Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Representative of Armenian community in Syria: Neither opposition nor
Government of Syria displays negative attitude towards Armenians

arminfo
Tuesday, August 14, 19:58

The Armenians of Syria are in safety and they are not going to leave
Syria, Maral Eleyjyan-Manjikyan, the principal of an Armenian college
in Syria, told journalists.

Moreover, she pointed out that the Armenian community of Syria is not
endangered, as neither the opposition nor the Government of Syria
displays a negative attitude towards Armenians. She added that the
conflict in Syria mostly affects the financial state of Syrian
Armenians. But even in this case the Syrian Armenians have no
intention to leave the country forever. The families which have no
permanent job mostly migrate from the country, but the number of such
cases is very small.

For his part, Tigran Jinbashyan, member of the Armenian community in
Lebanon, said that it is more reasonable to organize training courses
for the children of Syria in Lebanon, not Armenia, given the
similarity in curricula and teaching methods.

Homeless’ comes to help Iran quake victims
Art Desk

On Line: 14 August 2012 15:47
In Print: Wednesday 15 August 2012

Armenian-Iranian singer Araz Torosian in an undated photo
TEHRAN — The celebrated Armenian-Iranian singer Araz Torosian has
released a new song, entitled `Homeless’, to encourage people to help
the victims of earthquakes hit regions in East Azarbaijan Province.

The lyrics of the song, which was published on some Iranian websites,
has been composed in Persian.

Torosian traveled to Iran after the earthquakes to join other artists
and football stars who have rushed to help the quake survivors.

According to the latest count, 306 people were killed and more than
2000 were injured in the two successive earthquakes that hit the
northwestern Iranian province on Saturday afternoon.

Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. An
earthquake in the city of Bam in 2003 left 25,000 people dead.

Lawyers reveal noteworthy circumstances in Harsnaqar case’s materials

tert.am
10:50 – 13.08.12

MP, owner of Harsnaqar restaurant Ruben Hayrapetyan was aware what was
happening in the territory of his restaurant during the incident, and
`perhaps was the one to order the beating’, lawyers of the legal
successor of Vahe Avetyan, military doctor severely beaten in the
restaurant, claimed after getting familiarized with the materials of
the case.

Lawyers of Vahe Avetyan’s father Lusine Hakobyan and Tigran Yegoryan
speaking to RFE/RL said five of the 6 arrested, considered the
security guards of the restaurant, had accompanied Ruben Hayrapetyan
during the whole day. Hakobyan said the materials of the case reveal
very interesting circumstances, among them that Ruben Hayrapetyan was
in Sevan on June 17 returning to Yerevan at about 7 p.m., which means
that the mentioned five persons, except the waiter, accompanied him in
Sevan and Yerevan. `It means that the rest of the day, during which
the incident had occurred, Ruben Hayrapetyan and the mentioned five
people were together at Harsnaqar restaurant,’ she said.

Hakobyan claims the materials of the case prove that the five people
are not working at Harsnaqar restaurant.

Three military doctors were severely beaten in Harsnaqar restaurant on
June 17. One of the doctors, Vahe Avetyan, died 12 days later in
hospital from the received injuries.

Orientalist welcomes the moderation of Armenian community in Syria

15:57, 13 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenia, which is a part of Middle
East, is interested in peace and stability in the region. Armenpress
reports that during the press conference on August 13 Director of the
institute of oriental sciences Ruben Safrastyan mentioned that that
Armenia is concerned with Syrian events also because of Armenian
community in that country. `There is not any Armenian who wants Syrian
community to face danger of collapse. We see that the tensioned
situation in Aleppo has weakened. Our compatriots show moderation,
endurance’ said Safrastyan.

`Another community could found itself in panic but Syrian Armenians
prefer to stay in danger and keep their properties and job. Our
authorities must be ready for all possible developments. If everything
returns to previous peace condition than we must be ready to support
them’ he mentioned.

According to Syrian centre of Human Rights Defense Organization the
ongoing clashes have resulted in the death of over 19000 people. By
the info of Arab mass media more than 12000 were peaceful civilians,
while more than 5000 were security officers. Among the victims there
were 7 Armenians, 2 of which were the Syrian Army militaries. Because
of lasting disturbances in Syria a number of people are leaving the
country, getting refugee status in other countries. Recently Syrian
Armenian Community representatives are also quitting the state. The
applications submitted from Syria by our compatriots are being
envisaged by accelerated procedure, at least within ten days.

Armenian PM visited Syrian Armenian children

15:45, 13 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan on August 13 visited Syrian Armenian children who spend their
vacations in Armenian city Hankavan. Prime Minister was accompanied by
the Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan. Armenpress reports that the
Prime Minister welcomed our compatriots, talked with them than danced
with children.

The head of the Government conveyed to Syrian Armenian children the
greeting of President Serzh Sargsyan and stressed that all events
implemented for children are organized under under the auspice of the
President.

The director of the camp Ashot Avetisyan mentioned that the camp in
summer period had already accepted around 700 vulnerable children with
two terms. ‘This year we after two terms we also received Syrian
Armenian children’ he said. The director also added that the children
feel themselves very well as the daily life is full of different and
various events.

National air carrier `Armavia’ airline jointly with Armenian
Government on August 9 implemented the first special flight in
direction Yerevan-Damascus-Yerevan. From Damascus 137 children arrived
in Armenia. During the session of the Government on August 9 Tigran
Sargsyan mentioned that two more planes will leave for Syria, this
time to Aleppo in order to transfer around 300 children to Armenia.
The next Yerevan-Damascus-Yerevan flight is planned on August 23.

Syria’s Armenian community unwilling to return homeland – expert

August 13, 2012 – 15:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Syrian Armenians are reluctant to move to homeland,
Director of RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies said.

`Despite rumors in Armenia, suggesting the whole community is willing
to flee Syria, none of the prominent Syrian Armenians has yet come up
with such a statement,’ Ruben Safrastyan said.

The expert noted that the community continues to stay in the country,
having sent children to a secure place.

`The community’s organized actions are testimony to our nation’s
historic experience,’ he said, stressing the need for RA to hold a
cautious stance on the Syrian issue, considering Armenian community
residing in the country.

Bohjalian Talk Attracts Full House at ALMA

by Armenian Weekly
August 13, 2012

WATERTOWN, Mass. – More than 250 people attended the book presentation
by author Chris Bohjalian on July 26 at the Armenian Library and
Museum of America (ALMA) in Watertown.

Author Chris Bohjalian during the Book Talk at ALMA. Photo courtesy of
Jirair Hovsepian
The talk was part of a nationwide book tour, dubbed `The Sandcastle
Girls Rock and Roll Book Tour,’ which took the author across the
country, from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New England, New
Jersey, and to Capitol Hill.

Bohjalian’s 15th book, The Sandcastle Girls, is considered his most
personal novel; he describes the narrator, Laura Petrosian, as a
fictional version of himself. The story takes the reader from Aleppo,
Syria in 1915 to Bronxville, N.Y. in 2012, and has its roots in the
author’s Armenian heritage.

Bohjalian said he wrote a novel in the early 1990’s about the Armenian
Genocide, but in the end decided not to publish the manuscript, which
he called an `apprentice’ work rather than a novel.

Bohjalian, a master speaker, exhibited his talent in public
storytelling, showing photos of his family and of his trips to Syria
and Armenia, and giving away T-shirts at the end of his presentation.
More than 100 copies were sold at the book-signing session.

On July 23, Oprah Winfrey’s blog declared The Sandcastle Girls the
must-read `Book of the Week.’ The novel was also chosen as an Indie
Next selection for August, and Everyday eBook cited it as one of
`Eight Summer Books for Beach and Beyond.’ The Sandcastle Girls also
received stellar appraisals from the Washington Post, USA Today,
Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly, and People Magazine.

`The Sandcastle Girls represents – in addition to a great literary
work – a great contribution to the American and global public awareness
that will be required to end, forever, the cycle of genocide and
denial,’ said Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

Syrian rebels may use Ankara-supplied weapons against Turkey itself – analyst

news.am
August 13, 2012 | 14:34

YEREVAN.- Syrian rebels can use weapons supplied by Ankara against
Turkey itself, Armenian analyst believes.

Ruben Safrastyan, Director of Institute of Oriental Studies, said
Turkey, trying to nurse Iraqi Kurds, may deteriorate situation with
Kurds in its own territory.

`On the other hand Turkey is faced with a problem of Syrian refugees
who have already clashed with local police. By funding Syrian rebels,
Turkey may occur in a situation when the weapons may come back and be
used against Turkey,’ Safrastyan said.

The analyst considers that the regime of Bashar Assad has not taken
drastic measures in its military struggle.

`One of the opition is chemical weapons. If the government decides to
use it, not only Syria but neighboring states, including Turkey, will
be affected,’ he added.

Safrastyan also said that support to the Syrian opposition impacted
recently deteriorating Turkey-Iran relations.

Safrastyan considers unprecedented Iranian criticism against Turkish diplomacy

13:50, 13 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS: A series of events take place around
Syria lately which can have influence on the deepening of the
situation in that country. Such opinion expressed Director of the
Institute of Oriental Sciences Ruben Safrastyan during the press
conference on August 13 highlighting that governmental forces have
great difficulty in changing the balance of power in their favor.

`They managed to defeat the riots in Damascus, in Aleppo where the
fights still go on. During this period Iranian diplomacy became very
active. Iran actively helps Syria and condemns Turkish activities’
mentioned Safrastyan as Armenpress reports. He considers unprecedented
the fact that Iranian envoy obviously criticized Turkish diplomacy in
Turkey. Western world considers Syrian events as a measure of pressing
Iran. `But we should not forget that Iran has great opportunities and
its declarations on Turkish diplomacy speak about the fact that Iran
has levers which can be used’ stressed the speaker. The holding of the
meeting of Foreign affairs ministers of Arabic countries in Saudi
Arabia did not take place: Safrastyan suggests from that the
disagreements in Arabic world strengthened.

According to Syrian centre of Human Rights Defense Organization the
ongoing clashes have resulted in the death of over 19000 people. By
the info of Arab mass media more than 12000 were peaceful civilians,
while more than 5000 were security officers. Among the victims there
were 7 Armenians, 2 of which were the Syrian Army militaries. Because
of lasting disturbances in Syria a number of people are leaving the
country, getting refugee status in other countries. Recently Syrian
Armenian Community representatives are also quitting the state. The
applications submitted from Syria by our compatriots are being
envisaged by accelerated procedure, at least within ten days.

ELECTION MUNICIPALE
L’ancien maire de Gumri renonce à se représenter

Vartan Ghoukassian maire controversé de Gyumri a déclaré vendredi
qu’il ne se représenterait pas lors des prochaines élections locales
et qu’il quittera ses fonctions après 13 ans à la tête de la deuxième
ville de l’Arménie.

La présence de Ghoukassian à l’élection du 9 septembre était pourtant
attendue. Mais, le Parti républicain d’Arménie (HHK), dont il est
adhérant, s’est engagé le mois dernier à soutenir un autre candidat
appartenant au Parti Arménie prospère (BHK), anciennement membre de la
coalition gouvernementale. Ghukasian a également été démis de ses
fonctions de chef de la branche HHK de la province de Shirak, dont
Gumri est la capitale.

Le maire gé de 51 ans a refusé n’a pas souhaité épiloguer sur sa
participation à l’élection. Son attaché de presse, Lilit Aghekian,
s’est contenté de déclarer à RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am) qu’il avait
décidé de ne pas se représenter `en dépit du fait que des milliers de
personnes dans Gyumri lui aient demander de le faire. »

« Le maire Vartan Ghoukassian n’a pas démissionné,` a déclaré
Aghekian. `Il n’est pas fatigué de travailler, il n’a que 51 ans. Il
est juste fatigué des conspirations, y compris celles des médias, dont
vous avez été témoin depuis 13 ans. `

Samvel Balasanian, candidat du BHK candidat, qui possède de vastes
intérêts commerciaux à Gumri, apparait désormais clairement comme le
favori de cette élection. Il sera notamment opposé à un candidat de la
Fédération Révolutionnaire arménienne, ainsi qu’à trois candidats plus
mineurs : l’un lié au Parti communiste, un homme d’affaires de 34 ans
et un chômeur.

Les électeurs Gumri seront également appelés à élire le 9 septembre un
nouveau conseil municipal qui compte 21 sièges pour 62 prétendants.
Les membres du HHK reconnaissent que la décision de leur parti à
l’égard de Ghukasian leur a fait perdre de nombreuses voix à Gumri
lors des élections législatives du 6 mai. Trois circonscriptions de la
ville ont été conquises par le BHK, le HHK s’imposant par ailleurs
largement dans le reste du pays.

Le parti dirigé par le président Serge Sarkissian a approuvé la
candidature de Balasanian malgré le retrait du BHK de son gouvernement
de coalition, un geste qui est intervenu après des mois de tensions
entre les deux partis. Certains observateurs suggèrent que le geste de
Sarkissian vise à tenter une réconciliation avec le BHK.

`A ce stade, je ne veux pas faire de commentaires politique », a
déclaré Aghekian. `Le maire en fera lui-même le moment venu.`

Les 13 ans de mandat de Ghukasian ont été entachés de scandales et de
controverses divers et variés. Les critiques, y compris les médias
indépendants, l’ont accusé de diriger un clan qui contrôle une grande
partie de l’économie locale et ne tolère aucune concurrence.

En 2007, Ghukasian a survécu de justesse une tentative d’assassinat.
Des inconnus armés avaient ouvert le feu sur son convoi à la sortie
d’Erevan, le blessant grièvement et tuant trois de ses gardes du
corps.

Ghukasian a également été gêné par le comportement de Spartak, son
fils aîné. Ce dernier a été condamné à 18 mois de prison en 2007 pour
avoir provoqué une fusillade avec un groupe à Gumri. Il a bénéficié
d’une libération conditionnelle six mois plus tard.

lundi 13 août 2012,
Ara ©armenews.com