Author: Kajoyan Gevork

AUTHOR OF LARK FARM TO PRESENT NEW BOOK ON GENOCIDE SURVIVORS’ TRAGEDY

tert.am
07.09.12

Antonia Arslan, an Italian writer best known for her book Lark Farm,
is going to speak of a new book in on Thursday, September 27.

According to Asbarez, the presentation of the book, The Road to Smyrna,
will take place at the Glendale Central Library Auditorium.

Antonia Arslan is an Italian author and academic of Armenian origin.

She was born in Padova, Italy. In 2004 she stunned the literary world
with her first novel La Masseria delle Allodole, which was translated
as The Skylark Farm into twenty languages. She is the winner of over
twenty literary awards, including the Passate Edizioni Premio (PEN)
award, the Premio Manzoni, and the Premio Stresa di Narrativa awards.

She has since published La Strada di Smirne (2007), Il cortile dei
Girasoli Parlanti (2011), and a third Armenian novel, Il libro di Mush
(The Book of Mush, 2012).

The Road to Smyrna features a barren Armenian homeland in Anatolia.

The developments occur in 1916. The last of that ancient people is
marching to Der Zor. Shushanig Arslanian and her four children are
hiding in a cellar in Aleppo after their dramatic escape. Yerwant
Arslanian is in Padova, organizing their transportation to Venice. The
war is still raging, and going very badly for the Ottomans.

The program is sponsored by the Library, Arts & Culture Department,
the Friends of the Glendale Public Library and the Center for Armenian
Remembrance in cooperation with Abril Books.

“WE TRUST NEITHER IN HUNGARY, NOR IN THE INTERNATIONAL FAMILY, BUT RECLAIM JUSTICE”: DEMONSTRATION IN PARIS

14:57 . 07/09

French Armenians held a protest connected with Azeri murderer Ramil
Safarov’s extradition, pardon by Aliyev and release.

On September 6, hundreds of French Armenians gathered in front of
Hungarian Embassy in France and demanded justice from Hungary, as the
latter has its portion of guilt in what happened. The demonstrators
applied to the international community and stressed it is impossible
to remain silent and not to raise a voice of protest after seeing
so much inhuman manifestations: the violence must be condemned. The
demonstrators held up posters with the words: “Murderer Safarov
must be imprisoned”, “Justice from Hungary”, “Aliyev -a supporter of
an axe-killer”.

The head of France’s ARF-D Hay Dat Committee Hrach Varzhapetyan said
Hungary has assumed a posture improper of an EU member country and
damaged its national dignity with several bln USD. He said it was
gladdening that Armenians all over the world, from Armenia to Diaspora,
assumed a unified posture over the issue.

“Our steeps need to become more aggressive gradually … Neither
Budapest, nor human rights, nor Azerbaijan, nor Aliyev and only the
Armenian officers, soldiers, Armenian army, the Armenian national
flag must return dignity to the Armenian people. We trust neither
in Hungary, nor the international family, but we also continue to
reclaim justice from both Hungary and the international family,
so that they restore their dignity, the human dignity,” he has said.

ARF-D Armenia Supreme Body representative Armen Rustamyan also
participated in the demonstration in Paris, who had arrived here to
participate in the session of the PACE Community on Human Rights and
Legal Issues.

“I proposed at the session of PACE to discuss the issue of Safarov’s
extradition and release during a plenary session of the Council of
Europe, which will be held on October 1-5. This is an opportunity,
with which we can present our problem, and this problem is not only
that of Armenia but of the whole international community. Our goal
is reestablishing justice,” Rustamyan has said.

Another, greater wave of protest will be raised in Paris on September
18, when President Ilham Aliyev is to arrive here.

GREECE AND CYPRUS LAUNCHED DEMONSTRATIONS ON EXTRADITION OF MURDERER SAFAROV

ARMENPRESS
6 September, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Demonstrations were organized in
Greece and Cyprus in connection with extradition of Azerbaijani
criminal Ramil Safarov by Hungary Government on September 5. As
Armenpress reports, the demonstrations first declared their launch in
Salonika. The move was initiated by Greece ARF ANCA Commission. The
demonstrators gathered Salonika Saint Astvatsatsin Church moved to
Hungary chief consulate by chanting slogans .Consulate representative
was handed over a protest letter.Greece ARF central committee
initiated the meeting in Athens. The demonstrators carrying posters
and chanting slogans passed Athens Central Avenue and stopped at
Hungary Embassy. Embassy consulate received the demonstrators, where
they handed him a protest letter, the diplomat assured their voices
would not remain unheard by Hungary Government and promised to send
the letter to Budapest. Cypros capital Nicosia also hosted protest
actions in front of Hungary Embassy. The demonstrators were holding
‘~R Hungary hungry for money’~R, ‘~RBlood is on your hands’~R posters.

Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov slayed with an ax Armenian officer
Gurgen Margaryan when the latter was sleeping on February 19 of 2004
.The two officers were taking part in English language courses in
framework of NATO program in Budapest. Hungarian court sentenced
Ramil Safarov to life imprisonment, without a right to be pardoned
during the first 30 years in jail. Yet the criminal was extradited by
Hungary Government on August 31, 2012. On the same day the assassinate
was granted pardon by Azerbaijani President.

ZHOGHOVURD: NSC HAS NO OPINION ON HUNGARY’S PRO-AZERI POLICY

Panorama.am
06/09/2012

“Almost all political forces of Armenia have expressed their positions
on Hungary’s pro-Azeri policy. However, surprisingly, leader of
Orinats Yerkir Party, Secretary of Armenia’s National Security Council,
Arthur Baghdasaryan, keeps silent on the issue,” Zhoghovurd writes.

The daily inquired about Baghdasaryan’ position on the next steps
that should be taken by Armenia to overcome this situation. He gave
an absurd answer, conveyed by his spokesman:

“The current situation and the steps that should be taken by Armenia
have been discussed in detail in the National Security Council. As you
know, Armenia broke off diplomatic ties with Hungary. The National
Assembly of Armenia convened a special session yesterday, which was
also one of the decisions made by NSC. We continue to work consistently
and inform the public about the steps to be taken by Armenia as well
as the works done.”

OUT OF FEAR OF TURKS, RUSSIANS…
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:11:38 – 06/09/2012

Well done, Armenians! You were not tempted by the evil forces and
did not recognize Karabakh. The West artfully prepared, hinted about
support, even Russia made no sharp statements. Moreover, Baku was
sitting and waiting for Armenians to finally recognize Karabakh
and finish with this issue. They did not say they were against the
recognition.

But the Armenians are prudent, they never run the risk, they prefer
pulling the rubber for years to keep the excuse of Karabakh to blame
it for all the troubles.

It would be interesting to know what provocation the Armenians
rejected. Who would be harmed by Karabakh’s recognition by Armenia
and what would it lead to? They apparently feared resumption of
hostilities. But Azerbaijan threatens with war every day, besides we do
not occupy territories, they are already occupied. Why does Azerbaijan
need to resume military actions and why it has not done it so far?

Besides, any more or less adequately sensible person should understand
that at the present moment Azerbaijan does not know what to do, let
alone war. Safarov was thrown onto Azerbaijan’s face and told to be
satisfied with the moral victory. In brief, the world did everything
for Armenia to recognize Karabakh.

But the Armenians know how to resist provocations. Long years of
coexistence with insidious Turks taught Armenians to be cautious,
and so they prefer loss to resist provocation.

There is only one solution to this situation, Karabakh should refuse
Armenia’s mediation which has only now realized that Artsakh cannot
be part of Azerbaijan. Perhaps, the Karabakh people could once again
show, like they did 20 years ago, that Armenians are not cowardly
conformists. Armenians make decisions and achieve them on their own,
just like they found a de-facto solution to the Karabakh issue 20
years ago.

This issue is a lump in everyone’s throat, especially Azerbaijan. Like
Georgia wanted to get rid of the issue of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
in 2008 to move forward, Azerbaijan, or rather Turkey, would like to
get rid of the Karabakh issue once and for ever.

This would be the best chance but the Armenian parliament came out
to be deaf and blind out of fear. The fear from Turks and Russians
and the notorious West.

Now it’s Karabakh’s turn. What does Karabakh thinks about the fact
that Armenia finally refused to return Karabakh to Azerbaijan? Thanks,
Armenia!

EUROPEAN VALUES AREN’T DOORMAT

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:28:07 – 06/09/2012

Member of Parliament Naira Zohrabyan, Chairperson of the NA Standing
Committee of European Integration, member of the Armenian delegations
to PACE and Euronest, addressed a letter to the president of the
European Parliament Martin Schulz, PACE Chairman Jean-Claude Mignon
and Euronest PA co-chair Kristian Vigenin.

In her letter, Mrs. Zohrabyan states that the whole civilized world
and the European community are shocked by the outrageous deal between
Hungary and Azerbaijan when NATO and EU member Hungary betrayed
European values and justice for specific interests. Many international
structures have recently reacted to this event but the reactions were
not always adequate to the monstrous deal. There were even statements
calling both sides, totalitarian Azerbaijan and Armenia equally,
to exercise restraint, which is perplexing and unacceptable. As
a member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE and Euronest, I
would like to draw your attention to the outrageous fact of greeting
ceremony for Safarov at the airport attended by the members of the
Azerbaijani delegations to PACE and Euronest. This action organized by
Azerbaijan is a message to Europe making it clear that the opinion of
the European structures where Azerbaijan is represented means nothing,
writes Mrs. Zohrabyan.

She agrees with CoE Secretary General Jagland’s assessment who said
that “this is not the Europe we want for our generations”. Zohrabyan
stressed that the European values are not a doormat for anyone to
clear their feet on. None of the European family members will be
guaranteed from becoming the target of such an outrageous deal unless
we undertake steps and make adequate evaluations,

Naira Zohrabyan extends hope that this issue will be publicly discussed
in the PACE, the European Parliament and Euronest.

UNESCO : ENSEIGNER L’HOLOCAUSTE ET L’HISTOIRE DES GENOCIDES

Publie le : 06-09-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette information publiee sur le site de l’UNESCO le
4 septembre 2012.

UNESCO

Enseigner l’Holocauste et l’histoire des genocides en Afrique

04.09.2012

Les representants des ministères de l’education de 14 pays d’Afrique
subsaharienne participeront a la première consultation organisee
par l’UNESCO sur le thème de l’enseignement de l’Holocauste et des
genocides. La reunion aura lieu au Cap, en Afrique du Sud, les 10 et
11 septembre.

La consultation regionale, intitulee ” Pourquoi enseigner les genocides
? L’exemple de l’Holocauste ” sera inauguree par un message video de
la Directrice generale de l’UNESCO, Irina Bokova. Plusieurs chercheurs
et educateurs eminents, specialises dans les domaines de l’histoire
de l’Holocauste et des genocides du XXème siècle y participeront
egalement. Ces experts viendront d’Allemagne, d’Afrique du Sud,
de Belgique, du Cambodge, des Etats-Unis, de France et d’Israël.

La consultation portera sur un large eventail de sujets et d’approches
relatives a l’enseignement de l’Holocauste. Elle inclura notamment
des discussions sur les approches comparees des genocides, sur
l’enseignement de l’histoire dans les societes post-genocidaires ou
en situation de post-conflit, ou encore sur les differentes manières
d’aborder l’enseignement de l’Holocauste. Les participants discuteront
de la possibilite de developper des programmes educatifs dans leurs
pays respectifs dans le but de mieux sensibiliser les elèves a cette
thematique face a la repetition des genocides et violences de masse.

Les pays participants sont les suivants : Afrique du Sud, Benin,
Burundi, Republique democratique du Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopie,
Kenya, Maurice, Namibie, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzanie, Togo et Zambie.

A l’occasion de cet evenement, les delegues auront aussi l’opportunite
de rencontrer des representants de la Fondation sud-africaine sur
l’Holocauste et les genocides, une institution unique en Afrique,
et de visiter le Centre de l’Holocauste du Cap.

L’UNESCO travaille avec le Programme de Communication ” l’Holocauste
et les Nations Unies ” et d’importantes institutions specialisees
afin de promouvoir les ressources educatives contribuant a mieux
tirer les lecons du passe et a comprendre les ramifications des
discriminations et des violences de masse. Ce travail reflète la
conviction que l’enseignement de l’histoire de l’Holocauste est
fondamental au respect des droits humains, a la promotion de la
tolerance et peut contribuer a la prevention des genocides.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : UNESCO

ENCORE SE TAIRE ?
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 5 septembre 2012

L’Association Suisse-Arménie (ASA), avec l’Union Arménienne de Suisse
(UAS), L’Union écolière et familiale arménienne de Oberentfelden,
l’Union Générale Arménienne de Bienfaisance de Suisse (UGAB),
l’Association de Secours Arménienne de Suisse (HOM), la Communauté
arménienne du Tessin, la Communauté arménienne de la Région
Neuchâtel-Jura, SEVAK Association,

appellent a manifester

contre le Gouvernement de Hongrie

Samedi 8 septembre 2012 a 13h

(rassemblement a Helvetiaplatz, Berne, a 12h45)

Ramil Safarov, condamné a perpétuité pour avoir assassiné a la
hache l’officier arménien Kourken Markarian dans son sommeil alors
que tous deux participaient a une formation de l’OTAN en Hongrie,
a été extradé vers l’Azerbaidjan, puis gracié par le président
Alljev et élevé au rang de héros national dès son retour. Si
le comportement abominable du régime azéri ne laisse planer aucun
doute en matière d’incitation a la haine raciale, cette extradition
pose la question de la crédibilité de l’Ã~Itat de droit et de la
séparation des pouvoirs en Hongrie.

TURKISH AMBASSADOR: EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE REACHED

Trend
Sept 6 2012
Azerbaijan

At present, the Armenian diaspora is irritated, and its target is the
Azerbaijani and Turkish diplomats, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Hulusi Kilic told reporters on Thursday.

It’s necessary reach an early settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Kilic said. According to the diplomat, Turkey is for peace
in the region and expects an early settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

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

NATO ‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’ BY BAKU PARDON OF ARMENIAN OFFICER KILLER

NaharNet
Sept 6 2012
Lebanon

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday said he was
“deeply concerned” about the pardoning of a Azerbaijani soldier who
axed an Armenian officer to death during a NATO training course.

“The act he committed in 2004 was a terrible crime and should not be
glorified,” Rasmussen said in a speech at Yerevan State University
during a visit to Armenia.

Azerbaijani lieutenant Ramil Safarov was extradited to Baku last week
from Hungary, where he had been serving a life sentence for hacking
the Armenian officer to death.

Safarov was immediately pardoned and promoted to the rank of major
after returning home to a hero’s welcome, in defiance of assurances
from Baku to Budapest that he would serve out his term in Azerbaijan.

The issue has inflamed tensions between ex-Soviet foes Armenia and
Azerbaijan which are locked in an unresolved conflict over the disputed
territory of Nagorny Karabakh where they fought a war in the 1990s.

“The pardon damages trust and doesn’t contribute to the peace process,”
Rasmussen said.

“Tensions must be reduced and concrete steps must be taken to promote
regional cooperation and reconciliation.”

Rasmussen said he would convey the same message to Azerbaijan when
he visits Baku on Friday.

More than a thousand young Armenians demonstrated outside the
university where Rasmussen was speaking, chanting “Shame! and “We
demand justice!”

“We demand that NATO expresses a tough position towards Hungary and
Azerbaijan, revises its cooperation with Azerbaijan… and achieves
Safarov’s return to Hungary so that he continues serving his jail term
there,” protest organizer Artur Kazarian told Agence France Presse.

Armenia has broken off diplomatic links with Hungary over the
extradition and subsequent pardon, which has also sparked concern in
Washington, Brussels and Moscow.

At a press conference with Rasmussen later on Thursday, Armenian
President Serzh Sarkisian said that “making a hero out of a criminal
is unacceptable”.

“Azerbaijan’s shameful act seriously endangers the security of the
entire south Caucasus,” he said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have not signed a peace deal since the 1994
Karabakh ceasefire and there are still frequent gun-battles along
the frontline.