Author: Kanayan Tamar

Hurriyet, Turkey
Aug 5 2013

Facebook facing accusations of censoring citizen journalism

Emrah GÃ`LERANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

With its mysterious management team for countries, Facebook continues
to be a difficult place for people to engage in citizen journalism.
The latest case is Ã-tekilerin Postası (The Others’ Post), whose site
has been closed twice in the last month for no clear reason by
Facebook management

A pomegranate is the logo of Ã-tekilerin Postası (The Others’ Post),
an alternative media outlet on Facebook, whose raison d’être is to
become `the collective voice of minorities, the outcast, the
marginalized and those whose voices have been rendered invisible in
the media; in short, the others.’

But the pomegranate also allegedly violates Facebook’s community
standards, as, last week, the logo in the profile picture of
Ã-tekilerin Postası was reported to Facebook for investigation,
resulting in the editors being banned from posting to the page for 30
days.

`It’s the most beautiful symbol of social peace,’ one of the
co-founders and editors-in-chief behind Ã-tekilerin Postası, who
preferred to talk merely on behalf of the alternative media page, told
the Hürriyet Daily News last week.

`A pomegranate is a whole with a thousand different seeds. There is a
thin layer inside. And that symbolizes our sensitivities. When that
layer is removed, one of the seeds starts decaying. Then the others
[decay too], until the whole fruit is gone,’ the editor said, while
expressing incredulity at the Facebook ban. `Isn’t that absurd?’

Absurd is the right word when Facebook’s censorship policies and
tactics for investigation of its pages are in question. This is not
the first firewall Ã-tekilerin Postası has had to face from the
mysterious Facebook management since its debut about nine months ago.
The site originally began its brand of citizen journalism and digital
activism on Facebook as the Hunger Strike Post (Açlık Grevi Postası)
in late 2012 when the mainstream media mostly stayed silent amid
massive hunger strikes conducted by hundreds of Kurdish political
prisoners.

Facebook has not responded to the Daily News’ requests for an
explanation as to the action taken against the site.

`At the time when we were running the Hunger Strikes Post, we had told
our followers that we will discontinue the page if there was not a
single death throughout the strikes,’ said Ã-tekilerin Postası. `Many
of our followers told us that what we were doing was very important,
that people’s right to news was restricted. They also told us about
the importance of citizen journalism against censorship, and that we
had to continue.’

A name decided by followers

So the Hunger Strike Post, managed by a core team of two and a couple
of constantly changing volunteers, transformed into The Others’ Post,
a name decided by followers themselves. As put in a letter written to
daily BirGün in late July, Ã-tekilerin Postası hoped to set `an example
of how to bring together identities as diverse as Kurds, LGBT
communities, animal rights activists, environmentalists, Armenians,
workers, students, believers, nonbelievers, and many more.’

Ã-tekilerin Postası went through a profound change when Turkey
experienced a profound change with the Gezi protests. The page that
was basically a citizen journalism hub for the Kurdish issue, and that
was `mostly shaped with news from Kurds’ went on to become one of the
biggest alternative news sources during the Gezi protests.

`Those who felt more threatened and oppressed began looking for news
sources that were alternative to the mainstream media,’ said
Ã-tekilerin Postası. `The mainstream media not only turned a blind eye
to the protests, but deliberately tried to break the resistance with
disinformation. Those who took to the streets, those who saw their
friends taken into custody directly experienced how they were deceived
by the media. Because what they were seeing on the evening news and
what they were experiencing on the streets were completely different.’

But the growth in citizen journalism led to problems with Facebook
management. But while the page had to deal with attempts at
censorship, or what Ã-tekilern Postası calls `semi-censorship,’ which
included sanctions like `not being able to post, deleting some of the
posts, or some of the comments,’ the livelihood of the page was never
at stake.

`However after the Gezi protests, our page was closed twice,’ said
Ã-tekilerin Postası. `The first of these [closures], we were told, was
for sharing `pornographic content,” which after an appeal turned out
to be not the case. Yet the original page with 138,000 followers was
not reinstated. A new page was opened, drawing 88,000 followers in a
mere three weeks, thanks to social media campaigns against the
censorship of the page, only to be closed once again without any
specific reason. Then came the `semi-censorship’ for the pomegranate
logo.

The site started a third page in the last week, attracting over 40,000
followers.

`Facebook is doing censorship’

`In short, what Facebook is doing is censorship: blatantly taking
sides and engaging in digital vandalism,’ said Ã-tekilerin Postası.

How do Facebook page owners deal with situations like these?
Ironically, the biggest social media network on the planet with more
than 1 billion members is itself unreachable. Facebook’s generic forms
and buttons let you send questions, report violations or ask for
appeals. However, when, or if, you will get an answer is entirely
unknown.

`Who are these people?’ asked Ã-tekilerin Postası. `Are they really
impartial? In our opinion, no. It is about people working for Facebook
and investigating reports.’

`This is systematic and deliberate,’ Cengiz Algan told the Daily News
seven months ago when his Facebook page, DurDe! (Say Stop), Turkey’s
biggest grassroots anti-racist initiative, faced a similar case of
censorship.

Noting that Facebook ignored dozens of pages and posts that overtly
advocated hate speech against Kurds and Armenians, Algan said:
`Facebook needs to reassess its operations in Turkey. There are
obviously racist employees in the team.’

According to a leak from a former employee, Facebook has allegedly
been recruiting low-wage third-world contractors to monitor country
pages and delete certain content with no proper systems of control.
Given that, more censorship seems to be on the horizon for citizen
journalists.
August/05/2013

Edinburgh’s Most Mysterious Restaurant: Aghtamar Lake Van Monastery in Exile

Edinburgh’s only Armenian restaurant, the Aghtamar Lake Van Monastery
in Exile is a legendary, almost mythical destination.

Cloaked in mystery, it’s based in an un-signposted, former police
station in Abbeyhill where its only advertising is through word of
mouth. It boasts reputedly sensational cuisine; a 10 course banquet
prepared with love, care and a dollop of authenticity.

Opening its doors sporadically it is famously difficult to get a table
and accepts no walk-ins. The food is cooked and served by the
eccentric, Basil Fawlty-esque chef/owner Petros Vartynian, who is
alleged to berate and eject customers for minor, perceived infractions
like turning up late or asking for more wine. The hyperbole emanating
from those who have eaten here has attracted many to try and get a
booking, mostly without success. The stories of the lucky few that did
succeed have become Edinburgh foodie folklore.
The sense of mystery pervades to this day. The restaurant is still
listed in the online Yellow pages and the line is still in service but
despite several messages, no response has been forthcoming.

The internet doesn’t provide much more. There are five or six positive
reviews scattered around different websites, with the last one dated
in 2009, but nothing concrete to suggest the Aghtamar is even still
open.

I wandered down to the location at 55 Abbeyhill. It showed no sign of
life. Locals seemed to find the idea of a restaurant there absurd and
no-one I spoke to knew anything about this culinary hotspot.

Stumped, I mentioned the Aghtamar to a my friend Francis Owen, a
former restaurateur who instantly recognized the name and proceeded to
tell me of his multiple visits to the restaurant:

`I turned up at 8pm, and knocked on the door. The owner stuck his head
out and inspected my group with a vaguely disgusted look on his face.
It was the kind of reception you might receive after cold calling a
pensioner at 11pm. He was austere and had more than a touch of a
Quentin Tarantino character about him, with his wild beard and
piercing stare. I call him `he’ because at no point during my visits
did he give his name’

In an online review someone a little braver had described asking for
his name and the owner simply said: `That’s a little personal’ and
wandered away looking offended.
As I listened intently, Francis described the atmosphere as he walked
through the door. The main eating hall was vast, cold and dark with
only candle-light to guide your steps. There didn’t appear to be
electricity. A giant moose head adorned the wall and various different
posters advertising the Armenian tourist board were scattered around.
There was a ghetto-blaster in the corner playing what sounded like red
army choir music from an old, scratchy cassette. `The whole place had
a Soviet era, beyond the iron curtain feel’ he said. `There were no
amenities like heating, menus or salt and pepper`

`We asked for wine. The owner would judge whether or not you could
handle it. I heard that he monitored how often individuals went to the
toilet for signs of alcohol intake and he would throw out potential
inebriates. Once, my table drank a bottle and asked for another but
were told we had had enough. We didn’t argue’
Francis said the food was `take it or leave it’ with no choices and it
took around three hours to get through all the courses. The food was
always `excellent and unlike anything else served in Edinburgh at the
time’.

`The best dish had minced pork and rice rolled up in cabbage leaves.
The whole thing was steamed and served with a very nice salad with an
amazing dressing. Dessert was also very memorable, a sort of fruit
trifle, with very pungent flavours. The meal ended with a very strong
Armenian style coffee.’

The coffee is at the centre of an interesting rumour when someone had
the temerity to reject the Armenian coffee and request Turkish
instead. Turkey and Armenia have quite lengthy historical bad blood
and this request was like a red rag to a bull. In a sudden rage the
owner unceremoniously threw out the entire group, ignoring their
apologies and protestations. Francis commented: `I think most saw the
owner as part of the charm, temper and all. It wasn’t really about a
meal it was about an experience’.

There is evidence that suggests that the Aghtamar has now sadly shut.
In an obscure Armenian publication called Yerevan there is a short
article stating the restaurant closed in November 2012 and is being
turned into an Armenian cultural centre. It is the most direct
evidence of the restaurant’s demise, but that’s not to say it’s
definitive. Like everything else about this fabled place, there are
few certainties. No matter what its current status is, the Aghtamar
Lake Van Monastery in Exile will endure in legend as one of
Edinburgh’s most unusual and mysterious restaurants.

ARMENIE
Zhirayr Sefilyan : Les manifestations en Arménie peuvent devenir une
lutte de libération nationale

La vague de protestations provoquée par la décision des autorités
d’Erevan d’augmenter le prix du billet de transport public dans la
capitale peut se transformer en un mouvement de lutte de libération
nationale, affirme le héros de la guerre du Karabakh Zhirayr Sefilyan.

« Cela peut devenir une opportunité pour notre peuple de mettre un
terme à ce régime criminel. Nous ne devons pas rater cette chance.
Donc, j’exhorte tous les citoyens et les responsables à se joindre aux
manifestants. Si nous continuons notre lutte, le régime va reculer ` a
dit Zhirayr Sefilyan.

dimanche 4 août 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

Meteo Web, Italia
sabato 3 agosto 2013

Tv: da lunedì su Rai1 `Overland 14³, viaggio nel cuore dell’Armenia

sabato 3 agosto 2013, 17:00 di Peppe Caridi

`Overland 14², il programma di Filippo e Beppe Tenti, torna lunedi’
alle 23.15 su Rai1. In questa puntata si raggiungera’ Jerevan,
capitale e cuore culturale e storico dell’Armenia. Ci si immergera’
nella vita quotidiana lungo le strade del centro e nei mercati,
assistendo alla produzione del brandy di Churchill, il piu’ vecchio al
mondo, e dei tappeti artigianali. Si approfondira’ poi il passato
tragico di questo Paese visitando il museo del genocidio sulla Collina
delle Rondini. A seguire Overland scoprira’ il museo a cielo aperto
formato da siti archeologici, come il tempio ellenistico di Garni
edificato dal re armeno Tiridate nel I secolo, da fortezze erette a
difesa della Via della Seta, ma soprattutto dai monasteri eretti in
pietravulcanica o scavati nella roccia. E ancora, non mancheranno
parentesi eno-gastronomiche per conoscere la cucina tradizionale. La
puntata terminera’ ai piedi dei ghiacciai dell’Ararat, la montagna di
Noe’, sacra per gli armeni e culla della loro civilta’ che vicende
storiche, spesso drammatiche, ha separato dal territorio nazionale.

ARMENIAN WATERS ARE EXPORTED TO MORE COUNTRIES

August 03, 2013 | 00:45

YEREVAN. – The natural, mineral, and sweetened water exports from
Armenia have substantially increased.

In the first half of 2013, the natural and non-sweetened mineral
water exports comprised 6.8 million liters (approx. $4 million),
which virtually doubles the indicator for the first half of last year.

To note, the geographical scope of the Armenian water exports is
quite broad, but Russia remains the main consumer market, with 88
percent of the total volume of export.

This year, for example, large batches of Armenian water were exported
to Estonia, Israel, Latvia, and Lebanon.

But the most impressive is the growth in the volume of export to
Poland, as compared to the small volumes in previous years.

Large quantities of Armenian waters are likewise sent for the first
time to South Africa and Great Britain.

Large batches are also exported to the “traditional” markets of
Ukraine, United States, and Kazakhstan.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

GERMANY CANCELS SPYING PACT WITH US, UK

09:52 03.08.13

Germany has canceled a Cold War-era surveillance pact with the US
and Britain on Friday in response to revelations by National Security
Agency leakerEdward Snowden about those countries’ alleged electronic
eavesdropping operations, Ya Lybnan reported.

The move appeared largely symbolic, designed to show that the German
government was taking action to stop unwarranted surveillance directed
against its citizens without actually jeopardizing relations with
Washington and London. With weeks to go before national elections,
opposition parties had seized on Snowden’s claim that Germany was
complicit in the NSA’s intelligence-gathering operations.

Government officials have insisted that US and British intelligence
were never given permission to break Germany’s strict privacy laws.

But they conceded last month that an agreement dating back to the late
1960s gave the US, Britain and France the right to request German
authorities to conduct surveillance operations within Germany to
protect their troops stationed there.

“The cancellation of the administrative agreements, which we have
pushed for in recent weeks, is a necessary and proper consequence
of the recent debate about protecting personal privacy,” Germany’s
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement.

British Foreign Office brushed off the significance of the German
move. “It’s a loose end from a previous era which is right to tie up,”
the Foreign Office said in a statement, noting that the agreement
had not been used since 1990.

A spokeswoman for the US embassy in Berlin, Ruth Bennett, confirmed
that the agreement had been canceled but declined to comment further
on the issue.

A German official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said the
cancellation would have little practical consequences.

He said the agreement had not been invoked since the end of the
Cold War and would have no impact on current intelligence cooperation
between Germany and its NATO allies. The official spoke on condition of
anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss the issue.

Germany is currently in talks with France to cancel its part of the
agreement as well.

Public reaction in Germany to Snowden’s revelations was particularly
strong, with civil rights campaigners recalling the mass
surveillancecarried out by secret police in communist East Germany
and during the Nazi era. Chancellor Angela Merkel went so far as to
raise the issue of alleged NSA spying with President Barack Obama
when he visited Berlin in June.

“The government needs to do something to show voters it’s taking the
issue seriously,” saidHenning Riecke of the German Council on Foreign
Relations, a Berlin-based think tank. “Ending an agreement made in
the pre-Internet age gives the Germans a chance to show they’re doing
something, and at the same time the Americans know it’s not going to
hurt them. Given the good relations between the intelligence agencies,
they’ll get the information they need anyway.”

According to Snowden, Germany has been a particular focus on U.S.

intelligence gathering operations in recent years. Several of those
who plotted and carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in
the United States had lived in Germany.

In March 2011, two U.S. Air Force members were killed and two wounded
when a gunman from Kosovo fired on a military bus at Frankfurt
International Airport. The gunman told police he was motivated by
anger over the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Armenian News – Tert.am

1 259 TITRES DE LIVRES PUBLIES EN ARMENIE EN 2012 POUR UN TIRAGE TOTAL DE 796 000 EXEMPLAIRES

ARMENIE-LIVRES

Selon les statistiques officielles, en 2012 furent publies en Armenien
1 259 titres de livres avec une edition totale de 796 000 exemplaires,
ce qui fait une moyenne de 632 exemplaires par titre. 1 240 titres de
livres avec un total de 760 000 exemplaires edites furent enregistres
en 2011. A peine le quart de ces livres porte sur l’art. L’an dernier
une partie important des publications -avec 453 titres- etaient
les au domaine des sciences sociales. Alors que lors de la periode
sovietique, des milliers de livres etaient publies -par les soins de
l’Etat- avec parfois des tirages de 100 000 exemplaires par titre,
depuis l’independance de l’Armenie, cette edition qui est desormais du
domaine du secteur prive a fortement chute. Sans doute la consequence
du prix des livres non subventionnes par l’Etat qui connurent une
hausse très importante et le nombre des lecteurs en baisse constante
du fait de la presence soutenue d’internet et des medias.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 3 août 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

REVUE DE PRESSE AZERBAIDJANAISE DU 13 AU 19 JUILLET 2013

AZERBAIDJAN
Politique interieure

” Ekspress “, ” 525-ci gazet ” et la presse d’opposition rendent compte
de l’arrestation des activistes Ulvi Hassanli, membre de l’organisation
” Jeunesse libre ” et Emil Baguirov, membre de ” NIDA “, suite aux
depliants hostiles au regime avec les slogans ” Change le pouvoir “,
” Proteste contre le pouvoir “. 15 et 16 .07.2013

” Les autorites poursuivent la repression contre la jeunesse “,
titre d’Azadlig. 16.07.2013

Dans son interview accordee au quotidien ” Ekho ” a propos de la visite
a Bakou d’Ahmet Davudoglu, le Ministre turc des affaires etrangères,
Mubariz Akhmedoglu, chef du centre des innovations politiques et
technologiques n’exclut pas ” le debut des operations militaires
dans le Haut -Karabakh ” comme sujet pouvant etre aborde avec les
autorites azerbaidjanaises. 17.07.2013

Un groupe de deputes du Parlement a adresse une lettre au chef
de l’Etat azerbaïdjanais a propos de liberation d’Avaz Zeynalli,
redacteur en chef du journal ” Khural “. 18.07.2013

L’ensemble de la presse azerbaïdjanaise rapporte qu’Ilham Aliyev,
president de la Republique d’Azerbaïdjan a tenu une reunion du Cabinet
des ministres consacree au bilan du developpement social et economique
du premier semestre de 2013, faisant etat d’une croissance du PIB de 5%
et de 11% pour le secteur non petrolier.

Relations internationales

La presse officielle rapporte la lettre de felicitation du president
azerbaidjanais Ilham Aliyev adressee a Francois Hollande, president
de France a l’occasion de la fete nationale francaise du 14 juillet,
rapporte la presse officielle. 14.07.2013

Leonid Kojara, Ministre ukrainien des Affaires etrangères assurant
actuellement la Presidence de l’OSCE s’est entretenu avec Edvard
Nalbadyan, ministre armenien des affaires etrangères. Les relations
bilaterales, regionales et internationales ont ete abordees lors de
cette rencontre, indique l’ensemble de la presse azerbaïdjanaise.

L’Azerbaïdjan a lance des exercices militaires conjointement avec la
Turquie., informe la presse du 17 juillet.

La presse couvre largement la visite a Bakou d’Ahmet Davudoglu,
Ministre turc des affaires etrangères. 16.07.2013

Le president azerbaïdjanais Ilham Aliyev a recu d’Ahmet Davudoglu,
ministre turc des affaires etrangères. 18.07.2013

La presse informe de la tenue de la ceremonie organisee par l’ambassade
de France a l’occasion de la fete nationale francaise, en presence
de M. Samir Sharifov, Ministre des finances de l’Azerbaïdjan.

La communaute francaise, les deputes du Parlement, representants
des autorites azerbaidjanaises et des organisations diplomatiques
ont participe a cette reception. ” Azerbaïdjan “, ” Khalg qazeti ”
du 16 juillet.

” Azadlig ” reprend les propos de Pascal Meunier, Ambassadeur de France
en Azerbaïdjan selon lesquels la France veut voir l’Azerbaïdjan comme
un pays fort, independant, democratique. 17.07.2013

” Les projets TAP et TANAP sont porteurs d’une grande valeur pour
l’Azerbaïdjan et pour la securite energetiques de l’Europe ” a
declare Suma Chakrabarti, president de la Banque europeenne pour
la reconstruction et le developpement, lors de la conference de
presse commune avec le ministre azerbaidjanais des Finances, Shakhin
Mustafayev. ” 525-ci gazet ” 16.07.2013

” Khalg gazeti ” du 16 juillet consacre un long article a l’interview
de l’Ambassadeur de France en Azerbaïdjan accordee a APA, agence
de presse. ” Nous souhaitons organiser une rencontre entre des
azerbaidjanais et des armeniens a Paris et a Strasbourg ” a declare M.

Pascal Meunier.

La chaîne de television publique Ichtimai a consacre le 15 juillet
une emission d’une heure trente a la France avec une interview en
direct de l’Ambassadeur de France.

Philippe Lefort, representant special de l’UE pour le Caucase du
Sud et la crise en Georgie visitera Bakou la semaine prochaine. Les
discussions a propos du règlement du conflit du Haut- Karabakh sont
a l’origine de sa visite, annonce la presse. 19.07.2013

Selon APA, agence de presse, le president turc Abdulla Gul se
rendra en Azerbaïdjan le 15 août, annonce l’ensemble de la presse
azerbaïdjanaise. 19.07.2013

Le president azerbaïdjanais Ilham Aliyev a recu Herbert Quelle,
ambassadeur d’Allemagne a l’occasion de la fin de sa mission
diplomatique en Azerbaïdjan. 19.07.2013

Relations armeno-azerbaïdjanaises

APA , agence de presse, evoque les propos d’Henri Reynaud, Ambassadeur
de France en Armenie , selon lesquels le processus du règlement du
conflit du Haut -Karabakh devrait etre poursuivi selon les principes
de Madrid. ” 525-ci gazet ” 13.07.2013

Le 12 juillet a Vienne, les ministres des Affaires etrangères
d’Azerbaïdjan et d’Armenie se sont entretenus en presence des
copresidents du groupe de Minsk. 03.07.2013

Image de la France

L’accident de train dans l’Essonne. Selon le bilan, il y a huit morts
et douze blesses, informent ” Azerbaïdjan ” et ” Ekspress ” 14.07.2013

L’agence internationale de notation Fitch a abaisse les notes des
banques francaises. ” Ekspress ” 13-15 juillet 2013

Au sud de la France, les activistes de Greenpeace qui ont reussi
a penetrer dans la centrale nucleaire ont ete arretes, relate ”
Bakinskiy rabotchiy ” 16.07.2013

L’arrestation des militants de Greenpeace, l’organisation ecologique
internationale après leur intrusion dans une centrale nucleaire
du Tricastin, dans la Drôme est egalement rapporte par ” Zerkalo ”
du 17 juillet.

Le president francais, Francois Hollande a confirme la mort de l’otage
francais au Mali. ” Bakinskiy rabotchiy ” 17.07 .2013

” Khalg gazeti “, ” Azerbaycan “, ” Ekho ” font etat de la publication
d’un article dans un journal francais ” Beaux Arts ” s’intitulant ”
La culture azerbaïdjanaise a l’honneur ” consacre aux projets de la
Fondation de Heydar Aliyev et a sa Vice -presidente Leyla Aliyeva.

18.07.2013

Service de presse de l’ambassade de France en Azerbaidjan

samedi 3 août 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH DECLINE STARTS CAUSING CONCERN FOR GOVERNMENT – NEWSPAPER

August 03, 2013 | 07:48

YEREVAN. – The economic growth decline in Armenia in the first half
of the year has started causing concern for the Government, too. And
there are reasons for this concern, Hayots Ashkharh daily reports.

“A slowing down in economic activity is observed especially in the
second quarter. The fact that the [reduction in] economic activity
has started causing concern for the government is shown by the PM’s
statement that was made in the past executive session.

“Accordingly, [PM Tigran] Sargsyan commissioned the members of the
Government to conduct analyses in the domains which they head and to
bring to light the phenomena that hinder economic growth.

“The results of the analyses of the ministers are expected to be
discussed in the next Government session.

“The executive is in a hurry and this is not accidental, since there
is limited time to improve the economic growth indicators,” Hayots
Ashkharh writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

PRELACY HOSTS FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR CONSUL GENERAL

Friday, August 2nd, 2013

Consul General Grigor Hovhannissian receiving a plaque from the Prelacy

LA CRESCENTA-On the evening of Wednesday, July 31, the Western
Prelacy family and community gathered at the “Dikran and Zarouhie Der
Ghazarian” Hall to bid farewell to Consul General Grigor Hovhannissian
who will soon embark on his new mission as the first Ambassador of
Armenia to Mexico.

The reception was held under the auspices of Western Prelate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and was organized by the Prelacy
Ladies Auxiliary. Among the guests in attendance were clergy, Central
Executive member Khajag Dikijian, ARF Central Committee Chair Dr.

Viken Hovsepian and member Dr. Viken Yacoubian, representatives
from the Board of Regents, Homenetmen and ARS Central and Regional
Executives Hamazkayin Regional Executive, ANC, Armenia Fund, United
Armenia Fund, Armenian Bar Association, Armenian American Medical
Society, Armenian Society of Los Angeles, Friends of New Julfa,
benefactors who have assisted Armenia, Prelacy Committees, and
Consular staff.

The evening began with welcoming remarks delivered by Ladies Auxiliary
member Mrs. Alisa Konanyan, who thanked the guests for joining the
Prelacy in honoring the Consul General, then invited the Prelate for
the invocation.

During dinner, Khajag Dikijian invited the guests to raise a glass in
honor of the Consul General and his wife Victoria, wishing them good
health and success. Executive Council member and Master of Ceremonies
Dr. Dikran Babikian in his greeting acknowledged the sister and
community organizations represented and thanked them all for their
attendance to express commendation for the Consul General’s service
over the past four years.

Following dinner, the Master of Ceremonies addressed the guests once
again, noting that the evening has a threefold purpose; to thank
the Consul General, congratulate him on his promotion to Ambassador,
and wish him and his family farewell. Dr. Babikian reflected on the
Consul’s achievements during his term, among them the realization
of the House of Armenia, and progress made in economic, commerce,
cultural, and other realms. He noted that the Consul General and his
wife will face new challenges in Mexico, such as raising their young
daughters in a non-Armenian environment. He then invited Executive
Council Chair Rima Boghossian to deliver her remarks.

Boghossian commended the Consul General on his service and
accomplishments, noting that he earned the love and respect of the
community with his strong leadership and dedication, and wished him
success in his new mission.

In his address, ARF Central Committee Chair Dr. Viken Hovsepian first
thanked the Prelate and Ladies Auxiliary for hosting and organizing
the reception. He noted that the Consul General served a diverse
community, which in itself is a challenge for any public servant,
but he took on that challenge and successfully carried out the mission
entrusted to him. Dr. Hovsepian stated that a diplomat’s top priority
is securing the best interest of the government he represents; however,
at time the interests of the nation as a whole are more important
than the interests of the government, and in this too the Consul
General was successful. He spoke highly of the close relationship
and bond established between the Consul General and our community,
stating that he leaves as a dear friend, and the impression he left
will last even after his departure. Finally, Dr. Hovsepian exalted
the Consul General’s deep love for our nation and people, which was
evident in his service, and wished that our nation’s leaders carry
out their mission with this same approach.

The Master of Ceremonies then invited the Prelate for his message.

The Prelate thanked the guests for joining in bidding farewell
to the Consul General and his wife. He echoed the sentiments and
commendations expressed throughout the evening towards the Consul
General, stating that there are surely others who would have liked
to express their feelings as well, however Dr. Hovsepian’s remarks on
behalf of the sister organizations certainly encompassed the thoughts
of all. Throughout his tenure as Prelate, Hovhannissian was the sixth
Consul General, with whom he established a strong professional and
personal relationship as a diplomat and a dear friend. He thanked the
Ladies Auxiliary for their efforts and Haig Bagerjian, a close friend
of his as well as the Consul General, for hosting the evening. On
behalf of the Prelacy family and friends, the Prelate wished the
Consul General and his wife the best of luck and great successes in
their future endeavors, especially given that they are leaving behind
a place like Los Angeles with its dense population of Armenians.

The Consul General conveyed his thanks for the moving remarks and
well wishes expressed by all, and his gratitude to the Prelate and
supporters. Considered the capital of the Diaspora, he stated that
his service within this community had special meaning, and here he
served not only as a government representative, but as a member of the
community, and he was proud of the great support and collaboration
he received. He stated that his diplomatic mission has afforded him
the opportunity to become better acquainted with the Diaspora, and if
he arrived here as a Consul, he returns to Armenia as an Ambassador,
the Ambassador of the Diaspora.

The Consul General took the opportunity to stress two important
points. He noted that we live in a fast-paced and ever-changing world,
giving the example that at the time that he began his service, Turkey
was presenting itself as a peace-loving nation with no issues with
its neighbors. Today though, its role in Syria tells a different story.

Therefore, stated the Consul General, we must keep pace with
new developments and changes in the world, especially in regions
surrounding Armenia, given that we stand before important milestones
and challenges such as the Genocide centennial and the continued
safeguarding of Artsakh. Armenia and Diaspora must adopt contemporary
measures and maintain open dialogue to collectively overcome new
challenges. Second, he stated that taking into consideration current
world events and developments, some may say the vision for a united and
independent Armenia is fading. However, this course is unacceptable for
the Armenian people. The Armenian people will recoup its losses. It is
crucial that the bond with Armenia remain strong and that we staunchly
defend our nation and our ties with our homeland, otherwise we risk
losing everything. The Consul General concluded by confidently stating
that periods of gloom and dismay will give way to a bright dawn.

In commendation for his meritorious service and leadership, the
Prelate presented the Consul General with a plaque of appreciation
on behalf of the Prelacy Councils, and a book on rescued treasures
from Cilicia to the couple. The Ladies Auxiliary presented his wife
Victoria with a bouquet.

The reception also included musical selections performed by singer
Anahit Nersesyan, accompanied on the piano by Professor Levon
Aprahamian.

The evening concluded with the benediction and the Armenian national
anthem.