Author: Kanayan Tamar

REVUE DE PRESSE
Le talent et la lumière de Shart

Par Zéna ZALZAL | 07/03/2012

Exposition La galerie Hamazkayin rend hommage à Shart, un peintre
franco-arménien de renommée internationale, disparu il y a un an, à
travers un accrochage d’une trentaine de toiles prêtées par des
collectionneurs privés.

« Je vis avec les hommes, je partage leurs peines et leurs joies »,
répétait Sarkis Artinian, alias Shart, qui avait bizarrement choisi ce
pseudonyme qui sonne comme Sharp (tranchant en anglais). Alors que
rien n’est plus doux, plus lumineux et tendre que le regard porté par
ce peintre sur les êtres et la vie. Un regard profondément aimant et
sensible retranscrit dans des toiles d’une émouvante beauté. Et d’une
magistrale qualité. Né à Beyrouth en 1927, de parents arméniens,
Sarkis Artinian – pas encore Shart – montre, très jeune, des
dispositions pour le dessin. À 15 ans, il est apprenti dessinateur au
service géographique des FFL. À 20 ans, il part pour l’Italie et passe
par Paris, où il fait la connaissance de Carzou, fréquente les
ateliers de la capitale française et entame des recherches effrénées
sur l’abstraction. Durant quelques années, ce passionné de dessin
nourrira son talent de voyages et de visites de musées à travers
l’Europe, où il décrochera même, en 1951, un prix de dessin en
Scandinavie. Ce sera le premier des 17 prix internationaux qu’il
glanera au cours de sa carrière. Laquelle débute véritablement, en
1952, par une première exposition à Beyrouth, avant de décoller
internationalement très rapidement après son installation à Paris où,
naturalisé français, il vécut jusqu’à la fin de ses jours. Soixante
ans plus tard, c’est à Beyrouth, dont il gardait la nostalgie malgré
des années passées en France – et où devait se tenir son ultime
exposition programmée à quelques jours d’intervalle de son décès en
janvier 2011 -, que ses fils ont voulu lui rendre un hommage à travers
l’exposition d’une trentaine de ses `uvres de ses différentes
périodes. Un très bel accrochage, à but non commercial, auquel ont
participé 17 collectionneurs en prêtant, gracieusement, leurs toiles
jusqu’au 10 mars, à la galerie Hamazkayin*. Laquelle déploie sur ses
cimaises essentiellement des `uvres à l’huile, mais aussi quelques
aquarelles, lithos et encres de Chine de ce peintre de la douceur des
sentiments. Car il se dégage de toutes les toiles exposées un
expressionnisme tendre, un humanisme feutré qui, du portrait de la
jeune Arménienne au regard triste baptisé Fille à la Colombe (daté de
1955 et la plus ancienne pièce de cette sélection) à la lumineuse
scène de marché au poisson intitulée Gens de la mer, évoque la vie des
gens d’un pinceau trempé dans une souriante sollicitude. Un pinceau à
la technique sans faille, traçant avec fermeté, vigueur et amplitude
des lignes simples encerclant une palette chromatique d’une grande
harmonie. Un pinceau qui, au fil des années et des périodes
thématiques, va se libérer et évoluer vers un dessin moins angulaire,
des couleurs plus claires, veloutées et contrastées. Et qui, de la
grave splendeur des paysages de Bretagne, de Neige en banlieue ou de
Neige sur Montmartre (dans les années soixante), ainsi que des figures
d’enfants tristes (de la même époque), va se diriger vers de joyeuses
descriptions de corps de métier (Personnages de cirque, Famille de
baladins, Marchands…) à travers des scènes de genre plus
grouillantes et colorées.

L’hommage de Picasso Plus il avance en ge, plus Shart semble ne
vouloir retenir que les moments de grce et le côté ensoleillé de la
vie. La preuve, même les Quais de Notre-Dame, huile peinte en 1989, se
nimbent d’une lumière rosée. Une tonalité qui imprégnera désormais
l’ensemble des `uvres de cet artiste qui a conscience de la laideur du
monde, mais lui tourne le dos. Un artiste dont Picasso aurait loué le
talent par ces mots : « Il y a des peintres qui transforment le soleil
en une tache jaune, mais il y en a d’autres qui, grce à leur art et à
leur intelligence, transforment une tache jaune en un soleil. Shart
fait partie des seconds. » Un peintre dont l’art séduit les yeux et
réchauffe le c`ur !

* Bourj Hammoud, Shaghzoyan Center. Horaires d’ouverture : tous les
jours de 10h à 20h. Tél. : 01/241262- 3- 4.

dimanche 11 mars 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

EUROVISION
L’Arménie participera au concours de « l’Eurovision Young Musicians-2012 »

L’Arménie participera au concours de l’« Eurovision Young
Musicians-2012 » dont les demi-finales se dérouleront le 5 et 6 mai à
Vienne (Autriche) et la finale le 11. L’information est sur le site
officiel de l’« Eurovision ». 14 pays sont inscrits pour ce concours
des jeunes musiciens. Ces participants sont l’Arménie, l’Allemagne,
l’Autriche, le Belarus, la Bosnie-Herzégovine, la Croatie, la
République tchèque, la Géorgie, la Grèce, les Pays-Bas, la Norvège, la
Pologne, la Slovénie et l’Ukraine.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 11 mars 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

Netanyahu assures Iran will be attacked in near future

11:27 . 09/03

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured Israel will attack
Iran in the coming weeks. He didn’t rule out use of force in general.

The prime minister, who returned to his country after the end of the
talks with US President Barack Obama in Washington underscored that
Israel may resort to weapons if Iran doesn’t respond to the sanctions
imposed on it and the international diplomatic efforts and doesn’t
halt the nuclear programme.

In Washington, too, the Israeli PM assured President Obama that no
attack is planned against Iran at this moment, but they don’t rule out
its possibility, either.

Imminent Arrest of Hartashen Mayor Implicated in Sexual Molestation of Minor
Marine Madatyan

hetq
16:42, March 5, 2012

The latest development in the alleged sexual molestation of a 14
year-old girl in the village of Hartashen is that the mayor,
implicated in the case, will soon be arrested.

This is what the girl’s uncle has told Hetq.

`The investigators told me that the Mayor Azat Ghukasyan will be
arrested in a day or two and that everything is proceeding normally,’
said Gagik, the girl’s uncle.

This morning, the girl gave testimony with the assistance of a psychologist.

`I wasn’t present at the interview, but the investigators told me
later that they only need to talk to a few more people before charges
are brought,’ Gagik told Hetq.

While an official at the Syunik Regional Administration told Hetq that
the girl’s family refused the offer of an attorney, saying they
already had one, today Gagik told Hetq that the family hadn’t hired
anyone to legally represent them.

`Why do we need a lawyer when the proof is plain to see,’ Gagik explained.

The girl’s uncle said they were satisfied with the way the case is
proceeding and would only hire an attorney if the need arose.

In the meantime, the criminal investigation according to Article 142
of the RA Criminal Code: `Lecherous acts with a person obviously under
16′ continues.

Ambassador of Great Britain meets ARF-D representatives

18:25 . 09/03

The coming elections in Armenia have already appeared in the centre of
attention of the international community. This interest also makes
ambassadors of different countries in Armenia to meet political forces
and to clarify their positions.

At the suggestion of the newly appointed Ambassador of Great Britain
to Armenia Katherine Leach, ARF-D bureau member Vahan Hovhannisyan and
Director of ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Kiro
Manoyan presented to the ambassador not only the party’s positions on
elections processes, but also touched upon the Armenian-Turkish
protocols and the latest developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks.

ARF-D, being against the protocols in the form they were presented
from the very start, doesn’t at all deny the necessity to establish
diplomatic relations with Turkey. But it must be done in a way that
Armenia doesn’t appear in a worse situation, than it is now. It is
obvious that our country will pay some price and in case signatures
are not withdrawn from the protocols, it will pay a higher price.

`So far the international forces, which have been a guarantee in the
process, haven’t expressed the criticism Turkey’s behaviour deserves,’
Vahan Hovhannisyan has said.

Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Vahan Hovhannisyan reminded
the ambassador of the resolution of the European parliament, according
to which the EU must directly deal with republics not recognized, and
has said that it must follow the resolution. But, at the same time, EU
must not try to replace any Minsk Group member country with another
country by rotation.

`Rotation will mean losing all the heredity that Minsk Group, as the
most specialised political structure, has accumulated over 20 years,’
Hovhannisyan has said.

Moreover, concerning success in talks Vahan Hovhannisyan has also
attached importance to NKR’s becoming a party in the negotiation
process.

Though RA Electoral Code has improved as compared to the previous one,
but there are still gaps, legislative gaps. In his talk with the
ambassador Vahan Hovhannisyan has reminded of ARF-D’s concerns during
the discussion of the Electoral Code.

`We haven’t hidden our dissatisfaction with the new order of forming
election commissions. There are legislative gaps, which may contribute
to the continuation of the defective practice,’ the ARF-D bureau
representative has said.

After the end of the meeting Vahan Hovhannisyan noted that it was
especially important for the newly appointed ambassador to get
acquainted with ARF-D’s viewpoints as the party’s positions on the
Armenian -Turkish protocols, as well as on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue
are attached great importance in the international arena. Visible
changes take place in EU’s policy and the positions of Armenian
political forces are very important for the countries playing the main
role.

The Six Pointed Star of Armenia Filed under: Architecture, Art,
Crafts, Culture, History, Religion, Science

– March 7, 2012

Marble tombstone of the Armenian Grand Prince Hasan Jalal Vahtangian (1214-1261)

A few months ago, I made a YouTube video about the history of the
Armenian Wheel of Eternity. Maybe the most iconic among many ancient
Armenian symbols. As expected people started to ask questions and post
comments. Among the commentators a keen observer noticed that in some
cases Armenians depicted the Wheel of Eternity inside a six pointed
star. Because of the many questions I received since, I’ve decided to
finally grant this symbol attention in a manner of a blog post.

Most people today associate the six pointed star (hexagram) with the
JewishStar of David (Magen David), as it is the modern symbol of
Jewish identity and Judaism. In 1948 it was even adopted on the
official flag of Israel. According to Wikipedia: `Its use as a symbol
of the Jewish community dates to the 17th century.’ However, like many
other aspects of Armenian culture, not much has been written about the
Armenian usage of the hexagram. Even though its usage in science, art,
architecture, decorations and even for religious purposes has been
extensive throughout the history.

Historically Armenians are skilled mathematicians, architects and
craftsman. As such geometry has always been very special to the
Armenians. The ancient Armenians had a refined knowledge of astronomy
and were able to predict astral events. The oldest known observatories
are located inArmenia. Dated as early as 4200 BCE, Karahunj and the
ca. 2800 BCE observatory at Metsamor allowed Ancestral Armenians to
develop geometry to such a level they could measure distances,
latitudes and longitudes, envision the world as round, and were
predicting solar and lunar eclipses about 1000 years before the
Egyptians began doing the same. Armenian architecture is often
geometrically sound with straight linesconnecting columnsand
mathematical precision.The geometry of the Armenian architecture has
stood the test of time bypreserving many ancient buildings in a
region dominated by war, poverty and natural disasters. The fortress
cities and temples that have been excavated in Armenia (some going
back as far as 7000 years) show a remarkable awareness of using
geometry in constructing sacred buildings, using a complex system of
squares, rectangles, circles, polygons with intersecting patterns.

Geometry emerges from the study of natural laws. With such knowledge
one can build structures, create devices and predict astral events. As
such geometrical shapes have been considered magical by the ancients.
For without geometry, you cannot build anything, and its knowledge was
the key to survival, and believed to be a key to unlocking the secrets
of the universe. This love for creation/construction has enabled the
early Armenians to value geometrical shapes and symbols giving them a
prominent place in the Armenian Culture.

Floor plan of a Medieval Armenian Church of the Shepherd

Among many symbols Armenians used the six pointed star for
architectural purposes. Early Armeniansbelieved the symbol to hold
magical powers and incorporated it in architecture, astronomy and
sacred art. Attesting to that are the numerous Armenian churches that
are constructed in the shape of a six pointed star, the usage of
hexagrams to support the dome or simply as sacreddecoration
protecting the Church like magiccharms.

The first and the most important Armenian Cathedral ofEtchmiadzin
(303 AD, build by the founder of Christianity in Armenia) is in fact
decorated with many types of ornamented hexagrams.Another example is
seen on the tomb of an Armenian prince of the Hasan-Jalalyan dynasty
of Khachen (1214 A.D.) in the Gandzasar Church of Artsakh(see above).
Maybe the most famous example of architectural usage of ahexagramcan
be admired in the12th century Armenian Church, the Cathedral of St.
James in Jerusalem.Where the hexagram shaped arches aresupporting
the dome. Similar dome arches in the shape of a six pointed star can
be foundthroughout ancient Armenia. To name a few; theexcellent
craftsmanship of the Khorakert monastery dome, or the 13th c.
Khoranashat monastery

That the Armenians are acquainted with this symbol from the times of
the immemorial became once again clear when the oldest known depiction
of a six pointed star (dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.) was
excavated in the Ashtarakburial mound in `Nerkin Naver'(in
Armenia). This was confirmed by a series of radiocarbon analysis of
artifacts, conducted in laboratories in Germany and the USA.The
handle of a dagger depicts the worlds earliestdecoration of a
six-pointed starburiedin aburialmound containing over 500 graves.

As people who love to build and create Armenians have always valued
science. Geometry in particular has a long history in Armenian arts,
religion as wellas sciences. While the usage of hexagrams (as I have
demonstrated) has been significantthroughoutthe course of Armenian
history, there exist many othergeometrical shapes and symbols
prominentin Armenian culture. Geometry is after all bound to Armenian
culture.The (eight pointed)ArmenianStarfor exampledeservesit’s
own entry and will be covered next time around.

In closing the following are a few more examples of hexagram usage in
ancient Armenia.

TargatoCN, Italia
6 marzo 2012

Armenia: la responsabilità del silenzio. Un dibattito a Cuneo per non
dimenticare

Dalla collaborazione tra Associazione `Donne per la Granda’ e
Provincia di Cuneo nasce la serata di approfondimento intitolata
`Armenia: la responsabilità del silenzio’. L’appuntamento è in
programma per le 18 di venerdì 16 marzo, nella Sala Falco del Centro
Incontri di Cuneo.

All’introduzione a cura della presidente della Provincia Gianna Gancia
e della presidente dell’Associazione `Donne per la Granda’, Giovanna
Tealdi, seguirà la relazione a cura di Martina Corgnati, studiosa di
storia e cultura armena e docente di storia dell’arte all’Accademia
Albertina di Torino. I lavori entreranno nel vivo con la trattazione
delle seguenti tematiche: inquadramento storico-politico e necessità
di un riconoscimento; Armenia e Provincia di Cuneo: un confronto
possibile?; Armenia: arte, cultura, memoria … la responsabilità del
silenzio. Alla proiezione di diapositive e contributi video si
alterneranno i contributi del pubblico. Alle 20,45 è prevista la
proiezione del film `Le voyage en Arménie’ di Robert Guédiguian’.
Seguiranno il dibattito e le conclusioni.

Spiega la presidente Gancia: `Ricordare, ricostruire i fatti serve a
ridare dignità a coloro che furono uccisi. E’ risarcimento morale per
chi è rimasto. Ma, soprattutto, rappresenta un monito alla
sorveglianza, diretto alla società attuale: abbiamo il dovere morale
di vigilare per evitare il reiterarsi della storia. Non a caso il
Consiglio provinciale della Granda ha approvato, nella seduta del 28
novembre scorso, un ordine del giorno, promosso dal gruppo Lega Nord,
e finalizzato ad esprimere solidarietà al popolo armeno. Ma anche e
soprattutto a confermare la necessità di un intervento da parte
dell’opinione pubblica mondiale verso l’ammissione della verità
storica di una delle pagine più buie della storia europea. Quel
genocidio degli armeni che costituisce punto nodale per
l’avvicinamento della Turchia all’Unione Europea’.

L’iniziativa rientra appieno tra i fini istituzionali
dell’Associazione `Donne per la Granda’, con particolare attenzione
per il sostegno al dibattito culturale e sociale, a garanzia dei
diritti civili.

`Proprio a sostegno di questo fine associativo – spiega la presidente
Tealdi – abbiamo organizzato la serata di approfondimento sul tema
dell’Armenia. Il titolo che abbiamo dato all’iniziativa ci pare
davvero auto-esplicativo rispetto al messaggio che vogliamo
trasmettere. La responsabilità del silenzio focalizza l’attenzione su
un aspetto cruciale: il non dire, il non partecipare può equivalere a
negare il diritto di esistere, il diritto di vedere riconosciuta una
responsabilità che la storia è in grado di documentare’.

`Donne per la Granda – conclude Tealdi – attraverso questa serata
vuole assicurare un modesto contributo ad un dibattito che ha come
sfondo la barbarie, la violenza, la negazione dei diritti civili.
L’invito a partecipare è rivolto a tutti. Acquisire consapevolezza su
un problema dibattuto a livello politico ed istituzionale europeo,
significa, in una battuta passare dalla Granda all’Europa attraverso
un approfondimento storico culturale’.

L’Associazione, costituita con atto notarile a Cuneo il 10 maggio
2010, conta attualmente 68 iscritte in rappresentanza dell’intero
territorio provinciale. Tra gli obiettivi di `Donne per la Granda’
rientra la promozione dell’immagine femminile, con particolare
attenzione al contrasto alla violenza e alla discriminazione nel
lavoro. Persegue, inoltre, la promozione della cultura, la
conciliazione dei tempi, la partecipazione al dibattito
socio-culturale, la garanzia dei diritti civili e la promozione del
territorio di appartenenza.

US Department of State: Armenia is not a major drug-producing country,
domestic abuse of drugs is modest

armradio.am
09.03.2012 19:32

`Armenia is not a major drug-producing country, and because of
conservative social mores domestic abuse of drugs continues to be
relatively modest. Because it lies along smuggling routes between Asia
and Europe, Armenia continues to experience some use as a transit
country for drug trafficking. However, since Armenia is landlocked and
the two longest of its four borders remain closed, the resulting
limited transport options make the country a secondary route for drug
trafficking,’ the US Department of State said in its 2012
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) to Congress.

`The Armenian government continues to reform its border control
system, which falls primarily under the purview of the Border Guards
(a unit of the National Security Service), Customs Service (a unit of
the State Revenue Committee), and Police. With U.S. assistance,
Armenia continues to develop and implement an integrated border
management regime that should improve its ability to detect shipments
of illegal drugs and other types of contraband.’ the report noted.

`Drugs are smuggled into Armenia primarily from Iran (heroin and
opiates) and Georgia (opiates, cannabis and hashish). Small amounts of
opiates and heroin are smuggled from Turkey via Georgia. There have
also been cases of small-scale importation from other countries,
mostly by mail or by arriving airline passengers. Should Armenia’s
closed borders reopen, Police predict drug transit will increase
significantly,’ according to the report.

`Armenia continues drug abuse prevention through awareness campaigns
and treatment of abusers. The Drug Detoxification Center funded by the
Health Ministry provides short-term treatment, and two new facilities
which opened in 2009 helped augment long-term assistance to abusers.
>From mid-2010 to mid-2011, the Drug Detoxification Center provided
methadone substitution treatment to approximately 120 registered
addicts and plans to expand this treatment to Armenia’s prison system
in the future,’ the report notes.

The document further notes that `Armenia does not encourage or
facilitate illicit production or distribution of narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances, nor does it encourage or facilitate the
laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions.”

`Government authorities appear genuinely committed to combating
illegal drugs, and given the strong stigma attached to drug abuse, it
remains a rare occurrence when officials engage in drug trafficking.
The relatively low level of drug use and trafficking likely owes more
to Armenia’s strong social mores, its geography, and closed borders
than to effective law enforcement. While police and border authorities
are steadily improving their capabilities, they still suffer from
structural deficiencies in personnel, training, equipment,
intelligence collection, and interagency and international
coordination. In order for Armenia to win the upper-hand in combating
drug abuse and trafficking, law enforcement will need greater
resources, more training and improved coordination. The Armenian
government will also need to expand its awareness and treatment
efforts.

The USG will continue aiding Armenia in its counternarcotics efforts
through law enforcement capacity building and cooperation on
operational drug trafficking issues. The USG works to promote
reconciliation between Armenia and its neighbors, and pursues the
re-opening of closed borders in the region. Continued assistance would
help Armenia secure re-opened borders against narcotics trafficking as
well as other forms of transnational crime,’ the report concludes.

Traffic police major’s car crashes on Armavir road

14:32 . 09/03

Assistant commander of 1st battalion 2nd squadron platoon of traffic
police, police major Hakob Safaryan’s car crashed this morning in the
region of Armavir.

Photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan informs that he crashed with a service
car, a Toyota Corolla into a Toyota Vitz driving in the opposite
direction at around 10:00am on Yerevan-Armavir road, at the beginning
of Metsamor town. The registration number of the Toyota Vitz is 23 Ô¼Õ-
989. Its driver is resident of Armavir town, 56 years old Samvel
Sahakyan. After the first crash the car of the police coworker came
out of the traffic zone, crashed into the trees on the pavement and
appeared in a ravine overturning on 20 m.

The police coworker was taken to `Armenia’ Medical Centre with bodily
injuries and from there to `Erebuni’ Medical centre in Yerevan.

The witnesses of the accident told Gagik Shamshyan that Hakob Safaryan
tried to bypass the big pit on the road and at that time Toyota Vitz
coming from the opposite side closed his sight, `maneuvered’ and the
police coworker tried to bypass it in order not to crash into Toyota
Vitz after which it crashed into a tree and overturning on several
metres appeared in a dean.

UK Ambassador deems work of Armenian electronic media unbiased

11:10, 9 March, 2012

GYUMRY, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS. The UK Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Catherine Leach referred to the activities of local
mass media at a press-conference in Gyumri, Armenpress reports. The
Ambassador was mainly impressed by the impartial activities of
electronic media. Catherine Leach had the same attitude towards the
print media. Whereas Ambassador does not see diversity of media
activities in TV media and wrapped up that there is great work to be
done in that direction.

At the press- conferenence UK Ambassador dwelled on the elections of
local self government bodies. She had positive attitude particularly
from elections in Hrazdan.