Author: Kalantarian Kevo

KAREN NAZARYAN SPEAKS AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL, REMINDS ABOUT KHOJALU, BAKU AND SUMGAYIT

17:36 13.02.2013

An open discussion on “The protection of the civilian population in
armed conflicts” was held at the UN Security Council of February 12.

The meeting featured speeches by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the
High Commissioner for Human Rights, the ICRC Director for International
Law and Cooperation, representatives of a number of countries.

Speaking at the meeting, Armenia’s Permanent Representative at the UN,
Ambassador Karen Nazaryan expressed his concern with the deteriorating
situation in Syria. He condemned all kinds of violence and terrorist
actions against the civilian population, expressing his deep concern
connected with the condition of the Syrian Armenian community. He
noted that Armenia continues to accept refugees from Syria, who are
seriously worried about the violence in their country.

Referring to the statements of the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
preceding the discussion, Karen Nazaryan declared that Baku’s
practice of distortion of facts was not a surprise to him. He said
it’s high time to substitute this rhetoric and empty accusations with
constructive steps, which will create a favorable atmosphere for
the peaceful settlement of the issue. Ambassador Nazaryan recalled
the interview of the then President of Azerbaijan, Ayaz Mutalibov,
in which the latter was accusing the opposition of organizing a
massacre of their own people for the purpose of seizing power.

The Ambassador continued that Azerbaijan should punish the perpetrators
of the Khojalu massacre, as well as the violence against Armenians in
different cities of Azerbaijan at the end of 1980s and the beginning
of 1990s.

“Exactly 25 years ago the Azerbaijani authorities organized massacres
of the Armenians of Sumgayit in response to the peaceful demand of
the people of Artsakh for self-determination. Peaceful Armenians were
attacked simply for their ethnicity. Later mass killing of Armenians
was organized in the cities of Baku, Kirovabad and others, resulting
in ethnic cleansing and deportation of the Armenian population,”
Karen Nazaryan said.

The Ambassador reminded that the atrocities were followed by military
actions unleashed by Azerbaijan aimed at solving the Karabakh issue
by force.

Karen Nazaryan once again called the attention of the Security Council
to the fact that on many occasions the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have
urged the parties to the conflict to implement confidence-building
measures, offering to withdraw the snipers from the line of contact
and create mechanisms of investigation of border incidents.

Karen Nazaryan reiterated Armenia’s commitment to the peaceful process,
noting that issues should be solved exceptionally in a peaceful way
on the basis of the principles of international law.

ARMENIAN DEPORTEE DIES IN MOSCOW

NEWS.AM
February 13, 2013 | 15:01

An Armenian man, waiting for deportation, died in police holding
center in Moscow on Tuesday.

The alert was received on Tuesday that a citizen of Armenia (born in
1974) died in the center, RIA Novosti reported.

He has been held in the center since February 6 when the court’s
judgment was made. The man had to be deported from Russia.

According to preliminary reports, his death was caused by a heart failure.

ARMENIAN FM: AZERBAIJAN BREAKS COMMITMENTS BY POLITICIZING STEPANAKERT AIRPORT MATTER

KARABAKH | 13.02.13 | 12:01

Armenian Foreign Minster Edward Nalbandian has again accused Azerbaijan
of breaking its commitment to international mediators by continuing
to politicize the issue of the airport in Karabakh.

Answering a question posed to him by an Azerbaijani journalist at a
press conference in Tbilisi, Georgia, the top Armenian diplomat again
referred to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ statement on the opening
of the Stepanakert airport, which recommends that the parties should
not politicize the issue.

“Neither Nagorno-Karabakh nor Armenia has ever politicized the matter,
nor do they intend to do so. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is politicizing
it with its everyday statements thereby violating all the commitments
to the co-chairs,” the Armenian minister emphasized.

Nalbandian stressed that unlike Azerbaijan authorities in neither
Armenia nor Nagorno-Karabakh have ever threatened to use force against
civilian aircraft, nor have they ever linked the opening of the airport
near the Karabakh capital to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem or the region’s status.

Both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have repeatedly stated at the
highest level that the opening of the Stepanakert airport has only
humanitarian and civic aims, stressed Nalbandian.

NEWSPAPER: CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS ‘GIVES INSTRUCTIONS’ TO CLERGYMEN ON THRESHOLD OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

ARMINFO
Wednesday, February 13, 14:22

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II “has given instructions” to his
clergymen on the threshold of the presidential election, Haykakan
Zhamanak Daily writes.

The paper reports that the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church
is collecting the passports of clergymen motivating it with the fact
that from now on they will be receiving salary via bankcards.

By data of the newspaper, passport collection was launched after
Catholicos Karekin II visited the Ararat Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church last week. The Supreme Patriarch held a meeting and
alongside with other issues touched upon the presidential election and
urged clergymen to ‘take an active part’ in the election. The paper
writes that the passport collection process is supervised by the
well-known Head of the Ararat Diocese Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan.

ARMENIE
Le ministère arménien de la santé conseille à nouveau le candidat
gréviste de la faim de subir un examen médical

Le ministère arménien de la santé suggère encore une fois que le
candidat à la présidentielle Andrias Ghukasyan (qui en est à son 23e
jour de grève de la faim) devrait subir un examen de santé dans un
hôpital.

Andreas Ghukasyan s’est lancé dans une grève de la faim illimitée
depuis le 21 Janvier exigeant de justes élections. Selon le candidat,
le vote à venir est illégitime car le Parti Républicain d’Arménie
faire usage de ses ressources administratives.

Le vice-ministre de la santé Hayk Darbinyan, en collaboration avec le
directeur du service d’hématologie du centre Smbat Daghbashyan a rendu
visite au candidat gréviste de la faim après que les résultats des
prises de sang et tests d’urine soient prêts, selon le service de
presse du ministère de la santé.

En raison de certains écarts constatés dans les tests de laboratoire
le ministère de la santé a recommandé à nouveau qu’Andreas Ghukasyan
accepte de se soumettre à des examens dans le centre qu’il choisira.

jeudi 14 février 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
Un candidat aux élections présidentielles reconnaît les suspects de l’assassinat

Un candidat à la présidentielle en Arménie a dit que deux suspects
arrêtés pour la tentative de meurtre d’un autre candidat ont déjà
travaillé pour lui comme peintres en btiment.

Vardan Serdakian a déclaré aux journalistes à Erevan le 12 Février
qu’en raison de ses liens avec les suspects, il craint d’être accusé
d’implication dans la tentative d’assassinat contre Paruyr Hairikian.

Vardan Serdakian n’a pas précisé quand les deux hommes ont travaillé
dans sa maison.

Sept candidats sont en lice pour l’élection du 18 février

jeudi 14 février 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

MARSEILLE
Paron Agop / Monsieur Agop
mercredi 13 et jeudi 14 février 2013

Inspiré d’une histoire Vraie…

« Au début des années 90, mon grand-père a participé au conflit entre
l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan. Dans un village où la quasi-totalité des
habitants avait été massacrée, il y a découvert un enfant muet assis
au pied d’un arbre.

Mon grand-père était un arménien de Marseille qui a fait la guerre
toute sa vie, convaincu que ses engagements étaient justes.

L’humour était sa qualité première, la violence son défaut majeur et
la générosité sa raison d’être. J’ai rêvé ce spectacle engagé, drôle,
violent et généreux. J’espère qu’il lui ressemble. (…) Je voulais
écrire cette pièce pour redire aux enfants que rien, quoi qu’on leur
raconte, ne justifie la guerre.

Rien !

Je peux expliquer ça. Cette pièce explique ça. Il n’y a pas d’ge pour
entendre ça. » Jean-Charles Raymond

L’histoire.

Hazzad débarque à l’aéroport de Marseille, à des milliers de
kilomètres de son pays : l’Arménie. Il doit retrouver Monsieur Agop,
l’homme qui l’a sauvé quand il était enfant. Seule adresse connue : «
Monsieur Agop, Marseille, France ». Au fil d’une traversée
rocambolesque de Marseille, Hazzad nous livre son incroyable histoire.
Une sorte de spectacle à la note blues, mélancolique et pleine
d’espoir, saupoudré d’une pincée de concentré burlesque.

Texte et mise en scène Jean-Charles Raymond

Production Compagnie La Naïve – Coproductions Conseil Régional PACA,
Conseil Général Vaucluse, Ville de Pertuis, Ville de Venelles

En partenariat avec le Conseil Général des Bouches-du-Rhône (dans le
cadre de leurs Actions Éducatives)

ET AUSSI (dans le cdare de ce spectacle) « C’est GRATUIT » :

EXPOSITION, dans le hall du Gyptis, du mardi 12 au vendredi 15 février inclus.

Exposition des photos de Ara Aslanyan, artiste qui vit à Erevan,
capitale de l’Arménie. Ayant démarré dans l’infographie, il est
désormais illustrateur en freelance.

Il a réalisé une série de photographies pour présenter `Vardavar`, la
plus grande fête de l’été dans le calendrier arménien, une fête de
l’eau dédiée à Astghik, déesse païenne de l’amour et de la beauté, de
l’eau et de la fertilité.

Exposition en partenariat avec l’association Chiche – Remerciements à
Carole Ecuer.

Spectacle tout public à partir de 8 ans, inspiré d’une histoire vraie

Renseignements & réservation : Espaceculture 04 96 11 04 61,
(billetterie sécurisée)

Thétre GYPTIS

136, rue Loubon 13003 Marseille

04 91 11 00 91

[email protected]

jeudi 14 février 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

Conflit
Tensions croissantes entre l’Azerbaïdjan et l’Arménie

Le ministère de la défense à Erevan a déclaré que l’armée
azerbaïdjanaise a ouvert le feu sur plusieurs villages frontaliers
dans le nord de l’Arménie. Un soldat arménien a été blessé. Le
ministère a affirmé mercredi que les forces azerbaïdjanaises ont ciblé
non seulement des positions de l’armée arménienne, mais aussi Chinari,
Aygepar, Movses et Nerkin situés le long de Karmiraghbyur.

Plusieurs maisons du village auraient été touchées ainsi qu’un gazoduc.

« Il y a eu des coups de feu intenses vendredi mais il y avait
beaucoup plus de coups de feu hier. Ils sont tombés sur le village
comme la grêle », a déclaré Andranik Aydinian, le maire d’Aygepar.«
Aydinian a dit que les habitants du village devaient se réfugier dans
leur sous-sol et y passer la nuit. Les enfants pleuraient. Ils avaient
peur. » L’armée azerbaïdjanaise a également signalé des combats dans
la région montagneuse. Elle a blmé le côté arménien qui violerait,
selon elle, le cessez-le-feu.

Le ministère arménien de la Défense a déclaré que la situation est
totalement contrôlée par ses forces. « Toutes les mesures nécessaires
ont été prises pour restreindre la bouffonnerie de l’ennemi », a-t-il
dit.

Aydinian a également déclaré que la situation dans son village est
désormais plus pacifique. « Les parents ont envoyé leurs enfants à
l’école locale mercredi », a-t-il dit.

Trois soldats arméniens ont été tués et plusieurs autres blessés dans
un incident près de Chinari en juin dernier. Au moins cinq soldats
azerbaïdjanais ont été tués le lendemain matin. La recrudescence des
violations du cessez-le-feu coïncide avec la visite de la secrétaire
d’Etat américaine Hillary Clinton dans le Caucase du Sud. H. Clinton
avait exprimé de sérieuses préoccupations au cours de ces incidents,
mettant en garde contre d’éventuelles « conséquences désastreuses » si
le conflit du Haut-Karabakh n’était pas réglé.

La tension dans la région a de nouveau augmenté lorsqu’un soldat
arménien a été tué par balle par les forces azerbaïdjanaises.

jeudi 14 février 2013,
Laetitia ©armenews.com

Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey
February 12, 2013 Tuesday

Turkish pianist to give concert at Holy Mother Of God Armenian
Patriarchal Church

In scope of project “Istanbul, the capital of the world”, Ugurlu to
give concert at Holy Mother Of God Armenian Patriarchal Church
ISTANBUL Tuluyhan Ugurlu, a renowned Turkish pianist, will give a
concert at the Holy Mother Of God Armenian Patriarchal Church in the
scope of his project “Istanbul, the capital of the world”. In the
scope of his project, Pianist Ugurlu, gave more than 300 concerts all
over the world and Turkey.

Ugurlu will be playing on February 23 and 24 at the Mesrob Mutafyan
Culture Center where is one of the four churches located in the
complex of Kumkapi Virgin Mary Church and School Foundation in
Istanbul.

During Ugurlu’s concert, a visual presentation about Istanbul,
synchronized with Ugurlu’s music, will be displayed.

USA Today
Feb 13 2013

Armenia tries to help as Christian Armenians flee Syria

Diana Markosian, Special for USA TODAY

An estimated 7,000 of Syria’s Christian-Armenian community have
arrived in Armenia since the start of the uprising against Syrian
President Bashar Assad.

YEREVAN, Armenia – Sarkiss Rshdouni escaped the fighting in the
besieged Syrian city of Aleppo months ago but cannot shake memories of
what he witnessed.

“I was with a friend when I heard gunshots,” said Rshdouni, who is
among hundreds of thousands of people who have fled the war in his
country. “It was fast – second by second, the sound was getting
closer. I saw mass shooting, people running.”

Aleppo is home to more than 80% of Syria’s Armenian community, and
those who are still there remain at the center of the battle for
control of the country.

On Wednesday, Syrian rebels pushed back army defenses and moved closer
to the country’s second-largest airport just outside Aleppo. The
airport stopped commercial flights weeks ago because of the fighting,
but it is used by Assad’s military to resupply troops and launch
airstrikes against rebel positions.

The uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad, which erupted
nearly two years ago, has left more than 2 million people internally
displaced and pushed 650,000 more to seek refuge abroad in Turkey,
Lebanon and Jordan.

Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been engulfed in fighting for months
between government forces and opposition militias, including
al-Qaeda-allied extremists. People there are dealing with shortages of
food, medicine and electricity during the coldest winter in the Middle
East in two decades.

The Christian-Armenian community in Syria is relatively small –
between 60,000 and 100,000 people according to estimates – but its
history has added to its unease. Armenians in Syria are descendants of
people who fled to Syria after escaping a genocide against Armenians
in Ottoman Turkey in World War I.

Many worry the same can happen in Syria, where the Christian Armenians
are again at the mercy of Muslim factions at war, and they are
desperate to get out.

“Syrian Air has rerouted all flights because of the conflict in
Aleppo,” said Gevorg Abrahamyan, press secretary of Zvartonts
International Airport in Armenia. “There’s a flight arriving once a
week now from Latakia (in Syria) to Yerevan.”

Upon arrival in Yerevan, they still face a struggle. Armenia is a
former republic of the Soviet Union landlocked by Turkey, Georgia and
Iran. Unemployment is estimated at 20%, according to the International
Monetary Fund.

“Syrian Armenians are arriving every week,” said Firdus Zakarian,
chief of staff at the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora’s commission for
Syrian-Armenian issues. “It is hard for Armenia. We do not have the
strongest economy, but we are trying to do everything we can so they
don’t feel more pain.”

To date, the Ministry of Diaspora estimates that more than 7,000 of
Syria’s Christian Armenian community have arrived in Armenia since the
start of the conflict.

Armenian authorities are trying to find ways to speed the exit from
Syria and make the adjustment to life here easier. The authorities
have simplified the visa process out of Syria. Elementary schools have
been established that teach classes in the Arabic language that
Syrian-Armenian children have grown up with, according to a familiar
Syrian curriculum.

One such school is the Cilician School funded by a charitable
organization and the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of
Diaspora in Armenia. There are 300 students and 16 new teachers, all
of whom lost their jobs in Syria.

“It was difficult for them at first, but they are now slowly adapting
to their new lives,” said Nora Pilibosian, director of the Cilician
School in Yerevan. “Of course they miss their homes, their relatives
and their toys, but they are adjusting.”

While many new arrivals are finding housing in Yerevan, a small
minority of the Armenians fleeing the conflict in Syria have become
settlers in the breakaway southern Caucasus region of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Vartan Boghossian, 30, left Syria with his family in September for
Nagorno-Karabakh. He lives in communal housing, sharing a kitchen and
a bathroom with five families.

Boghossian says it was his dream to come to Armenia but now faces the
challenge of rebuilding his life.

“I want to stay here,” said Boghossian, who took his citizenship exam
in the summer. “Life is difficult here. There are few jobs and
everything is expensive. But I want to find extra work to help me stay
and live normally.”

Neighboring Azerbaijan claims Nagorno-Karabakh as its territory and it
has issued an official note of protest to Armenia about refugees
settling in the disputed region.

Many of the refugees planned to stay in Armenia for a few months, but
some now think they may never get back home.

“It is not the same Syria anymore,” says Rshdouni, who is among the
few refugees who has found work. “To watch my people killed, the
city’s destruction. I can’t even imagine this.”