Author: Kalantarian Kevo

LE TURC FACE AU GENOCIDE
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
vendredi 19 octobre 2012

La sortie du dernier ouvrage du journaliste Hasan Cemal – prononcez
Hassan Djemal – est un pave dans la mare du negationnisme en
Turquie : 1915, le genocide armenien (Everest Yayinlari, en turc, 230
p.) ecorne le tabou des tabous d’un pays qui refuse toujours d’admettre
l’extermination planifiee de plus de un million d’Armeniens ottomans
par le gouvernement nationaliste jeune-turc, a partir de 1915. Il y
a quelques annees, le titre de ce livre aurait suffi a envoyer son
auteur en prison. Aujourd’hui, publie par un editeur a large audience,
il occupe les vitrines et les presentoirs de la plupart des librairies
du pays, ce qui constitue une veritable avancee.

Sur la couverture, une photo d’Hasan Cemal le montre agenouille devant
le memorial du genocide a Erevan, en Armenie, deposant un bouquet
de roses blanches au pied de la flamme du souvenir. “Je ne peux
pas oublier ce matin a Erevan, en septembre 2008, raconte-t-il. Aux
premières lueurs du jour, le mont Ararat emergeait et s’evanouissait
dans la brume. La main de l’Histoire, ai-je ecrit ce matin-la,
montrera la voie a ceux qui veulent voir.”

pour lire la suite de l’article de Guillaume Perrier, voir lien
plus bas

KHACHAGHBYUR-2 CONSTRUCTED ON SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREA

05:36 pm | October 17, 2012 | Social

“Khachaghbyur-2” SHP is being constructed in specially protected areas,
“Ijevan” and “Hazel Forests,” At the same time the project says
that “the construction area doesn’t include any specially protected
areas.” In regard with this contradiction, “Trchkan” civic imitative
has made an enquiry to Nature Protection Ministry, EcoLur NGO reports.

The letter particularly says: “…Not only the project doesn’t say
anything about the EIA and probable impact, but also the environmental
expertise opinion doesn’t say a word about it, which has been issued
to “Mega Energy” Company. This contradicts to RA Law “On Specially
Protected Areas”…The project also mentions that there is no necessity
for tree felling for the construction of SHP, as the pipeline lays
along the road. This is false information, as forests are located
in the part of valley where the pipeline should lay, and there is no
such a road. While laying 2.8 km pipeline will be impossible without
forest felling.

Thus, the environmental expertise, as a matter of fact, hadn’t been
carried out and the provision of RA Law on “On Environmental Impact
Expert Assessment” had not been complied with,” the statement says.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RESOLVES EX-POLICEMAN’S PROBLEMS WITH THREE CALLS

tert.am
18.10.12

Mkhitar Alumyan, an ex-policeman and father of five children under age,
who attempted self-immolation in front of the Armenian presidential
residence last summer, says that it was not until Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan’s interference that his problems were resolved.

Alumyan attempted self-immolation on June 7, 2011, and staged several
hunger-strikes in front of the RA Police. He demanded the overtime
pay for ten years, which totaled AMD 4.5m.

He was also promised help in treating his disabled daughter Karine.

“On October 11 we had our daughter operated on, and the president
kept his promise and covered all the expenses,” Alumyan said. The
expensive $8,000 worth eye surgery was performed at the S. Malayan
medical center in Yerevan.

“The doctors promise the child will be under constant care and will
one day stop wearing glasses,” Alumyan said.

He is already working and is waiting for his overtime pay, which
amount turns out to be AMD 6m rather than AMD 4.5m. The Advocacy and
Assistance Center promised to assist Alumyan by providing him with
a lawyer.

Mkhitar Alumyan is grateful to President Serzh Sargsyan. “On August
17 the president received our family. Now I want to publicly express
my gratitude to him,” Alumyan said.

“I have been suffering for a year, but the president resolved all
the problems with three calls,” said the man. He also expressed
his gratitude to the presidential staff and journalists that told
his story.

AZERBAIJAN AMONG MOST DANGEROUS PLACES FOR TRAVEL AFTER RELEASING AZERI KILLER

news.am
October 18, 2012 | 23:17

Traveling is popular among tens of millions of people all over the
world and all year round. While there are many touristic destinations
that have much to offer in terms of attractions, activities, hotels
and restaurants, there are still places, where there is always a risk
of getting robbed, kidnapped or be simply at the wrong place at the
wrong time.

TravelVivi.com has chosen 5 most dangerous destinations, excluding
those that are obviously risky, as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya,
Somalia or those that are politically isolated like North Korea,
Belarus, Iran, and Myanmar. The chosen 5 most dangerous destinations
are Papua New Guinea, Haiti, Azerbaijan, Egypt and Laos.

“Located in the Caucasus of southeastern Europe and sharing borders
with Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Iran, Caspian Sea coastline and Russia,
Azerbaijan formed as a nation and country in the beginning of 20th
century,” writes the Travelvivi.com.

Then it continues saying that it is known as the ‘Land of Fires’
and is in the list of 5 dangerous places tourists avoid visiting for
very important reasons.

“Though blessed with spectacularly beautiful nature and a wealth
of attractions, including a great many UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
which Azeri claim to be their heritage, Azerbaijan, rich with oil and
gas, still remains one of those countries, where there are concerns
regarding freedom of expression and freedom of the media, as well as
worries of being mugged or robbed, attacked or being insulted, and be a
subject to a physical attack because of your skin color, ethnic origin
or religion. Azerbaijan recently came into light of international
media after releasing, pardoning and giving a national hero status
to a convicted axe murderer Ramil Safarov,” says the website.

‘AZERBAIJAN IS A PIVOTAL COUNTRY IN TURKEY FOREIGN POLICY’

News.Az
Wed 17 October 2012 10:59 GMT | 11:59 Local Time

News.Az interviews Nigar Goksel, Turkish Policy Quarterly Editor
in Chief.

How do you assess the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations?

Relations between Baku and Ankara were strained a couple of years ago
however seem to be solidified now – due to conscious efforts to realign
on multiple dimensions. I was happy to see at the Humanitarian Forum
earlier this month that Turkey was represented by a wide spectrum
of the Turkish policy community. This indicates to me that there is
an understanding that the much-needed “diversification” in the links
between the two countries is taking place.

The countries have strong bases of partnership – from societal
solidarity to geo-strategic interests. Therefore the relations have
implications for not only foreign policy but also domestic politics.

Given the importance of Azerbaijan for the voting constituencies,
it can be expected that the Turkish government will ensure this
relationship remains strong as the Turkish elections near.

Azerbaijan is a pivotal country in Turkey foreign policy. Due to
Turkey’s recent divergence with Moscow and Tehran in particular, Turkey
has in a sense regained its counterbalancing position in the region,
which is also traditionally important for Baku’s strategic purposes.

Collaboration in energy transit is also an important dimension of
the relations, and one that produces win-win benefits. TANAP is
an important development on this front. The two countries are also
working more closely in their lobby efforts around the world – though
I remain somewhat skeptical about Azerbaijan’s taking on too much
advocacy in line with Ankara’s lobbying efforts regarding1915, as
this might drain capital from Azerbaijan’s position vis a vis Karabakh.

Friction between Turkey and Azerbaijan does surface occasionally-
with a tendency to suddenly flair up. Stereotypes about Azerbaijan
still exist in certain segments of the Turkish intellectual elite,
and require sustained engagement to be overcome.

How do you see the solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Current developments do not appear to be conducive for the resolution
of this conflict, unfortunately. Not only are the two states in
stalemate but expectations and tensions within the societies are
also hiking. Though the status quo is bad for not only Armenia and
Azerbaijan but also Turkey’s traction in the region and European
soft power, none of the actors seem to be in a position to enable
a resolution.

What do you think about cooperation between Azerbaijan and European
institutions?

Though I understand Baku’s frustration with European inability to
contribute more to strategic questions and power balances in the
region, it is still worthwhile that Azerbaijan not fall behind the
other countries in the region in terms of integration with the EU.

Though painstakingly slow and cumbersome, the opportunities of visa
free travel and intensified economic cooperation offered by Brussels
can benefit the opportunities of Azerbaijani citizens. Gradual adoption
of European values and governance models will contribute to human
development in Azerbaijan.

The Council of Europe is also an important institutional link between
Azerbaijan and Europe. To be effective though, the Council of Europe
needs to be able to incenvitize Azerbaijan towards reform, and this
requires an approach that does not single out Baku, but is equally
demanding in enforcing political standards in countries like Russia
which have an ability to set the ‘tone’ of the region. The weakening
of Turkey’s accession process and Turks’ negative perceptions of the
EU’s fairness is probably also a factor that plays a negative role
in Azerbaijan’s assurance of the EU’s role and impact in the region.

Elshan Rustamov

DISABLED PEOPLE’S RIGHTS NOT PROTECTED PROPERLY IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. Disabled people’s rights are not protected
properly in Armenia, Susanna Tadevosyan, head of Bridge of Hope
nongovernmental organization and founding member the National Union
for Disabled People’s Rights Protection, said Thursday in Novosti
International Press Center.

She pointed out unemployment as major problem for the disabled.

According to Armenian Employment Service Agency’s latest figures,
90,000 of the 170,000 registered disabled are working-age and skilled
people who are, however, jobless.

In 2011, Bridge of Hope NGO established The Best Employer award and
asked Yerevan employers to inform it how many disabled people work
at their establishments.

“Some 99% of the surveyed employers gave us a written answer saying
they have no the disabled among their employees,” Tadevosyan said.

It has become known form the survey that the only organizations with
significant number of disabled employees are VivaCell-MTS and HSBC
Bank Armenia.

“Many employers in the country think that if one has disability degree,
he is not able to perform one or another work,” Tadevosyan said.

Among other problems, she singled out the lack of conveniences and
discrimination.

She is convinced that substantial legislative changes and the
authorities’ good will are needed first of all for successful efforts
to break the mould.

Stressing the importance of the mass media, Tadevosyan said that they
can highlight disabled people’s problems.

She said the union intends to press for setting special quotas for
this category of people, and added that the labor and social affairs
ministry is now working out a new draft law for that, which is believed
to be sent to the National Assembly in 2013.

GAS PRICE TO GROW IN ARMENIA, PAPER SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 17, 2012 – 14:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Gas price in Armenia may grow to AMD 196 up from
AMD 132 in April, Haykakan Zhamanak daily said citing sources familiar
with the matter.

“Should Russia-suggested gas price be accepted, gas tariff will
soar to AMD 196 per 1000 cubic meters. Which means Russia will raise
the price to $330 instead of officially announced $180 (the actual
official price is $230.)

“The parties will most probably agree on a price of $250-260 per 1000
cubic meters, in which case the gas tariff will amount to AMD 163.

However, the final decision will be announced in Spring, 2013,”
the daily said.

NCFA TO REPRESENT ARMENIA AT TTG INCONTRI TRAVEL EXHIBITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 17, 2012 – 13:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia
(NCFA), along with 6 Armenian travel agencies, will represent Armenia
at TTG INCONTRI annual world travel exhibition which will take place
in Rimini, Italy from October 18 to 20.

This year, an estimated number of 2,000 travel agencies from around
130 countries are expected to take part in the exhibition.

The Italian market is one of the target destinations of NCFA’s tourism
promotion and the anticipated results from the efforts directed at
its development are quite promising, the NCFA said in a press release.

It is noteworthy that the number of Italian tourists coming to Armenia
nearly doubled during the period of 2008-2011. This year, the figure
is expected to grow by 20%.

ALMA TO HOST SETIAN TALK ON ‘HUMANITY IN MIDST OF INHUMANITY’

Armenian Weekly
October 17, 2012

WATERTOWN, Mass.-On Sun., Oct. 21, author Shahkeh Setian will discuss
her book, Humanity in the Midst of Inhumanity, at the Armenian Library
and Museum of America (ALMA) as part of her New England book tour.

Setian’s ‘Humanity in the Midst of Inhumanity’ Humanity examines
the 1915 Armenian Genocide with special emphasis on Turkish Muslims
who saved Armenian lives at the risk of their own and that of
their families. Included in the book are 16 stories submitted by
descendants of Armenians who were saved by Turkish Muslims, as told
by the survivors.

Setian’s message to those of Armenian descent is that they have a
moral imperative to publicly honor such noble heroes. She cautions that
it is overdue and is very much in danger of being lost in the fog of
history and in the passage of time. The long-held anger towards Turks
who were responsible for the genocide is difficult for some to separate
from the brave Turkish Muslims who saved Armenian lives, and must not
serve as a barrier to preserve that part of Armenian history, she says.

During the talk, Setian will ask for anyone in the audience who
has similar stories to submit them to her-not to include in a book,
but rather to include in a list of remembrance to be displayed at an
appropriate location at a later date.

Setian earned a doctorate in education from the University of
Massachusetts Amherst. She’s taught at Springfield College and
Artsakh University, and designed and taught a class at Cape Cod
Community College entitled, “The History of Genocide: Using the
Armenian Genocide as a Case Study.”

The daughter of genocide survivors, Setian lived for a year in
post-war Artsakh (Karabagh) as an independent volunteer, to help
with Armenians’ post-war recovery. She now lives on Cape Cod, in
Massachusetts, and is the mother of three, and grandmother to five.

The lecture is free and open to the public, and begins at 2 p.m. ALMA
is located at 65 Main St. in Watertown. For directions and more
information about the program and current exhibits on display,
visit

RANDY BELL – ERIC V. HACHIKIAN : VOYAGE A AMASYA

Publie le : 17-10-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
livre cette information traduite par Georges Festa et publiee sur le
site Armenian Trends – Mes Armenies le 13 octobre 2012.

Armenian Trends – Mes Armenies

Voyage to Amasia

Projection au Belmont Studio Cinema, 28 octobre 2012

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 13.10.2012

BELMONT, Massachusetts – Voyage to Amasia [Voyage a Amasya], un
nouveau documentaire dû a Randy Bell et Eric V. Hachikian, sera
presente en première a Boston au Studio Cinema, dimanche 28 octobre
a 14 heures. Le film a ete presente en première mondiale au Festival
du Film Pomegranate [Grenade] a Toronto en decembre 2011, où il a
remporte le prix du Meilleur documentaire.

Il a aussi ete projete lors du Festival International du Film de
l’Abricot d’Or en 2012 (Erevan, Armenie), du Festival International du
Film de Minneapolis et du Festival du Film Independant de Philadelphie,
et sera projete en novembre 2012 lors du Festival International du
Film de Saint-Louis.

Voyage to Amasia decrit le retour du compositeur Eric V. Hachikian
dans sa ville de ses ancetres, Amasya en Turquie, près d’un siècle
après que les soldats ottomans aient deporte sa grand-mère, Helen
Shushan [Chouchan], durant le genocide armenien. Ayant longtemps
reside a Belmont, Helen Shushan joua un rôle actif dans de nombreuses
associations culturelles et educatives, y compris celles qui parrainent
cet evenement.

Le film est cale sur le trio avec piano homonyme d’Hachikian, qui
a inspire au depart ce documentaire. Voyage to Amasia ouvre une
brèche a travers le passe, celebrant le lien du compositeur avec
sa grand-mère et revelant ce qu’a pu etre la vie de sa famille en
Turquie. Il explore aussi de quelle manière les evenements survenus
il y a presque un siècle continuent de tendre les relations entre
Armeniens et Turcs aujourd’hui.

Inspire par l’histoire d’une famille, les realisateurs entament leur
propre periple dans l’espoir de faire naître une comprehension plus
grande entre deux peuples toujours en conflit.

Bell est un realisateur independant, base a Washington, D.C. Ses films
documentaires, qui explorent des thèmes aussi divers que la musique
populaire americaine, l’architecture moderniste europeenne au milieu
du 20ème siècle et la catastrophe des orphelins du sida au Kenya, ont
ete primes au Festival International du Film de Cleveland, au Festival
du Film et de la Video de Nouvelle-Angleterre et a celui d’Ivy.

Titulaire d’une maîtrise de l’Universite d’Harvard (2000), il a soutenu
un mastère en politique publique auprès de la Harvard Kennedy School
of Government en 2010.

La musique d’Hachikian a ete qualifiee par le New York Times de ”
captivante et originale “. On peut retrouver ses compositions et
orchestrations dans de nombreux grands films, spectacles televises
et campagnes publicitaires au niveau national et international. Elles
ont aussi ete jouees au Carnegie Hall, au Symphony Hall de Boston, au
Getty Center a Los Angeles et dans le cadre du Off-Broadway a New York.

Une reception suivra le film, avec la possibilite de dialoguer
avec les realisateurs. En honneur de l’engagement d’Helen Shushan
auprès de la communaute armenienne, cet evenement est parraine
conjointement par le Musee-Bibliothèque Armenien d’Amerique, la
Friends of Armenian Culture Society [Societe des Amis de la Culture
Armenienne], l’Association Nationale pour les Etudes et la Recherche
Armeniennes (NAASR), et l’Armenian Cultural Foundation [Fondation
Culturelle Armenienne]. Entree libre.

_____________

Source : Traduction :
© Georges Festa – 13.102.2012.

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Source/Lien : Armenian Trends – Mes Armenies