Author: Kanayan Tamar

“GRANDMA’S TATTOOS” SCREENED IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

17:20 19.06.2013
Grandma’s Tattoos

On Monday 17th June, 2013, the European Armenian Federation for
Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) co-organized the “Grandma’s Tattoos”
movie screening in the presence of Swedish – Armenian director Suzanne
Khardalian in the European Parliament. The screening was co-hosted
by two Swedish Members of the Euroepan Parliament, Carl Schlyter
(Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance) and Cecilia Wikstrom
(Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe).

120 attendants were present – a very diverse audience of old and young
women and men. After the Welcoming and short introduction of EAFJD
President Kaspar Karampetian, “Grandma’s Tattoos” was screened. The
audience was electrified, and emotionally touched, from the subject
matter – of Armenian girls and women abducted and enslaved during
the Armenian Genocide, and marked by tattoos as the properties of
their captors.

After the screening, MEP Cecilia Wikstrom, and director Suzanne
Khardalian responded to the questions of the audience. Questions
about the violation of women in wartime, and not only, the shame and
humiliation carried with it. MEP Cecilia Wikstrom mentioned that
“a woman’s body is a battleship” and expressed her concerns about
violated women, and that the EU Parliament should send a strong
message against it.

Director Suzanne Khardalian informed the audience that her aunt Lucia
– main character in the documentary – did not have the chance to see
the movie, since she passed away before the completion of the movie.

However, the director feels “lucky”, only because a significant number
of Armenian women had already been interviewed by her, as if they were
“waiting to tell their stories before leaving this world”. Khardalian
mentioned that like her grandmother, “I also feel violated and ashamed
because the stigma of rape passed on from generation to generation”.

Co-host of the screening, MEP Carl Schlyter, in his closing remarks
mentioned that the fate of women, especially during, mass crimes,
during both World Wars, and even before and after shall be told to the
coming generations, and that we shall be vigilant against such acts,
as to never be repeated again.

THIS YEAR THE SYRIAN ARMENIANS OF ARTSAKH WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN CAMPS

Monday, 17 June 2013 13:54

This year as usual the NKR representative office of the Armenian
Evangelical Association of America is going to organize a summer camp
in Shoushi.

As NKR representative of the association Arsen Manasyan told
Karabakh-open.info this year the camp will be organized from June 23
till the end of July and will be participated by children and youths
from Artsakh and Syunik aged from 8 to 25 years old.

The camp will be organized in 5 stages, 3 of which for children from
8 to 12 years old, the next two will be participated by teenagers from
13 to 16 years old, and the last stage will involve young people from
16 to 25 years old. Arsen Manasyan also added that this year Syrian
Armenian young people will also take part in the camp.

The Armenian Aid Union is also going to organize a camp. As head of
the Artsakh AAU office Karine Dadayan said the ten-day camp which
will be organized in Gandzasar will start on June 26. Nearly 100
participants the greater part of them Syrian Armenian children of
the age group between 10 to 15 years old from Berdzor, Kovsakan and
a number of residences of Qashatagh will have their vacation there.

CONTROL CHAMBER CHARGED GOVERNMENT WITH MISAPPROPRIATION

Member of Parliament Artsvik Minasyan of ARF said during the
extraordinary meeting of parliament that the Control Chamber has
actually put forth serious charges to the government. The government
admits that there are gaps but denies that those are crimes. It is
unacceptable that misappropriation is revealed but no one is held
responsible.

12:47 18/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

REVUE DE PRESSE No2 – 17/06/13 – COLLECTIF VAN

Publie le : 17-06-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance
Armenienne contre le Negationnisme] vous propose une revue de presse
des informations parues dans la presse francophone, sur les thèmes
concernant la Turquie, le genocide armenien, la Shoah, le genocide
des Tutsi, le Darfour, le negationnisme, l’Union europeenne, Chypre,
etc… Nous vous suggerons egalement de prendre le temps de lire ou
de relire les informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre
rubrique

Par ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc,
ne sont disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous generons
chaque jour. Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la Veille-Media : c’est
gratuit ! Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans votre
boîte email. Bonne lecture.

Paris : conference-debat exceptionnel “Un 24 avril a Istanbul” Info
Collectif VAN – – “Quelles perspectives pour la
reconnaissance du Genocide des Armeniens en Turque ? Une conference –
debat exceptionnel organisee par l’UGAB PAris/IDF. Le mercredi 19 juin
2013 a 20h00. Au Centre Culturel Alec Manoogian”. Le Collectif VAN
vous presente cette information publiee sur le site de l’UGAB Europe.

Collectif VAN : l’ephemeride du 17 juin Info Collectif VAN –
– La rubrique “Ephemeride” du Collectif VAN a
ete lancee le 6 decembre 2010. Elle recense la liste d’evenements
survenus a une date donnee, a differentes epoques de l’Histoire, sur
les thematiques que l’association suit au quotidien. L’ephemeride du
Collectif VAN repose sur des informations en ligne sur de nombreux
sites (les sources sont specifiees sous chaque entree). “17 juin 2006
— France : a Valentigney dans le Doubs, une exposition d’Antoine
Agoudjian, comportant deux photos dont la legende fait reference au
genocide armenien, est annulee par la Mairie, en butte aux pressions
des responsables de la communaute turque de la ville qui menacent de
saccager l’exposition. Par un curieux hasard, 5 ans après presque
jour pour jour, l’UNESCO a censure a son tour ce 15 juin 2011 les
legendes d’une exposition-photo de Khatchkars (pierres armeniennes
avec des croix ciselees) qui se tient jusqu’au 24 juin a son siège
de Paris. Toute mention du lieu où ces Khatchkars sont ou ont ete
presents (Armenie, Turquie, Azerbaïdjan, etc.) est supprimee. Sans
doute suite a des pressions d’Ankara et de Bakou”.

#OccupyGezi – Des negociations aux violences, trois jours en crescendo
Recep Tayyip Erdogan n’avait cesse d’insister ces derniers jours pour
que les manifestations qui secouent la Turquie depuis le 31 mai se
terminent ce week-end. Renouvelant les avertissements jusqu’a samedi,
le Premier ministre turc a ordonne aux forces de l’ordre de deloger
les nouveaux locataires qui s’y etaient installes.

La Turquie fait son Mai 68 La revolte s’etale sur les murs d’Istanbul,
meme si la police antiemeute a repris et “nettoye” la place Taksim, le
11 juin. Les pochoirs et les slogans traces a la bombe rouge ou noire
tournent en ridicule la police et son “chef de brigade”, le premier
ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan, cible de toutes les critiques. Dans
les rassemblements, les slogans fusent joyeusement. Ce n’est pas
“Sous les paves, la plage” ou “Il est interdit d’interdire” mais
“A ta sante Tayyip”, “Le gaz lacrymogène est bon pour la peau” ou
“Deux choses me manquent : la grasse matinee et la democratie”…

“Les hashtags racistes ne doivent plus exister sur Twitter” Twitter
devra desormais transmettre les informations concernant les auteurs de
tweets racistes. Jonathan Hayoun, president de l’Union des Etudiants
Juifs de France, s’en rejouit.

Turquie. “Erdogan a raison d’etre sevère” Dans le quartier Fatih,
fief du parti du Premier ministre, le soutien est unanime. Et depasse
meme les limites de l’electorat traditionnel.

Reportage.

Azerbaïdjan : le parti au pouvoir designe Aliev comme candidat
presidentiel Le Nouveau parti d’Azerbaïdjan (YAP), actuellement
au pouvoir en Azerbaïdjan, a nomme vendredi le president sortant
Ilham Aliev comme son candidat a l’election presidentielle d’octobre
prochain.

Le Premier ministre turc mobilise massivement ses partisans a Istanbul
En Turquie, le Premier ministre voulait faire une demonstration de
force. Objectif atteint, avec ce grand rassemblement organise ce
dimanche a Istanbul, a quelques kilomètres a peine du parc Gezi,
bastion de la contestation.

Turquie : Le Premier ministre Erdogan met en gade les emeutiers
Le Premier ministre turc Recept Tayyip Erdogan a menace dimanche de
punir sevèrement les responsables de la poursuite des troubles dans le
pays. “Ceux qui ont terrorise la population pendant 18 jours paieront
le prix dans les limites de la loi”, a dit M. Erdogan samedi devant
plus de 100.000 de ses partisans reunis a Istanbul.

Turquie, le Premier ministre Erdogan bien decide a reprendre la main
Après 15 jours de contestation dans la rue, les opposants restent
mobilises malgre la demonstration de force de milliers de partisans du
pouvoir ce dimanche a Istanbul. C’est a une veritable demonstration de
force reussie a laquelle Recep Tayyip Erdogan s’est livre ce dimanche
devant une maree humaine toute acquise a sa cause, des milliers de
partisans du pouvoir rassembles en plein coeur d’Istanbul brandissant
le drapeau national.

Avertissement lance a la Conference de la Banque mondiale et du
FMI en Azerbaïdjan Des representants de la Banque mondiale, du FMI
et des deputes de 70 Etats participant a une conference organisee
en Azerbaïdjan ont ete avertis de ne pas oublier le conflit du
Haut-Karabakh qui fait rage depuis deux decennies alors qu’ils ~uvrent
a la resolution de problèmes ailleurs dans le monde.

L’Entrevue de Karen Mirzoyan Ministre des Affaires Etrangères du
Haut-Karabagh sur France 24 Le conflit non resolu entre l’Azerbaïdjan
et les Armeniens secessionnistes vivant dans le territoire enclave du
Haut-Karabagh est souvent qualifie de ” conflit gele “. Mais tandis
que dans la region, les tensions deviennent de plus en plus fortes,
certains craignent qu’elle ne serve de poudrière pour une guerre plus
large a plus grande echelle. Douglas Herbert demande au Ministre des
Affaires etrangères du Haut-Karabagh s’il craint que nous soyons a
la veille d’autres combats.

Vu du Senat #33: debut de guerre civile en Turquie?

Les deux derniers meetings d’Erdogan, samedi a Ankara et dimanche
a Istanbul, leurs dizaines de milliers de supporters venus (amenes)
de toute la Turquie et les discours enflammes d’un Premier ministre
fort de ses scores electoraux n’augurent rien de rejouissant pour
les jours a venir.

Antisemitisme en Grèce : bras de fer entre un homme d’affaires
greco-israelien et le parti neo nazi Aube doree Parce qu’il a refuse
de temoigner devant la commission du Parlement grec dans laquelle
siège un elu du parti neonazi Aube Doree, l’homme d’affaires grec
Sabby Mionis (photo), emigre depuis 2006 en Israël, a entame un bras
de fer avec les autorites du pays.

Turquie. La rue fait plier Erdogan Le calme est revenu sur la place
Taksim a Istanbul. Au terme d’une longue reunion, qui s’est tenue
dans la nuit de jeudi a vendredi, le Premier ministre s’est engage
a suspendre le projet de construction d ?un centre commercial a la
place du parc Gezi, lequel reste occupe. Un tribunal a ete saisi.

L’un des derniers criminels nazis identifie aux Etats-Unis Age de 94
ans, il est soupconne d’avoir ete un commandant SS ukrainien durant
la seconde guerre mondiale. Il a finalement ete rattrape par son
passe. Le Centre Simon Wiesenthal a appele samedi 15 juin le ministère
americain de la Justice a enqueter sur un homme de 94 ans, Michael
Karkoc, demeurant dans le Minnesota (Etats-Unis). Il est soupconne
d’avoir ete le commandant SS ukrainien d’une unite responsable de
crimes contre des civils durant la seconde guerre mondiale.

Erdogan est un dictateur fasciste, selon des Gauchistes tunisiens Des
partis de la Gauche tunisienne tels que le Parti des Travailleurs,
le PPDR et Al Watad ont organise, aujourd’hui 6 juin 2013, un
rassemblement en face du siège de l’UTICA, afin d’exprimer leur
contestation de la presence du chef du gouvernement Turc en Tunisie.

Retour a la rubrique

LE MINISTRE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES DU KARABAGH A RENCONTRE DES MEMBRES DU PARLEMENT EUROPEEN A BRUXELLES

Le ministre des Affaires etrangères de la Republique du Haut-Karabagh
Karen Mirzoyan eu des entretiens avec des deputes du Parlement europeen
au cours de sa visite de courte duree a Bruxelles.

Karen Mirzoyan a egalement rencontre le chef du groupe d’amitie
UE-Armenie, membre de la commission des affaires etrangères Eleni
Teokharus et Michèle Rivazi du Groupe des Verts/Alliance libre
europeenne.

ARMENIAN YOUTH VISITED THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE AND THE MUSLIM MOSQUE IN TBILISI

Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia

On 14 June, 2013 the “Hayartun” Cultural Center of the Diocese of
the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia organized the visit of
young representatives of the Armenian community in Georgia to the
Synagogue and the Mosque in Tbilisi. The aim of the visit was to
familiarize young Armenians of Georgia with the history and traditions
of the monotheistic religions like Judaism and Islam. The spiritual
principal of the “Hayartun” Cultural Center Deacon Gevorg Antonyan,
the Adviser to the Head of the Diocese Levon Isakhanyan and the Head
of the “Hayartun” Cultural Center Technical Department Valera Badalyan
accompanied the youth.

The Rabbi of Georgian Jewish Community Avimelekh Rosenblatt welcomed
the Armenian youth at the Synagogue; he presented the Synagogue
architecture and interior design, which was followed by a conversation
about the religion, traditions and customs of the Jewish people.

After a visit to the Synagogue young people visited the Armenian
Church Norashen, which is located near the Synagogue. It should be
noted that preparation for the reconstruction works at this Armenian
Church, which is in poor condition, has already begun.

In the afternoon the young representatives of the Armenian community
visited the Mosque, where they met Sheikh of All Georgia Vagif
Akperov. Sheikh Vagif presented the history and traditions of the
Shia Muslims, the history of the Islamic community in Tbilisi, as
well as architecture and interior of the Mosque.

Photos are available at:

Press service of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia 18, Armazi Street,
0103, Tbilisi, Georgia Phone: +995322546411 Cell: +995593397170
Fax: +995322751790 Email: [email protected] Website:

UNLOCK! LIVERPOOL TO ACTIVATE MKHITARYAN RELEASE CLAUSE

Anfield Online, UK
June 17 2013

by Anfield Online | Monday 17th June 2013

Liverpool will activate the £20M release clause in Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s
contract with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Speculation has intensified in the past 24 hours about the deal to
secure what could be Liverpool’s biggest summer signing.

The reds hierachy have identified a goalscoring midfielder as one
of the major pieces of the summer’s jigsaw, and will meet the £20M
release clause after Donetsk have played hardball with the reds over
the last 3 weeks.

The Armenian midfielder has been a goalscoring sensation in the
relatively weak Ukrainian league – with 25 goals from 29 appearances
in the last season. He had also scored 13 times in the previous 42
league appearances since joining Shakhtar 3 years ago.

Liverpool Managing Director Ian Ayre has pulled out of a proposed
trip to Rio for a football finance conference. According to Bloomberg,
sources highlighted the Mkhitaryan deal as the key reason behind the
MD’s cancelled trip.

GAZPROM SEEKS FULL CONTROL OF ARMENIA GAS DISTRIBUTOR

Bloomberg
June 17 2013

By Anna Shiryaevskaya

Co. may increase stake in ArmRosGazprom venture to 100% from 80% now,
Gazprom says in e-mailed statement after CEO Alexey Miller met with
Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisian.

KOZHARA POSTPONES VISIT TO ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Ukrainian News Agency, Ukraine
June 17 2013

(12:40, Monday, June 17, 2013)
Ukrainian News Agency

Incumbent chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Leonid Kozhara has postponed his
visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan previously scheduled for June 17-20,
acting director of the information policy department of the Foreign
Affairs Ministry Yevhen Perebiinis told the Ukrainian News agency.

“Tomorrow, June 18, Kozhara will pay a visit to Georgia, and the
visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan is suspended,” Perebiinis said.

At the same time, he did not disclose details of the postponement as
well as possible date of the visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Kozhara intended to pay an official
visit to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia on June 17-20.

DATEVIK HOVANESIAN’S HEART AND SPIRIT ARE ALWAYS LINKED WITH ARMENIA

10:44, 17 June, 2013

NEW YORK, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Datevik Hovanesian’s name is inseparable
from the Armenian jazz. The media and fans characterized her as “the
queen of Soviet jazz”. Datevik Hovanesian has settled in the United
States since 1990s and continues her successful creative activity
beyond the boundaries of the Motherland and attracts the foreign
audience not merely by her jazz performance, but Armenian national
songs as well.

In a conversation with “Armenpress” the singer tells about her creative
activity in the United States and her constant ties with Armenia from
New York.

– Your name has always been in the centre of attention of the jazz fans
in Armenia and elsewhere despite the frequency of Your appearances on
TV and number of Your performances. How does Your creative activity
develop in the United States?

– I am very very glad and touched that the Jazz lovers in Armenia have
not forgotten about me, no matter how frequent my music is played on
the radio or TV. After all even though I am far away, my heart and
soul is always connected to Armenia.

The short answer to your question is that my creative work is going
well in the United States. But if I had to expand on my answer I
would say that throughout my life, be it in Armenia or United States
or anywhere else, my creative, artistic road has never been easy,
I always had to have harder way but a better way……, and I never
shied away from difficult challenges, it was like that when I was in
Armenia and it has continued in the United States and I am glad for it.

– Very frequently various publication call You “the queen of Soviet
jazz”. Do You accept that characterization?

– Actually it is not a question of agreeing with that description or
not, during the Soviet Union years, there was an official poll going
on which was voted by Jazz critics and experts of the Soviet Union who
would select the best jazz instrumentalists and vocalists yearly and
for 9 consecutive years I was voted as the #1, “First Lady of Jazz”
Vocalist in Soviet Union, which was a huge honor and recognition for
me personally and of course for the small republic of Armenia.

– Once You have noted that it’s a serious challenge and test to be
a jazz musician despite the place of residence. What did You mean
by that?

– Jazz will always be a very different and difficult musical genre
if to compare it to other forms of popular music. Jazz is not easy
to understand or to follow, hence the people who love the music and
follow it need to have a deeper understanding and knowledge of it,
naturally that limits the number of people who become fans of the
music. Since we live in a world that business and profits dictate a
lot of what we do and the type of art that is recognized, to be a
jazz musician in any part of the world one needs to have a lot of
courage and dedication and strong belief to walk that rocky road,
that’s what I meant when I said it is a big challenge.

– How would Your jazz career develop in Armenia, if You did not depart
for the United States in 1980s?

– This is really a difficult question to answer for anyone and I
would say no one knows.

– You gave a concert in “Aram Khachaturian” Concert Hall on the
Armenian Jazz anniversary in 2008. Is it possible to give a big or
a small club concert in Homeland for the audience, which has missed
Your voice so much?

– Of course it is possible, I would love to, it just requires
invitation from professional & competent organizers who would be
interested in taking on the task.

– You gave concerts in the United States, Europe and Australia; You
participated in number of international festivals, and performed
Your songs in such prominent concert halls as Carnegie Hall and
Lincoln Center. Do You consider giving concerts in future and in
what countries?

– Yes there are upcoming concerts in US, Europe in the coming months.

– You have signed an agreement with Sony Classical Company on recording
and releasing five albums. On what stage are the activities now?

– Unfortunately because of huge changes in the Sony company and its
management after producing the first CD things have remained frozen. I
am hoping that in near future things will change. I have to add that
the 2nd album “Listen to my Soul” was also recorded and most of the
work completed which such giants as Frank Wess, Ben Reily, Paquito
D’rivera, Claudio Roditi and many others.

– People say that jazz is an international kind of music. What do You
think how compatible is jazz with ethnic music and how the foreign
audience understands them?

– Actually Jazz is not an international music by its origin,
it was born from the African roots and blues, it was nourished
and took strong wings in the United States. Only later on it has
become international. Over the years the wings got spread, different
nationalities brought their own rhythms and soul into it, specially
since it’s a very open and accepting form of music it was possible
to braid with different folk and traditional elements, which created
a new beautiful form called ethnic jazz, or I would argue just jazz.

You are correct. It is now an international music, hence it is accepted
and loved all over the world.

– Do You follow the recent developments of the Armenian music? What
positive and negative changes do You see now in comparison with the
Soviet years?

– To be honest I do not follow it enough to form and express my
professional opinion on that topic.

– What do You miss most of all living and creating away from the
homeland?

– The nature and my childhood. HOV SARER MOV SARER MANKOOTUNS YET BEREK
(COOL MOUNTAINS, BLUE MOUNTAINS, GET MY CHILDHOOD BACK!).

Interview by Tatevik Grigoryan

Photo by Levon Paryan