Author: Kanayan Tamar

THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTERS FOR ARMENIAN STUDIES IN THE USA

26.01.2015

Tigran Ghanalanyan
Expert, Center for Armenian Studies, Noravank Foundation

Till mid-20th century Armenian Studies in America were developed by
individuals and there were no organizations in this area. However,
certain things had been done that prepared ground for future
establishment of centers for Armenian Studies1. Their creation was
driven by Armenian-Americans who realized the need to establish
scientific organizations related to Armenian language, history and
culture. Establishment of The National Association for Armenian
Studies and Research (NAASR) in 1955 was an especially important
milestone. NAASR was grown from the vision of a group of sixty
Armenian-Americans and Harvard professors who wished to advance
Armenian Studies in the USA. An objective was set for this structure
to become a non-profit, non-political, unifying organization and to
achieve far-reaching results in fostering Armenian studies, research,
and publication on a permanent, scholarly, and objective basis.2 Seven
years before that the first periodical journal of Armenian Studies in
America had already been established, the Armenian Review, which
continues to be published to date. In 1950-1960s thanks to the work
done by NAASR departments of Armenian Studies were created at Harvard
University and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Later
activities were implemented in other universities, among which the
Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno is
worth mentioning, though establishment of centers for Armenian Studies
reached truly large scale in 1980s. In this period the two departments
of Armenian Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, the
Zoryan Institute and other institutions were established. It has to be
mentioned that some new centers for Armenian Studies were established
in recent years as well.

Thus, establishment of centers for Armenian Studies in the USA can be
conditionally divided in three main phases. The first phase covers
1950-1970s, when the first departments were created, among which the
NAASR had a primary importance. In this period, when Soviet Armenia
was in the political camp opposite to the USA, the Armenian Studies
(especially those related to contemporary issues) were to some extent
part of the Soviet Studies. The second phase encompasses 1980s, when
many new centers for Armenian Studies were established. This was due
to many circumstances, including that the USA already had the largest
Armenian community abroad and many challenges have emerged. In this
period there was an increased interest in the Armenian community
toward Armenian Studies. Also, perhaps the process of independence
gaining by Armenia and the Artsakh movement had a boosting effect to
the Armenian Studies, especially related to these issues. The period
from 2000s up to date can be considered the third conditional phase.
Although there was some gradual or relative decline in the activities
of older centers in this period, still some new centers were
established, for example the UCLA Research Program in Armenian
Archaeology & Ethnography at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology and
others. In this period an expansion of Armenian Studies in terms of
disciplines is observed, as today the Armenian Studies in America
incorporate not only language, history and culture, but also
ethnography, archaeology, sociology, etc.

The second and third phases were characterized by greater activity in
terms of the ties with the homeland, as compared to those in the first
phase. However, currently the cooperation of American centers for
Armenian Studies with relevant scientific/educational institutions in
Armenia has not reached a sufficient level.

Educational Activities

Most of the reviewed thirty units are involved in education and a
significant part of them are limited only to that. In particular, many
departments and programs are limited to education only, such as the BA
degree program in Armenian Studies at the UCLA Department of Near
Eastern Languages and Cultures, the Armenian program of the Department
of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures at the California State
University, Northridge, the Armenian Language course at the Department
of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations of the University of
Chicago, etc. Teaching of individual subjects of Armenian Studies is
certainly an educational activity, too: for instance, Christina
Maranci teaches the Art of the Armenian Manuscript subject at Tufts
University Department of Art and Art History.

Chairs of Armenian Studies at various universities perform an
important function of organizing the education process. Among them are
Chair in Modern Armenian History at the UCLA, Chair in Modern Armenian
History and Genocide Studies at the Clark University, and others.
These are not limited to education and carry out also research
activities.

A number of programs for Armenian Studies at universities also combine
educational and research functions, among which are the following:
Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno, the
Armenian Studies Program at UCLA, Armenian Studies Program at
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, the Armenian Studies Program of the
Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies at UC
Berkeley, etc.

Educational functions are performed also at institutes and research
centers. Armenian Studies associations are indeed instrumental in this
aspect, for which the educational component is not less important than
the research one.

The taught subjects include Armenian language (both Western and
Eastern Armenian), Armenian history, culture, etc. Within the scope of
the Armenian history the following subjects are taught: Armenian
History (from ancient to modern times), Introduction to Armenian Oral
History, Caucasus under the Russian and Soviet rule, Diaspora,
Armenian Genocide, etc. Armenian language programs include courses in
Grabar, Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian for different levels
(basic, intermediate, high). Armenian literature courses include Art,
politics and nationalism in Armenian literature, the Armenian
literature in 19-20th centuries, Armenian-American literature and
culture. For example the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State
offers such courses as Art of Armenia, as well as Armenian painting,
architecture and cinematography. Norian Armenian Studies Programs at
the University of Connecticut organize archaeological field works in
Armenia under the Archaeological Field School in Armenian Prehistory.

A number of courses are also offered by the undergraduate program in
Armenian Studies at the UCLA Department of Near Eastern Languages and
Cultures. An Armenian language course is offered among other languages
at the Melikian Center of the Arizona State University, which in
addition to teaching Armenian on campus also offers a two-month course
in Yerevan.

Research Activities

With respect to the research area of Armenian Studies in America,
first of all the institutes and research centers are to be mentioned,
such as the Armenian National Institute (Washington, DC), Armenian
Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, etc. Research
plays an important role in the activities of chairs and programs for
Armenian Studies. There are projects and groups involved in research,
for example the Armenian International Economic Studies Group, and the
Armenian Research Project of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies at the University of Minnesota.

The Armenian Review scientific periodical plays a critical role in the
research area, as it provides a platform for publication of research
results regarding various issues in Armenian Studies.

With regard to the research activities, it is interesting to know what
topics are considered primary for the centers of Armenian Studies in
the USA. In this respect personal circumstances play an important
role, for example, the research interests of a person that at a given
time is appointed chairperson of a department. It is even possible
that the research directions of a department are determined by the
research interests of an available professor, rather than research
directions decided by the department at the time of its establishment
and researchers selected accordingly. This reality is due to the fact
that especially in the initial stages the choice of candidates for
faculty positions has been quite limited.

As the centers for Armenian Studies have been established mostly
thanks to the Armenian communities and their individual
representatives, it is quite natural that they are interested in
problems deemed important by Armeniancy and representatives of the
Armenian community. Armenian language studies, as well as research of
various issues of Armenian history, but especially the Armenian
Genocide are noteworthy among these topics.

At the initial stages the researchers’ attention was mainly focused on
the ancient and especially Medieval period of the Armenian history3,
which was a result of the above mentioned circumstance ` the research
interests of the leaders. Later the Armenian Studies researchers got
involved also with contemporary problems, such as the Genocide,
history of Diaspora and other topics. Currently, some centers for
Armenian Studies in the USA work exclusively or primarily on studies
of the Armenian Genocide. Among those are the Armenian National
Institute (Washington, DC), Chair in Modern Armenian History and
Genocide Studies at the Clark University, Armenian Genocide Museum of
America (Washington, DC), etc. Sometimes the centers for Armenian
Studies in the USA also carry out lobbying activities.4

Gradually, some centers emerged that are involved in researching
modern problems, in particular, the challenges faced by Armenia. They
initially studied Armenia as part of the Soviet Union, at opposite
political pole, but later the independence of Armenia increased the
interest of the local Armenian communities toward the Homeland.

Armenian Studies are also essential in the context of historical and
philological studies related to the Middle East region. Several
centers focus their attention on the linguistic and literary studies.
Grigor Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Language and Culture at UCLA, Marie
Manoogian Chair in Armenian Language and Literature at University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor are among these.

Recently some programs emerged where archaeology has a major role.
These include UCLA Research Program in Armenian Archaeology &
Ethnography at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, and the
Archaeological Field School in Armenian Prehistory of the University
of Connecticut.

1 With regard to Armenian Studies in the USA before establishment of
centers for those, see: Ô±Õ¢Õ£Õ¡ÖÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Ô³., ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ£Õ«Õ¿Õ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¶Õ¨ Ô±Õ´Õ¥ÖÕ«Õ¯Õ¡ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ´,
«Õ?Õ¸Õ¾Õ¥Õ¿Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶», 1987, Õ©Õ«Õ¾ 3, Õ§Õ» 16-21:

2 See: National Association for Armenian Studies and Research:
History,

3 See: Ð`аÑÑ?оÑ?н Ð’., Ð?Ñменоведение в СШÐ?, «Ô¼ÖÕ¡Õ¢Õ¥Ö Õ°Õ¡Õ½Õ¡ÖÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶
Õ£Õ«Õ¿Õ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¶Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ«», 1971, Õ©Õ«Õ¾ 10, Õ§Õ» 23-34:

4 Regarding their role in the Armenian Cause, see: Õ?Õ¡ÖÕ¸Ö?Ö?ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Ô±.,
Õ?Ö?ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¼Ö?Õ« Õ»Õ¡Õ¶Ö?Õ¥ÖÕ¨ Õ´Õ«Õ»Õ¡Õ¦Õ£Õ¡ÕµÕ«Õ¶ Õ¯Õ¡Õ¦Õ´Õ¡Õ¯Õ¥ÖÕºÕ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¶Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ« Õ¯Õ¸Õ²Õ´Õ«Ö? ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¸Ö?
Ö?Õ¥Õ²Õ¡Õ½ÕºÕ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ³Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¹Õ´Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¸Ö? Õ¤Õ¡Õ¿Õ¡ÕºÕ¡ÖÕ¿Õ´Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¢Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ±Ö?Õ¥ÖÕ¨ Õ¨Õ¶Õ¤Õ¸Ö?Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬Õ¸Ö? Õ£Õ¸ÖÕ®Õ¸Ö?Õ´,
«Õ?Ö?ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¼Ö?Õ¡Õ£Õ«Õ¿Õ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¶» Õ¿Õ¡ÖÕ¥Õ£Õ«ÖÖ?, ÔµÖÖ?Õ¡Õ¶, 2013, Õ§Õ» 40Ö?

`Globus’ analytical bulletin, No. 11-12, 2014

Return
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“Miserable Bastard, Scum, Rascal, Nobody”. What’s Next?

Lragir.am
Law – 27 January 2015, 15:18

The deputy chief of police Hunan Poghosyan described so Permyakov who
is accused of the murder in Gyumri, while telling reporters about his
impression from their meeting.

After the crime in Gyumri the Armenian law enforcement bodies appeared
in a rather ambiguous situation. A situation has occurred when, on the
one hand, the public is asking them clear and fair questions; on the
other hand, they are obviously set behind by certain circumstances.

These two circumstances first of all question the professionalism of
Armenian law enforcement bodies, then their ability to act. The
situation is aggravated by the inability of the law enforcement
agencies to give clear answers to these questions, and they are trying
to compensate this with emotional assessments. So is the case of the
prosecutor general, as well as others.

The problem is that the Russian side is not going to hand Permyakov
and is obviously not allowing the Armenian law enforcement agencies to
conduct a full investigation. The Armenian government is not likely to
resist and achieve a full investigation and reveal the crime.

Here is a case when the public “investigation” puts forth more
versions and logical assumptions than law enforcement agencies. In
other words, the public has put forth its own “investigation” against
the joint Russian-Armenian official investigation which obviously
corners the law enforcement agencies with its quality and arguments.

This circumstance further deepens doubts and protest which is still
mute. There is confidence that they are trying to cover up the issue,
and this confidence will deepen with such state of affairs.

In this context, the only function of the Armenian law enforcement
bodies seems to be calming the public, make them believe that
everything is OK. Joint headquarters have been set up with the Russian
side, a joint investigation is announced, statements are made on
severe punishment and so on, an episode is published, law enforcement
agencies make emotional statements etc.

However, the public does not care for the emotions of the law
enforcement agencies, neither does it care about the hindrances that
the Russians create. The public cares for one thing – the performance
of functions of the Armenian law enforcement agencies as defined by
the Constitution for which the public pays from its pocket. The public
wants answers to simple questions on justice, security and other basic
problems.

Are the Armenian law enforcement agencies capable of answering these
questions? Or will they continue to play the role which they assumed
intentionally or unintentionally after the slaughter. And they will
continue to “collect” the people in Gyumri who organized protests
demanding to return the criminal to the Armenian law enforcement
agencies.

The Armenian law enforcement agencies are “collecting” those people
who merely wanted to raise the role of the Armenian law enforcement
agencies and give them a chance for rehabilitation. Is this the answer
to the questions?

So, Hunan Poghosyan and others had better keep their emotions to
themselves. The public wants to hear something else from them.

ARMENIE
Municipalité de Gyumri : L’enquête sur l’assassinat d’une famille
devrait être transférée du côté arménien

La municipalité de Gyumri a appelé le Procureur général d’Arménie
Gevorg Kostanyan à demander que l’enquête préliminaire sur
l’assassinat d’une famille à Gyumri dans lequel un militaire russe est
le principal accusé soit transférée aux organes répressifs arméniens.

Dans une déclaration la municipalité Gyumri, en particulier, a déclaré
:

ARMENIE
L’Azerbaïdjan affirme qu’un prisonnier arménien veut être remis à un pays tiers

Un militaire arménien qui a été fait prisonnier par l’Azerbaïdjan
l’année dernière veut être libéré et transféré vers un pays tiers
plutôt que rapatrié a déclaré un fonctionnaire à Bakou.

Le portail de nouvelles azéri 1news.az a cité le chef du Comité contre
la torture de l’Azerbaïdjan Elcin Behbudov comme disant qu’il a rendu
visite au captif, Arsen Baghdasaryan, et que ce dernier lui a dit
qu’il ne voulait pas retourner dans son pays natal, mais voulait être
remis à un pays tiers.

L’Azerbaïdjan prétend que Baghdasaryan faisait parti d’un groupe
arménien de > et a été fait prisonnier après
une tentative ratée par le groupe pour mener des activités subversives
dans la direction d’Agdam le 26 Décembre.

Les responsables militaires du Haut-Karabakh reconnaissent que
Baghdasaryan était un militaire sous contrat, mais ont nié toute
tentative d’incursion en territoire azerbaïdjanais. Le ministère de la
Défense du Karabakh a déclaré que le service de Baghdasaryan dans les
rangs avait été suspendu en raison de violations disciplinaires
répétées de sa part, y compris être régulièrement absent sans
permission.

mardi 27 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

ALLEMAGNE
Le Gouvernement allemand refuse de s’immiscer dans la question du
génocide arménien

Le gouvernement allemand a déclaré qu’il n’envisage pas une
commémoration pour le 100 ème anniversaire du génocide arménien.

A l’occasion d’une question parlementaire du groupe Die Linke, qui est
le principal parti d’opposition en Allemagne, le ministère allemand
des Affaires étrangères a clarifié sa position concernant le génocide
arménien de 1915 avec une déclaration écrite. Selon sa réponse en
quatre points, le gouvernement allemand affirme que la question de
savoir si les événements constituent un génocide doit être tranchée
par les historiens et que la question devrait être résolue entre la
Turquie et l’Arménie.

La déclaration a également souligné que la Convention de 1948 des
Nations Unies, qui définit le génocide, ne s’applique pas
rétroactivement.

> a ajouté le communiqué.

Ulla Jelpke, membre du groupe Die Linke au Bundestag, a déclaré que la
position du gouvernement allemand était >. Après avoir
affirmé que les gouvernements allemand et turc de l’époque étaient >, Ulla Jelpke a déclaré que le gouvernement actuel à Berlin
se >.

mardi 27 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

PONTIFICAL ENCYCLICAL BY HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

DEDICATED TO THE CENTENARY OF

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

2015 is not just another year. As the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, it carries a special meaning, a special message and a special
purpose. Every Armenian and the entire nation should reflect on the
unique significance and special importance of the occasion.

The Armenian Genocide has left its permanent scar on the common memory
of the Armenian people. There is not a single Armenian on earth who has
not had the Genocide blended with his blood and cemented with his life.
There is no Armenian family on earth who has not been affected by the
Genocide and its repercussions.

For one hundred years, we have remembered with prayers and vigils our
one and a half million martyrs who were the victims of a carefully
planned and systematically executed genocide of the Ottoman-Turkish
government in Western Armenia and Cilicia.

For one hundred years, we have remembered with grieving hearts and
indignation the perpetrators’ destruction of our centuries-old
cultural and religious treasures, our monasteries and churches,
manuscripts and cross-stones and many more sacred artefacts.

For one hundred years, we have remembered with unrelenting spirit the
confiscation of thousands of our national, church and personal
properties by Turkey.

As a consequence of the 1915 Genocide and deportations, towns and
villages in both historic Western Armenia and Cilicia, which had been
inhabited by the Armenian people for centuries and which prospered with
their creative spirit, were emptied of Armenians. The intention of the
Ottoman authorities was to exterminate the Armenians and wipe out
Armenia from the world map. How well the words of the Psalmist apply to
the death and destruction caused by the Genocide: “O God, the heathen
are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they
have laid Jerusalem on heaps. The dead bodies of thy servants have they
given to be meant unto the fowls of heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto
the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round
about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them” (Psalm 79: 1-3).

Uprooted from their ancestral lands, the children of this refugee and
orphaned nation have neither forgotten the memory of their martyrs nor
have they forsaken their legacy. They heard Christ’s message: “And fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”
(Math. 10:28). Motivated by this conviction and reinvigorated with the
anticipation of a new beginning, they engaged in community-building.
Thus, they restructured both their private and communal lives; they
erected schools and churches; they founded new organizations across the
Diaspora. Furthermore, they reminded Turkey and the international
community of the unpunished Genocide and demanded justice.

Throughout the past hundred years, our church, committees of the
Armenian cause, our political organizations and, during the past two
decades, the government of the Republic of Armenia, have worked hard for
the recognition of the Genocide, mainly through inter-church,
inter-religious and political contacts and lobbying. A large number of
states, churches and organizations have formally recognized the Armenian
Genocide. Many Armenian and non-Armenian scholars, who have published
studies on the Genocide, have stressed the crucial importance of
recognizing the first genocide of the 20th Century.

Hence, despite tremendous difficulties, our nation has remained faithful
to the sacred legacy of our martyrs, recalling the Psalmist, “If I
forget thee , O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do
not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if
prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy” (Psalm 137: 5-6).

Indeed, for one hundred years, our valiant generations remembered their
martyrs and sought to open the dispassionate hearts and minds of
humanity, challenging people of good will and those concerned with
justice and respect of human rights to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and the legitimate rights of their nation.

Beloved Armenians,

Our people must continue this sacred struggle with strong determination
and profound faith. The time has come for us to explore new perspectives
and grounds within the bounds of international law, and to pursue our
claims for reparation and recovery of our violated human rights in a
more structured and comprehensive way.

The Genocide Convention clearly states that the perpetrators of
genocide, be they individuals, organizations or states, should appear
before the International Court of Justice. International law also
indicates that the recognition of genocide implies reparation. Hence,
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide should not be considered the
ultimate aim of the Armenian Cause. Recognition and compensation are
closely inter-connected and, therefore, they should constitute the basis
and target of our claims. Although Turkey is using its political and
economic influence to frustrate this process, our people are called upon
to continue their journey with greater conviction and deeper commitment.

The Armenians in Armenia, Karabagh and the Diaspora are preparing to
commemorate the Centenary of the Genocide with a profound sense of
responsibility and firm determination. This should not be an ordinary
commemoration, a repetition of the past; it should stand out as a
turning point by breaking new ground and opening new horizons. The
Centenary is a defining moment in our people’s rightful campaign for the
restoration of their legitimate rights. This coming 23rd April 2015 the
two Catholicoi of the Armenian Church shall jointly preside, in Holy
Etchmiadzin, over the canonization of our Martyrs, which will be a
unique event within the sphere of the Centenary commemoration.

It is vitally important, as we look beyond the Centenary, to recognize
that the world is volatile and that geopolitical realities and interests
often compel us to reassess our tactics and approaches. We must remain
vigilant and united.

The Armenian Cause is the cause of the entire Armenian nation; it is the
cause of our martyrs; it is the cause of future generations. Hence,
every Armenian is called to contribute to the collective effort to
restore our violated human rights.

Hence, we call upon

=95 Our dioceses, to solemnly commemorate the memory of our martyrs by
organizing public events and activities,

=95 Our community organizations, to plan together and through their
contacts and networks, to advocate for our just cause.

=95 Our schools, to convey through lectures and seminars to Armenian
students the true spirit and message of the Centenary of the Armenian
Genocide.

=95 Our intellectuals, to carry out research and to publish works on
different aspects of the Armenian Genocide.

=95 Our entire nation, to play a proactive role in the promotion of the
Armenian Cause, which is indeed a cause of justice.

Let the memory of our one-and-a-half million martyrs live always amongst
us and let their legacy remain vivid in our personal and communal lives.

Empowered by our Christian faith and strengthened with the memory and
message of our martyrs, let us forge the future of our youth.

May the blessing of the Father, the love of the Son, and the grace of
the Holy Spirit be with you all, Amen.

ARAM I

CATHOLICOS OF THE

HOLY SEE OF CILICIA

Antelias, Lebanon

1 January 2015

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias – LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]

LA COMUNIDAD ARMENIA PIDE QUE SE DEJE DE EMITIR EN ARGENTINA LA NOVELA TURCA “LAS MIL Y UNA NOCHES”

Terra Argentina
26 ene 2015

a comunidad armenia en la Argentina lanzo una campaña de recoleccion
de firmas para solicitar al Canal 13 de television que suspenda la
emision de la novela de origen turco “Las Mil y Una Noches”.

Los peticionantes lamentaron que tanto en Argentina como en Uruguay
la novela, realizada en 2006, sea emitida en “este 2015, justamente el
año en que la comunidad armenia conmemora el centenario del genocidio
perpetrado por el Estado Turco, donde perdieron la vida 1.500.000
de armenios”.

La campaña de firmas esta dirigida a Adrian Suar, responsable artístico
de Canal 13, y a la emisora, por considerar que “hiere a la comunidad
armenia que en un país donde se ha reconocido el Genocidio Armenio,
se acepte la emision de esta novela que es producto del lobby que
Turquía esta realizando para desacreditar la conmemoracion del
centenario del Genocidio Armenio”.

Subrayaron que “el proximo 24 de abril de 2015 se cumplen 100 años
del Genocidio contra los armenios, perpetrado por el estado turco,
en el cual 1.500.000 de armenios fueron masacrados, torturados,
sus mujeres violadas y sus niños asesinados”.

“Turquía continúa con su política negacionista, distorsionando la
historia”, lamentaron.

“Las Mil y Una Noches” se convirtio en la television argentina en
el maximo exito del verano, al punto que a partir de este lunes la
emisora decidio ubicarla en el “prime-time”, ya que alcanza altos
niveles de audiencia.

Tanto es el exito logrado con esta tira que ya tiene diez años que
los domingos sale al aire una especie de resumen que apunta a que se
vayan sumando a la audiencia aquellos televidentes que se perdieron
los primeros capítulos por estar de vacaciones.

El suceso de “Las Mil y Una Noches” es comparable al alcanzado el
verano pasado por “Avenida Brasil”, la tira brasileña que batio
records de audiencia.

,478480fdbb72b410VgnCLD200000b2bf46d0RCRD.html

POLICE OFFICERS TESTIFYING IN DINK MURDER CASE POINT TO POLICE INTEL CHIEF

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 26 2015

Three former police officials who were working in the intelligence
unit of the Trabzon Police Department at the time of the 2007 murder
of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink have pointed to the current
head of the National Police Department’s intelligence unit as the
top official responsible for the failure to prevent the murder from
taking place, a Turkish daily reported on Monday.

As the investigation into Dink’s murder deepens, eyes are now on
the chief of the National Police Department’s intelligence unit,
Engin Dinc, who headed the intelligence unit in Trabzon at the time
of the killing, after several people working under him were arrested
on charges of involvement in the murder.

Three police officials who had worked under Dinc in the intelligence
unit of the Trabzon Police Department were recently arrested as part
of an expanded probe into the killing of Dink. Dinc has been promoted
since then and is now the chief of the National Police Department’s
intelligence unit.

The three police officials — Ercan Demir, Ozkan Mumcu and Muhittin
Zenit — said in their testimonies that Dinc was the highest authority
at the Trabzon Police Department’s intelligence unit. According to a
report in the Taraf daily on Monday, Demir said during his testimony,
“The authority to inform provincial police departments about suspects
or conduct operations against suspects belonged to Engin [Dinc].”

Zenit also reportedly said, “Dinc and his accomplices laid a plot
against me by making me call Erhan [Tuncel].”

Sound recordings of a phone conversation between Zenit and Tuncel,
who worked as an informant for the Trabzon Police Department and was
accused of initiating the effort to have Dink murdered, have been
leaked to the media. The conversation suggests that Zenit knew about
the plot to murder Dink beforehand.

Whether the investigation will be expanded to include Dinc as a suspect
remains a question. A news report published in Taraf last week said
top state authorities have agreed not to allow him to be prosecuted
even though the testimony of his associates points to his involvement.

Taraf also reported on Monday that the government has held Interior
Minister Efkan Ala responsible for the recent crisis involving the
intelligence unit head. Ala is being criticized for not informing the
Prime Ministry and the president’s office over Dinc’s involvement in
the case before it was made public.

An Ä°stanbul court arrested former Cizre Police Chief Ercan Demir,
who turned himself in on Monday after a warrant for his arrest was
issued on Jan. 16.

Zenit and Mumcu, deputy commissioner of the Trabzon Police Department,
were arrested on Jan. 13 on charges of negligence and misconduct in
Dink’s murder. Demir’s case has garnered attention due to the fact
that he had been appointed head of the police department in the
restive southeastern town of Cizre only a couple of weeks before a
warrant for his arrest was issued.

Dink was shot and killed by an ultranationalist teenager. The hitman,
Ogun Samast, and 18 others were brought to trial. Since then, the
lawyers for the Dink family and the co-plaintiffs in the case have
presented evidence indicating that Samast did not act alone. Another
suspect, Yasin Hayal, was given life in prison for inciting Samast
to commit murder.

The retrial started in September 2014, when the Ä°stanbul 5th High
Criminal Court complied with a ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeals
in May 2013 overturning a lower court’s ruling that acquitted the
suspects in the Dink murder case of charges of forming a terrorist
organization. This decision paved the way for the trial of public
officials on charges of voluntary manslaughter.

Separate investigations related to Dink’s murder, including
investigations in Ä°stanbul and Trabzon, had previously not been
merged in spite of the demands of the Dink family’s lawyers. The
investigations were finally combined toward the end of last year.

AZERBAIJAN TO OPEN CULTURAL CENTERS IN FRANCE

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Jan 26 2015

26 January 2015, 15:35 (GMT+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli

France has ratified an intergovernmental agreement with Azerbaijan
on the establishment of cultural centers between the two countries.

The speakers of the parliamentary session were Thierry Mariani,
MP from the 11th Congressional District of French citizens abroad,
Jean Francois Mansell, Deputy Chairman of the Friends Association
of Azerbaijan in France and Michel Voisin, Chairman of the
France-Azerbaijan Friendship Group in the National Assembly.

They spoke about the culture and history of Azerbaijan and the
activities of Baku directed to preserve and strengthen the country’s
independence.

The speakers also spoke of the tolerance tradition in Azerbaijan as
well as the secular nature and multiculturalism in the Azerbaijani
society.

During the meeting, speakers also touched upon the role of France in
the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The MPs noted the importance of this agreement in expanding bilateral
and cultural relations between the two sides.

The agreement was reached during the visit of President Ilham Aliyev
to France in 2009. Based on the agreement, the cultural centers of
both countries will work under embassies and will have a legal status.

Annually, several events, exhibitions and concerts, including Days
of Azerbaijani Culture in 2013 and French Siam Festival, devoted
to Azerbaijani national music organized by Heydar Aliyev Foundation
in France.

In June, 2014 a conference devoted to the 900th jubilee of Azerbaijan’s
first poetess Mahsati Ganjavi was held at the Upper Alsace University
in the city of Mulhouse, France.

In January 2015, a grandiose opening of an event titled “Cultural
Values of Azerbaijan – the pearl of the Caucasus” co-organized by
Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijani Embassy in France was held
in Megeve.

This event is being held annually in France, where numerous other
events including exhibitions, concert programs are held as part of
the Days of Azerbaijan in several French cities.

NATO BACKS MINSK PROCESS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT’S SETTLEMENT

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Jan 26 2015

26 January 2015, 12:58 (GMT+04:00)

By Sara Rajabova

NATO official said the organization supports the Minsk process over
the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
as the Alliance does not take part at the negotiations.

James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for
the South Caucasus and Central Asia said NATO does not have a role
in the peace process for the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“I do not think a distinct NATO role would help the process ahead,
rather to the contrary. NATO supports the Minsk process,” Appathurai
told Trend on January 23.

He added that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict does receive high-level
international attention, most recently when President Francois Hollande
of France hosted talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

On the initiative of President Hollande, Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting on October
27 with the participation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to
discuss the settlement process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Appathurai further said the Minsk Group is co-chaired by the U.S,
France and the Russian Federation and their engagement has been
continuous over two decades.

Peace talks over the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that
emerged over Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan are
underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group
co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. However, as Armenia
continues to follow non-constructive position, the negotiations have
been largely fruitless so far despite the efforts of the co-chair
countries over 20 years.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from
Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than
20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced
as a result of the war.

Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994
but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security
Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.