Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 7 2015

Ilham Aliyev: “My message to Armenia: stop the occupation”

7 February 2015 – 11:31pm
“Vestnik Kavkaza”

During a round table “Beyond Ukraine – unresolved conflicts in Europe,
held in the framework of the Munich Security Conference, the
representative of Armenia addressed the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham
Aliyev with accusations of firing at the positions of the Armenian
army and increasing tension on the front line and said: “If you want
to resolve the conflict, then my message to you is stop shooting!”
Ilham Aliyev said:

“Armenia has occupied our territory, violated international law,
committed genocide in Khojaly, destroyed our historical and religious
monuments, but it shifts the blame to us. The question is, what are
Armenian soldiers doing in the occupied territories? What have
Armenian soldiers forgotten in Agdam? If he does not want to be
killed, then he shouldn’t go to Agdam. Let him stay in his Yerevan,
Gyumri, in his own country. You have enough space for yourselves in
the country, there are, in fact, not so many people left. So what are
you doing in Agdam, what are you doing in Fizuli?

The year 2014 was generally remarkable in terms of the activity of
intermediaries in the negotiations. President Putin organized a
meeting between President Sargsyan and me in August. Already in
September, Secretary of State [John] Kerry organized a round of
negotiations with the Armenian president and me. Finally, at the end
of October, President Hollande invited us to Paris, where we had, I
would say, an excellent, very constructive meeting. Both parties then
stated that they considered this meeting a great success and will try
to reduce tension on the frontline. What happened then? After less
than ten days, Armenia began military exercises on the occupied
territories, particularly in Agdam, with the participation, according
to the Armenian media, of 47 thousand soldiers. They organized
manoeuvres in occupied territory with the use of military equipment,
aircraft and helicopters. For three days our army remained patient
enough not to respond, but then Armenia with the help of its Mi-24
helicopters attacked Azerbaijan’s position. Our army had to respond
and one of the helicopters was shot down. For Armenia, it was an
occasion to accuse Azerbaijan. With this provocation, it showed
disrespect to the leaders of France, Russia and the United States that
have made so much effort to reduce tensions. Armenia thinks itcan do
anything, and no one will punish it. This is the main reason behind
Armenia’s behavior.

Now they are blaming us, saying, Do not shoot!. So, my message to
Armenia is: end the occupation.” As soon as you stop the occupation,
we will have peace, cooperation and reconciliation. And the reason why
it is not happening is because the Armenian soldier is still in Agdam
and Fisuli.”

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network
28, Chovelidze street
Tbilisi, 380008, GEORGIA
Tel: ++ 995 32 99 63 28, 995 99 57 77 22
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Web:

CENN Vacancy Announcement

GIS Specialist for the Program

Waste Management Technologies in Regions (WMTR), Georgia

CENN is looking for a GIS Specialist for the Program Waste Management
Technologies in Regions (WMTR), Georgia.

Vacancy Reference #: GIS/CENN/GEO/150206

Employer: CENN – Caucasus
Environmental NGO Network

Post(s) Title: GIS Specialist for the
Program Waste Management Technologies in Regions (WMTR), Georgia

Deadline for Applications: 18:00, February 20, 2015

Duty station: Tbilisi, Georgia

Duration: 01.03.2015-01.03.2016
with potential prolongation period

Full staff: 8 hours a day

Working hours: 9:00-18:00, 5 days a week

Specific responsibilities include:

* Create maps and graphs, using GIS software and related equipment.
* Conduct Research to locate and obtain existing databases.
* Gather, analyze, and integrate spatial data from staff and determine
how best the information can be displayed using GIS.
* Compile geographic data from a variety of sources including
censuses, field observation, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and
existing maps.
* Analyze spatial data for geographic statistics to incorporate into
documents and reports.
* Design and update database, applying additional knowledge of spatial
feature representations.
* Enter new map data through use of a digitizer or by direct input of
coordinate information using the principles of cartography including
coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map
scales.
* Analyze geographic relationships among varying types of data.
* Prepare metadata and other documentation.
* Operate and maintain GIS system hardware, software, plotter,
digitizer, color printer, and video camera.
* Move, copy, delete, and add files, drawings, and maps to output
reports in hard copy or electronic transfer.
* Retrieve stored maps.

Necessary Qualifications:

1. Education: Post graduate degree in ICT/Geology/Geography/
Environment Science & Management with degree/diploma in GIS based
applications.

2. Experience: At least 2 years’ experience of GIS; should have strong
understanding about the application of geospatial technologies.

3. Abilities and Skills:

* Geography, Geology – Knowledge of various methods for describing the
location and distribution of land, sea, and air masses including their
physical locations, relationships, and characteristics.
* Communication, Written, Oral, and Cartographic – The ability to
convey GIS/spatial information to non-GIS/technical people.
* Analytical Skills – The ability to solve problems using the GIS
suite of tools.
* Information Gathering – Knowing how to find information and identify
essential information, and validate the information.
* Information Ordering – The ability to correctly follow a given rule
or set of rules in order to arrange things or actions in a certain order.
* Computer Science – Using and developing computer programs to solve
problems.

4. Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Georgian.

5. Personal characteristics – active, open-minded, management skills,
friendly, flexible, sense of responsibility and ability to work
independently.

Interested and qualified candidates please send a resume (CV) and cover
letter proving your abilities and describing your interest in this position
(in English language) by 18:00, February 20, 2015, to the following e-mail:
[email protected]

Note: All applications must include the Vacancy Reference # of position for
which you are applying.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

From: Baghdasarian

U.S. envoy to Ankara: Full acknowledgement of facts on 1915 massacres
is in interest of Turkish and Armenian citizens

12:48 07/02/2015 >> POLITICS

In an interview with NTV, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass, among
other issues, spoke about the Armenian Genocide and the U.S.
participation in the Battle of Gallipoli centenary events.

According to Hurriyet Daily News, regarding the U.S. position on the
Armenian Genocide, Bass said: “I cannot speak to how the events will
be characterized in whatever the president or Congress chooses to say
on the anniversary, but, I can tell you that our policy hasn’t
changed. Our policy is that we believe that a full, frank and just
acknowledgement of the facts surrounding those terrible massacres and
tragedies in 1915 is in the interest of the citizens of Turkey, it is
in the interest of the citizens of Armenia and it is in the interest
of the descendants of people who suffered in that period.”

Regarding U.S. participation in the 100th anniversary of the Battle of
Gallipoli, he said: “It is too early to say how we will be represented
in Gallipoli. I would say, with respect to the timing of the
commemorations, you know there is so much depth of feeling and so much
suffering that occurred in 1915 among many populations that, I think,
from our perspective, we think that commemorations should occur in a
way that allows every community that suffered to commemorate the
events in a way and in a manner that is respectful of the dead and
that allows them in their own ways to acknowledge that suffering and
to commemorate their dead respectfully.”

From: Baghdasarian

102-year-old Armenian Genocide survivor hurries home after surgery

07/02/2015 13:47:00
Oratert News

The witness of the Mount Musa Battle and the traditional Harissa
creation, Silvard Atajyan is waiting for her 103rd anniversary in
April impatiently. The Armenian Genocide witness, notwithstanding the
respectable age, has overcome a serious surgery, which was successful.
At first sight it is unbelievable though fact that even at this age
the woman managed to overcome such a serious health problem and get
well with the help of the doctors. At the hospital ward she does not
feel lack of visitors. Surrounded with the love and care of the
members of her family, Silvard Atajyan is waiting for the soonest
recovery and for the return home.

“Grandma is really strong. Five years ago she got an injury in the
left leg, in which a metal structure was placed and the whole weight
of the body fell on her right leg, which in fact did not endure and
was broken years later”, – told the grandson of the Genocide survivor,
Arshavir Atajyan to Armenpress correspondent.

Earlier Armenpress presented the story of the Armenian Genocide
witness, which is as follows:

The Armenian Genocide initiated in the Ottoman Empire during the World
War I in the beginning of the previous century is one of the biggest
crimes against humanity. Advancing the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide the new project introduced by Armenpress news agency
is dedicated to the story of the eyewitnesses and survivors of the
calamity to prove the world one more time that our demand for the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide is fair and justified. This time
the project is dedicated to the story of 101-year old Silvard Atajyan.

MAY 14, 101-year old Silvard Atajyan living in Armenia is one of the
few witnesses of the events described in renowned novel “The Forty
Days of Musa Dagh” by Austrian author Franz Werfel.

Her family, which comes from Suedia region of Cilicia, was among those
Armenians, which participated in the heroic struggle against the
Turkish slaughterers in 1915. When the local authorities tried to
realize the order to force the Armenians to leave their homes, the
Armenians had made decision to resist and they climbed up the Mount
Musa, where they organized struggle for their self-defense and managed
to throw back the attacks of the Turkish troops 53 days.

Among other things Silvard Atajyan noted: “I climbed up the Mount Musa
along with my sister, mother, and grandmother in 1911. I was three
years old at that time. My father and uncle were soldiers. My father
ordered the mother to take us and climb up the mountain.”

After the 53 days of resistance the family reached Egypt due to a French vessel.

Silvard remembers how a part of the women was at the side of their
husbands and the other part supplied food and arms to the fighters.

“In the evening women usually brought figs, grapes and bread for the
fighters. But little by little our forces expired…”, – the 101-yer-old
woman said with excitement and tears in her eyes. In the memory of
Silvard, notwithstanding her little age, come out the images of the
French ships, bringing assistance to the Armenians. After the 53 days
of resistance the family reached Egypt due to a French vessel.

Harissa has got a historic past for Musa Dagh people

“During the fights my uncle died, who was thrown into the river. That
was the reason my aunts did not eat fish for years after that”, – says
the witness.

After living for five years in Egypt, in 1919 the family of Silvard
returned to the motherland. Then in 1939 they moved to Aleppo and
later, in 1947 – to Yerevan.

“We grew up in Aleppo, where I got married with Hovsep, born in 1911,
who was a colonel. We got a house and came back to Yerevan, from where
we were exiled to Vardenis”, – remembers Silvard, who worked there as
a carpet weaver.

In 1953 the Atajyan family moved from Vardenis to Yerevan and got a
land in the Malatia-Sebastia administrative district, where they have
lived up to now.

The hero of our story states that Harissa is one of the traditional
Musa Dagh dishes and has a historic past. It is mainly prepared for
happy or sad ceremonies. And that is the reason it is made after it is
blessed by a priest and necessarily from sacrificed lamb meat.

Years after touching upon the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
the 101-year-old Silvard says that she does not lose hope, as living
with hope is characteristic of an Armenian. “I often watch news
programs and tell everybody to watch it too, so that they know what is
happening in the world. I am not educated but my brain works”, –
states the hero of the story half-seriously and half-jokingly, adding
that according to the forecast, she will live for 5 years more.

She is fond of the flowers, which she has planted and cares with her own hands.

“When I got ill, in the hospital I even told my son not to dry my
flowers”, – emphasized the Genocide-atrocities-survived Silvard, who,
using her walking device, showed us all her flowers in the house yard,
the care of which she does not trust anybody.

Today Silvard has 3 sons, one daughter, 7 grandchildren, and 12 great grandsons.

From: Baghdasarian

Green Passports To Regulate SHHP Sphere

15:27 February 06, 2015
EcoLur

“The material was developed in the frames of “Supporting reforms in
the sector of small hydro power plants through enabling a dialogue
between civil society and the Ministry of Nature Protection for
sustainable use of river ecosystems” supported by UNDP/GEF Small
Grants Programme”.

From: Baghdasarian

MEDIAS-GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Le 100ème anniversaire du génocide arménien évoqué sur le site >

Le site > consacre un article sur le génocide
arménien à l’occasion du 100ème anniversaire du génocide arménien,
article signé par l’homme politique Libanais Nayili Toueni.

> écrit :
From: Baghdasarian

Armenians and Alavis create union in Turkey

14:09, 7 February, 2015

YEREVAN, 7 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Armenians and the Alavis have
created the “Union of Friendship of Armenians and Alavis of Dersim”
(DERADOST) in Dersim, Turkey, as “Armenpress” reports, according to
Demokrat Haber.

It is mentioned that the goal of the creation of the Union is to help
the two ancient nations get to know each other since relations were
destroyed after the Armenian Genocide and due to reasons known to us
all. Among the participants of the opening ceremony of the
organization were Deputy Mayor of Dersim Hüseyin Tunç and
representatives of civil society.

From: Baghdasarian

EYEWITNESS TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

February 5, 2015

“I argued in all sorts of ways with him but he said that there was
no use, that they had already disposed of three quarters of them,
that there were none left in Bitlis, Van, Erzeroum, and that the
hatred was so intense now that they have to finish it. I spoke to
him about the commercial losses and he said they did not care, that
they had figured it out and knew it would not exceed for the banks
etc. five million pounds. He said they want to treat the Armenians
like we treat the negroes. I think he meant like the Indians. I asked
him to make exceptions in some few cases which he promised to do.”

Henry Morgenthau’s report of his conversation with Talaat Pasha.dated
8 August 1915. United States Diplomacy on the Bosphorus: The Diaries
of Ambassador Morgenthau 1913-1916, p. 298.

From: Baghdasarian

ISSUE OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE MAY GIVE US A SURPRISE

Igor Muradyan, Political Analyst
Comments – 06 February 2015, 14:00

The existing relations between Russia and Armenia are formally
strategic to the extent it is possible between a small country located
in an unstable region and a huge nuclear country with incomprehensible
internal and external priorities, with a comprador and oligarchic
bourgeoisie.

Unfortunately, Armenia with its political class has not run out of
idealistic outlook on Russia. It is worthwhile to bring the example of
the U.S.-Israel relations when Israel is constantly fighting against
its strategic partner.

The notion of strategic partnership does not fit the rules of distinct
circles and rules, and in specific cases these relations have a
different content. Now a number of problems have not been overcome
and they have marred the Armenian-Russian relations and have grown
into anti-Russian moods.

Aside from a lot of positive circumstances the issue of coordination of
political consultations and decisions on foreign policy and security
remains up in the air. Is it possible to resolve such a problem
between countries in different weight groups? For the time being,
there are more arguments that this problem will not be resolved soon.

If the procedure of mutual consultations between Armenia and Russia
is applied, Russia will face complications in its relations with the
South Caucasus and the Western community. Russia could not afford to
adopt the concept of “prioritization”, giving up on the concept of
“parity”. In other words, Russia is not in the habit of selective
attitude to the countries of the region. The Russian elite and policy
makers were not ready for such policy when Russia would bid on one
state of the region and have to force its partnership on another
state of the region.

However, the policy of “parity” requires a lot of political resources
and only a stronger state can benefit from them. Moscow could not
implement the principle of “parity” even when the Soviet Union
existed. However, a quite unique consulting has formed in Moscow
which would not apprehend the idea of “priority” in foreign policy,
in the result of its own and group interests.

It is possible that Moscow is having problems with making foreign
political decisions.

However, the key factor that limits the practice of political
consultancies is Russia’s aspiration to close cooperation with Turkey
and exchange Armenian national interests with agreements with Turkey.

In this way Russia tries to involve Azerbaijan in its area of influence
and supplies modern weapons, which questions the security of Armenia
and partnership with Russia.

As a result, Russia views Turkey and Azerbaijan as its partners,
and Armenia as a vassal. Russia has forced Armenia to give up on a
sovereign foreign policy and subsequently its statehood, integration
with the European Union, the leading structure of the West, involving
it in the marginal Eurasian Union, thereby dooming it to international
isolation and blockade.

Now Armenia is in a systemic financial and economic crisis which
is not possible to avoid if one walks with Russia. The country has
appeared in decline and incompetent economic situation.

The United States and its partners do not just conduct a policy of
“parity” in the South Caucasus, as well as in Eastern Europe and
Eurasia, but a rather balanced policy of universalism when an identical
homogeneous but not a one-dimensional “field” is formed which involves
this super region in new relations with new priorities and purposes.

This huge political and geo-economic expansion does not leave freedom
to Russia to build relations with its partners which would take into
account their needs in economy and security.

A fight for influence is underway between the Atlantic and Eurasian
blocs which have controversial tendencies of development, and
discussing the relations of Armenia and Russia outside this context
will be misleading. However, the Eurasian bloc has already collapsed,
and the Atlantic one continues, despite existing phenomena typical
of crisis.

At the same time, this geopolitical arrangement does not reduce the
importance of secondary and tertiary factors in the Armenian-Russian
relations.

There are ubiquitous assessments in Moscow which question these
relations and forecast the integration and membership of Armenia to
NATO. In fact, this is a specific question and Russia cannot pretend
that there is no such a problem.

However, the strange thing is that the political leadership of Armenia
announces regularly that membership to NATO is not on the agenda,
there are no political forces that would lobby and promote the idea,
there is no discussion on this topic but in Moscow such assessments
are intensifying.

The political forces are busy with situational matters and have no
idea about relations with NATO. In the absence of a left political
sector, nevertheless, leftist moods are ubiquitous in Armenia, which
does not intensify the public aspiration to membership to NATO.

The military circles may have interest in NATO but it turned out that
this interest is expressed in arms and army building. Apparently,
Armenian servicemen have concerns about isolation because NATO plans
include enlargement of the alliance. At the same time, most servicemen
consider CSTO as a real alternative to the maintenance of country’s
security.

In March 2006 a brainstorming with 12 leading British military and
political experts took place in London on integration of Armenia to
NATO. Experts came to the following conclusion: not the technology
of membership of Armenia to NATO but leaving CSTO and revoking the
agreement with Russia is important.

The European Union did not offer even the minimum conditions of
security to Armenia and thereby doomed it to the September 3 decision.

Relations with the European Union have been frozen, and it will not
be possible to revive them in the nearest future.

Now the objective is obvious: the Armenian-Russian relations must be
limited, and the Russian military base must be withdrawn from Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

SR SOCIALLY RELEVANT FILM FESTIVAL FEATURES FOUR ARMENIAN FILMS

10:44, 06 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The 2nd edition of the SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York
runs from March 16 – 22, 2015 at Tribeca Cinemas, Maysles Cinema and
SVA. The festival’s timely and socially engaging selection offers
World and U.S. premieres, in addition to a slate of tributes and
industry panels.

The four Armenian-themed films selected include Born in Adana, by David
Hovan, My Mother’s Voice, by Dr. Kay Mouradian, Cyprus Summer 1974,
by Edith Weil, and 24/Havadamk, by Khoren Nazarenko, which will all
play on Sunday afternoon, March 22 at Tribeca Cinemas.

Films from over 30 countries including Armenia, Australia, Canada,
China, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Haiti,
Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Liberia,
Luxembourg, New Zealand, Palestine, Patagonia, Peru, Romania, Russia,
South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey,
UAE and the USA will be screened in 4 venues, Massis Post reports.

SRSocially Relevant Film Festival New York is a new not-for-profit film
festival showcasing socially relevant film content. The films selected
raise awareness to social problems and current issues. This year’s
lineup includes films that address a wide range of issues including
Gun control & police brutality, race relations & discrimination,
violence against women & empowering women, LGBT rights, conflict
in the Mideast, the environment & climate change, the US economy &
oil rush, immigration & exile.

The Festival was inaugurated in March 2014 with a program of 55 films
from 18 countries at the Quad Cinema. Nora Armani, Actor/Filmmaker and
Founding Artistic Director of SR, created the festival in response to
the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling. “I
strongly believe that the violence portrayed on our screens and
in video games is responsible for the banalization of evil in our
societies and the proliferation of violent forms of communication.

Most films today encourage misrepresentation, reinforce stereotypes
and create an escapist passive attitude in youth and adults towards
major social issues. In reverse, simply by focusing more on socially
relevant themes, positive social change can be promoted through the
powerful medium of cinema.”

The Festival opens with the US premiere of the Turkish/German/French
co-production Come to my voice (Were Denge Min), directed by Huseyin
Karabey, which will screen at CUNY Graduate Center, Proshansky
Auditorium on March 16th, and is by invitation through the Festival.

The film premiered at the Berlinale in 2014. Sponsored by the German
Consulate General in New York in partnership with SR Film Fest and
MEMEAC (Middle East Middle East America Center) at CUNY Graduate
Center.

Nora Armani is an award-winning actor/filmmaker with International
stage and screen credits in many languages. She has curated and
organized film events, and guest-curated film festivals internationally
and in the US: AFI in Los Angeles and the Kennedy Center in Washington,
D.C. Under her Paris-based film production company Square Mango Films,
she has also organized film events with The Pompidou Center in Paris,
ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) London, The British Library,
Cine Lumière London, Edinburgh Film Festival, Kerala Film Festival
India, Birmingham, Inverness and Cardiff. She has presented papers
at conferences such as Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS) at
Harvard University and Harriman Institute at Columbia University,
and LSE Media Studies, on Sergei Paradjanov, Cultural Identity in
Cinema, and Socially Relevant films and their power is promoting
positive social change. She holds a M.Sc.

degree in Sociology from The London School of Economics (LSE) and a
BA in Sociology and English from AUC.

As feature film producer Armani’s films were screened in the official
selections of the Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard), IFF
Rotterdam (Competition), Paris, London, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Denver,
Oregon, Monaco, Shanghai, and New York. As a filmmaker Nora recently
wrote & directed her debut film, ‘Moving Stories’ that premiered
at the Cannes Film Festival and screened at a number of US, and
International Film Festivals.

Nora recently worked as an actor on two feature films: Bourek by
Vladan Nikolic, and Good Funk by Adam Kritzer, and two shorts: Hungry
by Jillie Simon and Derya by Yonca Talu. Nora is currently based in
New York after many years in Los Angeles and Paris. For full bio and
filmography visit her websiteor on IMDb.

From: Baghdasarian