Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Tamil Guardian, SriLanka
Feb 21 2015

Starbucks apologises for ‘offensive’ Armenian posters

Tamil Guardian 21 February 2015

The global coffee chain Starbucks has apologised to the Armenian
community and withdrawn a poster campaign that showed women dressed in
traditional Armenian clothing, drinking coffee under the crescent and
star of the Turkish flag.

The Armenian National Committee Of America (ANCA) criticised the
posters which were displayed ahead of the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian genocide, where 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman
forces. Turkey has refused to recognise the killings as genocide.

“Why is Starbucks selling coffee using an image of women, dressed in
traditional Armenian costumes, celebrating a Turkish state that
systematically victimized Armenian women during the Armenian genocide,
and that still denies this crime against all humanity?” asked ANCA on
Facebook.

“Serving as a place for the community to connect is core to our
business and we strive to be locally relevant in all of our stores,”
said Starbucks in an email to Asbarez. “We missed the mark here and we
apologize for upsetting our customers and the community.”

Starbucks subsequently apologised for the posters and withdrew them
from their stores, adding they would ensure the image would not appear
elsewhere.

The photographer responsible for the image, Timothy Rose, also issued
his “deepest apologies”, saying “once it came to my attention that
this was rightfully offensive to the Armenian community, I took the
image down”.

“I am in full support of their plight and would never have knowingly
supported any action that would hurt either them or cause unnecessary
pain.”

From: Baghdasarian

Over 1,000 IDF ‘lone soldiers’ attend personal errand day in Tel Aviv

ALIYAH WITH NBN
By JPOST.COM STAFF

02/22/2015 00:32

This opportunity to handle important personal affairs for ‘lone
soldiers’ was organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh and Friends of the IDF Lone
Soldier Program.

Over 1,000 lone soldiers attended their personal affairs day in Tel
Aviv . (photo credit:NEFESH B’NEFESH)

Over 1,000 lone soldiers from around the world serving in multiple
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) units convened on Thursday at Beit
HaChayal in Tel Aviv for a special “National Personal Planning Day”
(Yom Siddurim), according to a statement released by Nefesh B’Nefesh
(NBN) on Thursday.

Organizing this opportunity to handle important personal affairs was
the Nefesh B’Nefesh (NBN) and Friends of the IDF (FIDF) Lone Soldier
Program, in cooperation with the IDF Human Resources Department,
Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, Ministry of Interior, The
Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael.

All IDF lone soldiers – immigrants who come to Israel without their
immediate families to serve in the IDF – are entitled once every two
months to take a Personal Planning Day, an important opportunity to
attend to his or her personal affairs, such as bureaucratic paperwork,
banking and other essential needs. After discussions with soldiers and
IDF social workers, it became clear last year that many lone soldiers
were unable to take care of their myriad of personal matters in the
time allotted to them and they therefore needed further assistance to
help with these issues.

Following the enormous success of last year’s inaugural Personal
Planning Day, the IDF issued a directive to military units to release
all lone soldiers on Thursday, which resulted in almost doubling the
turnout from last year.

The Lone Soldier Program invited the essential civilian agencies whose
services are needed by lone soldiers, to convene on the same day,
under one roof, and assist the lone soldiers with their personal
matters. Among the participating agencies were: the Ministry of
Interior, Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, the Student
Licensing Office, Ministry of Housing, Automobile License Authority,
Israel Tax Authority, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Ha’aguda Lema’an
Hachayal,Discharged Soldiers Guidance Department, Electric Company of
Israel, Ktseen Ha’air, the Post Office, Bank of Israel and more.

According to the statement released by Nefesh B’nefesh, about 2,700
lone soldiers currently serve in the IDF including 860 from the U.S.,
471 from Russia, 300 from Ukraine, 220 from France, 78 from Canada, 74
from Britain, 71 from Belarus, 51 from Moldova, 39 from Australia, 37
from South Africa, 37 from Kazakhstan, 30 from Uzbekistan, 33 from
Argentina, 29 from Brazil, 21 from Mexico, 22 from Colombia, 23 from
Germany, 21 from Italy, 21 from Azerbaijan, 21 from Venezuela, 17 from
Georgia, 17 from Belgium, 12 from Uruguay, 12 from Spain, 7 from Peru,
9 from Guatemala, 8 from Hungary, 6 from Sweden, and soldiers from
dozens of other countries such as Armenia, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile,
Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Hong
Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Thailand,
Tunisia, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

From: Baghdasarian

Arab, Indian and Persian students also recited Armenian poems

16:39 | February 21,2015 | Official

On February 21, the employees of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, under
the leadership of RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan,
visited Oshakan and laid flowers at the tomb of Mesrop Mashtots. The
visit was organized as part of the events dedicated to International
Mother Language Day held at the initiative of the RA Ministry of
Diaspora. Among those attending the event were Governor of Aragatsotn
Province Sargis Sahakyan, Director of the Hrachya Atcharyan Institute
of Language at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of
Armenia (NAS RA) Victor Katvalyan, Head of the State Language
Inspectorate adjunct to the Government of the Republic of Armenia
Sergo Yeritsyan, as well as linguists, teachers and others.

A concert dedicated to International Mother Language Day was held at
the theological seminary adjunct to the local church. Greeting the
gathered, RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan mentioned
that this year’s events dedicated to International Mother Language Day
are unique in that all the efforts that Armenians have been making to
preserve the Armenian national identity for the past century are being
reinterpreted. In his speech, Srapionyan particularly said: `Ottoman
Turkey’s plan to eliminate the Armenian people and their culture a
century ago, failed because the only pillar for the Armenians deprived
of their homeland was the powerful pillar that they were able to use,
and that is our mother language. It was with that awareness that one
of our great Armenians, French-Armenian writer Shahan Shahnour sounded
the alarm, saying, `The language is declining, the language is
declining, the language is declining, pardon, Ararat’. His concern was
justified because Armenians named Petros became Pierre, and the `Hair
Mer’ (Lord’s Prayer) was said in French. Today, thanks to Minister of
Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan and the Ministry of Diaspora, a movement has
been launched for the preservation and eternity of the Mother
Language. Speak in Armenian! Pray in Armenian! Sing in Armenian! That
is the guarantee for our eternity and is the duty of every Armenian to
respect the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.’

Sergo Yeritsyan also greeted the gathered and expressed his gratitude
to those who are devoted to the preservation and the dissemination of
the Armenian language. The head of the State Language Inspectorate
praised the events dedicated to International Mother Language Day that
are organized by the Ministry of Diaspora and have already become a
tradition, as well as the several programs and events that have been
carried out in Armenia and in the Armenian Diaspora, contributing to
the preservation and the dissemination of the mother language.

The attendees were especially impressed by the Arab, Indian and
Persian students of Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar
Heratsi who recited Armenian poems.

Syrian-Armenian boys and girls recited poems and sang songs devoted to
the Armenian language. The event included performances by students of
Khrimyan Hairik Middle School in the Voskehat village of Aragatsotn
Province.

Afterwards, the participants of the event visited the Mesrop Mashtots
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matendaran) and laid flowers near
the statue of Mesrop Mashtots, after which members of the Mesrop
Mashtots Speech Culture Center recited poems devoted to the Armenian
alphabet.

From: Baghdasarian

Turkey linking major arms purchase to Armenian genocide recognition

February 20, 2015

Eurasianet – Turkey is reportedly linking its purchase a multi
billion-dollar air-defense system to whether the bidder countries
recognize the Armenian genocide.

That news, reported by a number of Turkish media, is the latest
unexpected turn in the multi-year saga over the arms deal. The
original bidders for the deal were companies representing the United
States, Europe, China, and Russia, giving the program the air of a
geopolitical litmus test. When Turkey announced that it planned to
give the Chinese company the contract, it faced a barrage of pressure
from its NATO allies who were concerned that linking that system with
NATO air defense equipment already in Turkey could expose NATO secrets
to China.

All along, Turkey has denied that there was any political subtext to
its decision, saying that its choice of China was related solely to
questions of price and the fact that China would hand over more of the
technology to Turkey. Now, though, that appears to have changed. With
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide approaching in April,
Ankara is reportedly waiting to see how the various bidders mark that
event.

“Rumors in political circles in Ankara said that no decision will be
made over the missile defense system winner before [April 24] since
Turkey wants to first see France and the U.S.’s position on the 1915
incidents,” reported the pro-government Daily Sabah. “An agreement may
be made with China if the U.S. and French administrations take a
‘pro-Armenian’ stance.”

Hurriyet Daily News has reported the same thing:

“We have agreed with the government leaders not to rush to a decision
any time soon,” one defense procurement official said. “A decision
before April 24 is out of the question.”

A senior diplomat confirmed that Ankara first wants to see the U.S.
and French positions on the “genocide claims” before awarding a
sizeable contract “to a bidder potentially from one of these
countries.”

“How these countries observe the centennial of the events [of
1915-1920] will be an important input for our final decision,” he
said.

And a “top government official for defense and security issues” told
newspaper Defense News last month: “One imminent political
deliberation is whether the US Congress will recognize the alleged
Armenian genocide in April. We will wait Congress’ move before making
a decision on the contract.”

Meanwhile, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense has said that whichever system
it buys will not be linked to NATO’s. That would seem to open the door
for buying the Chinese equipment. But it also has extended the
deadline for the Chinese, American, and European bidders until the
summer — as Defense News notes, the sixth time it has made such an
extension.

It’s not clear whether official recognition of the Armenian genocide
has any more chance to get through Congress this year than it has
before. But arguments like Ankara’s have held sway in the past: in
2010, a coalition of American defense contractors wrote a letter to
Congressarguing against genocide recognition: “Alienating a
significant NATO ally and trading partner would have negative
repercussions for U.S. geopolitical interests and efforts to boost
both exports and employments.”

But the U.S. bid was relatively unlikely to win; the second-place
offer, after China’s, was that of Eurosam, based in France, a country
which not only recognized the genocide but even criminalized genocide
denial.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia’s Diaspora played minor role in Artsakh movement – Sargis Hatspanyan

14:28 * 22.02.15

Public and political figure Sargis Hatspanyan, as an Armenia Diaspora
representative, talked to Tert.am about the Armenian Diaspora’s role
in both the Artsakh liberation movement and Armenia’s revival.

Mr Hatspanyan, you are one of the few Armenian Diaspora
representatives who decided to join the Artsakh movement. What made
you come to the homeland to join the movement and, later, take part in
the war for Artsakh’s freedom?

When people rose in Armenia, we, in Paris, were holding rallies in
front of the Soviet embassy. But when volunteers were urged to go to
Artsakh, I saw no one was willing to. I was surprised because it
showed Armenian Diaspora’s true worth. Years later we knew that just a
few diasporic Armenians took part in the battles. If we speak of seven
million Armenians throughout the world at that time, but only a few of
then went to war, and comment is superfluous. But I felt
disappointment in Armenia, not in the Diaspora because I had been very
enthusiastic about all the people rising in Armenia. It was an
unprecedented situation on a global scale – almost a third of a
country’s population kept on standing for weeks, which, regrettably,
was followed by Azerbaijan-unleashed war, and our best guys went to
war and could liberate a small part of our homeland.

Mr Hatspanyan, do you think we are overestimating the Armenian Diaspora’s role?

The Armenian Diaspora’s role in both the Artsakh liberation movement
and Armenia’s revival is a minor one. Of course, there are reasons for
that, and I have repeatedly cited them. Armenians who scattered round
the world after the Armenian Genocide have always dreamt of free,
independent and united Armenia. After Armenian gained independence, it
was expected to be appreciated, but it was not. The Armenian Diaspora
has now shown its true worth – of course, I am speaking generally –
some people there are really patriotic and I cannot reproach them in
any way because they did their best. But I can cite an example: the
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund was established simultaneously with the
declaration of the Republic of Armenia. The fund released a report on
its activities for 1992-2002. The globally raised funds totaled US $61
million. And if you share US $61million between seven million people
during ten years, it does not even make US $1 per capita. This is an
answer to your question.
And if one member of each family in the Armenian Diaspora settled down
in Armenia, this country would be brilliant in all the areas of life.
Armenia should have been appreciated due to its resident population,
which has never taken place. On the contrary, it is diasporic
Armenians that met Armenians arriving from Armenia at the airports.

Mr Hatspanyan, what keeps diasporic Armenians from settling down in Armenia?

I cannot say. I have met many of political forces here that, instead
of helping repatriates settle down in Armenia kept on criticizing
Armenia, while their fellow countrymen were defending the border. To
put an end to this criticism I take diasporic Armenians who come with
me to the Yerablur pantheon and tell them that the best sons of our
nation are buried there. And they remain silent because they cannot
say anything.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
Le Président Sarkissian a salué la déclaration des coprésidents faite à Cracovie

L’ensemble de la presse rend compte de la visite des coprésidents du
Groupe de Minsk et de leurs entretiens avec le Président Sarkissian et
le Ministre des AE, Edward Nalbandian. D’après un communiqué de la
présidence, les coprésidents ont partagé leurs impressions quant à
leur visite à Bakou et évoqué avec le Président de la République les
préoccupations qui persistent dans le processus actuel de règlement.
Le Chef de l’Etat a salué la déclaration des coprésidents faite à
Cracovie, dont la teneur différait, selon lui, de celles des
déclarations précédentes et qui appelait l’Azerbaïdjan à respecter ses
engagements.

Edward Nalbandian, quant à lui, a attiré l’attention des coprésidents
sur les violations continues du cessez-le-feu par l’Azerbaïdjan, en
dépit des appels de la communauté internationale. Il a évoqué les
déclarations des autorités azerbaïdjanaises quant à la nécessité de
travailler sur un accord de paix global. Selon le Ministre, lorsqu’un
accord relatif aux principes de base du règlement de conflit sera
obtenu et lorsque le HK l’approuvera, des négociations seront alors
possibles entre l’Arménie, l’Azerbaïdjan et le HK en ce qui concerne
l’élaboration d’un accord de paix global. Le Ministre a par ailleurs
évoqué les tentatives de l’Azerbaïdjan de présenter les deux > azerbaïdjanais emprisonnés au HK comme des >. Il a rappelé que leur culpabilité avait été prouvée,
ainsi que le fait qu’ils avaient enlevé, torturé et tué un adolescent
au HK.

Plusieurs quotidiens se réfèrent aux médias azerbaïdjanais, ceux-ci
ayant rapporté les propos de la sous-secrétaire d’Etat américaine,
Victoria Nuland, à Bakou, ayant appelé Erevan à faire un geste
humanitaire et à relcher les deux ressortissants azerbaïdjanais.
D’après les médias azerbaïdjanais, Mme Nuland aurait déclaré à Bakou
que ce sujet constituerait l’un des principaux thèmes à évoquer à
Erevan.

Réagissant aux propos de la sous-secrétaire d’Etat américaine, David
Babayan, porte-parole du > du HK, a dit ironiquement à
tert.am que si Mme Nuland était si préoccupée du destin des > azerbaïdjanais, Stepanakert pourrait organiser une
rencontre avec eux.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Arménie en
date du 18 février 2015

dimanche 22 février 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Volunteers from the Diaspora visited VivaCell-MTS

by Erik Abrahamyan
Saturday, February 21, 12:27

VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian met young volunteers of
Birthright Armenia and encouraged their initiative to get closer to
their roots. Today VivaCell-MTS hosted a group of young Diaspora
Armenian volunteers from different countries aged between 20 and 32
years, who serve as volunteers for an average of 6 months each, and
are ready to apply their professional skills in the regions of our
country.

VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian presented the volunteers
with key aspects of VivaCell-MTS’ operation, the key values guiding
the Company, as well as its strategy in the sphere of corporate
responsibility and key areas of intervention. Ralph Yirikian also
presented the young people from the Diaspora with the Company’s
activities aimed at increasing awareness on the genocide and its
recognition. In particular, the Company supported the initiatives of
the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in publication of several
important monographs by eye-witnesses of the genocide, acquisition of
books from different collections in Armenia and outside the country.
The Company’s staff participated on voluntary basis in tree-planting
activities and cleaning on the territory of the monument.
VivaCell-MTS pays particular importance and attention to programs
aimed at inviting more young Armenians from the Diaspora to the
Homeland for engaging in volunteer activities and integrating with the
country’s culture. VivaCell-MTS finds that the best way to learn about
Armenia is not just to consider Armenia as a touristic destination
where one can familiarize himself with numerous cultural and
historical sites but also as an opportunity to work in the
professional area or just contribute through volunteering in projects
aimed at improving areas of the society. Discovering Armenia means
getting to know it from inside by becoming a member of the society,
feeling the pulse of the country, enriching own personal experience
through communicating and getting in touch with the daily lives of
different people, and much more. It is also important to engage in
friendly relationships with peers and create personal connections with
potential for future professional and business relationships. “Your
decision to get to your roots is one of the greatest decisions of your
life. It is self-rewarding in that your embrace the essence of your
identity in the country of your ancestors, your grand grandfathers,”
VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said to young Armenians
from the United States, the Russian Federation, Syria, Mexico, Lebanon
and Canada.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications
operator, having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G network reach and spreading a
wide range of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the
best of the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st
July 2005 and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to
build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base.
VivaCell-MTS drives innovation and aims at always being at the
forefront of any development serving the Armenian mobile
communications market. The company follows the guidance provided by
ISO 26000 (International Standard of Social Responsibility).

à63A390-B9AB-11E4-96010EB7C0D21663

From: Baghdasarian

Egypt offered millions for the destruction of the Holocaust documents

Turkey’s Muslim Brotherhood claimed that bribes paid for incineration
of the records and documents relating to the Armenian Genocide in
Cairo

Saturday February 21, 2015 18:53 29 515 0
Translated from Turkish
Hrant Kasparyan / Democrat News

1915 Armenian Genocide on the state archives in Egypt and Turkey
Located document for incineration of records that Egypt has proposed
an offer to millions of dollars. Jihad Party founder Speaking at the
Egyptian government session Sheikh Nabil Naim, to burn the document in
Egypt and records relating to the Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s pay a
figure in excess of a million dollars, in the destruction of the
documents in the Muslim Brotherhood, some members said that
responsibility. The capital of Egypt on the subject of Veto newspaper
based in Cairo, the news release, the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the
center were destroyed by burning the archives for Turkey to documents
leave in the lurch in front of international courts and wrote that the
records. According to the report, accusing Turkey of destruction of
archives Sheikh Naim, Egypt argued that Turkey should punish in this
regard.

They PLACE IN THE COUNTRY benefiting from CHAOS FEVER

Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak in January 2011 against the
capital of the chaos in the country after the popular uprising began
in Tahrir Square in Cairo were torched a number of government
buildings. According to information obtained, the Middle East and
important records and the building of the Institute of Egypt archived
documents on the shores of the Mediterranean countries that was set on
fire with Molotov cocktails attacked the 17 December 2011. Egyptian
sources, firefighters avoid rather than on long event, the manuscript
of the institute and noted that the vast majority of ash archives. The
restoration of historic buildings of the 18th century built the Emir
of Sharjah Sheikh Al-Kasýmiye drew attention to take in. Hand-November
I, Sharjah Contact to attend the Summit in 2013, the Prime Minister of
the United Arab Emirates to the period Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet in
person at the airport had a privileged protocol implements other
participants Erdogan summit.

Soykýrým belgelerini imha için Mýsýr’a milyon dolarlýk teklif

Kaynak ==>

From: Baghdasarian

LIBAN
Le catholicos Aram Ier envoie des lettres de condoléances au président
égyptien et au patriarche Tawadros II

Sa Sainteté le Catholicos Aram I a envoyé des lettres de condoléances
et sa solidarité au président de l’Egypte Abdel Fattah Elsisi et au
patriarche Tawadros II de l’Eglise orthodoxe copte, pour le meurtre de
21 coptes égyptiens par des extrémistes islamistes en Libye.

Après avoir exprimé ses condoléances Sa Sainteté a rappelé les
conséquences dangereuses de l’extrémisme qui pourraient compromettre
la coexistence pacifique entre chrétiens et musulmans dans la région.

Après avoir rappelé que l’extrémisme est un mal mondial le catholicos
Aram Ier a souligné l’urgence cruciale d’une lutte contre l’extrémisme
sous toutes ses formes et expressions.

dimanche 22 février 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Cinéma
> avec Gérard Darmon

En 2005, pour son premier film >, le réalisateur Edmond
Bensimon avait choisi un thème original mettant en scène Gérard
Darmon, un personnage qui rêve de rencontrer son idole Charles
Aznavour.

Le protagoniste (Jean-Claude) connaît toutes les chansons de la star
internationale, à tel point qu’elles lui dictent sa conduite tout au
long du récit. C’est ainsi qu’au détour d’une conversation avec ses
amis d’infortune il évoque la souffrance de son idole au temps du
génocide et récite les premiers vers de la chanson >.

dimanche 22 février 2015,
Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian