like them are lost
to us today.

I don’t know what good can come from all of this, but I am hopeful,
as we all must be that the real perpetrators will be punished, that no
one in our country shall be above the law, that all those who commit
a crime will understand that their time will come. We need to be
vigilant and we must continue to struggle to ensure that heroes enjoy
the gratitude and appreciation of society and traitors no longer have
a place in our world. I am confident of this because if our nation
can bring forth men like Hratch, then we have much to be hopeful for.

From: Baghdasarian

FORMIN: CZECH BUSINESS POTENTIAL UNUSED IN ARMENIA

Prague Daily Monitor, Czech Republic
April 12 2013

Yerevan, April 11 (CTK) – There is an unused potential for the
development of bilaterally advantageous trade relations between the
Czech Republic and Armenia, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg
said during a Czech-Armenian business forum yesterday.

A consensus on political questions that “reaches 95 percent” makes it
possible to focus on the development of trade contacts and bilateral
opportunities, Schwarzenberg said.

Schwarzenberg conducted talks with his Armenian opposite number
Eduard Nalbandian.

The Yerevan media said Schwarzenberg had been informed of the current
state of the talks about the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict over the
Nagorno-Karabakh area, occupied by Armenia.

Schwarzenberg laid a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial as a mark
of respect for the victims of the 1915 massacres perpetrated by the
Turkish military.

During his three-day visit to Armenia, Schwarzenberg is scheduled to
meet President Serzh Sargsian, parliament head Hovik Abrahamyan and
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian.

Schwarzenberg told the business forum that for further development
of trade and upgrading Armenia’s good investment environment, it was
vital to conclude an association agreement with the EU that was close
to the finish.

The document is to be signed at the Eastern Partnership summit in
the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius in November. It will take effect
after it is ratified by all EU countries.

The talks on a free trade agreement are to be concluded at the summit
as well.

From: Baghdasarian

TASHIR-2013 AWARDS CEREMONY TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW

16:55 ~U 12.04.13

The State Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, will host on May 18 the
Tashir-2013 awards ceremony.

Tashi-2013 is a national award for outstanding services in Armenian
music intended to support the best representatives of Armenian art
throughout the world.

Since 2006, Tashir has been held on a large national scale and enjoyed
great success with the Moscow audience.

Enrique Iglesias will be a special guest at the Tashir 2013 gala
concert.

The Notre Dame de Paris duet, Patrick Fiori (Patrick Jean-Francois
Chouchayan) and Helène Segara, will perform as well.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF IRAN, TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN TO HAVE TRILATERAL MEETING IN A FEW DAYS

20:35, 12 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS: The Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan,
Iran and Turkey plan to hold the next trilateral meeting in the
coming days, said Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in his
phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.

Although it was noted that the meeting will be held in Erzurum,
the date is still unknown.

As reports Armenpress, referring to APA, this meeting was scheduled
for November 28, 2012, but it was postponed for some reasons.

The first trilateral meeting of Azerbaijani, Iranian and Turkish
Foreign Ministers was held in Urmia and the second meeting in
Nakhchivan.

From: Baghdasarian

NO VICTIMS, BUT HONORARY CITIZENS IN NEW ARMENIA – ZARUHI POSTANJYAN

TERT.AM
23:03 ~U 12.04.13

Zaruhi Postanjyan, an MP from the Heritage party, made a speech at
a rally Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian held in Yerevan’s
Freedom Square on Friday evening.

“On April 9, we swore we would not give in. We gained victory when
others swore a false oath,” she said.

On April 9, New Armenia was proclaimed, she said.

“That is why we have no victims, but we have New Armenia’s honorary
citizens,” Postanjyan said.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENOUHI HOVANNISIAN’S FAVORITE SHOES AND POLICEMAN IN TEARS – VIDEOS

TERT.AM
21:13 ~U 12.04.13

Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian demands dismissal of the
policeman that kicked Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan
and hit his wife, Armenouhi Hovannisian.

Mrs Hovannisian, who spoke at Raffi Hovannisian’s rally in Yerevan’s
Freedom Square on Friday evening, said that she felt happy to go to
the Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims “barefoot.”

“On April 9 I lost my favorite shoes. I then thought it was symbolic
and I am grateful to Raffi for giving me that opportunity,” she said.

Mrs Hovannisian does not accuse the policemen. She even saw tears in
the eyes of one of them.

TERT.AM 21:13 ~U 12.04.13

Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian demands dismissal of the
policeman that kicked Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan
and hit his wife, Armenouhi Hovannisian.

Mrs Hovannisian, who spoke at Raffi Hovannisian’s rally in Yerevan’s
Freedom Square on Friday evening, said that she felt happy to go to
the Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims “barefoot.”

“On April 9 I lost my favorite shoes. I then thought it was symbolic
and I am grateful to Raffi for giving me that opportunity,” she said.

Mrs Hovannisian does not accuse the policemen. She even saw tears in
the eyes of one of them.

From: Baghdasarian

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HUNGARIAN-ARMENIAN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS RESTORED – HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

April 11, 2013 | 22:20

YEREVAN.- Budapest would like to see the Hungarian-Armenian diplomatic
relations restored in due course, Hungarian Foreign Ministry said.

Foreign Ministry responded to the Armenian News-NEWS.am inquiry whether
Hungary is taking precise steps to resume diplomatic relations between
the states.

In its response the Ministry evasively presents reasons for suspension
of diplomatic relations and provides joint communique issued by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Administration
and Justice of Hungary.

“Concerning the suspension of the diplomatic relations we declared
in Brussels several times that Hungary was and is firm in its
determination to avoid any interference of this bilateral issue
on the EU level. We did not ask for EU solidarity and we continue
to be committed to the development of EU-Armenian relations,” the
Ministry said.

Ramil Safarov, a lieutenant in the Azerbaijani military, was
extradited on August 31, 2012 from Hungary, where he was serving a
life sentence-and with no expression of either regret or remorse-for
the premeditated axe murder of Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan,
in his sleep, during a NATO Partnership for Peace program in Budapest
back in 2004. Safarov had planned on killing the other Armenian
military serviceman, who likewise was attending the aforesaid program,
but he was unable to carry out this plan.

Ramil Safarov’s return to Baku was welcomed, as was his act of murder,
by the officials of president Ilham Aliyev’s government and much
of Azerbaijani society, and the Azerbaijani president immediately
granted him a pardon, he was declared a national hero, promoted to
a higher military rank, and was allocated housing and pension.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan announced on August 31, 2012
that Armenia is suspending its diplomatic ties with Hungary. Also,
Sargsyan instructed the Ministry of Justice to take all measures to
petition to the international judicial tribunals, and with respect
to the Safarov case.

Ramil Safarov’s pardoning was condemned by virtually all international
organizations.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

PRESENCE OF COMMON BORDER NOT BASIC FACTOR FOR COUNTRIES TO JOIN CUSTOMS UNION: KHRISTENKO SAYS

YEREVAN, April 11. / ARKA /. Presence or absence of a common border
is not a basic factor for countries to join the Customs Union (of
Russia-Belarus and Kazakhstan), the chairman of the Eurasian Economic
Commission Viktor Khristenko said at a press briefing in Yerevan.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Armenia’s
joining the Customs Union is hampered by geopolitical reasons like
lack of common borders with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. However,
he added that Armenia could successfully cooperate with it.

But according to Khristenko, unlike the traditional economy in
which transport and logistics components defined everything, in
today’s economy the flow of goods although play a significant and
important role, but does not determine the nature and depth of
economic relationships.

“In general, with regard to trade and flow of goods, they are
usually short-term, depending greatly on the situation, while direct
investment, financial services are usually long-term and strategic,”
he said.

Khristenko said common border has no value for many of these processes.

“What border means for financial and communication services? Nothing.

We should move away from simple approaches because we are in 21st
century, and the period, which we will live, will not be determined
by development of transport links, although it is important too. It is
important for people in the first place, for human flows to take place,
it is important for the goods, but that can not stop life “, he said.

The Armenian government has signed a memorandum of cooperation today
with the Eurasian Economic Commission. The document was signed by
acting prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Viktor Khristenko. -0-

From: Baghdasarian

GENOCIDE PREVENTION SYMPOSIUM HELD AT UN

By Florence Avakian

Special to the Mirror-Spectator

NEW YORK – The trauma of genocide does not end with the killing. The
tragic effects can be long-term and very damaging. In the 20th century
alone, tens of millions have been killed in Armenia, Germany, Cambodia,
Bosnia, Guatemala, Darfur, Iraq, Rwanda, Sarajevo, South Sudan,
as well as countless Greeks, Assyrians and Palestinians.

At the New York headquarters of the United Nations (UN), on Thursday,
April 4, a special symposium took place, titled, “Toward Preventing
Genocide – Nations Acknowledging their Dark History, and Practicing
Mindful Non-Violence.” It was organized and moderated by Dr. Ani
Kalayjian, president of the Association for Trauma Outreach and
Prevention (ATOP).

Opening the conference was Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations
Garen Nazarian, who reminded the audience of more than 60 UN delegation
representatives that the “horror of genocide is repeating itself in
different parts of the world today, and innocent victims continue to
be persecuted for no other reason than their ethnicity, religion or
national origin. International cooperation and action are required
to facilitate the timely prevention and punishment of the crime of
genocide,” he stated.

Nazarian noted that the United Nations Human Rights Council recently
adopted a resolution initiated by Armenia, and co-sponsored by
almost 60 member states of the international body which “stresses the
importance of truth, justice, reparation and that perpetrators should
be held criminally responsible on the national or international level,
and affirmed.” He also emphasized the importance of education in the
prevention of genocide.

Concerning the Armenian Genocide, he stated that the process
of international recognition of this genocide, the first of the
20th century, “will be continued despite Turkey’s denial of that
indisputable historical fact.”

Following his remarks, Nazarian presented awards to the high school
students who were winners of the Krieger Essay Contest on the
prevention of genocide.

A film by Dr. Michael Hagopian, and produced by Carla Garabedian,
called “Voices from the Lake” was shown featuring eyewitness
harrowing accounts by survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Archival
photography detailed the atrocities, including the torturing of women
and children. “Grieving Armenian parents gave up their children to
Turks who were lined up in every town and city as the death marchers
passed through. They gave their precious children up so they would
not be killed even though they would probably go into harems or become
slaves,” said survivor Garabed Der Minassian.

An aid worker, Marie Jacobsen, reported that “a nation was
disappearing.” An eyewitness to the atrocities, she said the Turkish
gendarmes killed with axes and bayonets when they ran out of bullets.”

PREVENTION AND HEALING

Introducing the distinguished panel of speakers who focused on
lessons for prevention and healing, Dr. Kalayjian noted that the
Ottoman Empire following the Genocide, in its court sessions was the
first to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Twenty-eight countries of
the world have also recognized the Armenian Genocide. “Both sides –
victims and perpetrators need to heal,” she stressed.

Dr. Joyce Apsel, a professor at New York University and Institute for
the Study of Genocide, in her talk on “Challenges and Initiatives
for Prevention,” recalled that two international declarations were
passed in 1948: the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” and the
“Declaration of the Prevention of Genocide.” Across the world, the
“human capacity to commit genocide has continued,” she said. “It’s
important to understand and work for the prevention of any genocide.”

Apsel revealed that at the Zoryan Institute’s Genocide and Human
Rights University Program, where she has taught, Armenian and Turkish
students would come and talk to each other, a process which has been
created over the years. She outlined “transitional justice mechanisms”
which include many courses of education; the development of a series of
norms which have a responsibility to protect an international community
when states fail to meet this responsibility; a series of tribunals
which would make the perpetrators responsible; and truth commissions
to acknowledge what has happened. Atrocity prevention also includes
non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), lawyers, ordinary people to
prevent the escalation of violence, she said with emphasis.

Thea Halo, a Pontian Greek and author of Not Even my Name, spoke
about the role of memoir in the healing process. She confessed that
growing up, she didn’t know her heritage, and thus invented an ancient
Egyptian one. She related that Greeks and Assyrians were ignored
in Ottoman genocide history. Her mother, who is now almost 104, was
on the death march for almost eight months with her five siblings,
made into a slave and rescued by Armenians. “She never denigrated
Turks, only the Turkish and Ottoman governments,” said Halo, who read
harrowing excerpts about the Genocide from her book. “A memoir can
be a bridge for healing,” she noted quietly.

Alexander Dinelaris, who has written the award-winning play, “Red Dog
Howls,” which details how he found out about his Armenian heritage, was
the recipient of the Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress
and Genocide (AASSSG) 2013 Outstanding Achievement Award. He revealed
that though he is part Cuban, Puerto Rican, Greek and Armenian, he was
raised by his Armenian grandmother who never spoke about her travails
during the Genocide. “I have carried the fear and guilt for decades,
and worried that I would pass them on to my unborn child at the time. I
wanted to break the cycle of guilt, fear, shame, humiliation. Genocide
depends on dehumanization, and plays do the opposite. My play, “Red
Dog Howls” was a ‘collective catharsis,'” he said, quoting from Plato.

During the question-and-answer period, it was pointed out that one of
the major reasons that the Turks have not acknowledged the Armenian
Genocide is because of the potentially expensive reparation. What
is needed is the acknowledgment and validation of the Genocide, and
appropriate reparation, the latter being a cause of vast differences
of opinion in the Armenian community.

Again, it was repeated that the effects of a genocide persist through
generations with the subsequent generations carrying survivors’ guilt.

Before healing can be achieved, the roots of the problem must be
addressed, it was stressed.

The event concluded with a moment of silence for all victims of
genocide in the past and present.

Co-sponsors of the symposium included the Permanent Mission
of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, ATOP, AASSSG,
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Meaningfulworld, Armenian
Constitutional Rights Protective Centre of Armenia, Voices for Freedom,
and Institute for Multicultural Counseling & Education Services,
(IMCES).

From: Baghdasarian

ARAM HARUTYUNIAN: CHANGE OF POWER WILL OCCUR IN ARMENIA

Thursday,
April 11

According to the leader of National Accord Party Aram Harutyunian
who ran as a presidential candidate in the February 18 election,
change of power will occur in the country because “everyone – society,
businessmen, oligarchs are discontented with the incumbent president”.

“Serzh Sargsyan’s presidency will not last until 2018,” Aram
Harutyunian said, noting that there is a split within the authorities,
and the team feels that their leader does not enjoy popular support.

Commenting on the upcoming elections to Yerevan Council of Elders on
May 5, Aram Harutyunian said that the rating of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia (HHK) reaches only 10%, and in case of fair elections
the opposition will win.

“If certain forces, including Heritage Party’s representatives, attempt
to prevaricate during the elections to Yerevan Council of Elders, we
will notice it because Yerevan is a small city,” Harutyunian stressed.

TODAY, 15:59

Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian