LA GRAND-MERE ARMENIENNE DE KENDAL NEZAN
REVUE DE PRESSE
Si la France a une politique kurde depuis les annees 1980, c’est en
grande partie a cet homme discret qui y a dedie sa vie qu’elle le
doit. Portrait.
lire la suite…
vendredi 13 fevrier 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com
RAISING THE STAKES: SARGSYAN USHERS IN NEW POLITICAL CONDITIONS BY TACKLING FORMER COALITION PARTNER
ANALYSIS | 13.02.15 | 10:45
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
RELATED NEWS
Sargsyan lashes out at Tsarukyan, defends constitutional reform
The sensational speech delivered by President Serzh Sargsyan late on
February 12 has signaled the start of a new stage of a tough internal
political race in Armenia.
Addressing top representatives of Armenia’s ruling Republican Party
(RPA), Sargsyan, who is the leader of the RPA, called for clearing up
the political field from “illiterate and non-political elements.” In
doing so he leveled unusually strong criticism and mocked at the leader
of the second largest parliamentary party, Prosperous Armenia (PAP),
Gagik Tsarukyan. Moreover, the main target of Sargsyan’s criticism
was the “illiteracy” of Tsarukyan, who recently issued an ultimatum
to the government.
This ultimatum is connected with planned constitutional reforms that
the Sargsyan administration intends to carry out in the near future.
In particular, under the proposed draft the current presidential
form of government is to be replaced with a parliamentary one. Most
opposition groups in Armenia believe this way the RPA seeks to ensure
its continued grip on power even after the end of President Sargsyan’s
second and last term in office in 2018.
Last week, Tsarukyan convened a conference during which he said that in
conditions of the actually ongoing war at the borders with Azerbaijan,
the difficult economic and political situation in the country a change
in the model of public administration is impractical and dangerous. At
the same time, he did not rule out that if the government continues its
policy of consolidating the power of the majority, opposition forces
will bring thousands of people out into the streets for protests.
In his latest remarks, President Sargsyan described Tsarukyan the
politician as a “vice” for the country. The same day he signed a
decree releasing Tsarukyan from his membership in the National Security
Council. He also called for the commencement of a procedure to strip
the PAP leader of his parliamentary seat and made instructions to check
“unverified reports” about possible tax evasion and involvement in
cover-ups for crimes by Tsarukyan.
Many Armenian experts believe that it is former President Robert
Kocharyan who stands behind Tsarukyan and that Kocharyan intends
to return to active politics. However, Tsarukyan appeared to be
personally seeking the next presidency recently. Directly pointing
at his ignorance, Sargsyan said: “Can you imagine Gagik Tsarukyan
reading a speech at the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly,
which is followed by questions from deputies, including Azerbaijani
and Turkish ones? It is difficult and terrible to imagine that.”
As for Kocharyan, vice-chairman of the Republican Party and Minister
of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan said after the RPA Council
meeting that Kocharyan, unlike Tsarukyan, is a political figure,
and in the RPA they have respect for the former president. At the
same time, he appeared to reaffirm the assumptions that the PAP had
been established to ensure the presence of the second president in
Armenia’s active politics.
The PAP, Kocharyan and others did not react to the development
immediately. It is clear that Sargsyan has decided that before
announcing the constitutional reform it is necessary to neutralize
the key critic of this reform. After such a step, either the PAP
will admit its defeat and will disappear from the political arena or
Kocharyan will have to personally join the fray.
Remarkably, Tsarukyan was in Moscow recently and is said to have met
with Kocharyan there. As most Armenian media suggest, the PAP leader
did not find support in Russia.
BEYOND INDEPENDENCE: AN INTERVIEW WITH ARTSAKH PRIME MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ARTAK BEGLARYAN
Wednesday, February 11th, 2015
Artsakh Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan spent the nights of August
3 and 4, 2014 visiting with soldiers on the front line. (Photo:
Artak Beglaryan)
BY RUPEN JANBAZIAN >From the Armenian Weekly
Today, nearly 24 years after declaring independence, the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) is home to a thriving democracy; holds
regular free and fair elections (both presidential and parliamentary);
is determined to attract foreign investment; and most recently, served
as a safe refuge for a growing number of Syrian-Armenian refugees.
Yet, according to analysts, 2014 was the deadliest year for the
Karabakh conflict since the ceasefire with Azerbaijan in 1994, with
33 Armenian and 39 Azeri casualties.
“The troops serve with the understanding that they are protecting
their homeland and that the entire Armenian nation stands with them
in support–not only the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh [Karabakh],
but the diaspora too,” Artak Beglaryan, spokesperson for NKR Prime
Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, told the Armenian Weekly.
Beglaryan has been with the office of the prime minister since August
2012, and has joined Harutyunyan on multiple tours of the front lines.
He has also worked as a political analyst and columnist for several
Armenian newspapers and journals, commenting on the latest development
in the republic and the South Caucasus.
The Armenian Weekly sat down with Beglaryan on Jan. 30, to discuss the
current situation in Artsakh and what he expects for its future. Below
is the full interview.
* * *
RUPEN JANBAZIAN: According to reports, 2014 was the deadliest year in
the Karabakh conflict since the 1990’s. What do you think contributed
to the escalation in violence, and is this trend likely to continue?
ARTAK BEGLARYAN: Unfortunately, 2014 was quite a bloody year for the
conflict. Azerbaijan continues to take small yet aggressive steps to
escalate the violence. Considering how this year began, we can already
assume that the bloodshed will likely continue. Throughout January,
the Azerbaijani Army made several attempts to breach the border at
different points of the contact line, but were held back by Armenian
troops. Azerbaijani troops have also been attacking points on the
internationally recognized and protected border of the Republic of
Armenia. In doing so, Azerbaijan continues to try to draw Armenia
into the conflict, as they do not recognize NKR.
Given that 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
Azerbaijan has been working closely with Turkey to counter Centennial
commemorations. It is evident that Turkey supports Azerbaijan and
continues to encourage the escalation of violence in order to distract
Armenians and turn international attention away from the commemoration
and onto the Karabakh conflict.
It is safe to assume that this will not be an easy year; Azerbaijan
will continue its policy of provocation. What is important to note,
however, is that the Armenian side is fully prepared to respond
accordingly when necessary, and do its best to ensure that the conflict
does not escalate any further.
R.J.: On Aug. 2-4 last year, you joined Prime Minister Harutyunyan on
an overnight tour of the front lines. The visit came after a string of
attacks from Azerbaijan that started on July 28, and left 5 Armenian
and 13 Azeri servicemen dead, according to official figures provided
by the defense ministries of both sides. What was the morale of the
NKR troops at the time and how do such visits affect the soldiers?
A.B.: I have actually joined the prime minister on multiple tours.
Most recently, we visited the front lines on Dec. 31, to bring moral
support to the troops and to wish them a happy New Year. A few weeks
later, I led a group of journalists and spokesmen from Yerevan on
a tour to the contact line. After multiple visits, I am convinced
that both our soldiers and commanders are in high spirits. There is a
real sense of family in our army, and that has only increased in the
last few years. The troops serve with the understanding that they are
protecting their homeland and that the entire Armenian nation stands
with them–not only the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh, but the
diaspora too. They understand their responsibility and are willing
to carry out the important task of protecting the Armenian homeland.
A part of Azerbaijan’s policy is to intimidate both our troops and the
Armenian people, to try to show that they are stronger, more capable
and better prepared than the Armenian side. They continue to threaten
that they will attack and take control of Artsakh, but these threats
are baseless. Our troops and commanders are ready to protect Artsakh.
As we saw in recent months, we were not only able to protect our lands,
but also retaliate as necessary. Moreover, society is also ready to
mobilize its potential for the same purpose.
In this sense, the moral support extended to the troops by the public
and authorities is an important component of our strength. Personal
visits from the prime minister have a direct and substantial effect
on the soldiers; they are able to communicate face to face and stand
at the front lines together, which is very encouraging to them. When
such a high-ranking official stands with the troops–and even spends
nights there–it proves to the soldiers that the leaders of the
country fully support, encourage, and commend their efforts.
R.J.: The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group–Ambassadors Igor Popov
of Russia, James Warlick of the United States, and Pierre Andrieu
of France–met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
in Krakow on Jan. 27. In their statement, the co-chairs called on
Azerbaijan to observe its commitments to a peaceful resolution of
the conflict and also urged Armenia to take all measures to reduce
tensions. Has the stance of the OSCE Minsk Group changed over the past
year? How fair have they been in their assessments of the conflict?
A.B.: The latest statement was quite interesting. Over the years,
there have been both official and non-official criticisms in the
Armenian media of the Minsk Group, stating that they have been
wrongfully neutral in their assessments of the conflict. During times
of escalated violence, the co-chairs would urge both sides to respect
the ceasefire, ignoring the fact that the aggression came from one
side. This was the case in the statement released [in November 2014]
regarding the shooting down of an unarmed Armenian helicopter. Even
after Azerbaijan admitted to the attack, the Minsk Group’s statement
failed to condemn one side and chose to approach the situation with
a blinded sense of “neutrality.”
The Jan. 27 statement is different, however, since it targets mostly
one side. I believe this is an important step in the right direction.
Perhaps the co-chairs realize that their watered-down and often unclear
statements rooted in neutrality only encourage the Azerbaijani side
to continue its aggression. By not calling a spade a spade, they are
indirectly telling the aggressor that their policy of provocation and
belligerence is fine, that they can carry on. But when they call out
Azerbaijan’s aggression, as they have done in the mentioned statement,
it helps decrease the probability and intensiveness of future attacks.
However, it is important for the co-chairs to voice these concerns
during their regular meetings with the Azerbaijani authorities. While
these are good first steps, we will have to see if there are any real
changes in their approach in future statements.
R.J.: Talk about the situation in the border villages, and some of the
challenges they face. What are some of the efforts that the government
is engaged in to address their needs?
A.B.: While there are only a few villages in Artsakh that are situated
directly on the border, the government believes that it is important
for them to be economically and socially strong. Although both the
government and the diaspora have helped these villages over the years
financially, the time has come for there to be real investment, so
that villagers can have sustainable incomes and proper progress. If
the border villages are able to grow and evolve in an efficient and
effective manner, then the population will stay there and naturally
increase.
It seems as though important steps are being taken in this direction.
Over the past year, a number of new business projects have begun in
Talish and Chartar, particularly in the agricultural and recycling
sectors. Just a few weeks ago, the first advanced irrigation system
was implemented on a hundred-hectare [0.386-sq mi] plot of land, which
was given to the people of Talish and is ready for cultivation. This
came after an irrigation system was installed on a thousand-hectare
plot of land in the same village. In January, the first agricultural
cooperative of Artsakh was established in Chartar, which aims to
mobilize its members’ resources and develop agricultural and recycling
capabilities in the town. We expect these projects to bear fruit in
the coming years.
In this context, I believe it is important to have similar projects
throughout the country. Proper investment is key so that villagers
can have work and prosper.
R.J.: A growing number of Syrian Armenians are fleeing the violence in
Syria and resettling in Armenia and Artsakh. How many have settled
in Artsakh so far, and what are some of the challenges in their
resettlement?
A.B.: It’s tough to give a concrete number, but around 35-40
Syrian-Armenian families have moved to Artsakh so far. They have
predominantly settled in the southern regions of the country; most
of them live in the city of Kovsakan, since the climate and terrain
are similar to Kamishli’s, where most of the settlers are from.
The NKR government has provided them with special dwellings, as well
as plots of land and agricultural equipment, all free of charge, so
that they will be able to live off the land. The government has not
spared any effort in ensuring that the Syrian-Armenian families settle
in a comfortable environment with every possible opportunity given to
them. There have been at least a couple of examples of families who,
over the past two years, have created viable, thriving businesses in
Artsakh as a result.
The main challenge that the Syrian Armenians face in Artsakh is the
problem of social integration. For example, the kids have an especially
difficult time adjusting to the Eastern Armenian dialect.
Luckily, there haven’t been many problems regarding finding work and
employment, because of the assistance granted by the government.
R.J.: What is the role of the Armenian Diaspora in the future of
Artsakh? Where does the diaspora fit in this discussion?
A.B.: We are all aware of the large amount of donations that come from
the diaspora every year, both on organizational and individual levels.
Artsakh and its people are forever grateful for this assistance.
However, I believe that the time has come for the diaspora to
shift its focus mostly to investing in Artsakh, rather than direct
assistance. Artsakh is developing at a rapid rate and has now entered
a new stage of progress. Direct assistance can cause certain problems
of misspending or mismanagement of funds. We need people to invest
in Artsakh’s future. For example, the development of a factory can be
much more fruitful than a single large donation–factories create jobs
and allow people to earn their own wages and make a comfortable living.
I can think of a few examples of how investments from the diaspora
have been both beneficial for the country and its people, while
being profitable for investors. Yes, there may be some risks involved
in such investments, but they pay large dividends and are far more
effective in the long run when compared to benevolence.
R.J.: Armenians throughout the world will commemorate the Centennial
of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. What are some of the ways the 100th
anniversary will be commemorated in Artsakh?
A.B.: Artsakh and its people will be joining Armenians across the
world in commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
There has been work on erecting a monument in memory of the genocide
victims in Stepanakert [the capital of NKR]. There will also be several
commemorative events taking place in the country on a state level,
including exhibitions, conferences, and concerts. Artsakh’s population
is part of the Armenian world; it will join the commemorative
initiatives and efforts around the globe.
WHAT HELPS 100-YEAR-OLD NEVART STAY YOUNG?
Daily Echo, UK
Feb 11 2015
(From Bournemouth Echo)
A BOURNEMOUTH pensioner celebrated her 100th birthday with family at
the Carlton Hotel on Sunday.
Nevart Dervishian reached triple figures yesterday, marking a full
century since her birth in Egypt in 1915 during the early part of
the First World War.
At the weekend she was joined by her son and daughter Paul and Louise,
along with five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, for a
celebratory meal.
Born in Cairo, but of Armenian descent, Mrs Dervishian lived for much
of her life in Egypt where, after a short period working as a typist
for an oil firm, she married and settled down to start a family.
Later in life she moved to Montreal in Canada, before finally moving
to Bournemouth several decades ago to be near her daughter Louise
Garel-Jones, with whom she lived for many years.
“I feel good, life has given me plenty,” she said on Sunday.
“I’m very happy to see my family today, they are all good people.”
Mrs Garel-Jones said she believed it was her mother’s positive
outlook on life as much as her healthy lifestyle which accounted for
her longevity. “She is very positive and has always appreciated what
she has,” she said.
“And she has a keen interest in the wider world which keeps her young,
she has BBC Radio 4 on all the time and she always knows what is
going on with the young people.”
A vegetarian, who likes her food steamed, Mrs Dervishian speaks
English, French and Armenian, and worked for many years as a piano
teacher.
She loves fashion, and being up-to-date on current affairs and trends.
She also has a strong faith as a member of the Armenian Orthodox
Church.
Currently she lives at the Colindale care home in Richmond Park Avenue.
‘ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN FILM’ SERIES TO BEGIN ON CAMPUS
US Fed News
February 10, 2015 Tuesday 1:58 PM EST
FRESNO, Calif., Feb. 10 — California State University Fresno issued
the following press release:
The first of three free, public lectures exploring “The Armenian
Genocide in Film: Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives” will be
held at Fresno State beginning Wednesday, Feb. 11.
The talks will be presented by Dr. Myrna Douzjian, the Henry K.
Khanzadian Kazan visiting professor of Armenian studies, who currently
teaches comparative literature courses at the University of California,
Los Angeles.
She will first discuss “The Genocide as Allegory in Serge Avedikian’s
Chienned Histoire” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 at the Alice Peters
Auditorium, Room 191, in the Peters Business Building.
There will be a reception with free hors d’oeuvres from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
in the University Business Center gallery outside the auditorium.
The series of lectures will explore three films and an audiovisual
art installation in the context of the tension between fiction and
history, said Dr. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, coordinator of Fresno
State’s Armenian Studies Program.
Douzjian’s other two lectures will be “Atom Egoyan’s Ararat: Traumatic
Histories and Transitional Identities” on Thursday, March 19 and
“Reinventing the Genocide Documentary: Memories without Borders and
Solemnity” on Wednesday, April 8.
“The lectures will demonstrate that these texts, though completely
different in terms subgenre, complicate notions about interpreting
the Armenian Genocide,” Der Mugrdechian said. “Taken together,
the lectures assert that the filmic arts have a serious role to
play in our understanding of the genocide, one that goes beyond the
fetishization of history.”
The inaugural talk by Douzjian depicts the eradication of stray dogs
in the city of Constantinople in 1910.
“The short animated film serves as a representation of the genocide
of the Armenians,” Der Mugrdechian said.
Douzjian, who earned her Ph.D. in comparative literature from UCLA,
has published translations of contemporary Armenian poetry and drama
and regularly contributes articles dealing with diaspora Armenian
film and culture to the syndicated column, “Critics’ Forum.” She has
taught world literature and philosophical thought in the Intellectual
Heritage Program at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Free parking is available after 7 p.m. at Fresno State in lots P5
and P6 near the University Business Center with a parking code from
the Armenian Studies Program office.
Komnas Ham recognizes Khojaly genocide, ready to help Azerbaijan
By Veeramalla Anjaiah
February 12 2015
Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has
called the 1992 atrocities committed in Khojaly, Armenian acts of
genocide, adding that the body was prepared to support that stance at
international forums, a senior Komnas HAM official said on Wednesday.
`There is no doubt that what happened in Khojaly in 1992 was an act of
genocide. It was a crime against humanity and the perpetrators must be
brought to justice,’ head of Komnas HAM’s research and study wing,
Elfansuri Chairah, said at a seminar entitled “Justice for Khojaly and
Lessons for Future’ held Wednesday at the University of Indonesia in
Depok, West Java.
The one-day seminar was attended by human rights activists, think
tanks, religious leaders, scholars, diplomats and students. It was
jointly organized by the International Youth Society for Peace and
Justice (IYSPJ),The Habibie Center, Abdurrahman Wahid Center (AWC),
and University of Indonesia’s vocational program to commemorate the
23rd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.
Khojaly is an Azerbaijani town located in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
On the night of Feb. 25, 1992, Armenian troops, with the help of
former Soviet Union regiment no. 366, attacked Khojaly and brutally
killed innocent Azerbaijani Muslim civilians, burning down the whole
city in the process. Armenia currently occupies 20 percent of
Azerbaijan territory, eliciting condemnations by the UN and other
international organizations.
According to Azerbaijan Ambassador to Indonesia Tamerlan Karayev, at
least 613 people were killed, including 106 women, 83 children and 70
elderly persons during the course of a single day of violence in
Khojaly.
`It was a heinous crime committed not just against Muslims but against
humanity,’ Karayev told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the
seminar.
While expressing his organization’s full support for Azerbaijan,
Elfansuri said that Komnas HAM was established mainly to deal with
human-rights issues in Indonesia. But he said it could not sit idly by
if crimes against humanity, especially at the level of genocide,
occurred outside Indonesia.
`As a human rights body, we are ready to raise the Khojaly genocide
issue at the regional and international level. We need more data and
information from Azerbaijan,’ Elfansuri said.
Indonesia, which strongly supports Azerbaijan sovereignty and
territorial integrity, condemned Armenian aggression and asked both
Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the dispute through negotiations.
`The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia should be resolved
through dialogue. We should make efforts not to allow this kind of
genocide in the future,’ said Muhammad Syukron, vice director of the
Abdurrahman Wahid Center.
Most of the speakers asked the Indonesian government to put more
pressure on Armenia to withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan territory.
Indonesia, they said, must seek stern measures against Armenia at the
UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
`In fact, the OIC recently requested that all members, including
Indonesia, impose political and economic sanctions on Armenia […],’
Karayev said.
NO CO-OP ISSUES DISCUSSED BETWEEN EU SPECIAL REP, KARABAKH SEPARATISTS
Trend Daily News (Azerbaijan)
February 11, 2015 Wednesday 4:09 PM GMT +4
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.11
By Seba Aghayeva – Trend:
Cooperation was not discussed during the meeting between EU Special
Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Herbert
Salber and the so-called foreign minister of the separatist regime
in Nagorno-Karabakh, Karen Mirzoyan, EU Delegation to Azerbaijan told
Trend on Feb.11.
It was the first meeting of Salber with the representatives of the
separatist regime, said the EU Delegation.
“It was solely focused on initiating a dialogue. Such thing as
cooperation was never discussed.”
Herbert Salber met with the so-called foreign minister of the
separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, Karen Mirzoyan on Feb.10.
“We will surely continue such type of dialogue, such types of contacts
that we had today,” Armenian media quoted Salber as saying during
that meeting. “It was my first meeting with the representative of
Nagorno-Karabakh. We will continue this dialogue and will see which
ways can be found for continuing our contacts.”
The EU Delegation said that Azerbaijani authorities were well aware
of such a meeting being prepared, as it was discussed with them on
previous occasions, for instance during the last visit of the EU
special representative to Baku in mid-January 2015.
EU Delegation added that the EU special representative has always
been meeting with representatives of the IDPs in Baku.
“The EU special representative finds it important to listen to all
sides, to get acquainted with their positions,” said the EU delegation
to Azerbaijan. “All contacts are also useful to underline EU’s support
for the efforts undertaken by the OSCE Minsk Group.”
Commenting on the mentioned meeting, the spokesperson of Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend on Feb.10 that the EU can
play a role in promoting contacts between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
communities of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Armenians living in Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region are also
Azerbaijani citizens,” said the spokesperson.
“During his visit to Azerbaijan in October 2014, Salber met with the
representatives of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh and
became familiar with their views on the conflict’s settlement.”
Azerbaijani side has repeatedly said that contacts are needed
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Azerbaijan’s
Nagorno-Karabakh region and EU can pay a role in promoting such
contacts, according to Hajiyev.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently
holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Edited by SI
XAVIER MORET BUSCA LAS RAICES DE ARMENIA EN “LA MEMORIA DEL ARARAT”
Culturamas
11 feb 2015
.
Actualidad editorial:
El periodista y escritor Xavier Moret lleva años viajando por los
cinco continentes para relatar todo lo que ve. America, Australia o
Islandia ya han sido descritas en algunos de sus libros. Ahora vuelve
al panorama narrativo con La memoria del Ararat (Editorial PenÃnsula,
2015), un emocionante viaje por las raÃces de Armenia, paÃs milenario
que aún hoy vive con una herida abierta: el genocidio de 1915, del
que se cumplen cien años, y en el que murieron un millon y medio de
armenios. Esta es la historia de una larga travesÃa que empieza, de
hecho, mucho antes del viaje en sÃ, en el ambito de la cultura armenia
que, quiza sin saberlo, todos conocemos: la de Arshile Gorky, Charles
Aznavour, Atom Egoyan, William Saroyan, los integrantes de la banda
System of a Down… Es la Armenia que difunden e internacionalizan
los armenios de la diaspora, que son muchos mas que los tres millones
que viven en la actualidad en ese antiguo paÃs.
El Ararat y el Arca de Noe: .
Partiendo de la capital, Erevan, y pasando por los fascinantes
monasterios de Geghard, Khor Virap, Tatev y Haghpat, asà como por
Echmiadzin (el Vaticano armenio), el lago Sevan y el no-paÃs de Nagorno
Karabaj –escenario hace veinte años de una guerra que se cobro 20.000
muertos–, Xavier Moret explora a fondo una tierra obsesionada con el
Ararat, la montaña en la que, según la leyenda, se poso el Arca de Noe
tras el diluvio universal, principio y fin de todo lo armenio pese
a hallarse –caprichos de la historia– en TurquÃa. A lo largo del
siglo XIX, veintiocho expediciones trataron de conquistar el Ararat.
Luego la region se convirtio en conflictiva, debido a las guerras y
a las tensiones fronterizas, y la montaña quedo rodeada de un halo de
misterio, hasta que despues de la Segunda Guerra Mundial volvio a haber
expediciones. Entre el monasterio y la montaña sagrada se levantan
las alambradas de la frontera, barrera infranqueable. La tradicion
bÃblica y la historia antigua avalan a los armenios, pero la historia
reciente ha dispuesto que el Ararat este al otro lado de la frontera.
El genocidio armenio: .
Este viaje es tambien un recorrido por la dolorosa cicatriz, todavÃa
muy presente, del genocidio que en 1915 acabo con la vida de un millon
y medio de armenios que habitaban en territorio turco. Dos terceras
partes de los ciudadanos de Armenia son hoy descendientes de vÃctimas
de aquella masacre, que sigue muy viva en la memoria de todos los
que, de un modo u otro, sienten como suya esa mezcla de nostalgia,
orgullo y dolor que es la armenidad.
La Armenia de ayer: .
La Armenia de hoy: … Historias familiares
como la del superviviente de 103 años Movses Haneshanyan, las imagenes
de horror del Museo del Genocidio, el paisaje montañoso de Armenia,
los manuscritos del Matenadaran, los bellos monasterios visitado,
la hipnotizadora música armenia, los collages del cineasta Paradjanov.
Xavier Moret (Barcelona, 1952) es periodista y escritor. Ha trabajado
en varios diarios y en television, y desde 2006 es reportero de viajes
de El Periodico, lo que le permite viajar por los cinco continentes
escribiendo sobre lo que ve. En 1998 publico su primer libro de
viajes, America, America. Viaje por California y el Far West, dos
años despues el segundo, Boomerang. Viaje al corazon de Australia,
y en 2002 gano el premio Grandes Viajeros con La isla secreta, en
el que relata un recorrido por Islandia que completarÃa en 2011 con
Islandia, revolucion bajo el volcan. En DÃas de Hong Kong (2013)
relato su estancia de dos meses en la metropolis asiatica.
.
La memoria del Ararat. Xavier Moret. Editorial PenÃnsula, 2015. 272
paginas. 17,90 EURO
AZERBAIJAN DECIDES TO ARREST ARMENIAN CAPTIVE
17:50, 12.02.2015
The Azerbaijani authorities, after contemplating for a long time,
have decided to detain Armenian citizen Arsen Baghdasaryan, who is
under Azerbaijan captivity since December of last year.
Baghdasaryan has been charged with sabotage, APA news agency of
Azerbaijan reported citing the Military Prosecutor’s Office of the
country.
The Azerbaijanis allege that Bagdasaryan is a military sergeant
who underwent special training, and that he was instructed to enter
Azerbaijan and place mines in the trenches.
The Military Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan claims that the
“Armenian reconnaissance-sabotage group” had placed three of the
seven Fugas-type antipersonnel mines in the trenches.
Accordingly, Arsen Baghdasaryan has been charged with being a part
of a criminal group, premeditated attempted murder, and attempt to
commit an explosion.
As a result, Baghdasaryan has been sentenced to pretrial detention.
To note, the Baku representatives of the International Committee of
Red Cross have not yet been able to see this Armenian citizen.
Arsen Baghdasaryan, an ex-conscript of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Defense Army, was taken into Azerbaijan captivity on December 26 of
the year past.
Armenia News – NEWS.am
ARMENIA’S CENTRAL BANK RAISES INTEREST RATE AGAIN
Financial Services Monitor Worldwide
February 11, 2015 Wednesday
The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) raised its benchmark interest rate
for the third time in less than two months on Tuesday despite its
assurances that the domestic financial system is stabilizing after
sharp exchange rate fluctuations observed late last year.
During a meeting of its governing board, the CBA set the refinancing
rate at 10.5 percent, up by 1 percentage point.
The minimum cost of borrowing in Armenia stood at 6.75 percent as
recently as in December. It was raised to 8.5 percent on December
23 following a considerable depreciation of the national currency,
the dram, resulting from falling remittances from Russia. Although
the dram’s exchange rate remained stable in the following weeks,
the refinancing rate reached 9.5 percent on January 21, with the CBA
citing “high inflationary expectations” fuelled by the weaker dram.
Explaining the latest rate increase, the CBA said that consumer
prices in the country went up by an average of 2.5 percent in January,
translating into an annual inflation rate of 4.3 percent. It forecast
that inflation will rise further in the coming months before easing
by the end of the year.
In a statement, the bank said that the effects of the exchange rate
fluctuations, which disrupted wholesale trading and banking operations
in December, are now being “gradually neutralized.”
Some analysts said the fresh rate hike means that the authorities in
Yerevan are still worried about a renewed weakening of the Armenian
currency. “Since the Central Bank’s main mission is to keep inflation
under control, it is artificially raising the cost of lending in
order to prevent the dram’s depreciation,” said Vahagn Khachatrian,
an economist affiliated with the opposition Armenian National
Congress party.
Armenian commercial banks also seem to lack confidence in the strength
of the dram. Many of them are said to have significantly limited
lending or even frozen it altogether.
Gevorg Gharibian, a farmer from the southern Armavir province, on
Tuesday claimed to have been unable to secure a bank loan worth only
200,000 drams ($420). He said he has approached five banks and been
turned down by all of them on the grounds that the dram’s exchange
rate is now unpredictable.
“They know that I repaid 3.5 million drams in loans last year but
still won’t lend me 200,000 drams,” Gharibian told RFE/RL’s Armenian
service (Azatutyun.am).
“We have stopped extending loans,” confirmed an official at one of
those banks.
“We do accept loan applications. It’s just that the consideration
process now takes a bit longer,” insisted a representative of another
bank. 2015 Global Data Point.