Author: Kalantarian Kevo

DAYS OF ARMENIAN CULTURE IN STUTTGART

Tert.am
12:50 27.09.11

Stuttgart, the capital of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg in southern
Germany, hosted Days of Armenian Culture, Sept. 16 to 22.

Referring to the Armenian community in Germany, the Yerkramas
newspaper, published by the Union of Armenians of Russia, reports
that the cultural event proved a “complete success and inaugurated a
new era for Armenians in Baden-Wurttemberg.” On the occasion of the
20th anniversary of independence of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,
the organizers – the Armenian community in Baden-Wurttemberg and the
Armenian Cultural Association in Stuttgart – implemented a large-scale
cultural program at the highest level.

Armenian sacred, classical and folk music was performed. Among the
invitees from Armenia were the Shohaken company, the choir of the
Geghard monastery and maestro Robert Amirkhanyan with singer Seda
Amir-Karayan. Also Germany-based Armenian performers participated
in the cultural event ~V Karine Babajanyan, Hrachuhi Basents, Anna
Manasyants, Barig Nalbandyan and others. The Neuer Kammerchor (New
Choir) from Heidenheim, conducted by Thomas Kammel, was a special
guest at the cultural event.

Lectures and religious services took place in Stuttgart, Well-known
public and political figures ~V Armenian Ambassador to Germany Armen
Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Harutyun Grgoryan and others – delivered congratulatory speeches. The
participants got acquainted with the history and culture of Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as with the Armenian community in
Baden-Wurttemberg.

The organizers thanked Germany for its hospitality and support to
Armenia over the past 20 years. Moreover, preparations for Days of
Armenian Culture in 2012 are under way.

TURKISH AMBASSADOR CALLS ON BAKU FOR STRUGGLE AGAINST ISRAEL

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 26, 2011 – 12:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan called on Baku
to stand beside Ankara in its diplomatic struggle against Israel and
“reconsider” its relations with the Jewish State, a Persian-language
U.S.-based website reported on Sunday, September 25.

According to the report, Ambassador Hulusi Kilic said that Israel
should take into account “possible problems” with the oil pipeline
that crosses from Azerbaijan to Turkey, and also supplies oil to
Israel. He did not go into further details.

Responding to the Turkish ambassador’s comments, the website quoted
Israel’s Ambassador to Baku Michael Lavon Lotem as saying that
third-party interests should not be allowed to affect the strategic
relations between Jerusalem and Baku.

Azerbaijan has become an important strategic asset for Israel’s
security and foreign affairs. In 2010, the trade between the two
countries totaled more than $2 billion – double than the trade between
Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Israel also supplies Azerbaijan advanced military equipment and helps
train its army. As part of the cooperation between the two states,
Israeli defense systems manufacturer Elbit Systems recently opened
an office in the former soviet republic, and is planning to build a
plant for the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Baku has yet to issue a response to the Turkish ambassador’s remarks,
but the head of the Azeri Press Office told the local radio station
that Azerbaijan hopes the “crisis between Israel and Turkey ends soon,”
Ynetnews reported.

FESTIVE DINNER ON OCCASION OF 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE ORGANIZED IN LOS ANGELES

Panorama
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence a
festive dinner has been organized in Los Angeles. The dinner hosted
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, members of the delegation headed by
him, Armenian clergymen of US western archdiocese, the representatives
of the local community, guests, including Los Angeles City mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa.

Armenian philanthropists and leaders of the local community Charles
Ghailian, Sinan Sinanyan, Vahe Yaghubian, and LA mayor Mr.

Villaraigosa delivered speeches. President Serzh Sargsyan also released
a comprehensive speech.

Before the festive dinner, President Sargsyan had a meeting with
renowned opera singer Placido Domingo.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH PLACIDO DOMINGO

news.am
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on a work
visit to US, on September 24 headed from New York to Los Angeles. On
the first day of his visit, Sargsyan visited the Armenian Genocide
Memorial in Montebello, laid a wreath in memory of the Genocide
victims, and planted a tree at the memorial park, Presidential Press
Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

On September 25, Serzh Sargsyan attended opening of an economic
forum organized by the Central Bank of Armenia and Bank Association
of Armenia. This event brought together representatives from the
business community of Armenia and US state of California.

In his address to forum participants, the President underscored
the need to make full use of Armenian Diaspora’s potential, for
the benefit of Armenia’s economic growth and strengthening of the
Republic of Armenia. Serzh Sargsyan noted that, in the past 20 years,
the Armenian citizens’ potential likewise was not used to the fullest
in terms of economic growth. In the President’s words, there have been
both achievements and shortcomings ever since Armenia’s independence.

And speaking solely about the shortcomings, in the President’s view,
means dropping responsibility from one’s own shoulders onto someone
else’s.

“We are the masters of our shortcomings and achievements alike,”
Serzh Sargsyan noted.

According to the President, if that potential were to be used to the
utmost, we could have had more achievements. Sargsyan also thanked
the Diaspora-Armenian businessmen for their past-20-year activities
toward strengthening the motherland.

“I am hopeful that, with combined efforts and in a foreseeable future,
we would have a country of which we all would be proud,” he said.

President Serzh Sargsyan also attended a Holy Mass, at the newly
built Saint Ghevont Diocesan Headquarters Cathedral in Los Angeles.

Subsequently, a reception was held at the Diocesan Headquarters
during which Armenia’s President met with representatives of the
parish council and Armenian benefactors living in western coast of
the United States.

On the same day, President Sargsyan also attended opening of the
representation of the Ameria Group. In Los Angeles, the President
also took part in opening of the new building of Armenia’s General
Consulate. Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence that all our compatriots
who live in this coast of US would definitely get the chance to visit
our Consulate, at least once.

“I call upon those who like our authorities and those who dislike our
authorities, because many things are temporary. The difficulties are
temporary, even war is temporary, liked and disliked authorities are
temporary; but the motherland is eternal, and this very building is
the connecting link with the motherland. Taking advantage of this
opportunity, I would like to express thanks to the US that, during
the most difficult times for our people, it allowed our compatriots
the opportunity to enter the United States, to live in dignity,
to develop, to integrate with the society of this powerful country,
and to make their historical homeland known. We are proud of you,
and we will do everything so you could be proud of us,” Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan stated, also thanking the local authorities.

On the evening of September 25, Sargsyan attended in Los Angeles
the festive reception celebrating 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence. Prior to that, however, Armenia’s President met with
world renowned opera singer, Placido Domingo.

ARMENIA PARTICIPATES IN SEMINAR ON NEGATIVE EFFECT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

news.am
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

Armenia is participating in a five-day international seminar on
negative effect of radioactive materials on environment which opens
in Dushanbe on Monday.

The event’s objective is to study experience of introduction of
IAEA norms to prevent negative effect of radioactive materials on
environment and population, CA-NEWS reported.

Experts from Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Croatia, Belarus, Armenia,
Kazakhstan and other countries will participate in the seminar which
will last till September 30.

KARABAKH’S SYMBOL IS CLEANED

news.am
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

Nagorno-Karabakh’s (Artsakh) symbol, the “We are Our Mountains”
monument, is cleaned. On September 13, the “We Will Not Keep Silent”
youth initiative had released a video on the shameful condition of this
monument, which was built in 1967 nearby Artsakh capital Stepanakert
and which is deservedly considered Artsakh’s symbol.

After the video’s release, a group of young Facebook users began
an online recruiting of volunteers to visit Artsakh and clean
the monument. Arriving in Stepanakert on September 24, however,
they discovered that the monument was already cleaned. After the
aforesaid youth initiative’s uproar raised around this matter,
Artsakh’s authorities took immediate action and cleaned the monument.

But the youth’s visit was not in vain, as they cleaned with great
care the ruins of Sar (Mountain) Monastery.

watch video at

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas makes UN statehood bid

21:55 – 23.09.11

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his bid to the UN for
recognition of a Palestinian state, the BBC News reported.

He presented a letter requesting full membership of the UN. He is
addressing the General Assembly to argue the case, after a rapturous
welcome.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is to speak soon afterwards. His
spokesman said Israel regretted the step.

Israel and the US oppose it, saying a Palestinian state can only be
achieved through talks with Israel.

US President Barack Obama told Abbas on Thursday that the US will use
its UN Security Council veto to block the move, but Abbas vowed to
press ahead with the bid.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, Palestinians are holding mass rallies to
coincide with the submission of the bid.

Giant TV screens have been set up in several cities so that people can
watch Abbas’s General Assembly speech, expected at 16:30 GMT.

“I am going to listen to Abbas’s speech because it will tell us our
future and our destiny, and we are expecting so much from him, to
declare our state,” Khalil Jaberi, a 21-year-old university student in
the city of Hebron, told the Associated Press news agency.

Abbas has called for peaceful marches in support of his initiative,
but some clashes were reported.

The process began with Abbas presenting a written request for UN
recognition of the Palestinian territories as a state to
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Palestinian sources say the request is concise and short, and
envisages a state based on pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as its
capital.

Tert.am

La Montagne, France
Samedi 24 Septembre 2011
Moulins Edition

L’Arménie, invitée du Salon des arts

ENCART: L’Arménie, invitée d’honneur du Salon des arts. Le 36e Salon
international des arts va débuter, demain pour s’achever le dimanche 9
octobre. Cette année, sous l’égide de Buxières Arts et Loisirs,
l’ensemble municipal de loisirs va abriter les oeuvres d’une bonne
centaine d’artistes de tous horizons. Invité d’honneur, l’Arménien
Harutyun Yekmalyan, dessinateur, peintre et sculpteur de renom,
spécialiste des oeuvres monumentales.

Le public pourra découvrir le talent de cet artiste actuellement en
résidence au Mayet-de-Montagne, signature prestigieuse d’un salon
populaire, ouvert à tous les styles et propice à l’évasion.

L’association « Gueules noires et bocage, reflets du temps passé »
évoquera les schistes bitumineux considérés comme un art décoratif. De
tout temps, l’homme a utilisé ces schistes à des fins ornementales. Le
port de bijoux en schistes s’est généralisé dès le IVe siècle avant
notre ère. Une véritable mode des bracelets noirs s’est répandue en
Auvergne et a perduré jusqu’aux dernières décennies du 1er siècle
avant JC.

Les ateliers de l’Allier ont joué un rôle majeur dans la diffusion de
ces parures en France.

L’atelier de la Chassagne, à Buxières-les-Mines, a été en Europe, le
plus important après celui de Msecke-Zehrovice en Tchéquie. Les
schistes ont aussi été utilisés pour la production de tesselles de
mosaïques gallo-romaines. La salle Michard témoignera de la richesse
passée de Buxières à ce sujet.

è Pratique. Vernissage ce samedi 24 à 17 heures. Salon ouvert tous les
jours, de 14 h 30 à 18 h 30 (de 10 heures à 18 h 30 dimanche 25).
Catalogue à l’accueil

L’Arménie, invitée d’honneur du Salon des arts.

Sud Ouest, France
Vendredi 23 Septembre 2011
LANDES MT. DE MARSAN EDITION

Travail de mémoire

par Guy Caunègre

CASTETS

À Castets, la Journée du patrimoine s’est concentrée autour de la
mémoire des soldats tombés dans l’enfer de la guerre de 1914-1918 qui
a causé la perte de 1,4 million de morts, soit 10 % de la population
active masculine, en France la nation la plus meurtrie dans ce
conflit, avec peut-être la population civile arménienne dont environ
1,5 million de personnes ont été massacrées.

À l’origine de ce choix commémoratif, le travail de recherche de
Michel Lamolie qui a eu la curiosité de s’intéresser au nom figurant
en tête de la liste des 56 fils de la commune tués dans les combats de
1914 à 1918. Cyprien Brèthes est un des premiers soldats tués sur le
front, en septembre 1914, en Belgique, durant la bataille de Lobbes.
Il était aussi un jeune prêtre, ordonné en juin 1914. Les
investigations de Michel Lamolie ont conduit le Castésien à prendre
contact avec les autorités de cette commune belge ainsi qu’avec un
historien, Achille Van Yperzelle, excellent connaisseur de cet épisode
de la défense de la petite Belgique face à l’envahisseur.

Une délégation de Lobbes

La journée a débuté par une cérémonie du souvenir devant le monument
aux morts réalisé par le sculpteur Édouard Cazaux, en présence d’une
délégation belge conduite par Mme O’Flynn, échevine de la mairie de
Lobbes (adjointe au maire) qui, aux côtés de Jean-Pierre Béguery, a
souligné l’importance du sacrifice des soldats français venus défendre
la Belgique agressée. Claire de Rycke, spécialiste du patrimoine
castésien, a retracé l’histoire de ce monument dressé à la mémoire des
enfants du pays, tombés dans les guerres du XXe siècle.

La journée s’est poursuivie au cinéma, avec Jean-Pierre Mabille, de
Mémoire en Marensin, qui a évoqué la présence du camp des soldats
forestiers américains entre 1917 et 1919, à Castets. Le film de Michel
Lamolie évoquant le parcours de Cyprien Brèthes a ensuite été projeté.
La découverte de l’histoire de ce jeune prêtre fut un grand moment
d’intense émotion avec notamment la lecture des lettres de Cyprien à
son oncle, curé de Castets.

Les propos du jeune homme sont aussi une page d’histoire puisqu’ils
témoignent de la volonté du jeune clergé, après la séparation de
l’Église et de l’État, de servir la Nation comme tout citoyen.

Gagik Tsarukyan to meet with Speaker of Russian State Duma

arminfo
Saturday, September 24, 21:05

The leader of the Prosperous Armenia party, businessman Gagik
Tsarukyan will attend the congress of the Russian United party to be
held in Moscow Sept 23-24, says Spokesman of Tsarukyan Khachik
Galstyan.

Other sources say that in Moscow Tsarukyan will meet with Chairman of
the Supreme Council of Russia United, Speaker of the State Duma Boris
Gryzlov and some other high-ranking Russian politicians.