Author: Kalantarian Kevo

APIGIAN-KESSEL: DETROIT ‘HYE’ AT ARAX DANCE PERFORMANCE
By: Betty Apigian-Kessel

Fri, Dec 16 2011

The word “Hye,” meaning Armenian, has been pressed into service
numerous times to describe the heights, the good times, to which one
becomes elevated while attending Hye events.

In a city that has its share of successful functions, some stand
out more than others. The annual Hamazkayin Arax Dance Ensemble’s
performance has always-deservedly-received community-wide support.

On Saturday evening, Nov. 19, a sold-out crowd of 400 gathered around
the mezza-laden tables at the Armenian Community Center in Dearborn
to be entertained by a finely tuned youth group that danced its feet
and hearts out.

Hamazkayin chairlady, Hermine Manoogian, always proves herself to be
worthy of her leadership role. She welcomed the attending Yeretsgins,
clergy, and guests. Trained as a teacher, Manoogian’s remarks were
eloquent in both Armenian and English as she explained the birth
and final polishing of the dancers, and stressed the Hamazkayin’s
appreciation for the community’s financial and moral support.

When former Chicago native Nayiri Karapetian married and moved to the
Detroit area, she brought her immense dance experience and teaching
talent with her. Over six years ago, she allied with Manoogian
to establish the Hamazkayin Arax Dance Ensemble. Through rigorous
Saturday rehearsals, the dance group was born.

A registered ICU nurse and the mother of two very young daughters, the
dance director finally had to temporarily take time away from training
the dancers. Step in university student and dancer Lara Zanazanian
who willingly replaced Nayiri’s position as director. She was assisted
by Dikran Callan and Nayiri Kaissarian, themselves dancers. The show
must go on and it did in grand style, not missing a beat.

The evening exceeded the audience’s expectations as they watched the
artistic endeavors of this third-generation following the survivors
of the genocide. They carry on the dance tradition of their ancient
ancestors with unabashed enthusiasm and pride.

With an eye-catching backdrop replicating the Republic of Armenia’s
tricolor flag with white drapery, the large stage hosted the 29 Arax
dancers. Outfitted in different costumes for each dance, the burgundy,
gold, and emerald greens of the clothing only added to the excitement
of the performance.

The ensemble is comprised of youth from all elements of the Armenian
community, whose hearts are no doubt in the Highlands. One couple met
and married and another has become engaged through the dance troupe.

That deserves more applause.

While the high-flying young men’s boots vigorously stomped the floor,
it was the traditional graceful hand and body movements of the women
that added to the romance of the dance. And the audience responded
with rounds of applause eliciting many shouts of “Bravo!”

The 14 dances included a tribute to Armenian soldiers of yesterday
and today: “Vernashounch” (Rebirth), a solo performance by Nayiri
Kaissarian, “Playful Dance” by Lara Zanazanian and Paul Tavitian,
the popular “Kochari,” and dances representing the Zankezur, Shirak,
and Moush regions, and other villages.

Something special happened when “Vaspouragan” (Van) and “Varaka Lerneri
Bar” were performed. As soon as the music started all I could envision
was the image of Vanetsi native Vostanik Manuk Adoyan (Arshile Gorky),
the famous American abstract expressionist. His life ended tragically
and too soon. Oddly it was just that day that Christie’s Auction House
announced that one of Gorky’s untitled paintings had sold for $902,500.

Gorky loved Armenian music and dance, and was quick to raise his 6’5″
frame, waving his arms about with joy and laughter while dancing
to the village melodies in his New York studio. Surely he, too, was
with us that day, up on his feet and dancing. They could never take
Van and that part of being Armenian out of his soul. The mountains,
fields, and Lake Van colored his paintings and were interpreted in
exaggerated shapes put on canvas, for which he became famous.

The Hamazkayin dancers’ souls, too, are filled with the music of
ancient and modern Armenia. The evening was heaven on earth for
Vostanik and Detroiters alike, thanks to those marvelous youth.

PROJET DE LOI FRANCAIS SUR LA RECONNAISSANCE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: ERDOGAN MENACE SARKOZY

Radio Chine Internationale

16 dec 2011

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a mis en garde vendredi
le president francais Nicolas Sarkozy contre un projet de loi francais
reconnaissant la mort des Armeniens en 1915 comme “genocide”, declarant
que ce projet de loi aura “de graves consequences” sur les relations
bilaterales, a rapporte l’agence de presse semi-officielle Anatolie.

“Je veux exprimer cela clairement”, a declare M. Erdogan, dans une
lettre envoyee a M. Sarkozy, poursuivant: “Ces mesures conduiront a
des consequences graves pour les relations culturelles, economiques
et politiques entre la France et la Turquie, et la responsabilite de
ces consequences retombera sur ceux qui ont initie ces mesures”.

L’Assemblee nationale francaise devrait voter la semaine prochaine
sur ce projet de loi, qui reconnait le caractère de ” genocide”
et prevoit des amendes pour ceux qui le nient publiquement.

Les officiels turcs ont indique jeudi que si le projet de loi
francais etait adopte, Ankara rappellerait son ambassadeur en France
et procèderait au gel des relations bilaterales.

La Turquie et l’Armenie n’entretiennent aucune relation diplomatique
ni economique depuis que l’Armenie a declare son independance en 1991.

Les deux pays sont coinces dans une querelle sur la mort d’Armeniens
pendant la 1ère Guerre mondiale, sous le règne Ottoman. Pour l’Armenie,
ces Armeniens ont fait l’objet d’un “genocide”, alors que la Turquie
nie cette accusation et affirme qu’ils ont ete victimes d’un chaos
generalise et d’une vaste operation gouvernementale car l’Empire
Ottoman s’est effondre avant que la Turquie moderne ne soit creee.

La Turquie et l’Armenie ont signe des protocoles pour normaliser
leurs relations et ouvrir les frontières l’annee dernière, mais ces
accords doivent etre approuves par les parlements des deux pays avant
d’entrer en vigueur.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : LA TURQUIE MET EN GARDE LA FRANCE

Francetv info

16 dec 2011

Un projet de loi envenime de nouveau les relations entre la France et
la Turquie vendredi 16 decembre. Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip
Erdogan a menace le president francais Nicolas Sarkozy de consequences
“graves et irreparables” si la France adopte un texte reprimant la
negation du genocide armenien.

“Ce projet de loi vise directement la republique de Turquie, la nation
turque et la communaute turque de France, et nous le considerons
comme hostile”, a justifie Erdogan. Le projet de loi, examine jeudi
15 decembre a l’Assemblee, propose de sanctionner d’une peine de
prison et d’une amende la negation du genocide armenien de 1915,
que la Turquie refuse de reconnaître.

Devant les associations armeniennes, Nicolas Sarkozy, avant son
election en 2007, s’etait engage a soutenir un tel texte au Parlement.

En visite en octobre a Erevan, la capitale armenienne, il avait a
nouveau juge la negation du genocide armenien inacceptable et appele
la Turquie a “revisiter son histoire”, declenchant les foudres
d’Ankara. La France a reconnu en 2001 l’existence de ce genocide.

KINDERGARTEN KIDS CRY OUT – “GIVE US MORE BREAD”
Larisa Paremuzyan

HETQ
December 16, 2011

There are 290 families living in the village of Metz Ayroum in
Armenia’s northern Lori Marz.

Even though work to get natural gas to the village has been going on
for the past three years, these families still are forced to cut down
trees and use the wood to heat their homes.

59 million AMD has been allocated by the International Fund for
Agricultural Development and the community was supposed to chip in
6 million of its own money.

So far, the village has only been able to invest 3.5 million. Village
Mayor Sashik Aroushanyan says when they are able to pay the remaining
2.5 million, the contractor, HayGazKomShin Ltd., will finish the
work to get the gas into the homes of residents. The mayor doesn’t
see paying the balance anytime soon.

The village kindergarten, which opened its doors in July, still has
no lights. The children take their naps in the same room where they
eat their meals. It’s the only room heated with a wood burning stove.

Mayor Aroushanyan says that the municipality spends 261,000 AMD
monthly on the kindergarten’s upkeep.

Kindergarten Director Kamo Gharagozyan says that’s not enough to
provide meals to the children. Parents have to pay 3,000 AMD a month
on food.

On the menu the day we arrived was a meatless soup, sour cream and
bread. The sour cream never appeared on the table.

The bread portion was tiny. So tiny in fact, that the kids were
shouting, “give us more bread”.

Mr. Gharagozyan told us that they purchase small quantities of bread
so that it doesn’t go stale.

PANETTA PRAISES TURKEY FOR LEADERSHIP IN REGION AND BEYOND
By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 16, 2011 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta
praised Turkish leaders today for their leadership in the region at
a time of sweeping change, including its efforts to quell the Syrian
government’s violent crackdown and to prevent Iran from tampering
that could prevent progress.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta walks through an honor cordon with
Turkish Chief of the General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel in Ankara, Turkey,
December 16, 2011. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo (Click photo for
screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

During what he called “very comprehensive” meetings here today with
President Abdullah Gul, Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, and Chief
of the General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel, the secretary said they also
reaffirmed the importance the U.S.-Turkey relationship in confronting
other pressing security challenges in the region and the world.

“Turkey is a key NATO ally and a very critical security partner for
the United States, Panetta told reporters following today’s meetings.

Panetta commended Turkey for providing security in Kabul as part
of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force mission in
Afghanistan, an effort he said that with Turkey’s help has now reached
“an important turning point.”

The secretary also expressed solidarity with Turkey in its fight at
home against the terrorist PKK organization. “My discussions here
in Ankara made very clear that the United States will continue to
assist Turkey in confronting this threat,” Panetta told reporters,
including providing technology to assist them in the effort.

“We are prepared to discuss further efforts to try to improve the
technology and those capabilities,” he said. “We continue to explore
other steps that can be taken to assist Turkey in the effort to deal
with the PKK.”

Panetta also noted Turkey’s role in preparing NATO to deal with
emerging threats, including its decision to host a forward-based
radar for the NATO missile defense system.

“I think Turkey recognizes that it is important for this country to
be a part of that defense shield,” he said.

Recognizing objection to the system, most vocally from Russia, the
secretary emphasized that the system is designed to protect NATO
countries, including Turkey, from attack.

“These are steps being taken in the defense of NATO,” he said.

“Ultimately, other countries whether they like it or don’t like it,
are going to have to accept that fact.”

Panetta emphasized during today’s meetings the importance of Turkey
and Israel resolving their differences so they can work together as
in the past to promote regional security and stability. “I believe
that it is Turkey’s interest and in Israel’s interest for the two to
move forward” in their relationship so they are better able to deal
with the difficult issues confronting the region, he said, expressing
confidence that they will.

Meanwhile, the secretary lauded Turkey’s leadership during “Arab
Spring” transitions in the region.

“Turkey and the United States share the goal that hopefully these
changes can produce positive results in the future for the people and
the nations that have gone through this turmoil,” Panetta said. “I
think this represents a time of tremendous opportunity” in terms
of advancing rights and opening doors for the people of the region,
he said.

Panetta praised Turkey for its leadership in calling for Syrian
President Bashar Assad to step down, and said he believes he believes
it’s inevitable that it will happen, particularly if international
pressure continues.

“We have seen what has happened elsewhere, and I believe that at some
point it is going to happen in Syria as well,” he said. “But in order
for that to happen, I think it is important, not only for Turkey and
the United States, but the international community to continue to
bring pressure on Syria, on the Assad regime to do the right thing.”

Panetta said he is encouraged that the United Nations, including
Russia, as well as other Arab nations and the Arab League have joined
the effort to pressure Syria.

“The best thing right now is the unity of the international community
in delivering that message,” he said. “That kind of unified effort, …

[and] unified pressure, I think, is ultimately going to pay off.”

Panetta also called Turkey an important partner in reining in Iranian
tampering during this period of transition in the region.

“We have urged Iran to join the family of nations, not to isolate
itself from the rest of the world,” he said. “And I think Turkey
agrees that we should do everything possible to try to urge Iran to be
a member of the family of nations, as opposed to trying to undermine
progress that is being made in this region.”

Noting that he laid a wreath today at the Anitkabir Ataturk Mausoleum,
the secretary praised Turkey for “the modern and vibrant democracy”
it has become, calling it “a testament to the vision and the strength
of the Turkish people.”

Looking to the future, Panetta promised that the United States will
remain true to its partnership with Turkey. “The Turkish people should
know that they have a committed friend and a committed ally in the
United States,” he concluded.

SCHOLAR BECOMES TARGET OF TURKISH GROUPS
By: Nanore Barsoumian

Thu, Dec 15 2011

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Professor Keith David
Watenpaugh became the latest victim of a Turkish-American group’s
allegations of slander this fall when an article about his paper
that appeared in the American Historical Review-titled “The League of
Nations’ Rescue of Armenian Genocide Survivors and the Making of Modern
Humanitarianism, 1920-1927”-was published in the university’s magazine.

Keith Watenpaugh The article highlights Wattenpaugh’s, a historian of
modern Middle East who teaches in the religious studies program and
director of the UC Davis Human Rights Initiative, research on rescue
efforts by Western entities during the genocide, their perception
of the events unfolding before them, and the transformation of
international humanitarian relief efforts.

Denialist narrative: outright deny or minimalize

The article on Watenpaugh’s paper was followed by a letter to the
editor by Gunay Evinch, an alumnus and past president of the Assembly
of Turkish-American Associations (ATTA), and currently an attorney
in D.C., whose clients include the Turkish Embassy. In the letter,
which appeared in the magazine’s Fall 2011 issue, Evinch argued
that Western humanitarian aid was strictly directed at the Ottoman
Empire’s Christian population, and a more appropriate title for the
article would be “Humanitarianism for Christians Only.” He said that
“the world turned its back on Ottoman Muslims and Jews who also died
in frightful numbers and suffered the same privations as the Ottoman
Armenians.” Evinch proceeded to parrot the official Turkish denialist
narrative that charges the Armenians of revolting or taking up arms
during the great massacres of the late 19th century and, later,
the Armenian Genocide.

In a disturbing and offensive choice of words, Evinch said the
Van rebellion “provided partial justification” for the Armenian
Genocide-or, as he phrased it, “the May 1915 security relocation
of Armenians from the eastern Anatolian war zones.” He concluded
that the West had remained silent on the suffering of Muslims and
Jews of the Empire; that the Western humanitarian efforts were in
collaboration with the Ottoman government; and that humanitarianism
“of a universal sort…was neither born nor sparked.”

Watenpaugh replies

In response, Watenpaugh acknowledged that many groups did suffer during
the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, but added, “Only Armenians
were subjected to a state-sponsored attempt to exterminate them as
a people in what became the Republic of Turkey-genocide.”

International humanitarian efforts were directed towards the Armenians
“because they were faced with genocide and dispossession, were living
in refugee camps…[and] were being prevented by the Republic of
Turkey from going home. They were stateless, had no legal standing,
and were wholly reliant on international humanitarian assistance
for their survival.” On the other hand, Turkish and Muslim refugees
from the Balkans and Russia received citizenship, refuge, and the
properties of murdered Armenians, he wrote. Citing two examples,
Watenpaugh disputed Evinch’s claims that Ottoman Muslims and Jews did
not receive international aid, and went on to note that the Jews of
the Ottoman Empire “did not face state persecution or deportation.”

In his conclusion-and what became his most controversial
words-Watenpaugh held: “What is most important to understand is that
the Assembly of Turkish American Associations has been at the forefront
of a Turkish government-sponsored effort in the United States to deny
that what happened to the Armenians was genocide. The attack on my
work in Mr. Evinch’s letter is part of that project and should be
understood in this light. At UC Davis, we teach our students that
history is more than just a collection of facts, but rather is the
starting point for an ethical relationship with the past.”

ATAA demands apology

Not long after, the president of the ATAA, Ergun Kirlikovali, in a
letter to the managing editor of the UC Davis magazine, Kathleen
Holder, and to the head of the university’s religious studies
department, Catherine Chin, accused Watenpaugh of making “defamatory”
and “extraordinarily harmful” statements, reported Inside Higher Ed.

The letter highlighted Watenpaugh’s final sentence in his response
to Evinch, calling it “Professor Watenpaugh’s reckless insinuation
that the ATAA is a foreign agent, funded by and under the direction
and control of Turkey…”

The ATAA proceeded to compare the statement to one made by the Southern
Poverty Law Center against Prof. Guenter Lewy, who had argued against
evidence on genocide. Lewy sued the center, which was then ordered
by the court to print a retraction and an apology.

The ATAA then sent letters to UC Davis officials demanding that
Watenpaugh apologize, reported Inside Higher Ed. So far, the university
has said it will stand behind Watenpaugh. The latter maintains his
words were not “defamatory,” as he did not say the ATAA was an agent
of the Turkish state, but an organization who vehemently denies
the Armenian Genocide in the U.S., paralleling the same policy and
propaganda of denial by the Turkish state.

Inside Higher Ed reports that Watenpaugh is set to release a statement
to clarify his previous one.

MESA voices support

On Nov. 16, the president of the Middle East Studies Association of
North America (MESA), Suad Joseph, addressed a letter to Kirlikovali
on behalf of MESA and its Committee on Academic Freedom, in which
she expressed concern over the ATAA’s letter to Holder and Chin,
and a separate e-mail from Evinch to Holder. MESA fears the ATAA will
seek legal action, as Kilikovali alleged that Watenpaugh defamed his
organization, while Evinch accused him of libel.

“We are concerned that such allegations may damage Professor
Watenpaugh’s standing as a respected historian of the modern Middle
East and undermine his ability to do his work as a scholar and a
teacher. More broadly, we are concerned that your letters’ specific
references to legal action initiated in another case involving the
question of what happened to the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire
during the First World War may have a chilling effect on academic
inquiry and discourse about this important historical episode,”
read the MESA letter.

TURKEY THREATENS TO RECALL ITS AMBASSADOR FROM PARIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 15, 2011 – 16:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey threatens to recall its ambassador from Paris,
if the French National Assembly approves the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial on December 22.

“Much depends on French National Assembly voting. There may be
unrecoverable consequences in all fields of bilateral relations
including recalling our ambassador for consultations,” Embassy
spokesman Engin Solakoglu said.

The French National Assembly is set to vote on the bill criminalizing
the Armenian Genocide denial on December 22.

On December 7, the Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly has
passed the bill introduced by MP Valerie Boyer (UMP). The measure
envisages a 45,000 euro fine and a one-year imprisonment for the denial
of the Armenian Genocide, which was recognized by France back in 2001.

TURKEY AIMS AT MAKING JAVAKHK TURKISH – ARMENIAN EXPERTS

Tert.am
15.12.11

The $1.7m Turkey allocated to Georgia for ammunition is not the full
amount. That state is consistently supervising the Georgian army,
claiming it is putting NATO principles into practice, the military
expert Artsrun Hovhannisyan told journalists.

Mr. Hovhannisyan, as well as Vahe Sargsyan, an expert for the Mitk
analytic center, sees implications in this process. According to them,
this is Turkey’s government policy aimed at making Javakh an area with
Turkish population, resolving its demographic problems and, finally,
joining its “small brother”, Azerbaijan, through land.

“Turkey’s policy can be described as a wooden horse in Georgia’s
territory. The Kars-Akhalkalak-Baku railway will be a means of
implementing this policy,” Sargsyan said. In this case, Javakhk will
be the first victim, he added. One nice day Akhalkalak will be turned
into a big trading center, with Azeris and Turks to dominate there.

As to whether Georgia is aware of that, the experts noted that Georgia
is either unable to resist the “Turkish-Azeri factor” or it has been
“bribed” or it is seeking NATO membership eagerly.

ISKANDARYAN CONVINCED NO REVOLUTION TO TAKE PLACE IN RUSSIA

ARMENPRESS
December 15, 2011
YEREVAN

The participants of the post-electoral rallies in Russia cannot
be considered political opposition, political analyst Alexander
Iskandaryan who has recently returned from Russia told a news
conference today. “The Russian authorities were not expecting such
developments as they have got used to public consent formed after
1999. Today this tolerance has been violated,” the political analyst
said, at the same time voicing hope that no sharp developments will
take place and neither the elections will be annulled nor a revolution
will take place. Iskandaryan agreed it with coming holidays and the
forthcoming presidential elections.

LA CONSTRUCTION DE PLUSIEURS NOUVELLES CENTRALES HYDROELECTRIQUES DEVRAIT DEMARRER EN 2012 DANS LE HAUT-KARABAKH
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 15 decembre 2011

Le Premier ministre du Haut-Karabakh Ara Harutyunian a declare que
la construction de plusieurs nouvelles centrales hydroelectriques
devrait debuter en 2012.

Il a declare que 3 a 4 centrales hydroelectriques pourraient etre
construites sur la rivière Tartare qui relie le Sarsang et le
reservoir d’eau Mataghis, avec une capacite totale de 50 megawatts
et un potentiel de production annuelle d’electricite allant de 200
a 220 millions de kWh.

Le Premier ministre a declare que les nouvelles centrales
hydroelectriques creeront de nouveaux emplois dans le Haut-Karabakh
et renforceront sa securite energetique.

Le montant de la production d’electricite devrait depasser 300 millions
de kilowatt heures Cela depasse la demande interieure d’electricite
dans le Haut-Karabakh, et conformement a un accord, le surplus sera
vendu a des reseaux de distribution en Armenie.