Author: Kalantarian Kevo

COMMUNIQUÉ DU CCAF
Non à la présence des autorités liberticides turques à la marche républicaine

Le CCAF apprend avec indignation la présence d’Ahmet Davutoglu, voire
peut-être même de Reccep Tayyip Erdogan à la marche républicaine de
dimanche. La participation à cette manifestation de représentants d’un
Etat qui détient le record du nombre de journalistes en prison est une
honte et une insulte à l’esprit de Charlie Hebdo. D’autant plus que
l’aide de la Turquie à la mouvance djihadiste (Al Quaïda et Daesch)
qui a exporté sa terreur à Paris est aujourd’hui un secret de
polichinelle. Faut-il de plus rappeler que se commémore parallèlement
le lche assassinat de trois militantes kurdes en plein paris le 10
janvier 2014 ? Un attentat sur lequel pèsent nombre de soupçons quant
à l’implication des services turcs. Cette présence, qui intervient de
surcroit quelques jours après qu’Erdogan a déclaré le 6 janvier que la
Turquie allait “activement combattre les allégations du génocide
arménien” – dont on commémore en 2015 les 100 ans – constitue une
véritable provocation. Et ce, à quelques jours du 8e anniversaire de
l’assassinat à Istanbul, le 19 janvier 2007, du journaliste Hrant Dink
– Charlie avant Charlie -, dont les commanditaires courent toujours.

Le CCAF qui appelle à la manifestation demande à ses organisateurs
d’empêcher ou d’exprimer leur réprobation à l’égard cette venue qui
constitue un outrage aux morts et à toutes les valeurs que la marche
de dimanche entend défendre.

Bureau nationale du CCAF (Conseil de Coordination des organisations
arméniennes de France)

Avec le soutien du Comité de Soutien aux Chrétiens d’Irak

dimanche 11 janvier 2015,
Ara (c)armenews.com

The New York Times: Azerbaijani authorities blackmail US because of
rapprochement with Moscow

16:23 10/01/2015 >> SOCIETY

The Azerbaijani government’s growing hostility toward Washington the
journalist Joshua Kucera writes in an article published in The New
York Times, analyzing the latter events taken place in Azerbaijan.

In the article Kucera writes that since gaining independence from the
Soviet Union Azerbaijan has been a strong partner of the United
States. It has worked with Washington to break Russia’s energy
monopoly in the region by supporting the construction of oil and gas
pipelines to Turkey. It is a key transit point for military cargo to
and from Afghanistan. And the government in Baku has forged close ties
with Israel, based primarily on the trade of weaponry and oil.

The author recalls that a 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable described
Azerbaijan’s foreign policy as characterized by “pragmatism, restraint
and a helpful bias toward integration with the West.” “But as Russia’s
dramatic new foreign policy changes the strategic landscape across
Eurasia, Baku appears to be recalculating whether its ties to the West
really are advancing its own goals,” Kucera writes.

He points out that the attack on RFE/RL followed months of extreme
anti-Western rhetoric. Top Azerbaijani government officials have
accused the United States ambassador to Baku of “gross interference”
and former Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden of being an American
spy. In early December, the president’s chief of staff, Ramiz
Mehdiyev, published a 13,000-word article claiming that the C.I.A. was
contriving regime changes in the post-Soviet space (the so-called
color revolutions). It also called Azerbaijan’s human rights activists
a “fifth column” of the United States.

“Human rights activists have criticized American and European
governments for being too soft on Baku. Washington has called the raid
on RFE/RL merely “cause for concern.” In spite of Azerbaijan’s dismal
human rights record, it has been awarded prestige projects like the
chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in
2014, and it will be hosting the European Games this summer,” Kucera
writes.

Anti-American rhetoric from Baku is not unheard of, but its recent
intensity, seemingly unprompted, and its reliance on Kremlin talking
points suggest a shift toward Moscow. “It’s a measure of the
Azerbaijani government’s disdain of Washington that the raid on RFE/RL
was conducted just days after Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with
President Ilham Aliyev on the phone,” the author notes and reminds how
in an interview in December, Ali Hasanov, a top presidential adviser,
was asked why the government began to so sharply criticize the United
States but not Iran or Russia, answered that the latter don’t
criticize Azerbaijan.

In this situation Azerbaijan’s mimicry of Russian rhetoric and
rapprochement with Moscow is an implicit threat to Washington: Give us
what we want, or we’ll go over to Russia. The United States doesn’t
need to give in to this blackmail.

NKR MFA: Armenian refugees in Karabakh deprived of international support

20:01, 09.01.2015

Armenian News-NEWS.am interviewed Foreign Minister of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Karen Mirzoyan

How would you assess 2014 for the foreign policy of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic? What were the achievements and
shortcomings?

Priority direction of Nagorno Karabakh’s foreign policy in 2014, as in
previous years, was the process of international recognition of the
NKR. In this context, the year was very productive: positive trends
registered over the years continued last year. California adopted the
resolution supporting Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to
self-determination, thus becoming the fifth state after Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, Maine and Louisiana to support the independence of the
NKR. Earlier in 2012 similar resolution was adopted by the legislative
body of Australia’s largest state – New South Wales.

The process of international recognition of the NKR last year also
covered the European continent. A Motion about the right to self
determination of Nagorno Karabakh was adopted in the Parliament of the
Basque Country (Spain). President of the province of Gipuzkoa of the
Basque Country spoke about the NKR recognition as an independent
state.

In autumn, the Board of Spokespersons of the Parliament of Navarre –
Autonomous Region of Spain – made an official statement expressing
confidence that the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh should be a
necessary part of any forum in which the country’s future is decided.

The framework of decentralized cooperation between the communities of
Artsakh and different foreign countries has expanded
significantly.Last year friendship declarations were signed between
three French cities of Vienne, Bourg-les-Valence, Bouc-Bel-Air and
the Karabakh towns of Hadrut, Shushi and Askeran. Similar declarations
on the establishment of friendship relations with Karvachar and Hadrut
were signed with the American cities of Pico Rivera and Burbank. An
agreement on cooperation between Stepanakert and Donostia (Basque
Country) was signed.

In addition to the parliamentary friendship group with Artsakh in the
Lithuanian Seimas and France-Karabakh Friendship Circle, consisting of
senators, members of parliament and political figures, the European
Parliament began the process of formation of Friendship Group with
Artsakh, which will get clear shape this year.

The peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh is on the agenda. Unfortunately, we have to state that in
2014, because of the destructive policy pursued by the Azerbaijani
authorities, the attempts to achieve real progress on this issue
failed. As you know, last May marked 20th anniversary of the ceasefire
in the Azerbaijani -Karabakh conflict zone signed by the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic
of Armenia. The anniversary was a good opportunity to confirm the
commitment of parties to resolution by exclusively peaceful means. In
this connection, the NKR authorities reiterated their proposals to
reduce tensions and promote stability and predictability in the Line
of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and
Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijan has not only refused these proposals,
despite the mediators’ support of them and the calls of the
international community, but also went on an unprecedented escalation
in the conflict zone. The point is a number of acts of sabotage and
attempts to penetrate into the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which
took place in summer, and the downing the helicopter of the NKR
Defense Army. By these actions Azerbaijan only further complicated the
prospects for a final settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict
and threw back the settlement process.

Do you plan opening of new permanent representations abroad? How many
representations does NKR have in foreign states so far?

The NKR has permanent representations in Armenia, Germany, Australia,
Lebanon and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries – Russia, France
and U.S.

Our representatives are pursuing activities aimed at representing and
protecting the interests of Artsakh in their country of residence as
well as spreading unbiased, reliable information about our country.

The priority of the NKR permanent representatives abroad, of course,
is to contribute to the expansion of the international recognition of
Artsakh. Among the priority tasks is to attract investment in the
economy.

The opening of the NKR permanent representations is not an end in
itself. First of all, we consider the possibility of implementing
steps aimed at improving the efficiency of existing missions, however,
we do not rule out the possibility of opening new offices in the near
future.

Do you think Armenia and Diaspora are taking sufficient efforts for
the international recognition of the NKR?

The issue of NKR’s international recognition is among the tasks of a
key significance for all Armenians residing around the world. I am
confident that recognition of NKR’s state-building achievements in the
international arena is impossible without joint and consistent efforts
of all Armenians regardless of their location.

Can we talk about full compliance in the positions of Yerevan and
Stepanakert on Karabakh settlement?

Both the NKR and Armenia share the same vision of a model for the
settlement of Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. At the same time this
does not rule out the possibility of reaching the goal by different
methods.

Do you think full membership of NKR in talks is possible in the near
future? Can the talks be successful without NKR?

It’s obvious that a real progress in talks can be reached only by
taking into account the existing realities and a full-fledged format
of negotiations with immediate and direct participation of Karabakh at
all its stages. I want to underscore that by speaking about NKR’s full
participation in talks, we proceed from the interests of the peace
process. Absence of one of the parties, namely NKR, at negotiating
table, makes it problematic to reach the final settlement of the
conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. We are convinced
that restoration of Karabakh’s participation in talks is in the
interest of all parties. The only obstacle on the matter is
destructive position of official Baku and latter’s unwillingness to
recognize the existing realities.

What is the situation in the NKR with Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan?

Refugees began to appear in the region along with the escalation of
the conflict as a result of the attempts of Azerbaijan to forcibly
suppress the right of Nagorno Karabakh people to self-determination.
In 1988-90s over 120 thousand Armenian refugees came from Azerbaijan
to Nagorno-Karabakh, 30,000 out of them settled in the NKR and live
here up to now.

This group of refugees is one of the most vulnerable groups in the
region, since they are deprived of international protection and
support because of destructive position of Azerbaijani authorities who
are impeding the visits of relevant organizations, in particular
representatives of the United Nations Refugee Agency. By blocking the
humanitarian access to the refugees by international organizations’
experts, the Azerbaijani authorities continue violating fundamental
rights of this group.

Without financial and moral support, being in a blockade, the NKR
government is forced to solve the problem within its limited financial
capacity. At the same time Nagorno-Karabakh, unlike Azerbaijan, is not
politicizing the humanitarian problem and is not turning it into a
bargaining chip by keeping them in the camps and receiving great
amounts from international agencies.

Could you name the priorities for 2015?

The priority directions in Nagorno-Karabakh’s foreign policy in 2015
are settlement of Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and international
recognition of NKR.

ARMENIE
200 millions de dollars seront investis dans le projet de traitement
des résidus miniers en Arménie

Le gouvernement arménien et plusieurs entreprises privées vont
investir environ 200 millions de dollars dans un projet de traitement
des résidus métalliques des mines a déclaré le vice-ministre de
l’énergie et des ressources naturelles Levon Chahverdian.

Ces entreprises sont Cronimet Mining, Zangezur copper and molybdenum
combine, le groupe VSEL et Aletig LLC. Un protocole d’intention a été
approuvé par le Conseil des ministres.

samedi 10 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

CHARLIE HEBDO
Le président de l’Assemblé nationale présente ses condoléances à
l’Ambassade de France à Erévan

Vendredi 9 janvier Kaloust Sahakian le président de l’Assemblée
nationale d’Arménie a rendu visite à l’Ambassade de France à Erévan
pour marquer son soutien à la France après l’épreuve du terrorisme
islamiste qui a frappé >. Dns le livre ouvert à cette
occasion à l’Ambassade de France, Kaloust Sahakian a écrit , ainsi qu’au peuple ami de France. Nous condamnons
fermement l’acte terroriste contre la démocratie et liberté
d’expression >>.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 10 janvier 2015,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

ARMENIE
Le Gouvernement accorde trois ans de report de paiement de la TVA à
l’usine alimentaire Ararat

Le gouvernement arménien a accordé un report de paiement de la TVA de
trois ans à Ararat Food Factory dans le cadre de son achat
d’équipement pour une valeur de plus de 300 millions de drams.

Le ministre de l’Economie Karen Chshmarityan a dit que la compagnie
prévoit d’importer dix gros camions pour effectuer aussi le transport
de fret.

Il a déclaré que les camions permettront de maintenir une circulation
stable des produits et d’accroître le volume des exportations.

En 2010, la société a établi une usine pour la production de jus de
fruits naturels et créé plus de 100 emplois dans le cadre de sa
première phase pour un montant de 1,6 milliards de drams
d’investissement.

Le ministre a dit que la compagnie procède à la deuxième phase du
programme d’investissement de 600 millions de drams en vue d’élargir
la gamme de produits. Il a dit que grce aux nouveaux équipements
l’entreprise traitera aussi les tomates, les abricots, les pêches.

vendredi 9 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Jan 9 2015

Pro-Assad photo exhibition at UN headquarters draws criticism

Hagop Vanesian, an Armenian-Syrian, opened photograph exhibition in
the U.N.’s Headquarter in New York. The photos, according to the
claims of the opposition groups, were pro-Assad as the photographer
allegedly has been embedded with the regime forces in Aleppo at the
time of taking the photos. The U.N. representative of the opposition
Syrian National Coalition Najib Ghadbian called the photographer a
propagandist. “I just photograph the suffering of the people,”
Vanesian told the Associated Press in response to Ghadbian’s remarks.
However, the exhibition is sponsored by the Syrian regime. The
exhibition was displayed yesterday including the photos of the ruined
Aleppo, including captions that mention “terror groups.” The Syrian
regime calls the opposition ‘terrorist.’ The photographer, Vanesian,
also said some of the groups, fighting in Aleppo against the regime,
were labeled as terrorist also by the Western countries. However, the
opposition group’s representative was frustrated and called the U.N.
to “correct this grave mistake.” A spokeswoman for Ghadbian, Katie
Guzzi, said they had not had an official response from the U.N.
Ghadbian said the photos paint Syria’s government as a victim, not an
aggressor. In the letter sent by the opposition representative to the
U.N. it was said that “The Syrian Mission uses Mr. Vanesian’s
photography to whitewash the regime’s war crimes and perpetuate its
narrative: that it is a victim rather than the primary perpetrator of
death and destruction in Syria. Indeed Mr. Vanesian has praised Syrian
dictator Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad and uses his
photographs to tell a false story of the Assad’s self-proclaimed
humanitarianism. In thanks for his pro-regime activities, Mr. Vanesian
is awarded access to and is at times embedded with Syrian regime
forces in Aleppo. Mr. Vanesian’s photographs include images of the
destruction and suffering in Syria, the undeniable consequence of the
Assad regime’s brutal war on the Syrian people. The “My Homeland”
exhibit perpetuates a pro-Assad narrative; it is shameful that the
U.N. Headquarters will be host to this. By agreeing to host this
Syrian-regime sponsored exhibition, the U.N. violates the policy
governing the United Nations Exhibit Committee, which demands that
“all exhibits must be compatible with the aims, purposes and
principles of the U.N.” There is no question that the proposed “My
Homeland” event is incompatible with the principles of an institution
dedicated to international peace and security. On behalf of the
National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces and all
of those Syrians working for a democratic, peaceful future for their
country, I ask that you cancel the “My Homeland” exhibit.”

The fighting in Syria that began with protests against Assad in 2011
has killed more than 200,000 people and forced millions to flee. U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has accused both the Syrian government
forces and opposition forces of targeting civilians, though former
U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay last year said atrocities by the
Syrian government “far outweigh” crimes by opposition fighters.

Vanesian, who was born in Aleppo and has been a volunteer photographer
with the aid group Syrian Arab Red Crescent, said he left the divided
northern city eight months ago. Last summer, he posted photos of
Facebook of him shaking hands with Syria’s ambassador to the U.N., as
well as black-and-white portraits of the ambassador, Bashar Ja’afari.
“The war in Syria changed my life but not my principals,” Vanesian’s
Twitter profile says. The U.N. officials have not made any immediate
comment on the issue.

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 9 2015

Turkish nationalist committee barred from entering Athens

ANKARA

The Talat PaÃ…?a Committee, a Turkish nationalist organization aiming to
counter recognition of the 1915 events as the “Armenian genocide,” has
been refused entry to Athens, where it had gone to issue a statement
in protest at a recently approved Greek bill.

The members of the committee left for Athens on Jan. 9 with the aim of
making a statement in front of the Greek Parliament, but returned by
the Greek authorities.

The committee wanted to protest and demand the withdrawal of a
controversial bill approved by Greece’s parliament in September that
stiffens penalties for racially motivated crime and criminalizes the
denial of genocide and war crimes.

The delegation of 13 people was intercepted by police at the airport
and prevented from entering the city for `security reasons.’ They were
sent back to Turkey on the next flight.

Speaking to reporters in a news conference, Turkish Foreign Minister
Mevlüt ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu said anyone must be able to hold peaceful
demonstrations, while refuting allegations that Ankara had tried to
block the committee’s visit to Greece.

Perinçek case

ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu also commented on a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
case between Switzerland and Turkey’s Workers’ Party (Ä°P) Chairman
DoÄ?u Perinçek.

He said he would prefer Perinçek, who is banned from going abroad in
relation to an ongoing coup case, to be able to attend an ECHR appeal
hearing on an Armenian genocide denial-related case.

ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu said he had expressed the same view in a phone conversation
with Perinçek, but noted that the local court in Turkey would make the
final decision.

Perinçek was found guilty by a Swiss court on March 9, 2007, after his
participation in a number of conferences in Switzerland in 2005,
during which he publicly denied that the Ottoman Empire had
perpetrated the crime of genocide against the Armenian people.

Following the Swiss court’s decision, Perinçek appealed to the ECHR in
2008 in Strasbourg, arguing for `freedom of expression.’

However, Perinçek is currently prevented from leaving Turkey after
being jailed in connection with the `Ergenekon’ coup plot case.

`The process is in the [Turkish] Supreme Court’s hands now,’ ÇavuÃ…?oÄ?lu said.

The foreign minister also stressed that Turkey would `defend its
thesis in the best way possible’ in the upcoming months.

January/09/2015

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Jan 8 2015

Israel denies so-called “Armenian genocide”

8 January 2015, 23:31 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova

Israeli ambassador to Baku says his country does not intend to
recognize the so-called “Armenian genocide”.

Rafael Harpaz was commenting on some Israeli politicians’ calls to the
government to recognize the so-called “Armenian genocide”.

“Israel is a democratic country, everybody has two opinions, not one
opinion. The government has a very clear opinion,” he told Trend
Agency.

He said Israel never recognizes and does not intend to recognize the
so-called “Armenian genocide”.

“But regarding the government, its policy is very clear and it was
earlier stated by foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman,” Harpaz said.

He also expressed hope for improvement of relation with Turkey
touching upon the unsatisfactory political relations between Tel-Aviv
and Ankara.

“There are enough common interests and issues in the world for us to
cooperate. I would like to take an example of Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines is the biggest foreign airline which is active in
Israel. Istanbul is the biggest hub for Israelis. The same goes for
tourism, trade which is up. We hope that our political relations with
Turkey will improve,” he said.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey’s predecessor, the
Ottoman Empire has allegedly carried out “genocide” against Armenians
living in Anatolia in 1915.

Armenia commemorates the alleged genocide on April 24 each year. The
Armenians are going to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the myth in
2015.

Strengthening the efforts to promote the so-called “genocide” in the
world, Armenians have achieved a recognition for its empty claim by
the parliaments of some countries.

Turkey supports the creation of a joint historical commission to
investigate the events of 1915, but Armenia is unwilling to disclose
its archives as it fears revealing what the archives may hold.

Albany Times Union, NY
Jan 9 2015

David Bournazian, Mohonasen’s renowned music teacher and band leader, dies

By Brittany Horn

In David Bournazian’s 41-year tenure at Mohonasen Central School
District, his office was rarely empty.

Students would pack into the music director’s office at the far end of
the school over the lunch hour, talking to him and waiting to hear
Bournazian’s well-known refrain, “Attitude is the key to success.”

“There would be 40 kids in there eating lunch with him at a time when
teachers are saying they can’t reach the kids,” said John Murray, a
longtime friend, student and fellow band staff member. “It didn’t
matter what year or generation they were. It happened all the time.”

Editor’s note: Read a remembrance from Mike Guzzo, Mohonasen Class of
1995, who invites readers to share their memories of “B.”

Bournazian, who died at his home at the age of 86 Thursday, leaves
behind a strong musical career and an even greater legacy of success
with Mohonasen students. Since the announcement of his father’s death,
his son, George Bournazian, said he has received upwards of 800 emails
from former students and friends offering condolences and quoting his
father. The longtime educator is survived by his two sons, George
Bournazian, of Cary, N.C., and Jacob Bournazian, of Washington, D.C.,
and four grandchildren.

But the community that will remember him stretches far beyond the
confines of family, George Bournazian said.

In April 2014, alumni of the Mohonasen jazz band returned from various
locations around the country for a “Tribute Concert to Mr. B” that
packed the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady Church to capacity.
Current and former students, their parents, band bus drivers, friends
and family all came to see what would be Bournazian’s last show.

George Bournazian remembers that night vividly, as former band members
— most not professional musicians, he added — spent less than 24 hours
preparing for a concert expected to last about an hour and a half and
performed at the standard his father expected. True to form, the
concert stretched from 7:30 p.m. until 10:15 p.m., and yet, no one was
moving from their seats, George Bournazian said.

“Dad turned to the audience and said ‘You know, there’s this one tune
we didn’t get a chance to rehearse at all. What do you say we find out
how good these guys are?’ ” George Bournazian said, laughing. They
finished the song, and then a few more encores before a saxophone
player called up The Stockade Inn and asked the staff to stay open
late for the huge crowd.

“No one wanted to go home yet,” George Bournazian said. His father and
brother didn’t return home from “the high school reunion on steroids”
until about 1:30 a.m. that night.

Though his musical talents and expertise are what many will remember
him for, George said it’s impossible to forget the kindness and
compassion his father showed to students of all walks of life. He said
it wasn’t uncommon for a student to spend a Friday or Saturday night
hanging out with Bournazian’s family, especially if Bournazian
believed a kid was “heading down the wrong road.”

His compassion and spirit drew people to him like a magnet, his son said.

“Dad always had a way of getting the best out of anybody,” he said.
“He didn’t treat his kids any differently either. It was tremendous.”

The family will receive visitors from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday at
the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, 255 Spring Ave., Troy and
will hold a memorial service at 10 a.m. Monday at the church. The
family asks that memorial donations be made to Holy Cross Armenian
Apostolic Church or the David Bournazian Memorial Scholarship Fund,
which provides support for two Mohonasen Central School District
seniors to study music privately.

Bournazian originally funded the scholarship with his own money in
order to help local students with natural talent pursue their musical
careers.

“He was old school,” Murray said, “and old school is alright.”