Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ONLY SMALL PART OF ARMENIAN-KOREAN COOPERATION POSSIBILITIES IS BEING EXPLOITED. ARMENIAN MFA REPRESENTATIVE

19:17, 15 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS: One of the core initiations on
implementation of reforms in education sphere is the involvement of
representatives of business world. This was noted by Tigran Sahakyan,
head of external relations and diaspora department of Armenian
Ministry of Education and Science, at the scientific conference “Future
prospects of Armenian-Korean economic cooperation” held on April 15.

Tigran Sahakyan greeted the teaching of Korean language in Armenia
hoping that in future Korean nation would also be well-aware of
Armenian language and culture which would be conducive for the
extension of economic cooperation between the two states.

Ashot Voskanian, Head of Asia-Pacific and Africa Department of Armenian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has noted that recently Armenian-Korean
relations have entered a serious stage of cooperation, noting that
both countries are interested in the deepening of cooperation.

“Ties between the two states have really deepened in recent years.

Large-scale events were organized in 2012 on the occasion of 20th
anniversary of diplomatic relations with Korea. Visit of Serzh Sargsyan
to Seoul also had a great contribution,” he said.

Ashot Voskanian has also mentioned that trade turnover of the two
states reaches USD 25-30 millions, which is not satisfactory for
countries having such a wide range of possibilities of cooperation.

“Prospects of Armenian-Korean economic cooperation” scientific
conference was organized by Korean fund and Yerevan State Linguistic
University after V. Bryusov. The scientific conference was aimed at
increasing awareness of Korean economy in Armenia and at presentation
of the history of Armenian-Korean economic cooperation.

MAJORITY OF ARMENIAN EXPORT TO KOREA IS STONES AND POLYVINYL ACETATE WHILE IMPORT CONSISTS OF CARS AND BULLDOZERS

18:57, 15 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS: Majority of Armenian export to Korea
is stones and polyvinyl acetate, and the Korean import to Armenia
mainly consists of cars and bulldozers. This was informed by head of
international economic cooperation department of Armenian Ministry
of Economy Aleksandr Avetisyan during the international scientific
conference titled “Prospects of Armenian-Korean economic cooperation”
held on April 15. “I believe Armenian-Korean cooperation has a great
potential in telecommunications, high technology, jewelry business,
tourism, agriculture, wine making, light industry and trade spheres,”
Armenpress quoted Avetisyan.

Head of international economic cooperation department has highlighted
the absence of legal contractual base which may be the reason that
economic cooperation is on lower level than it could be.

“Prospects of Armenian-Korean economic cooperation” scientific
conference was organized by Korean fund and Yerevan State Linguistic
University after V. Bryusov. The scientific conference was aimed at
increasing awareness of Korean economy in Armenia and at presentation
of the history of Armenian-Korean economic cooperation.

HEAD OF GEORGIAN NGO CALLED ON AUTHORITIES OF HIS COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

18:17, 15 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS: “Hayartun” Cultural Center of the
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia in
Calouste Gulbenkian Hall hosted exhibition entitled “Armenian
Golgotha”, dedicated to the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Union of Armenian Painters of Georgia and Young Artist Association
of Javakhk organized the event with the support of the Board of
Trustees of the “Hayartun” Cultural Center of the Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, Armenian Embassy to Georgia,
Armenian Ministry of Diaspora and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Diocese,
artists from Tbilisi, Javakhk, as well as artists, who were born in
Georgia, but currently are engaged in creative activities in Armenia,
presented their works at the exhibition. Merujhan Shahumyan, Chairman
of the Union of Armenian Painters of Georgia, opened the exhibition;
he informed that out of 35 artists the majority is young, and they
know about the Armenian Genocide only from the stories. On nearly 60
canvases, represented in the hall, by means of colors they expressed
their indignation and demand for justice and compensation for the
severe torture and suffering of innocent forefathers.

The Head of Georgian NGO “Irakli II Society” Archil Chkoidze welcomed
the organization of the exhibition, he bowed to the memory of
innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, and called on the Georgian
authorities to respect the pain of the neighboring Christian nation,
to recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and erect a monument
for victims.

Poet and translator Givi Shakhnazari, Van Baiburtian, Advisor to
the President of Georgia and the editor of “Vrastan” (“Georgia”),
director Michael Grigorian and the historian Yenok Tadevosyan aroused
their indignation against unfair and indifferent attitude of the
world community.

St. Nerses Shorhali Youth Vocal Ensemble of the “Hayartun” Center
(conductor Hovhannes Hambardzumyan) and Surb Etchmiadzin Church Choir
(conductor Svetlana Tatoeva) performed classic and spiritual songs;
melodies, performed by the duduk player Vano Lazarian and the piano
player Karen Mirzoyan, also sounded during the event.

The Head of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church
in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan blessed all the
participants and considered this exhibit and similar events a monument
to the innocent Armenian martyrs. Noting the young artists, the Head
of Diocese expressed hope for brighter future of Armenia and Armenians.

Merujhan Shaumyan, Chairman of the Union of Armenian Painters of
Georgia, and the Chairman of the Young Artist Association of Javakhk
Haykazun Karagulyan presented those artists, whose works had been
recognized as the best.

Christina Bagdatsyan was recognized the youngest participant of the
exhibition. Lilit Arsenyan was awarded the third place, Ani Kananyan –
the second place, and Maryam Tipukhyan took the first place with her
canvas “Weeping Woman”. The residence of the Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church in Georgia awarded them with cash prizes. The
exhibition will run until April 30.

PROTEST ACTION IN SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTALIST

04:45 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

A group of civil activists today staged a protest outside a Yerevan
court in protection of environmental activist Yeghia Nersisyan who
is sued by Deno Gold Mining Company for slander.

During hi meeting with representatives of the Armenian community in
the US, the environmentalist said the company ill-treats the miners.

The activists were carrying posters that read, “Soil Eater –
Man Eater,” “Human being is a value,” “Canadian Colonists, Leave
Armenia”, etc.

They welcomed the representatives of Deno Gold Mining Company with
loud vociferations: “You are destroying our nature, polluting our land,
we will not allow this to continue.”

ELDERLY WOMAN LIVES IN SOLITUDE AND ENNUI

05:58 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

Ninety-three-year-old Evelina Gevorgyan has been living at the
Armenian Music Company for 20 years. The board of directors allowed
her to live in the area taking into considerationthe fact that she
had sung at the choir for many years.

“I stayed alone after I sent my son abroad. I sold what I had and
today I do not even have a roof over my head,” said Evelina Gevorgyan.

The former singer today lives on 60 000 drams and does not have any
expectations from the state.

ARMENIA CAN BE “WON OVER” BY RECOGNITION OF KARABAKH

The Armenian genocide was first recognized in 1965, 50 years later.

Afterwards every round date was used as an occasion to adopt new
parliamentary resolutions. By the 100th anniversary of the genocide
the most dramatic step is expected – the UN and the United States may
recognize the genocide, and most importantly the European parliament
may adopt a new resolution. Currently, however, Armenia cannot make
political and material claims to modern Turkey though Armenians
underwent genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

The European Parliament may have to review this state of affairs,
and it might be a signal to state legal and material claims to Turkey.

Judging by the moods of Turkish analysts, Turkey is ready to apologize
for the sake of avoidance of such claims. However, Turkey also
understands that it is already impossible to stop the flywheel.

Turkey and Azerbaijan undergo synchronic pressure by the West. The
Armenian issue remains an instrument for pressure on Turkey in addition
to which the Karabakh issue is already used. The recognition of the
independence of Karabakh by three states of the United States is
evidence that the United States are preparing for 2015 with a good
background of recognition by its states of not only the genocide but
also the independence of Karabakh.

Turkey’s linking of normalization of relations with Armenia to the
Karabakh issue will act against Turkey in three years. By 2015 Turkey
will face claims not only relating to West Armenia but also Karabakh
in addition to relations with Kurds.

Igor Muradyan has already stated that the only way Turkey can keep
its territorial integrity intact is its friendship with Moscow. The
Kremlin has already changed its stance on the Karabakh issue several
times. Azerbaijan has stopped buying weapon from Russia, and Russia
had to adopt a “pro-Armenian” stance on Karabakh. Moscow is already
rumored likely to recognize NKR because they understand in Moscow and
other places that the main lever of influence on Turkey is in Armenia,
and the best way to win over Armenia is to recognize Karabakh.

In regard to the choice between the Customs Union and the EU Republican
Gagik Minasyan noted the importance of how these organizations will
treat the Karabakh issue. “If Karabakh becomes a member of the Customs
Union, how about the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, will it be a member
of the Customs Union as well?”

he asks, noting that a similar question will be asked in regard to
association with the EU.

Naira Hayrumyan 17:38 15/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE: GENOCIDAL MUSLIM COUNTRY WARNS OF GENOCIDE IF EUROPE DOESN’T ACCEPT MUSLIMS

16:27 15.04.2013

Turkey not only committed genocide against Christians, but it still
lies about it and locks up its citizens who even mention the genocide.

It’s also violently anti-semitic under its current Islamist government,
the FrontPage Magazine writes.

That means the time is right for its government to hypocritically
warn Europe that the failure to accept Muslim immigrants could lead
to another Holocaust.

European countries will face new humanitarian tragedies leading to
mass killings of people if they continue in their failure to embrace
tolerance toward different cultures and religions, President Abdullah
Gul has warned.

“Islam and migrants have been a reality in Europe for centuries. As
long as the continent of Europe doesn’t approach segments which are
different from the majority with tolerance, particularly in regards
to religion, an occurrence of new inquisitions and Holocausts, as
well as incidents evoking Srebrenica, are probable,” Gul said.

“No doubt Turkey could be a model of tolerance for Europe. Turkey
has huge numbers of Kurdish political prisoners, some locked up
for merely speaking their language or singing nationalistic songs,”
the article continues.

Turkey not only refuses to acknowledge its Armenian genocide, but
Erdogan, its thuggish Islamist leader, threatened Armenians with
ethnic cleansing if they keep complaining about it, the FrontPage
Magazine writes.

APA, Azerbaijan
April 12 2013

Azerbaijan’s President: `Protraction of the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict is inadmissible’

[ 12 April 2013 11:27 ]

`The international legal norms necessitate the restoration of the
country’s territorial integrity’

Baku-APA. `Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the major threat to the
security of Azerbaijan and region. Protraction of the conflict has
negative impact on all the countries of the region,’ Azerbaijan’s
President Ilham Aliyev said addressing the first international forum
of Moscow State Institute of International Relations Alumni in Baku,
APA reports.

The Head of State said the international legal norms necessitate the
restoration of the country’s territorial integrity.

`Nagorno Karabakh and the adjacent regions must be returned to the
side it legally belongs to. We try to give an impetus to the
negotiations, while the opposite side protracts the process of
negotiations,’ he said.

President said the protraction of the settlement of the conflict is
inadmissible.

`The conflict must be solved basing on the terms of the Helsinki Final
Act and four resolutions of the UN Security Council. We are facing
double standards in this issue. Being well aware of the international
law, we know that some resolutions are fulfilled within several hours.
Demonstration of the double standards with regard to Nagorno Karabakh
conflict does not increase the influence of international
organizations, first of all the UN,’ he said.

The Courier-Journal, CA
April 12 2013

Book Review | ‘The Sandcastle Girls’

Apr. 12, 2013 4:05 PM
Written by Edmund August

Special to The Courier-Journal

The Sandcastle Girls,’ Chris Bohjalian’s 15th book, is a romance
painted against a very unlikely backdrop – the 1915 Armenian genocide,
an ethnic cleansing that took the lives of 1.5 million people. Since
the United States didn’t enter World War I until 1918, very few
Americans knew about the drive of the Ottoman Empire, in particular of
the Turks, to erase Armenians from the face of the earth.

Although Bohjalian admits using memoirs of some of the genocide
survivors, he insists the book is primarily a work of imagination
based on what he repeatedly calls the year of the `Slaughter You Know
Next To Nothing About.’

Bohjalian’s narrator is named Laura Petrosian. Like Bohjalian, she is
of Armenian descent, and she serves as a solid framing device. Laura
is a modern-day novelist searching for information about the genocide,
especially about any links to her Armenian grandmother Elizabeth
Endicott, a graduate of Mount Holyoke who accompanies her father to
Aleppo on a mission of mercy, and her grandfather Armen Petrosian, a
Turkish engineer who becomes an enemy to his own people by opposing
the slaughter of Armenians.

In addition to serving as narrator, Laura seeds herself into the
novel, where her first kiss is with a Turkish boy to whom, a few years
later, she gives up her virginity. Bohjalian is to be commended on his
ability to slip seamlessly from one character into another, especially
moving into the minds of the female characters with no hint of a
masculine hand. One thing near the end of the novel, however, borders
on being too much for coincidence, but I won’t spoil the surprise.

Perhaps Bohjalian’s most masterful accomplishment is his control of
the tone, action, dialogue and narrative elements in each of the
scenes of the stories (there are indeed several stories to deal with)
without ruffling the feathers of the reader.

Elizabeth’s first stark realization of the horror of human
annihilation comes in the form of 125 naked, wounded and starved women
being herded and whipped into a square beneath the Aleppo Citadel.
Ryan Martin, a British consul, assures her that over 1,000 women began
this march, most died en route, and all of their men and boys were
butchered before the march began.

In an early scene Elizabeth offers a bowl of soup to a very small
woman with a child sleeping beside her. The woman says `thank you.’
Surprised that she speaks English, Elizabeth asks her name, which is
Nevart, and the child’s name is Hatoun. There is an instant bond
between the women. Elizabeth presumes that Hatoun is Nevart’s
daughter, but soon learns that she was an orphan Nevart had taken
under her wing during the forced march that brought them to Aleppo.

One of the most pivotal characters is also one of the most
short-lived. Helmut, a German soldier/photographer, has taken a box
full of horrific photographs of Armenians being tortured, raped and
murdered. Keeping these hidden until a way can be found to move them
to a place where they can be used to let the United States and free
European counties know about the `Slaughter You Know Next To Nothing
About,’ in hopes they will intercede, would mean instant death for
anyone, regardless of race, religion or nationality.

This book is a masterfully written story of war and love and is
especially meaningful as we approach the centennial observance of the
1915 Armenian genocide.

Armenian opposition must implement fundamental changes – politician

April 13, 2013 – 19:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Chairman of People’s Party of Armenia Stepan
Demirchyan wished success to the Armenian National Congress (ANC)
party during the upcoming Yerevan city council elections.

`Armenia is in need of fundamental changes to handle the current
crisis. The opposition forces must join forces for the implementation
of systematic changes,’ Mr. Demirchyan said, adding that his party is
open to cooperation with opposition forces for the sake of Armenia’s
development.