Author: Kajoyan Gevork

SISTEMA ARMENIAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA USES CROWD FUNDING TO BUY INSTRUMENTS

11:34, November 4, 2013

An Armenian NGO is using crowd-funding to buy instrument for 50 young
musicians waiting to join the Sistema Armenia Youth Orchestra (SAYO).

With the new instruments, the 40 member SAYO can nearly double in size.

The fundraising drive launched by the NGO One Armenia seeks to collect
$13.349 with which to buy 2 cellos, 4 basses and 4 violas

Music schools are very common in Armenia. However, the vast majority
of them use teaching methods that are individualistic, lacking the
ability to work together for a common goal.

Sistema Armenia builds a community atmosphere where children learn
to work together to create art. It also breaks away from old methods
of teaching one on one in the classroom into the streets where art
becomes public and for the people.

“Armenia is so focused on soloists and doesn’t give our kids much
of an opportunity to work together,” said Anna MikaelianMeschian,
Founder & Executive Director of SAYO.

“Playing together in an orchestra is a very special and joyful
experience, which requires us to listen to each other, to care about
details, to communicate, and to overcome all kinds of difficulties
together. Experiencing the power of a moment created in unity with
others is really all the kids need. The hunger for this sort of way
of thinking, working and living is palpable in Armenia.”

Anna was inspired by El Sistema, which was founded 38 years ago in
a parking garage in Venezuela with 11 children. It now teaches music
to 400,000 of Venezuela’s poorest children, demonstrating the power
of ensemble music to dramatically change the lives of thousands of
youth while transforming the communities around them.

Sistema Armenia has only just begun and has the potential to grow
indefinitely – creating jobs and building communities with youth
orchestras popping up all over Armenia. Who wouldn’t want to be a
part of that?

Learn more, contribute, and spread the word by visiting the Indiegogo
page HERE.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MP SAYS GOVERNMENT FAILS TO ASSIST IN IT DEVELOPMENT

13:26 ~U 04.11.13

Despite having declared the IT industries a priority trend, the
Armenian Government fails to propose any measure to assist in the
development of the sector, an opposition MP has said.

Speaking at the National Assembly’s Monday session, Khachatur
Kokobelyan asked Minister of Economy Vahram Avanesyan to point out
to any privileges that they have for developing the IT industries.

The minister explained that he is aware only of the measures proposed
by the State budget, adding that they do not have any privileges for
the development of the IT industries.

“If we take the section that deals with programming, and the proposals,
we do obviously have many things to do. But the government does not
submit this proposal at the National Assembly,” he answered.

Armenian News – Tert.am

SAVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE

Keghart.com interviews Vahe Tachjian, chief editor of Berlin-based
Houshamadyan Project
October 2013

KEGHART: What is the aim of Houshamadyan?

VAHE TACHJIAN:We don’t know much about Ottoman Armenian social
life, local micro-histories, the daily rounds and socio-economic
environments that were immediately connected with the general Ottoman
social context. These are important keys to the understanding of
all the other events. In other words, there hasn’t been a special
effort in the Armenian studies field-exceptions are without doubt
to be respected-to utilize existing rich sources, to reconstruct
the memory of Armenian life in the Ottoman Empire. The Houshamadyan
project has been working to fill this void through research, as well
as through visual materials, such as old photos, gravures, sketches,
animation films, etc.

KEGHART: When and where was it founded?

VT: Houshamadyan is the name of the non-profit association. It was
founded in 2010 in Berlin. The Houshamadyan website plays a pivotal
role in the association’s activities.

KEGHART: How is it funded?

VT: Houshamadyan has no sources of revenue of its own. At present,
our sources of finance are individual gifts. We have our main donors,
whose names are mentioned in our website.

KEGHART: How can someone take part in providing data to you and to
donate money?

VT: The essential thing is the reconstruction of the memory of an
Armenian life that once existed in the Ottoman Empire. Therefore,
every item (old photographs, recorded testimony, songs, films, maps,
diplomas, books, etc.) that in some way expresses the legacy of that
period is of interest to us. We’d be glad if people share these items
with us. Most of these things could be sent to us in their digital
form, making the process easier for people who want to contribute to
this research.

As for donating, it’s possible to do it through Paypal or directly
on our bank account. You can find all the information on donating on
our website. Simply Google “Houshamadyan”.

KEGHART: How long do you think it will take you to cover all of
Western Armenia?

VT: Since this is a vast project, it’s challenging to define a clear
timeline or deadline. Of course, we hope to increase productivity.

However, that’s dependant on our funding.

KEGHART: What have you accomplished since Houshamadyan was established?

VT: We’ve made a lot of progress by and through establishing the
website, which covers many of the once-inhabited Armenian cities,
villages and regions of the Ottoman Empire. It has proven to
be, at once, popular with the general community and respected in
academic circles. In May of 2013 we successfully organized our first
exhibition in Berlin. At the end of this year we’ll be publishing
our first book/album with more than 300 pages. But I think the most
important achievement is that we managed to build a network that
has its worldwide ramifications. Besides our visitors and their
daily input in our project, we have a valued network of friends and
volunteers. Houshamadyan has become a structure that’s been built
collectively. It’s very motivating to see the websites’ visitors
gradually give more importance to our work by sending us digital
copies of memorabilia and old photos.

KEGHART: Once Houshamadyan has accumulated the data it can reasonably
gather, what’s next?

VT: I think right now what’s most important is to find safe and
sustainable ways to preserve our digital data. Once we’ve secured this,
we can plan ahead!

KEGHART: Does Houshamadyan have eventual aims to use the data for
political purposes? If not, what’s the purpose of the effort?

VT: We are an academic project. Our main objective is to understand a
history, to reconstruct a scattered memory, to give a new value and
scope to Armenian primary sources, and to raise awareness of that
history among Armenians and non-Armenians.

KEGHART: Houshamadyan wants also to gather information from
non-Armenian sources (Kurds, Turks, Assyrians, Greeks, etc.). Have
you had any response from them?

VT: Since the establishment of our website, we’ve received many letters
from Turkey, where people express their gratitude for our efforts. It
would be desirable to have a Turkish version of our website. We think
it could be ideal if the civil society in Turkey would take part in
funding this new section of our project.

KEGHART: What are Houshamadyan’s goals for 2014?

VT: It will be ‘business as usual’:
website/exhibition/workshop/publication. A particular attention will
be given in 2014 to the Dersim region, and on personal and unpublished
memoirs that some visitors of our website sent to us.

UNBEARABLE BEAR HUG

Editorial, 1 November 2013

The ink on President Serge Sarkissian’s signature to join Russia-led
Customs Union (CU), had hardly dried before President Vladimir Putin’s
political-cultural apostles came galloping from the Russian steppes
to Armenia. Hardly a month had passed since Armenia’s inevitable
acceptance of Putin’s “invitation” to join the CU that Armenia suddenly
seemed top-of-mind among Russian cultural apparatchiks. In quick
succession, there were the following developments in Russian/Armenian
cultural relations.

It was announced that the National Philharmonic of Russia would
give two concerts (Yerevan and Gyumri) on Nov. 10 on the occasion
of composer Aram Khachaturian’s 110th birthday. Earlier (Oct. 10)
on “prominent members of Armenian music” came together at the State
Kremlin Palace to participate in a “great concert” dedicated to the
300th anniversary of “outstanding Armenian bard and poet” Sayat Nova.

Tourism industry executives from Russia and Armenia held a roundtable
to boost tourism in St. Petersburg and Yerevan.

It was announced that a Russian lyceum-a branch of Moscow State
University-would open in Yerevan, in line with Putin’s campaign to
launch Russian cultural initiatives in the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS).

Victor Krivopuskov, head of the Russian Federal Agency,
Rossotrudnichestvo, stated that Russia would take steps to strengthen
the Russian language in Armenia.

Any number of Russian and Customs Union operatives stated that since
Russian is the lingua franca of the Customs Union, the population of
member states should be fluent in Russian.

The CIS intensified the opening of “cultural centers” in Armenia
where Russian is taught free of charge. There are now about 100 such
centers. A few weeks ago they boasted that they had sold 100,000
Russian books in the past two years.

Andranik Nikogosyan of the Youth Union of the CIS opined that the
Russian language is integral part of Armenian culture. He added:
“We have a common history, a common past, and I’m sure we have a great
future.” Common history? Perhaps Nikogosyan was referring to the fact
that during the Second World War, of all the Soviet republics Armenia
had the highest per capita combat casualties. Perhaps Nikogosyan
was referring to Russian Foreign Minister Lebanon-Rostovsky who,
in 1895, said Russia wanted Armenia without Armenians. Perhaps the
jumped-up politico is referring to Generalissimo Alexandre Suvorov,
the greatest “Russian” military leader, whose Armenian descent is
covered up by the Russians.

Poet Marine Petrossian and Armen Hovhanissian, members of a civil
group opposing the use of foreign language as a threat to Armenia’s
identity, say the popularization of Russian would be at the expense
of not only Armenian, but also English, French, and Persian. Last year
their group campaigned against the opening of foreign language schools.

Hovhanissian said that the Russian cultural invasion means that to
be successful an Armenian citizen will have to be educated in Russian.

“The most dangerous thing that can happen is the formation of an elite
that will not speak [good] Armenian and will not think in categories
favoring Armenia’s statehood,” he said.

President Putin has said that Eurasian integration is a chance
for the post-Soviet space to become an independent center of global
development. He also said that the CU is “aimed at keeping the identity
of peoples populating the historical Eurasian space in the new century
and the new world.” Does by “peoples” Putin mean solely Russian?

Should and can Armenia resist the Russian bear hug?

It should because if it doesn’t the fears of Petrossian and
Hovhanissian could be realised. More and more Armenians will begin
to communicate in Russian, read Russian books, sing Russian songs,
and watch Russian TV. Parents will believe their children should
attend Russian schools so as to have a bright future. Armenians would
become strangers in their country. There will be an “Armenian Diaspora”
in Armenia.

Already Russian is becoming the preferred language of Armenia’s elite.

During conferences at Yerevan’s Marriott Hotel the language most heard
is Russian. And when attendees continue their talk in the corridors,
outside the conference rooms, again Russian dominates.

How to halt the Russian invasion? The government should set laws
to defend our “Mayr Lezoo” against the Russian onslaught. Parents
should instill among their children a sense of linguistic pride. As
the civil groups, who fought the establishment of foreign schools,
shouted in their posters: “Keep your gene; keep your language”
and “No to colonization”. Western Armenian is already endangered,
according to the United Nations. If the Russians are not pushed back,
Eastern Armenian could also get on the UN list.

In the bad old days of Soviet rule, Russians preached internationalism
but practiced Russo-centrism.

Being an ally shouldn’t mean that independent Armenia must become a
Russian satellite. Somebody should tell Moscow that the Beatles are
long gone; nobody wants to sing “Back in the USSR…”

UN PREMIER FORUM D’AFFAIRES ARMENO-ARGENTIN A EREVAN

ARMENIE

Le premier forum d’affaires armeno-argentin a eu lieu a Erevan le
17 Octobre a rapporte le bureau de presse de l’Agence armenienne de
developpement (ADA).

La delegation argentine etait dirigee par le chef du secretariat
du commerce exterieur du ministère argentin de l’economie Beatrice
Pagliery.

L’ambassadeur d’Argentine en Armenie Diego Alvarez Rivera, le
vice-ministre armenien de l’economie Garegin Melkonian et le directeur
general de l’ADA Robert Harutiunyan ont pris la parole lors du forum.

Le forum est organise par l’ADA en collaboration avec l’ambassade
d’argentine en Armenie.

lundi 4 novembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LES REFORMES DEMANDEES PAR L’UE DEVRAIENT SE POURSUIVRE

ARMENIE

L’Union europeenne a exprime sa volonte de continuer a promouvoir les
reformes en Armenie. C’est ce que les responsables europeens de haut
rang ont dit. Et cela semble etre le seul domaine de la cooperation
entre l’UE et l’Armenie après qu’Erevan se soit engagee dans la voie
de l’integration post-sovietique.

Son essence est les projets de fonds europeens pour la modernisation
du système de gouvernance, la justice et la primaute du droit en
Armenie. L’Armenie et la partie europeenne disent qu’au cours de ces
quelques dernières annees beaucoup de choses ont change en raison des
reformes. En particulier, de nombreux obstacles bureaucratiques ont
ete enleves, l’etat des etablissements penitentiaires, l’equipement
technique de la police a ete ameliore et ainsi de suite.

Mais beaucoup pensent que ces reformes, en fait, ont seulement ameliore
” le système criminel oligarchique ” qui a existe et continue d’exister
en Armenie. A en juger par les cas très mediatises qui sont dans les
pages de la presse, les systèmes judiciaires et de police continuent
a proteger les interets des oligarques qui sont proches du pouvoir,
les autorites fiscales travaillent de manière selective avec les agents
economiques, les leviers du gouvernement sont utilises a des fins de
lutte politique interne. Et la reforme est limitee a la renovation
des bâtiments, l’installation des ordinateurs et des changements
de personnel.

Les experts relient ce commencement de remaniement du personnel
avec la bousculade qui a commence a l’interieur du pouvoir avant
la periode electorale 2017-18. C’est ce qui peut aussi expliquer
l’intention du President Serge Sarkissian de creer un seul organisme
d’enquete qui inclurait tous les organismes d’enquete existants –
du Bureau du Procureur, le ministère de la Defense, le Comite d’Etat
des recettes et d’autres. Pour assurer les fondements juridiques d’un
tel organisme, une commission dirigee par l’ancien Procureur general
de la Republique Aghvan Hovsepian a ete mis en place. Les analystes
s’attendent a ce que le nouvel organisme d’enquete va devenir l’outil
principal de la prochaine lutte politique.

De serieux changements de personnel ont commence au sein du système de
la police et du bureau du Procureur. En particulier, le procureur de la
region d’Armavir Samvel Sinanyan et le procureur de circonscriptions
administratives d’Arabkir et Kanaker-Zeïtoun d’Erevan John Farkhoyan
ont ete demis de leurs postes. Avant que leurs postes ne soient ”
liberes ” il y a eu ceux du procureur d’Erevan, du chef du departement
des crimes contre la personne, le chef du departement de lutte contre
la corruption et le crime organise, et le procureur general adjoint
d’Armenie. Et tout cela est aussi liee a la ” creation d’une nouvelle
equipe “.

Il est encore difficile de savoir si l’Union europeenne financera
la creation d’une commission d’enquete unique et si ce comite va
reellement servir la justice et non dans le but d’eliminer les
opposants politiques en faveur des autorites en place.

Par Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow

lundi 4 novembre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

HENRIKH MKHITARYAN ” J’AI CHOISI BORUSSIA POUR JOUER CAR EN ANGLETERRE ON M’AURAIT LAISSE SUR LE BANC DES REMPLACANTS ”

FOOTBALL

Dans une interview au journal allemand Die Welt l’international
armenien Henrikh Mkhitaryan qui evolue au Borussia Dortmund affirme
” je suis venu au Borussia pour jouer et non de rester sur le banc
des remplacants, ce qui aurait ete le cas si j’etais transfere en
Angleterre “. Voila l’une des raisons essentielles qui ont pousse
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (24 ans) a choisir Borussia Dortmund au detriment
de Liverpool. L’Armenien affirme que ” le football est toute ma vie
l’ete dernier pour continuer ma carrière professionnelle, j’avais
la possibilite de choisir plusieurs clubs europeens, mais mon choix
s’est porte vers un club dont le jeu me plaisait et où je pouvais
jouer (…) l’argent n’etait pas le premier objectif de mon choix
car lorsqu’on joue bien, l’argent vient par la suite “. Rappelons que
l’international armenien fut transfere l’ete dernier du ” Chakhtior
” Donetsk (Ukraine) vers le ” Borussia ” Dortmund pour la somme de
27,5 millions d’euros. Au sein du vice-champion d’Allemagne, Henrikh
Mkhitaryan a depuis dispute 9 rencontres de la Bundesliga en marquant
3 buts et en etant l’auteur de 4 passes decisives.

Krikor Amirzayan

lundi 4 novembre 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

John Kerry: Customs Union Does Not Promote Global Cooperation

On October 31 John Kerry met with reporters of different countries
participating in the cultural exchange program who visited the U.S.
State Department.

Answering the question of reporters of post-Soviet states how they
explain Russia’s steps towards the countries which are facing a
choice, Kerry said he does not think this is a choice between Russia
and the West. He noted that he would love Russia to encourage other
countries to cooperate with a larger circle of states instead of
narrowing the group.

He reminded that the United States is currently conducting a policy of
enlargement of international cooperation. Negotiations on the free
trade area with the EU are underway, at the same time they are on the
way to agree on cooperation in Asia. Unfortunately, the Customs Union
does not boost cooperation in the world as it forces countries to join
one bloc or another, Secretary Kerry said.

He noted that the unions with a low level of cooperation are unable to
strengthen the general development potential, so they would recommend
Russia’s friends to look into other standards and possibilities for
applying higher standards, Kerry said.

I hope that it will happen though I know that there is tension in the
relations with Moldova and Ukraine. He said he hopes that these
countries will be able to make their choice without pressure,
Secretary Kerry said.

Naira Hayrumyan from Washington
17:22 01/11/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Tufts Armenian Club Participates in Culture Crawl

By Contributor // November 1, 2013

By Knar Bedian

If you were wandering the campus of Tufts University last Thursday
night, you may have smelled the aroma of freshly made eetch wafting
from the house of Tufts Armenian Club Executive Board member Knar
Bedian. Lit up by the lights of the living room, the Armenian flag
glowed from the window, and maybe you could catch a glimpse of seniors
Rob Apelian, Shaunt Fereshetian, Lisa Setrakian, Ani Shahinyan, and
Knar Bedian, all furiously chopping up parsley, sautéing onions, and
measuring out cups of diced tomato.

After hours of preparation, the Armenian Club was ready to join the 10
other culture clubs at the Tufts Culinary Society’s 2nd Annual Culture
Crawl.

After hours of preparation, the Armenian Club was ready to join the 10
other culture clubs at the Tufts Culinary Society’s 2nd Annual Culture
Crawl. With an Armenian flag hanging behind them, and signs explaining
each of the three courses – written in both Armenian and English by club
member Ani Shahinyan – the club handed out choregs and lahmajoun,
scooping spoonfuls ofeetch and garnishing with parsley. Senior Kenny
Alperin kept busy shuttling lahmajoun straight out of the oven from
his suite to the event, keeping a steady supply throughout the event.
The Armenian Club received much praise from fellow students and the
organizers of the event. While many of the other clubs ran out of food
quickly, our club, in typical Armenian fashion, had made more than
enough food, and was able to give everyone a little taste of Armenia.

For a club that just recently attained recognition as an official
club, and whose presence has not grown to match past sizes, this was
certainly a great step towards affirming a place on campus and raising
awareness of Armenian culture.

The Tufts Armenian Club would like to thank Lauren Alperin for
donating the lahmajoun to the Armenian Club, and the Tufts Culinary
Society for the funding and opportunity to participate in their 2nd
Annual Culture Crawl.

Knar Bedian in a member of the Chicago AYF Chapter.

Rich Armenians wanted to become masons but were not accepted – Ruben Gevorgyants

10:37 / 26.07.2013

Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers, film director Ruben
Gevorgyants is one of the unique peoples who voices that he is a mason
and is even proud of it.

– Mr Gevorgyants, you are the participant-documentary of the Karabakh
war. How can a nationalist be a mason?

– You do not know what masonry movement is. A mason must be a nationalist.

– It is an establishment created by Jews.

– Masons had nothing to do with Jews. Now Jews, Arabs, peoples of many
other nationalities are among them.

– A lot is being kept secret about masons. What ideology do you have?
Which is your mission?

– There are two important things – first you should be a believer and
act in a way to do good to your own country. You should not
necessarily be a nationalist. Our establishment has party members as
well. This establishment is first of all a harmony, there must not be
extremist moods. I am a nationalist but I am not an extremist. Masonry
is brotherhood. Is there more important thing than the brotherhood?
The bad opinion about the movement has been formed by Russia security
bodies.

– How can strange and sometimes enemy nationalities be brothers? For
instance we know about existence of powerful Turkish masonry lodge.

– Strangers may too be brothers. Yes, there is a masonry lodge in
Turkey and we force them to recognize the Armenian Genocide. By the
way mason Turks recognize it. The time will come when they will force
their country to acknowledge it.

– What does masonry give to our country?

– A lot. If more Armenians had become masons for instance 70 years ago
many things could have been prevented. We have done a lot in Armenia.
For instance we brought huge buses from France. There are schools
funded by us, we pay the tuition fee of a number of students. Many
think that it is a party or if they become masons it will be their
entrance visa to the USA. But it is first of all a spiritual value.

– How a person may become mason?

– If a person wants to become member of our establishment he/she
passes an exam. We check his/her incomes for two years, the relations
between him/her and others. Many rich Armenians wanted to become
members of our establishment but none of them was accepted as clean
people must become masons.

– If it is such a good establishment, why do many people hate it or
are afraid of it? Why do masons hide that they are members of lodge?

– Many are afraid as they do not know, do not understand. My wife is
afraid too. We are a powerful establishment. The hostility against it
was formed in 20th century by tyrants. The latter are afraid of
masons. In the USA all have temples. There will be one in Armenia as
well. Now we do not have necessary funds and are not going to ask from
the general establishment. Leaders of countries head the
establishment. 70% of presidents of different countries are masons.

– When and how have you decided to become a mason?

– Thirty years ago I was studying masonry as there was a great
anti-mason literature in the Soviet Union. There was a fight against
them. In tyrant countries there cannot be masonry. Though I am against
democracy, I am for dictatorship – dictatorship of law.

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