Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ISRAEL’S PRESIDENT REVERSES STAND ON RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

i24news
Dec 5 2014

Previously a vocal supporter of recognition, Rivlin has now refrained
from signing annual petition

Throughout his lengthy political career, Israeli President Reuven
Rivlin has been a staunch and vocal advocate of official recognition as
genocide of the mass killings of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915;
however, following his election to the top post earlier this year,
it appears that he has reversed his stance to one that falls in line
with Israel’s official policy on the controversial matter.

Israeli media reported Rivlin decided to refrain from putting his
signature on an annual petition calling Israel to recognize the
atrocities visited on the Armenians, having signed the document in
previous years.

Armenia has been trying to get Turkey to recognize the killings of
up to 1.5 million people under the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

But Turkey says 500,000 died of fighting and starvation during World
War I and categorically rejects the term genocide.

Over the years, Israel has refrained from commenting on the matter
for fear of angering Turkey, which was its closest ally in the Muslim
world until the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010.

Last year Rivlin, then a parliamentarian with the Likud party, spoke
at a Knesset session devoted to marking the 98-year anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide; he said that “Turkey has always been and will be
an ally of Israel. Talks with Turkey at this time are understandable
and necessary strategically and politically, but these circumstances
cannot justify the Knesset’s denial of another nation’s misfortunes.”

Rivlin added it was “inconceivable that the Knesset would ignore this
tragedy, the historical facts of which are so well established. We find
it hard to forgive the disregard of other peoples and unfortunately
for us we should not ignore other people’s misfortunes.”

ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2014 FESTIVAL WINNERS

Thursday, December 4th, 2014 | Posted by Contributor

Guests on the red carpet at the 17th Annual Arpa International Film
Festival’s Closing Night Gala Reception and Award Ceremony

LOS ANGELES–The 17th Annual Arpa International Film Festival concluded
on Sunday with the annual Awards Ceremony and Closing Night Gala
Reception at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.

Following the screening of Jack Topalian’s comedy sitcom “Newlyweds,”
Arpa International Film Festival director Michael Ashjian introduced
the Festival producer Alex Kalognomos to host the closing night
awards ceremony. Asking all the filmmakers to rise and take a bow,
Kalognomos added “This year we were proud to host over 50 films from
16 countries. We were so very pleased to have such amazing quality
films to screen this year.”

Opening night film, “Tevanik” directed by Jivan Avetisyan, was received
with great enthusiasm. The following two days, the festival featured
spectacular documentaries such as “Music to Madness — The Story
of Komitas,” (Canada), “You Have His Eyes” (USA), “Armenian Queens:
>From Goddess to Slave” (Armenia), “Sumbat : The Life and Art,” (Iran),
“War’s Voices” (Russia), and many more.

The Saturday and Sunday Shorts program had variety of fabulous films
such as “Najez” (Iran), “Eclipse” (Armenia/Poland), “Born in Adana”
(Canada), “As It Used To Be” (France), “No Love Lost” (UK), “Zugzwang”
(Spain) and many others.

After the award presentation to filmmakers, AFFMA’s founder Sylvia
Minassian thanked everyone who made the festival successful this
year before honoring the legendary actor Mike Connors with Arpa’s
Lifetime Achievement Award, for a career spanning over five decades,
and the beautiful, versatile, talented actress of TV and the Big
Screen Angela Sarafyan with a Rising Star Award.

Sunday’s Awards program included prestigious list of presenters;
Marc Bienstock, producer; Elham Jazab, comedian; Vahik Pirhamzei,
actor/director; Duke Mason, writer/political activist; Anahid
Avanessian, actress; Eliz Semerjian, Telemundo; Sebastian Siegel,
writer/actor; K-Von, comedian; Garo Mardirossian, esquire; Karina
Weeks, actress; Anne Bedian, actress.

Awards mistress was Maria Srdic.

2014 Jury Members This year’s distinguished panel of judges included
producer/director, Marc Bienstock; VP of Production at Lotus
Entertainment, Angus Sutherland; President of Feature Division at
Aspire Entertainment, Campbell McInnes; Original Entertainment’s
Daljit DJ Parmar; Emmy Award-winning producer, Stan Brooks; and
award-winning filmmaker/actor, Sebastian Siegel.

Winners Best Feature Film Award: “37: A Final Promise” by Randall
Batinkoff (USA).

Best Director Award: “37: A Final Promise” by Randall Batinkoff (USA).

Best Documentary Film Award: “When My Sorrow Died: The Legend of
Armen RA and The Theremin” by Robert Nazar Arjoyan (USA).

Best Short Film Award: “Arena” by Martin Rath (Armenia/Poland).

Best Screenplay Award: “Tevanik” by Jivan Avetisyan (Armenia).

Best Music Video Award: “Rich Husband” (Shohare Pooldar) by Shervin
Youssefian (USA).

Best Feature Audience Choice Award: “Toastmaster” by Eric Boadella
and Martin Yernazian (Spain/USA).

Best Documentary Audience Choice Award: “Hannah: Buddhism’s Untold
Journey” Marta Gyorgy Kessler and Adam Penn (UK).

Best Short Film Audience Choice Award: “Return of the Tyke” by Garo
Berberian (UK).

Founded in 1995, AFFMA (Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art)
is a non-profit organization, formed for the purpose of promoting
the arts and enhancing the cultural environment of our community by
supporting artists who bridge the cultural divide, unifying diverse
people and cultures through the arts.

Since its inception, AFFMA has supported a spectrum of artists
including writers, photographers, filmmakers, dancers, designers,
actors and musicians, by staging networking events, concerts,
art exhibits, book signings, fashion shows, talent shows, musical
performances, lectures, forums, comedy nights, special screenings,
private premiers, and most significantly staging its signature event,
the Arpa International Film Festival since 1997.

For over 17 years, Arpa international film festival continues to
promote independent filmmakers, cultivating cultural understanding
and global empathy in the heart of Hollywood. Through the generous
support of our donors and sponsors, our yearly film festival event
inspires people of all backgrounds and creates opportunities for
creative expression. Arpa’s dedicated production team is committed
to make a difference in fueling the global arena of independent cinema.

The committee has already begun working on the 2015 Arpa International
Film festival. Individuals interested in joining the festival committee
should contact AFFMA.

L’USAID FOURNIT 3,5 MILLIONS DE $ POUR LE RETOUR DES ENFANTS VIVANT DANS DES FOYERS DANS LEUR FAMILLE

ARMENIE

L’Agence americaine pour le developpement international (USAID)
et le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF) ont signe un
accord de cooperation pour mettre en oeuvre un programme de cinq ans
finance par le gouvernement armenien pour la reforme des services de
garde et de protection de l’enfance.

Anna Harutyunyan, chef de projets de l’UNICEF, a declare aux
journalistes que le but principal de ce programme de 3,5 millions de
dollars est de faire retourner les enfants des foyers pour enfants
et des etablissements d’enseignement speciaux dans leurs familles.

Directeur de mission de l’USAID en Armenie Karen Hilliard, de son côte,
a declare que le programme est concu non seulement pour prevenir
le placement des enfants mais aussi d’ameliorer les qualites des
services d’education.

vendredi 5 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

FORMER POW HAKOB INJIGHULYAN RECOGNIZES AZERBAIJANI SABOTEUR HASAN HASANOV

18:49 03/12/2014 >> LAW

Former POW Hakob Injighulyan who currently continues to serve in
the Armenian army has been questioned as a witness today during
a court hearing of the case of two members of the Azerbaijani
subversive-reconnaissance group.

Videos were found on the group members during their detention,
including a video of the Hakob Injighulyan’s interrogation,
Artsakhpress reports.

The former prisoner of war spoke about his captivity in neighboring
Azerbaijan and the circumstances of his crossing the border.

Injighulyan said he crossed into Azerbaijani territory after he lost
his way.

According to Injighulyan, he was kept in a solitary cell in Baku’s
military prison. He was systematically beaten up and humiliated.

Threats to shoot. Injighulyan were used to make him tell
representatives of the ICRC and the UN about his reluctance to return
to the homeland.

Besides, Hakob Injighulyan recognized the killed member of the group,
Hasan Hasanov, as the man who was present at his interrogations.

Source: Panorama.am

GETTING RUSSIAN CROWN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE TROIKA: SASUN MIKAYELYAN (VIDEO)

14:57 | December 4,2014 | Politics

“Non governmental powers didn’t sign under Nikol Pashinyan’s statement
on impeachment, as there is matter of inheritance,”- is sure a member
of “Civil treaty”, “Sasun” unit commander Sasun Mikayelyan.

“They are not interested where we are going to, the most important
fact for them is whom Russian king will give the crown. They don’t
want government change, they want government pass,”- he says.

What relates to Armenia’s membership in the EEU, there is no
justification for Sasun Mikayelyan, “After October 27 we took another
way, which collapsed our country. Russia can never be the guarantor
of security, when it sells weapons to Azerbaijan. The same scenario
is repeated as in 1915.”

FRANCK MULLER CEO VARTAN SIRMAKES TO FINANCE “HIN YEREVAN” CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Kristine Aghalaryan

13:45, December 4, 2014

Vartan Sirmakes, chairman and co-owner of luxury watch brand Franck
Muller, will be financing the “Hin Yerevan” (Old Yerevan) construction
project slated for downtown Yerevan that is estimated to cost between
US$120-130 million.

Swiss resident Sirmakes, who was born in Istanbul, also serves as
Armenia’s consul general in France (Marseille). Sirmakes is a large
shareholder in ArtsakhBank and founded as is the sole shareholder
of ArmSwissBank.

Armenia’s Minister of Urban Construction yesterday signed a deal with
MultiContinental Distribution, the company that will assume financing
for the Hin Yerevan project to begin next year.

MultiContinental Distribution LLC, registered in London, is fully
owned by Chrono Star International Participations Groupe Franck Muller
S.A. according to a document filed at the Great Britain Corporate
Register and located by Hetq.

Old City CJSC, a recently formed company fully owned by Vahe-Vasgen
Yacoubian, will be doing the actual construction of the project.

Some 100 addresses in downtown Yerevan have been listed as eminent
domain properties to be expropriated by the government.

Initially, the companies Glendale Hills and EMC were chosen by the
government to do the construction, but on November 6 of this year
the Armenian government proposed that the two hand over the rights to
Old City. (Yacoubian also has a stake in Glendale Hills; a building
and construction company).

Armenia’s Ministry of Urban Construction is responsible for drafting
the blueprint of the project.

“UNUSUAL” TONE IN A USUAL INTERVIEW, OR WHY ALIYEV BLINKED HELPLESSLY

Wednesday, 03 December 2014 17:08

A few days ago, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an
interview to the Russian news TV channel Russia-24. The interview
covered a wide range of issues relating mainly to the economy of
Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani-Russian relations and the prospects of
their development. In short, a usual interview of the kind based,
so to speak, on “the laws of the genre”.

Surely, the correspondent of the Russian TV channel could not bypass
the Karabakh conflict, and I must say, this time Aliyev, in this
usual interview, surprised to some extent with his “unusual” tone,
because he didn’t, as usual, saber-rattle and threaten with a new
Azerbaijani-Karabakh war.

We have only to guess about the motives of such restraint by the
leader of Azerbaijan. Maybe the reason is the Russian audience,
which, witnessingAliyev’s aggressive militarism, will inevitably bring
parallels with the current Ukrainian leadership, which behaves in a
similar manner towards the residents of Donbass and therefore causes
the dislike by most Russians. Perhaps Aliyev took into account the
fact that he was broadcasting for Russia, which is a co-chairstate of
the OSCE Minsk Group and which consistently advocates an exclusively
peaceful settlement of the conflict. It is also possible that
Aliyev, whose regime is experiencing strong pressure by international
organizations in view of the unprecedented violation of human rights,
thus tries to avoid new problems associated with ignoring the appeals
of the international community to seek a solution to the conflict
exclusively at the negotiation table. It is also possible that the
recent incident with the downing of the Karabakh military helicopter,
which caused a sharp condemnation of Azerbaijan by international
structures, played its role. But, it isn’t excluded that Aliyev’s
desire to appear before the Russian publicas a prudent political
figure was dictated by all the mentioned reasons combined.

But later, when Aliyev, in the usual Azerbaijani interpretation,
“analyzed” the conflict settlement process, the unusual tone, which
surprised us, was completed. It was for the simple reason that the
President of Azerbaijan “traditionally” blamed Armenia for the lack
of success in the negotiation process. It turns out that, according to
Aliyev, Armenia… “does not seek peace, does not seek the resolution
of this issue”. It sounds at least strange, because it is well known
that it is Azerbaijan that threatens with a new war, and the appeals
of the international mediators for the non-use of force of threat of
force in the conflict resolution are addressed to Azerbaijan. Then,
Aliyev began discussing the unacceptability of the current status quo.

In his view, the change in the status quo “means de-occupation
of the Azerbaijani territories, which is the main condition for
the conflict settlement”. Or, is it still the main condition for
newAzerbaijani aggression against the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
as the fulfillment of Azerbaijan’s requirement will inevitably lead
to the violation of the existing balance of forces? It is clear that
Aliyev would not state it directly at the Russian channel, but the
pan-Turkic policy of official Baku against Armenia and Artsakh leaves
no doubt in the real intentions of Azerbaijan. The threats of Baku,
its arms race, its unwillingness to abandon the idea of a military
revenge and itspersistent violations of the ceasefire pose the major
threat not only to NagornoKarabakh, but also to the entire region,
and the elimination of this danger is precisely the main condition
for the conflict settlement.

The following pearls of Aliyev’s analytical mind are simply amazing.

It turned out that the distinctive feature of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh
conflict is that its solution is based on … the UN Security Council
resolutions. “And not one, but four, requiring the immediate and
unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied
territories”, the Azerbaijani President exclaims pathetically,
but with bitter resentment in his voice. Moreover, Aliyev, in
spite of the proposals by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen, makes a
counter-proposal, advising to base the conflict settlement on these
resolutions. “Because there is simply no other option”, the Azerbaijani
leader sums up flatly, in a tone admitting no objection.

Apparently, Aliyev counts on the ignorance of the Russian audience.

Well, we’ll have to remind him that the four UN Security Council
resolutions required the immediate cessation of hostilities,
but Azerbaijan, resorting to the military force, violated this
requirement. We’ll remind him of something else. During this summer
meeting of the Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in Sochi,
Aliyev again tried to saddle his favorite horse, appealing to the noted
resolutions. However, when Serzh Sargsyan asked directly whether he
could point out the resolution containing a direct requirement for
Armenia to withdraw its troops and how Azerbaijan carried them out,
Aliyev could not answer and he just blinked helplessly.

Aliyev completed the Karabakh section of his interview with the
accusation of international institutions, in particular, the UN and the
OSCE, which, as he said, fail in their duties and do not justify the
hopes pinned on them. And he urged them not to violate international
law. That is the international law, which he constantly violates.

Leonid MARTIROSSIAN

Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper

AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS AGAINST VISIT BY KARABAKH SEPARATISTS TO US

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 3 2014

3 December 2014 – 5:47pm

Vice-Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Bahar Muradova expressed
strong protest today in connection with a trip to Washington by
the ruling elite of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as celebrations in
Congress in connection with the 23rd anniversary of the proclamation
of independence from Azerbaijan by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

As Muradova stressed, these events can be treated only as support for
an attack on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic
of Azerbaijan in violation of the principles of international law,
Trend reports.

ARMENIA’S JOINING EEU IS SECURITY ISSUE – RUSTAMYAN

14:36 04/12/2014 >> POLITICS

ARF Dashnaktsutyun views Armenia’s entry into the Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) as a security issue, head of ARFD parliamentary faction
Armen Rustamyan said on Thursday.

Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are in a blockade and war, the world
is in a new cold war and the conflict of the world powers has turned
into a confrontation, Rustamyan said.

“We should ensure our security to withstand the serious geopolitical
challenges,” he said.

Source: Panorama.am

2015, ANNEE FRONTIERE ENTRE LA TURQUIE ET L’ARMENIE

Mediapart

Par Alain Delvapo – 1er decembre 2014 –

2015 approche avec son lot de commemorations centrees autour du
centenaire du genocide armenien. La Fondation Hrant Dink a organise
les 22 et 23 novembre 2014 une serie de conferences a l’Universite
d’Ankara. Les participants ont disserte sur LA frontière hermetiquement
fermee qui separe la jeune Republique d’Armenie et la Republique
de Turquie.

Entre Turcs et Armeniens, il existe aussi DES frontières invisibles.

Mieux les cerner, c’est commencer a ciseler les barbeles d’un conflit
potentiel dans une region du monde deja a feu et a sang. Dialogues
croises avec trois participants a l’evenement ; Lale Yalcin Heckmann
une sociologue turque, Vahram Ter Matevosyan un universitaire de
Yerevan et Gerard Libaridian, ancien conseille du President armenien
Ter-Petrossian (1991-1997), qui vit desormais aux Etats-Unis.

Otage d’enjeux qui la depasse, prisonnières d’interets politiques
divergents, l’Histoire entre Armenie et Turquie a du mal a trouver
la serenite necessaire pour approcher la verite, s’en tenir aux faits
et ne pas etre a la merci de diplomaties partisanes. La frontière qui
separe la Republique de Turquie de la jeune Republique d’Armenie qui
a vu le jour en 1991, après la chute de l’Union sovietique, n’echappe
pas a cette >. Sa fermeture officielle depuis 1994 est
diversement interpretee selon que les politiques se trouvent d’un
bord ou d’un autre. Une dialectique d’autant plus complexe qu’un
troisième pays est implique ; l’Azerbaïdjan avec qui l’Armenie est
en guerre pour la region du Haut-Karabagh.

Lire la suite voir lien plus bas

mercredi 3 decembre 2014, Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com