Author: Kanayan Tamar

THE ARMENIAN LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE IN GERMANY: MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Ofelya Sargsyan

hetq
16:20, April 2, 2012

This year UNESCO declared Yerevan as the World Book Capital, based
on 500- year anniversary of Armenian printing (1512-2012). Meanwhile,
the German-Armenians´ Central Council announced 2012 as the Armenian
library and archive establishment year in Germany. Therefore, the
Armenian communities and organizations will organize various events
in honor of the jubilee year, and in sake of the establishment of the
Armenian library and archive. Of this series the first program realized
the Hamburg-based “Kilikia” Youth Union presenting a literature
evening dedicated to the well- known Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak in
Leipzig on March 10.

“KiliKia” Youth Union initiated the literature evening dedicated to
P. Sevak in 2010 and first presented this two-hour literature evening
in the Hamburg-based Armenian Union.

In March 2011 due to the 3-day invitation by the Union of the Armenian
Academics-1860 (AAV-1860) “Kilikia” presented the program in Bochum,
Ruhr .

A member of the “Kilikia” Youth Union and the initiator of the project
dedicated to P. Sevak, Ani Margkaryan says, “Our primary goal is to
introduce the Armenian poet and his activities to the young living
in Germany as well as evoke love and interest towards the Armenian
culture, which at some level we managed to do”. One of the leaders
of the Leipzig-based Armenian community, Anahid Babayan mentioned,
“It is symbolic that the Leipzig-based Armenian community was the
first to realize a cultural event from the series of programs in
honor of the Armenian Library and Archive year in Germany as it was
here that the first Armenian scientific-cultural center, the Union
of the Armenian Academics was founded in 1860. So, let it also in
the case of the library the sun of the Armenian community rise in
the most eastern Armenian community of Germany.

The President of the German-Armenians´ Central Council Azat Ordukhanyan
made the following comment regarding the event: “Such programs
contribute to the strengthening of the inter-community communication
and create a mutual understanding between the Armenians living in
different cities, provide opportunity to exchange experience, which
is strictly necessary in the Diaspora”.

Through the decision of the “Kilikia” Youth Union and the Leipzig-based
Armenian community all the proceeds from the evening will be presented
to the fund for the creation of the Armenian library and archive in
Germany. The idea of establishing an Armenian library and archive
in Germany is a program developed by the Union of the Armenian
Academics-1860 for years. It was offered to the German-Armenians´
Central Council so as to be realized by all the Armenian communities
and unions in Germany. Since 2011 the German-Armenians´ Central Council
has started a large-scale action towards this direction by sending
the program to about 6000 Armenian addresses, organizing telethons in
September- October, which will still have continuation this year. In
addition to the cultural programs within the framework of the jubilee
year, the organization of telethons, the German-Armenians´ Central
Council is also looking for donors for this important and significant
project.

The fund for the establishment of the library will be the 300 books
collected by the Union of the Armenian Academics-1860. There are also
a lot of promises to make book donations. Azat Ordukhanyan notes:
“For the Armenian community of about 65 000 in Germany it is of
great importance to have a library as apart from the daily use, the
establishment of the library and archive is also in line with the
German-Armenians´ Central Council´s strategy which is to restore the
image of the Armenians as the nation of science and culture”.

It remains to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the
Jubilee year and establish in Germany a new institution meeting the
requirements of the 21st century, the Armenian Library and Archive.

RUSSIA LAVROV: ANNAN’S PLAN SHOULD BE JUDGED BY UN

JPost.com
04/02/2012

04/02/2012 15:22 MOSCOW – Peace envoy Kofi Annan’s plan for ending the
bloodshed in Syria should be judged by the United Nations Security
Council and not by the “Friends of Syria,” Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Monday.

“Kofi Annan has a mandate from the (UN) Secretary General and the
Security Council. The Security Council will judge who should implement
his (Annan’s) proposals, and how,” Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov

AGHJAYAN OUTLINES ANC AGENDA IN MERRIMACK VALLEY
by Tom Vartabedian

April 2, 2012

CHELMSFORD, Mass.-George Aghjayan remembers the past with fond
recollection.

ANCA Eastern Region chair George Aghjayan, center, is flanked by
Merrimack Valley ANC co-chairs Aram Jeknavorian, left, and Ara
Jeknavorian, right.

He recalls his connection to Merrimack Valley and especially his
long-time friendship and respect for late Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA) activist Bill Mesrobian.

“Bill was one of my mentors who led the local ANCA for so many
years-a dedicated activist, leader, and inspiration to me personally,”
Aghjayan traced back. “He touched the lives of so many people. His
efforts will never be forgotten.”

Aghjayan has his own agenda these days as newly appointed chair of
the ANCA Eastern Region.

One of his appearances came during a Merrimack Valley fundraising
reception hosted by Armen and Sossy Jeknavorian March 24.

Close to 40 people showed up for the event, raising $3,800 for
the local chapter. The sum included a $1,000 gift from Aghjayan in
memory of Mesrobian. The evening also drew an appearance by cellist
Sevan Sarian.

Co-chairs Aram and Ara Jeknavorian welcomed and thanked supporters
for their donations and pledges. The local chapter continues to
remain active with projects and legislative issues. A pan-Armenian
Genocide commemoration and procession are planned for April 21 in
downtown Lowell.

Aghjayan presented a brief talk on the ANCA, encouraging fresh
enthusiasm into the organization.

Priests from three different churches turned out for an ANCA
fundraising reception March 24 in Merrimack Valley. (R-L) Der Khachatur
Kesablyan, Der Karekin Bedourian, and Der Vart Gyozalian, joined by
Yeretsgin Pauline Kassabian, and Merrimack Valley ANC co-chairs Ara
Jeknavorian and Armen Jeknavorian.

“We’ve met with successes and setbacks over the past year but our
determined march toward justice continues,” he said. “I challenge
each of you to participate in that mission.”

Aghjayan said it’s a mistake to assume that just because the ANCA has
not reached our ultimate goal, that it has not achieved anything or
that the approach is misguided.

“Even our occasional setbacks can be tied to the tremendous gains
we’ve made over the past 50 years,” he pointed out. “The principal
stand we’ve taken over the past decade against such anti-Armenian
initiatives as TARC and the Armenian-Turkish protocols clearly show the
ANCA is the leading advocacy group representing Armenian Americans.”

Pastors from three different Apostolic Churches joined together in
prayer and fraternity: Der Karekin Bedourian, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover; Der Khachatur Kesablyan, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Chelmsford;
and Der Vart Gyozalian, Armenian Church at Hye Pointe, Haverhill.

RETOUR SUR LE RAPPORT DE LA DCRI
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 3 avril 2012

Le site internet a
fait paraître un article sur le rapport de la DCRI consacree aux
associations ultranationalistes turques en France.

Le site rappelle qu’un ” residant americain inconnu a poste un PDF de
d’un rapport des services secrets sur un site web francais de partage
de fichier, Calameo, le 16 mars 2012. Puis le PDF a ete poste sur
la page Facebook d’un site web nationaliste turc, la Radio MIT. Puis
finalement, l’information a ete diffuse aux journaux “.

Revenant sur l’article de Zaman Today le site internet resume les
activites de Maxime Gauin, stagiaire a l’Organisation International
de Recherche Strategique (USAK) et celle d’administrateur secret d’un
site negationniste du genocide des Armeniens (). Le
site rappelle egalement le procès intente par Maxime Gauin a l’encontre
de Movses Nissanian indiquant que ce dernier ” n’a recu aucun appui
des associations Turques de Lyon ” pour ses depenses.

Le site internet pose alors deux questions ” si, il est confirme que
gauin est un agent des services secrets cela soulève deux questions
clefs :

les services secrets francais ont-ils directement ou indirectement
finance presque deux annees la longue poursuite judiciaire contre
Movsès Nissanian ?

Est-ce que le cursus de doctorat de Gauin a l’Universite technique du
Moyen-Orient (METU/ODTU ) fait parti de l’operation de renseignements
? ”

HAKOB HAKOBYAN TO SUE SEYRAN SAROYAN AT EUROPEAN COURT

Panorama.am
10:28 03/04/2012 ” Daily press

Parliamentary candidate Hakob Hakobyan (Choyt) told Hraparak that
he had met with OSCE/ODIHR observers on Monday. Hakobyan had told
the observers that General Seyran Saroyan intimidates voters at
constituency No.19. Hakobyan told the paper that he had evidence that
Saroyan had been away for at least 2 years and 7 months in the past
five years. Hakobyan has appealed against Saroyan’s registration as
a parliamentary candidate to the Administrative Court.

“I am going to appeal to the Constitutional Court, and if my appeal
is rejected in Armenia, I will appeal to the European Court,”
said Hakobyan.

La Montagne, France
Vendredi 30 Mars 2012

L’Arménie avant le génocide

ROBERT GUERET

Sortiesdes terroirsC’est un fascinant témoignage que nous livrent, sur
les pas d’un scientifique, deux universitaires. Voici l’Arménie russe,
juste avant le génocide arménien. Un document qui trouve toute son
actualité.

Pierre Bonnet était l’un des pères de la science géologique en
Arménie. Il étudia au début du XXe siècle la géologie du Caucase du
sud. Ses recherches ont impacté durablement l’évolution des sciences
sur cette parcelle du monde.

C’est-ce qu’expliquent Françoise Ardillier-Carras, professeur de
géographie à l’Université d’Orléans, et Olivier Balabanian, professeur
honoraire de géographie de l’Université de Limoges. Ils signent
ensemble Arménie russe, aventures scientifiques à l’époque des tsars,
1909-1914, juste avant donc la Première guerre mondiale et la
révolution bolchevique. À la veille surtout du terrible génocide qui,
en 1915, provoqua la mort de 1.500.000 personnes. L’événement est
revenu au coeur de l’actualité récente.

Les deux universitaires nous embarquent sur les pas de Pierre Bonnet
(1879-1965), scientifique, photographe et artiste, né dans la région
parisienne. Il a participé à cinq grandes expéditions en compagnie de
son épouse, Nadedja, une Arménienne. Pierre Bonnet a laissé des
carnets de voyage, des photographies, des croquis, des dessins
aquarellés qui nous entraînent dans des paysages de montagne, dans
l’intimité de populations méconnues. Ce livre, abondamment illustré
(plus de 170 documents), restitue un passé disparu à grand renfort
d’informations inédites. Pierre Bonnet s’est intéressé à la géologie
mais aussi à l’histoire, à l’ethnographie ainsi qu’aux ressources
naturelles. Ses travaux, abrégés par les conflits, n’en connurent pas
moins un grand succès. Ils lui valurent les sollicitations de
l’Académie des sciences de Russie. En 1925, il soutint un Mémoire :
Étude stratigraphique et tectonique de la Transcaucasie méridionale.
Les auteurs de l’album proposent une approche d’une Arménie secrète,
celle de villages perdus ou disparus. Leur itinéraire va à la
rencontre d’un peuple hospitalier dont il ravive la mémoire. Ils se
sont embarqués sur les pas de Pierre Bonnet, avec un siècle de recul.
Mais la guerre arméno-azérie et le blocus de frontières rendent
impossible le parcours du savant dans sa globalité.

è Références. Les Ardents éditeurs, Limoges, 240 pages, 42 ?.

Robert Guinot

Kuwait Times, Kuwait
April 1 2012

Sheikha Fraiha endorses Armenian Church demands

KUWAIT: Sheikha Fraiha Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah announced that she will
continue supporting efforts of the Armenian community in Kuwait to
have a piece of land licensed for building an Armenian Apostolic
Church in the country.

Sheikha Fraiha, who is the chairperson of the Kuwait Society for Ideal
Family, announced her endorsement during a ceremony held in her honor
at the Sheraton Hotel following her visit to the Prelacy of the
Armenian Orthodox in Salmiya on Thursday.
Describing her as a `role model in modesty’, Bishop Shahi Banossian
said that the visit of Sheikha Fraiha is an `important occasion we
thank God for’.

Meanwhile, Armenian Ambassador to Kuwait Fadey Charchoghlyan expressed
his gratitude to Sheikha Fraiha for her `distinguished and historic’
visit.

Interfax, Russia
March 31 2012

Armenian sniper wounds Azeri farmer – Azerbaijan TV

BAKU. March 31

An Armenian sniper wounded a resident of the village of Alibeili near
the frontline on Friday, Azerbaijan’s ANS television has reported.

Farmer Vyusal Guliyev was wounded by a sniper shot when he was working
in the field. He was rushed to a hospital, where surgeons removed a
bullet from his hip. The wounded farmer’s condition is serious but
stable, the ANS television station said.

A ceasefire was declared between Azerbaijan and Armenia in May 1994.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe regularly
sends monitoring missions to the frontline, assisted by an OSCE envoy,
to see if the ceasefire agreement is being observed.

Sd

PRESS RELEASE
Analysis Research and Planning for Armenia (ARPA) Foundation
P.O.Box 33603
Granada Hills, CA 91394
Tel: 818-586-9660
Fax: 818-881-0010
Email: [email protected]

“The Case For “Abandoned” Properties of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
(Emvali Metruke)”, by Dr. Garo Moumdjian Thursday, April 12, 2012 @ 7:30PM,
Merdinian Auditorium: 13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. Please
attend if you can.

All ARPA Lectures are Free to the public. We would like to ask all those who
have attended any of the lectures and panel discussions of ARPA Institute
and/or have enjoyed the material presented and/or sent via e-mail or
Youtube, will find it in their hearts to support ARPA activities in Armenia
and the USA by donating generously or taking part in the 20th Anniversary
Booklet (attached form). Please send your tax deductible donations to the
ARPA Institute Treasurer, Mr. H. A. DeMirjian, 13100 Addison, Sherman Oaks,
CA 91423.

If you were not able to attend the lecture on Thursday, March 22, on “Baruir
Sevag” by Father AAndon, you may view it on Youtube by clicking on the
following link:

Number of Eligible Voters Increased While Armenia’s Population Dwindling

Friday, March 30th, 2012

YEREVAN – The number of eligible voters officially registered in
Armenia has increased by nearly seven percent since the last national
election four years ago, according to the voter lists updated ahead of
the upcoming parliamentary polls.

The voter rolls posted on the official websites of the Armenian Police
and the Central Election Commission show that the number of people in
Armenia allowed to vote in the May 6 elections is just over 2,485,000
– an increase by more than 165,000 voters as compared to the official
figure reported before the 2008 presidential election.

Many believe that such a growth is impossible given the rate of
emigration, as well as the preliminary data of the census taken last
year, according to which Armenia’s permanent population has dwindled
by some 415,000 to around 2,870,000 over the 10-year period. They also
challenge the assumption that only less than 400,000 people in the
country are actually below Armenia’s national voting age of 18.

Meanwhile, head of the Passport and Visa Department of the Armenian
Police Hovannes Kocharian dismissed the speculation about any kind of
deliberate distortion of the electoral rolls to meet the interests of
the ruling political force or any other groups. He explained the
essential rise in the number of voters by a more meticulous
registration of citizens in Armenia in the past four years.

`A total of 359,614 voters, who weren’t on the 2008 lists, have been
added to the register by this year,’ he said.
By the time the Police in its statement published on Thursday insist
that the assumptions about the figure’s being exaggerated `do not
correspond to reality,’ information to the contrary had been posted on
Facebook.

Edgar Tamaryan, 25, a Facebook user, found his relatives – who in fact
live in Georgia – included on the voter registration list as living in
Yerevan.
Further, more than 100 people were `registered’ as living at that same address.

Opposition groups have cast doubts over the veracity of the electoral
rolls presented by the authorities. They again accuse the government
of trying to rig the vote by inflating the official number of
registered voters.