Author: Kajoyan Gevork

LA MONTEE DE LA MONTAGNE DE LA VERITE ET DE LA JUSTICE PAR NILAY VARDAR

armenews.com
jeudi 29 novembre 2012

L’auteur, activiste des droits de l’homme et avocate Fethiye Cetin
et l’actrice armenienne Arsinee Khanjian ont parle de ce que cela
signifie etre un armenien a la fois en Turquie et en Diaspora dans une
serie de programmes appele ” la montee de la Montagne ” lancee par la
Fondation Civilitas et le centre Culturel Anatolien (Anadolu Kultur.)

La première serie du programmes a eu lieu a Berlin le 4 septembre,
tandis que le deuxième a Istanbul le 6 septembre. La troisième a eu
lieu a Erevan le 13 septembre.

Les programmes aspirent a faire la lumière sur l’aspect personnel
des relations Armeno-turques et faire tomber les prejuges mutuels
entre les armeniens et les Turcs et les gens dont les familles ont
ete forcees de quitter l’Anatolie et ceux qui sont restes derrière.

Balayage de la verite

” Mes grands-parents etaient des citoyens de l’etat Ottoman. Je
suis nee au Beyrouth. Je suis monte sur la montagne ; je suis monte
sur l’Ararat. C’est très important pour les gens nes a l’exterieur
[de leurs pays natal] contre leur propre volonte et [pour les aider]
a interprètrer une identite. Comme je suis monte sur le Mont Ararat,
j’y ai trouve la verite et la justice. J’ai enterre sur cette montagne
les images de mes grands-parents qui sont nes a Erzurum et les gants
de ma mère qui est morte très jeune ” a dit l’actrice Arsinee Khanjian,
citoyenne canadienne d’origine armenienne qui est nee au Liban.

Khanjian avaient joue le rôle “d’Ani” dans le film du realisateur
Atom Egoyan ” Ararat “.

L’avocate et activiste des droits de l’homme Fethiye Cetin, auteur du
livre “Ma Grand-mère,” (“Ananem”) a alors pris la parole : ” Je suis
nee [dans la province au nord-est d’Elazig.] j’ai commence a vivre
avec mes grands-parents musulmans a un jeune âge. Alors je suis devenu
socialiste. Un jour, ma grand-mère m’a pris sur ses genoux et m’a dit
une histoire que je n’avais jamais entendu auparavant avec des gestes
comme si elle essayait d’essuyer en bas de la salete sur sa jupe.

C’etait comme si elle balayait de ses mains tout ce qu’elle avait
fait a partir de l’âge neuf ans. J’ai cru ma grand-mère. Elle disait
la verite ” a dit Cetin.

Fethiye Cetin est connu pour etre l’avocate de la famille de Hrant
Dink, un journaliste Turco-armenien assassine au grand jour le 19
janvier 2007 devant son bureau a Istanbul. Seulement deux suspects
ont ete condamnes en lien avec son assassinat, tandis que les autres
suspects et quelques fonctionnaires qui ont ete impliques dans
l’affaire n’ont recu aucune sanction.

Des femmes armeniennes forcees au mariage ” Beaucoup de guides locaux
Kurdes que j’ai rencontre près du Mont Ararat se sont approches de
moi et m’ont dit que leurs grands-mères etaient des armeniennes,
s’attendant a ce que je prenne quelque plaisir a entendre cela.

D’etonnement, je n’ai pas su quoi dire, cependant. Ce qu’ils disaient
prouve une realite entière ; on avait de force epouse ces grands-mères
et il y avait aucun grand-père armenien a trouver ” a dit Khanjian.

” Maintenant que j’ai une double identite je peux parler avec bien-etre
” a dit l’avocate Cetin ajoutant que c’etait difficile pour elle de
partager son histoire meme avec ses amis socialistes au debut.

” Ce n’etait pas sans crainte, mais nous ne pouvions pas demolir les
tabous que nous avions nous-memes crees. Nous avons porte la politique
de negation comme une partie de ce silence assourdissant. C’est
pourquoi, je porte maintenant une responsabilite. Ma grand-mère avait
charge la salete dont elle avait balayee de sa jupe sur mes epaules
et je ne veux pas transmettre ce fardeau pour les generations futures
” a-t-elle dit.

Khanjian a aussi ajoute qu’il y avait des milliers de livres sur le
Genocide armenien, mais qu’elle a prefere exprimer la question par des
moyens artistiques : ” Quand nous avons fait le film ” Ararat ” cela a
ete percu en Turquie comme un materiel de propagande. Par contraste,
cependant, ce film n’etait pas sur le genocide. Son thème principal
etait la politique de negation en cours en Turquie ” a-t-elle dit.

BIANET

jeudi 29 novembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

LATVIA HOPES FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT WITHIN OSCE MINSK GROUP’S PROPOSALS

Trend
Nov 28 2012
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 28 / Trend E. Ismayilov /

Latvia hopes for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be resolved
peacefully within the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group, Latvian
Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis told media in Baku today.

“We hope and insist on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict by peaceful means within the Minsk Group’s proposals,”
Dombrovskis said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

Latvian Prime Minister leads a large delegation of around 80
entrepreneurs who took part in the Azerbaijani-Latvian business
forum today.

Dombrovskis said at the forum that the political dialogue between
Azerbaijan and Latvia promotes the development of economic relations
between the two countries. The purpose of his visit, which will last
until November 30, is to expand bilateral cooperation and to attract
new investments.

UKRAINE, ARMENIA AMONG TOP 10 COUNTRIES TO VISIT IN 2013

Argophilia Travel News
Nov 28 2012

Published on Nov 28, 2012 by Alina Popescu

Ukraine and Armenia are the two Eastern European countries included
in Globe Spots Top 10 Countries to visit in 2013. This is the fifth
edition of the top which illustrated the countries that will or at
least should become top tourist destinations in the next year. As
Globe Spots indicated, the list is determined based on their travel
experience, plus some wild rumors and crazy speculations.

There are three types of destinations included in the top, those
recommended for classic travel (attractive due to great sights and
convenience), adventurous places, appealing to those with a taste
for new travel experiences, and hardcore destinations, “for those
who are willing to travel anywhere just for the buzz.”

The classic recommendations for 2013 include Portugal, Cuba and
Canada. Malawi, Ukraine Rwanda, Armenia and Panama make up the top
of adventurous hot spots for the year to come, while the hardcore
picks are Mozambique and Kyrgyzstan.

“Hot on the heels of the successfully co-hosted Euro2012, Ukraine has
been brought to the forefront of the tourism world. The days of visas
and police bribery are a thing of the past. Today’s Ukraine provides
a surreal combination of rock-till-you-drop coastal party towns to
Crimean holiday resorts to cosmopolitan capitals to villages you’d
swear you were still in the USSR,” Globe Spots explains their choice.

Ukraine is also recommended for the travel diversity it offers.

Still off-the-grid for most travelers, Armenia was the second
Easter European selection in the top. “Boasting having been the
first to embrace Christianity, the country provides ample proof
of that assertion, and following the guidebooks’ suggestions will
most likely leave anyone churched (or monasteried) out. Fortunately,
those willing to dig a little deeper will discover a truly amazing
country with a beautiful landscape, but will also encounter genuinely
nice people always ready to offer them a shot of aragh (introduced by
never-ending toasts), or welcome them at their khorovats picnic… or
both.” As EU citizens can now travel to the country without a visa,
it is bound to gain popularity among tourists in 2013.

THE SITUATION ON THE STATE BORDER IS STABLE, COMMANDER OF RUSSIAN BORDER GUARD IN ARMENIA SAYS

Mediamax
Nov 28 2012
Armenia

Photo: PhotolureLeftRight Yerevan/Mediamax/. Secretary of the
National Security Council of Armenia Artur Baghdasaryan said today
that “Russian border troops protect Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Iran
stat border on a high level”.

Artur Baghdasaryan together with the Head of the Federal Agency
of the Russian State Border Dmitry Bezdelov and Commander of the
Russian Border Troops in Armenia Victor Vlasov visited “Ranchpar”
checkpoint located on the Armenian-Turkish border if Artashat region
of the Border Department of the Federal Agency of Russia in Armenia,
Mediamax reports .

Artur Baghdasaryan informed the border guards that Armenia and Russia
have already started modernizing Armenian border checkpoints and
border structures.

According to the NSC, they already made certain arrangements on
opening a representation for “Rosgranitsa” state agency in Armenia.

Head of the Russian Border Department in Armenia, Lieutenant General
Victor Vlasov, the situation on the Armenian state border is currently
calm and stable.

“There is no disturbance. We fulfill our tasks on a high level”,
said Vlasov.

BAKU PLEDGES TO ENSURE ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS’ SECURITY

asbarez
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

by Ara Khachatourian

Armenian World Chess champions return victoriously from the Istanbul
tournament in September

BAKU-Azerbaijan will ensure the security of Armenian participants of
the World Chess Cup 2015 and the World Chess Olympiad 2016,
Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov said Wednesday
during contract signing ceremony, reported the Trend news agency.

In February, Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian, in an open letter
warned the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Chairman Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
that he would not be able to take part in the federation’s World
Championship tournament if it is held in Azerbaijan.

“I’d like to inform you that the general atmosphere in Azerbaijan and
the continuous tensions between our countries make my participation in
such a high-level tournament in Azerbaijan impossible,” Aronian wrote
in his February letter.

Armenia had put in a bid to host the events, but a final decision was
made in September at the General Assembly of the World Chess
Federation in Istanbul that Baku would host the next round of
championships.

Armenia won the World Champion title in September, returning to
Yerevan as heroes, amid the controversial extradition by Hungary and
pardon by Azerbaijan of convicted axe-murdered Ramil Safarov, who in
2004 killed Armenian soldier Gurgen Markarian at a NATO Partnership
for Peace gathering in Budapest.

“An important event, such as the Candidates Tournament, requires peace
of mind and special concentration. No circumstances, if they are not
chess-related, should prevent the grandmaster from demonstrating all
of his skills. Unfortunately, at this moment no Armenian can find
favorable or adequate psychological atmosphere in Azerbaijan, whereas
that is something absolutely necessary. In my opinion, all the
participants should be in equal conditions, which is impossible in the
event the tournament is held Azerbaijan. Security guaranties and any
kind of additional support cannot be a remedy,” explained Aronian.

“Taking into account the aforementioned considerations, I would like
to inform you that I would be delighted to take part in the Candidates
Tournament in any other country. However, my participation in the
candidates’ tournament in Azerbaijan has to be excluded,” said
Aronian.

“We are ready to host chess players from Armenia, with all security
issues to be addressed at the appropriate level. This is not the first
time Azerbaijan is hosting Armenian players,” Rahimov said.

Ilyumzhinov announced that Yerevan will play host to the FIDE
presidential council from January 18 to 20, 2013, which will focus on
the safety, accommodation and participation of Armenian players at the
events.

Commenting on FIDE proposals on holding a children’s chess tournament
with participation of young Azerbaijani and Armenian chess players in
Nagorno Karabakh, Rahimov said that Baku could support the initiative
if security of all Azerbaijani guests were ensured.

IRAN’S EAST AZARBAIJAN GOVERNOR-GENERAL: WE ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA

19:32 28/11/2012 ” ECONOMY

We are ready to boost cooperation with Armenia in economic and trade
areas, Governor-General of Iran’s East Azarbaijan province Ahmad
Alireza Beigi stated during a meeting with Governor of Armenia’s
Armavir region Ashot Ghahramanyan in Tabriz, Iran’s state-run news
agency IRNA reported.

Referring to the perspectives of cooperation between Iran’s East
Azarbaijan province and Armenia’s Armavir region, Ahmad Alireza Beigi
said, in part, “In consideration of the agricultural sector’s
possibilities in Armavir region and East Azarbaijan’s scientific and
technical base, we are interested in making investments in Armenia and
expanding cooperation in agriculture.”

East Azarbaijan’s Governor-General stressed that Iran and Armenia
should use all their possibilities in the private sector in a bid to
expedite expansion of their ties.

Armavir region’s Governor Ashot Ghahramanyan, for his part, noted that
Armenia and Iran are friendly countries and therefore they should
develop bilateral relations in different areas.

Source: Panorama.am

KURD LEGISLATOR DESCRIBES IRAN AS “TURKEY’S ONLY OPTION TO GET OUT OF CRISIS”

21:54 | 2012-11-28

TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkey’s blind obedience to the US-led West’s policies
on Syria has pushed it into crisis and it now has no way out of this
crisis but asking for Iran’s help, said a senior Kurdish member of
the Syrian parliament.

Speaking in an interview with FNA in Damascus on Wednesday, Omar Ousi
said the Syrian crisis has left grave impacts on Turkey’s economy
and caused depreciation of the Turkish Lira.

“Turkey’s blind obedience to the US policies on Syria has even aroused
the country’s parliament members to censure Erdogan,” Ousi said,
and added, “Erdogan is now under the heavy pressure of the parliament
for his adamant but naive interference in Syria.”

“Now that Turkey has submerged in the crisis and the US has abandoned
it in the middle of the way, it has no other option but asking for
Iran’s help to find a solution to its problem,” Ousi, who is also
the President of the National Initiative of the Syrian Kurds, told FNA.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Secretary-General of the Syrian
Kurdish Democratic Party Jamal Mahmoud Molla stressed the Syrian Kurds’
opposition to Turkey’s interference in their country.

Speaking to FNA on Sunday, Mahmoud Molla said that Syrian Kurds
“strongly reject any interference by Turks in the internal affairs
of Syria”.

“Based on the very same stance, the Syrian Kurds oppose the presence
of the members of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) in Kurdish
regions,” he added.

He stated that Kurdish regions are relatively safe, and added that
the Free Syrian Army tried hard to create problems in the Kurdish
regions to “provoke Kurds against the Syrian ruling system”, but
failed in its efforts completely.

Their remarks came weeks after a Kurdish news website unveiled a
secret document showing an agreement among Turkey, US, and some
minority Kurdish groups to set up a federal state in Syria after
helping terrorists overcome Bashar al-Assad’s government, and provide
military backup for that state.

Voice of Kurdistan said that Turkey, US and some Kurdish groups in
a secret meeting in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Erbil on September 2
agreed to provide financial and military backup for the establishment
of a federal government in Syria.

They also agreed on the construction of several military airports
in western Kurdistan and providing support for the Kurdish dissident
groups supporting Turkey against Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Turkey along with the US, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been supporting
terrorists and rebel groups in Syria and have practically brought a
UN peace initiative into failure to bring President Assad’s government
into collapse.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized
attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border
guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have
been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups
for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated
from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was eventually restored in the Arab state
after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country,
but Israel, the US and its Arab allies are seeking hard to bring the
country into chaos through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington
and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots in the hope
of increasing unrests in Syria.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH GOVERNMENT APPROVES 2013 DRAFT BUDGET

YEREVAN, November 28. / ARKA /. The government of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) approved yesterday a draft 2013 budget. NKR finance
and economy minister Spartak Tevosyan said it calls for 70.294 billion
drams in revenue and 71.050 billion drams in spending. The projected
deficit is about 756 million drams.

“The draft budget is designed to raise the living standards of our
population, strengthen the defense capabilities of the country and
boost economic advancement”, the minister said. He said the government
expects the economy to expand next year by 9 percent.

He said some 25.4% of the budget are earmarked as social spending, a
larger proportion than in 2012 budget. He said the government created
sufficient financial resources for the successful continuation of
earlier launched public programs and projects. He said the minimum
salary will rise next year to 35,000 drams from current 32,500 drams.

NKR prime minister Ara Harutyunyan said public sector salaries and
pensions will not see a rise because the government needs to adjust
its policies with Armenia. He said the private sector is expected to
make tangible investments in the mining and energy sectors.

Harutyunyan said if all planned measures are implemented the 2014
budget may be increased to 78 billion drams. The draft state budget
will be submitted to parliament’s consideration. -0-

NKR NEGOTIATIONS CANNOT BE THE HOSTAGE OF AZERBAIJAN’S WISHES. GIRO MANOYAN

17:55, 28 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: There is no real threat of war for
Armenia at the moment. Azerbaijan always makes bellicose statements
and violates the ceasefire but at the same time it is not confident
enough. Armenpress reports that Giro Manoyan, one of the leaders of
ARF Dashnaktsutiun, has noted during the interview with journalists
on November 28 that OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs tries to restore the
negotiations to reduce the likelihood of war.

According to Manoyan Azerbaijan cannot keep NKR negotiations as
a hostage of its wishes. “International community ought to show
Azerbaijan that it is not beneficial for it to continually postpone
negotiations” he said. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Armenia should
activate their efforts aimed to the recognition of NKR Republic.

Manoyan agreed with the suggestion of NKR President Bako Sahakyan to
OSCE Co-Chairs to return to the negotiations.

Minsk Group Co-Chairs Robert Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russian
Federation), Jacques Faure (France) and the Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk have regional visits
to Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN CONCLUDED HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF LEBANON

28.11.2012

President Serzh Sargsyan concluded his official visit to the Republic
of Lebanon. Today, at the Presidential Residence there took place
the official ceremony of farewell for the President of Armenia.

Before the ceremony, President Sargsyan and President Suleiman during
the tete-a-tete meeting summarized the results of the visit. The
leaders of the two states stressed the importance of high-level
reciprocal visits, spoke with satisfaction about the negotiations
which took place in the framework of the Armenian President’s official
visit and reached agreements which, according to the Presidents of
Armenia and Lebanon, will give a boost to the development of the
Armenian-Lebanese relations in all areas and will further strengthen
friendship of the two nations.

Delegation headed by President Serzh Sargsyan is on its way to Yerevan.