Author: nina hovnanian

A FILM ABOUT THE KARABAKH NATIONAL-LIBERATION STRUGGLE
Nvard Soghomonian

Friday, 10 February 2012 05:47

It is hard to imagine the 20-year-old chronology of the Artsakh
national-liberation struggle and the Armenian Army without
the films of Bulgarian producer, screenwriter, and camerawoman
Tsvetana Paskaleva. She studied in Moscow when she heard about the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, and she came to the region to make a
commentary on the deportation of the Getashen and Martunashen Armenian
population. She came and started her long-term creative activity on
true reflection of the epochal events taking place in Artsakh.

Paskaleva’s mission on introducing the truth about the Karabakh
people’s struggle to the international community is still underway.

The Bulgarian annalist summarized the war chronology in a film entitled
‘The Wounds of Karabakh’.

On February 7, the presentation of the videodisk with the film ‘The
Wounds of Karabakh’ took place at the Stepanakert Culture and Youth
Palace. It was attended by NKR President Bako Sahakian, NKR NA Chairman
Ashot Ghulian, Chief of Staff of the NKR President’s Office, Security
Council Secretary Marat Mussaelian, leader of the Artsakh Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Pargev Martirossian,
Government members, and NA deputies.

The ceremony was opened by NKR Minister of Culture and Youth Issues
Narine Aghabalian. “This ceremony is an opportunity to appreciate
the mission realized by Tsvetana Paskaleva during the Artsakh was
and later. She came in the fateful moment for us, when a handful of
people arose for freedom struggle; as a journalist, she could consider
her job done and leave, but she remained to introduce our issue to
the world. Her presence in the hard war-days was encouraging”, said
the minister. The speaker emphasized the great love, dedication and
consistency, with which the journalist deposited to the generations
the historical events taking place in this part of the Armenian land.

NKR Deputy Defense Army Commander on the work with the staff,
General-Major Andranik Makarian greeted Tsvetana Paskaleva on behalf
of the DA staff, expressing their gratitude to her for properly
reflecting the just war of the Artsakh people in her films.

While the Armenians fought to defend their right to live in dignity,
the journalist stood by our side, making films to introduce the truth
to the international community today. In a sign of gratitude, Mr.

Makarian handed Tsvetana Paskaleva a medal of the NKR DA.

Then, a fragment of the interview made with Paskaleva in 1992 by
Vardges Baghrian was shown.

“Karabakh’s wounds are also mine. Karabakh passed through the hell.

You are strong, as you are struggling for your own land. I believe
that your struggle will finish with your victory. I believe that the
world will recognize your independence. I saw your belief, heroism,
optimism, and I’m proud of you. I saw destroyed villages, refugees,
wounded, and brave soldiers, I saw an encircled detachment and its
breakthrough of a fire ring; on the hot scenes, I made frames about
the small nation’s struggle, I made films to introduce to the world the
true events taking place here”, said Tsvetana Paskaleva in her speech.
NKR President Bako Sahakian expressed his gratitude to the journalist
for true coverage of the Karabakh national-liberation struggle;
he was personally familiar with the journalist’s activity.

“This documentary will introduce our struggle to the world”, said
the NKR President, advising to continue covering our life in the
peace years.

In his greeting speech, Archbishop Pargev Martirossian noted that
he had seen the journalist’s bravery in the war years, admiring her
strong will to reveal the truth.

Paskaleva handed the NKR President and leader of the Artsakh Diocese
her videodisks.

‘The Wounds of Karabakh’ film reflects the Karabakh conflict
chronologically: its first part – ‘The Heights of Hope’ – is about
citizen-soldiers’ battles in the mountains of Shahumian. Then come
the severe blockade and the deportation of the Shahumian and Martakert
population. The part ‘My Dear People Living and Deceased’ reflects the
severe image of the war, without military activities. The author also
tells about the formation of the Armenian Army, then shows Bekor –
Ashot Ghulian, Samvel Karapetian, Norayr Danielian, Shahen Meghrian,
Sergey Chalian… The film covers also the liberation of Shushi,
the cease-fire period, and the economic rehabilitation.

The attendants were watching the film emotionally, noting loudly the
familiar names.

Long and warm applauses were the evaluation of the documentary.

Touching was Paskaleva’s meeting with a student in the hall, whose
parents named her after Paskaleva in the severe war days.

The film is translated into six languages.

It was noted at the presentation that the Karabakh issue wouldn’t
have been fully introduced to the world without Paskaleva’s films.

The presentation of the videodisk of ‘The Wounds of Karabakh’
documentary took place in Yerevan in 2011. Beginning from this
February, it will be shown in a series of states in the world. The
demonstration will start in the author’s country, then it will be
continued in a series of states – Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Russia,
and France.

SITTING OF THE ARMENIAN-BELARUSIAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
11.02.2012 14:09

The sitting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation
between the National Assemblies of the Republic of Armenia and the
Republic of Belarus will be held in Yerevan.

The Belarusian delegation led by Viktor Guminsky, Co-Chair of the
Committee, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belarus
will visit Armenia February 13-16 to participate in the sitting.

Members of the delegation will have meetings with Armenian National
Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan and the Deputy Speaker Edward
Sharmazanov.

The sitting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee will be held
on February 13. Within the framework of the visit members of the
Belarusian delegation will have meetings with members of Armenian
delegations in different international organizations, as well as with
the heads of a number of agencies. They will visit the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial Complex and will lay a wreath at the monument to the victims
of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

JACK LANG ” CETTE LOI BRAQUE LES TURCS ”
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 11 fevrier 2012

Après Jean Daniel, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, voici l’ex-ministre de la
Culture, Jack Lang, proche du groupe ” Liberte pour l’Histoire ” de
Pierre Nora qui porte une nouvelle charge contre la Loi de penalisation
des genocides ! Dans une interview au “Nouvel Observateur” du 09
Fevrier 2011(n° 2466)-sans doute commanditee par le triste Jean
Daniel qui a ce jour est l’un des seuls ” intellectuels ” francais
a nier le caractère intentionnel du genocide armenien- Jack Lang
affirme ” Cette loi braque les Turcs “. Jack Lang qui affirme ”
je n’ai pas vote cette loi et je m’associe a ceux qui l’ont deferee
au Conseil constitutionnel. Comme Robert Badinter “. A la question
” Pourquoi avez-vous vote en 2001 la loi sur la reconnaissance du
genocide armenien ? ” Jack Lang repond ” je souhaitais accomplir un
acte emblematique de reconnaissance du genocide armenien. C’etait
une declaration forte. Il n’etait nul besoin d’une autre loi plus
punitive. Pourquoi alors, cette nouvelle loi repressive ? D’autant que,
paradoxalement, elle risque de fragiliser la declaration de 2001 : il
n’est pas impossible que le Conseil constitutionnel, en se penchant
sur la constitutionnalite du nouveau texte, reexamine la valeur
juridique du precedent “. Donc selon Jack Lang cette loi declarative
de 2001 suffit pour penaliser…ce que les juristes en doutent bien
evidemment. Mais Jack Lang ne maitrise pas le sujet car il declare ”
je soutiens des initiatives comme celle de l’Union europeenne, qui fait
figurer parmi les conditions d’entree de la Turquie, la reconnaissance
du genocide “. Faux ! Car lors de la reunion de Copenhague en 1999 dans
les conditions de l’entree de la Turquie au sein de l’Union europeenne,
il etait question des conditions du respect des Droits de l’Homme par
Ankara, le droit des Kurdes, et la question chypriote. Le president
Jacques Chirac et son Premier ministre Lionel Jospin avaient signe
cette declaration qui omettait le genocide armenien…Mais Jack Lang
n’est plus depuis longtemps a un detail près.

Nous presentons ci-dessous a nos lecteurs la totalite de l’interview
de Jack Lang au ” Nouvel Observateur “.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT DEFINES CONDITIONS TO INITIATE EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY

arminfo
Thursday, February 9, 19:16

At its today’s session Armenian parliament adopted in the first
reading the draft law submitted by the government “On legal regime
of extraordinary situation”, which determines in what conditions an
extraordinary situation should be initiated and what means should be
used to provide its regime.

As Armenian Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan said, in case of the
extraordinary situation appearing, Armenia should have a right for
transition from the natural life to the extraordinary situation.

According to the draft law, the extraordinary situation in the republic
may be initiated only in case of availability of the circumstances
which are directly dangerous for the Constitutional regime of
Armenia. The extraordinary situation may be initiated during the
armed revolts, mass disorders, terrorist acts, occupation or blockade
of specific facilities, during the actions of illegal armed groups,
national, ethnic and religious conflicts which are accompanies with
violence and directly threat the life and health of people. To ensure
the legal regime of the extraordinary situation, the forces of police,
national security and state security structures may be used.

Tovmasyan said that the armed forces should be used only in case if the
forces of the police and national security cannot implement their task.

YEREVAN MAYOR MEETS WITH HYATT INTERNATIONAL’S OFFICIAL

news.am
February 09, 2012 | 17:23

YEREVAN. – Armenian capital Yerevan’s Mayor Taron Margaryan met with
a working delegation from Hyatt International company, which was
led by Gebhard Rainer, Managing Director of Hyatt International,
Europe-Africa-Middle East. The parties discussed the company’s
investment programs in Yerevan.

The Mayor welcomed the Hyatt International’s first investment program
in Yerevan: the building of a Hyatt hotel in Armenia’s capital. “The
presence of a world-renowned brand in Yerevan is truly important for
us, and this in its turn will stimulate tourism development in our
capital,” Taron Margaryan said.

In his turn, Gebhard Rainer underscored the construction of a Hyatt
hotel in Yerevan, since this will be the company’s first presence
in the region. “Yerevan has great development prospects, and we wish
to continue the investment projects,” Hyatt International’s official
stated, and he expressed a conviction that there is a bilateral desire
to develop tourism in Armenia’s capital.

Yerevan’s Mayor noted that the City Hall will assist as much as
possible so that the outlined projects are successfully materialized.

“We are open and ready for cooperation,” Taron Margaryan stressed.

And Hyatt International’s partner in Armenia, businessman Samvel
Sargsyan assured that their partnership envisions continuous projects
in Yerevan. “The first hotel will open by the end of the year,
and you will see the comfort we offer to the guests of our city,”
the businessman noted.

ARMENIA’S OLIGARCHS WILL HAVE 3 BODYGUARDS

news.am
February 09, 2012 | 16:20

YEREVAN. – During Thursday’s session of Armenia’s National Assembly,
the latter passed the bill on Special Guard Service.

All parliamentary forces voted in favor of this draft law, which was
introduced by the ruling coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia and
the opposition’s ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party.

This law will be put into force on January 1, 2013, and it stipulates
that the maximum number of bodyguards must be three, and that of
accompanying vehicles must be one.

And even though there was a concern that especially the oligarch MP’s
would vote against this bill, since they are the ones who use the
services of bodyguards, no one cast a ballot against this law proposal.

ARMENIA’S FIRST PRESIDENT MUST SHOULDER BURDEN OF DECISION, REAP LAURELS – ARAM SARGSYAN

Tert.am
09.02.12

Aram Sargsyan, Political Council Chairman, Republic party, which
formed part of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC),
gave an interview to Tert.am.

With respect to problems within Armenia’s political forces, he said
that the forces’ leaders finally assume the responsibility for the
problems.

According to him, Armenia’s first president must shoulder the burden
of subjective decision. He must reap the positive results of this
decision, along laurels, problems and complaints. Such is politics,
Aram Sargsyan says.

Below is an excerpt from the interview:

Question: Mr Sargsyan, the Armenian National Congress (ANC) is reported
to be unable to agree on a ticket. Has any consensus been achieved?

Answer: The consensus is as follows: with respect to single-member
constituencies, a ‘bank of individuals’ has been formed. I can say
that the lists of candidates submitted by the ANC member-parties are
happy ones. The lists include individuals popular with the public. The
ANC member-parties reached an agreement…

A final decision is to be agreed on with the ANC leader, and I am sure
that hardly any problems will arise. I am sure that it will be done
after the ticket has been approved, irrespective of the principles
the list is compiled.

Question: A number of high-ranking officials have lately visited
your family, which caused heated discussions. Nothing strange about
Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan’s visit, which. Cannot be said of
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s visit. The press branded the visits
PR. Your comments, please.

Answer: I would like the people opening the door of Vazgen Sargsyan’s
house to open it with Vazgen’s heart. I would like to believe they
come to our home without any hidden agenda, that they come to Vazgen’s
home to see his parents, not to exchange their political views with
me. My presence makes it easier for them to come to our home.

GOHAR GRIGORYAN JOINS COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 9, 2012 – 16:21 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Gohar Grigoryan has joined the Ramsey office
of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage as a sales associate,
NorthJersey.com reported

A Paramus resident, Grigoryan possesses “extensive knowledge” of the
local housing market, said a company spokesperson. She has worked in
real estate for the past six years.

“Gohar has extensive experience working with investors, buyers and
sellers,” said Andy Emery, branch VP, Coldwell Banker in Ramsey. “She
supplies her clients with effective strategies through every stage
of their transaction and has coordinated many successful negotiations
and closings. Gohar is a great team player and we are excited to have
her join this office.”

She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, New Jersey
Association of Realtors, New Jersey Multiple Listing Service and
Garden State Multiple Listing Service.

Fluent in both English and Armenian, Grigoryan provides educated
service to her clients as an Accredited Buyer Representative. She
holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Montclair
State University.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Jersey and Rockland
County, N.Y., operates more than 55 offices and more than 3,200
sales associates serving communities from Rockland County, N.Y.,
to Monmouth County.

PLANS ARE READY FOR RESTORING 2 ARMENIAN CHURCHES IN MALATYA, TURKEY

news.am
February 09, 2012 | 16:32

The Provincial Hall of Turkey’s Malatya Province completed its plan
for the restoration of two Armenian churches in the Province, and it
sent the plan for the approval of Sivas (Sebastia) Regional Council
for the Preservation of Cultural Values.

The churches included in this restoration plan are Malatya’s 250-year
old Tashoron (Surb Yerrordutyun; Holy Trinity) Church and the church
of Vank village, Aktifhaber website of Turkey informs.

Malatya’s Provincial Governor Ulvi Saran said all that remains is for
the restoration plan to be approved, and subsequently the churches
will begin to be restored.

To note, the Armenians living in Malatya and Istanbul, plus the
foundation that builds mosques, earlier had reached an agreement on
restoring the Tashoron Church in Malatya, the birthplace of Hrant
Dink-the founder and former chief editor of Istanbul’s Agos Armenian
weekly, who was killed in 2007-but because of financial difficulties
the aforesaid foundation could start the restoration.

Also, the guard house and the chapel of the Armenian cemetery of
Malatya were destroyed, several days ago and upon the instruction
of Malatya City Hall, after which the Mayor of Malatya had claimed
that these constructs were destroyed by mistake, and he promised to
restore the damage.

CHILDISH GAMES IN THE PARLIAMENT

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:01:09 – 09/02/2012

According to journalists, the Parliament of Armenia is becoming
a caricature. Today, it again lacked quorum and the MPs voted for
them and for their colleagues. The Parliament’s leadership did not
pay attention to the opposition MP Larisa Alaverdyan’s complaints in
this connection.

Today was the last session of this convocation. The newly-appointed
Speaker is reluctant to end it ignominiously. One “ignominious” step
has already been done – the law on the limitation of cash operations
failed. But there are a bunch of other laws which need to be adopted.

No time for formality. You can re-vote, vote for others and provoke.

What and whom the parliament’s leadership is proving? Why do they
need these childish games? It is evident that the current convocation
has exhausted in terms of time and morality. In a couple of months,
it will be a shame to remember the current level of MPs.

Apparently, Samvel Nikoyan wants to prove that he managed to adopt
many laws during his short tenure and cooperated very well with the
government. But, honestly, this is not the best election argument. It
would be better to acknowledge your mistakes and apologize. Maybe,
you will be forgiven.