Author: Kanayan Tamar

‘SILENCE THE LIES, ROCK THE TRUTH! VII’ TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24

10:47, 16 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The social justice concert “Silence the Lies, Rock the Truth! VII”
is slated to be held on Friday, April 24 at The Troubadour in West
Hollywood. The annual show’s line-up includes Sebu Simonian of Capital
Cities, Bei Ru, String Harmonies, K’noup, R-mean, Red Snow, and Tulips,
Asbarez reports.

“The most important thing about this day is to celebrate and cultivate
what our culture has given to us, despite the attempts to wipe it out,”
said performer Bei Ru about the show commemorating the centennial of
the Armenian Genocide. “We continue to grow regardless.

We are the future and we’re still here.”

The evening will be hosted by Shahane Martirosyan and Gayane
Khechoomian of Armenian Chronicles and feature a speaker from
the Armenian Youth Federation. Sponsors of the event comprise a
cross-section of Armenian organizations including the Armenian National
Committee of America- Western Region, Armenian Youth Federation, Alpha
Gamma Alpha of UCLA, and the Armenian Students Association of UCLA.

“The show is a culmination of the months leading up to April 24, which
are typically filled with events surrounding the Armenian Genocide,”
said K’noup Tomopoulous, one of the concert’s main orchestrators. “It
allows for a creative outlet to reflect on progress towards recognition
and to celebrate the survival and talent of a people.”

The concert is dedicated to raising awareness of the Armenian Genocide
in a showcase of music, activism, and commemoration by socially
conscious artists in the Los Angeles area. Now in its seventh year,
the show draws over 500 audience members as it unites human rights
advocates in calling for an end to the perpetration of genocide
globally.

Proceeds from the concert will be donated to two needy organizational
projects, the AYF Youth Corps and the Orran Chairty. The Armenian
Youth Federation’s 6-week Youth Corps program provides a memorable
and productive opportunity for youth to establish and strengthen ties
with the homeland, consisting of 4 weeks of volunteer work and 2 weeks
of touring. Beginning in 1994, volunteers first went to Artsakh to
help rebuild war-torn villages after the cease-fire. In 2008, the
AYF opened a summer camp in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city,
and continues to empower Diaspora Armenians with more direct roles
in nation-building. This is a chance for some to make a direct impact
on the lives of Gyumri’s most impoverished children and families.

The Orran Charity provides vital support and assistance to needy
Armenian children in Yerevan. Established in 2000, Orran, meaning
“haven” in Armenian, works to decrease the disparity between the needs
of at-risk groups and the availability of essential services. Orran
provides food services, academic assistance, cultural enrichment
opportunities and medical, psychological and social services for
vulnerable communities in Yerevan.

POUR LE PARLEMENT FONDATEUR, LE PEUPLE DOIT PARTICIPER

Reforme constitutionnelle

Un groupe de l’opposition radicale en Armenie a signale son intention
de demander l’approbation publique de ses propres amendements
a la Constitution, après avoir rejete le concept d’une reforme
constitutionnelle approuvee par le President Serge Sarkissian.

Garegin Chukaszian, le chef du Parlement fondateur, un mouvement de
militants politiques et civils qui cherchent un changement de regime
en Armenie, a dit vendredi qu’ils ont redige un soi-disant contrat
civil par lequel ils vont obtenir le consentement du public pour
l’elaboration de la nouvelle Constitution du pays.

La declaration du chef de groupe est venu dans le contexte
d’approbation par le president Sarkissian d’un concept d’amendements
constitutionnels en vertu desquels l’Armenie deviendra une republique
parlementaire.

Chukaszian dit que les partis politiques prônant des valeurs douteuses
ne devraient pas representer le peuple dans un processus comme changer
la Constitution. “Cela aurait dû etre fait avec la participation
de la population et les propositions aurait dû venir du peuple”,
a t-il souligne.

“Meme le meilleur document n’a aucune valeur s’il n’y a pas le peuple
derrière lui. Ce document de reforme est fait par des oligarques”,
a denonce le leader du Parlement fondateur.

lundi 16 mars 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES MASK CHARGES OF TORTURE AS ABUSE OF POWER

03.16.2015 15:56 epress.am

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, in his
summary report following his visit to Armenia in October, 2014, has
objectively and accurately analyzed the situation in Armenia, stated
Human Rights Defender Arman Danielyan and lawyers Yervand Varosyan
and Lusine Sahakyan during a press conference today, March 16th.

According to Sahakyan, the issues found in the report are so
deep-rooted and widespread, that the Commissioner was able to see
them during the few days of his short visit.

At the same time, the lawyers agreed that the report would have no
practical impact because such reports are frequently written and
the issues raised, however, there is no political will in Armenia to
solve those issues.

“I’m confident that nothing will change in practice. Even if the
executive legally has no influence overappointing judges, there is no
inner freedom. There are multiple tools for influencing the judges,”
said Lusine Sahakyan.

Yervand Varosyan noted that, nevertheless, as a lawyer, he is happy
that such a report exists; “We raise these issues everyday, but
we are told that we are being subjective speaking from a lawyer’s
perspective. Well, the Commissioner is not a lawyer. He’s turned the
main attention toward the judicial system. That is very important. We
will have no results until we have an independent judicial system,
regardless of the amount of reforms there may be.”

Varosyan also underlined that in his recommendations the Commissioner
stressed the necessity of changes in both legislation and practice.

“They have understood that Armenia is ready to change laws for 200
years. Our authorities are prepared to continuously change laws and
create separate subdivisions. They said ‘you don’t have a separate
investigative body’, so they created the Investigative Committee. If
need be, they will create 100 separate investigative services, but
not fight against torture,” said the lawyer.

He explained as to why criminal cases on charges of torture are almost
never initiated in Armenia. According to Varosyan, cases of torture
fall under the “abuse of official position.”

“When European experts, human rights defenders ask about how many
criminal cases on charges of ill-treatment have been investigated
and sent to court in Armenia, our officials mix everything up. They
say that they have initiated and sent to court over a 100 cases on
abuse of official position, but when asked about how many of those
cases were based on ill-treatment, they say that they don’t have
such statistics. They’re scared of being asked about how many cases
they have initiated on charges of torture and why they are not taken
to court.”

The lawyers noted that Muiznieks’ report is also important for the
European Court of Human Rights, because such observations are taken
into consideration while issuing verdicts. On another hand, in Armenia
they often ingenuinely initiate criminal case, in order to show the
European Court that a proper investigation has taken place.

According to Arman Danielyan, 143 cases based on complaints of torture
have been initiated last year, but 141 were closed; “It’s obvious,
they open the cases to immediately close them.”

AZERBAIJAN REFUSES TO ATTEND EURONEST PA SESSION IN ARMENIA

14:40, 16 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Azerbaijan does not participate in the 4th Ordinary Session of Euronest
Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan.

“Azerbaijan’s refusal to participate in the session shows the
country’s attitude towards Euronest, not Armenia,” Artak Zakaryan,
Head of Armenia’s delegation to Euronest PA, told Public Radio of
Armenia after the session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and
Civil Society in Yerevan.

“Azerbaijan has sent several explanatory letters to the Euronest
leadership to justify it decision not to attend the session. Among
the reason they have mentioned the European Parliament’s criticism
of the pressure against civil society in the country, the Karabakh
conflict, etc. I’m confident that representatives of Azerbaijani civil
society have simply been banned from visiting Armenia. This reflects
Azerbaijan’s attitude towards Euronest, not Armenia, and the European
Parliament has to make conclusions,” Artak Zakaryan.

Before the plenary session scheduled for March 17, representatives
of civil society from across the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region,
Members of the European Parliament and parliamentarians from partner
countries came together today to take stock of the achievements and
challenges of the EaP policy.

The event examined the new strategic context in the region, individual
countries’ aspirations, the successes and failures of the EaP to
promote reform and democratization, and the contribution that civil
society, the European Parliament and national parliaments can make
to drive and monitor the reform process.

In the run up to the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit and the ongoing
comprehensive review of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), the
event also aimed to propose ideas for the reconsideration of the EU’s
regional policy, its underpinnings and tools.

The issue of Azerbaijan’s absence was discussed at the forum, as well.

The participants stressed that the civil society representatives
should not miss the opportunity of joint discussions, irrespective
of the problems existing between the two countries.

“The issue was discussed at the Euronest Bureau. A letter urging
Azerbaijan to review its decision was sent to Baku, but they chose
not to participate,” said Krzysztof Bobinski, Co-Chair of the EaP
Civil Society Forum Steering Committee.

L’ARMENIE ET LE TURKMENISTAN ONT DES RESERVES INEXPLOITEES POUR STIMULER LEURS RELATIONS COMMERCIALES ET ECONOMIQUES SELON LE VICE-PREMIER MINISTRE TURKMENE

ARMENIE

L’Armenie et le Turkmenistan ont des reserves inexploitees pour
stimuler leurs relations commerciales et economiques, selon Sapardourdy
Toiliyev, vice-premier ministre du Turkmenistan qui s’est exprime
lors de la sixième reunion de la commission intergouvernementale
armeno-turkmène conjointe a Erevan.

M. Toiliyev, qui est aussi le co-president turkmène de la commission, a
souligne que son pays est dispose a renforcer les liens avec l’Armenie
dans divers secteurs economiques.

“Nous soulignons l’importance d’intensifier nos echanges bilateraux,
pour lesquels il existe un reel potentiel”, -at-il dit.

Le copresident armenien de la commission, le ministre de l’energie et
des ressources naturelles Yervand Zakarian a declare que le commerce
bilateral s’ elève maintenant a 12 millions de dollars, ce qui n’
est pas important et les pays peuvent augmenter cela de facon tangible.

Le ministre a dit la bonne dynamique des relations politiques
interetatiques entre les deux pays est une bonne condition pour
promouvoir egalement des liens economiques.

La reunion a permis egalement de discuter de la possibilite de lancer
des vols directs entre Erevan et la capitale turkmène Achkhabad.

La septième session de la Commission intergouvernementale sur la
cooperation economique armeno-turkmène se tiendra a Ashgabat.

lundi 16 mars 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

SERGE SARKISSIAN DONNE SON AVAL A UNE REFORME CONSTITUTIONNELLE

Politique

Serge Sarkissian a donne son aval politique a une reforme
constitutionnelle generale qui visera a transformer l’Armenie en une
republique parlementaire, malgre des “preoccupations” qui existent
toujours concernant “la securite externe et interne” du pays et
“la stabilite du système de gouvernement.”

Lors d’une reunion avec les membres d’une commission specialisee
engagee dans la redaction des amendements constitutionnels, Sarkissian
a decrit leur concept comme > et a declare que les
changements ouvriront “de nouvelles opportunites pour le developpement
democratique de l’Armenie”.

Jeudi, le president armenien a tenu une serie de reunions avec les
principaux membres des principaux partis du pays, dont la plupart
avait deja exprime leur opposition a la reforme.

Un seul parti de l’opposition parlementaire, le Congrès national
armenien (HAK), dont les representants n’ont pas rencontrer le
president dans le cadre des consultations, a refuse de s’engager dans
toute sorte de discussions sur la question.

Le HAK dirige par l’ancien president Levon Ter-Petrosian semble
etre fortement en faveur de la forme presidentielle de gouvernement
actuel, alors que le concept de reforme constitutionnelle devoile
l’annee dernière implique que l’Armenie deviendra une republique
parlementaire avec un puissant Premier ministre et un president
essentiellement honorifique.

La Commission de Venise du Conseil de l’Europe a donne une evaluation
globalement positive au projet l’annee dernière, mais a note que
la transition vers une republique parlementaire necessite “un large
consensus au sein de la societe.”

Plus tôt, un certain nombre des principaux partis de l’opposition
ont dit craindre que la reforme constitutionnelle soit, en fait,
un moyen pour Sarkissian et son Parti republicain (HHK) d’etendre
leur pouvoir politique pour les annees a venir.

Lors d’une rencontre avec les membres de la commission specialisee
sur les amendements constitutionnels, le president a presente son avis
sur le concept : “Bien sûr, les arguments de la commission specialisee
sur la transition vers le système parlementaire de gouvernement sont
considerables. En outre, la Commission de Venise estime que le système
parlementaire de gouvernement peut renforcer la democratie en Armenie.

Dans le meme temps, les consultations menees avec les forces politiques
montrent qu’il n’y a pas, ni objectivement ne peut avoir, d’approches
sans ambiguïte : il y a a la fois ceux qui parlent pour et contre le
système, il y a aussi des forces qui considèrent leur participation
a ce processus important pour leur decision finale, et le nombre de
ces forces est de loin plus important”, a declare Sarkissian, cite
par son service de presse.

ARMS IMPORTS BY AZERBAIJAN HAVE INCREASED BY 249 PER CENT SINCE 2005: REPORT

11:54, 16 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The United States has taken a firm lead as the major arms exporter
globally, according to new data on international arms transfers
published today by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
(SIPRI).

Overall, the volume of international transfers of major conventional
weapons grew by 16 per cent between 2005-2009 and 2010-14.

According to the report, Azerbaijan increased its arms imports by
249 per cent between 2005-2009 and 2010-14. Russia accounted for 85
per cent of Azerbaijan’s arms imports.

Armenia’s imports were just 4 per cent of those of Azerbaijan, the
report said.

TALK WITH AMBASSADOR: ARMAN KIRAKOSSIAN (PHOTO)

15:51, 21.02.2015

Armenian News-NEWS.am agency together with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Armenia launches a new series of interviews titled “Talk
with Ambassador”. The first interview is with Armenia’s Ambassador to
Austria, permanent representative of Armenia to OSCE Arman Kirakossian.

How are the relations between Armenia and Austria developing in recent
years? The Armenians showed interest in the repair of the stage of
Yerevan’s Opera House by Austrian experts.

Over the past three years Armenia-Austria relations have reached a
qualitatively new level as a result of mutual high-level visits. In
2012 President of Austria Heinz Fischer paid a visit to Armenia that
was marked as the first high level visit of an Austrian official and
was dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of
bilateral relations. The visit was important in terms of strengthening
of economic component of the bilateral cooperation: a business forum,
signing of a number of agreements. As a result, we enhanced relations
with the Austrian Development Agency that is carrying out several
projects in Armenia. Among the most successful ones is repairing of
the Opera and Ballet Theater, funding of the program on optimization
of legislation, support of Armenian-Syrian refugees, Austrian hospital
in Gyumri.

In April 2014, the regular meeting of Armenia-Austria
inter-governmental commission was held where the sides discussed
prospects of cooperation on agriculture, tourism, culture and energy.

Finally in late June 2014 President Sargsyan paid an official visit
to Austria when a Declaration on friendly relations and partnership
was signed.

During the visit, an agreement was reached on the implementation of
programs to re-equip the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall and repair the
building of the Academic Theatre after Sundukyan. During the visit,
the opening of “Armenia” multifunctional cente was held in Vienna
that will contribute to the development of the Armenian-Austrian
relations in the financial, economic and cultural sectors.

Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Heinz Fischer participated in the
Armenian-Austrian business forum in the Chamber of Commerce of Austria.

In September 2014 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Sebastian
Kurz traveled to Armenia where he held meetings with Armenia’s
leadership. He took part in the opening ceremony of the office of
the Austrian Development Agency, met with representatives of Syrian
Armenian refugees, visited the offices of the Red Cross in Armenia,
mother and child hospital in Gyumri.

In January 2015 Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan traveled to
Austria where a memorandum on cooperation in art and culture was
signed.

In 2015, the documents will be signed on cooperation in the fields
of education and agriculture.

The Armenian communities in German-speaking countries are not that
large. How long do they live in Austria and what contribution do
they make?

There are nearly 5,000 Armenians in Austria. The overwhelming majority
live in Vienna and the outskirts of the capital, a small groups live
in Salzburg, Linz and Graz. The Armenians first settled in Austria in
the seventeenth century, while the Mechitarists [congregation of monks
of the Armenian Catholic Church founded by Abbot Mkhitar Sebastatsi]
moved to Vienna in 1810 after separation from the Venice order. In
1990s Armenians from Azerbaijan and Armenia moved to Austria. The
Armenians are engaged in industry, construction, trade and services,
as well as in arts.

A prominent center of preservation of Armenian cultural values and
the Armenian studies is the Order of Mkhitarists, the monastery
and church of which is located in Vienna. The Order has a library of
manuscripts which contains about 2,600 texts in the Armenian language,
a rich collection of Armenian media articles.

There is the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church with the church
administration and pastor. In the 1960s the church of St. Hripsime was
built where the Sunday school of the Armenian community opened. There
is a number of NGOs and unions.

We pay great attention to the development of relations and cooperation
with the Armenian community of Austria. While in Vienna, the President
of Armenia, among other places, visited the Order and the Church of
Mkhitarists as well as Hripsime Armenian Apostolic Church.

Franz Werfel, an Austrian writer famous for his novel about Genocide,
had to flee the Holocaust. This year marks the 125th anniversary of
his birth. Will the Armenian side participate in the events? What
events will take place in Austria ahead of the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide?

A commission dealing with the coordination of events on the occasion
of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has been working
since early 2014. The commission is headed by Armenia’s Ambassador and
consists of representatives of the Armenian organizations. Numerous
events have been held since last April. For example, the Armenian
organizations of Austria submitted a petition on Armenian Genocide
recognition to the Austrian deputies, NGOs and journalists.

I would like to note this year’s events: parliamentary discussion in
the European Union House, the 125th anniversary of Franz Werfel that
will be marked in the National Library, a musical festival “Echo of
Armenia”, exhibition dedicated to Armenian Genocide, screening of a
film, scientific forum and classical music concerts. The events will
be widely covered by the Armenian and Austrian media.

You are representing Armenia not only in Austria, but the international
organizations located in Vienna, including in OSCE. How do you assess
Armenia’s participation in the work of organization?

First of all I would like to note that OSCE is one of the major
regional organizations in the world and unites 57 countries in the
territory stretching from Vancouver till Vladivostok. The organization
is a platform of a political dialogue for security issues, including
the settlement of conflicts.

Armenia is actively participating in the multilateral cooperation
within OSCE that is first of all conditioned by the fact that the
negotiations on resolution of Karabakh conflict continue within the
OSCE in the format of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Armenian leadership has consistently promoted the view that the
conflict resolution should be based on the rights and fundamental
freedoms, including the right to self-determination. The OSCE
member states are briefed on the approaches of Armenia and Karabakh
(Artsakh). Armenia uses OSCE platform in order to raise issues of
Turkey’s policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide, its rejection
of diplomatic relations with Armenia, the blockade. OSCE concept of
security is comprehensive, including military-political, economic,
environmental field, the sphere of human rights. Mission of Armenia
to the OSCE is involved in dialogue in all planes. Priorities of our
state are strengthening the regime of conventional arms control in
Europe, the establishment of equal and mutually beneficial regional
economic cooperation, protection of rights and fundamental freedoms.

With the help of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, programs are conducted
in all these three areas to strengthen democracy in Armenia, the
rule of law and human rights, security sector reform and sustainable
economic development.

How active is Armenia’s cooperation with other organizations based
in Vienna?

As you know, the United Nations Office as well as the headquarters
of other international organizations are based in Vienna, and one
of the important components of my work is the role of the Permanent
Representative of Armenia to the following international organizations:
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO), IAEA, the Preparatory
Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

I would like to note that the Permanent Mission of Armenia is actively
cooperating with these organizations, in particular with UNIDO. A
number of joint programs for the development of industry and strong
economic growth in Armenia are being implemented. We have effective
cooperation with the IAEA to meet the commitments on the safe operation
of the power unit of Metsamor NPP. Armenia is working with UNODC in the
fight againts organized crime, corruption and illicit drug trafficking.

In 2013, at the invitation of Armenian Foreign Minister UN Deputy
Secretary General, the head of the UN Office in Vienna, Director of
UNODC Yury Fedotov visited Armenia. During the visit, Fedotov praised
the mission of the Armenian leadership in the struggle to achieve
international goals of the UN.

We also have cooperation with the OPEC Fund for International
Development (OFID) located in Vienna, as well as with the International
Centre for Migration Policy Development. The goal of Armenia’s mission
is to serve as a bridge between the Armenian authorities and all
these structures.

Historic works of your father telling about the Armenian Genocide are
one of the first such publications in the Soviet Armenia. How much
were you affected by the work of your father? When did you realize
you want to choose the path of diplomacy?

Although my father, a historian and politician John Kirakossian,
served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Soviet Armenia in 1975-85,
I did not have any desire to become a diplomat. I was very impressed
by the work of my father in the field of Armenian political studies. I
chose the profession of a historian, in particular the diplomatic
history of the Armenian Cause, and joined the Scientific Information
Center of Social Sciences of the Academy of Sciences. Perhaps my close
cooperation with my father and the staff of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs during the publication of modern materials on the Armenian
Cause played a role in appointing me to the post of the First Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately after Armenia’s independence.

BRAND LIBRARY AND ART CENTER IN GLENDALE HOSTS EXHIBIT FEATURING ARMENIAN ARTISTS

13:12, 16 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

An art collection of more than 80 works from prominent Armenian artists
that encompasses a century since the Armenian Genocide opened to the
public on Sunday at the Brand Library and Art Center, the Glendale
News-Press reports.

The exhibit, called “Life100,” features works by Armenians who were
raised in different parts of the world with some works coming from
artists known as masters, while others are by more contemporary
artists.

Masters — such as Arshile Gorky and Garo Antreasian, whose works are
a part of the display — earned their title because of the significant
contributions they made to the world of art where they lived, including
France, Germany or the United States, said curator Carolyne Tufenkian.

“Edgar Chahine contributed quite a lot to the French art movement,
while Gorky was a major influence in abstract expressionism,” she said.

Though the idea of putting the exhibit together was motivated by the
centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide that started in 1915,
the many oil paintings, charcoal drawings and sculptures won’t be
pieces about death or tragedy.

“What we’re trying to do here is celebrate survival,” Tufenkian said.

“We’re celebrating 100 years of resilience and giving back to the
community, to the world in a very creative way.”

The artworks were donated by private galleries and collections,
she said.

They will be on display through May 1.

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RAFFI HOVANNISIAN ADDRESSES ARMENIANS FROM LOS ANGELES

14:43 | March 16,2015 | Politics

We continue to bear the seal of this tragic and treacherous day and are
unable to get out of its whirl, Heritage Party Leader Raffi Hovannisian
said in his address from the US, where he is visiting his parents.

“The events in Armenia deeply annoy me. I am not only speaking about
the political consultations [over the constitutional reform] started
by the ruling party leader. The threats and dangers are much deeper.

Upon my arrival in Yerevan I shall make a statement,” Raffi
Hovannnisian said, wishing all the best to his fellow citizens.