Author: Kanayan Tamar

MAINE STATE SENATE RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
10.04.2012 17:08

Today the Maine State Senate will recognize the Armenia Genocide,
WCSH-TV reports.

There’s a joint order on the docket that recognizes that in 1915 the
Ottoman Empire launched a campaign to wipe out the Armenia people,
resulting in the death of more than 1.5 million people.

The resolution says that some survivors settled in Maine and they
want to recognize those survivors’ contributions to the State, and
express sympathy for the families of those who died.

BARONESS COX: THAT WAS A COLD BLOODED SLAUGHTER OF CIVILIANS IN MARAGHA 20 YEARS AGO

Panorama.am
10/04/2012

Panorama.am interviews Baroness Caroline Cox, who witnessed the
aftermath of mass atrocity crime in Maragha village during early
times of Nagorno Karabakh war, in April 1992

Panorama.am: My first question goes into your memories, Honorable
Baroness. You have been to Maragha village right after the mass
atrocities of April 10, 1992 – 20 years ago, when the village and its
inhabitants were wiped out by the Azeri militia and the army. Do you
have any untold memories to share?

Baroness Cox: Indeed, too many memories. We were in Stepanakert [then],
and we heard there was an attack to the village, called Maragha. We
immediately went out there on the day itself. Homes were still burning,
still smoldering. We saw the evidence of the atrocities which had
been carried out. I saw human bodies, beheaded. We had to do very
unhappy thing of asking the local villagers if they would mind us to
take photographic evidence of the bodies that they started to bury…

I have one in front of me at the moment… And I also have a photograph
in front of me of a villager holding an ear of his Armenian friend,
which had been cut off by Azeris. So the horror was there. We also
met some women, who survived, with photographs of their loved ones
taken from their smoldering homes in order to have memories of their
families who perished…

Panorama.am: I want to ask you to touch upon the international
campaign of the Governments of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh to bring
in international outcry on the atrocity. What has been done so far,
and what do you think should be done in this regards?

Baroness Cox: Ever since I witnessed the atrocities of what happened
in Maragha, I have been urging the Armenian Government and [Nagorno]
Karabakh Government to get the story told to the international
community, to raise this as a really serious example of Azeri crimes
against humanity. What happened in Maragha was a serious [crime]
in terms of cold blooded slaughter of civilians with decapitation
and burning.

The Government of Nagorno Karabakh has indeed published an account
of what happened in Maragha. I think the Governments of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh should make efforts to place it on the news screens
of international community: it was an absolutely horrendous, cold
blooded crime, a deliberate slaughter of innocent civilians in a brutal
way. And I think the Armenian Government really should be making it an
international issue, and taking Azerbaijan into international arena,
to get this horrible situation on the record, and Azerbaijan called
to international accountability.

What happened in Maragha is an untold truth, and needs to be told
both for justice and for the people of Maragha who suffered so much,
their survivors shall know that justice is done, and Azerbaijan to
be brought to account for that apparent crime against humanity.

Panorama.am: Following up on what you just mentioned, considering
there was no any “military necessity” to wage an attack on Maragha,
and it was quite away from the war scene, can we claim it was a war
crime and/or a crime against humanity, as you phrased it?

Baroness Cox: It is certain that what I saw was clearly an apparent
crime against humanity, which needs investigation. I saw a bloody
slaughter against innocent civilians, innocent villagers. Armenia
really needs to make a case for recognition of that as a crime
against humanity.

Panorama.am: Few days ago when the Armenian MPs were visiting Baku
for Euronest part session, Mr Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan,
called them “fascists”. In an earlier statement he proclaimed “world
Armenians are the enemy number one for Azerbaijan”. Judging from
the current totalitarian regime of Mr Aliyev and his family, do you
think international recognition of NKR is a best measure towards new
atrocity prevention?

Baroness Cox: I think there are the “Madrid Principles”, which are on
the table, which I think is agreed by the international community as
an appropriate way forward. They would give the Armenians of Nagorno
Karabakh the right to self determination and for secession, and it
should be internationally recognized in the same way as other valid
recognitions of the right of self determination and secession have
been granted to the people that had been subjected or attempted to
ethnic cleansing. There is no doubt that Azerbaijan had the intent
upon ethnic cleansing upon the Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh.

The President [Abdulfaz] Elcibey once said his “famous” statement
that if a single Armenian was left alive in Karabakh by next October,
then the people of Azerbaijan could take him and hang at the centre
square of Baku. This was a pretty forceful statement of ethnic
cleansing. The whole policy of the Operation “Ring” was a tacit
example of ethnic cleansing. So they have the right, I believe, for
self determination and secession, the same was as any other minority
group in a country where the regime of that country is trying to
exterminate them physically and culturally.

Panorama.am: The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
(ECRI) report last year alarmed, that it’s unsafe to show Armenian
identity in Azerbaijan, as the person would risk getting into huge
troubles, to put it in a smooth way. What steps shall the international
community undertake for easing the human rights and freedoms issue
there, and eventually – for denazification of Azerbaijan?

Baroness Cox: Well, I think, Azerbaijan is a country that carries out
oppressive measures such as, as we all know, inhibitions on the freedom
of speech. I think, there has been somebody who tried to tell the truth
about Khojaly, and he had been imprisoned. Any attempt of inhibition
of telling the truth is a fundamental violation of the fundamental
human right of freedom of speech. Any country which contravenes those
fundamental human rights, as defined in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, should be called into account, and there should be
measures taken against this. So I think there need to be recognition,
and much more robust calling into account to Azerbaijan for its human
rights violations against its own people today, who are suffering an
absence of any respect towards their human rights. Azerbaijan human
rights record is extremely unsatisfactory.

Panorama.am: Thank you very much indeed, Baroness, for this interview.

Baroness Cox: Please pass over assurances of my thoughts and prayers
to the people of Maragha, and let them know that I will make all
possible to make the world knowing the truth.

Mine Explosion Leaves 1 Soldier Killed, 6 Injured In North Turkey

press tv
Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:59AM GMT

At least one solider has been killed and six others injured in a mine
bomb blast in Turkey’s northern province of Amasya, Press TV reports.

The explosion occurred on Zana Bridge in Cigdemli village in the
suburbs of Amasya as a police vehicle was crossing over the bridge.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. No group has claimed
responsibility for the attack yet.

However, Kurdistan’s Workers Party (PKK) has been repeatedly blamed
for violent attacks against Turkish military forces.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the
international community, including Turkey, Iran, the European Union,
and the United States.

MEASURES UNDERTAKEN FOR PARTICIPATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 10, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s Central Election Commission
(CEC) is carrying out corresponding works for ensuring participation
of people with disabilities in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Chairman of the CEC Tigran Mukuchyan told Armenpress meetings were
held with relevant NGOs and the issues were discussed

The CEC has worked out a manual for people with poor eyesight. The
new web design of CEC has a separate service intended for people with
eyesight problems. It shows the web site with big letters.

The Electoral Commission is also intending to prepare ads relating to
the organization of voting. They will be translated for the people
with hearing problems. After the formation of electoral stations
the CEC will undertake works toward making them available for people
on wheelchairs.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for May 6.

SERZH SARGSYAN CHOSE WRONG AUDIENCE
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:24:59 – 10/04/2012

Serzh Sargsyan launched his campaign with meeting with young people
in Tsaghkadzor, a mountain resort. “My purpose is to incorporate
your recommendations, wishes, approaches in our programs. The world
is changing at a pace when the ideas of young people must act as
guidelines. Since young people are, as a rule, always courageous and
in most cases are not bound by cliches, they can give better and more
useful advice.”

Apparently, Serzh Sargsyan made a mistake in choosing his audience
if he needs fresh ideas by young people which are in line with global
development and will help Armenia keep up with this development.

In Armenia, youth is somewhere else and hardly ever appears in the
halls where Serzh Sargsyan makes his speeches. These young people make
the civil framework of the Armenian National Congress, the Heritage
Party and the Free Democrats, even the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, this
youth is in Mashtots Park, at Trchkan waterfall, Teghut forest, this
youth is the avant-garde in the battle for rights, law enforcement,
civil freedoms.

If Serzh Sargsyan needs fresh ideas and approaches which are in line
with the global development, he must go and address this youth.

Because the youth brought to him is just a group of young upstarts
who care for competition with their peers to appear in the sight of
Serzh Sargsyan and government and advance in their careers rather
than boost Armenia’s competitiveness in the region and in the world.

This youth justifies the mental and ideological defective goods of the
government rather than generates ideas. To make sure this is true, it
is enough to take a glance of the young people sitting in the first
row in meetings with Serzh Sargsyan. Most of them are Republicans
and government functionaries, worthy heirs of their senior colleagues
who are hopelessly behind the global developments, while the others
are standing in line for their turn.

The youth generating ideas is somewhere else, brings up and pursues
other issues which are related to public welfare, protection of rights
and freedoms and have nothing to do with their personal welfare.

Moreover, these young people forget about their own welfare and
personal comfort and choose the street, the square, spending nights in
rain instead of warm and comfortable offices not to let Armenia appear
in the deadlock of global developments, create a harmonious state in
Armenia, attractive for its citizens, upholding its Constitution.

Does he have the courage to face this audience and speak about change?

Is Serzh Sargsyan ready to meet with this youth, listen to their
unpleasing questions and opinions?

Certainly, there is another question too. Are these young people ready
to listen to Serzh Sargsyan, to meet him? Unlike the career hunters,
they do not rely on Serzh Sargsyan and his administration, they rely
on themselves, on other fighting citizens.

Serzh Sargsyan explained to those career hunters his campaign slogan
“Believe to Change”, urging them to believe themselves. Meanwhile,
the majority of young people in this hall believes their luck and
Serzh Sargsyan and hope that Serzh Sargsyan and the Republican Party
will appreciate their devotion and change their life, as the life of
most of their peers.

In reality, it is the young people involved in different opposition
political and civil movements who believe themselves and rely on their
struggle to achieve change, and unlike Serzh Sargsyan’s audience,
they believe only the citizen who claims to his rights and thinks free.

THE ENGLISH PHOTOGRAPHER’S WORK ABOUT ARTSAKH IS AWARDED A PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE

Wednesday, 11 April 2012 05:43

Photographer from London Anastasia Taylor-Lind is awarded a prestigious
international prize for the project National Womb: Baby-Boom in
Nagorno-Karabakh, the initiator of which is the non-commercial
Photographers’ Organization Center in Santa Fe.

In her work, Taylor-Lind presented the state program of birth
rate encouragement in the NKR, according to which, the newlyweds
are granted cash benefits for every newborn baby to ensure stable
demographic development of the region, which strongly suffered from
the war unleashed by Azerbaijan.

Anastasia Taylor-Lind will get a cash bonus in $10 000 and will present
her work at an exhibition in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She will also
have an opportunity to attend the annual Photo Gallery in Santa Fe,
which brings together hundreds of photographers, editors, and curators.

The contest’s jury comprised representatives of Denmark, Mexico,
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, and the USA. In their
statement, the contest’s organizers noted, “Regardless of the area,
where the photos were made, bringing victory to the author, this work
covered universal topics, to some extent internationally highlighting
the issues that affect us all”.

BLOOMINGDALE’S KITCHEN AREA TAKES AN ARMENIAN FLAVOR
By Mel Fabrikant

ParamusPost.com

April 9 2012

Two renowned Armenians, Michael Aram and Anahid Krichian Met at
Bloomingdale’s on March 28th to display their talents. Michael
Aram is well known for specialty high design household artwork and
Bloomingdale’s has devoted a unique area in which his showpieces are
on display. Anahid Krichian , the proprietor of Krichian Bistro &
Grill prepared Armenian food at Karinas Cuchina. The two Armenians
made their native country proud of this get together.

While Michael was on hand to showcase his products, Anahid catered
Armenian food at a private party before they approached the public. Mr
Aram was busy signing purchase for the public and the consumer was
offered a special gift with any regularly priced purchase of $150.00
or more.

Ms Krichan offered Armenian style food at a private reception before
the 1 – 4 PM public display. She made: Spinach & Cheese Beureg, Choreg
-Armenian Sweet Bread, Tahini Bread, Mini Lahmajuns, Olive Beureg,
Muhamara, Taboule, Keufte (Kibbe)and Yalanji (grape leaves)

While Michael Aram products are contnulally on display at
Bloomingdale’s Riverside Square location, Anahid Krichian can be
reached at or at Krichian Bistro & Grill

BURJ HAMMOUD: TREASURE TROVE OF CULINARY DELIGHTS
By Mirella Hodeib

The Daily Star

April 9 2012
Lebanon

BURJ HAMMOUD, Lebanon: Inside the bustling, densely populated narrow
streets of Beirut’s Armenian quarters, true culinary gems, each one
more enticing than the next, have existed since the Caucasus population
fled Ottoman tyranny to safer, less oppressive realms.

The industrial district of Burj Hammoud, northeast of the capital,
is not merely home to Lebanon’s Armenian community or migrant workers
from Asia and Africa; it is a treasure trove of cultures and culinary
traditions.

Scratching beneath the surface, scents of sumac, cumin and garlic
mix with those of caramel and vanilla in almost every corner of
Burj Hammoud.

Lebanon’s Armenians develop their skills to the point of perfection;
they’ll prepare their legendary sujok sausages and basterma meat with
the same passion and dexterity as when they create the fine jewelry
they are known for.

Crimson-red sausages and cured meat coated with pungent spices
hanging next to window displays of flashy jewelry are not completely
unfamiliar sights, since in Burj Hammoud, meat retailers, jewelers
and other craftsmen perfectly cohabit.

The district’s sujok and basterma can be tasted fresh because in the
past decade or two several butchers started sandwich sections.

The Basterma Mano deli on Municipality Street has been the most
creative in the field. In addition to traditional specialties such as
sujok and basterma sandwiches, Mano borrowed the concept of shawarma
and came up with the succulent fusion shawarma sujok, which is served
in Lebanese bread on a bed of finely sliced tomatoes and topped with
sour wild cucumber pickles.

To extend the Mano experience, think of buying sliced to order
basterma from their retail section as well as some old-fashioned
golden sandwich bread, “khibz franji” from the Veronna Bakery in
close-by Dora for a garlicky dinner the next day.

Mossis is another venue offering a wide range of sandwiches with an
Armenian twist. Located on the inner road linking Burj Hammoud to Dora,
Mossis is famous for its spicy, paper-thin meat on dough known as lahm
baajin, which is rendered even tastier by a squeeze of lemon on top,
as well as for its comforting chicken and celery amuse bouche.

Mossis’ roast beef, beef tongue and basterma sandwiches are also
widely popular for their taste, which is reminiscent of old times
when sandwiches did not drown in an overgenerous slosh of mayonnaise.

If you’re not offered vanilla-scented sweet dumplings with your
sandwich at Mossis, make sure to remind the staff about the crunchy
deep-fried tubular desert – a real enchantment to the taste buds.

But what about real Armenian home food? Fulfilling dishes such as
eetch, the hot version of Lebanese tabbouleh, or manti, the spicy
ground lamb mixture in a dough wrapper soaked in garlic yogurt with a
generous sprinkle of sumac on top, and sou boreg, the buttered phyllo
pastry with a melted cheese filling.

Typical Armenian cuisine, the kind of food you’d have at the home of
an Armenian friend, is not served in the capital’s well-known Armenian
restaurants but rather in the minuscule low-key chophouses hidden in
the maze-like backstreets of Burj Hammoud.

Karnigue Nigolian and his devoted commis/waiter Raffy have been feeding
their customers authentic Armenian specialties at the charming 30-seat
Restaurant Onno on Aghabios Street facing Sabtieh Church since 1990.

Nigolian, who goes by the nickname Onno, is particularly strict when
it comes to reservations, due to the dimensions of his two-story
restaurant, decorated with snapshots of pre-Civil War Downtown Beirut.

Onno’s fairly priced menu includes items hailing from Armenian and
Lebanese mezze and a lot of arak, of course – the anise spirit is
dearly cherished in both cultures.

The fiery chef is especially proud of his sweet and savory kebab
bi karaz (cherry kebab), which he serves up with toasted nuts and
fried bread.

Onno, in fact, nails the recipe: The gooey dark red cherry chutney
is satisfyingly sweet and the lamb kebab tender and juicy.

Onno confides that he shops for his meat, vegetables and most of the
remaining ingredients inside Burj Hammoud. One street in particular
will definitely delight every foodie.

Souk Marash is the home of spices and other materials required to
concoct flavorsome Armenian and other cuisine.

Bulk spices and seasonings, and also dried fruits, nuts and candy are
displayed on stands throughout the packed market, which is located
parallel to Arax Street, Burj Hammoud’s shopping hub.

At the spacious Bann Garo store right in the middle of Marash,
dried black cherries, an essential ingredient for kebab bi karaz,
are sold, but also a wide variety of cayenne pepper, chilli paste,
and walnuts to make the piquant muhamara dip.

Sweet sujok, the Armenian version of the Lebanese malban sweet,
is a bestseller at Bann Garo too.

Sold on wooden skewers, the sweet sujoks can be the perfect ending
to a culinary journey in Burj Hammoud. The caramel-scented sweets
are made with grape molasses, flavored with rose water and mastic
and stuffed with a variety of nuts, including walnuts and pistachios.

And just like Burj Hammoud was once a comforting refuge for newcomers,
in Marash, one is likely to find comforting infusions and herbal teas
to calm the indigestion incurred after a heavy meal in the lively
district that never fails to enchant inhabitants and visitors alike.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION DEMANDS PEOPLE LIVING ABROAD TO BE REMOVED FROM ELECTORAL LISTS

Vestnik Kavkaza
April 9 2012
Russia

Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage and the Armenian National Congress have filed
a letter to the police chief, prime minister, justice minister, CEC
chairman, international observers and foreign ambassadors in Armenia,
Armenia Today reports.

The letter says that the list of voters has 2,485,844 names, and with
account of 50,000 jailed servicemen and civilians of secret lists,
the figure reaches 2,535,844.

The document states that the census of 2011 stated a population
of 3,285,767, while the real population is 2,871,767. The three
opposition parties question authorities about 414,258 other people,
or about 700,000 according to experts.

Armenian opposition demands information on full list of citizens,
including the ones living abroad to make elections clear and legal.

The authors of the letter believe that it would make the elections
clear and prove elections as legal.

ARMENIA INTERESTED IN IRANIAN PETROLEUM

Vestnik Kavkaza
April 9 2012
Russia

Armenia is interested in Iranian petroleum, as stated by Jalil Salari,
Executive Director of the Iranian National Oil Company for petroleum
sales, Armenia Today reports.

Salari noted that it is disadvantageous for Armenia to import petroleum
from Georgia. Iran offers exports of fuel via road tankers, which
may be replaced by a pipeline in the future.

The Iranian and Armenian energy ministers signed a deal on exports of
gasoline and petroleum in February. Iran has refineries producing 50
million liters daily, with the oil industry producing 100 liters daily.

Alireza Zeydami, Executive Director of the National Oil Company for
refining and exports of Iranian oil, said that shipments of oil have
already started for Iraq, Armenia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said
that Iran exported 43 million liters of petroleum (from March 19,
2011, to March 19, 2012), making about $10 billion. Iran plans to
increase petroleum output.