Author: Kalantarian Kevo

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : DELEGATION EUROPEENNE A ISTANBUL ET EREVAN

Publie le : 20-04-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Pour la première
fois depuis la perpetration du genocide de 1915, il y a 98 ans,
une delegation europeenne, constituee d’une vingtaine de dirigeants
antiracistes venus de quinze pays, sera presente en Turquie pour les
commemorations du genocide armenien ce 24 avril 2013. Ces ceremonies
sont organisees a Istanbul pour la 9e annee consecutive en ce qui
concerne l’IHD, Association pour les Droits de l’Homme de Turquie,
et pour la 4e annee en ce qui concerne DurDe! (” Dis stop au racisme !

“). L’EGAM a invite l’UGAB Europe a constituer une delegation commune
qui sera presente le 24 avril a Istanbul, puis, sous une forme reduite,
le 25 avril a Erevan. Le Collectif VAN, partenaire de l’IHD depuis
2009, a ete invite a participer aux commemorations du genocide armenien
a Istanbul. Nous diffusons ci-dessous le communique de presse commun
de l’EGAM et de l’UGAB Europe, en date du 19 avril 2013. Nous avons
corrige l’heure indiquee pour l’evenement organise par l’IHD : il se
tiendra a Sultanahmet a 12h30 (et non a 14h comme mentionne dans le
communique initial).

Communique de presse

L’organisation armenienne UGAB Europe se rend en Turquie avec le
Mouvement Antiraciste Europeen EGAM pour repondre a l’appel des
militants turcs et commemorer avec eux le genocide armenien a Istanbul
le 24 avril prochain.

Dès le lendemain, des representants des trois organisations, UGAB
Europe, EGAM et DurDe (Turquie), se rendront a Erevan (Armenie)
pour y commemorer ensemble le genocide armenien.

Bruxelles, le 19 avril 2013,

Pour la première fois depuis la perpetration du genocide de 1915,
il y a 98 ans, une delegation europeenne, constituee d’une vingtaine
de dirigeants antiracistes et armeniens venus de quinze pays, sera
presente en Turquie pour les commemorations du genocide armenien,
qui s’y tiendront pour la 4e annee consecutive.

L’organisation armenienne UGAB Europe repond ainsi a l’appel des
ONGs turques DurDe! (” Dis stop au racisme ! “) et Association pour
les Droits de l’Homme – IHD, partenaires du Mouvement Antiraciste
Europeen EGAM en Turquie, qui ont demande le soutien de la societe
civile turque engagee pour la reconnaissance du genocide armenien en
venant participer aux commemorations en Turquie cette annee. L’EGAM
a invite l’UGAB Europe a constituer une delegation commune.

Pendant quatre jours, la delegation rencontrera des representants
de la societe civile – intellectuels, militants turcs, kurdes,
armeniens, artistes,… – le monde de la jeunesse avec une conference
a l’universite, des representants des minorites, et participera aux
commemorations.

Le 25, des representants de cette delegation seront a Erevan pour y
commemorer ensemble le genocide armenien.

La constitution de cette delegation est une initiative de solidarite
avec les militants turcs engages pour la verite historique, qui ont
appele a sa constitution. C’est une initiative de justice contre le
negationnisme, qui est la continuation de la perpetration du genocide.

C’est enfin un engagement pour la democratie, renforcee par la vitalite
de la societe civile.

Cette initiative est soutenue par de nombreuses personnalites
(dont Serge Klarsfeld, Dario Fo, Adam Michnik, Bernard Kouchner,
Olivero Toscani, Jovan Divjak, etc.) et de nombreux representants de
la societe civile europeenne, turque et armenienne, qui ont signe un
appel en ce sens. L’appel devrait etre publie dans les prochains jours
dans la presse europeenne, et notamment dans Liberation (France),
SME (Slovaquie) et Gazeta Wyborcza (version web, Pologne).

Les commemorations se derouleront a Sultanahmet et Taksim,
respectivement a 12h30 et 19h15 le 24 avril. Un point presse aura
lieu la veille, le 23 avril, a 11H au Cezayir restaurant.

Le genocide armenien:en 1915, l’importante population armenienne de
l’Empire ottoman fut exterminee sur ordre de la junte de dirigeants
Jeunes Turcs au pouvoir. Depuis lors, la Republique turque a institue
la negation de ce genocide en politique officielle, et sanctionne
toute affirmation du passe armenien du pays.

L’UGAB fut fondee en 1906 et est la plus grande organisation
armenienne sans but lucratif au monde. Elle a pour vocation la
preservation de l’identite et du patrimoine armenien par des
programmes culturels, educatifs et humanitaires dont beneficient
près de 400 000 personnes. L’UGAB Europe est la branche europeenne de
l’organisation. Elle anime de nombreuses activites dans les domaines
de la recherche universitaire, de la defense et de la promotion du
patrimoine culturel, de l’education, de la culture et de l’instruction
de la langue armenienne, des mouvements de jeunesse, de la formation
au leadership ainsi qu’en matière de politiques europeennes.

Retour a la rubrique

PAS DE PENURIE D’EAU D’IRRIGATION ATTENDUE CETTE ANNEE EN ARMENIE

En Armenie tous les reservoirs d’eau sont prets pour la saison
d’irrigation a precise Andranik Andreasyan, chef de la commission
nationale des eaux.

” Il est vrai maintenant que le niveau de l’eau dans les reservoirs
n’est pas suffisant, mais la pluie prevue en Avril et Mai devrait
combler le vide “, a-t-il dit en ajoutant que la situation cette
annee est plus favorable que celle de l’annee precedente.

Le Conseil des ministres a decide d’affecter 396 millions de drams
en fonds de reserve pour la reparation du système d’approvisionnement
en eau et afin d’assurer l’irrigation.

Le prix de l’eau d’irrigation n’a pas ete releve malgre la penurie
de reserve d’eau. Il a ete maintenu a 11 drams pou un mètre cube.

lundi 22 avril 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

PROTEST ACTION IN FRONT OF WHITE HOUSE CALLED ON TO STOP THE DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

19:36, 22 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS: Armenians of Washington on April 21
held a protest action in front of the White House, urging USA to stop
Armenian Genocide denial policy ahead of the annual April 24 Barack
Obama speech.

As reports Armenpress, the protest action was organized by Armenian
Youth Federation “Ani” Chapter. “The U.S. President Obama can play
an important role in pressing Turkey to deal honestly with its dark
past by speaking truthfully about this crime,” said “Ani” Chapter
Chairwoman Narineh Abrahamian.

POLISH INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA’S ECONOMY DO NOT MEET FULL POTENTIAL : DEPUTY MINISTER

YEREVAN, April 22. /ARKA/. Polish investments in Armenia do not
merely meet the commercial and economic potential between the two
states despite the growth in trade turnover, deputy economy minister of
Armenia Ara Petrosyan said Monday at the opening of the Armenian-Polish
business forum “Armenia and Poland: investment climate of Armenia.”

The forum is a part of the third Armenian-Polish intergovernmental
commission in Yerevan.

“We have good perspectives for cooperation in pharmaceutical and
processing industries, energy, electronics, biotechnology, industrial
design, tourism and telecommunications,” Petrosyan said.

He also highlighted Armenia’s achievements in improving business
environment reminding that “Doing Business 2013” ranked Armenia 32nd
out of 185 (higher by 18 positions from a year earlier).

Deputy Minister added the participation of Polish businessmen in
Armenia’s economic free zones is very important for the republic.

“We should undertake all the possible measures to promote further
development of direct ties between housing subjects of our countries,”
he said and added that all the issues related to cooperation
development should also be discussed.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the trade
turnover between Armenia and Poland climbed by 16.3% to $42.4 million
in 2012 from 2011.

Export to Poland dropped by 35.3% to $599,300 in 2012 from 2011. -0-

ARMENIA SHOULD USE ITS EXTERNAL LEVERS TO PRESS FOR REOPENING OF RAILWAY LINK THROUGH ASBKAHZIA: EXPERT

YEREVAN, April 22. /ARKA/. Armenia should use all available external
levers to press for reactivation of a railway link through Abkhazia
that connects it and the neighboring Georgia to Russia, an Armenian
expert on Georgia, Johnny Melikyan, said today.

“The opening of the Georgian-Abkhazian section of the railway
would have a beneficial impact on the Armenian economy and this is
why Armenia should use all its resources, including the Armenian
communities of Russia and Abkhazia, to press for the resumption of
the road,” he said at a press conference on Monday.

He said if the rail link between Georgia and Abkhazia is not
reactivated, the only conduit for Armenia to transport goods from
Armenia to Russia will remain the Georgian Military Road which
periodically closes in winter because of heavy snow.

Melikyan also said Armenian authorities should thoroughly investigate
the benefits of the reactivated railway for all sides, including
Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia, and advertise them during official
meetings with all stakeholders.

During a recent visit to Armenia Georgia’s prime minister Bidzina
Ivanishvili said his government was ready to work on this issue.

However, Georgia’s president Mikheil Saakashvili condemned
Ivanishvili’s statement made in Yerevan for pledging to help reactivate
the railway. Saakashvili argued that reactivation of the Abkhazian
railway could be discussed only after the restoration of Georgia’s
territorial integrity and ending Russian occupation of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia. -0-

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS ARMENIA’S ACTING MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

17:12 22.04.2013

On 22 April President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
received acting Minister for Emergency Situations of the Republic of
Armenia Armen Yeritsyan.

Issues related to further deepening of ties between the corresponding
structures of the two Armenian states were discussed during the
meeting. Both sides noted that there were all the necessary conditions
for widening mutual cooperation.

Director of the NKR rescue service Arthur Haroutyunyan partook at the
meeting, Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh
Republic President

AMERICAN MEMCO INC. COMPANY OPENS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ONLINE MUSEUM

16:51, 22 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. On the eve of the Armenian Genocide’s
98th commemoration, Memco Inc. has updated and released the Armenian
Genocide Virtual Museum tour at The
Public Relations Service of Memco Inc. Company informed “Armenpress”
that the virtual visit facilitates the visitors to visit the Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute from across the globe, to take a tour of the
monument as well as the museum itself where documents and images of the
perpetrations is displayed. Additionally, in remembrance of the victims
of the genocide the visitors can place flowers by the eternal flame.

To view the aforementioned content the visitor is required
to download and install a viewer (MiaPlayer) for a high-quality
interactive experience. Once installed, the visitor may follow the easy
instructions and navigate the entire scene. The visitor is presented
with the choice of visiting the Genocide Museum during the day or
the evening hours accompanied with the lasting music of Komitas as
performed by the renowned Komitas Quartet.

Per Mr. Garen Melikian’s words, the President and CEO of Memco Inc.,
“… as someone who lives in the United States and could not attend
the ceremony every year, I wanted to participate and make my presence
permanent”. He goes on to say, that “by creating a virtual environment
of the monument and the museum we wanted to offer the diaspora
Armenians, as well as concerned non-Armenians, the opportunity that
is readily available to our compatriots in Armenia. For them to visit
Tsitsernakabert and pay their respect to victims of the genocide”,
added Melikian.

It must be noted that the creation and maintenance of the Armenian
Genocide Virtual Museum is a charitable contribution made by Memco
Inc. in honor of the resilience and everlasting endurance of the
Armenian people for the recognition of their pain and celebration of
their life.

Elections Are Not Beginning Or End of Something

Interview with civil activist Ruzanna Grigoryan

You announced on behalf of a group of civil activists that you join
the movement on Freedom Square. Is this community still participating
in the post-electoral process or has it already changed its tactics.

Before the election I thought that the outcome of the election is
predetermined. However, the post-electoral developments gave me a
pleasant surprise. In fact, there is a new situation, the majority of
people is against the ruling system. On the other hand, lots of local
observers reported breaches and fraud. Civic activists were involved
in those observer teams. Perhaps this is the reason why a group of
civil activists formed spontaneously who set to defend the electoral
right. Although during the campaign we did not support any political
team and candidate. The key issue for civil activists was violations
of electoral rights.

At the moment, there is not one collective civic community with one
tactics. There are a number of civic initiatives or individuals. Some
of them will be observing the mayoral election. Others have other
priorities. I will be an observer. I am happy that young civic
activists are participating in the election. They are young people who
have a civic stance, are active in social life, are not interwoven
with the oligarchy, their past is clean, they are idealists. This will
be one of the criteria of my choice.

I think elections are not beginning or end of something. We will
remain as active after the elections as before them. If during
elections the right to vote is violated, between elections other
rights are violated every day.

Is the participation of the civil community in these elections an
effort to influence the political process directly?

I cannot speak on everyone’s behalf because, as I said, there is not
one collective civic community with one approach. I am not
disappointed or desperate because I rely on myself. I think the
problem is expectations. When one goes to Freedom Square on April 9
expecting a change of government in two hours, one might get
disappointed. But if the ongoing process is viewed in positive
tendencies, one prepares oneself that deep changes will take time, one
sets goals, knows where one is going to and there are not many reasons
for disappointment.

Moreover, I am encouraged by the civil activity of the recent years.
And I encourage diversity of civil groups. The more diverse they are,
the more different beliefs there will be, they will complete one
another, there will be more success. I am sure the positive tendency
will continue, and we will see a real revolution, not just a change of
government or a coup.

I think the system is worn out. They are not capable of a single
progressive idea or change, and their values are incompatible with the
demands of the modern society. They utter a stupid phrase and are
mocked for months. They have nothing to say. All that is left to them
is violence or inspiring fear in the street by means of the police.
The poverty of the system is evident in the police as well when during
rallies the police limit people’s mobility or the right to peaceful
assemblies, not being able to put forth their demands or interpret
their actions.

In your opinion, what ideas and problems could bring people together?

The citizens must continue to form the political agenda of issues that
worry them. They must participate in social life and control it. I
expect the political forces to present their strategic solutions.

Ruzanna, recently there have been opinions that the civil sector is
directed by one political force or another. Do you detect such risks?

There are activists who have very distinct political beliefs and
preferences, they support some force. This is something normal.
However, it is important to separate and not to mix the political and
civil agendas. This independence is very important. I am sure that
there are independent citizens in the civil sector who are not
directed by any force. However, what we are doing is directly related
to politics.

Due to the dictatorial regime continuously reproduced through rigged
elections there is a mindset that politics is immorality and it is
necessary to keep away from it. I think this mindset needs to be
changed because politics determines not only public but also our
private lives. It is politics on what pavements we walk, what
transport we use, where we work, how we spend our free time. So, our
participation in it is not only desirable but also mandatory.
Everything must be politicized. Politics must be every person’s job.

Siranuysh Papyan
13:51 20/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Armenian Genocide commemoration events to be conducted in Istanbul

11:23 – 21.04.13

Turkey’s Human Rights Organization’s Istanbul branch is organizing an
event to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide, Demokrat
Haber website reports.

The event will launch at the hall of the organization with the opening
of exhibition on April 23.

On April 24 the events will start by visiting tomb of Faik Ali Bey who
was against the government’s order and refused to displace Armenians
of Kutahiai province and protected them. At 12.30 pm a commemoration
event will be organized in Sultanahmet.

Later that day the participants will visit Sisli Armenian cemetery,
the tomb of Sevag Balikci murdered on April 24, 2011.

Armenian News – Tert.am

First Genocide of 20th Century exhibition to open in Akhaltskha

11:30 – 21.04.13

First Genocide of 20th Century exhibition will open in Akhaltskha’s
USAID Democratic Involvement Center on April 23 at the initiative of
Zori Zoryan youth union’s Akhaltskha branch, akhaltskha.net website
reports.

Armenia’s ambassador to Georgia Hovannes Manukyan, representatives of
local authorities, mass media representatives will attend the opening
event.

The exhibition will present photos relating to the 1915 Armenian
Genocide, stories of witnesses, intellectuals, ambassadors. Works of
the members of Vahram Gayfejian union entitled Continuing Genocide
will also be exhibited.

The organizers say the goal of the exhibition is to present to the
local authorities, members of NGOs and Georgian society the great
tragedy that took place in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Armenian News – Tert.am