ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia Tuesday Nalbandian: Azerbaijani efforts to close OSCE Yerevan office are aimed against OSCE itself Yerevan May 30 Mariana Mkrtchyan. Armenia's involvement in the activities of the OSCE in all areas, the implementation of programs in the country with all certainty can be considered exemplary. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian expressed such a view at a joint press conference with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier on May 30 in Yerevan. "The visit of the General Secretary takes place in the period when the Organization has to close its last office in the region as one of the members of the structure, abusing its obligations put veto on OSCE Yerevan Office's mandate prolonging. Baku tried to present it in the light of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, however in reality it is about Azerbaijani-OSCE relations. These actions are aimed against OSCE. I consider that OSCE, Secretariat, and the member-states of Organization made their conclusions on these destructive actions which contradict the tasks and the vector of the Organization", Armenian Foreign Minister said. At the same time he noted that Armenia expects that many programs, conducted by the OSCE Yerevan Office will continue the implementation in other formats. Nalbandian noted that he had discussed with Zannier a wide range of issues including topical issues of OSCE agenda, cooperation in all levels, Austrian chairmanship's priority defining, touched upon the parliamentary elections held in Armenia. According to him, valuable is assessment of the international structures saying that the elections were organized well, human rights were protected and the results showed the will of the Armenian nation. I presented to Mr. Zannier the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries aimed at advancing the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. We highlighted the importance of implementation of the agreements reached during the last year's summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg, the realization of which, as you know, Azerbaijan continues to obstruct. To note, OSCE Yerevan office will completely cancel its activities in Yerevan on August 31st, 2017. That was the last fully active office of the organization in the region.
Author: Boshkezenian Garik
NAASR Receives $225,000 Grant from Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund
Armenian Weekly
BELMONT, Mass.—On May 18, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) received a grant of $225,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund of the Massachusetts Cultural Council to go toward construction of an elevator and other accessibility features as part of NAASR’s $4.5 million project for its headquarters on Concord Avenue in Belmont. With this grant, NAASR has commitments for 70 percent of the total budget.
NAASR will be undertaking a $4.5 million, top-to-bottom renovation of its aging building in Belmont, Mass.
NAASR’s aim is to transform its building, which has remained virtually unchanged since its purchase in 1989, and to welcome the public with a redesigned bookstore, lounge café, scholars’ conference room, and garden atrium, and solarium, encouraging research, study, lectures, informal gatherings, and professional activities centered around Armenian Studies. The building transformation is being designed by the architectural, design, and engineering firm of Symmes Maini & McKee Associates in Cambridge, Mass.
Renovations to the building, funded in part with this grant, will bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by adding an elevator serving all levels, an entry ramp, and accessible rest rooms. The renovation will also add a fourth level (third story) to the building, with a 150-person event hall and state-of-the-art audio-visual technology to allow live streaming and remote participants and presenters from throughout the world.
“This grant is essential in helping to preserve our rare holdings for future generations and make them accessible to all,” said Yervant Chekijian, NAASR’s Chairman of the Board. “With the latest technologies incorporated into the building, we will be able to connect people from around the world and truly become a global center for Armenian Studies.”
The initial reason for NAASR’s capital project was to preserve NAASR’s rare books, periodicals, and archives in NAASR’s Edward and Helen Mardigian Library, one of the top five publicly accessible Armenian Studies libraries in the world, soon to reach 40,000 volumes in diverse languages and alphabets, with holdings dating to the 1600s.
The library has grown to become world class and is a living legacy of culture and history after the Armenian Genocide. NAASR’s holdings are mostly in Armenian, but many are in Turkish, Persian, Russian, French, English, Arabic, and German, and other languages, and NAASR welcomes anyone to browse and study in the library.
The inspiring design and upgraded accessibility will draw professionals, students, scholars, thought leaders, genealogical researchers, and the general public into the building to attend evening programs, study, conduct research, browse the bookstore, and connect with each other.
“We are thrilled and honored to be selected for a Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund grant,” said NAASR Executive Director Sarah Ignatius. “It comes at the exact right moment to motivate people to make our vision a reality. And we are grateful that Massachusetts recognizes the critical importance of supporting capital investments to cultural non-profits.”
Founded in 1955, NAASR is the only national, non-profit organization serving as a bridge between Armenian Studies scholars and the public, to preserve and enrich Armenian culture, history, and identity for future generations. Each year, NAASR hosts over 40 lectures on a wide range of topics from 5th century art to contemporary realities in the Republic of Armenia and the Near East.
NAASR lectures reach a multi-generational audience, which includes students, professionals, and the general public, and encompasses NAASR’s contemporary topics series, supported by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, with programs on Syrian Armenians, Nagorno-Karabagh, Armenian identity, and diasporan involvement in Armenia’s development.
Each year, NAASR awards grants to scholars and recently helped to fund Prof. Taner Akçam’s groundbreaking work uncovering lost evidence about the Armenian Genocide. NAASR also operates one of the largest English-language bookstores on Armenian topics, available onsite and online through NAASR’s website at www.naasr.org.
NAASR’s mission is to foster Armenian Studies and build community worldwide to preserve and enrich Armenian culture, history, and identity for future generations. NAASR achieved its initial ambitious goal of advancing Armenian Studies by raising funds to help endow the first chairs of Armenian Studies at Harvard and UCLA less than 50 years after the Armenian Genocide, and has since gone on to support other endowed positions, which now exist at 13 universities, increasing awareness of Armenian contributions to world culture and civilization, and laying the factual foundation upon which Genocide recognition rests, leading to a new generation relying on NAASR for academic research and connections to the public.
For more information about NAASR visit www.naasr.org or contact or 617-489-1610.
Soccer: ‘The Midfield Armenian’ and United Crowned Europa League Champions
Armenian Weekly
Special for the Armenian Weekly
Manchester United and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were crowned Europa League Champions at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on May 24. With that title, United earn a berth in next season’s Champion’s League. Paul Pogba’s deflected first half effort set United on the road to victory and Henrikh Mkhitaryan made the outcome safe with an instinctive and opportunistic strike just after the break.
Manchester United and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were crowned Europa League Champions at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on May 24.
The match was a typical Mourinho final. In politics they say you campaign in poetry and govern in prose. There was nothing poetic about this final, a fact that was not lost on the United Manager in his post-match comments.
“There are lots of poets in football, but poets, they don’t win many titles. We knew where they were better than us. We knew where we were better than them. We tried to kill their good qualities, we tried to explore their weaknesses.”
That is typical of a manager who has made a career of stopping his opponents from doing what they are good at, as opposed to focusing on what his own team can produce. Although, not very poetic, and not very “United-like,” it is hard to argue with tonight’s result and with the manager’s overall record.
The Special One maintains his 100% winning record against Ajax, winning all seven matches against the Dutch side. Mourinho becomes the first manager to win both the UEFA Cup/Europa League and Champions League on two occasions. He has won all four of his European finals as a manager, winning the 2003 UEFA Cup and 2004 Champions League with Porto, as well as the 2010 Champions League with Inter Milan to add to this latest triumph with United. In his first season as United manager, he has won two major trophies (EFL Cup and Europa League) along with the Community Shield and now that Champion’s League berth that is so coveted in the modern game.
Mourinho described this season as his most difficult as a manager, but his team has come through with success, arguably ahead of schedule. The team’s achievements and results can now provide a platform for Manchester United and Mourinho to attract the world’s finest footballers in the transfer market, to continue building in an attempt to reclaim the success and dominance of the Alex Ferguson era.
United’s tactics were first and foremost to stifle any attacking threat posed by the young and exciting Ajax team, a team that became the youngest to start a major European final with an average age of just under 23 years. Manchester United’s Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini brought a physicality and intensity to midfield that Ajax were unable to match. Although the Dutch side enjoyed 69% possession in the match and managed 17 shots at goal, a mere three hit the target. A lack of width and a tendency to overplay the ball resulted in congested and inept passages of play in the attacking third for Ajax and that played right into United’s hands. Once the lead was secured through Pogba, Mourinho “parked the bus” on the way to a comfortable victory. At 1-0 to the good, United always looked safe, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s delightful finish from a second half corner put the result beyond doubt.
The magisterial Armenian talisman has enjoyed unbelievable success in recent European matches. Five of his last six United goals have come in this Europa League competition, with most of them scored away from Old Trafford. That scoring run sets Mkhitaryan apart in the annals of United history, being the only player to score in five away European fixtures in a single campaign. The rich vein of form Mkhitaryan enjoyed did not go unnoticed by his team mates, who suggested he would get on the scoresheet in the final in the lead up to the big match.
In a post-match interview, with the tricolor draped over his shoulders, Mkhitaryan expressed his delight, but as always remained humble by giving credit to the players around him. “Every day I was dreaming to score in the final, and I did thanks to my team mates, I am very happy today. I am very excited.”
What a journey it has been for Mkhitaryan. At the beginning of the season he fell out of favor with the manager and was publically criticized in the media by Mourinho. It was, in-fact a Europa league match at Old Trafford versus Fenerbahce on Oct. 20 where Mkhitaryan was given a second chance to recapture the form that proved elusive at the start of the season. Mkhitaryan was electric on the night, pulling the strings in midfield and displaying a true ability to orchestrate United’s attack. Although there were no goals for the Armenian in that match, that performance was rewarded with a “Man of the Match” award. His scoring touch would soon develop, particularly in Europe, with vital away goals against Zorya Luhansk, Saint Etienne, Rostov, and Anderlecht. These goals continued to reestablish his profile as a big-time United player and a player that Mourinho would grow to trust and rely upon.
This terrific European run, on which United’s Champion’s League fate hinged, proved to be a gamble that paid dividends for Mourinho. Paul Pogba began to repay his enormous transfer fee with the opening goal in the final, and with his strike, Mkhitaryan showcased what he is all about.
When the ball broke to him from Chris Smalling’s header, with his back to goal Mkhitaryan showed great inventiveness and imagination to flick the ball goal wards with the outside of his boot. As the ball hit the net, the normally understated Mkhitaryan spun away in delight, joy etched across his face and arms outstretched. As if people didn’t know already, that goal made an emphatic statement.
There was an Armo in the building, the great Henrikh Mkhitaryan!
ANKARA: German lawmakers cancel visit after Ankara refuses meetings
Hurriyet, Turkey
German lawmakers cancel visit after Ankara refuses meetings
ANKARA-BERLIN
AP photo
A deputy speaker of Germany’s parliament stated on May 24 that a parliamentary delegation had scrapped long-standing plans to visit Turkey, after finding out at the last minute that it would not be able to hold talks with officials or visit the Turkish Parliament building.
Claudia Roth, a Green Party lawmaker and vice president of the Bundestag (German lower house), said Turkish officials had informed her that the German delegation would not have access to parliament in Ankara or security guards.
“It was thought that the visit was not an appropriate at this time, so we declined their requests for the meetings,” a Turkish official told the Hürriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity.
The cancellation of the visit comes amid strained relations between the two NATO allies that have deteriorated over Turkey’s refusal to allow German parliamentarians access to troops based at the İncirlik air base. Germany, in response, warned that it could move its troops elsewhere, with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel accusing Turkey of “blackmail.”
“Yesterday we received the information that the highest level on the Turkish side considers that at the moment it is not suitable for German members of parliament to conduct political discussions in Turkey,” Roth said.
“This is de facto a rejection of political dialogue. It is a red card for the German parliament,” she added.
Roth, a member of the opposition Greens, was due to head the four-member delegation from three parties on a May 25-28 visit to Ankara, Diyarbakır and İstanbul.
The lawmakers were planning to meet with Turkish lawmakers, journalists, representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of EU Affairs and human rights activists in Ankara, with the governor, members of the city council, and representatives of civil society in Diyarbakır, along with a visit to the Turkish Parliament.
May/24/2017
Unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh says its military units take preventive measures against Azerbaijani military
Interfax - Russia & CIS Military Newswire May 18, 2017 Thursday 11:10 AM MSK Unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh says its military units take preventive measures against Azerbaijani military YEREVAN/BAKU. May 18 The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have committed around 60 truce violations by firing more than 650 shots along the contact line with the forces of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) over the past 24 hours, the NKR Defense Ministry's press service said. "Apart from small arms, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan used grenade launchers (23 projectiles) in the eastern sector of the contact line and D-44 cannons (18 projectiles) and 82mm mortars (four projectiles) in the north-eastern sector. Forward units of the NKR Defense Army took preventive measures, continuing to confidently perform their combat duty," the NKR Defense Ministry said. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's press service, for its part, said that the Armenian military "have breached the ceasefire 115 times in different sectors of the frontline in the past 24 hours, using large-caliber machineguns and 60mm and 120mm mortars (32 projectiles)."
Handle Turkey with care, Mr. President
Washington Examiner
by Washington Examiner |
President Sargsyan off to Qatar for official visit
Today, President Serzh Sargsyan left for the State of Qatar today for an official visit.
In the framework of the visit, the President of Armenia will meet with the Emir of the State of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The President is also expected to meet with the Executive Director of “Qatar Airways” Akbar Al Baker, Qatar business community and representatives of the Armenian community in capital Doha.
The Dildilian photography collection: Glimpse of a lost Armenian home
For nearly a century, members of the Dildilian family practiced photography in the Ottoman Empire, Greece and the United States. Unlike the best known Armenian photographers who practiced in Istanbul during the final decades of the Ottoman Empire, the Dildilians worked primarily in Central Anatolia and on the Black Sea coast. The archive they left behind gives a vivid glimpse into provincial life at a time of rapid change and brutal tragedy, the reports.
“Reimagining a Lost Armenian Home” brings together over 200 extraordinary photographs from the Dildilian archive. It also includes text and notes written by Armen Marsoobian, a professor at Southern Connecticut State University who has organized exhibitions based on the collection in Turkey, Armenia, the U.S., and the U.K. He is the grandson of Tsolag Dildilian, the founder of the family business in Sivas in central Turkey in 1882.
Joined by his brother Aram, Tsolag’s photography business developed rapidly and he was able to open studios over a period of 30 years in towns like Amasya, Konya and Adana. The book features photos from these studios, as well as from the family’s travels across Anatolia. More than 900 photographs and glass negatives survived, along with family memoirs describing life during this tumultuous era. It is amazing that so many photos were preserved, and most of the ones reprinted in the book are in top condition.
Many Dildilians perished during the genocide of Armenians in 1915, but some family members were able to survive. Tsolag knew the commander of the local gendarmerie and had himself worked as a photographer for the Ottoman army. He and other family members were allowed to remain in Merzifon if they converted to Islam and assumed Turkish identities, which they did.
When the First World War ended in 1918, the surviving Dildilians reclaimed their Armenian identities with the hope of rebuilding their lives. But things got difficult once again with the Turkish War of Independence and they finally ended up leaving Turkey in November 1922.
“Reimagining a Lost Armenian Home” is a rich, moving chronicle of a vanished world.
A Call to acknowledge Armenian Genocide on its 102nd anniversary made in Istanbul’s Taksim
A call to acknowledge Armenian Genocide was made during a commemoration of its 102nd anniversary at Taksim Tunnel, Washington Hatti reports.
As part of the 102nd anniversary of Armenian Genocide, a commemoration at Taksim Tunnel was organized by 24thApril Remembrance Platform. Starting with silent protests, many people including HDP Istanbul MP Garo Paylan participated in the commemoration. A placard with a sign “It’s been 102 years, Face It!” was demonstrated while singing Armenian songs. In addition, another huge banner consisted of 234 Armenian politicians, journalists, judges, artists and intellectuals was rolled out while leaving flowers on it.
‘Life in Turkey has become barren even though we don’t notice’
A news conference took place immediately after the names of exiled scholars following 24th April was cited. On behalf of demonstrators, Murat Çelikkan called to face the genocide by reminding what took place 102 years ago. Murat continued “whether we pay attention or not, life in Turkey has become barren since 24 April 1915. When a section of the public was dismissed with its values, indeed all values of the society were being harmed. While the cultural heritage of a group of people was destructed, the culture of living in together took a big blow. Just like Armenian people, the cultural heritage left behind was being erased. Thousands of historical structures, churches and schools were preemptively turned into ruins. It was portrayed as if they never existed on this soil just like Armenians.”
‘Now is your turn’
By repeating the call made during the commemoration of its 102nd anniversary, Murat went on to say “the call or the struggle to face the genocide is our obligation and debt to Hrant Dink, Sevag Balıkçı, Marisa Küçük and to all those brothers spread around the world as they were forced to leave their homeland. It is a responsibility to our own conscience. All of us owned the pain. Such pain will never heal by time, we apologized and will continue to. We are trying to come to terms with it and will continue to. We will never recess. Now it is your turn. We are done with the words of sympathies, looking for an apology. It has been 102 years. Don’t wait for its 103rdanniversary. Apologize for it!”
The commemoration concluded with applauds by chanting “the struggle for the call to face the genocide will go on for those we lost on 24th April, for Hrant and Sevag.”
Armenian Genocide anniversary marked on Times Square
Armenian Weekly – The vow to “keep the promise” was in full effect on Sunday, April 23, as an impressive number gathered in Times Square to remember the 1.5 million martyrs and pay homage to their legacy, proving that the Armenian Genocide commemorations have only gained momentum since the Centennial.
The relevant and inspiring program, organized by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan since 1985, once again attracted thousands of supporters who waved the vibrant tricolor flags of Armenia and Artsakh in the heart of New York City, as the past was remembered and a renewed effort was made to strengthen the Armenian Diaspora and the homeland.
Steadfast supporters of the Armenian Genocide were once again in attendance to speak, particularly committed elected officials, including Congressman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), who acknowledged the accomplishments of the Armenian Diaspora in championing genocide recognition around the world.
“Recognition will happen if all of you continue to march, write letters and take action,” said Pallone, founder of the Congressional Caucus of Armenian Issues, who recently introduced a new resolution for the U.S. Congress to recognize the genocide.
Pallone remarked that conflict in Armenia and Artsakh is ongoing, recognizing the war there last year and warned that although the genocide was over 100 years ago, violence is still being used against the Armenian people.
“Continue your efforts,” urged Pallone. “You being here today helps with genocide recognition and we as a people must speak out against genocide wherever it occurs.”
A fellow member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) promised to “confront a stubborn resistance.”
She said all nations have a responsibility to recognize the systemic extermination of the Armenians and that until the resolution is passed to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the U.S., “we will not stop.”
Appearing every year without fail, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is the current Senate Minority Leader, pledged to “stand with all of you in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and nothing less.”
He praised the energy and collective spirit of Armenians a century after the massacres and hailed the production of the major motion picture, The Promise that “finally shines a light on this story and puts it in the mainstream for all to see.”
Honoring the memory of his late friend Sam Azadian, founder of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration in Times Square, Schumer said he attends the commemoration every year “because I believe it is our duty to speak out for the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.”
“The Armenian Genocide was the first Holocaust of the 20th century but not the last,” said Schumer. “These events are a stain on humanity and I stand with all of you today to remember the pain of the past.”
Scholar David Phillips, who worked towards reconciliation with Armenia and Turkey as former chair of the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission, said he always believed that “hard problems can be solved through hard dialogue.”
“But dialogue is impossible if one side wants to humiliate the other,” said Phillips, noting the efforts of Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan towards reconciliation, while Turkey’s then Prime Minister Recep Erdogan reneged on their discussions.
“It takes two to talk,” said Phillips, who is currently the Director of the Peace-building and Rights Program at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights. “But Erdogan is not reconciliatory.”
He called then for Washington to investigate Erdogan for war crimes “to lay the groundwork for accountability.”
“Your work and presence here today is so important,” said Phillips. “For the Armenians today in Nagorno Karabagh, for the Yazidis in Iraq, and for all who suffer from crimes against humanity.”
Urging the next generation to take genocide recognition into their own hands, celebrity attorney Mark Geragos told the thousands of young people at the commemoration to “go outside the political process to create a movement to never forget.”
“If you as the next generation don’t keep the promise, we are doomed to repeat it.”
Geragos remarked that Turkey spends millions of dollars to “cover up and perpetuate a lie” and the following generations need to do their part to continue the fight for justice and remembrance.
Knights of Vartan Grand Commander Steven Kradjian and Daughters of Vartan Grand Matron Sona Manuelian recognized and honored Olympic wrestler Migran Arutyunyan and MMA champion Albert Ghazaryan, along with their coach Hayk Ghukasyan with special Knights of Vartan medals for their accomplishments in sports.
Dr. Rachel Goshgarian, Professor of History at Lafayette College and Armen McOmber Esq., New Jersey attorney, ably served as MCs for the program.
Remarks by sponsoring organizations were made by Stephen Mesrobian, Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER); Talin Yacoubian, Armenian Assembly of America; Natalie Gabrielian, Armenian General Benevolent Union; Shahe Sanentz, ADL-Ramgavars; Souren Israelyan, Esq., Armenian Bar Association; Natalie Sarafian, Armenian Council of America; Shant Mardirossian, Near East Foundation; and Rev. Haig Kherlopian, Armenian Missionary Association of America and Armenian Evangelical Union of North America.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, gave the invocation and Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Karayan, pastor of Holy Cross Armenian Church, representing Archbishop Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), offered the benediction. Other clergy in attendance included Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.
The winners of this year’s Knights of Vartan Essay Contest were announced at the program: Raffi Salbashian, 1st place, Stephan Havatian, 2nd place, and Samantha Khorozian, 3rd place.
The Hovnanian Armenian Day School students sang the national anthems of the United States and Armenia, as well as “God Bless America.”
The Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey, led by director Vartan Abdo streamed the event live in video format worldwide, reaching more than 50,000 people, with the assistance of his dedicated volunteer staff.