Alexan Harutyunyan to be appointed Armenia’s ambassador to Argentina
12:30 / 19.09.2014
Former head of Armenian Public TV Alexan Harutyunyan was not
unemployed for long.
The president decided to send him to Argentina as Armenia’s ambassador.
Alexan Harutyunyan has a diplomatic experience, he previously worked
as Armenia’s ambassador to France.
Nyut.am
I expect only the truth ahead of Genocide centennial – Peter Koutoujian
12:49 * 20.09.14
Tert.am has interviewed Peter Koutoujian, the current Sheriff of
Middlesex County (Massachusetts), who is considered an influential
figure in the United States with a poltiical career spanning over 25
years. The politician, who considers himself 100% Armenian and 100%
Irish, says he is now working on a project for young
American-Armenians to get them involved public services and politics
in an effort affect pro-Armenian changes across the United States.
Mr Koutoujian, Armenia is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the
Genocide next year. As a person who is well-aware of, and directly
involved in, the US politics, do you think that President Barack Obama
will use the word “genocide” in its true legal meaning in 2015?
It’s my great hope that he does use the word “genocide” this year. I
know that as a candidate for president of the United States, he said
that he would use the word ‘genocide’. I know that George Bush Junior
said that he would use genocide, and so did Bill Clinton.
And what measures do you think we have to undertake – both here in
Armenia and the Diaspora – to make our expectations come true. I mean
both with regard to the Genocide centennial and the recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)?
I think it’s going to take many more things than just a relationship
between the countries and the people. I think there are going to be
other things in world politics that will probably need to happen,
because the issue of recognition – as we have got a referendum in
Scotland to separate and there are numerous other votes on separation
right now – they are not just unique with Artsakh but in many other
situations. Countries like Artsakh are looking for recognition as an
independent nation.
Do you agree that processes aimed at the recognition of the
self-determination right are gaining a wide momentum around the world,
and it is becoming in a way a unique opportunity for Nagorno-Karabakh
in terms of achieving an international recognition?
Yes. I think that America took its own right to self determination in
its own hands and recognized the right of other countries to
self-determination. I think, unfortunately, it falls within the bounds
of many of much geopolitics, and that’s where our efforts to recognize
Artsakh as a nation are more limited despite the actions of many
people.
And the same question regarding the Armenian Genocide. What do the
Armenians in Armenia and the Diaspora have to do to make their
expectations realistic ahead of the centennial?
We need to organize; we need to speak with one loud voice. In the
United States, I know there are many groups looking to organize
themselves, and I see this effort to organize in Washington DC which
will, I think, be a significant movement. But we need, as an
ethnicity, as a group, as Armenian-Americans in my country, to speak
with one loud voice and make sure that our impact is heard
As an influential political figure in the US political establishment,
what expectations do you have from the United States ahead of 1915?
I expect only the truth, and that’s the recognition of the Genocide by
the United States. I don’t necessarily expect that the US will do so,
sadly, based upon the history of the failure. But that’s my
expectation. My expectation is that the US will do nothing but
recognize the truth.
Do you expect visits on the level of high-ranking officials?
Yes, I expect that this year we’ll bring every weapon out of our
arsenal in order to convince Congress and the president that we need
to recognize the Genocide.
Our former prime minister, Tigran Sargsyan, is Armenia’s ambassador to
the United States. What expectations do you have in that connection?
Do you think it will contribute to the passage of pro-Armenian
measures on the level of the US Government?
I believe so. I met him when he was a prime minister a number of years
ago; I was immediately impressed with his intellect and his passion
and his vision. As I appreciate his vision for Armenia, I know that he
will have an excellent vision for the US-Armenia relations. I think
it’s a good sign that in the first week or two of his job, he was
invited to visit the White House and the President of the United
States. I think it was a good sign for the country and in our
relations.
US-Armenian band-musician Serj-Tankian has composed the musical
symphony, 100 Years, dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. It is going
to be premiered in California. Do you think that such joint efforts by
celebrated Diaspora-Armenian cultural figures can contribute to the
Genocide recognition efforts?
I do, because anyway you can reach out to different communities and
connect with different communities – whether they be political,
historic, cultural, educational – whatever these opportunities are. I
think it will strengthen our ability and unify our visions to achieve
recognition.
To the best of my knowledge, you consider yourself a 100% Armenian and
100% Irish. Has you being an Armenian been of help to you or on the
contrary, it has been an obstacle in your career?
I think that everything that makes me an Armenian is a help. I think
that perhaps the genetic design, the DNA that we all have as being
[Genocide] survivors has made me a survivor even in modern-day
America, and [it has given me] perseverance and strength. I was raised
through Armenian schools, Saturday schools for language and high
school for language, but I really reconnected with Armenians when I
became elected to office. And I didn’t do it because I had Armenians
in my district – my district had very few Armenians – I did it because
I knew that I was in a special place that I could impact issues
affecting Armenians and Armenian-Americans. And I knew that at every
moment I was the reflection of my people. not just my family, but my
entire people, my Armenian family, and that every day I needed to make
sure that I did the right thing, I worked hard and that I reflected
well not only upon myself, not only upon my family but also upon
Armenians – both in America and worldwide.
When you were represented in the state legislature, what problems did
you try to resolve to help Armenia? And did you collaborate with
lobbyist groups?
When I was first elected, each year I planned and participated in the
Armenian Genocide commemoration at the State House in Boston. That was
started by the former Armenian-American speaker, George Gavarian. When
he left, there were no Armenians to run that commemoration ceremony,
which was very rich as part of our community’s heritage. And so I was
able to take that over; I was able to speak about issues when they
came up – about the legislature, about the Genocide (Armenian and
other genocides). I was able to speak about the self-determination
issues, including Artsakh, and I was able to speak in a way that no
one else could – about peoples like Armenians. And I was able then to
use that influence on a more national level.
We built an Armenian heritage park in Boston. I don’t know if you have
ever seen it, but you might want to go and get a picture. It’s a very
beautiful park we built for about 6 million Dollars. And probably, my
greatest legacy, as a public official, in my entire career will have
been the Armenian Heritage Park. We started on a major project – we
had a central artery that ran above the grounds through the small
city. It was terribly ugly, and the government took it and put it
under the ground, under the tunnel in a big dig. And when we did it, a
few of us decided that we should try to put together an Armenian
Genocide memorial on this park way, which was a prime real estate in
Boston at that time. So this was a dream that I had. There were fights
within the community about what it should look like and how it should
progress. And then everyone left the project, and there was just me
left alone. And at the time there were major benefactors – there was
the Jewish Holocaust Memorial, there was the YMCA, many major
organizations and many communities – the Greece and Jewish
communities, the Italian community, the Hungarian community – many
communities that wanted to participate and to get a piece of this land
for some type of memorial. And despite the fact that everyone had a
fight and left the project, I continued to persevere. I think this is
part of the Armenian DNA that I couldn’t just let it go.
And when we celebrated the opening of the Armenian Heritage park, when
we had our groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting grand opening, they were
the very best days of the Armenian-Americans in Boston. Because
whenever we gather, it’s always about the Genocide; it’s a sad
occasion, important but very sad. It’s a recognition, but this is a
celebration, and it really represents all that we’ve gone through in
breaking apart and coming to America and recreating ourselves in a
fashion that is portrayed so beautifully right there in the center of
Boston.
Well, you are really a very busy person. Have you ever thought about
any project for the Armenians in the US?
Yes, I am thinking about a project to start in America right now, with
Armenians. I want to create the rebirth of Armenians politically, and
so I want to begin a program to get young people involved in public
services and politics and know how to work in electoral office in
order to affect changes. Because while Armenians are not largely on
the outside, we don’t have as much influence as we should. So think
about a football game – unless you are actually in the field, you
can’t directly influence the outcome of that game. And that’s why we
need more Armenian-Americans in the public sector, so we can then have
the influence that we need in order to achieve many of these goals.
COMMUNIQUÉ
Philippe Kaltenbach se rend en mission en Arménie et au Haut-Karabagh
Philippe Kaltenbach, Sénateur des Hauts-de-Seine et Président du
groupe d’amitié France-Arménie, se rendra à partir du 20 septembre en
Arménie, accompagné de Jean-Yves Leconte, Sénateur des Français de
l’étranger. Il poursuivra ensuite son déplacement au Haut-Karabagh.
Philippe Kaltenbach déclare : >
Il ajoute : >
Le Président du groupe d’amitié France-Arménie ajoute : >
Le 19 septembre 2014
samedi 20 septembre 2014,
Ara (c)armenews.com
JUDO
Arsén Ghazarian (66 kg), vice-champion d’Europe junior de judo Ã
Bucarest (Roumanie)
L’Arménien Arsén Ghazarian (66 kg) a été sacré vice-champion d’Europe
junior de judo lors des championnats d’Europe qui se déroulent du 19
au 21 septembre à Bucarest (Roumanie). Parvenu en finale face Ã
l’Israélien Barukh Shmaïlov, Arsén Ghazarian a perdu son combat tout
en offrant à l’Arménie une très belle médaille d’argent. Les autres
représentants de l’Arménie à ces championnats d’Europe, Chahén
Abaghian (55 kg), Vahakn Hovsépian (55 kg), Hovhannés Alexanian (66
kg), Narég Garabédian (66 kg) et Ardavazt Hovsépian (73 kg) furent
éliminés.
Krikor Amirzayan
samedi 20 septembre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com
HAUT KARABAGH
Bako Sahakian a inauguré le Centre communal du village de Nor
Seysoulan dans la région de Mardakert
Le 17 septembre, Bako Sahakian le président de la République du Haut
Karabagh a participé à l’inauguration du Centre communal du village de
Nor Seysoulan dans la région de Mardakert. Une salle nouvelle qui
vient de voir le jour. Le communiqué de la présidence indique que ce
nouveau centre améliore la qualité de la vie sociale des habitants du
village de Nor Seysoulan et dynamise la région.
Krikor Amirzayan
samedi 20 septembre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com
LE MESSAGE D’UN POIDS LOURDS : TSARUKYAN DIT QUE LE COMMERCE DE LA PETITE POLITIQUE N’EST PAS POUR LUI
ARMENIE
La relance de la vie politique interieure de l’Armenie a la suite de
la reunion plus tôt cette semaine de deux dirigeants de partis non
gouvernementaux Levon Ter-Petrossian et Gagik Tsarukyan a continue car
ce dernier a donne une interview a un site Web de nouvelles locales
dans lesquelles il a, entre autres choses, cherche a souligner encore
une fois le poids politique de son parti.
Le chef du Parti Armenie prospère (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan a declare
que le format des quatre partis parlementaires est bon pour discuter
des questions presentes dans le pays et de prendre des decisions
sur la base de compromis-conjoints. Mais s’exprimant dans Zham.am,
il a ajoute que meme en l’absence de cette coalition informelle il
n’y aurait “pas de tragedie.”
> a declare
Tsarukyan.
>
a-t-il ajoute.
Le chef du PAP qui est la deuxième plus grande faction au Parlement
armenien a souligne qu’il n’est jamais entre, ni ne pourra jamais
penetrer dans des relations politiques qui >.
>.
Toutefois, les observateurs disent que il y a aussi des facteurs
contraignant pour Tsarukyan car il est aussi un grand homme d’affaires
et selon les representants de son propre parti la dernière fois
où il a fait une declaration critiquant les autorites, il a ete
soumis a des pressions dans la sphère economique de ses activites ,
en particulier, l’approvisionnement en eau de son usine de ciment
dans la ville d’Ararat a ete arrete.
> a souligne Gagik Tsarukyan.
ARMENIA-DIASPORA: NEW FORUM IN YEREVAN EXPECTED TO PAY ATTENTION TO RELATIONS WITH TURKEY
ANALYSIS | 19.09.14 | 10:22
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
On September 19-20, Yerevan will host another, fifth Armenia-Diaspora
forum. It will be attended by representatives of pan-Armenian
structures, media, figures of culture, education, as well as
businessmen and members of the clergy – a total of about 700 people
from more than 60 countries. The forum will discuss the upcoming events
to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as
well as the development of relations between Armenia and its Diaspora.
Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora in recent
years are experiencing hard times. Investments have significantly
dropped, the scale of joint projects has reduced, there is a lot of
criticism heard in the Diaspora against the government of Armenia,
which has monopolized the national goods and prevents access to
“outsiders” to the country’s economy. Nevertheless, the Diaspora
remains an essential resource for the promotion of national policy,
providing a reliable lobbying for national interests.
It is not a coincidence that representatives of the Turkish government
have repeatedly urged the Armenian authorities to “get rid” of the
influence of the Diaspora. It is the Diaspora that Ankara views as
the main actor in the promotion of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and demands to Turkey.
United States Ambassador-designate to Armenia Richard Mills said
during a Senate Foreign Relation Committee confirmation hearing this
week that “the United States and the world will stand in solidarity
with the Armenian people next year to mark the centenary of one of
the 20th century’s worst atrocities.” Some regard it as a possibility
that Washington will formally recognize the Armenian Genocide and
that even U.S. President Barack Obama may pay a visit to Yerevan on
April 24, 2015.
Such a course of events is not excluded against the backdrop of
the possibly emerging Turkish-Azerbaijani-Russian alliance and its
opposition to the United States. This alliance to some extent became
apparent during the formation by Washington of a coalition against
the Islamic State, as Turkey did not become part of it and Russia
came up against direct U.S. intervention.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in Baku that Western
sanctions against Russia bring Russia and Azerbaijan closer together.
And the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Byulyubyulogly said
that the West is putting pressure on Baku in connection with its ties
with Russia. The United States does not hide its attitude towards
Azerbaijan and Turkey, which encourages the Armenian Diaspora to
become more active.
It is obvious that this year the Diaspora will put all its efforts
into the international affirmation of the Genocide and demands to
Turkey. Some circles in the Diaspora consider Armenia’s efforts in this
direction to be insufficient. For example, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) calls on President Serzh Sargsyan to
abandon the Armenian-Turkish protocols. However, Sargsyan invited
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Yerevan on April 24, 2015,
and the move elicited mixed reactions.
It is the relations with Turkey that are certain to become the
main question during the Armenia-Diaspora forum. And while so far
US-Turkish relations have been an obstacle to Armenian Americans
in lobbying the Genocide recognition, then now that Turkey is named
among the candidates for a ‘rogue state’, opportunities for Armenian
lobbying increase.
OPPOSITION HAS NO PROGRAMS – EX-MPS
13:51 * 18.09.14
Former members of Armenia’s Parliament Hovhannes Igityan and Azat
Arshakyan commented on the four non-coalition forces’ decision to
hold a rally on October 10 at a meeting with journalists on Thursday.
They hold no great expectations about the planned rally.
“I am interested in those on the opposite side of the rally because the
demands are aimed at society after all. The four forces have presented
12 demands to the authorities, and if the public has not discussed
them for four months, the parties cannot do anything,” Mr Igityan said.
According to him, the four forces do not raise the most important
issues the public is concerned over.
For his part, Mr Arshakyan said that opposition forces have free room
for activities in Armenia now, but they are making just 12 demands.
“There is a room for the opposition, for an alternative to all that
President Serzh Sargsyan is saying,” he said.
Armenian News – Tert.am
LE MONUMENT DU GROUPE MANOUCHIAN UNE NOUVELLE FOIS PROFANE
MARSEILLE APPEL À LA MOBILISATION
Le 9 septembre 2014, a Marseille, un groupe d’extreme-droite
a profane a visage decouvert le monument erige a la memoire du
Groupe Manouchian. Plus grave encore, la police nationale qui
serait intervenue dans cette manifestation publique de racisme
et de xenophobie, ne l’a pas juge illegale. Cette profanation fait
suite a celle perpetree dans la nuit du 24 au 25 juin 2014 où ce meme
monument a ete macule de la croix gammee sans qu’aucune enquete n’ait
ete diligentee.
Cet acte illustre une fois de plus la montee de la haine raciale dans
notre ville, reflet de la montee en puissance de l’extreme-droite que
connaît la France aujourd’hui. En portant atteinte a la Resistance
par l’insulte et la calomnie, le groupuscule qui a commis cet acte
propage impunement les ideaux neo-nazis. Enfin, la passivite des
forces de l’ordre rend desormais legitime la libre diffusion d’une
ideologie qui a fait 1,5 million de victimes parmi les Armeniens de
l’Empire ottoman, 6 millions de victimes parmi les Juifs d’Europe
et qui continue a fracturer la societe francaise sur des critères
raciaux. La liberte accordee aux manifestations de ce type, leur
repetition et leur propagation met en danger les fondements memes de
notre societe et des valeurs qui garantissent la paix sociale.
En consequence, nous, les signataires de cet appel, demandons :
au Ministère de l’Interieur, la dissolution de ce groupuscule
d’extreme-droite et l’interdiction de son site Internet qui repand
impunement sa propagande abjecte ;
au Ministère de la Justice, l’ouverture d’une enquete visant a
incriminer les coupables de ces actes odieux et a les condamner ;
aux responsables des forces de l’ordre, de surveiller et proteger les
institutions et les monuments gardiens de la memoire des genocides
passes et de la Resistance, en particulier, vu les circonstances,
les monuments dedies au Groupe Manouchian ;
aux associations de la societe civile qui defendent les Droits de
l’Homme, combattent la xenophobie et protègent la memoire des victimes
des genocides et du racisme en general, de s’unir pour intervenir
auprès des pouvoirs publics pour que ces mesures deviennent effectives
et que les règles du droit soient partout respectees ;
aux elus de la Nation, deputes et senateurs, de voter sans tarder un
texte de loi visant a transferer les cendres du Groupe Manouchian
au Pantheon afin de sacraliser une fois pour toutes la memoire
des fusilles du Mont Valerien et affirmer par ce geste symbolique
la volonte de la France de conserver intactes, contre toutes les
atteintes a venir, les valeurs qui ont fonde notre Republique ;
aux elus locaux, municipaux, departementaux et regionaux, d’appuyer
cette demande par leur signature.
Cet appel, muni de toutes ses signatures, sera transmis au Ministère
de l’Interieur, au Ministère de la Justice et a la Presidence de
la Republique.
UNE MANIFESTATION SE TIENDRA LE DIMANCHE 21 SEPTEMBRE
A 17 HEURES DEVANT LE MONUMENT DU GROUPE MANOUCHIAN,
SQUARE MISSAK MANOUCHIAN, Bd Charles Livon 13007 MARSEILLE
jeudi 18 septembre 2014, Ara (c)armenews.com
________________________________
Jeunesse Armenienne de France 47 Avenue de Toulon – 13006 Marseille
04 91 802 820 – [email protected] –
EREVAN SALUE L’ADOPTION PAR LE PARLEMENT GREC D’UNE LOI PENALISANT LA NEGATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
ARMENIE
Le Chef de la diplomatie armenienne, ainsi que les milieux politiques
et les medias ont salue l’adoption, par le Parlement grec, d’une
loi penalisant la negation des genocides reconnus par la Grèce,
dont celui des Armeniens .