Author: Kajoyan Gevork

NEW JOB FAIRS TO BE ORGANIZED FOR SYRIAN ARMENIANS

10:13, 16 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, ARMENPRESS: Job acquiring is the most urgent
issue our Syrian Armenians habiting in Homeland for already a year are
facing. As State Employment Service Agency Head, Ministry of Labor
and Social Affairs Tsoghik Bezhanyan stated in the briefing with
Armenpress, 16 Syrian Armenians got jobs as a result of joint job
fair launched by the efforts of the Ministries of Diaspora, Labor
and social Affairs kicked off on January 17. Our Syrian brothers
and sisters were mostly provided with jobs in goldsmith and various
technical specialties. In the words of Bezhanyan the employers are
in need of personnel specialized in workers branch. “State program
of 2013 stipulates another 7 job fairs, reportedly Syrian Armenians
can participate in it” State Employment Service Agency Head stated.

“Syrian Armenians encounter a number of problems when seeking
a job.Those who have legal education are not familiar with local
legislation. The doctors also face difficulties, they do not master
Russian. We are launching some works in order employers accept our
compatriots with some concessions” Bezhanyan came forth with. In her
words employment agency centers are in permanent contact with the
Syrian Armenians.

Ministry of Diaspora also launches works aimed at getting jobs for our
compatriots. In the briefing with Armenpress, head of the Department
of Armenian Communities of the Near and Middle East Lusine Stepanyan
told currently 6 thousand Syrian Armenians are habiting in Armenia.

600 of them has turned to the Ministry. By the direct support of the
Ministry of Diaspora 200 were accepted to the relevant jobs.

The clashes in Syria started in March, 2011. 425 Syrian Armenians
from 168 families has turned to migration service to receive refugee
status, 44 of them were provided with special accommodation.

PARLEMENT EUROPEEN : “L’ASSASSINAT DES MILITANTES KURDES NE DOIT PAS RESTER IMPUNI”

Publie le : 16-01-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – L’assassinat brutal des
militantes kurdes Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan et Leyla Soylemez a
Paris, la semaine dernière, ne doit pas rester impuni, a insiste le
President Schulz, dans son allocution d’ouverture. Le procès-verbal
de la seance du lundi 14 janvier 2013 indique succinctement : “M. le
President fait une declaration dans laquelle il condamne l’assassinat
des trois activistes kurdes Sakine Cansiz, Leyla Soylemez et Fidan
Dogan, mercredi passe a Paris. Il signale la presence dans la tribune
des parents, de la soeur et du frère de Fidan Dogan et exprime
les condoleances du Parlement aux familles des trois victimes.” Le
Collectif VAN vous presente ce Communique de presse publie le 14
janvier 2013 sur le site du Parlement europeen.

Parlement europeen

Parlement europeen : Assemblee Plenière du 14 au 17/01

Ouverture: meurtre de militantes kurdes, demande d’un debat affaires
etrangères

Session plenière Institutions – 14-01-2013 – 20:04

L’assassinat brutal des militantes kurdes Sakine Cansiz, Fidan
Dogan et Leyla Soylemez a Paris, la semaine dernière, ne doit pas
rester impuni, a insiste le President Schulz, dans son allocution
d’ouverture. Plusieurs deputes ont appele a modifier l’ordre du jour
de manière a debattre du Mali, de la Syrie et du Kosovo en presence
de la responsable de la politique des affaires etrangères, Catherine
Ashton, mardi.

M. Schulz a fait part de la profonde sympathie du Parlement aux
proches des victimes – certains etaient presents dans l’hemicycle –
et a soutenu la determination des autorites francaises de traduire
les responsables en justice.

L’agenda de Mme Ashton ne lui permettant pas d’intervenir mercredi,
plusieurs deputes ont preconise de modifier l’ordre du jour, de
manière a debattre avec la Haute representante mardi, notamment du
Mali où des citoyens europeens ont perdu la vie et pour lequel des
Etats membres commencent a deployer leurs forces, mais aussi de la
Syrie et du Kosovo.

Devant la determination des propos exprimes, le President s’est engage
a proposer la question aux responsables des groupes politiques.

REF. : 20130114IPR05308

Ouverture: meurtre de militantes kurdes, demande d’un debat affaires
etrangères

*******************

Procès-verbal

“M. le President fait une declaration dans laquelle il condamne
l’assassinat des trois activistes kurdes Sakine Cansiz, Leyla Soylemez
et Fidan Dogan, mercredi passe a Paris. Il signale la presence dans
la tribune des parents, de la soeur et du frère de Fidan Dogan et
exprime les condoleances du Parlement aux familles des trois victimes.”

Procès-verbal

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Parlement europeen

ARAM MANOUKIAN : ” 70000 ARMENIENS CELEBRENT LE NOUVEL AN HORS DE LEUR MAISON ”
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 16 janvier 2013

Dans une interview au site internet Lurer.com le depute du Congrès
National Armenien (ANC) Aram Manoukian, a note que le phenomène le
plus negatif de l’annee 2012 a ete l’emigration.

” Le plus important, le plus negative et le plus influent phenomène
en 2012 a ete l’emigration. Cette annee, 70000 personnes celebreront
le Nouvel An loin de chez eux. C’est une tragedie ” a declare Aram
Manoukian.

Le depute a dit que personne ne doute que l’annee prochaine la meme
chose va se repeter.

” Je voudrais voir l’emigration prendre fin en 2013. Les gens doivent
gerer leur propre destin, et non quelqu’un d’autre. Je souhaite que
les Armeniens soient fermement, conscients de leurs droits et qu’ils
sont a la tete de leur propre destin “a-t-il dit.

ARMENIA’S POLITICAL RIGHTS RATING IMPROVED – FREEDOM HOUSE

January 15, 2013 | 13:39

Armenia is rated among the “Partly Free” countries in the Freedom in
the World 2013: Democratic Breakthroughs in the Balance report issued
by Freedom House.

The report says Armenia’s political rights rating improved due to the
absence of postelection violence following parliamentary balloting in
May and the entry of an authentic opposition party into the
legislature.

Armenia got 5 points for the political rights and 4 for the civil rights.

Neighboring Georgia and Turkey also got “Partly Free” status, unlike
Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia which are rated among “Not Free” states.

Nagorno-Karabakh, included in the disputed territories section, has
improved rating of political rights (5 points) and is rated among
“Partly Free” territories.

ARMENIA TO DEVELOP COOPERATION WITH INDONESIA – PRESIDENT

January 15, 2013 | 19:56

YEREVAN. – On Tuesday, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia to Armenia Niniek Kun Naryatie
(residence in Kiev) has handed her credentials to the President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

The press service of the president informs that the president
congratulated Niniek Kun Naryatie and wished her great achievements
and highlighted that Armenia is going to develop the relations with
Indonesia, to activate contacts and cooperation in different spheres.

During the meeting, both parties noted the importance of development
of parliamentary cooperation, active initiatives of economic committee
on governmental level. Most attention was given to spheres of tourism,
education, and science.

CONCERT TO BE HELD ON 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF STATE CONSERVATORY AFTER KOMITAS

21:24, 15 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: A concert dedicated to 80th
anniversary of State Conservatory after Komitas will take place on
January 31 in Komitas Chamber Music Hall.

As Armenpress was informed from National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia,
concert program includes Beethoven’s “Concerto for play”, Brandenburg
Concerto No. 2 of Bach, Siegfried Idyll composed by Wagner.

The concert will be titled “Richard Wagner 200”. Conductor is Zaven
Vardanyan.

TURKEY’S NEW SPIN ON HUMAN RIGHTS: THEY CAN BE USED TO RECOVER ART

BY Ceylan Yeginsu | January 14 2013 2:01 PM

Turkey is one of the world’s richest countries when it comes
to archeology. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and
with a history of human habitation that dates back to the dawn of
civilization, it’s especially rich in ancient Greek ruins that were
created when the land that is now Turkey was known as Asia Minor,
or Anatolia.

(Photo: Wikipedia) A lion from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in the
British Museum RELATED

Best Of Enemies: Turkey Talks To…

Sponsored Link But many of those priceless relics aren’t in Turkey;
they’re in Western museums. Now Turkey is trying a bold new tactic
to recover them: It plans to use human rights law to get them back.

The country, which is usually divided on the sensitive issue of human
rights enforcement, has found common ground as lawyers, civil society
and the government gear up to file a lawsuit in the European Court
of Human Rights (ECHR) in an attempt to repatriate artifacts that
are being housed at the British Museum.

The court, located in Strasbourg, France, normally tackles, as its
name suggests, freedom of expression violations and torture cases. But
Turkey will most likely put a unique spin on Article 1 of the First
Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights, filing suit
against the British Museum on the grounds that “Every natural or
legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions.”

This is yet another installment in Turkey’s campaign to restore
its cultural heritage. Museums worldwide are being pressured by the
country to return antiquities that once belonged to ancient Anatolia.

The subjects of the most recent case are sculptures that once adorned
the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the
ancient world, in the city that is now modern-day Bodrum.

“We are very grateful to the British Museum for housing these artifacts
for all these years, but is it not natural for us to want them back? Is
it not our right?” said lawyer Remzi Kazmaz, who joined forces with
the Mugla Bar Association and the Turkish Ministry of Culture to
bring the case to the attention of the ECHR.

“We may not have the best track record when it comes to preservation,
but we now have the power to protect and facilitate these items,”
Kazmaz added.

Kazmaz declined to comment on the measures that have been taken to
carry the case to the ECHR, but he said that “all the appropriate
steps have been taken and some 30 lawyers will act on behalf of the
town of Bodrum in this case.” A petition with 118,000 signatures will
also be presented to the court.

As Turkey prepares to file the case on Jan. 30, the British Museum
says it has not been contacted directly regarding the lawsuit. “We
have not heard anything directly about the legal case, other than
via a media enquiry, so we can’t comment on it as we are not aware of
the details,” said Olivia Rickman, press and PR manager of the museum.

According to Rickman, the sculptures from the Mausoleum of
Halicarnassus in the Museum’s collection were acquired in 1846,
1857 and 1859. “These pieces were acquired during the course of two
British initiatives, both with firmans [legal permits issued by the
Ottoman authorities] that granted permission for the excavation of
the site and removal of the material from the site (1857 and 1859)
and Bodrum Castle (1846) to the British Museum,” Rickman said.

“The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus is one of the Seven Wonders of the
ancient world and these pieces have been displayed at the British
Museum in the context of presenting world cultures to a global
audience,” she added.

Turkey, however, contests that the objects are in Britain legally.

“The British Museum says [it has] permission, but [it does] not. There
is no valid documentation,” Kazmaz said.

Charlotte Woodhead, an expert in cultural heritage law at the
University of Warwick in England, is not aware of human rights
legislation ever being used before to reclaim such objects. “If a
claim is brought before the European Court of Human Rights, it will
be interesting to see on what basis it is argued and also to see what
the outcome is,” she said.

Besides using human rights legislation, Turkey has also turned
to an Ottoman-era law banning the export of artifacts to threaten
museums such as the Louvre in Paris, the Getty in Los Angeles and
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which have been displaying
ancient Anatolian artifacts for years.

“We are showing respect to history. We are not just asking for
Ottoman or Seljuk artifacts; I am also laying claim to pieces from
the Roman period or the pagan period. Why? Because we are aware that
safeguarding your history, archeology and your museums is an element
of development,” Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay told the Hurriyet
Daily News last year.

He explained that Western museums have been criticizing Turkey for
not knowing the value of these artifacts in the past, but that Turkey
is now aware of their importance.

“There was a lack of awareness in the past. But today, the world has
reached a certain level of development and we have caught up with
that level of development, and we are now establishing museums above
world standards,” he said.

Turkey’s Ministry of Culture has opened 10 new museums in the past five
years, with an additional 19 projects underway. Excavation projects
are also fully underway, and the results will be safeguarded in new
exhibits within Turkish museums, according to the Ministry.

The ministry has not yet commented on the ECHR case, but according to
Kazmaz, it has played a significant role in preparing the lawsuit. “We
aren’t expecting the British Museum to just hand everything back, but
we want to open a dialogue so we can at least be active in preserving
these artifacts, whether it means we can jointly house them for 10
years at a time or longer. We are open to negotiation,” he said.

CHRISTIAN ARMENIA AND ISLAMIC IRAN: AN UNUSUAL PARTNERSHIP EXPLAINED

By Harout Harry Semerdjian, Ph.D. candidate, University of Oxford, UK
– 01/14/13 12:30 PM ET

While the West has recently tightened its sanctions against Iran,
its only Christian neighbor has taken a different approach towards
the Islamic Republic. Political constraints and lack of options have
coerced landlocked Armenia to adopt a policy dissimilar to the West’s
for one basic reason – survival.

Armenia is located in the South Caucasus – one of the most volatile
regions in the world, where East meets West and North meets South. It
lies at the crossroads of Islam and Christianity. This is where NATO
and the USSR once drew their boundary, but where war and history have
maintained closed borders even after the collapse of the Soviet Union
in 1991. This is also where expansive oil and gas pipelines traverse,
supplying Europe with energy resources from the hydrocarbon-rich
Caspian Sea.

Of all the countries in the region, geography and history have been
the cruelest to Armenia. The country is blockaded by two of its four
neighbors – Turkey to the West and Azerbaijan to the East and Southwest
– accounting for some eighty percent of the country’s boundaries. Its
border with an often unstable Georgia remains open to the North as well
as a tiny 22-mile Southern border with Iran – termed as a “lifeline”
for the culturally-rich yet resource-poor country of 3 million.

Despite a current cease-fire, Armenia is technically still at
war with Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a
de-facto independent republic was proclaimed in 1992 after Armenian
forces established control over the territory and several districts
surrounding it. As a result, Turkey also severed ties with Armenia
and closed its border in solidarity with its ethnic kin, the Azeris.

Armenia’s relations with Turkey also remain tense over the 1915
Armenian Genocide, when nearly the entire Armenian population of the
Ottoman Empire, two million people, was wiped out through massacres
and deportations. Turkey still denies the Genocide despite historical
evidence and international pressure to acknowledge the crimes committed
by its predecessors.

Given Iran’s historic rivalry with Turkey and Russia for influence
in the Caucasus, its strained relations with Azerbaijan over that
country’s rejection of an Islamic order, and its international
isolation, Iran has recently enhanced its economic, political
and cultural relations with Armenia. Additionally, northern Iran
is inhabited by over 15 million Azeris (double the population of
the Republic of Azerbaijan), driving Iran’s concern of a potential
secessionist movement. Wary of this threat, a weak Azerbaijan is in
Iran’s best interest and Armenia becomes an important leverage point
in this regard. Hence, we observe an unusual international relations
predicament in which the interests of an Islamic republic coincide
with those of a Christian state at the expense of another Muslim
country. In response, leaders of both Iran and Armenia are quick
to point out the historic relations between the two countries that
span several thousand years, as well as the presence of a substantial
Armenian community in Iran numbering 150,000. Two seats in the Iranian
Parliament are appointed for Armenian representation and northern Iran,
once a part of several Armenian kingdoms, is also home to ancient
Armenian monasteries designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites that
enjoy national and international protection – in stark contrast to
some three thousand Armenian churches in Turkey that fell victim to
cultural destruction during and after 1915.

Ultimately, for Armenia, embracing Iran becomes a matter of basic
survival, and for Iran, tiny Armenia becomes an outlet for global
reconnection and a means to put pressure on Azerbaijan. Meanwhile,
Armenia has made it clear that this relationship does not come at
the expense of its relations with the West or Russia. Russia remains
Armenia’s strategic ally and Armenia has very warm and developing
relations with the United States and the EU. Large and influential
Armenian Diaspora communities, particularly in the United States
and France, become an important bridge between their ancestral and
adopted homelands and act as catalysts for Westernization. Over the
years, Armenia has espoused a policy of European orientation and
integration and hopes to become an EU member in time. As a means of
engaging regional and global powers without having to “pick and choose”
alliances, Armenia has carefully crafted a policy of “complementarity”
to survive and navigate difficult geopolitical terrain.

Last year marked the apex of Iranian-Armenian relations when the two
countries embarked on important economic projects, including the
construction of a hydro-electric plant on their shared border – a
welcome development for energy-hungry Armenia. There are talks now of
constructing an ambitious railway system and an oil pipeline between
the two countries. Both projects could eventually be extended to
Europe through Georgia, which will help alleviate Armenia’s isolation
in the region. American tolerance of these growing ties still remains
to be seen. Thus far, the United States has been cautious but largely
understanding; however this could change in the future.

In order to keep Iranian-Armenian relations in check and to
assist Armenia in expanding its options in the region, the Obama
administration must put pressure on Turkey to open its border with
Armenia immediately and without preconditions. This would ensure
Armenia’s access to Europe and beyond through Turkish territory. The
United States should also enhance its efforts in bringing forth a
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully and resolutely.

Furthermore, the United States should assist Armenian integration
in regional economic and transportation projects and to energize
U.S.-Armenia economic relations via a bilateral Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement. The United States will thus help Armenia reduce
its dependence on Iran by ensuring the country’s integration with
the West. Armenia and its people want no less and need American and
European assistance to achieve this objective. Otherwise, Armenia
will have no choice but to continue looking to Iran.

Semerdjian is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Oxford. He
holds M.A. degrees from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and
the University of California, Los Angeles.

Read more:

TAMARA VARDANYAN (HISTORIAN): THE OFFICIAL VERSION OF ETHNOGENESIS OF AZERBAIJANIS IS A FICTION (VIDEO)

2013-01-14 12:08:17

Interview with a candidate of historical sciences, the author of the
monograph “The Azerbaijanis: The Story of unfinished ethnoproject”
Tamara Vardanyan.

1. Recently your book “The Azerbaijanis: The Story of unfinished
ethnoproject” was published in Moscow. What goal do you pursue?

First of all, the desire to tell the truth to people and especially
the Azerbaijanis. The version of the ethnic group of origin, which
is now the policy and invariably imposed, is a fiction, and does not
hold critics from a scientific point of view.

2. Presentation of the book took place in Moscow on the 30th of August
this year. Have you submitted your book in other countries?

The official presentation took place, as you know, in Moscow. But
the geography of the book itself is quite large. Just recently I have
been at a conference in Ukraine, where participants-historians from
different countries have an opportunity to familiarize with it.

I also have a trip to Moldova, where the book will also be presented
by me at the international symposium on identity. I should add that
the book has appeared not only in bookstores of Russia and Armenia,
but also in the chain stores of “Russian book” in the cities such as
London, Massachusetts, Frankfurt, Tokyo, etc.

3. What about Turkologists in Armenia?

It is known that the science in Armenia is experiencing hard times.

There is a lack of state support, and there are not also clear
priorities in the selection of research topics and areas. However, the
Armenian scientists are trying to answer the challenges of the time
and tend to go with dignity out of this difficult situation. Despite
the “brain drain,” there is the potential, but we need to organize
it properly.

4. So why do you use the term “ethnoproject” against the Azerbaijani
ethnic group? In general, what is Azerbaijani people on your point
of view?

The word “ethnoproject” does not have negative connotations, as it may,
perhaps, be seen in the wider communities. The core can be considered
the Turkic Muslims of Eastern Transcaucasia, but, in fact, the modern
Azerbaijanis are a conglomerate of different national and linguistic,
religious and even racial groups that are almost discard the Mongoloid
type, still not developed in a culturally homogeneous community.

5. What is the origin history of Azerbaijanis?

Since the second half of the XIX century to the present among the
Turkic-speaking Muslims of eastern Transcaucasia, there are three main
phases of drifting identity with the following conditional dates:
1) the end of the XIX century; 1920th years. – Inization and start
of Turkization 2) 1930th years; from 1930 to 1990 – turkization
and Stalin azerbaijanization and 3) from 1991 to the present day –
drifting between newly galvanized the post-Soviet ethnic Turkism and
inherited from the Soviet system Azerbaijanizm.

In fact, public opinion in Azerbaijan drifting between them and
the state machine continues to purposefully introduce identity of
Azerbaijanis, still trying to ethnicise.

6. Why does the term South Azerbaijan appear now?

It is a political project, which has expansionist goals for Iran.

7. In your opinion, is there a way out of the Karabakh conflict?

The fact that this issue has been resolved on the battlefield in
1991-1994., when the Armenians of Artsakh during the forced and
imposed war of self-defense defended their right of freedom and
independence. Now it is clear that Nagorno-Karabakh will never return
to Azerbaijan.

But the problem is that the Azerbaijani side, constantly worrying,
tries to use the anti-Armenian sentiment in society to crystallize
their identity and complete the process of nation building.

8. Can it be said that the history of Armenians and Azerbaijanis or
Caucasian Tatars is saturated withnegative, in what they sometimes
try to believe us?

Definitely can not say so because of the history of relations in
principle is somewhere over 100 years, which also included 70-year-old
Soviet era of peaceful coexistence. In the Soviet period, although
there was a latent intolerance, open competition, including enhanced
de- Armenization of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region),
the cities of Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan SSR, finally,
the complete de -Armenization of Nakhichevan, but it turned into hot
conflict only to the sunset of the USSR.

9. Where your ancestors from?

Paternal – Kars, maternal – Tbilisi. I was born and grew up in Yerevan.

10. Do you have a favorite place in Armenia?

My flat, from the windows which Ararat and Aragats, and the mountain
Arai are visable.

11. What is the role of Armenians in your life?

I am a person of action. I do not like talking about it.

HayasaNews.com.

23 YEARS AFTER THE ARMENIAN MASSACRES IN BAKU
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”

17:58 14.01.2013

January 13 marks the 23rd anniversary of the Armenian pogroms in Baku.

Those guilty of the events of 1990 have not been punished up until
today, the exact number of the victims is not known. What’s obvious
is that the real figure exceeds the official numbers.

According to the data of the Armenian Migration Agency and the UN,
about 418 thousand Armenians have migrated to Armenia from Azerbaijan;
300 thousand of them live in Armenia today and comprise more than 10%
of the total population.

According to Grigory Ayvazyan, President of the Assembly of Azerbaijani
Armenians, the Artsakh war was not just a struggle for independence
and freedom, but also a struggle to decide the issue of our future
existence.

“Hadn’t Artsakh stood up to defend itself, it would share the fate
of us – Azerbaijani Armenians,” Ayvazyan said.

According to him, the greatest achievement in the field of protection
of the rights of Azerbaijani Armenians subjected to genocide and
exile is that despite the stubborn efforts of Baku, we managed to
revive the issue of Azerbaijani Armenians and put it on the agenda
of the negotiations.

He believes that the issue of protection of rights of Azerbaijani
Armenians and its internationalization is directly linked to the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict; therefore, leaving the question
in the shadow will considerably harm the whole process.