Author: Christine Harutyunian

On Tuesday December 15 the president of the Argentine football club Racing Victor Blanco confirmed that they rejected the sponsorship of Turkish Airlines, reports.

The move was hailed from the Armenian community of Argentina. In a statementent titled “Turkish Airlines tried to sponsor Racing to wash the image of the authoritarian government of Turkey,” Armenian Youth Federation of South America organization welcomed the decision. “For several years, Turkish Airlines became the main weapon of Turkish diplomacy around the world sponsoring important sports figures like Kobe Bryant or Lionel Messi. They exhibited their brand with recognized and admired figures to hide the reality of what is currently living the Turkish people,” said the Armenian youth organization.

“The persecution of the Kurdish people and the Peoples Democratic Party, which  reached a new limit in November with the murder of human rights lawyer Tahir Elçi, the harassment of opposition media that intensifies whenever there are elections in the country, the repression of peaceful demonstrations of the civil society, the imprisonment of opponents or simply those who ‘insult’ President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the harassment to those who challenge the official story about the Armenian Genocide, the censorship and blocking of Twitter and other social networks and the complicity with the Islamic State to intensify the conflict in Syria, are some of the many reasons that the Turkish diplomacy has to hide their true intentions,” added the Armenian Youth Federation of South America.

“In football, the shirt and the colors are immaculate,” said Alfonso Tabakian, director of the Armenian National Committee of South America. “They are the identity of supporters of a club. Therefore, no fan of world would like their club to be sponsored by a government that violates human rights.” Last year, another Argentine club San Lorenzo de Almagro rejected a millionaire sponsorship offer from Azerbaijan. Racing and San Lorenzo are two of the biggest clubs in the country.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on the implementation of special economic measures against Turkey, the press service of the Russian government said Tuesday.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Beachgoers will be protected from sharks by drones and “smart” drum lines, according to the New South Wales (NSW) government, the bBC reports.

A trial will begin on the NSW north coast where there have been several attacks in the past 12 months.

The drones will feed images back to operators looking for sharks using GPS co-ordinates.

The measures are part of a shark management strategy which also includes barriers and helicopter surveillance.

“There is no easy way to reduce risks for swimmers and surfers,” NSW minister for primary industries Niall Blair, said in a statement.

“We are delivering on a commitment to test the best science available, including new technologies, as we try to find a long term-term solution to keep our beaches safe,” he said.

French PM Manuel Valls has warned that France could face chemical or biological attack from terror groups, as MPs debate extending the state of emergency after the Paris attacks, the BBC reports.

Belgian police are meanwhile raiding six properties in and around Brussels, linked to suspected Paris attackers Bilal Hadfi and Salah Abdeslam.

It remains unclear whether the suspected organiser of the attacks was killed in Wednesday’s raid in Paris.

Friday’s attacks killed 129 people.

Most of the Belgian raids are targeting properties in Jette and Molenbeek connected to Bilal Hadfi, a Frenchman living in Belgium who was one of the seven suicide attackers who died in the attacks in Paris, Belgian broadcaster RTBF reports.

A further raid, in Laeken, is also linked to the Paris attacks.

Mr Valls is addressing the French parliament ahead of a vote to extend the state of emergency by three months.

Photo by Asbarez

 

Asbarez – The Armenian American Museum has announced that they have initiated discussions with the City of Glendale on the terms for a Ground Lease Agreement of the 1.7 acre property adjacent to the Glendale Civic Auditorium and across from the Glendale Community College on the corner of Verdugo Road and Mountain Street.

“We had a very constructive meeting today with Mayor Ara Najarian and City Manager Scott Ochoa regarding the concept design for the museum and timing for consideration of the Ground Lease Agreement by the City,” remarked His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and Co-Chair of the Armenian American Museum’s governing board.

“We are grateful to Mayor Ara Najarian and the other members of the City Council for their encouragement and guidance on developing a museum that will empower individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice,” added His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, the Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who co-chairs the governing board of the museum.

The Armenian American Museum Project Development Committee also announced that more than 500 hundred people visited their website within the first two days of its launch on Friday, November 6.

“We are seeing a strong interest for a museum that will promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience,” stated the Museum Project Development Committee Chairman Berdj Karapetian.

The Armenian American Museum will launch its presence on social media outlets this week and start scheduling presentations to community organizations starting next week.

The Armenian American Museum is a developing project in Glendale, CA, with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. When completed, it will serve as a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.

The governing board of the Armenian American Museum consists of representatives from the following nine regional Armenian American institutions and organizations: Armenian Catholic Eparchy, Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian General Benevolent Union – Western District, Armenian Relief Society – Western USA, Nor Or Charitable Foundation, Nor Serount Cultural Association, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

From artistic renderings of the splendor of the Armenian countryside to the stark beauty of ancient fortresses, heritage sites and cultural treasures hold deep meaning for the Armenian people.
On November 9, 2015, U.S. Ambassador to Armenian Richard Mills, Jr. had the opportunity to visit important pieces of Armenian cultural heritage in Gyumri and Dashtadem, where he unveiled two of the latest projects funded by the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

“We are all connected by our shared history, our shared human story. By understanding and respecting Armenian history, we can celebrate our present connections and build our common future,” Ambassador Mills said.

This year, work is being completed on three major projects selected by the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP): the renovation of Rafayel Atoyan’s “On the Way to the Watermill” mural, the excavation and restoration of the Dashtadem Fortress complex, and work to safeguard significant archeological finds in the Areni Cave. In total, the AFCP provided almost $200,000 for all three projects.

“It has been more than a year of painstaking, detailed restoration work at all three sites. Now the Armenian people will see the benefit of this investment,” said Ambassador Mills as he unveiled the Atoyan mural and opened the Dashtadem complex. The work at Areni Cave will be unveiled at a later date.

The public presentation of these AFCP sites coincides with Ambassador Mills’ month-long focus on rural development. By preserving such sites, he said, tourists will be more likely to visit areas outside of Yerevan and help build a more diverse rural economy.

“There are so many great examples of cultural and historical heritage in rural Armenia. By working with our Armenian partners to preserve these sites and this mural, we are helping to promote tourism in the regions, which will boost economic development,” Ambassador Mills emphasized.

“ON THE WAY TO THE WATERMILL”

Rafayel Atoyan’s “On the Way to the Watermill” was in danger of disintegration, as the abandoned building was slowly crumbling around it. Now, thanks to the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, it has a new home in Gyumri’s Youth Palace.

The painstaking restoration and relocation of the mural was conducted by the Minas Avetisyan Cultural Foundation, led by Arman Avetisyan, with the participation of Fabrizio Iacopini, a renowned expert from the Restoration Institute in Florence, Italy.

During the unveiling, Ambassador Mills announced that the preservation proposal for another mural, Hakob Hakobyan’s “In the Mountains/Milkmen,” won funding in this year’s highly competitive AFCP selection process. When complete, that mural will find a new home in Gyumri’s Achemyan Drama Theater.

“I look forward to returning once work on that mural is complete,” Ambassador Mills said. “Gyumri has such a unique character and flavor, and I think these two artists truly capture what makes this corner of Armenia unique.”

DASHTADEM

After unveiling the Atoyan mural in Gyumri, Ambassador Mills traveled to the Dashtadem fortress complex. One of the largest medieval fortresses in the Caucasus, the site has great historical and architectural significance. It is the home to the 7^th century Saint Sargis Church, the 12^th century Khan Palace, and 9^th century Christian gravestones.

The U.S. Embassy partnered with the Government of Armenia, the Ministry of Culture, and the AMAP Human Development NGO to make the Dashtadem preservation project a reality.  Thanks to this project, the compound was first cleared of rubbish and the remnants of modern structures, allowing for excavation work on the inner citadel and the surrounding wall. 35 meters of the outlines and foundations of the medieval defensive walls have been uncovered, including two semicircular towers. The excavations also uncovered remnants of late medieval dwellings and items used in commerce, such as ovens.

“Armenian history is rich and long. It is also multi-layered, as different cultural eras came into being, intermingled, and declined,” said Ambassador Mills said. “Preserving this Fortress will help future generations understand the story of how the modern Armenian people came to be.”

Recognizing that celebrating our shared cultural heritage is a way to bring countries and peoples together, the U.S. State Department established the U.S. Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) in 2000. Through the fund, the U.S. State Department each year provides financing for a number of projects around the globe that protect unique cultural heritage sites.

The U.S. Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation has been providing support for Armenian cultural sites since 2005, funding projects such as the mapping and cataloging of items at the Noratus medieval cemetery and its collection of khachkars, preservation of a medieval masonry bridge in the Garni Gorge, and documentation of traditional Armenian music and dance.

Syrian ambassador to Russia, Riyad Haddad, said there was “heavy fighting” ahead, as Syrian troops braced for a “decisive battle” to retake the country’s second largest city of Aleppo from jihadist terrorists, reports.

“Half of the city remains in the hands of the terrorists, while the other half is under our control… Our troops, backed by Russian aviation, are encircling the city and preparing for a ground offensive. This is going to be a heavy fight because the terrorists are getting a lot of support from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” Haddad said in an interview with Gazeta.Ru.

The ambassador also said that Russian airstrikes had brought immediate results destroying many enemy strongholds and arms depots, and cutting off the terrorists’ supply routes.

“Another major result [of the Russian airstrikes] is that many terrorists have laid down their arms and surrendered to the Syrian army, while many others retreated towards the Turkish border,” the Syrian envoy added.

Riyad Haddad emphasized that the Syrian authorities were closely coordinating their actions with Russia, but maintained no contact with the command of the US-led coalition.

Two explosions at a peace rally in the Turkish capital Ankara have killed at least 86 people and injured 186, according to officials, the BBC reports.

The blasts took place near the city’s central train station as people gathered for a march organised by leftist groups.

The attack is the deadliest of its kind in modern Turkish history.

Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “loathsome attack that targeted our unity and our togetherness”.

Government officials are investigating reports that a suicide bomber was behind at least one of the explosions.

Kaspar Karampetian, President of the European Federation for Justice and Democracy, has addressed a letter to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs regarding the recent escalation of tension on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and around Nagorno Karabakh. The letter reads:

Honourable Co-chairs,

The Armenian communities in Europe are deeply concerned about the recent escalation of tension on the contact line between Armenia and Azerbaijan and around Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, perpetrated by the government of Azerbaijan. As you know, the ceasefire violations initiated by Azerbaijan became particularly intense on the eve and during your meetings with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York on 24 – 25 September of the current year. The goal of the Azerbaijani government was clear – to put pressure on the Armenian side and harm the negotiation process.

Using the unresolved conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh as an excuse, the Azerbaijani army shelled borderline villages in Tavush region, in north-east of Armenia, killing 3 civilian women, two of who elderly. The goal behind this vicious strategy is to terrorize the civilian population in borderline villages and make them leave their homes. Azerbaijan also fired in the direction of the town of Noyemberyan in Tavush region in Armenia for the first time in ten years. Besides other heavy weaponry, the Azerbaijani side used howitzer D-30 for the first time after signing the cease-fire agreement. Further shelling resulting from the escalation of the tension took the lives of several servicemen.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) regrets the fact that on September 27 official Azerbaijan dismissed the proposal made by the OSCE Minsk Group to accept an OSCE mechanism to investigate ceasefire violations. Armenia agreed to discuss the details of the mechanism which would enable to identify the initiator of the cease-fire violation and make it difficult for the sides to blame each other for initiating deadly attacks.

The logical answer to the question why official Azerbaijan which continuously blames the Armenian side for violating the cease-fire is not interested in such a mechanism, is evident.

This is not the first time Baku has rejected similar proposals suggested by the OSCE Minsk Group. Official Azerbaijan has repeatedly rejected confidence-building measures proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group, including a system for investigating individual shooting incidents. It also blocked the suggestion of pulling snipers back from front-line positions.

Moreover, the current Government of Azerbaijan actively hinders grass-root peace process. It curbs people-to-people contacts such as those between the civil society, youth activists and intellectuals from Armenia and Azerbaijan. This type of exchange would be of major importance for bridging the two societies and for the peace process. Prominent civil society members who are genuinely interested in promoting a dialogue between the societies are intimidated or sentenced to several years of prison based on fabricated charges and falsified trials. One can recall the imprisonment of Leila Yunus and Arif Yunus as just one example.

The clear goal of the current Government of Azerbaijan is to insulate its own society and have a complete control over the public opinion. It is not a secret that hatred towards Armenians all over the world is being encouraged and nurtured from the highest level in Azerbaijan. This is dangerously irresponsible and short-sighted, considering the fact that Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples will continue living side by side for the centuries to come.

It is evident that the current Government of Azerbaijan with is maximalist and zero-sum-game approach towards the conflict is not interested in a genuine peace process. How can one otherwise explain the constant hate-filled war-rhetoric and bragging of the regime of Ilham Aliyev over the country’s rocketing military budget?

EAFJD is convinced that making generic announcements or putting a sign of equation between Armenia and Azerbaijan when addressing the two sides and calling them to stop violating the cease-fire, distorts the reality, creates false public opinion and in fact encourages the Aliyev regime in the dangerous game it is playing also at the expense of the lives of its own citizens. It is evident that if a new war unleashes under the current circumstances it will be the responsibility of the current Azerbaijani Government.

EAFJD considers that with its hard work towards the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict OSCE Minsk Group has played an indispensable and highly valuable role in maintaining the relative peace. EAFJD therefore calls on the Co-chairs to objectively point at the side that violates the cease-fire or blocks a constructive peace process as well as confidence-building measures. Anything other than this would mean bearing a co-responsibility if a new war unleashes in Nagorno-Karabakh with its unpredictable and highly dangerous consequences for the whole region, including Azerbaijan.’

 

 

 

Every year on April 24 Turkish singer Leman Stehn apologizes to the Armenian nation for the crime committed by her ancestors. Familiar with the true story, she never avoids the word ‘genocide.’ She first visited Armenia a few years ago and visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial. The singer is again in Armenia for a Komitas festival.

Every year Leman Stehn participates in commemoration events held in different countries of the world.

“Things should be called by their names,” she told a press conference in Yerevam. “I’m aware of what befell the Armenian nation and cannot understand how one can avoid the word ‘genocide.’ Of course, there was an Armenian Genocide. I consider it a duty to participate in events targeted at preventing genocide,” she said.

The Armenian national has been in her heart since youth. Born in Turkey, she moved to Germany at an early age and returned to Turkey only as a student. She learnt about the Armenian nation and culture thanks to her Armenian friends.

“I was young, when we returned to Turkey. Only then I came to know that Armenians previously lived on the territory of Turkey, that it was their homeland. I opened a new world for me,” the singer said.

Leman Stehn confessed she had been persecuted in Turkey for her pro-Armenian views, but this made her continue the struggle for justice with a greater vigor. After graduating from the Conservatory, the singer returned to Germany.

She had long abandoned the Armenian music until she heard the news of Hrant Dink’s assassination.

“I was shocked to hear we lost my lovely brother Hrant Dink. “Sarı Gyalin” was one of his most favorite songs,” Stehn said.

This was the song she performed at the festival dedicated to Komitas. The Turkish singer once again apologized to the heirs of victims of the Armenian Genocide for the crime committed by the Turkish nation and promised to visit Armenia again on April 24.