Author: Khondkarian Raffi

Green Left Weekly
Feb 21 2010

Scream against the Armenian genocide

Review by Nathan Verney
19 February 2010

Screamers
Directed by Carla Garapedian,
featuring music by System of a Down
Via Vision Entertainment,
DVD95 minutes, $24.95

This film invites us all to be `screamers’.

A `screamer’ is someone with a full understanding of what genocide is
and so has no alternative but to scream to people all about it and
tell them how it can be stopped. The genocide pointed to is that of
Armenia in 1915, but the message is broader.

Unlike other historical documentaries, Screamers combines the usual
interviews with academics, historians and activists, and archival
footage with music from a live concert ` performed by Californian
alternative-metal band System of a Down, taken from their 2005 tour.

For the uninitiated, System of a Down are notable for their political
commitment. In 2003, they released a song called `Boom!’ with a video
featuring footage of that year’s worldwide anti-Iraq war
demonstrations.

They are also of Armenian heritage, are personally aware of the
genocide and are all active around the issue. They are not just the
soundtrack to the documentary but are a large part of it, having
grandparents who survived the genocide.

The Armenian genocide began on April 24, 1915, when the Turkish
Ottoman Empire began rounding up and murdering prominent Armenian
intellectuals and community leaders. They followed that up with the
forced displacement of the rest of the population, committing
horrendous acts in the process.

In the end, up to 1.5 million Armenians were massacred, their land
stolen and their culture ruined. The perpetrators were never held
responsible.

This genocide is believed to have inspired others. When ordering his
troops to slaughter Polish people in WWII, Adolf Hitler quipped: `Who,
after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?’

The Armenian genocide is historically irrefutable; however the
documentary shows that the Turkish government not only refuses to
admit it but has made mention of it punishable as treason. Turkey is
not the only nation refusing to acknowledge these events as genocide ‘
in fact only 20 nations do, including Canada, France, Switzerland and
as of 2005, Venezuela.

The documentary shows protest rallies and lobbying attempts by the
band and others to get the US and Britain to recognise that genocide
took place. The reasons for the US and Britain’s refusal to recognise
the genocide are thoroughly explored.

One reason is alliance with Turkey. The Allied powers in World War I
issued a statement saying they would punish the perpetrators. After
the war, however, they did not follow through, because they wanted the
new republican Turkish state as an ally against the Bolshevik
revolution in Russia.

After World War II, Turkey became a NATO member and a key part of the
Cold War encirclement of the Soviet Union. Today, the reason for the
US and Britain not wanting to embarrass Turkey is that they rely on
Turkish military bases and airspace for continued occupation of Iraq.

Turkey is a large purchaser of US arms. The film exposes the intense
lobbying efforts by the US military-industrial complex to prevent the
passing of a bill in the US Congress that would have recognised the
Armenian genocide.

System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian says: `It’s never profitable
to save the victims of a genocide. We have to switch priorities from
profit to people and until we do that, genocides will continue,
holocausts will continue, and we will be living that holocaust as a
planet, together.’

Unlike some other documentaries that rattle off facts, dates,
statistics and death tolls, what sets Screamers apart is its focus on
the human side of genocide. The real horror is seen in the intense but
vacant eyes of the surviving children captured in photographs as well
as the first-hand accounts of the band’s relatives and other
survivors.

In genocide, it is not only the dead who are victims, but the
survivors as well.

By also including similar images of and interviews with people who
survived genocide in Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia and Darfur, we see how
similar these events are in the scale of their absolute horror.

However, other genocides are conspicuously absent. It is perhaps
understandable that the lesser-known genocides (to a US audience) of
East Timor, West Papua and Aceh were omitted; nless so those of the
Tamils or the Palestinians.

On the musical front, System of a Down plays songs across the range of
their albums, with all manner of styles ‘ heavy, slow with Armenian
melodies and politically-charged. The weaving in of their live
performance with the rest of the documentary is not only fluid, but
the songs’ images and emotions add to those of the film.

For example, the heaviness and intensity of `BYOB’ ‘ with the rousing
line `Why don’t presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the
poor” is played at an intense point in the documentary. The haunting
and atmospheric `Holy Mountains’ provides the soundtrack to images of
ruined Armenian cultural buildings and of the horror experienced by
those killed.

As the band has been on hiatus since 2006, this documentary is also
something new for fans to enjoy ‘ even if the grim content of much of
this compelling documentary makes `enjoy’ not the best word.

Screamers is powerful, innovative and emotional. The first-hand
accounts of genocide are harrowing but necessary viewing. The
interactions between Tankian and his grandfather emphasise the
humanity of the survivors, even when the perpetrators have lost
theirs.

And melding post-punk heavy metal with historical documentary ‘ who
would have thought it could be done?

Genocide Exhibition in Rhode Island Gains Strong Momentum

hibition-in-rhode-island-gains-strong-momentum/
By Asbarez Staff on Feb 19th,

BY NAOMI KUROMIYA

PROVIDENCE – Since its announcement, the historically and artistically
important exhibition, `The Armenian Genocide – 95 Years Later, In
Remembrance,’ has steadily been gaining outstanding momentum and
support. The show will mark the 95th anniversary of the atrocities of
the Armenian Genocide and is being curated by Gallery Z director Bérge
Ara Zobian, an Armenian of Providence, RI. Zobian is producing the
show in collaboration with The Urban Arts and Culture Program of the
University of Rhode Island.

Over the past month, Zobian and coordinator Carol Scavotto have
received positive responses from numerous organizations and
individuals, all expressing their strong support for the show. They
have received some financial support as well as many artistic
submissions. As of now, the show will have over forty artists
displaying, with more to be confirmed in the next few weeks.

Notably, two major museums have agreed to work with and be part of the
exhibition: ALMA (Armenian Library Museum of America) located in
Watertown, MA, and the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute located
in Yerevan, Armenia. These museums will lend artifacts, archival
materials, historic publications, and various display units to bolster
the historical and academic aspects of the show.

The exhibit will be on display from April 1st through April 30th at
the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Gallery, a prominent location
expected to draw many thousands of visitors. There will be two
official events celebrating the exhibition: a Gallery Night opening on
Thursday, April 15th from 5-9pm, and the main event on Saturday, April
17 from 3 p.m. to 5pm.

This main event, at the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Gallery, will
be a brief but significant function packed with educational
presentations. The two hour program will feature, for the first hour
and fifteen minutes, an award ceremony of the State of Rhode Island
Department of Education, a short lecture on Armenian history, a
theatrical production, a performance by a solo singer, and music from
a kamancha (Armenian instrument) player. A program book will be
provided at the function so that guests will be sure not to miss any
parts of the grand event.

A forty-five minute reception will follow this program, providing
guests with an opportunity to peruse the show, which will feature the
artwork of numerous artists, from Armenian and a variety of other
backgrounds, as well as a wall of children’s art. There will also be
archival materials, literature, film, and propaganda art on display as
part of the show. In addition, the reception will boast music and
traditional Armenian food provided by culinary students of Johnson &
Wales University.

Zobian and the Gallery Z staff have also been working to establish
official media and forms of contact dedicated solely to this
exhibition. For basic information and to connect with the staff and
other supporters of the show, please visit the exhibit’s new Facebook
page: search for `Armeniangenocide Ninetyfiveyears.’ The show now has
an official email address as well. Please email
[email protected] with any comments or questions. The
exhibition team is also in the process of launching an official
website: it will be accessible in the near future at

Naturally, a show of such great scale is expected to incur equally
great costs. All the previously mentioned elements of the show will be
vital to its ultimate success but will also be costly to execute. Due
to these large production and operation costs, any and all financial
donation and support would be greatly appreciated and will help this
important exhibition truly come to life. Any donations made can be
sent to Zobian at 17 Amherst St., Providence, RI, 02909, memo:
Genocide Exhibition.

As the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide is a
critical event to affirm, and the surviving culture is essential to
celebrate and spread. Showcasing these two aspects, the past and
present of Armenian culture, is the most important mission of this
exhibition. The show is quickly taking shape and coming to fruition
through donations, submissions, press and media, and with the public’s
continued support, promises to achieve this mission.

SECRETARY GENERAL WELCOMES FORTHCOMING ENTRY INTO FORCE OF PROTOCOL NO.14

tml
13:59:01 – 19/02/2010

Interlaken (Switzerland), 2010-02-18

`Today Russia ratified Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on
Human Rights and thereby confirmed its commitment to Europe. The
Protocol, already ratified by the other 46 member countries of our
Organisation, will come into force on 1 June’, said the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland.

`We are in Interlaken, at the initiative of the Swiss Chairmanship of
the Committee of Ministers, to discuss the future of the European
Court of Human Rights. This final ratification is the result of a
dialogue conducted with the highest Russian authorities and signals
the start of a genuine reform of the Court’, he continued.

The provisions of the Protocol will make the Strasbourg Court more
efficient and help reduce the backlog of applications submitted to it.

`Pending accession of the European Union to the European Convention on
Human Rights, which will also strengthen significantly the protection
of human rights on our continent, I invite European governments to
reaffirm their attachment to our fundamental values. I invite them to
support the reform of the Court and to ensure compliance with the
Convention and its case-law’, the Secretary General concluded. CoE
Yerevan Office reports.

Apigian-Kessel: Mitch Kehetian’s Book and Other Items

igian-kessel-mitch-kehetians-book-and-other-items/
By Betty Apigian-Kessel – on February 19, 2010

Mitch Kehetian’s name is well known in Detroit and throughout Armenian
Diasporan circles as the long-time editor of the Macomb Daily
newspaper and a contributor to the Armenian Weekly. Now Kehetian, the
newspaperman with ink in his blood, also has a book to his credit,
Giants of the Earth, which recounts the persecution and struggle of
the Armenian people.

Mitch is a first-generation success story. His family’s roots are in
Keghi, in historic Armenia, the distant land of his ancestors that he
visited on several occasions, one time in an effort to locate his
father’s sister, Parantsem. `I want the third generation to know what
really happened,’ he said, referring to the Armenian Genocide. `And
why the Armenians still seek justice.’ A community book signing is
eminent for this true son of Armenia who says his book is written
newspaper-style in plain talk. Look for announcements. The book is
published by Publish America and sells for $19.95. For more
information, visit

***

Con gratulations also to Hermine and Hovagim Manoogian – West Bloomfield
residents and members of the St. Sarkis community – who proudly welcomed
grandaughter Natali Karin Manoogian to their growing family in
December 2009. Happy Grandpa Manoogian glowingly says, `Hye azku
aghchig zavagov mun al pakhdavorvetsav.’ His way of saying, the more
Armenians born the better.

***

Celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Jan. 16, Steve and Anne
Karadian were joined by daughters Stephanie Karadian and daughter
Julie and hubby Raffi DerManuelian (and children, David, Christopher,
and Emily) when a surprise limousine pulled up at their West
Bloomfield home to whisk them all away to celebrate the auspicious
occasion at the elegant Dearborn Inn.

***

Congratulations also to Diane Haroutunian-Brus and son Armen on their
new `baby’ Danny Dublin, a soft-coated Wheaten Terrier born on Oct.
26, 2009. Danny Boy is one of the most darling pups you will ever see,
the kind you want to pick up and just cuddle. His Mom says, `He has
taken over the household in a great way. He loves to go for walks and
chew! He amuses himself all day with his toys.’ Diane and Armen are
true animal lovers. Diane is also a Pampered Chef consultant and can
adjust home parties for this popular concept to accommodate your
schedule. Contact her by visiting

***

Rose Kehetian informs me how long before his passing, Vahan Mouradian
was made an honorary member of the St. Sarkis Ladies Guild – by virtue
volunteer driving four Allen Park ladies to meetings at the church for
numerous years. She adds, `He helped at all the fundraising events and
did everything all the other members did.’ Mouradian was the tall,
well-dressed gentleman everyone loved for his kind demeanor and pure
Armenian soul. Daughter Alice and son George are his legacy to
perpetuate his beloved Armenianism. Both are active in the St. Sarkis
community of organizations.

Kehetian also tells of petite 95-year-old Ladies Guild member
Keghouhie DerOvagimian, who is in church every Sunday where son Manoug
has been the Deacon for many years. Her daughter is Lucy Gurganian.
Rose says the elder DerOvagimian is a dynamo who does a lot at the
Ladies Guild baking sessions and teases the younger women who take a
sit-down rest with: `Inchou nsteres, yelir kordzeh.’ She’s got a great
sense of humor. `Only a Rose’ also reminds the community that they are
invited to attend the annual Lenten luncheon on March 10 in the church
hall.

***

This very interesting item was posted in the Dec. 31, 2009 Brantford
Expositor newspaper by staff member Heather Ibbotson, as received from
Brantford, Ontario friend Carl Georgian, son of one of the original
Georgetown Boys. Bill Darfler, a local historical researcher, is
seeking information to uncloak the mystery surrounding a 1914 roundup
of Turkish Muslim foundry workers and their subsequent internment at a
camp in remote Kapuskasing, Ontario. They are not to be confused with
the many Armenians who also worked in Canadian foundries. Darfler has
received a grant from the Canadian First World War Internment
Recognition Fund to study the experiences of ethno-cultural
communities affected by Canada’s first national internment operations
of 1914-20.

Apparently in Nov. 1914, 100 Turkish men were rounded up by city
police and relocated. Those that had Canadian citizenship were
stripped of it, and few records of them exist. Records of this time
period were destroyed in the 1950’s. Many of these Turks, oddly
enough, lived in Armenian-owned boarding houses.

I got in touch with Prof. Isabel Kaprielian Sullivan who grew up in
nearby Hamilton and who wrote the book From These Mountains.
Kaprielian Sullivan did extensive research for her book but she could
not add light to the mystery. Ned Apigian volunteered that his uncle
Mamigon Apigian – then a youth of only 14 – entered one of those Turkish
inhabited boarding houses and, according to reports, `contaminated the
food source.’ Mamigon Apigian’s parents and three young sisters were
slaughtered by the Turks in Keghi. Yes, he was this author’s father.

If anyone has information about this roundup of Turkish foundry
workers, please get in touch with me. Hopefully more on this later.

ARMENIA’S OMBUDSMAN TO TAKE PART IN MINISTERIAL FORUM ON EUROPEAN COURT REFORMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.02.2010 20:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan was invited
by the European Group of national institutions on human rights to
participate in the ministerial forum on European Court of Human Rights
to be held from February 18 to 19 in the Swiss city of Interlake,
press office of the Armenia’s Ombudsman reported.

The European group is an observer at the ministerial forum, but in
recent years has taken an active part in reforming the European Court,
suggesting many constructive solutions to a number of problems. In
Interlake the European team will send 3 representatives. Armenia’s
Ombudsman together with representatives of Britain and Ireland will
take part in the forthcoming ministerial forum.

LOCAL, ORGANIC PRODUCE DELIVERY AVAILABLE IN ARMENIA

Tert.am
12:43 ~U 17.02.10

Green Lane, an agricultural assistance NGO in Armenia, offers home
delivery of organic produce every week.

How does it work? The staff at the head office in Yerevan send a weekly
email to subscribers with the available produce and other food items
that can be ordered that week. Apart from the usual eggplant, carrots,
potatoes and cabbage, one can find such items as red curly lettuce,
cherry tomatoes, ginger, zucchini, and a variety of sprouts.

Other non-produce organic items include dry legumes, bread, flour,
eggs, tea and the top two most exciting items available (in our
opinion): soy milk and tofu!

In keeping in line with their ecologically sustainable vision, the
NGO also offers the option of having items delivered in paper and
reusable cloth bags (for an additional fee).

Furthermore, according to the organization’s website, the NGO assists
farmers with a number of initiatives aimed at sustaining rural life
and agriculture in Armenia. Some of the projects Green Lane is involved
in are capacity building for farmers on organic farming and low input
sustainable agriculture, working with Women Farmer Groups in Armenia,
and establishing and managing farmer associations.

EDITOR OF AZG DAILY HAKOB AVETIKIAN: ARMENIA IS PERCEIVED AS A RELIABLE PARTNER IN INTERNATIONAL FIELD

Noyan Tapan
Feb 16, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. While protracting the ratification
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Turkey will not withdraw from the
reconciliation process as it has numerous problems. Editor-in-chief
of Azg daily Hakob Avetikian expressed this opinion at the February 16
press conference. By his forecast, even if Turkey ruins this process,
it will not be strongly condemned by the international community.

As for Armenia’s position, according to H. Avetikian, the Armenians
have no opportunity to play various games: everything that they do and
say is definite and sincere. He added that this sincerity is valued
in the international field, and the big states perceive Armenia as a
reliable partner. Azg daily’s editor also forecast that in case of
collapse of the negotiations between Armenia and Turkey, the world
will see that Turkey is adamant, while Armenia will continue its
pretensionism-related activities.

Speaking about the speech that the Armenian president made in the
UK, H. Avetikian called it "complete and steadfast", noting that he
admired that speech. In his words, the Armenian public believes that
if a person expresses a high opinion about positive steps taken by
the president, it means that he flatters him. Whereas, according to H.

Avetikian, it is necessary to notice good deeds of both the opposition
and the authorities.

OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE MET WITH LEVON TER-PETROSYAN

Aysor
Feb 16 2010
Armenia

OSCE Chairman-in Office, Kazakh Secretary of State-Foreign Minister
Kanat Saudabayev who is in Yerevan has met with the NKR President
Bako Sahakyan in Golden Palace hotel.

Before that K. Saudabayev had had a meeting with the first RA President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan. As Levon Zurabyan the ANC coordinator told to
the journalists the initiation of the meeting with the ex president
was by the OSCE delegation.

L. Zurabyan informed also that on the meeting K. Saudabayev and L.

Ter-Petrosyan have discussed problems concerning the NKR conflict, the
Armenian – Turkish reconciliation process and inner political issues.

"We expressed our concern about the Nagorno Karabakh issue and the
Armenian – Turkish relations and also we stressed the problem of
democracy and the human right in Armenia", – L. Zurabyan said.

The reporter of Aysor.am informs that the meeting of the OSCE
Chairman-in Office and the NKR president still continues.

ACBA LEASING COVERS 96% OF ARMENIAN LEASING SERVICES MARKET

ArmInfo
15.02.2010

ArmInfo.Armenian ACBA Leasing, among the leasing companies in Credit
Agricole French bank group, has been recognized a leader by the level
of coverage of the leasing services market, company Deputy Director
Arsen Bazikyan told ArmInfo. According to him, the share of leasing
transactions of ACBA Leasing in the total volume of the leasing
transactions, signed by all the players in this market, made up 96%
upon the results of 2009. He said this indicator does not exceed
50% in any other region where the group is a shareholder of leasing
companies. A. Bazikyan thinks that such impressive results were reached
due to the high-efficiency marketing strategy, taking of efficient
marketing decisions, as well as absence of other players in the market.

To recall, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank, which owns 54% block of stock,
is a founder of the leasing company. The services of ACBA Leasing are
also available through the branch network of ACBA-Credit Agricole
Bank parent bank which numbers 36 branches, 31 of which – in the
regions and 5 – inYerevan.

RECOMMENCING WAR BENEFICIAL TO NO ONE: TOROSYAN

Tert.am
13:55 ~U 15.02.10

"Azerbaijan has always spoken of war. There’s nothing new in his
[that is, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s] statements today,"
said former National Assembly Speaker and current MP Tigran Torosyan,
referring to the possible Armenia-Azerbaijan war.

According to Torosyan, it’s not that that country which has an issue
and which it attempts to resolve by means of war promotes war, but
rather, it begins it.

"The recommencement of a real war today is not beneficial to anyone,
[including] the international community most of all," he said.