Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Hrachia Harutyunian’s detention extended for another three months

Sunday, December 15, 2013

The detention of Hrachia Harutyunian, an Armenian citizen accused of
causing a fatal road accident near Moscow in July that left 18 people
dead, has been extended for another three months, Harutyunian’s
daughter, Lilit Harutyunian, told Aysor.am.

`The ombudsman informed us about that. The case has not yet been sent
to court. I think this has to do with the New Year holidays,’ she
said.

14.12.2013, 15:47
Aysor.am

Armenian opposition initiative holds awareness march (PHOTOS)

December 14, 2013 | 16:59

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s opposition Pre-Parliament initiative on Saturday
commenced, from capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square, its awareness
march devoted to the `Founding Parliament.’

About 30 to 40 initiative members, wearing yellow caps and holding
flags and signs, are participating in the march (PHOTOS).

The marchers informed that their objective is to form `the necessary
national resistance force for the removal of the anti-national and
criminal regime.’

To this end, the Pre-Parliament initiative is planning to hold similar
marches every week in order to inform and organize the people.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 14 2013

Personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in -Office tells there
are grounds for optimism in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

14 December 2013 – 5:55pm

The personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in -Office, Andrzej
Kasprzyk, said today that there are grounds for optimism in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

According to Trend, Kasprzyk explained that this and the meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan,
in which the heads of state made it clear that they intend to step up
the pace of negotiations, and officials from both countries rated the
settlement process.

He said that Aliyev and Sargsyan had called on the OSCE to take
additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire and the establishment
of trust, so that the atmosphere of the negotiations could improve.
According to Kasprzyk, one such measure is the development of
humanitarian contacts between representatives of academia and public
intellectuals of the two countries. In addition, a mechanism to
investigate possible incidents on the front line is under development.

ITAR-TASS
December 8, 2013 Sunday 04:16 AM GMT+4

About 4,500 families in Armenia’s Gyumri live badly 25 years after Spitak quake

GYUMRI (Armenia) December 8

– A quarter of the century after a disastrous Spitak earthquake about
4,500 families, who lost their housing in the Armenian city of Gyumri
as a result of the earthquake, continue to live in tiny wooden and
metallic dwellings, which lack basic conveniences. This statistical
data was made public on Saturday during a visit in the Armenian city
by members of the Friendship Group with Armenia from the French
National Assembly lower house of parliament headed by Vice-President
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene
Rouquet.

After the breakup of the Soviet Union many construction organisations
from different Soviet republics have gradually wrapped up their
activity in the natural disaster zone that resulted in a sharp decline
of housing rented in the area.

Along with housing construction, the unemployment remains the most
pressing problem in the districts affected in the calamity. “Over
total unemployment Gyumri turned in a zone of misery from the natural
disaster zone,” the newspaper Voice of Armenia reported on Saturday.
The earthquake has destroyed the industrial potential of the region
and then the country’s economy slumped.

On December 7, 1988, strong underground tremors measuring ten points
on the 12-point scale have destroyed at 11:41 local time (10:41Moscow
time) almost the whole northern part of the Caucasian republic for
half a minute. According to official reports, an earthquake hitting
the territory with the population of about one million people who have
made one third of republican residents claimed more than 25,000 lives,
left about 19,000 people disabled and left 530,000 people homeless.

The city of Spitak turned out to be in the epicentre of the earthquake
and was ruined to ashes. Along with Spitak and neighbouring villages
the natural disaster has destroyed 21 towns and settlements, 324
villages and has destroyed 80 percent of housing, social and
production facilities in the second largest Armenian city, Leninakan
(now it is named Gyumri). The earthquake has eliminated about 40
percent of industrial potential in the republic.

Yorkshire Post, UK
December 10, 2013 Tuesday

James Commey: Love was the key to a complex man in a complex land

PERHAPS the finest illustration of Nelson Mandela the man came during
his presidency. In 1995, he invited Percy Yutar for lunch. The
significance? Yutar was the man who prosecuted him in the infamous
Rivonia Trial of 1963. It was that trial that sent Mandela to prison
for 27 years.

As an Armenian Jew, Yutar had himself suffered anti-Semitism at the
hands of the Afrikaners. For that reason he remained for a while a
junior state prosecutor and was forbidden from joining the attorney
general’s office in Cape Town.

Now, as deputy attorney general of the Transvaal province, he was
eager to please his bosses at the Palace of Justice in Pretoria.

In cross-examination of the defendants, he was relentless and Mandela
was convicted. Yutar insisted on the death penalty. Mandela declared
that he was prepared to die for the ideal of equality. It was not to
be. Judge President Quartus de Wet found a technicality to deviate
from the recommended sentence of death.

Some say he did not want to make Mandela a martyr, but the judge knew
that the ANC leader did not deserve to die. He sentenced him to life
imprisonment. The loophole was that Mandela had been charged with
sabotage instead of high treason. The imponderable remains: what would
have happened to Mandela and his legacy if he had been hanged?

Back to Mandela. After his release from prison 27 years later, this
was not the time for winners and losers. He understood Yutar’s
position. After a kosher lunch he held his hands like lawyers do and
said: “You were only doing your job.” Mandela was the ultimate
peacemaker. And blessed are the peacemakers.

At his presidential inauguration in May 1994, his prison guard was
invited as a VIP guest. He subsequently had tea with Betsie Verwoerd,
the wife of the architect of apartheid, Hendrik Verwoerd.

In a world of political pettiness, and factionalism, he captured the
global imagination. And when he walked into a rugby stadium wearing
the Springbok rugby jersey of the captain at rugby union World Cup
final in 1995, the conversion of his arch-enemies was complete. They
chanted “Nelson, Nelson, Nelson”.

Mandela was an idealist, a romantic and a pragmatist all rolled into
one. And yet he simply wanted to be like everybody. He wanted no
personal glorification but to be judged by his ideals of freedom and
justice – a timeless universal ideal. He once said: “I don’t think
there is much history that can be said about me. I just want to be
remembered as part of that collective.”

He also said “what counts in life is not the mere fact that we have
lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that
will determine the significance of the life we lead”.

He had that elusive quality that is uncommon: an effusive generosity
of spirit. He was a father, lover, fighter, politician, peacemaker,
everyman.

That is why the majority of white South Africans embraced him – and
his changes – on his journey from uncompromising revolutionary to
unifier. They believed. He saved them from a prison house and it was
freedom. But whether it was justice is still being debated.

Prior to the first multi-racial elections in April 1994, there was
tension and extreme violence perpetrated by various formations, but
whites and blacks walked the streets of Johannesburg without
animosity. It is also to the credit of the black population that they
agreed to see beyond hatred and revenge. South Africa is a complex and
remarkable country.

In his latter years Mandela discussed with his son-in-law, Dr Kwame
Amuah, the prospect of death. Mandela said: “How do you write about
death when you have not experienced it? Rather write about love,
because it is something we all experience.” Love was the compass that
gave direction to his project.

Nelson Mandela is said by many to have been in the greatest figure of
the 20th century. As he now lies in state ahead of his funeral on
Sunday, the world – and South Africa in particular – cannot thank him
enough.

*James Commey is a writer and lawyer from South Africa.

Turkologist: Ahmet Davutoglu successfully performed his mission unlike
Edward Nalbandyan

by Ashot Safaryan
Saturday, December 14, 15:33

Ahmet Davutoglu has successfully performed his mission unlike Edward
Nalbandyan, Turkologist Artak Shakaryan told journalists on Saturday,
when asked to comment on the Turkish Foreign Minister’s Thursday visit
to Armenia.

“Davutoglu has hit the mark: he came, made a show and went away. He
just wanted to see how the world community would react to his step.
And what he saw was quite satisfactory: the whole world applauded him
and welcomed his ‘constructive’ efforts to start a dialogue with
Armenia. Davutoglu made it clear that Azerbaijan’s view is important
in the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. Even though he never mentioned
Nagorno- Karabakh, he spoke a lot about regional stability and
security and this overshadowed Nalbandyan’s words about the
inadmissibility of preconditions in Armenian-Turkish relations. I
think Nalbandyan should have been more active and decisive in his
words,” Shakaryan said.

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Not everyone who wants can become Armenian – Istanbul Provincial Hall

December 14, 2013 | 08:08

A family in Turkey, which had returned to their Armenian roots and
wished to enroll their child in an Armenian school in Istanbul,
recently filed a respective petition with the court.

In turn, the Istanbul Provincial Hall sent a ridiculous defense
statement to the court.

In the statement, Istanbul Provincial Hall justified why it had not
permitted the child to attend an Armenian school, Radikal daily of
Turkey reports.

The statement noted that solely national minorities can be enrolled in
national minority schools in Turkey, there is no information on the
Armenian roots of the plaintiff, whereas the Armenian church paper,
according to which the child is Armenian, is not enough.

The statement also noted that the Interior Ministry special code for
the Armenians was not applied for the given family, and, according to
Istanbul Provincial Hall, not everyone who wants can become Armenian.

To note, however, the court did not take the given Istanbul Provincial
Hall statement into consideration and instructed the provincial hall
to allow the child to attend an Armenian school. The court stressed
that the use of ethnic codes to determine the ethnic identity of a
person runs contrary to human rights.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Zhoghovurd: Poverty-stricken Armenia’s government squandering money on cars

12:45 – 14.12.13

The Armenian cabinet on Monday passed a decision to allocate an
equivalent of $195,000 from its reserves to purchase cars for
different government agencies, the paper has learned.

It is reportedly planned to buy 69 service cars for different
subdivisions of the National Assembly, Control Chamber, the Special
Investigative Service, the Ministry of Education and Science and the
Central Election Commission.

`The Government affords such a luxury notwithstanding the 32.5%
poverty rate in the country’, the paper says, adding that the
decision, not published on the Government’s website, is available only
in the Official Bulletin, a weekly publication providing updates on
legal acts.

The paper concludes that the government very probably avoided
publicity, afraid of the society’s possible wild reaction.

Reflections of a Participant at the `Islamized Armenians’ Conference in Istanbul

Friday, December 13th, 2013

`Islamized in 1915: History and Bearing Witness’ panelists (left to
right): Arda Melkonian, Doris Melkonian, Vahe Tachjian, Ronald Suny
(chair), and Ishkhan Chiftjian.

BY DORIS K. MELKONIAN

Passing through the security gates of the historic Bogazici
University, the former Robert College, I was struck by the beauty and
serenity of the campus as we meandered through a drive paralleling the
breathtaking Bosphorus on the right. The contrast of the bustling
touristic Sultanahmet and Taksim districts to the tranquil campus was
undeniable. While absorbing the beauty of my surroundings, I was
reminded of my friend, Steve, a native of Istanbul, who described his
student days here at the university with such passion. His love for
this institution was evident in his voice as he instructed me to walk
by the Bosphorus and `breathe in the air’ for him. As I was following
his explicit instructions, I was sadly reminded of other young
Armenian men who attended this institution a century ago with hopes
and dreams for a brighter future. Unlike my friend, Steve, their goals
and dreams were never to be realized as the Genocide robbed them of a
golden future. Their stories flooding my mind, created an inner
conflict as I was forced to reconcile this dark past with the
present-day beauty of magnificent stone buildings of Bogazici
University.

A range of emotions colliding within me, I made my way through a
courtyard teeming with Armenian and non-Armenian attendees, to
encounter yet additional security checks and a metal detector, prior
to entering Albert Long Hall where the conference was to take place.
The hall, with remnants of years gone by, showcased a massive pipe
organ that dominated one end and a choir loft, the other end.

The audience, exceeding 500, had assembled into this majestic hall. As
I gazed at the sea of attendees, I was struck by how different the
audience looked compared to United States audiences. What was
immediately noticeable were women, young and middle-aged, with head
coverings, quietly seated, listening attentively.

As speaker after speaker provided historical accounts, analyses,
vignettes, and narratives of ordeals endured by survivors both during
and after the Genocide, a sense of sorrow permeated the proceedings
for me. My heart ached not only for the loss of precious Armenian
lives during the Genocide but for the tragic fate endured by the
fragment of the Armenian population who had been left behind.

In the diaspora, we mourn the 1.5 million who perished during the
Genocide. We seldom remember the remnants of the Armenian community
who couldn’t leave and were forced to assimilate. They experienced a
different kind of death – a living death, suffering in silence and
isolation. While presenting my paper, I remembered my maternal
grandfather, Natan, who was taken into a Muslim household as a little
boy. Had he not escaped, he would have suffered the same fate as many
Islamized Armenians.

The conference concluded with grandchildren of Islamized Armenians
describing the sting of rejection by the Armenian community, and their
longing for acceptance. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I listened to
their pain. Their grief and suffering, palpable with each uttered
word, deeply resonated within me. My heart ached for these individuals
who don’t belong to either community – Turkish Muslim nor Armenian
Christian. I couldn’t help but grieve with them, as feelings of
empathy for their suffering found root within me.

As Armenians – Christian Armenians, how should we respond? When an
Islamized Armenian, in the halls of a Turkish university, publically
exclaims `I am Armenian!’, what should our response be? Do we accept
them into our midst, thus creating a mosaic of Armenians? As
Christians, do we embrace them with the love of Christ? Or do we
reject and abandon them?

At the conclusion of this historic conference, I left the tranquil
campus consumed with inner turmoil, a different kind of turmoil from
what I experienced initially, as I contemplated the challenges we will
face as a community as we respond to this group of hybrid individuals.
Today, on the eve of the Genocide centennial, the surfacing of
Islamized Armenians is a reminder of the trauma that has impacted us,
of the tremendous loss that we as a nation have endured, and of the
challenges that lie before us.

I went to Istanbul with great anticipation to present my paper, to
meet fellow scholars from around the world, to reunite with friends
and make new ones.

However, I did not expect to be forced to confront my own uneasiness
at the notion of a `Muslim Armenian.’

I did not expect to find myself mourning the pain of fellow human
beings, fellow Armenians.

I did not expect to be moved so deeply, to find myself reaching out
and hugging strangers who didn’t share my language, my religion, my
culture, but who nonetheless considered themselves Armenians.

Having encountered Islamized Armenians and their stories, how can my
response be anything other than compassion, acceptance, and love?

Andrzej Kasprzy: OSCE MG has reason for optimism on Nagorno-Karabakh process

14:06 14.12.2013

Andrzej Kasprzy, OSCE Minsk Group

Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan
have made it clear that they intend to build on the momentum of their
meetings and intensify the peace process, which indeed gives ground
for optimism in 2014, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal
Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk told Trend.

`In the last few weeks I have heard cautiously optimistic assessments
from Armenian and Azerbaijani officials,’ he said.

`With the permission and assistance of the sides, OSCE mission members
have visited the contact line on 17 occasions in 2013,’ Kasprzyk
added.

`Local commanders, as well as civilian authorities, have raised a
number of serious concerns during these visits,’ he said. `These
concerns include: the risk to life posed to civilians and military
personnel, both from ceasefire violations and mine-related incidents;
and the debilitating psychological and economic impact on those living
close to the contact line.’

`The number of those reported killed or wounded as a result of
ceasefire violations in 2013 is less than in 2012,’ Kasprzyk said.
`However, the ceasefire remains self-regulated: the risks remain as
serious as ever, and those living close to the contact line will
continue to suffer hardship until such time as the ceasefire is
strengthened.’

`The Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative have
mandates to work with the parties to develop confidence-building and
other measures,’ he said.

`Presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan have called for additional steps to
strengthen the ceasefire and carry out confidence-building measures in
all fields in order to create a better atmosphere for the
negotiations,’ he said.

`One of confidence-building measures would be to develop humanitarian
contacts among the two sides, intelligentsia, academic and public
circles,’ Kasprzyk said.

Moreover, Kasprzyk’s team has been helping to elaborate a mechanism
for investigating potential incidents.

`Implementation of some confidence-building measures is more
complicated than that of others,’ he said. `But these measures can and
– sooner or later – will help reduce tensions on the contact line and
the international border; reduce the risks faced by military personnel
and those living close to the front lines; and create a better
atmosphere for the negotiations, allowing Presidents Aliyev and
Sargsyan to make demonstrable progress towards a lasting political
settlement.’