Author: Ekmekjian Janet

“The OSCE Minsk Group is not satisfied with the status quo,” US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said in a Twitter post

“We are fully committed to negotiations for a peaceful settlement,” he added.

On January 28, the Stockholm Royal Armoury Museum hosted a presentation of the Swedish edition of the Armenian writer and publicist Zori Balayan’s book “No Right to Die” with the author’s participation.

The event was attended by members of the Swedish Royal Court, MPs, Ambassadors accredited to Sweden, representatives of municipal authorities, heads of religious and cultural institutions, media representatives, and members of the Armenian community.

In his opening remarks H.E. Hans Gunnar Adén, former Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia and the author of the preface to Swedish edition of the book, spoke about the Armenian history and culture, Zori Balayan’s legacy and the contents of his book.

During the discussion, which followed the presentation, Zori Balayan talked about the book and his motivation. He also reflected on his previous visit to Stockholm during the journey onboard the “Cilicia” sailing vessel to pay tribute to the memory of Swedish Missionary Alma Johansson, who had saved thousands of Armenian women and children during the Genocide. Zory Balayan spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its background.

In his remarks H.E. Artak Apitonyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Sweden, spoke about the public and political activities of Zori Balayan, his various initiatives, expeditions, journeys and his literary heritage. The event was followed by classical music performances and book signing ceremony.

Within the framework of his visit, Zori Balayan held meetings with the local Armenian community. During the meeting at the Armenian Church of St. Mary in Södertälje the award-winning film “”Armenia”: from sea to sea” was screened. During the discussion that followed the members of the Armenian community raised numerous issues of their concern.

The book presentation was the first in the series of Armenian cultural events at the Royal Armoury of Stockholm, which include an exhibition “Tracing the Raw Silk trade: Armenian merchants at the Court of Karl XI”, a lecture on Armenian-Swedish historical connections, and readings of Armenian fairy tales for children and adolescents.

On 28 January Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent congratulatory address on the Day of the Army to the Republic of Armenia President Serzh Sargsyan.
The address runs as follows:
“Honorable President Sargsyan,
On behalf of the Artsakh people, the authorities and on myself personally I would like to convey sincere congratulations on the Day of the Army, a holiday that is considered very important for all the Armenians.
The glorious Armenian army is the offspring of independence, the pride of the entire Armenian nation, which it loves and cherishes like its child. Its brave soldiers, following the lead of their ancestors, devotedly carry out the sacred duty of defending the Homeland, performing and displaying unique feats and courage.
You have had a great personal contribution in the establishment and formation of the Army, its ongoing enhancement and development. You are doing everything possible for consolidating defense capability of the two Armenian states, solving issues and reaching goals of nation-wide nature.
I once again congratulate You and the whole personnel of the Republic of Armenia’s armed forces on this cherished holiday and wish peace, good health and great success for the glory of Mother Armenia and the native people”.

 

 

 

The Armenian National Archive will publish archive documents related to the Armenian Genocide and World War II this year, Director of the National Archive Amatuni Virabyan told a press conference today.

He said the copies of original Ottoman documents and their translations will also be made public. Most of the documents refer to the properties of the Armenian Church.

Virabyan said the Archive has undertaken the digitalization of the documents. The digital copies will also be kept at the National Archive.

Amatuni Virabyn said thanks to cooperation with national archives of other countries they acquire the copies of all Armenia-related documents.

Relative peace was maintained at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan during the holidays, the NKR Ministry of Defense reports.

The rival fired about 4,500 shots from weapons of different caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions between January 1 and 7.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep full control of the situation and confidently fulfill their military tasks all along the line of contact.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, James Warlick and Pierre Andrieu and the Personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Belgrade.

The parties continued the discussions on the perspectives of furthering the process of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Reference was made to the issue of organization of a meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Edward Nalbandian reiterated the Armenia’s commitment to continue to work with the Minsk Group Co-chairs to reach an exceptionally peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

Photo:  Sputnik

The South Ossetian Parliament will consider the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Speaker Anatoly Bibilov told .

“We regret that South Ossetia has not recognized the Armenian Genocide until now. The issue is on the parliament agenda now, and will be put on a discussion. It’s necessary to give a proper assessment to the crime committed in the Ottoman Empire and condemn the policy of denial of genocide,” he said.

The Speaker noted that “while world powers are guided by opportunistic interests on the matter, we do not question the historic truth.” “That’s why, guided by the principle of historical justice and preservation of historical memory, it’s necessary to acknowledge the fact of atrocities in the Ottoman Empire and the mass killing of Armenians,” Bibilov said.

According to the Speaker, although the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not new in South Ossetia, it has acquired a new meaning after the recent developments.

“Taking into consideration the latest downing of the Russian jet and assessing it as an act of aggression against our main strategic partner, the only adequate response to Turkey will be the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, along with a set of other steps. This step goes in line with the strategic path of development we have chosen,” the Speaker stressed.

He added that South Ossetia is not afraid of damaging ties with Turkey, as there are no relations as such. The same is true about Azerbaijan.

A resolution on the Armenian Genocide has been adopted by a large majority at the 23rd European Green Party Council in Lyon. The text acknowledges that the Ottoman Empire perpetrated Genocide against the Armenian people. It also calls on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide and work towards reconciliation with the Armenia and its people.

With this initiative the European Green Party calls upon all countries which have not yet done so to publicly recognize the Armenian Genocide. It underlines that doing so will positively impact the normalisation of the relations between Turkey and Armenia and help prevent further crimes against humanity.

The European Green Party is a pan-European political party which federates over 45 Green parties across Europe, present also in Eastern Partner countries. In the European Parliament their members sit in the Greens – European Free Alliance parliamentary group totalizing 50 seats.

The European Green Party mourns the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage and calls upon the Turkish government to respect the Armenian cultural legacy and take strong measures to protect it. The resolution asks the Turkish government to re-evaluate historical and cultural narratives and open its archives to historians, researchers and academics in an effort to come to terms with the past. The logical continuation of this would be to immediately abolish Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which censors political and public debate on the genocide.

The text emphasizes that everybody has the right to have their history recognized and their culture respected. By acknowledging the Armenian Genocide the European Green Party wants to pay due respect to its victims as a step towards reconciliation and historical reparation.

MEP Michèle Rivasi, who is vice-chair of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament and member of the European Friends of Armenia Advisory Council, comments:

‘As the tragic events in Paris reminds us: the world is in trouble, more than ever. For many years hate speech has not been sufficiently condemned, and helped extremists in spreading their propaganda and raising the level of violence. We cannot continue like this, we have to reverse this vicious spiral with an even more opened democracy and also the duty to recognize the errors and crimes that led to the current situation.

The European Green Party resolution on the centenary of the Armenian genocide aims at reminding every country that they have a part to play for a more peaceful world.

This is one of the reasons why Turkey has to stop now its state policy of denial. Because denial is the fuel that feeds the engine of hate and prevents us from reaching peace. Turkey will only find advantages in finally recognising the Armenian Genocide and step into History. There will be no peace without recognition of the Armenian genocide.’

As 2015 marks the centenary of the Armenian Genocide many other European countries, Pan-European institutions and political parties have acknowledged or reaffirmed their recognition of the Armenian Genocide and have urged Turkey to so as well.

‘I am very pleased to see a growing number of European Political families recognizing the Armenian Genocide’ says Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa, director of European Friends of Armenia. ‘The European Green Party resolution is especially important because not only pays tribute to the victims of the first Genocide of the 20th century, but also explains clearly the importance of doing so if we want to secure a common future and prevent further crimes against humanity’.

The guitar The System Of A Down played during the tour has been auctioned off for $27,000.

“Amazing News!! The one of a kind custom Wake Up The Souls guitar I played on the tour, signed by all band members got auctioned off for $27,000 in support of the non-profit Orran children’s charity,” Tankian said in a Facebook post.

Tankian played the guitar in Los Angeles, Yerevan, Moscow and all through the historic Wake Up The Souls tour aimed at raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide.

Asbarez – The President of Israel Reuven Rivlin said that his previously voiced position that the events of 1915 were Genocide of the Armenians remains unchanged.

Rivlin told the participants of an international conference, entitled Genocide: History and Memory – Marking 100 years of the Armenian Genocide, whom he met in his residence on the last day of the conference on Wednesday.

The meeting was not open to the press but Panorama.am interviewed the conference participants who attended the meeting. They all said that the President reiterated his previous position and that he is a supporter of the Armenian cause; however for some reason he has to refrain from making an official statement about it.

The fact that the President invited the participants of the conference that was on the Armenian Genocide, itself speaks about his support for this cause and this fact was highly praised by everyone – the organizers, the president of the Open University of Israel and the participants.

One of the participants of the conference, Dr. Israel Charny, said that Rivilin, indeed, did refer to the events of 1915 as Genocide adding that the Israeli leader had other political considerations. Charny said he did not agree with that position but found it positive that Rivlin has continued his support for Genocide recognition.

Israel officially continues not to recognize the Armenian Genocide and remains in the camp of the deniers for one political reason or the other. Many of the Jewish participants called this stance a “shame”. It can only be hoped that this conference, being the first of its kind on this topic was a step forward.