Author: Kanayan Tamar

NO CONCESSIONS WITHOUT SECURITY GUARANTEES

“Radiolur”
17:03 26.09.2012

Safarov’s release was to some extent beneficial for Armenia and
Artsakh, as it consolidated the conviction that “there should be
no concession without security guarantees,” Deputy Director of the
Caucasus Institute Sergey Minasyan told reporters today.

He does not believe there will be any tangible progress in the process
of settlement of the Karabakh issue in the foreseeable future.

According to Sergey Minasyan, Safarov’s transfer was meant to win
dividends for Aliyev ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections.

Speaking about the CSTO military exercises, the Deputy Director of
the Caucasus Institute said “the CSTO drills, also as the fighting
efficiency of Armenia and Artsakh have always made Azerbaijan draw
serious conclusions, as the latter has not made any step, except for
making belligerent statements

EUROPEAN ARMENIANS WELCOME THE STATEMENT OF EP PRESIDENT

armradio.am
17:18 26.09.2012

Turkey”By making Turkey’s Membership of the European Union contingent
on Turkey’s acknowledgment of the genocide you have not only displayed
a great respect for the universal European values, but also with
your formal declaration have confirmed the overall superiority and
supremacy of our continental humanitarian constructs of Democracy
and Freedom intended ultimately to protect Human Rights, devastated
daily in the modern but backward looking State of Turkey, longing for
Ottoman domination and slavery of nations,” President of the Assembly
of the Armenians of Europe Garo Hakopian wrote in a letter addressed
to Martin Schultz, President of the European Parliament.

The President of the European Parliament Martin Shultz declared
earlier that Turkey’s integration into Europe is preconditioned by
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reiterating the body’s
1987 decision.

“Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide and it would be
considered as a precondition to enter the European Union,” said Shultz.

“We expect that the pan-European socio-political structures, albeit
late, but hopefully soon now, assume their historical responsibilities
against the horrendous holocaust perpetrated upon our nation by the
Ottoman State of Turkey, robbing it of its historical territories,
to finally see justice done by their return according to The Treaty
of Sèvres (10 August 1920,” President of the Assembly of the Armenians
of Europe said.

HOVANNISIAN TO RECEIVE ‘VAHAN CARDASHIAN AWARD’ AT ANCA EASTERN REGION BANQUET

Armenian Weekly
September 26, 2012

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern Region will
be honoring UCLA Prof. Richard Hovannisian with the prestigious Vahan
Cardashian Award at the 6th Annual ANCA-ER Banquet on Sat., Dec. 1,
at the Sheraton Crossroads in Mahwah, N.J.

UCLA Prof. Richard Hovannisian is set to receive the Vahan Cardashian
Award on Dec. 1 at the 6th Annual ANCA-ER Banquet.

The banquet will begin with an elegant cocktail reception and silent
auction at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and an awards ceremony at
8 p.m. Hundreds of Armenian-Americans throughout the Eastern Region
of the U.S. will once again gather to celebrate the achievements of
the ANCA and to honor those who have advanced the Armenian cause.

“We are proud to honor Richard Hovannisian with the Cardashian Award
for his many accomplishments, including his outstanding research and
development of Armenian studies in higher education,” said ANCA-ER
Executive Director Michelle Hagopian.

Hovannisian is a professor of Armenian and Near Eastern studies
at UCLA. Born and raised in Tulare, Calif., Hovannisian received
his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of
California-Berkeley, and obtained his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1966. In
1987, he was appointed the first holder of the Armenian Educational
Foundation Endowed Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA.

Hovannisian is a Guggenheim Fellow and has received many honors
for his scholarship, civic activities, and advancement of Armenian
studies. He is the author of numerous books, including Armenia on
the Road to Independence and The Armenian Holocaust. He has edited
and contributed to at least a dozen other works, and has published
more than 50 scholarly articles.

Hovanissian serves on the Board of Directors of nine scholarly
and civic organizations, including Facing History and Ourselves
Foundation, the International Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide,
International Alert, the Foundation for Research on Armenian
Architecture, and the Armenian National Institute. He’s also the
recipient of the UCLA Alumni Association’s 2010-11 “Most Inspiring
Teacher” award.

The Vahan Cardashian Award is given annually to an ANCA supporter who
demonstrates longstanding dedication and active involvement in the
Armenian-American community and its issues. In the past, the ANCA
Cardashian Award has been presented to notable Armenian-Americans,
such as ANCA activist Stephen Dulgarian; the director of Project Save
Armenian Photograph Archives, Ruth Thomasian; and New England community
leader Tatul Sonentz-Papazian. The award is named for Yale-educated
lawyer Vahan Cardashian, who set aside his successful New York practice
to dedicate himself to the establishment of the American Committee
for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA), the predecessor organization
to the Armenian National Committee, and to advocate for the plight
of the Armenian nation.

For more information about the banquet, contact Karine Shnorhokian at
(201) 788-5425 or visit

The ANCA Eastern Region Endowment Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable and
educational organization that supports the ANCA Eastern Region in
outreach to Armenian-American communities.

ARS APPEALS FOR HELP

Armenian Weekly
September 26, 2012

The following is a message from the chairwoman of the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) Eastern USA, Ani Attar.

Ani Attar To all Armenians living in the Eastern U.S. and abroad,

This is a special appeal to join the Armenian Relief Society’s efforts
in helping our compatriots in Syria.

A few months ago, the ARS, Inc. launched an appeal to help the Armenian
schools in Syria. Through the efforts of our chapters in the Eastern
USA and its members, we were able to raise and transfer $25,000 to
the ARS of Syria.

As Weekly readers know, the situation in Syria is fast deteriorating.

In Aleppo and elsewhere, Armenian families are being forced to evacuate
their neighborhoods, often unsure of their next destination.

The community is experiencing social and financial instability,
and is in dire need of medication, food, and safe shelter.

In response, the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief was formed to assist
our brothers and sisters with much-needed financial support. The
Armenians of Syria are relying on us at this time of need, and we
must act quickly. Our online donation lines are open. Please ask
your colleagues, friends, co-workers, Armenians, and non-Armenians
to donate to our relief efforts.

The Armenian Relief Society has long been a beacon of hope in desperate
situations. It most recently donated generously to earthquake-stricken
Haiti and Japan, and assisted those who were starving in the horn of
Africa. It is time that we ask all of you to partake in our plight
for help.

We, the avowed to the Armenian relief’s holy work,

A legion of light and crusader of mercy;

In the struggle of our sacred cause,

We offer Armenian woman’s heart of gold.

We pray for those who are caught in the Syrian uprising. Be a part of
the Syrian-Armenian relief efforts by making a tax-deductible donation
to this humanitarian cause and designate the “Fund for Syrian Armenian
Relief” as your program of choice. For more information or to make a
donation, visit ; call (617) 926-3801 or write to
ARS Eastern USA Inc., 80 Bigelow Ave., Suite 200, Watertown, MA 02472.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR: “THE SOLUTION OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SIDE’S POLITICAL WILL”

APA
Sept 25 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. “We believe that the way of the
solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be found and we will
achieve a progress in the process of negotiations.

But first of all, the progress depends on the political will of the
sides. We can assist, but without political will by both countries it
will be impossible to find the solution”, said the French ambassador
to Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier, APA reports.

He mentioned that the peaceful solution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict was the priority issue discussed at the meeting between
Azerbaijani and French presidents in Paris.

“We can’t say that France remains passive towards finding the solution
to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as the last meeting between OSEC Minsk
group co-chairs and foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia was
held in Paris”.

IAN GILLAN AND TONY IOMMI WELCOME THE START OF THE GYUMRI MUSIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

Mediamax
Sept 25 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan and Black
Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi welcomed the news on the start of Gyumri
N6 music school construction.

Ian Gillan noted in his message sent to Mediamax that he is “personally
honored and humbled to be a small part of this project”.

“I know how much hard work you and many others have put into making
it happen. And here we are – the work has begun, the foundations are
being laid for the re-birth of music after a generation has passed
in silence since the devastation of the earthquake in 1988. Already
I can hear the tinkling of piano keys, the scraping of violin bows,
strumming of guitars, beating of drums, aching of hearts and tears
of frustration as students attempt to master their craft in order to
eventually be able to express their art when music becomes a friend
for life. Have a wonderful happy day and just try to imagine what
fruit this tree will bear in the future”, noted Ian Gillan.

In his message, Tony Iommi called the news on starting the construction
of the school “wonderful”.

“What wonderful news that the school is finally being built. My trip
over has left an indelible memory, the warmth of your welcome and
hospitality will not be forgotten. I hope the new school will inspire
a great number of children to learn to play a musical instrument, not
just the most gifted but those for whom music can be a therapy. I’m
very busy recording a new Black Sabbath record so can’t be with you,
but I hope to pay a visit when the school is finished”, said Tony
Iommi.

‘RED DOG HOWLS’ OVER A HORROR STORY

New Jersey Newsroom
Sept 24 2012

Monday, 24 September 2012 22:50

Kathleen Chalfant portrays an Armenian grandmother with a terrible secret

BY MICHAEL SOMMERS, OFF BROADWAY REVIEW

The dramatic pathway that playwright Alexander Dinelaris traverses
in his “Red Dog Howls” is a much-travelled one: An American man
discovers some old family letters that he traces back to his lost-long
grandmother with whom he soon bonds.

Eventually, grandma divulges the family horror story that has long
haunted him as well as her. It might involve the Holocaust or incest
or murder or some such hellish experience.

In this case, it’s the infamous Armenian massacres of 1915.

Fortunately for Dinelaris’ undeniably dusty scenario, this road also
leads to Kathleen Chalfant, who is terrific as the Armenian grandmother
in New York Theatre Workshop’s premiere of “Red Dog Howls,” which
opened on Monday.

For all of its I-can-see-it-coming familiarity, the drama is written
by Dinelaris with sincerity and decent craft. His sorrowful 100-minute
story builds to an effective climax that Chalfant’s superb acting
knocks out of the park.

Director Ken Rus Schmoll stages a very smooth, well-tuned production
that supports the play. Marsha Ginsberg designs a sparely furnished,
expansive setting that quietly suggests two New York apartments and
a hospital room. Tyler Micoleau’s somber lighting and Jane Shaw’s
plaintive violin music reinforce a mournful mood. Designer David C.

Woolard’s modest wardrobe confirms the story’s early 1980s period
(although the narrator’s shoes appear oddly modern).

Florencia Lozano does ably by the thankless role of the narrator’s
pregnant wife, who spends some of her time unconscious in a hospital
bed. Alfredo Narciso looks good as the anxious young fellow who
narrates his exploration into a painful past.

But Kathleen Chalfant’s performance is the memory that audiences will
cherish about “Red Dog Howls.” So great in the original “Wit” and
“Angels in America,” Chalfant here deeply invests her 91-year-old
Rose with down-to-the-bone authenticity. The accent, the walk,
the severe manner, the dry humor and the many details that Chalfant
shades within the lines of her character are beautiful to behold,
enhanced even more by her husky voice and personal intensity.

Late in the play, Rose delivers one of those Sophie’s Choice-type
monologues about what happened to her in Armenia back in 1915. Her
hideous story is related by Chalfant with a measured, dry-eyed anguish
that suggests how Rose has lived it over again every night of her
long life. It’s a stunning performance.

“Red Dog Howls” continues through Oct. 14 at New York Theatre Workshop,
79 E. 4th Street, New York. Call (212) 279-4200 or visit

HUNTING SCANDAL IN ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza
Sept 25 2012
Russia

The Ministry of Ecology of Armenia addressed the police in relation to
the video material in which “green” activists found cases of illegal
hunting for Red Book animals in the Hosrovsky Reserve, the head of
the ministry Aram Arutyunian stated, News Armenia reports.

The video on Facebook shows fragments of corpses of Red Book animals,
also vestiges of fires and empty vodka bottles.

The minister has ordered that the place where the video was shot
be found.

Arutyunian emphasized that during the recent week no groups requested
permission for entering the reserve. The minister also concedes that
the video might not have been shot in the Hosrovsky Reserve.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY MINISTER TO ATTEND MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIAN STATES

Mediamax
Sept 25 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan
will leave on a working visit for Austria today to take part in the
Ministerial Conference of South Caucasus and Central Asian states.

As the press service of the Armenian Ministry of Economy informed
Mediamax today, the conference will focus on issues related to
trade, investments, finances, tourism and energy, as well as on new
possibilities of cooperation with European states.

During his visit, on September 26 Tigran Davtyan is scheduled to meet
with European Commission’s Deputy Director General for Trade Peter
Balas, Federal Minister of Economy of Austria Reinhold Mitterlehner and
Deputy Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development, Richard Boucher.

On September 27, Tigran Davtyan will leave for Rome to take part in the
Armenian-Italian business forum. In Rome, the minister is scheduled
to meet with the Minister of Economic Development of Italy Corrado
Passera, Minister of Tourism and Sport Piero Gnudi and President of
Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Santo Santoro.

On September 28, a business forum will be held in Rome. Over 200
Italian businessmen will attend the forum. Armenia’s investment
opportunities and the business environment will be introduced at
the forum.

SAFAROV TO RETURN TO ACTIVE DUTY

asbarez
Monday, September 24th, 2012

Azeri axe-murderer Ramil Safarov BAKU (RFE/RL)-Ramil Safarov, the
Azerbaijani army officer who had hacked to death an Armenian colleague
in Hungary, will return to active duty military service soon, a senior
Azerbaijani military official said over the weekend.

“Right now Ramil Safarov is on vacation and having a rest. He will
return to service after the vacation,” Major-General Ramiz Najafov,
head of the external relations department at the Azerbaijani Ministry
of Defense, told the SalamNews agency. Najafov did not specify whether
Safarov will serve and in what capacity.

Citing “threats” from Armenia, the general also said that Azerbaijani
authorities are taking “necessary measures” to protect him against
possible assassination attempts. “Relevant structures are taking
security measures with regard to Safarov,” he said.

Safarov received a hero’s welcome in Baku on August 31 following his
extradition from Hungary and immediate pardoning by President Ilham
Aliyev more than eight years after he axe-murdered Armenian Lieutenant
Gurgen Markarian during a NATO training course in Budapest. He was
promoted from the rank of lieutenant to major, granted a free apartment
and paid eight years’ worth of back pay the following day.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev personally met with the
35-year-old and wished him future success in his military career.

Safarov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Hungarian court
in 2006, has not been seen in public since then.

The release of the convicted axe-killer has provoked a furious
reaction from Armenia and strong international criticism. The United
States, the European Union and Russia consider it a serious blow
to their long-running efforts to broker a peaceful solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We continue to express our dismay and disappointment,” U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State Philip Gordon told RFE/RL in Washington on Thursday.

“In our view, this is someone who should have continued to serve out
his sentence, and certainly we were appalled by the glorification that
we heard in some quarters of somebody who was convicted of murder,”
Gordon said.

Najafov insisted, however, that Aliyev’s decision to pardon Safarov
was an “exceptionally humane step.”