Armenpress News Agency , Armenia February 2, 2018 Friday Turkey needs to abandon threatening populism of its denialist policy – Armenian FM YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. The recognition process of the Armenian Genocide is irreversible. It is obvious that the century-long denialist policy failed. However, Turkey continues to stick to the stereotypes, Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian said in response to the inquiry of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the ministry told Armenpress. Question: The Foreign Minister of Turkey qualified as populism the recent remarks on the Armenian Genocide made in the speech of the President of France? What can you say in this regard? Answer:Turkey cannot but realize that the recognition process of the Armenian Genocide is irreversible. It is obvious that the century-long denialist policy failed. However, Turkey continues to stick to the stereotypes. Ankara does not shy away to distort not just the historic facts but the current realities, including by misrepresenting the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. In an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Turkey the International Association of Genocide Scholars has rightly stated that the Armenian Genocide is abundantly documented by thousands of official records of the United States and other nations around the world including the Ottoman Turkey’s wartime allies Germany, Austria and Hungary, by eyewitness accounts of diplomats and missionaries, by the testimony of survivors, by the decades of historical and legal scholarships, and even by Ottoman court-martial records. It is noteworthy that Germany and Austria have not only recognized the Armenian Genocide as many other countries had done but also acknowledged their part of responsibility, as Turkey’s allies of the time. The international community has emphasised on numerous occasions that the denial of Genocide creates a breeding ground for the repetition of crimes against humanity. Instead of labeling as populists those who have recognized the Armenian Genocide, Ankara needs to abandon threatening populism of its denialist policy and candidly face its own past.
Author: Kanayan Tamar
Azerbaijan remains silent on Krakow agreement over enhancing Kasprzyk’s capacity – Nalbandian
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia Monday Azerbaijan remains silent on Krakow agreement over enhancing Kasprzyk's capacity - Nalbandian YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. During the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Krakow, with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in attendance, a principled agreement was reached to increase the number of team members of Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk’s office – the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian reaffirmed during a press conference. “Armenia has always been in favor of enhancing the capabilities of the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. It is the only structure carrying out monitoring missions by the international structure in the conflict zone, and certainly, if we increase both the quantity and efficiency of those missions, meaning if we make those monitoring missions more intensive, it might be favorable for decreasing tension in the conflict zone and the 1994-1995 ceasefire agreements”, Nalbandian said. He reminded that these agreements were reached back in Vienna,several suggestions were made by then-chairing (OSCE) Germany. “The Armenian sides – Armenia and Artsakh – gave their agreement to them. However it wasn’t possible to enhance the capacity of Kasprzyk’s team because Azerbaijan created many obstacles. In Krakow, a principle agreement was reached on the level of ministers to make one step forward – to increase the international staff of Kasprzyk’s team by 7”, Nalbandian said. He emphasized that both the Co-Chairing countries and Armenia mentioned in their statements that unlike Azerbaijan, which displays a creative behavirour typical to itself after the meetings, it is no coincidence that the statements of Azerbaijan completely differ from the statement made by Armenia or the Co-Chairing countries. “The same happened in Krakow. Azerbaijan is still silent, it hasn’t said anything about reaching such agreement. Armenia and the Co-Chairing countries are saying this. Soon the Co-Chairs will visit the region – visiting Azerbaijan, Armenia and Artsakh. Let’s hope that this agreement will be realized and Azerbaijan will not make a step back once again”, he said. The FM also addressed the question regarding the creation of investigative mechanisms, stressing that the agreement about this was reached not only during the Vienna summit, but it is being discussed for at least 8-9 years. “This suggestion was made by the Co-Chairs. Many times we had reached mutual understanding, that this structure must be created, but it was again Azerbaijan which refused the agreements. The Co-Chairing countries had said for at least 2 times that Armenia has given agreement and they are waiting for Azerbaijan’s agreement to create the mechanism. The issue remains in the agenda. Let’s hope that it will be possible to be created in the future, since it can act as an important tool not only in terms of investigating cases, but also for decreasing tension in the region, it can act as a prevention tool”, he said.
Azerbaijani authorities entered themselves into deadlock – Vice Speaker Sharmazanov
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia Thursday Azerbaijani authorities entered themselves into deadlock – Vice Speaker Sharmazanov YEREVAN, JANURY 25, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan, after almost every serious international event, responds by provocation. This happened recently after the meeting of the Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian and Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov, as well as after the Geneva meeting (October 16, 2017), this also happened now, Eduard Sharmazanov – Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, told a press conference in Armenpress. “By this step Azerbaijan shows that it is not ready for constructive talks, that their leaders say something around the negotiation table, but in fact they became the victims of their own maximalist policy. They entered themselves into a deadlock”, the Vice Speaker said. While delivering remarks at PACE, the Armenian President said the international community should help the Azerbaijani authorities to get out of the maximalist situation. According to Sharmazanov, the international community should help, but there is one truth – it’s impossible to help someone who doesn’t want it. “Here the problem is in the brains of the Azerbaijani leadership. They became the victims of Armenophobic, racist policy. I don’t want to inflame the passions, but I will say a very clear thing. Today if you open the Azerbaijani textbooks, official websites and look at the speeches of the Hitler leaders during 30s, you will see that Goebbels, Hitler were replaced by Azerbaijani officials. Goebbels and Hitler were just addressing their calls against the Jews, today the Azerbaijani leadership makes such racist statements against Armenians”, Eduard Sharmazanov said. Sharmazanov said the vivid evidence of this is the elimination of tens of thousands cross-stones in Julfa (Jugha). “I am confident that the Armenian Army can maintain the balance by both diplomatic and military means. If the concerned sides want long-lasting peace in this region, Azerbaijan should be brought to the constructive field , I don’t know whether it will be by making it understand this, or by sanctions, pressures”, the Vice Speaker said. Sharmazanov emphasized that such provocations can never affect the political will of the citizens of Artsakh and Armenia. The aspiration for freedom can never be questioned. “All provocations cannot solve any issue. If the life of their soldier has no value for them, for us, even a small injury of our soldier is above all. The life of the citizen of Armenia and Artsakh is the most expensive value”, he said. The Armed Forces of Artsakh detected a reconnaissance penetration attempt by Azerbaijani forces overnight January 25 in the defense section of a military unit in the south-eastern (Kurapatkino) direction of the line of contact. As result of preventive countermeasures the Azerbaijani special forces were pushed back. According to preliminary information, the Azerbaijani forces suffered losses. Details are being clarified.
Armenia parliament committee condemns Yezidi genocide
Pan Armenian, Armenia
Jan 11 2018
– 18:53 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian parliament’s standing committee on foreign relations has approved a statement condemning the genocide perpetrated in August 2014 against the Yezidi people living in the north of Iraq.
According to committee chief Armen Ashotyan, such issues are important from humanitarian, legal and political aspects.
“Being a nation that has survived the Genocide, we very well understand the grief of the Yezidi people,” Ashotyan said in a Facebook post.
Lawmakers Rustam Makhmudyan and Vahram Baghdasaryan are going to submit an amended version of the statement.
The initiative was earlier backed by a handful of current and former members of the National Assembly.
The objects of their reflection
Harvard Gazette
January 6, 2018 Saturday
The objects of their reflection
Whether a spell book or Edison bulb, Houghton’s treasures charm students and illuminate research
It’s hard to imagine even the most jaded student entering the Houghton Library without a sense of awe. Within these walls, you can read a letter signed personally by Vladimir Lenin, unfold a book of spells from Indonesia, and marvel at Emily Dickinson’s writing desk and chair.
As Houghton celebrates its 75th anniversary, scholars take a look back at how some of the library’s rare holdings have inspired their research. ‘
Katherine Leach, a Ph.D. student in Celtic languages and literatures, took her students to Houghton to explore medieval and early modern tracts against witchcraft.
Librarian Emilie Hardman showed them original sources from the period such as the Malleus Maleficarum but to the delight of the class, she also rolled out an Indonesian spell book, bamboo sticks engraved with spells, and an Armenian charm scroll. Indonesian spell book Press play, above, to hear Houghton librarian Emilie Hardman discuss the Batak accordion book of spells. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer Armenian charm scroll Press play, above, to hear Houghton librarian Emilie Hardman discuss this charm scroll from 1708. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
“The class changed because of what Emilie brought in to show my students,” Leach says. “There were two Armenian students in the class. Seeing that scroll blew their minds. They were posting on Instagram and texting other Armenian students.”
Leach says that as a medievalist, she’s often focused exclusively on texts and manuscripts but “seeing these artifacts made the topic more relatable, more real” for her students.
“I was so impressed with the collection and with Emilie,” Leach says. Bamboo log engraved with spells Press play, above, to hear Houghton librarian Emilie Hardman discuss this spell-engraved bamboo stick. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer Malleus Maleficarum Press play, above, to hear Houghton librarian Emilie Hardman discuss the Malleum Maleficarum. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer ‘
Today, we can zoom in on any part of the world through Google Maps and Street View.
When German cosmographer Sebastian Munster made his Cosmographia, a book intended to capture the world as he knew it in the 16th century, he did not have the benefit of Google’s tools.
Instead, Munster recruited a resident from every German burg to provide him with drawings of their cities, says Jasper van Putten ’15.
A Ph.D. student in the history of art and architecture when he found the text at Houghton, van Putten launched a research project that would have astonished Munster.
Using GIS mapping tools – with landmarks such as church spires and old city walls as his guide – he overlaid the antique drawings from Munster’s book over modern satellite maps of German cities. Cosmographia Press play, above, to hear Houghton librarian Emilie Hardman discuss the “Cosmographia” from 1550. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Surprisingly, the old illustrations were fairly accurate, van Putten says. However, in some, important landmarks were nudged into positions that made the cities look more important.
“One city moved a castle about 300 meters to put it in the center of the view,” according to van Putten.
The Cosmographia stayed in print for about 90 years with maps added or redesigned in later editions, van Putten says, so he stacked up the views in GIS to flip back and forth and see how the cities had changed over time. He has put his work online, giving researchers and history buffs anywhere a bird’s eye view of the way that 16th century Germans saw their world. ‘ Bijou light bulb Press play, above, to hear Houghton librarian Emilie Hardman discuss this light bulb from the 1880s. Photo courtesy of Harvard University Library
Jeremy Zallen ’14 wanted to write about the history of illumination for his Ph.D. dissertation. While exploring the earliest forms of electric light in the United States he came across the records of the Bijou Theatre.
In the 1880s, the Boston venue became the first fully electrified theater in the country. A single, fragile light bulb survived from that era and sits in Houghton alongside the theater’s financial records.
If you put this tiny bulb on a shelf in Home Depot, you might not notice that it is a relic from the 1880s, with a bamboo, rather than tungsten, filament.
“The bulb would have been made in Menlo Park, under the direction of Thomas Edison. In those days, they were experimenting with a number of filament types,” Zallen says. “The bamboo filament would have been less bright than previous electric light bulbs, but it would have lasted at least a few days – which was a big improvement.”
The bulb brought up more questions than answers for Zallen: Why did someone save this solitary light bulb? Were the electric lights’ primary purpose functional, or were they really just props to publicize Edison’s invention? ‘
Andrea Bohlman, Ph.D. ’12 in music, unexpectedly discovered a series of underground recordings at Houghton while preparing for a trip to Poland that she says, “changed my research methodology forever.”
“I was probably on page 57 of search results in the HOLLIS catalog when I stumbled upon the Solidarity Collection,” Bohlman said.
Comprising dozens of cassette tapes belonging to Poles who resisted or subverted the Communist government as a part of the Solidarity movement of the 1980s, the collection opened up a whole new world of research for Bohlman.
Bohlman heard everything from politically conscious Polish rock music to bootlegged news reports from broadcasters sympathetic to the Solidarity movement.
“Cassette tapes are convenient materials for politically subversive communication – you can wipe them with a magnet, you can record over them, but you can also copy them infinitely,” Bohlman said.
Solidarity-related cassette tapes became the cornerstone of Bohlman’s dissertation, now a forthcoming book, “Musical Solidarities: Political Action and Music in Late Twentieth-Century Poland.”
“Now everywhere I go to conduct research, I look for weird sound recordings,” Bohlman says. “They’re an untapped resource.”
Sports: A list of top ten 2017 Armenian athletes provokes a lively debate
JAM News
Jan 5 2018
The list was also criticised by one of the athletes mentioned in it
The Armenian media has published a list with the names of the top ten best athletes of Armenia in 2017. These names were chosen via votes received from sports journalists and mobile text messages of sports fans.
The top ten athletes were:
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, football, midfielder of the English Manchester United club.
Artur Aleksanyan, greco-roman wrestling, Olympic champion and three-time world champion.
Levon Aronyan, international chess grandmaster, two time world cup winner.
Grigor Mkhitaryan, member of the Armenian sambo team, world champion.
Maksim Manukyan, greco-roman wrestling, world champion.
Hovhannes Bachkov, boxer, multiple-time champion of Armenia, European Championship gold medalist.
Simon Martirosyan, weightlifting, Olympic silver medalist.
Edgar Stepanyan, member of the Armenian cycling team.
Artur Tovamasyan, member of the Armenian gymnastics team.
Tigran Kirakosyan, member of the Armenian sambo team, four-time world cup winner, world champion and three-time European Championship gold medalist.
The athletes were given symbolic statue-trophies and keys to Hyundai Elantra vehicles.
However, not everyone believes that the selection was fair. Some think that athletes equally deserving of this title were not included on the list.
This discontent was expressed by greco-roman wrestler Artur Aleksanyan. His statement resonated in the sports world as he was one of the athletes nominated.
“I don’t agree with this list. This year we had winners on the world and European level who didn’t make it onto the list. I think that this is the fault of the Ministry of Sports. It is likely that the vote was not properly organized. How can a world champion remain off the list? I don’t want the impression to be formed that my opinion is being affected by the fact that I was not number one on the list. I simply do not agree with the results of the voting,” said Artur Aleksanyan.
The list of the ten best athletes of the year was also criticised by Artur Aleksanyan’s brother, Rafael Aleksanyan, who is also a greco-roman wrestler. He believes that footballer Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who plays for the English Manchester United club shouldn’t have been on the list.
“I respect Henrikh Mkhitaryan greatly. He is, without a doubt, the best footballer in the history of Armenia, but he didn’t win anything for our country – and so he shouldn’t have been on the list. The fact that he brought us into the limelight doesn’t mean that he has to be included in the rating of the best athletes of Armenia,” he said.
Rigoletto à Cologne : un triomphe pour Nina Minasyan
ResMusica
5 janv 2018
Rigoletto à Cologne : un triomphe pour Nina Minasyan
Cologne. Staatenhaus. 4-I-2018. Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) : Rigoletto, opéra en trois actes sur un livret de Francesco Maria Piave d’après Le Roi s’amuse de Victor Hugo. Mise en scène : Katharina Thalbach (reprise par Eike Ecker). Décors et Costumes : Ezio Toffolutti. Lumières : Andreas Grüter. Chorégrafie : Nadine Schori. Avec : Liparit Avetisyan, Il Duca di Mantova ; Nicholas Pallesen, Rigoletto ; Nina Minasyan, Gilda ; Lucas Singer, Sparafucile ; Marta Wryk, Maddalena ; Judith Thielsen, Giovanna ; María Isabel Segarra, Comtesse Ceprano ; Michael Mrosek, Monterone ; Hoeup Choi, Marullo ; Alexander Fedin, Borsa ; Insik Choi, Comte Ceprano ; Constanze Meijer, Page. Chœur de l’Opéra de Cologne (chef de chœur : Andrew Olivant), Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, direction musicale : Gabriel Feltz.
C’est un Rigoletto des jeunes talents que l’Opéra de Cologne a mis au programme au début de cette année.
Rares sont les productions que l’Opéra de Cologne a pu déménager au Staatenhaus, lieu d’exil de l’institution jusqu’en 2022. Le Rigoletto que Katharina Thalbach et Ezio Toffolutti proposèrent en 2012 en fait partie – une mise en scène efficace, professionnelle et sans prétentions qui, cette fois, sert de cadre idéal à une distribution entièrement composée de jeunes talents.
C’est Nina Minasyan, soprano arménienne formée au Bolchoï de Moscou, qui en Gilda offre la preuve la plus complète. Dotée d’une voix longue au médium corsé et au suraigu flamboyant, elle nous enchante par de sublimes demi-teintes, tout en réservant un bel aplomb dramatique à la scène de la tempête. Liparit Avetisyan, arménien lui-aussi, incarne le Duc de Mantoue. Le jeune ténor exhibe une voix d’une précieuse beauté. Plus éternel charmeur que vilain séducteur, il déploie avec soin les longues phrases verdiennes. Dommage seulement que son aigu, par ailleurs facile, sinon brillant, plafonne soudainement quand il s’agit d’attaquer les si naturels de « La donna è mobile ».
Pour Nicholas Pallesen, le rôle-titre arrive un peu tôt. Faisant valoir, lui aussi, un timbre accrocheur et un registre aigu impressionnant, il lui manque pourtant la carrure et la maturité, vocale et scénique, pour rendre justice complètement à ce rôle de père tourmenté. A plus d’un moment, à vrai dire, on a l’impression de se retrouver face au grand frère de Gilda.
Parmi les rôles secondaires, saluons d’abord le Sparafucile de Lucas Singer, chaude voix de basse au grave bien assis. Marta Wryk est une Maddalena séduisante à souhait. Si le bas du registre manque un peu de panache, elle trouve le juste ton un rien vulgaire pour ce rôle de prostituée. Une mention enfin pour la prometteuse Giovanna de Judith Thielsen. Déception en revanche quant au Monterone bien trop clair de Michael Mrosek.
Au pupitre du Gürzenich-Orchester Gabriel Feltz fait ce qu’il peut pour éviter les décalages entre fosse et scène – pourtant inévitables, semble-t-il, dans l’acoustique problématique du Staatenhaus. En résulte une lecture visant un peu trop la précision où l’émotion ne transparaît que par moments.
Crédit photographique : Nina Minasyan (Gilda) und Nicholas Pallesen (Rigoletto) © Klaus Lefebvre
Ishkhan Barseghyan’s state of health gets bad at court
For Ishkhan Barseghyan, who was charged with taking bribes, the ambulance was summoned to the Shengavit district general jurisdiction court today. At the very beginning of the trial, Ishkhan Barseghyan said he had dizziness and nausea and was unable to attend the session.
He informed judge Vache Margaryan that already in prison his state of health was not good, at that time his pressure was 170/100.
The doctor, who had been summoned to the court, told the court participants that Ishkhan Barseghyan had been diagnosed with hypertension and had received appropriate medication. Before taking medication, Ishkhan Barseghyan’s pressure was 150/90.
Artsakh MOD: Azerbaijan fired over 1,600 shots within one week
News.am, Armenia
Dec 23 2017
Karabakh MOD: Azerbaijan fired over 1,600 shots within one week Karabakh MOD: Azerbaijan fired over 1,600 shots within one week
14:13, 23.12.2017
STEPANAKERT. – The relatively quiet operative situation along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces remained unchanged, from December 17 to 23.
During this time, however, the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire around 200 times by firing more than 1,600 shots toward the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR) military positions, the Artsakh Ministry of Defense (MOD) informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.
But the NKR Defense Army vanguard units mostly refrained from taking actions in response, and they continued confidently carrying out their military task.
Armenian conscripts can sign up for service on combat sites and receive benefits
JAM News
Dec 22 2017
For the forthcoming winter call, several dozen young people have already chosen this new model of service in the army
A new program called ‘This Is Me’ is being implemented in Armenia for young people who are going to serve on the front line.
In the new program young people will serve in the army for three years instead of two, and will spend seven months at home. At the end of their service, about 5 million drams (about USD 10 000) will be transferred to their account which they will be able to use:
- to buy inexpensive lodgings;
- to found a small enterprise;
- to pay for education.
The Minister of Defense Viguen Sargsyan announced that the program has already started and that several dozen conscripts have already decided to to join.
“Many are asking where the exact sum is indicated – the sum that they will receive, what the conditions are, on what basis the agreement may be annulled and so on. When they find out these details, I am sure that the number of those interested will rise. One needs to take into account that we are conducting this form of conscription for the first time, and I think that if 100 soldiers sign up, it will already be a good initial result for the program. In the next conscription period we will be even better prepared, and will work with recruiting resources from schools,” said the minister.
Young people who do not want to participate in the program will conduct their military service on the currently acting, former model.