Author: Kalantarian Kevo

PRESS RELEASE
Glendale Public Library
222 East Harvard Street
Glendale CA 91205
Tel: 818-548-2030
Web:

FB:

Elizabeth Grigorian
Armenian Outreach Coordinator
Library, Arts & Culture
222 E. Harvard Street
Glendale CA 91205
(818) 548-3288
[email protected]

Filmmaker Eric Nazarian To Screen Bolis

GLENDALE, CA Award winning filmmaker Eric Nazarian to screen his film
Bolis on Thursday, September 26, 2013, at 7pm at The Glendale Central
Library Auditorium, 222 East Harvard Street in Glendale. Admission is
free; seating is limited. The film is in English, Turkish and Armenian.
Running time is 20 minutes. Library visitors receive 3 hours FREE
parking across the street at The Market Place parking structure with
validation at the Loan Desk. The program is sponsored by the Library,
Arts & Culture Department.

Bolis tells the story of Armenak Mouradian, an Armenian oud musician
from the Diaspora who travels to Istanbul to find his grandfather’s oud
shop and the family heirloom which was disappeared during the Armenian
Genocide. As the lead character Armenak says in the film “Armenians
call Istanbul Bolis.” Bolis was a part of the omnibus film, Do Not
Forget Me Istanbul made in 2010 as part of the European Capital of
Culture Istanbul 2010 Program. Bolis was the recipient of the Best Short
Film Award at the 14th Arpa International Film Festival in 2011. It has
been screened in film festivals in Armenia, Istanbul, Sarajevo, Dubai,
Antalya, Brazil and Rabat, among several others.

Hope to See You All!

IRAN’S NEW PRESIDENT HASSAN ROUHANI MEETS WITH ARMENIAN COUNTERPART

APA, Azerbaijan
Aug 5 2013

[ 05 August 2013 17:12 ]

Baku. Shamil Alibeyli – APA. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has
met with Iran’s newly-elected President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran.

Iran’s President expressed his gratitude to Serzh Sargsyan for
participating in inauguration, APA reports quoting Lragir website.

They discussed bilateral relations, noted that the agenda of
Iran-Armenia cooperation is always full of issues, it shows the
implementation of several major projects.

The Presidents noted the need to enhance relations between the two
countries to a new level.

Regional problems and the current situation of the settlement process
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were also discussed at the meeting.

ERGENEKON AND SCENARIOS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Aug 5 2013

TUÄ~^BA AYDIN

The Ä°stanbul 13th High Criminal Court announced its verdict in the
Ergenekon case on Monday.

Before the hearing, security forces took tight security measures
around Silivri Prison, where the jailed suspects in the Ergenekon
case are being held. There are currently 276 suspects on trial in
the Ergenekon case, the first and most important deep state and coup
investigation that began five years ago in Turkey. A full 576 hearings
have already been held, and for these hearings 39,000 pages of notes
have been taken. Columnists have been discussing the necessity of
the Ergenekon trial and its influence.

Bugun’s Adem Yavuz Arslan says that over five years the public has
lost interest in such a crucial case and people have been confused
by disinformation from people who support Ergenekon suspects. Arslan
asks what would the situation would be now if the Ergenekon operation
had been able to achieve its aim. As an answer, he refers to the
Ergenekon plans for the assassination of people from high judicial
bodies and Armenian and Alevi religious officials, for clashes on the
streets and scenarios for Alevi-Sunni conflict. According to Arslan,
the investigation into the Ergenekon operation is superficial, saying
that the initiators of that operation have been determined but its
structure has not been fully revealed yet.

Star columnist Erse KarakaÅ~_ criticizes lawyers who claim that the
Ergenekon plan was never put into effect and therefore we cannot
call this plan a crime. KarakaÅ~_ writes that people who prepared
such a large-scale plan should be punished by the court. KarakaÅ~_
also says if the Ergenekon plan had been put into effect, it would
have been impossible to prevent a coup by the armed forces.

Taraf’s Namık Cınar blames the government for being hypocritical,
saying that it has ignored all of the crimes made by the terrorist
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been active in the country
for 30 years, so as not to ruin the settlement process. Cınar says
if the PKK, which has committed a large number of felonies, are not
punished, a contradiction will appear as it’s easier for the government
to call the armed forces to account.

HULUSI AKAR: REFORMIST OR PRAGMATIC

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Aug 5 2013

ABDULLAH BOZKURT

The main reason that Turkey’s civilian leaders, in the latest meeting
of the Supreme Military Council (YAÅ~^), tapped Gen. Hulusi Akar
as commander of the Land Forces and the prospective leader of the
Turkish military two years from now is Akar’s perceived commitment
to civilian supremacy over the military in a democratic country.

His wealth of expertise in foreign postings and his international
contacts, as well as his ability to work with the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AK Party) government without much hassle, made
him a good candidate to lead the Turkish army. The government, with
Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s veto threat, had to throw the door
wide open for Akar by retiring a controversial figure, Gendarmerie
Commander Bekir Kalyoncu, who was lined up for the post according to
unwritten — yet unbinding — military tradition.

Akar, a 61-year-old man, is the protégé of Chief of General
Staff Gen.

Necdet Ozel, who has been carefully, and successfully, navigating
the Turkish military through troubled waters over the last two years
as dozens of senior generals found themselves on the wrong side of
the law. Some have already been convicted and others are detained
pending trial for attempting to overthrow the democratically elected
government in a country that saw four successful military coups and
many more foiled ones. That is why the mindset and character of a
prospective leader of the Turkish military weighs heavy on the minds
of political leaders who were recently shaken by the ouster of the
first democratically elected president of Egypt by military force.

Akar’s record and background suggest that he has been ambivalent
about the military’s role in politics at times, yet he also proved to
be a very pragmatic and practical man despite the fact that he is a
product of the military guardianship regime. That probably explains
why he has been reluctant to yield to civilian rule in the past
and gave a conflicting account of how an army general should behave
in a democratic system. After all, he served as chief of staff to
İsmail Hakkı Karadayı while the latter served as both Land Forces
commander and the chief of General Staff. Karadayı has now been named
as the number one suspect in an indictment against the Feb. 28, 1997
military coup, which ousted a civilian government. The intervention,
often called the postmodern coup, dealt a fatal blow to fundamental
rights, the rule of law and freedoms in Turkey, leaving Ankara with a
rap sheet of violations at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Akar was mentioned as critical of the AK Party government in a 2005
meeting that was cited in coup diaries written by neo-nationalist
Cumhuriyet newspaper’s former bureau chief, Mustafa Balbay, who is
currently standing trial in the Ergenekon case, accused of conspiring
with generals to overthrow the civilian government. Balbay observed
that during a lunch Akar, then commander of the military War Academy,
hosted for the participants of an international symposium he organized
at the academy, a group of generals, including Akar, openly criticized
the AK Party government. This may not be significant by itself,
however, because the same year Akar was severely criticized by the
ultra-leftist and neo-nationalist Labor Party (Ä°P) when he introduced
EU education and youth programs in the academy as part of education
exchanges within the scope of the Socrates and Erasmus programs. The
Ä°P accused him of eroding the rigid Kemalist tradition in the Turkish
military by opening up the academy to EU culture.

Akar’s behavior while he served in Ä°stanbul as the 3rd Army Corps
commander, with jurisdiction over the Hasdal Military Prison — where
members of the military who are accused of having plotted coups d’état
are being held — raises red flags on his democratic credentials. He
reportedly ordered prison guards to give privileged and preferential
treatment to detained officers. What’s more, he paid a personal visit
to Hasdal in February 2011 in the company of his commanding officer,
1st Army Commander Gen. Hayri Kıvrıkoglu. Considering that all the
force commanders followed suit, including Chief of General Staff Gen.

Necdet Ozel, in November 2011 and that those who refused to visit
Hasdal were most likely stigmatized by their peers, one might argue
that he had no other option but to go with the flow in the military
culture of the time. These visits were severely criticized by the
public as institutional support for coup plotters and as an attempt
to influence and pressure the judiciary.

Akar’s turning point appears to be August 2011, when he was promoted
from lieutenant general to full general and appointed as deputy chief
of General Staff. He worked as current Chief of General Staff Gen.

Ozel’s right-hand man and became a key interlocutor between the
military and the civilian government. He has worked with the prime
minister and the president on many occasions and on different issues,
giving the impression that he is subordinate to civilian authorities
and that he is easy to work with. Akar became a liaison general who,
along with Prime Minister Erdogan’s confidant and National Intelligence
Organization (MÄ°T) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan, started to attend
high-level coordination meetings on the terror threat that have been
chaired by Erdogan since 2011.

He also began to accompany senior government delegations on foreign
trips, benefiting from past experience he gained on overseas postings.

He served two terms at NATO’s Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH)
in Italy (renamed in 2004 as the Allied Joint Force Command Naples),
first as intelligence officer and later as the head of the Plans and
Principles Department. He also served in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where
Turkish troops played a key role in the international peacekeeping
mission. Akar made a strong impression on Erdogan when he accompanied
the Turkish prime minister in September 2011 at a meeting with US
President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the opening of the 66th
regular session of the UN General Assembly. He was one of the select
few to join the Turkish delegation at the meeting with Obama. Two
months later, in November 2011, he also joined Gul’s entourage on
a visit to the UK during which Akar signed a military cooperation
agreement with UK Secretary of State for Defense Philip Hammond.

Again, in March 2012, Akar joined the Turkish prime minister on a
visit to South Korea to attend a nuclear security summit in Seoul. On
the way back, when Erdogan stopped by Tehran, Akar was also there.

Building on their developing trust, Erdogan also kept him by his
side when the prime minister was briefing opposition leaders on a
June 2012 incident in which Syria shot down an unarmed Turkish jet,
killing two crewmembers and sparking public outrage.

As number two in the Turkish military, Akar has also developed a good
repertoire of military-to-military relationships with our allies,
including the US. When the vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs
of Staff, Adm. James Winnefeld, arrived in Ankara in October 2012
to meet with Turkish military and government officials for talks
on security issues that mainly focused on Syria and the terrorist
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Akar was the first person Winnefeld
met. Both men discussed contingencies regarding Syria, including the
establishment of a buffer zone. A year earlier, in October 2011,
when US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security
Affairs Alexander Vershbow led an interagency delegation to Ankara
to discuss ways to improve US-Turkey cooperation against the PKK,
Akar was one of the few senior officials Vershbow talked with.

In a sign of his moving away from the status quo, Akar has sent
signals that he supports change in the military. For example, in
January 2012, Akar met officials from the Court of Accounts to review
the authority granted the court by a recently amended law allowing for
greater civilian oversight of military spending. He reportedly said
to the auditors, “We’re ready; you can come and start any sort of
inspection you want,” making it clear that the military would abide
by the changes in the law. This was a significant departure from the
past tradition of secrecy in military spending, as auditors weren’t
even allowed to enter military bases to review budgetary expenses
when former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ä°lker BaÅ~_bug, who is now
on trial on charges of trying to overthrow the government by means
of an anti-government Internet campaign, was leading the military.

Another example of Akar’s commitment to reforms happened on Jan. 16,
2012, when he issued a circular canceling differential treatment at
military bases’ Officers Clubs and at recreational resorts belonging
to the military. In the past, higher ranks received preferential
treatment over the lower ranks. He did away with that practice with
his boss’s blessing. It is also noteworthy that he showed up in April
2011 for a rare official military ceremony at the Surp Vartanants
Armenian Church for a 25-year-old Turkish-Armenian soldier who was
accidentally killed at an outpost in Batman province during his
military service. That was a kind of taboo-breaker in the military.

Akar is a man who observed the damaging impact of the military’s
meddling in politics over his long career. He was personally targeted
for profiling by the military when Maj. Gen. Bulent Dagsalı,
responsible for army intelligence under BaÅ~_bug, then Land Forces
commander, secretly collected information on Akar’s personal life
between 2006 and 2008, including his hospital records. All this
must have taught Akar a bitter lesson and brought him agony and pain
that he probably does not want to see future cadets experience. In
all likelihood, despite the ambivalence he has shown, he will be
a pragmatic general who will push for more reforms in the military
whenever and wherever he sees room to maneuver.

La Croix, France
4 août 2013

Les visiteurs du Haut-Karabakh sanctionnés par l’Azerbaïdjan

Rémy Pigaglio

L’Azerbaïdjan a décidé d’interdire l’accès à son territoire à 335
étrangers ayant visité ce territoire azerbaïdjanais peuplé
d’Arméniens, qui a fait sécession avec l’aide de l’Arménie.

Ce ne sont pas moins de 335 étrangers, dont des parlementaires
européens, des journalistes ou encore des universitaires, auxquels
l’Azerbaïdjan refuse désormais l’entrée sur son territoire. La raison
: selon Bakou, ils auraient effectué une visite du Haut-Karabakh, ce
territoire azerbaïdjanais qui a fait sécession.

« [Ils] ont violé la loi sur les frontières d’État de l’Azerbaïdjan et
ont porté atteinte à la souveraineté nationale et à l’intégrité
territoriale de l’Azerbaïdjan », a expliqué le ministère des affaires
étrangères azerbaïdjanais dans un communiqué.

30 000 morts et des centaines de milliers de réfugiés

Le Haut-Karabakh (ou Nagorny Karabakh) fait partie de l’Azerbaïdjan,
mais cette région située non loin de la frontière arménienne est
peuplée en majorité d’Arméniens. De 1988 Ã 1994, l’Arménie et
l’Azerbaïdjan se sont affrontés pour le contrôle de ce territoire.

Une guerre qui a fait 30 000 morts et des centaines de milliers de
réfugiés. Une « République du Haut-Karabakh », non reconnue
internationalement, s’est même créée, alors que l’armée arménienne
occupe la zone.

L’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan, qui n’entretiennent pas de relations
diplomatiques, continuent de s’affronter ponctuellement. Le groupe de
Minsk, un groupe de diplomates coprésidé par la France, les États-Unis
et la Russie, dans le cadre de l’OSCE (Organisation pour la sécurité
et la coopération en Europe) est chargé de surveiller l’évolution du
conflit, mais aucune solution n’a été dégagée.

Un problème particulièrement sensible

Bakou interdit régulièrement l’accès à son territoire aux personnes
s’étant rendu dans le Haut-Karabakh, considérant que les visiteurs ont
traversé son territoire sans autorisation.

C’est un problème particulièrement sensible?: au début de l’année,
l’Arménie a annoncé son intention d’ouvrir une liaison aérienne entre
Erevan et la « capitale » du Haut-Karabakh, Stepanakert, pour doubler
le corridor conquis par les Arméniens. En réponse l’Azerbaïdjan a
menacé d’abattre tout avion qui se dirigerait vers le Haut-Karabakh¦
Depuis, le projet arménien semble suspendu, bien que l’aéroport de
Stepanakert ait été entièrement rénové.

Camp Nubar gets $175,000 in new donations

Published: Sunday August 04, 2013

A group photo at Camp Nubar.

NEW YORK – AGBU Camp Nubar continues to receive generous contributions
in honor of its 50th anniversary from families who understand
firsthand that anyone who spends a summer there will come home with
renewed pride in his or her Armenian heritage, and new friends from
all corners of the world.

Most recently, Nishan (Pete) and Elizabeth Apelian of New York donated
$30,000 to purchase new lakefront docks, and Jack and Carol Margossian
of New Jersey donated $20,000 toward overall camp improvement.

Nishan Apelian dedicated a full decade to Camp Nubar as a committee
member beginning in the early 1970’s because he believed that
supporting Armenian youth was the best way to preserve and perpetuate
his heritage, and that the camp was the ideal venue for young Armenian
Americans to interact, relate with one another and share their
cultural values in a fun environment. As a result, his three children
– Chuck, Denise and Pat – all attended camp.

Their memorable summers began in 1968 (Chuck and Pat) and 1970
(Denise), when the program had just moved to its present site. Chuck
was a senior counselor for two years and taught camp craft, during
which time his team built a large lookout tower. Denise started at the
age of eight and went on to become a CIT (counselor in training) and a
junior counselor; she taught ceramics and karate.

Pat, however, was the most involved – after attending as a camper for
some years, she was a staff member for five years and became the
girls’ head counselor in 1976. She ran the camp’s newspaper (Fall
Clove Journal) and printed copies with a mimeograph machine donated by
her father. In addition, she was among a group of four girls who
started the music and drama program – the campers would stage
productions of The King and I, The Sound of Music and other musicals.

Her college application essay was about Camp Nubar, and after
graduating with her degree, she joined the camp committee for the next
ten years; for a few of those years, she also served as the treasurer.
By this point, the camp had grown exponentially, and at least half the
committee comprised former campers who loved their alma mater so much
they dedicated their spare time to ensuring its longevity. Two of
Pat’s children – Kate and Jenny Aitken – have also attended camp.

“For me, Camp Nubar was a wonderful opportunity for young people to
develop, with our Armenian identity as a backdrop. In fact, it was the
only opportunity for many Armenian children and young adults to
connect with their heritage. During those two months of summer, we
grew up more than we did the other ten months of the year. There were
no preconceived notions of what you could or couldn’t do; everyone
participated, whether it was Talent Night or swimming,” recalled Pat.

She, like thousands of other campers, met fellow Armenians whom they
would call friends for life. One of her closest camp friends also has
a daughter, and Pat said, “Our children have grown up like cousins
over the years. Camp Nubar has that certain element to create ties
that bind our youth together.”

Nishan knew that he wanted to make a donation that would last through
the years, and the replacement of the lakefront docks seemed just
right. They have not been changed since camp was bought decades ago,
and campers will benefit directly through this gift.

Speaking on behalf of his wife and himself, he said, “Our four parents
came to the United States from Turkey with a dream to freely and
safely live their lives, raise a family and practice their Armenian
faith. Over the past 50 years, AGBU’s Camp Nubar has played a
significant role in providing opportunities for our youth, and in
keeping alive their Armenian cultural identity and heritage. Liz and I
are grateful for the close friendships and fond memories that our
children and grandchildren have from their summers at camp, and
sincerely hope that our donation ensures that Camp Nubar will continue
to thrive for many future generations of Armenian Americans.”

The rededication of the lakefront will take place during the special
50th Anniversary Open House on Sunday, July 28, 2013, in the presence
of hundreds of alumni, supporters and campers.

For Jack and Carol Margossian, Camp Nubar has been a part of their
lives for decades. Both attended between 1969 and 1976 as counselors.
Jack continued his involvement over the years as a committee member,
and the couple is proud to count many of their relatives and closest
friends as fellow alumni.

Their children, Sarah and Ted Partin, surely felt that magical bond
from an early age – they, too, went to camp for a decade each,
beginning in 1983 (Sarah) and 1984 (Ted). Sarah continues to remain
very involved as the camp committee chair. Today, her children, Armen
and Jamie – who are fourth generation Armenians – attend Camp Nubar.

Mrs. Margossian notes, “We feel Camp Nubar encourages a sense of
Armenian identity better than any other Armenian youth program, and we
want that experience for our grandchildren.

All of us met lifelong friends there. It is our pleasure to support
Camp Nubar as an investment toward its future. The camp has lovingly
nurtured in us and our children the seed of Armenian pride planted by
our parents, James (an Armenian Genocide survivor) and Queenie Melcon;
and Krikor and Vivian Margossian.”

Toufayan family donates $75,000
“Camp Nubar is a place that helped us grow and mature in our Armenian
identity. As a result, it gives us great pleasure to build a pavilion
in honor of our parents, since they encouraged us to go to camp. We
are also happy that our children will have the opportunity to enjoy it
and be proud to have their grandparents’ names on it.” Kristine
Toufayan

The children of Hratch (Harry) and Suzanne Toufayan – Greg, Karen and
Kristine – are all alumni of AGBU Camp Nubar, and share several
cherished memories of their time spent at camp. Greg (86-87) learned
to canoe on the Delaware River, which, along with other outdoor camp
activities, helped shape his love for the outdoors. Karen (85- 86)
recalled that Camp Nubar allowed her to experience the uniqueness of
her Armenian heritage and learn the value of friendship. Kristine
(85-86) felt simply that her two years there were some of her best
summers ever.

When Camp Nubar announced plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the
three Toufayan siblings understood the value of paying tribute to both
the camp and their parents, who have been longtime benefactors of
AGBU, the Armenian Church and community-at-large. Each has donated
$25,000 for a combined gift of $75,000 to fund the building of the
Hratch & Suzanne Toufayan Pavilion. The completely new structure will
serve as an all-purpose unit where campers can participate in classes
and activities “rain or shine.”

Naming the facility in honor of their parents was a natural choice.
“Over the years, my dad and mom spent a lot of their time, energy, and
resources to ensure that my brother, sister and I have always been
immersed in Armenian schools, churches, and camps, and felt enriched
by our Armenian culture,” said Karen.

They all had such positive experiences at Camp Nubar that Karen’s and
Kristine’s children attend today. “Greg’s children are not yet old
enough,” Kristine noted. “The friendships that I made there are some
of my closest and dearest friends. Now, with those same friends, we
are sending our kids to Camp Nubar and they are in the same cabins
making memories that will last a lifetime.”

For the past five decades, the camp has earned a renowned reputation
among Armenian families all over the world as a safe haven for their
children to enjoy the leisurely summer months in a fun, structured and
interactive environment. Karen reinforced that fact by saying, “That’s
why our family is especially grateful to Camp Nubar. It has personally
helped us – and now our kids – fully embrace our rich Armenian culture
on our own terms. And when campers reflect on their own perspectives
and experiences over time, the tradition continues to thrive and grow
as it is transmitted to the next generation.”

Campers have diverse activities available to them. They play
basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball; make pottery, ceramics and
other crafts; take horseback riding and photography lessons; and go
canoeing, fishing, hiking, rowing and swimming. Additionally, all
campers take Armenian language and history lessons.

“Going to Camp Nubar definitely strengthened my Armenian identity,”
said Kristine. “Living for two to four weeks at a time with just
Armenians has that special connection you wouldn’t be able to get
anywhere else: Divine Liturgy every Sunday in the woods, Armenian
meals, Armenian language and dance. These are just a few of the
activities that are unique to camp. Some of the important things I
learned were how to live with others, respect each other, and be
independent and responsible for myself.”

Greg remarked, “The hard work and dedication of our parents to their
children, the family business, and the Armenian nation have all
brought forth the blessings we have. Above all, they set the example
for us to give back.”

“Perhaps this is why we felt that one of the best ways to honor and
give thanks to our parents is by giving a donation to Camp Nubar for
its 50th anniversary – so that this wonderful institution can continue
to encourage Armenian children to be proud of their heritage,” added
Karen.

Setrakians establish $50,000 endowment
Ahead of the AGBU Camp Nubar’s 50th Anniversary events in both New
York City and the Catskills during the weekend of July 27, 2013. To
honor this important milestone, AGBU President Berge and Mrs. Vera
Setrakian have donated $50,000 to establish an endowment benefitting
the camp.

The facility and its hundreds of acres of natural beauty has always
been a haven of joy and self-growth for Armenian youth; but, most
importantly, it has also strengthened and solidified the Armenian
identity of the thousands of campers who proudly call Camp Nubartheir
second home.

Over the years, many benefactors and donors have believed in the
camp’s vision of preserving and promoting the Armenian heritage, which
is also one of the foundations of AGBU’s mission. The Setrakians share
this vital belief and in 1999 made a substantial gift to construct the
new Director’s Cabin.

AGBU President Berge Setrakian noted, “We believe strongly that
establishing endowments are crucial for sustaining our AGBU programs,
and in particular, during this occasion, for preserving the grounds
and structures at Camp Nubar. By doing so, we are ensuring the camp
maintains itself for future campers to enjoy.”

The $50,000 endowment by Mr. and Mrs. Setrakian will ensure the
maintenance of the Director’s Cabin for generations to come. Mr.
Setrakian added, “We would also like to recognize the excellent
leadership of the Camp Nubar Committee and their plentiful volunteers
through the years for their dedication, spirit and hard work that is
exemplified in every camp endeavor. We encourage alumni, parents and
friends to continue supporting their efforts with financial
contributions of all sizes so that Armenian youth can continue to take
advantage of this oasis and establish ties to the community and pride
in their Armenian heritage.”

The Setrakian’s two children – Ani and Lara – are both enthusiastic
Camp Nubar alumni and spent a combined 18 summers there. Vera
Setrakian commented, “We are longstanding supporters of Camp Nubar,
and stand by its mission to provide a safe environment for Armenian
children throughout the diaspora to enjoy the outdoors and all of the
activities to which they would otherwise never be exposed. Our own
children benefitted from their experiences and maintain wonderful
friendships thanks to Camp Nubar. We look forward to our grandchildren
following in the same footsteps.”

Donations to AGBU Camp Nubar’s 50th Anniversary campaign can be made
here:

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

IRAN
Le président iranien Rohani va prêter serment devant le Parlement

TEHERAN, 04 août 2013 (AFP) – Le nouveau président modéré iranien
Hassan Rohani, qui a officiellement pris ses fonctions samedi, doit
prêter serment devant le Parlement vers 16H00 locales (11H30 GMT) et
probablement présenter son gouvernement, selon les médias locaux.
Samedi lors d’une cérémonie, le guide suprême, l’ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, a approuvé l’élection de M. Rohani, devenu septième
président de la République islamique d’Iran.

La première décision du nouveau président a été de nommer Mohammad
Nahavandian, président de la Chambre de commerce et d’industrie, comme
son chef de cabinet. M. Nahavandian, qui possède un doctorat
d’économie de l’université George Washington (Etats-Unis) devrait
jouer un rôle de premier plan, notamment pour coordonner les décisions
économiques. Dans un discours après son investiture, M. Rohani, un
religieux modéré gé de 64 ans, a promis de mener une politique
d’`entente constructive avec le monde` pour régler la crise du
nucléaire qui dure depuis 2003 et d’oeuvrer pour lever les sanctions
`injustes` imposées par les Occidentaux. Le nouveau président est un
fidèle de l’ayatollah Khamenei, véritable numéro un du pays. Depuis
1989, il est l’un des deux représentants du guide suprême au sein du
Conseil suprême de la sécurité nationale (CSSN), qui prend les grandes
décisions du pays.

C’est à ce titre qu’il avait dirigé après 2003 les négociations
nucléaires avec la troïka européenne (France, Grande-Bretagne et
Allemagne). Il avait alors accepté de suspendre l’enrichissement
d’uranium et d’appliquer le protocole additionnel permettant un plus
grand contrôle du programme nucléaire du pays.

Pour la première fois, des responsables étrangers ont été invités à
participer à la cérémonie de prestation de serment. Une dizaine de
présidents, notamment ceux d’Afghanistan, du Pakistan, du Tadjikistan,
du Turkménistan, du Kazakhstan, d’Arménie, du Liban et du Soudan,
seront présents. Les deux invités de marque de la cérémonie sont
Javier Solana, ancien chef de la diplomatie européenne qui avait mené
à partir de 2005 les négociations nucléaires avec l’Iran au nom des
grandes puissances, et Mahatir Mohamad, ancien Premier ministre de la
Malaisie.

Selon les médias locaux, M. Rohani devrait ensuite présenter les
membres de son cabinet au Parlement pour obtenir la confiance. Dans ce
gouvernement, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, ex-ministre du Pétrole reprendra
le même fauteuil, ont-ils précisé. Très respecté, il avait tissé à
l’époque de bonnes relations avec les autres partenaires de l’Iran au
sein de l’Opep. L’ex-ambassadeur de l’Iran auprès de l’ONU
(2002-2007), Mohammad Javad Zarif, devrait, lui, prendre le
portefeuille des Affaires étrangères. Personnalité modérée, il avait
joué un rôle actif dans les négociations nucléaires.

dimanche 4 août 2013,
Ara ©armenews.com

UNE TRENTAINE DE COMBATTANTS ISLAMISTES AZERIS TUES AU SEIN DES GROUPES ARMES D’OPPOSITION EN SYRIE

SYRIE

Selon l’agence officielle de presse azerie APA, près de 60 combattants
Azeris se trouveraient actuellement parmi les forces d’opposition
au regime syrien. Elle precise qu’a ce jour, depuis le debut de
l’insurrection en Syrie, une trentaine d’e combattants Azeris enrôles
au sein des groupes armes de l’opposition y a trouve la mort. Ces
Azeris, venus d’Azerbaïdjan, d’Afghanistan ou du Sud Caucase, pour la
plupart proche du groupe islamiste Djïl Al-Mouhajirin al-Ansar. Dans
une video diffusee sur internet, ces islamistes Azeris appellent
leurs frères d’Azerbaïdjan a venir prendre part a la lutte contre le
president syrien Bachar Al-Assad. Il y a quelques mois, la presence
de rebelles azeris etait signalee près d’un quartier armenien d’Alep.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 3 août 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

TURQUIE : LA COMMUNAUTE JUIVE INQUIÈTE APRES LES PROPOS D’UN MINISTRE

revue de presse

La communaute juive turque a vivement reagit aux propos du vice-premier
ministre turc, Besir Atalay qui disait ” Il y a ceux a l’interieur et
a l’exterieur du pays qui sont jaloux de voir la Turquie se developper
autant. ” Il a directement implique ” la diaspora juive ” dans un
rôle de promoteur de la contestation que subit le gouvernement turc
en ce moment depuis les evenements de la place Taksim.

pour lire la suite cliquer sur le lien

samedi 3 août 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LE KARABAKH VA AFFICHER UNE CROISSANCE DU PIB DE 9 A 11% DANS LES 5 PROCHAINES ANNEES

KARABAGH

Les experts prevoient une croissance du PIB de 9 a 11 pour cent et
une hausse de 10 a 15 pour cent du volume annuel des investissements
en Republique du Nagorno-Karabagh (NKR) au cours des cinq prochaines
annees a annonce le Premier ministre du Karabagh Ara Harutyunyan aux
etudiants de l’Universite d’Etat de Stepanakert affilie a l’Universite
Agraire d’Armenie.

Ara Harutyunyan a dit que les sphères de l’energie, du secteur
agricole, du secteur minier, du tourisme devrait progresser.

“Les exportations devraient croître au fil des importations, nous
prevoyons d’ouvrir 5000 a 8000 nouveaux emplois, augmenter le salaire
minimum, augmenter le PIB agricole de 12 a 15%, le secteur minier,
chaque annee de 20%” a-t-il dit.

samedi 3 août 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com