Author: Kalantarian Kevo

AZERBAIJANI PSYCHOLOGIST: AZERBAIJANIS LOST THEIR SENSE OF NATIONHOOD AND BECAME A TRIBE

23:29 13/01/2014 ” REGION

“We’ve lost the sense of nationhood. Our people don’t identify
themselves with the nation. After all, the sense of nationhood creates
the feelings of self-esteem and pride. In my opinion we can speak
about a nation only when people in a society feel sympathy towards
each other, when they have common self-consciousness, common feelings,
and ideas. Under the current conditions, it can be witnessed that
this kind of feelings has become strange for us,” Hasimli said.

According to the psychologist all of this is the result of deliberate
policy of Azerbaijani authorities. The case is, that when people have
common ties, when they are not split up into smaller groups, they
can be a threat. Whereas now there is nothing of a kind, everyone
is living by the principle of “none of my business”, while it is
beneficial for the incumbent regime. It’s more difficult to control
people who have common thoughts, ideas.

“It seems to me that the Azerbaijanis have already lost all the
nationalistic ideas and the country is composed of numerous families,
“tribes” which have some family ties,” the expert noted.

She thinks that the self-humiliation of Zaur Hasanov is one of the
many episodic cases. That case could have become an example for those
whose rights are ruthlessly violated that is why the authorities
decided to remove the topic from the agenda and somehow resolve the
conflict. However, the problem hasn’t been solved at the lower levels.

Samir Hasimli as well noted that “everything in Azerbaijan has become
virtual. ” The matter doesn’t go farther than the social media.

“We don’t even have a politics. For example the recent events
concerning the National Council of Democratic forces were just small
movements, statements and some meetings. There is no real politics.

These all is an imitation of political processes.” she said.

The psychologist also spoke about the public opinion concerning the
Karabakh issues, “We associate Karabakh with war. Do our people want
to fight for the lost land? The other day we all got the results of
the survey, where people simply didn’t want to answer the question
about the Karabakh, but eagerly agreed to answer to the question of
how they are going to celebrate the New Year,” she noted.

Moreover, according to her opinion, the people didn’t have a holiday
mood either. “All these facts once more prove that the society today
is in a state of deep stress and depression” she added.

Source: Panorama.am

SONA ZEITLIAN’S NEW HISTORY BOOK THAT SURVERYS ARMENIAN WOMEN

BY STAFF
– POSTED ON JANUARY 11, 2014

Sona Zeitlian’s comprehensive study of Armenian women from earliest
to modern times, entitled “On the Trail of Armenian Women’s History”
(in Armenian), was granted the Kevork Melidinetsi 2013 Award and
published by the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

Beginning with goddesses reflecting national values and the prominence
of women, the author discusses women’s role in the consolidation of
Christianity in Armenia and details the provisions of religious laws
regarding women and the family.

An entire chapter is dedicated to the social and military achievements
of Armenian queens. Another chapter addresses the erosion of women’s
primacy, following the Islamic invasions, especially in urban centers
of mixed Armenian and Muslim populations. Zeitlian points out the
ways in which the predominantly Armenian rural areas retained their
age-old customs.

The author also examines the women’s role in the cultural renaissance
of Constantinople and Tbilisi, focusing on the writings of prominent
female authors, and discusses the organization and impact of the first
women’s movement. This is followed by an account of the Armenian armed
struggle and the role of women’s groups as the nuclei of self-defense
and relief operations. Zeitlian has researched this issue in depth in
her Kevork Melidinetsi award winning study (1968) about the extensive
role of women during the Armenian revolutionary uprisings.

The chapters recounting the effects of the Genocide, the mass
deportations of women and children, the resilience of survivors and
women’s organizations’ sustained relief efforts to meet the multiple
challenges draw from unpublished witness accounts and extensive
research.

The chapter on the first Republic of Armenia, establishes that it
became one of the earliest states to grant women the right to vote.

Women participated in educational and humanitarian projects and
engaged in the political life of the republic. There were three women
parliamentarians and a woman ambassador, a first in international
relations.

An entire chapter is devoted to the changing role of women after the
communist takeover of the First Republic, followed by an evaluation of
the United Nations Decade of Women with three international conferences
weighing on the rights of women.

Zeitlian also documents the changing status of women in the post
soviet Republic of Armenia. Finally, the challenges of diasporan
women are discussed and the author introduces an ambitious program
for a second women’s movement.

The study has also compiled interesting maps and photographs, some
of which belong to personal collections and appear in print for the
first time.

Sona Zeitlian’s award winning survey of Armenian women throughout
history records the evolving identity of a pillar of centuries-old
Armenian life.

PRESS RELEASE
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
Diana Manukyan, AUA PR Coordinator
40 Baghramyan Ave.
Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Facebook

Deadline Extended on AUA Summer 2014 Program

The American University of Armenia (AUA) has extended the deadline for the
AUA Summer 2014 Program. The new deadline for applying is February 15, 2014.

Comprised of three weeks at Armenia’s very own university offering a global
education, AUA Summer 2014 is an opportunity to get acquainted with the
legacy and culture of the Armenian people in an American-accredited
institution, while at the same time getting in touch with modern-day
Armenia.

Lectures and presentations on Armenian Heritage & Culture, Armenian Music,
and Armenian Art & Architecture will be interspersed with excursions to
concerts or theater, historical sites in Armenia, as well as visits to
museums and galleries.

The AUA Summer 2014 Program is open both to current students and also to
individuals generally interested in the topic areas covered by the courses.
Because of AUA’s American accreditation, the courses will carry units which
may be transferable to your home university according to its guidelines.

The program will run from June 9 to 27, 2014. *Applications are now being
accepted through February 15*.

For more information – and to apply – visit *summer2014.aua.am
* or e-mail [email protected].

*Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia is a private,
independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the
University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and
the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies,
encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic
values.”*

Paris-Normandie, France
samedi 11 janvier 2014

Hommage à Guédiguian

Cinéma. Le Studio créé par le réalisateur havrais disparu Christian
Zarifian rend hommage au cinéaste marseillais Robert Guédiguian qui
sera présent ce samedi soir pour une rencontre avec le public.

Il termine une fantaisie marseillaise avec sa bande intitulée « Au fil
d’Ariane », avant de se lancer dans un deuxième film très sérieux sur
l’Arménie, le pays de ses parents. Mais ce week-end, le cinéma Le
Studio au Havre rend hommage à Robert Guédiguian qui sera présent ce
samedi soir pour une rencontre avec le public. Au bout du fil, le
réalisateur de « Marius et Jeannette », « Le promeneur du champ de
mars » et « L’Armée du crime », avec l’accent…

Quel est votre lien avec Le Havre et Christian Zarifian (disparu en
2012), fondateur du Studio ?

« Sur mon premier film en 1980, « Dernier été » qui était difficile à
faire, j’ai bénéficié de l’aide de la Maison de la culture du Havre
qui a coproduit. C’est là que j’ai rencontré Christian Zarifian et
Vincent Pinel. Le montage du film a été entièrement réalisé au Havre
où je venais toutes les semaines. Il y a donc des raisons affectives
pour cette visite. J’ai suivi le travail de Christian Zarifian en tant
que cinéaste engagé dans sa ville mais on n’a jamais vraiment parlé de
nos origines arméniennes communes. Nos rapprochements à l’époque du
communisme étaient idéologiques et politiques. Il a fait des
documentaires et moi, des fictions, mais qui toutes auraient pu être
des documentaires. J’en produis beaucoup. Truffaut disait : tout grand
film est un documentaire. »

Parmi les films diffusés au Havre, de la première époque marseillaise,
où vous étiez moins connu, lequel vous est le plus cher ?

« Je n’ai fait que des films que j’ai voulu faire… Quand je les
revois, je focalise sur les défauts, l’endroit où je me dis que ça
aurait pu être mieux. Cela dit dans chaque film il y a aussi une
séquence que j’aime beaucoup, c’est quelque chose de mystérieux, ce
moment que je revendique et que je juge très bien. Lors d’une
rétrospective, je n’interviens jamais sur le choix qui est fait. Là ce
sont des films moins connus : c’est intéressant pour le public qui a
vu les autres. »

Gardez-vous une certaine nostalgie de vos débuts ?

« C’était à la fois difficile de faire des films et en même temps il y
avait à chaque fois la satisfaction au tournage de se dire avec les
amis, on y est arrivé une fois encore… Depuis « Marius et Jeannette
» je ne connais plus du tout ce type de situation, dès l’écriture d’un
film, je sais qu’il ira à son terme. »

Avez-vous eu l’occasion de tourner au Havre ou dans la région ?

« Non, vous savez il y a deux ports en France qui ont servi de décor
au cinéma c’est Marseille et Le Havre et moi j’ai Marseille. Mais j’ai
produit « 38 témoins » de Lucas Belvaux. »

Sur quels projets travaillez-vous actuellement ?

« Le 18 juin va sortir « Au fil d’Ariane », un film tourné à Marseille
qui est une fantaisie, un rêve réjouissant et ludique avec ma bande
habituelle et puis aussi la nouvelle, celle des jeunes, avec Anaïs
Demoustier et Lola Naymark. Ensuite je vais préparer dès cet été un
nouveau film sur la cause arménienne depuis le génocide jusqu’aux
années 80. Ce sera une fiction qui sortira en avril 2015, date
anniversaire du génocide. »

propos recueillis par Véronique Baud

[email protected]

5 films

Samedi 11 janvier : « Robert sans Robert », documentaire sur
Guédiguian par son chef monteur à 14 h 15, « Dernier été » à 16 h 15 ;
« On voit bien que c’est toi » de Christian Zarifian à 18 h séance
suivie d’une discussion avec Robert Guédiguian ; « À la vie à la mort
» à 20 h 30 puis débat avec Robert Guédiguian. Dimanche 12 : « À la
vie à la mort » à 14 h 30 ; « La ville est tranquille » à 16 h 30 ; «
Robert sans Robert » à 18 h 45 ; « Dernier été » à 20 h 30. Lundi 13 :
« A la vie, à la mort » à 16 h 30 ; « Robert sans Robert » à 18 h 30 ;
« La ville est tranquille » à 20 h 30.

Tarifs 3/6,50 (EURO). Au Studio au Havre. Tel 02 35 21 36 28.

Political activist Vardges Gaspari to `carry on’

15:02 – 12.01.14

Political activist Vardges Gaspari does not expect active political
life this year, but is going to struggle against injustice.

`I do not expect anyone else to do anything. My own strength does not
enable me to do what I want. I do not know what is going to happen,’
he told Tert.am.

According to him, this is the right to expression.

`I have been subject to violence for expressing my opinion. I am going
to struggle for the right to expression,’ he said.

He does not expect any radical changes in Armenia. `To tell the truth,
I do not live with such hopes. I hope I will be able to do what I
can.’

Shant’s Family Is Targeted Now

By Zhanna Alexanyan

Shant Harutiunyan’s family is exposed to police arbitrariness, threats
and duress. The chief of police Vladimir Gasparyan is personally
responsible for the security of Shant’s teenage son, Shahen
Harutiunyan, 14. He is obviously the author and initiator of
retribution.

After November 5 Shant was beaten, sworn and threatened at the police
station by the delegation headed by the chief of police. Now that this
has become known to the public, the chief of police has set to an
unhidden retribution.

The purpose of retribution against the family is to hurt Shant who is
fully isolated from the world. The chief of policy is good at this,
there are a lot of examples. Earlier Vova Gasparyan threatened to
behead and spat at Vardges Gaspari who had been brought to his office.

The target now is Shant’s teenage son who was beaten and kept at the
police station on November 5 and on December 30 a plainclothes person
pushed him onto the ground while he was distributing fliers near
Barekamutyun underground station and, according to witnesses, twisted
his hands and demanded that he eat the piece of paper dropped on the
ground.

The person who used violence was, according to Shahen Harutiunyan and
his friends, a policeman.

`He told us to get out, he was very rude. We told him to show us his
ID that he is a policeman, he said he is not a policeman, he is a
citizen. And he immediately told the policemen `take them out of
here’. Then pushing started, he twisted my hands, pushed me onto the
ground, told me to eat the paper on the ground. My friends were hardly
able to separate…’ Shahen, 14 told Radio Liberty, noting that the
policemen had been following them.

Persecution does not end thus. Shant’s wife, Ruzan Badalyan told us
that they were invited to Nor Nork police department. `What’s the
matter?’ she inquired. `We have a small issue with your son,’ the
answer was.

11:32 09/01/2014
Story from Lragir.am News:

AZERBAÏDJAN-ARMENIE
Le président de l’Azerbaïdjan menace une nouvelle fois de guerre
l’Arménie et le Haut Karabagh

Le président azéri Ilham Aliev menace une nouvelle fois l’Arménie !
Selon le site azatutyun.am le président Aliev aurait hier lors de la
réunion gouvernementale déclaré que « si l’Arménie montre une attitude
constructive dans le règlement du conflit du Karabagh nous pourrons
très vite parvenir à des accords ». Il a en outre considéré que « ce
dossier du Karabagh était la question essentielle de la politique
étrangère de l’Azerbaïdjan ». Il a toutefois reconnu que le dossier
n’avait pas avancé d’un pas l’an dernier mais « nous avons observé un
dynamisme en fin d’année » dit-il en se déclarant optimiste pour 2014.
« Car en 2014 la stratégie de l’Arménie deviendra très claire
»ajouta-t-il tout en menaçant « il fait que l’Arménie voie le réel
rapport de force qui est en place (…) la force montante de
l’Azerbaïdjan joue également son rôle et jouera davantage. Aujourd’hui
si on devait comparer ces rapports entre l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan,
nous dépassons l’Arménie dans tous les domaines ».Le président azéri
affirme que « la question ne sera résolue qu’avec l’intégrité
territoriale de l’Azerbaïdjan. Nous continuerons les négociations pour
y parvenir, mais nous développerons également notre puissance ». Il
évoquait ainsi la course à l’armement menée par Bakou depuis plusieurs
années. D’ailleurs la menace d’Aliev fut très claire en affirmant «
notre puissance militaire jouera un rôle décisif dans le juste
règlement du conflit du Haut Karabagh. Notre armée est l’une des
meilleures du monde » ! Un avis que ne partagent pas les experts
militaires internationaux…

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 12 janvier 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

ETUDE-TABAGISME
Les Arméniens, troisièmes « plus gros » fumeurs de la planète !

L’Arménie détient un triste record. La patrie de l’Arche de Noé, du
rameau d’olivier et de l’air pur post-déluge, est en 3e place des pays
les plus fumeurs de la planète selon une étude du mensuel de
l’Association des Médecins américains ! Les Arméniens -et pas les
Arméniennes…- sont de très « gros fumeurs ». Ils n’arrêtent pas de
fumer… Selon l’étude du mensuel, le Timor oriental est en tête du
classement avec 61% des hommes qui fumes. En Indonésie qui arrive en
deuxième position, ce sont 57% des hommes. Et l’Arménie, troisième,
avec 51,5%. Mais les Arméniennes sauvent la mise car elles ne sont pas
sur le podium. Ce sont les Grecques qui pointent en tête avec 34,7% de
fumeuses, devant les Bulgares à 31,5%.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 12 janvier 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

ARMENIE-AZERBAÏDJAN
Tirs azéris sur le village frontalier arménien de Garmir Arpiur
(région de Tavouche)

Le 10 janvier le village frontalier de Garmir Arpiur frontalier de
l’Azerbaïdjan dans la région de Tavouche (nord-est de l’Arménie) a été
soumis aux tirs intenses provenant des positions azéries. Selon
Ardzroun Hovhannissian le porte-parole du ministère arménien de la
Défense, les tirs azéris en direction du village arménien ont duré
plusieurs minutes sans néanmoins faire de victimes civiles. Les
Arméniens n’ont pas riposté à cette nouvelle violation du
cessez-le-feu par l’Azerbaïdjan. Le ministère arménien de la Défense
établit un dossier sur cette violation afin de le soumettre au Groupe
de Minsk de l’OSCE.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 12 janvier 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

What Does Aliyev Silence?

The president of Azerbaijan addressed the meeting of his government.
Apart from phrases on boost of state and military budgets and the
right of Azerbaijan to resolve the Karabakh conflict through force
that set everyone’s teeth on edge, he hailed certain activity at the
end of the past year. `There is hope, there are moments of optimism
but in 2014 we will study it. At any rate, in 2014 the real intentions
of Armenia will become known,’ he said.

He certainly said that Armenia must `demonstrate a realistic approach’
which must be based on `correlation of real forces, and the growing
might of Azerbaijan will have its role.

In fact, Aliyev confesses that his only argument in the Karabakh
dispute is violence. However, this is not the most important thing.
Aliyev hints that 2014 may be crucial for the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. And he has reasons to think so.

What changes were there in 2013 relating to the settlement of Karabakh
and around him?

Armenia rejected the complementary policy and declared itself part of
the imperial space of Russia, and Moscow actually became the informal
negotiator on behalf of Armenia and Karabakh. Now Azerbaijan, Turkey
and others will have to agree with the Kremlin on Armenia.

The United States has called for activity not only in regard to
Karabakh but also the regional policy in general. Washington has put
forth proposals which are being considered by all the sides.
Apparently, these proposals boil down to maintenance of the status quo
with small `concessions’ and opening of new transportation lines
linking to Iran.

Last year three states of the United States recognized the
independence of Karabakh. California is going to recognize Karabakh in
2014. Recognition is an instrument in the hands of the United States
in case Azerbaijan disagrees with the proposed principles. It is not
ruled out that the United States are considering the issue of
Nakhidjevan.

The United States needs agreements on new regional transportation
lines next year when the alliance with Iran will have been finalized,
and the process of recarving of borders in the Near East completed.
Iraqi oil and the Iranian gas must be transported to Europe, and
Armenia is the shortest way.

These plans may not be implemented peacefully but, in this case, as
some experts write, only the military way is left. And it will not
bring an advantage to anyone, first of all Azerbaijan, which has
signed deals worth billions.

Naira Hayrumyan, Political Commentator
16:17 11/01/2014
Story from Lragir.am News: