Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Svetlana Orlova: Karabakh conflict can be solved only through peace talks

armradio.am
15:13 03.11.2012

Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia`Russia considers that the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict can be solved only through peace talks and discussions,’
Vice-Speaker of the Russian Council of Federation Svetlana Orlova told
reporters, APA reports.

According to her, Russia stands for the resolution of the issue within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Svetlana Orlova refrained from comments on the exploitation of the
Stepanakert Airport, saying she possesses no information.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian Apostolic Church hopes for settlement of debt issues with
Holy Sepulcher

news.am
November 03, 2012 | 21:36

JERUSALEM. – The problem connected with the debt issue of the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is under discussions, Holy
Etchmiadzin secretary Priest Vahram Melikyan told Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

According to him, the problem is connected with the unpaid water bills
and is under discussion for over two years. The church has been exempt
of paying for water before the Israel state was established and even
after it. However, the situation changed as a private company
undertook the responsibility of water supply and charged money for its
service.

The debt is so huge that the private company sued against the church
and it may be closed.

`We do hope that the issue will be settled in the near future,’ AAC
representative said.

From: Baghdasarian

Hovik Abrahamyan will not resign for the administration of Serzh
Sargsyan’s election campaign

14:54, 3 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The Chairman of the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan will not resign for the
administration of the election campaign of the President of Armenia
and the Head of the Republican Party of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. The
Press Secretary of the Chairman of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia Gohar Poghosyan stated this in a conversation with
“Armenpress”.

The Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Hovik
Abrahamyan will take the administration of Serzh Sargsyan’s election
campaign for the upcoming presidential votes. Serzh Sargsyan
personally suggested Hovik Abrahamyan’s candidacy during the session
of the executive body of the Republican Party of Armenia.

The presidential votes supposedly will be held on February, 2013.

From: Baghdasarian

US Ambassador to Baku: “I regret that the authorities did not allow me
to visit Julfa’

US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar has issued a statement
on the protection of cultural heritage. Azerbaijani media inform about
this referring to the embassy.

In his statement Mr. Ambassador mentioned that the region had a
complicated history. “Nagorno Karabakh has resulted in the death of
thousands of people and seriously changed the structure of the places
having historical, religious and cultural importance in the region,”
he said.

According to the statement, while visiting Nakhchivan, he held
discussions with the local authorities about the Armenian cemetery in
Julfa. “I regret that the authorities did not allow me to visit that
place due to the security. The protection of the region’s heritage is
very important for future peace. A lot of monuments have been damaged
and destroyed in the region as a result of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,”
he said.

03.11.12, 10:51

From: Baghdasarian

Political persecutions still going on in Armenia

2012-11-03 09:50:20

In the consecutive publishing of “Aravot”, Aram Abrahamyan writes he
agrees there are political persecutions in the country although less
in their amount than before, he agrees that the imposing part of the
politicians in the country are corrupt, incompetent of their position
and cynical in their behavior, he also agrees that because of the
number of emigration throughout these 20 years has reached the
demographics of the country to a dangerous brink. And nonetheless,
Abrahamyan believes it is not correct to succumb to temptingly elusive
political assessments in the eve of the presidential elections for the
following reasons:

1) It is wrong to state we live ina tyrany. in case we lived, there
would no possibility for our media, protests in the streest, NA
hearings to state an opposite view to the ruling powers. As a
comparison Abrahamyan brings Azerbaijan, where neither media not the
opposition of the country can oppose to the government.

2) We should not state the people in Armenia want to live in a fair,
legitimate and democratic country because if they really wanted to,
they would eliminate any obstacle by all means to reach their goal.
The people here want to live a decent life and have justice on their
side only. All they want is finding their place in the incumbent
regime and whenever they do not find one, they disagree but nothing
more.

3) The opposition offers alternative to the current political system.
An example to this statement is the 20-years-old struggle to reduce
the shadow economy, to increase the salaries, however nothing has been
achieved so far. Thus, according to Abrahamyan, a conclusion can be
deduced that neither the opposition who once was the ruling power of
the country and did not manage to do what it tells today to do, nor
the incumbent government know what to do. That’s why they speak
politically unstable statements.

From: Baghdasarian

A Brief History of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State 1960-2012

Friday, November 2nd, 2012 | Posted by Contributor Share Print

Scholarship recipients

BY PROF. BARLOW DER MUGRDECHIAN
Coordinator, Armenian Studies Program
Director, Center for Armenian Studies

Armenian Studies courses have been taught at Fresno State for more
than fifty years. Dr. Richard Hovannisian taught Armenian Studies
courses through the extension program, 1960-1962. Dr. Louise
Nalbandian of the History Department began teaching Armenian history
at Fresno State in 1967, soon developing a broader program, including
language and culture classes. Serpouhie Messerlian taught Armenian
language courses beginning in 1970 and Dr. Arra Avakian taught a
variety of Armenian culture and history courses from 1970-1973.

Upon Dr. Nalbandian’s untimely death in late 1974, the University
pledged to open an international search to select a candidate to head
a new Armenian Studies Program. After an unsuccessful initial search,
a second search resulted in the hiring of Dr. Dickran Kouymjian
(Columbia University), who at the time was teaching in Paris. He took
up his duties in the spring semester of 1977, ending a two-year hiatus
at Fresno State. Dr. Kouymjian was appointed as Director and charged
to develop an Armenian Program of the highest standards.

Kouymjian with Catholicos Aram I

In the years since Dr. Kouymjian’s arrival the Armenian Studies
Program developed an international reputation in terms of excellence
in teaching, quality of scholarship, and active student and community
outreach. In the variety and depth of courses offered, the Program
quickly became the most dynamic undergraduate Armenian Studies Program
in the United State (and perhaps anywhere), teaching hundreds of
students each semester.

The Program has been recognized for its record of faculty scholarship
and for its outreach program bringing the Armenian community of Fresno
closer to the University. The Program growth has been matched by an
increase in scholarship/grants available to students taking Armenian
or Armenian Studies courses.

The Center for Armenian Studies
The Center for Armenian Studies was established in the Fall of 1988 in
the Peters Business Building, and houses the Armenian Studies Program,
the Sahatdjian Armenian Studies Library, the Avedian Armenian Studies
Archives, the newspaper Hye Sharzhoom/Armenian Action, the Armenian
Students Organization, and the Index of Armenian Art. The Bedrosian
Conference Room and the Mirigian Gallery, on the same floor as the
Program, are direct offshoots of the Program and its community
supporters.

The Haig and Isabel Berberian Chair of Armenian Studies
A two-year campaign culminated with the establishment of the Haig and
Isabel Berberian Chair of Armenian Studies in December, 1988, and Dr.
Kouymjian was appointed as the first holder of the Chair in March of
1989. The Berberian Endowed Chair provides financial support for a
distinguished Armenologist. The endowment honoring the philanthropist
Haig Berberian and his wife was established by a major gift from their
son-in-law and daughter, Dr. Arnold H. and Dianne Gazarian. Other
friends have made significant contributions to this endowment.

Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Professorship in Modern Armenian and
Immigration Studies
The Kazan Professorship was originally established through a generous
gift by Henry and Victoria Kazan of Juno Beach, Florida and Long
Island, New York. The endowment supported a senior professor who
taught equally in the History Department and the Armenian Studies
Program. Special areas of concentration are modern Armenian history,
history of the Armenian Genocide, and the history of immigration to
North America. Since 2000 the position has been housed entirely in the
College of Arts and Humanities and is called the Henry S. Khanzadian
Visiting Professorship in Armenian Studies.

Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies
This specially designed endowment allows the Armenian Studies Program
to invite, for one semester each year, an internationally recognized
scholar in contemporary Armenian affairs. The professor teaches a
single course on a subject related to modern Armenian history,
including the Genocide of 1915 and the formation of the Armenian
Republic. In addition, the scholar is required to present three public
lectures on a single topic, which are to be published in the Kazan
Armenian Studies series.

Dickran Kouymjian with Catholicos Karekin I

Nine distinguished senior scholars in Armenian Studies have served in
the position of Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies at Fresno
State: Richard Hovannisian (UCLA) (2000), Robert Hewsen (Rowan
College) (2001), Barbara Merguerian (NAASR) (2003), Ara Sanjian
(Haigazian University) (2003), James Reid (UCLA) (2006), Levon
Chookaszian (Yerevan State University) (2006), George Bournoutian
(Iona College) (2009), Abraham Terian (St. Nersess Armenian Seminary)
(2010), and Barlow Der Mugrdechian (2011).

The M. Victoria Karagozian Kazan Endowment Fund for the Armenian Studies Program
Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan and M. Victoria Khanzadian Kazan made a gift
of their East Quoque, New York, home to Fresno State in 1997. Thanks
to that second generous donation by the late Kazans, the university
has received a special endowment for (a) general support of Armenian
Studies Program activities, and (b) financial resources for research,
publications, and conferences related to Armenian studies.

Armenian Studies Program Faculty
The Armenian Studies Program has had many full-time and part-time
teachers who assisted Dr. Nalbandian, Dr. Kouymjian, and Prof. Der
Mugrdechian in teaching a variety of courses. Serpouhie Messerlian,
Dr. Arra Avakian, Flora Tchaderjian, Hagop Karamanlian, Mark
Malkasian, Hagop Terjimanian, Jimmie Baloian, Richard Hagopian, Ralph
Setian, Michael Krekorian, Van Der Mugrdechian, Nazik Arisian, and
Arakel Arisian are among those who have taught Armenian language,
history, and Armenian studies courses.

In the Fall of 1985, Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, a graduate of UCLA,
was hired as a full-time lecturer in the Program, giving an added
position to the Program. This second position in Armenian Studies has
been funded by the University for twenty-five years. Der Mugrdechian
teaches courses in Armenian language, art, literature, culture, and
history. He received his B.A. from Fresno State and was one of Dr.
Kouymjian’s very first students.

Dr. Isabel Kaprielian (University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was
appointed in Fall of 1997 as Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Professor of
Modern Armenian and Immigration History, with cross appointment in the
History Department. She taught courses in Armenian history, the
Armenian Genocide, and Armenian immigration, before she retired in
2006.

Dr. Kouymjian, who began teaching at Fresno State in 1977, retired
from the University in May 2008, after a career spanning thirty-one
years as Director of the Program and holder of the Berberian Chair,
the first endowed chair on the Fresno state campus and the first
fulltime chair in the 23 campus system of California State University.

Prof. Der Mugrdechian was appointed Coordinator of the Armenian
Studies Program and Director of the Center for Armenian Studies in
August 2008.

Dr. Sergio La Porta (Harvard) joined the faculty in August of 2009, as
the new Berberian Chair in Armenian Studies. He spent the last seven
years teaching at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His area of
expertise is in medieval Armenian history and theology.

Courses and instruction
Over the past thirty years more than 6,000 students have taken
Armenian and Armenian Studies courses at Fresno State. The core of the
Armenian Studies Program is the study of Armenian history, language,
and an introductory course on Armenian Studies. Courses on Armenian
literature, William Saroyan, Armenian architecture, Armenian
manuscript painting, Armenian minor arts, Armenian Genocide and modern
political activism, the Armenian diaspora, history of the Armenians in
Fresno, Armenian film history have been taught regularly. The Program
has always been active in the community promoting the study of
Armenian topics and bringing an awareness of Armenian issues.

Hye Sharzhoom
The first issue of Hye Sharzhoom was published in April of 1979, as a
special insert into The Daily Collegian newspaper on campus, to
commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Since then Hye
Sharzhoom has grown to have an international readership of more that
6,000.

Fresno State students during a Genocide commemoration event

Hye Sharzhoom is currently a supplement to The Collegian and is
published quarterly with the goal to inform the public about
activities of the Armenian students on campus, and to report on
Armenian Studies Program events and activities. Students in the
Armenian Students Organization and the Armenian Studies Program are
involved in the process of writing, editing, and preparing articles
published in the paper. It is the oldest regularly issued Armenian
student newspaper published anywhere in the world.

Armenian Studies Program Archives
The Armenian Studies Program archives are rich in the variety of
materials that have been donated over the years. Film archives, the
Index of Armenian Art, the Saroyan archive, and a collection of books
and photographs, and unpublished survivor accounts and autobiographies
have enriched the research activities of the Armenian Studies Program.
In addition, the Special Collections of the Madden Library contains a
wealth of Armenian archival materials, much of it deposited by the
Armenian Studies Program.

Armenian Studies Program Lecture Series
The Fresno State campus has always been an attraction for the numerous
guests of the Armenian Studies Program, among them: His Holiness
Vazken I, Catholicos of All Armenians; His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians; His Holiness Karekin II Sarkissian,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Eminence Archbishop
Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Eminence
Archbishop Shnork Kaloustian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople;
John Guiragossian, Foreign Minister of Armenia; Ambassador Arman
Kirakossian, Baroness Caroline Cox, Richard Hovannisian, Vartan
Gregorian, and numerous other educators, religious leaders, and
community leaders from throughout the world.

Through the cooperation of the Philip Lorenz Keyboard Concert Series,
pianists such as Vardan Mamikonian, Armen Babakhanian, Sergei Babayan,
Vahan Mardirossian, Nareh Arghamanyan, Shahan Arzruni, and cellist
Alexander Chaushian have performed on the Fresno State campus.

Armenian Studies Program Website
The Armenian Studies Program website, armenianstudies.csufresno.edu,
is internationally recognized. It is the most visited academic website
on the Fresno State campus and provides a wealth of information and
resources for the student and community member alike. Recent
statistics indicate show that on an average there are 10,000 visitors
a day, some 3 to 4 million a year, with 35% of the visitors
originating from abroad.

Churches of Armenia: A Legacy to the World
Richard and Anne Elbrecht have been photographing and documenting
Armenian churches in the historic homeland of the Armenian people. As
an outcome of their visits with Dr. Kouymjian, and encouraged by his
enthusiasm, they decided to donate their archive of 157 photographs,
`Churches of Historic Armenia: A Legacy to the World,’ to the Armenian
Studies Program at California State University, Fresno, where the
photographs have become a permanent part of the Armenian Studies
Program Web site, making them available to the world.

Armenian Students Organization (ASO)
The ASO was officially recognized on campus in 1974 and since then has
been active in promoting Armenian culture on campus. They have
organized annual Armenian Genocide commemorations, invited speakers,
and been involved with the publication of the Hye Sharzhoom newspaper.
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian has been the long-time advisor.

Armenian Studies Annual Film Festival
The Armenian Studies Program has been holding its Annual Film Festival
for the past thirteen years. The Festival attracts film entries from
throughout the world and has become a favorite of the Fresno
community.

Armenian Studies Program Scholarships and Grants
The Harry and Mary Topoozian Armenian Studies Merit Scholarship Fund
was established by a gift from Mr. Harry Topoozian. A scholarship will
be awarded to an outstanding student who has excelled in scholarship,
leadership, and community service.

The Armenian Studies Program Dickran Kouymjian Writing Award
In 1997 the Armenian Studies Program Advisory Board decided to
establish an endowment fund for excellence in writing from the
proceeds of the 20th Anniversary Banquet honoring Professor Kouymjian.

The Norma and Bob Der Mugrdechian Armenian Studies Endowed Scholarship
has been established to provide scholarships for students who are
studying, or have declared a major, in the area of Armenian Studies.

Scholarship Funds
Students working toward a minor or simply enrolling in Armenian
courses are eligible for scholarships administered by the Program.
These include the Charles K. and Pansy Pategian Zlokovich Scholarship;
the Nerces and Ruth Azadian Memorial Scholarship; the Yervant, Rose,
and Hovannes Levonian Educational Grant; the Pete Peters Endowment;
the Koren and Alice Odian Kasparian Scholarship; Telfeyan Evangelical
Fund, Inc. Scholarship; the Kirkor and Mary Bedoian Memorial
Scholarship; Charlie Keyan Endowed Scholarship; the Genevieve Tatoian
Scholarship; Haig Tashjian Memorial Scholarship; Albert and Isabelle
Kabrielian Scholarship for Armenian Studies; John and Lucille
Melkonian Scholarship; Mary Nalchajian Scholarship; Walter Sepetjian
Scholarship; the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation Scholarship;
and the Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable Foundation Scholarship
Fund.

The Future
The Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State looks forward to the
coming years. The Program will continue to grow and continue in its
role as the most active undergraduate Armenian Studies Program in the
United States.

From: Baghdasarian

Le Parisien, France
Jeudi 1 Novembre 2012

Le Mamelouk de Napoléon a fini sa vie à Dourdan

par Marion Kremp

«Roustam Raza ». Le parcours est désormais fléché afin que les
passionnés du Premier Empire (1804-1814) puissent retrouver la tombe
du fameux valet personnel de Napoléon Ier dans les allées du cimetière
de Dourdan. Les pancartes y ont été installées récemment, après que la
société historique de la ville eut publié « Roustam et son empereur,
de l’Egypte à Dourdan ».

L’album illustré relate l’histoire atypique de celui qui accompagna
Bonaparte dans chacune de ses campagnes, de l’Espagne à la Pologne
jusqu’à Austerlitz et Waterloo.

Roustam Raza fut offert en 1799 à Bonaparte par un seigneur ottoman
après la défaite d’Abu Qir, qui signa la fin de la bataille d’Egypte
de celui qui n’était pas encore empereur. Le mamelouk, du nom de ces
esclaves de la milice impériale de l’Empire ottoman, rentre alors en
France avec Napoléon. Dès lors, il suit le premier consul, puis
l’empereur durant près de quinze ans.

Un destin hors du commun pour le jeune Arménien par sa mère, né en
Géorgie en 1782. Raflé alors qu’il n’était qu’un enfant par les
Ottomans, il sera vendu sept fois avant d’arriver au service de
Napoléon. Tantôt valet de chambre et garde du corps, on raconte que
Roustam dormait en travers de la porte de son maître. C’est au retour
de la bataille d’Austerlitz en 1806, que le mamelouk lie son destin à
celui de Dourdan. Il épouse Alexandrine Douville, fille du premier
valet de chambre de l’impératrice Joséphine.

Lorsque Napoléon s’exile sur l’île d’Elbe en 1814, Roustam choisit de
ne pas le suivre. Ses beaux-parents habitant désormais Dourdan, il
obtient un emploi à la poste de la ville. Le couple loue alors, à
partir de 1834, un des appartements du premier étage d’une maison
bourgeoise qui abrite aujourd’hui l’école Georges-Lepltre. C’est là
qu’il s’éteint le 7 décembre 1845 après avoir écrit ses souvenirs qui
seront publiés quelques années après sa mort.

« C’est un personnage attachant. La grande histoire lui passait
au-dessus de la tête, mais il montre l’envers du décor tout en gardant
pour lui les secrets d’alcôve de Bonaparte », raconte Bruno Durand,
président de la société historique. Sur sa tombe, à côté de la
couronne de fleurs offerte par la ville de Dourdan, une gerbe flétrie
aux couleurs de l’Arménie habille la pierre claire. Devant, une plaque
signée de l’association des anciens combattants arméniens. « Pour les
Arméniens, Roustam est un des martyrs de l’Empire ottoman, un symbole
contre l’hégémonie turque », décrypte-t-il.

From: Baghdasarian

Ouest-France
jeudi 1 novembre 2012
caen Edition

La chorale de Barkev fait battre le coeur du Liban

Yann HALOPEAU

Le chef Barkev Taslakian du choeur libanais Fayha Choir témoigne à
Polyfollia. Quand la passion du chant choral déplace des montagnes.

Le festival Polyfollia est riche de certaines rencontres. Croisé un
Barkev Talaskian fait partie de celle qui compte. gé de 48 ans cet
Arménien, réfugié au Liban, est le chef de choeur d’une chorale qui
séduit le Moyen-Orient. Sa gageure ? Être parvenu à rassembler des
chanteurs de cultures, de confessions et de communautés plus souvent
habituées à se faire la guerre que la paix.

L’homme jovial, enthousiaste né, témoigne samedi, à Saint-Lô, de cette
drôle d’aventure. « Le chant choral n’existait pas chez les Arabes.
Ils ont plutôt une culture du chant avec un soliste et des chanteurs
répétant derrière: pas de polyphonie! Et puis il y a la difficulté de
la prononciation de certaines syllabes: elles ne sont pas forcément en
harmonie avec une mélodie polyphonique. » Le a capella à plusieurs
voix en arabe, c’était déjà un pari. « Je suis parvenu avec ma
1rechorale, arménienne, à m’approprier certains chants arabes en
polyphonie. On a surpris tout le monde et ils ont adoré ça à Tripoli,
puis bien au-delà. »

Barkev créée, en 2008, une deuxième chorale, mêlant hommes et femmes,
abattant encore un préjugé sur la mixité dans un choeur arabe. Autre
barrière vaincue : le mélange de chanteurs de religions et de
convictions politiques différentes. « De sept personnes au début, dont
quatre qui ne savaient même pas chanter, nous sommes passés à 50
aujourd’hui ». C’est l’amour du chant, « l’amour que j’ai pour mes
choristes et qu’ils me rendent bien, qui a permis cela».

Bien sûr, il a été menacé de mort plusieurs fois : « Mais j’ai fini
par aller faire chanter ma chorale chez ceux qui m’avaient dit de
m’exiler du Liban sous peine d’être tué. »

Quand il voit ce qui se passe en Syrie« à côté de chez nous », il sent
que« la paix passe aussi par une compréhension fraternelle à laquelle
le chant choral peut contribuer.»D’où le projet de Barkev Talaskian et
de l’Unesco mené au Liban : apprendre à quelque 10 000 élèves de son
pays à chanter ensemble.« Une révolution des mentalités et culturelle
par le chant choral: un rêve éveillé que l’on peut mener car nous
avons su gagner la confiance de beaucoup parce qu’ils ont vu un juge
aussi bien qu’un simple vendeur de rue, un musulman et un chrétien, un
prof de fac et un de ses anciens élèves chanter côte à côte.Cette
chorale est un beau symbole, une arme de paix. »

From: Baghdasarian

Ekklesia, UK
Nov 4 2012

Eat Thai, talk Turkish, think Armenian: an encounter

By Harry Hagopian
4 Nov 2012

On 31 May 2010, when the Armenia-Turkey Protocols of 2009 were still
very much the buzz of many Armenian and Turkish blogospheres, I wrote
a short personal reflection entitled `An Armenian-Turkish encounter in
Germany’ (). It described a
fortuitous encounter I had with Ajlan, a thirty-something Turkish man
living in Frankfurt and working for a German security firm, who kindly
guided me from the airport to the ICE train station that eventually
took me to Erfurt University.

I concluded my piece at the time with the following pause for thought:

Is Ajlan a righteous Turk, as Robert Fisk writes at times in his
articles? Is he a genocide denialist, or pretty much ignorant of his
own history? Was he too clever by far or imperceptive? In the final
analysis, did it matter that much when an Armenian and a Turk met
awhile in Germany and had a chat despite their sensitivities over real
history? Germany was a compass point for me, where our deeper humanity
– with its redeeming points – overtook our separate fears, angers and
doubts. We were just two men in a train – one helpful, the other
grateful.

Fast forward to early September, when I invited a colleague of mine to
Busaba Eathai, a Thai eatery in London, that serves delicious meals
and fragrant teas in a cosy and pseudo-ethnic atmosphere. The
headwaiter who showed us to our table was certainly not Thai let alone
Oriental, and something in my ear whispered to me that he could well
be Turkish.

Although my colleague pooh-poohed the idea and suggested it was the
Armenian gene in me drawing this conclusion, the inevitable happened
as it often does when two people meet and strike a conversation. Where
are you from, and where am I from, and suddenly here was an Armenian
talking to a Turk. Once our ethnic identities were clarified, I could
sense a certain uncertainty in him too: we were both thinking whether
this will be an awkward moment or, worse, an unsuccessful meal? So I
broke the ice by telling the headwaiter Selman, `Well, we have quite a
history as two peoples, some of it very painful, very unjust and very
bloody, but we both also enjoy our cuisine, so let’s see if this Thai
meal could be as good as an Armenian or Turkish one?’ He smiled
broadly and added, `No way, this is good but it does not outmatch
either Armenian or Turkish cuisine’! And throughout our whole
succulent meal, Selman kept coming over to ensure we were both
enjoying ourselves. He even recommended a Turkish restaurant that he
claimed to be the best in central London.

Does our interaction mean at all that we have both forgotten our own
histories and backgrounds? Or more to the point, will I have somehow
forsaken my own proud history as a descendant of the Armenian genocide
during WWI? Did I forget that we Armenians – whether in the Diaspora
or in a young and struggling republic – have grave issues with Turkey
let alone proxy ones with Azerbaijan over the enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh that it claims as its own since 1994? Had I shown
acute insensitivity in the case of an Azeri military officer,
Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in
Hungary for murdering Lieutenant Gurgen Markarian of Armenia during a
NATO course in 2004 and sent back to his homeland on the basis of the
1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons to
serve out his sentence in Baku only to be callously pardoned and freed
by the Azeri authorities – bosom allies of Turkey? Most certainly not!

But I also feel it is important for us Armenians nearing the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide in 2015 to start distinguishing
ordinary Turkish men and women from Turkish officialdom or many of its
politicised institutions, let alone from Turkey and Azerbaijan. In
fact, whether in the case of Armenians and Turks, or elsewhere in the
world where sectarian and ethnic conflicts and animosities abound,
would we simply not be more faithful to ourselves if we did not export
a bilious hatred against ordinary people simply because we hold a
valid grudge against their policies or authorities? Should all
Israelis be the enemies of all Palestinians? Should all Japanese be
enemies with all Chinese, or all Armenians enemies of all Turks? Do we
not have the inner faithful resilience to begin our own process of
transitional justice by distinguishing between ideas that are crowned
with a human value from others that are insulted by political
conflicts?

My colleague and I enjoyed our Thai meal. But did Selman honestly
enjoy our banter? Perhaps yes, or perhaps no, but that is not the real
question that I would ask myself today. Mind you, I am not advocating
an ex nihilo omnia conversion, and any academic analysis of this topic
is better addressed by experienced institutions such as the Regional
Studies Centre (RSC) in Armenia. Besides, one could easily dismiss
this episode as merely another fluke encounter, just like the one I
had at Frankfurt airport in 2010. Moreover, it is quite likely that
many Turks let alone Armenians would not overcome their identity
issues in such instances but project instead their mottled opinions
about my encounter or even question its intent.

Yet, does such a chance encounter not perhaps carry with it a clear
message? Could one not eat Thai, talk Turkish and still think
Armenian? Could we not initiate this catharsis without necessarily
waiting for a quid pro quo from Turks? Would it prove to be
treacherous, inexcusable or worse, naïve, or would it be a hard test
that evinces an inner strength to lift up our strong moral fibre?
After all, and at the end, was it not Martin Luther King, Jr, who
challenged us all that `Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light
can do that? Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that’?

————-

© Harry Hagopian is an international lawyer, ecumenist and EU
political consultant. He also acts as a Middle East and inter-faith
advisor to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and as
Middle East consultant to ACEP (Christians in Politics) in Paris.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian artist: I wish money owners also had a little good taste

21:17 – 04.11.12

Photo by Samvel Sevada (Samvel Sevada’s studio)

The press recently confirmed the reports about the newly-opened A. a.
Auction Company’s plans to organizee the first ever auction of
Armenian artists’ works. The participants of the event, to be held in
both live and online formats, will be offered to purchase items for up
to $30,000. The organizers have explained their initiative by the
permanent supply of precious pieces of art in Armenia. Tert.am has
interviewed artist and photographer Samvel Sevada to know his opinion
about the advantages of such an event.

What benefits can the auction offer to the artists living and creating
in Armenia?

It can offer a lot. The more they engage in such practices, the much
better. As for auctions, they are an incentive for a very good
movement. That is, the prices will begin to grow a little bit, which
is strictly important to our present-day painters.

Do you think pieces by the smart fellows may pave way to the auction,
leaving very good artists in the shadow?

Maybe, that’s quite possible. But the smart person here is not the
painter who does his job in a studio, but rather, the agents who earn
money on them. That’s the main purpose of auctions.

To the best of my knowledge, there are good artists whose canvases
sell for high prices without any action, but there are also painters,
who despite being good, never manage to have their pieces sold.

That’s what happens around the world. There’s no such practice as
determining whether this item is good or that one is bad. It depends
on how they work; there are companies and individual entrepreneurs who
appear smart enough to raise an artist’s reputation before selling his
or her item. Galleries do the same; they each have 10-12 painters whom
they give an order. So those artists paint a canvass. Galleries begin
earning money on them, increasing the price step by step and making a
legend out of all that a little bit. That’s normal.

What about Armenia? Do we have a school of such agents?.

It is beginning to develop gradually; it is actually those small
galleries that act as agents. There are 10 or 12 of them in Yerevan,
as far as I know.

What is the lowest price for the best artists’ works?

They vary depending on the artists; there’s no common standard. My
sketches, for example, range from $800-$1,000 now, but everyone has
his price.

Do you think Armenia has developed an internal demand for buying fine
art canvases, apart from the very few officials who appreciate pieces
of art and own private collections? For example, Armenian Ambassador
to Ukraine Andranik Manukyan, who is among the biggest collectors,
says in interviews that he always recommends works of art as presents
to be given at weddings and solemn ceremonies.

As I said a short while ago, it is developing little by little. I
would rather those having money also had a little good taste. Very
often I have seen a person take pride in an average painter who has
created a reputation for himself. The [Yerevan] vernissage offers
wonderful works. I was there yesterday; I go and stare [at the
paintings] for hours.

The vernisage in general imparts a nice color to our city, its artists
and the people.

Interview by Anush Dashtents

From: Baghdasarian