Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Vova Gasparyan’s Colt

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:55:47 – 25/08/2012

They say there is an inscription on Sam Colt’s tombstone: ‘Abe Lincoln
may have freed all men, but Sam Colt made them equal.’ This phrase has
been interpreted in different ways. Yet, they say: ‘God made man, but
Samuel Colt made them equal.’

Colt’s revolver in the photo is called peacemaker. It was light,
small, efficient. Everyone carried Colt’s revolver with pleasure, law
was not enforced, everything was permitted, including lynching. Colt’s
revolver curbed these phenomena because everyone knew that everyone is
armed. It is not important how people interpret the grave inscription.
When the laws of God and state are not enforced, guns come to our
rescue.

The police has made a draft law on weapon and submitted to the
government. If approved, the bill will facilitate buying weapons by
citizens. In Armenia, like in the Wild West, the laws are not
enforced, impunity and arbitrariness rule. The criminal and oligarchic
gangs widely lynch citizens.

The law enforcers of Armenia are not able to fight away these things
because first they are reluctant because the police are tied to this
system with many threads, second, they cannot for the same reason.
However, they understand that this cannot continue because the wave
will reach them one day. And the only way is to arm the citizens, as
in the Wild West.

It is better to arm citizens now or they will arm illegally when they
lose all their hopes.

Expert on Arab countries: The threat to the Armenian community of
Syria is the work of Turkey

arminfo
Saturday, August 25, 15:09

The statement disseminated by the Syrian opposition and containing
threat to the Armenian community of Syria was a provocation, an expert
on the Arab countries, Sarkis Grigoryan, told journalists today.

He said that in their statement the oppoisitionists were trying to
blame the Armenian community for their military failure. “The trace of
Turkey was noticed in the threatening statement addressed to the
Armenian community of Syria. It is not surprising, as the
oppositionists get a rather serious financing from Ankara”, –
Grigoryan said.

He also added that the Armenian community of Syria sits on the fence.
This will help the community to go out of the created crisis situation
without serious consequences, the expert said.

To note, according to the information disseminated in mass media,
General Council of Syrian rebels has disseminated a statement which
contains threats regarding the Armenian community of Syria. The
oppositionists threat to ruin the Armenian populated districts of
Aleppo. Armenians are blamed for supporting Asad’s regime.

“Hayartun” students cleared and improved Armenian Pantheon of Tbilisi

14:44, 25 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS: “Nerses Shnorhali” children group of
Georgian Armenian Diocese’s Hayartun cultural house centre, Armenian
Apostolic Church carried out volunteer labor patriotic initiative in
Armenian Pantheon of Tbilisi on August 23.As Georgian Armenian Diocese
press service told Armenpress, ensemble members accompanied by chorus
conductor Mary Abulyan and “Hayartun” cultural centre coordinator
Levon Chidilyan, artistic director Pavel Oganezov presented their day
to the benefit of the society and engaged in the improvement of
Armenian Pantheon of Tbilisi ( Khojivank). The visitors from Russian
Federation and Beirut were gratified by the volunteer labor by Nerses
Shnorhali students. Filled with enthusiasm of the youngsters, pantheon
visitors got engaged in volunteer work and jointly undertook the
pantheon area.

Kurdish issue more important for Turkey – expert

news.am
August 25, 2012 | 00:33

YEREVAN. – The Kurdish issue for Turkey is becoming more important on
the background of the situation in Syria, expert Ruben Melkonyan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am adding the situation in Syria has sharpened the
Kurdish factor. As for Turkey’s call to the UN to set up a defense
buffer zone in the north of Syria, where refugees could reside
securely, Melkonyan said that Turkey is de-facto concerned about
half-independent Kurdish regions. It tries to set up a buffer zone
desiring to occupy some territory of Syria. To note, the Turkish FM
Ahmet Davutoglu has called the UN on Monday to set up a buffer zone
protecting Syria’s north, where the refugees could reside securely.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
« En Israël, personne ne nie l’existence du génocide arménien » écrit
à Erévan le ministre Israélien de l’Information et de la diaspora
Youli Edelstein

Le ministre israélien de l’Information et de la diaspora, Youli
Edelstein s’est rendu le 24 août au mémorial du génocide arménien à
Erévan. Il déposa à Dzidzernagapert une gerbe de fleurs à la mémoire
des victimes du génocide arménien de 1915 et marqué une minute de
silence devant la flamme éternelle du mémorial. Le ministre israélien
a également visité le Musée du génocide arménien. Il s’est entretenu
avec le directeur du Musée, Haïg Démoyan qui lui a présenté les
évènements liés au 500e anniversaire de l’Imprimerie arménienne et «
Erévan, capitale mondiale 2012 du livre » de l’UNESCO. Dans le livre
d’or du Musée du génocide, Youli Edelstein a inscrit « il y a beaucoup
de ressemblance dans l’histoire et le destin de nos deux peuples. En
Israël personne ne nie l’existence du génocide arménien ».

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 25 août 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

Jessica Boujikian Interns at Rep. Denham’s Office

asbarez
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Jessica Boujikian with Rep. Jeff Denham in front of the US Capitol

WASHINGTON – This summer, U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock)
welcomed Jessica Boujikian onto his summer staff. The 20 year-old
hails from Fresno, California, and today completed her three month
internship in Denham’s Washington, D.C., office.

Jessica was one of three summer interns in Rep. Denham’s Washington,
D.C. office. She was selected as one of five Fresno State college
students to participate in the prestigious Maddy Institute Scholarship
Intern Program in the nation’s capital. As part of her internship
responsibilities, Jessica was able to combine her experience and
interest in the agriculture industry to produce bill summaries and
briefing notes on some of this year’s most important agriculture
legislation, including the 2012 Farm Bill.

`It’s always an honor to welcome such hardworking young men and women
to my staff for the unique opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of
the federal legislative process,’ said Rep. Denham. `Having Jessica on
board this summer has been an invaluable benefit to our team, and I
know that her hard work has made her family and friends in Fresno very
proud.’

`Coming to DC for me was all about trying to make sense of what I
wanted to dedicate my life to,’ Jessica Boujikian said. `Looking back
now, I have learned that a political career is more than just a job
you sign up for; it’s a dedication to a lifestyle, a way of being that
requires you to continuously build and adapt yourself while still
holding on to the values and lessons you grew up with.’

Boujikian will begin her junior year at Fresno State University, where
she is majoring in Political Science. She is a Dean’s List Honors
student, who spends her time in California working on the family farm
and volunteering in various capacities. Jessica will be graduating
early from Fresno State and sees herself returning to D.C. in the near
future.

Jessica is the daughter of Shirley and Mark Boujikian.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jessica Boujikian is also the granddaughter of
long-time community leader and activist Manas and Donalee Boujikian.

Laurent Fabius a visité des pays voisins de la Syrie

Publié le : 23-08-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose la traduction des extraits des articles en anglais publiée sur
le site Chroniques Diplomatiques.

Chroniques Diplomatiques

Traduction de Gérard Merdjanian

Le ministre français des Affaires étrangère, Laurent Fabius, et son
homologue turc, Ahmed Davutoglu, se sont rencontrés pour discuter de
l’aggravation de la crise en Syrie, après qu’il ait effectué une
visite au camp de réfugiés le plus important à la frontière
turco-syrienne.

“Nous devons travailler sur une nouvelle structure pour remplacer le
régime du président Bachar al-Assad, et cette transformation doit se
produire sous contrôle. Nous ne voulons pas le chaos après Assad, ce
qui nécessite la coopération de toutes les parties concernées,” a-t-il
déclaré lors d’une conférence de presse commune.

Fabius a également défendu le refus de la France d’envoyer des armes à
l’opposition syrienne, en dépit de leurs appels à une aide militaire.
“D’abord, il y a une certain nombre de pays qui donnent des armes aux
rebelles. Le Qatar, l’Arabie Saoudite et d’autres font passer des
armes, bien qu’il n’y ait pas de preuves de l’amélioration de la
puissance de feu des forces anti-gouvernementales. Nous, les
Européens, nous avons décidé d’un embargo sur les armes. On ne va pas
contredire nos positions”, a-t-il souligné.

“Le régime syrien doit être abattu et rapidement. Après avoir entendu
les témoignages bouleversants des personnes ici (…) quand on entend
ça et je suis conscient de la force de ce que je suis en train de
dire: M. Bachar al-Assad ne mériterait pas d’être sur la Terre.

Songez que la guerre coûte à peu près un milliard d’euros par mois à
Bachar al-Assad, il a de moins en moins de réserves. On a compté qu’il
n’en avait que pour quelques mois, sauf appui de la Russie et de
l’Iran. C’est la raison pour laquelle il y a aussi des discussions qui
doivent être menées, au moins avec la Russie”, a-t-il ajouté.

Avant de terminer, il a fait référence à la détérioration des
relations turco-françaises sur la question du génocide arménien.
“Cette question a causé la détérioration des relations entre nos deux
pays, je suis sûr que nous pouvons trouver une solution en retenant
les passions inutiles.”

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 24 2012

Solution of Transnistria issue is example for Nagorno-Karabakh

by Alexey Balashov exclusively for VK

The Constitutional Court of Romania recognized the referendum on the
impeachment of President Traian Basescu as failed last week. This
means that Basescu has achieved another victory over his political
opponents. The first victory happened in 2007 when the parliament’s
attempt of impeachment for excess of power was nullified by a
referendum, 57% of voters expressed confidence in the president and
allowed him to conclude the first terms of office. But the referendum
this year saw only 46% of voters when 50%+1 were needed. The
Constitutional Court did not recognize the referendum and Basescu was
back to presidency.

In an interview with Golos Rossii, Basescu said that he was ready to
co-exist with oppositionist prime minister and parliament. He also
touched upon the Transnistria problem, one of the most sensitive
aspects of Russian-Romanian relations. Basescu stated that he wanted
Moldavia and Romania to be sovereign states populated by a single
nation. The president approved the fight of dictator Ion Antonescu
against the USSR in 1941. But the Romanian leader avoid telling the
goal of merging Romania and Moldova into a single state.

Basescu’s current objective is to speed up the process of joining the
EU. Joining the union would put Moldova under influence of Bucharest,
but a smoother position in settling the conflict would no doubt
intensify the negotiations.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin visited Tiraspol in
late July and said that the future of Transnistria is to become part
of the Moldova Federation. Regarding Moscow’s recognition of
Transnistria, Karasin responded: `We see the future of Transnistria as
a separate district with special internationally-recognized guarantees
as part of the Moldova state’. This statement is essential, because it
was made by a high-ranking Russian official in Teraspol for
authorities of the breakaway republic for the first time.

Neutrality of the Moldova Federation is one of the points of the peace
treaty to be signed. Basescu mentioned help for Moldova to join the
EU, making neutrality of Kishinev questionable. The EU factor is
peculiar when comparing the Transnistria conflict with
Nagorno-Karabakh. No state involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
had plans for supranational unions. This makes federalization in the
South Caucasus conflict more acceptable than for Moldova. Moreover,
elites of Kishinev and Tiraspol will try to exaggerate their
importance and role in the federation.

There is nonetheless a change in the positions of Bucharest and
Moscow, their views on the problem, ease of demands. Moreover, Moscow
clarifies that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are an exception and their
example should not be used to resolve other conflicts on the
post-Soviet space. The Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria conflicts
should be settled according to the international law and territorial
unity (the way it was done in Chechnya, although with a lot of blood
spilt). It is the only legal and acceptable solution.

Traian Basescu continues assuring Russia that the European missile
shield is not against Moscow and targets terrorists and states with
unclear nuclear programs and missiles exceeding permissible medium and
low ranges.

Concerning energy supplies for the EU and new gas pipeline to Europe,
the Romanian president emphasized that, as a member of the European
Union, the country will be obliged to share the EU energy policy. This
means that Nabucco would be a priority for Romania. Yet, Basescu said
that Romania would not oppose the South Stream project if it proves
more efficient. Romania continues its bid between the two partners and
does not want to lose ties with Russia’s Gazprom.

Romania will have new presidential polls soon enough. Authorities in
the country have high chances to change and so would the vector of
development. New authorities may dissociate themselves from the
predecessor and disavow many of his statements and initiatives. This
include such positive ideas as a smoother position in the Transnistria
settlement and granting Gazprom and its South Stream an opportunity to
compete with Nabucco.

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Aug 25 2012

On the anniversary of a critical battle Manzikert

Niki GammISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

On hearing of the approach of a large Byzantine army, the Tukish ruler
raised his siege of Aleppo and marched into Anatolia to fight the
advancing forceÅ?

The battle of Manzikert took place on a plain set in rocky, hilly
terrain. On Aug. 24 advance scouts from the Byzantines made contact
with the Seljuk army and lost part of their cavalry.

The Seljuk Turks first entered the Middle East some time during the
10th century and conquered the eastern Islamic lands that included
Persia at that time. Although there were battles and skirmishes along
their borders, they never seemed to have had any intention of
advancing into Anatolia and conquering the Byzantines. They were far
more interested the lands along the Mediterranean like Syria, Lebanon
and eventually Egypt ` actually they were particularly interested in
Egypt, which was ruled by the Fatimid dynasty and was Shiite Muslim
while the Seljuk Turks were Sunni Muslims.

The Seljuks had to contend with nomadic Turkish tribes who were
entering the Middle East and they developed a policy of encouraging
these people to continue on West into the pseudo no man’s land that
had developed between the Byzantines and the Seljuks. There the nomads
could fight each other, rather than unite and rebel against the
central authority. In fact a peace treaty had even been signed by the
Seljuks and Byzantines in 1069.

The Byzantine army, under the direct command of Emperor Romanos IV
Diogenes, was a mixture of elite Byzantine, mercenaries of various
sorts including Turks, and an enormous imperial baggage train; it
numbered anywhere from 40,000 to 70,000. Some sources give the number
as 100,000. The emperor’s intent was not to actually fight the Seljuk
Turks. In fact he thought the Turks were engaged in military action in
Syria with a view of conquering Egypt. Romanos actually wanted to
retake a number of Armenian cities that the Seljuk Turks had conquered
from the Byzantine Empire. As Lars Brownworth has written about this
period in time, `There was no Armenia, just a collection of princes, a
population sharing common dialects, and vague, shifting borders.’

Reaching Manzikert

Byzantine Emperor Romanos in 1071 decided the Seljuks under Sultan Alp
Arslan were busy elsewhere allowing him to retake the area of what had
been Armenia and was, at that time, under Byzantine control. Romanos
offered to renew the treaty between them to make sure the sultan would
move in the direction of Aleppo. And the latter laid siege to Aleppo
as a result. But when he caught wind a large Byzantine army was
approaching, the Seljuk Tukish ruler Sultan Alp Arslan raised his
siege of Aleppo and marched into Anatolia to fight the advancing
force. It was August 1071.

Romanos was so sure of himself and his abilities as an army commander
that he assembled an army at Constantinople in March1071 and went on
the march until August, losing his German mercenaries along the way
and his Turkish allies, when the army reached Manzikert north of Lake
Van. There it easily overpowered the Seljuk force manning the
fortress. Romanos didn’t lack for military intelligence.

Now he heard that Alp Arslan had abandoned his siege of Aleppo and was
moving eastward along the Euphrates River but received no further
information. So Romanos split his army in two and sent one half South
to head the Seljuk army off because he thought the Seljuks would come
from that direction.

What happened to those soldiers is a matter of speculation as the
force that went south disappeared. Either it was totally annihilated
or the Byzantines spotted the advancing Seljuks and retreated without
informing Romanos. Yet a third theory has it that the commander of
this force was Turkish and so were his men who hadn’t been paid in
some time. They may have deserted to the Seljuks. Whatever happened,
it left the Byzantine Emperor with only half his army although he
didn’t know it. He also wasn’t aware that Alp Arslan had led his force
north and come up around the eastern side of Lake Van.

The battle of Manzikert took place on a plain set in rocky, hilly
terrain. On Aug. 24 advance scouts from the Byzantines made contact
with the Seljuk army and lost part of their cavalry. The next day, the
Seljuks sent an offer of a peace treaty to the Byzantines, but this
was rejected. So on Aug. 26 Romanos drew up his army on the plain in
fighting order. He took charge of the central section and placed two
commanders on his right and left flanks. His reserves were kept back
under the command of Andronikos Doukas who happened to be his enemy.
Opposite the Byzantine army Alp Arslan arranged his men in the form of
an arc so that when the enemy advanced, it could hit the soldiers with
arrows and cause considerable damage.

The center of the Turkish line retreated, drawing the Byzantine center
further in as the archers who were on horseback attacked and retreated
on the sides, inflicting further damage. Towards evening the
Byzantines were even able to capture the Turkish camp, but then the
center turned back since it hadn’t been able to force a decisive
engagement on the enemy. However, the Byzantine right flank didn’t
retreat and this opened up a chance for Alp Arslan to attack.
Meanwhile the reserves under Doukas didn’t go cover the emperor’s
retreat; instead he had his men leave the field, abandoning the
Byzantine center and the emperor. The latter fought until he was
injured and couldn’t hold his sword and so he was captured.

When Romanos was brought before Alp Arslan, the latter put his foot on
the Byzantine emperor’s neck and forced him to kiss the ground as a
sign of his having been conquered. Afterwards, the sultan had him
treated with respect and even dined with him at his own table. He held
him for a week and demanded a ransom of ten million, an amount that
was reduced to 500,000 thousand plus 360,000 annually. The cities of
Manzikert, Edessa, Antioch and Hieropolis were to be surrendered to
the Turks. And one of Romanos’ daughters was to be married to one of
Alp Arslan’s sons.

Treaty signed after the battle

Following this disastrous defeat, Romanos was dethroned, his eyes were
blinded and he was sent to a monastery. He died in 1072 as a result of
an infection that he acquired when he was blinded. Alp Arslan also
died in 1072 under suspicious circumstances while he was a prisoner of
a fortress commander.

The treaty signed after the Battle of Manzikert was never honored on
the Byzantine side under the circumstances and Alp Arslan was more
interested in Fatimid Egypt than in Anatolia. But the sultan instead
encouraged the several nomadic tribes to enter Anatolia proper and,
due to the power struggles going on in Constantinople, these groups
were not only able to reach the Aegean but went as far north as Nicaea
(Iznik) which became the capital in 1077 of the nomads who became
known as the Rum Seljuks. They later established their capital at
Konya.

How ironic that 941 years after the Battle of Manzikert Sunnis are
still fighting Shiites, and Aleppo is again a battle zone and Turkey’s
southeast region is still troubled.

August/25/2012

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Aug 24 2012

100-kg bronze bell made for Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakır

A 100-kilogram bronze bell will ring at what was once one of the
largest churches in the Middle East, the Surp Giragos Church in
Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakır, which was reopened for
religious ceremonies on Oct. 23, 2011.

Restoration of the church commenced at the end of 2009 under the
Diyarbakır Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation and is ongoing,
although the majority of the work has now been completed. As part of
the restoration project, a new bell tower will be constructed, some 97
years after the original bell tower collapsed when it was struck by an
artillery shell in 1915. The tower has waited some time for
reconstruction due to arguments that it would overshadow mosques in
the area.

The new bronze bell for the tower was made in Moscow, thanks to
contributions from the foundation undertaking the restoration project.
The new bell has been delivered to Diyarbakır and awaits the
completion of the tower. After 97 years, a bell will ring from the
church again at an inauguration ceremony scheduled to be held on Nov.
4.

The church was seized by the German army during World War I, and in
1918 was converted into a textiles warehouse for Sümerbank. The
Armenian population in the area applied for its return in 1952, and
the church was returned to the community. However, due to the lack of
a congregation, it had been neglected since 1980.