Author: nina hovnanian

ARAM 1ER ” LA TURQUIE DOIT RETOURNER LES EGLISES ARMENIENNES A LEURS PROPRIETAIRES LEGITIMES ”

BELGIQUE

Dans son allocution d’ouverture de la 3ème Convention des Armeniens
d’Europe, Sa Saintete Aram I a exhorte la Turquie a ” retourner
les eglises armeniennes a leurs proprietaires legitimes , le peuple
armenien “.

Parlant de la lutte du peuple armenien pour la justice, il a dit
que ” de nombreuses etudes, des publications , des conferences,
des seminaires, etayes par des preuves historiques et des recits de
temoins oculaires, ont pendant des decennies forme l’articulation
concrète de la lutte du peuple armenien pour la reconnaissance du
genocide armenien . Les contacts avec les milieux politiques et la
collaboration avec les acteurs de la societe civile ont contribue a
plus de sensibilisation en ce qui concerne le genocide armenien. Ce
premier genocide du 20ème siècle est devenu aujourd’hui une partie
integrante de l’agenda international “.

Se referant aux nouvelles realites , Aram Ier a rappele que ”
la question du genocide armenien acquiert une nouvelle forme et
expression, elle suscite un regain d’interet et une nouvelle reaction
. Ces facteurs et les developpements mentionnes , brièvement , avec
leurs implications doivent etre prises serieusement en consideration
afin que nous essayons de reevaluer et de reactiver nos efforts.

Cependant, nous devons etre realistes . Nous devons garder a l’esprit
que l’activisme pourrait bientôt atteindre une impasse s’il n’est
pas compatible avec les realites geopolitiques et les interets du
monde actuel , la recherche scientifique sera confine aux cercles
academiques si elle n’est pas testee par le droit international et
la loi internationale sera inapplicable si elle n’est pas soutenue
par une volonte politique ” .

Sa Saintete a souligne la necessite d’une ” nouvelle strategie , un
nouveau point d’entree et un nouvel accent pour eviter la stagnation et
se lancer dans un nouveau processus ” . Il a dit que ” nous avons passe
beaucoup de temps, d’energie et de capital sur le militantisme et la
recherche historique. Sans remettre en cause l’importance vitale de ces
efforts, il est temps que nous nous concentrions notre attention sur
la reparation. La Conference d’Antelias , organise par le Catholicos
armenien de Cilicie , etait precisement une etape concrète en ce
sens. Elle a defini ces dispositions et les points d’entree que le
droit international peut prevoir dans le sens de la reparation. Dans
le meme temps , il a souligne les limites, les ambiguïtes et les
incertitudes dans le droit international en vigueur “.

Selon le Catholicos Aram I ” accepter la verite et l’indemnisation
des victimes du genocide dans le cadre d’un processus de guerison
et de reconciliation ne sont pas des questions purement juridique
relatives aux mecanismes et procedures juridiques, elles representent
un imperatif moral qui est au c~ur des droits de l’homme , et en tant
que tel doivent etre reconnues, respectees et mises en ~uvre par
les nations et les Etats en toutes circonstances. Si notre approche
est conditionne exclusivement par des considerations geopolitiques ,
si nos critères dans la lutte contre ces questions sont strictement
determinees par le droit international , alors les valeurs ethiques et
les normes morales , ainsi que les principes fondamentaux des droits
de l’homme seront absents des relations internationales. Certains
pourraient dire que c’est deja le cas … “.

S’exprimant sur les biens de l’Eglise armenienne Sa Saintete a rappele
qu’ils ” ne peuvent pas etre consideres comme ” abandonnes ” parce
que les Armeniens n’ont pas quitte leurs proprietes par leur propre
choix, ils ont ete menaces et forces de les quitter. Par consequent,
les proprietes armeniennes ont ete saisis par la force et confisques
par l’Etat. La confiscation des biens en toutes circonstances est non
seulement illegale, mais c’est aussi un crime contre l’humanite . Le
peuple armenien est le proprietaire legitime de ses proprietes “.

En conclusion de son allocution Aram 1er a dit ” Notre demande est
legitime. On ne peut ignorer ses dimensions morales, ethiques et
religieuses et les implications. La Turquie doit faire preuve de
courage pour accepter la verite , si elle est vraiment attache aux
droits de l’homme, si elle croit en la coexistence harmonieuse ,
au dialogue constructif et a la collaboration etroite entre les
nations, les Etats et les religions , il faut faire un pas concret
dans le sens d’une reparation par un retour des eglises a leurs
proprietaires legitimes , le peuple armenien . Il est , en effet,
grand temps pour la Turquie d’agir au lieu de reagir , en changeant sa
politique de negation , le negationnisme et l’obstruction de celle-ci
a se reconcilier avec son passe “.

Les principaux orateurs de la conference etaient : Charles Tannock,
Fausto Pocar, Henry Theriault , Caroline Fournet, Ragib Zarakolu
, Theophanis Malkidis , Otto Luchterhandt . La conference a ete
suivie par un certain nombre de specialistes du genocide et du droit
international ainsi que des representants du Parlement europeen .

vendredi 18 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

ZHOGHOVURD: BANKRUPT ARMAVIA SENDING CHESS TEAM TO GREECE

09:48 ~U 18.10.13

The Mika chess club is reportedly taking part in the 2013 Women’s
Club Championship in Rhodes, Greece next week.

The fact, according to the paper, is very interesting in the light
of the fact that club belongs to Mikhail Baghdasarov, the owner of
the Armavia air company was closed down over bankruptcy earlier this
year, without giving the unpaid salaries to its staff and paying off
the debts to foreign airports.

Specialists talking to the paper have reportedly said that the trip is
linked to very big expanses. Apart from two Armenian representatives,
Mika also has a female chess player from India, as well as a a Georgian
grand master, says the paper, adding that the fact implies , implies
big honorariums, travel and accommodation costs.

“If Baghdasarov has money for a chess club, why then doesn’t he pay
off the debts? Or, has he decided to let down this team by not paying
their money after the tournament?” asks the paper.

Armenian News – Tert.am

GENDRON DONATES TO ARMENIAN LIBRARY

Cabinet.com, MA
Oct 17 2013

Friday, October 18, 2013

By NANCY HERPER

In June, Carla E. Gendron, a member of the Bedford Women’s Club with
an international perspective, donated several works of art to the
Armenian Library and Museum of America in Watertown, Massa.

Carla created these rubbings from Armenian memorial markers during
the years she lived in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in the late ’60s. The
rubbings depict a pictorial and narrative history of inhabitants of
the once-vibrant Christian Armenian community in what has become a
mostly Moslem Dhaka.

Armenian Christianity began in 301 when King Tiridates III converted
to Christianity and declared Armenia, northeast of what is now Turkey,
to be the world’s first Christian state. Today, more than half of the
world’s Armenian population lives outside of the Republic of Armenia,
and one of the largest groups is in the United States. Immigrants
have brought books and artifacts to the U.S. Founded in 1971, the
Armenian Library and Museum of America ()has become
a major repository for Armenian books and artifacts.

In 1968, Carla learned to speak functional Bengali and mastered
the technique of rubbing grave markers. With permission from the
curator of the cemetery, Carla set to work. The rubbings were done
with oil paint on either silk or cotton. The result is a collection
of beautifully produced images.

In 1974, Carla and Don Gendron moved to Cairo, Egypt, so Don could
accept a post as business manager at American University. Here, Carla
purchased numerous plaster-of-paris plaques representing scenes from
Egyptian tombs. She created rubbings from these replicas.

Having captured ancient people as they wanted to be represented,
Carla has lectured on her artistic technique in Maryland, Virginia,
New Hampshire and Cairo. Her work was exhibited in Tokyo. Locally,
her work will be on exhibition and for sale at the Acopio, opening
soon in Goffstown, along with notecards depicting her work.

As a member of the Bedford Women’s Club since 1995, Carla has shared
her international experience with wit, prompting curiosity in the
members who hear her remarks and stories. In 2005, Carla brought
her friend Dr. Glen W. Swanson, an expert on the Middle East, to the
Women’s Club.

After Carla’s gracious introduction, Dr. Swanson invited the women
to reflect on Islam, its formative period and its development over
the centuries. He led us to consider such themes as Mohammad’s
international exposure, the perfect Arabic of the Quran, the
injunctions in the Quran to protect minority groups, and examples of
Muslim tolerance over the centuries. Carla wanted us to reflect on
issues we had been confronting since 2001.

This year, Carla brought another friend who was a world traveler, Tara
Stuart, professor of Communication Emeritus at Keene State College.

This international educator spoke on her experiences traveling the
Silk Road by jeep. The audience learned much about the trade routes
across the Afro-Eurasian landmass and how the Silk Road influenced
the exchange of cultures between the Middle East and the Far East.

Born into a culturally and artistically curious family in Hamburg,
Germany, Carla Gendron has exposed the members of the Bedford Women’s
Club to an international and historic perspective.

Nancy Herper is an active member of the Bedford Women’s Club.

THOUSANDS OF FRENCH STUDENTS PROTEST AGAINST DEPORTATION OF ROMA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Oct 17 2013

PARIS – Agence France-Presse

Print Page Send to friend ” Share Protesting students from Paris high
schools hold a banner reading “Education must Be Without Borders”
during a demonstration in the French capital, Oct. 17, in anger over
expulsion of immigrant families. AP photo Thousands of high school
students in Paris and other parts of France rose up Oct. 17 in anger
at the deportation of foreign pupils, after the high-profile eviction
of a 15-year-old Roma girl.

Leonarda Dibrani was detained during a school trip earlier this month
and deported to Kosovo with her parents and siblings, in a case that
has raised questions over France’s immigration policies, shattered
the unity of the ruling Socialist party and landed France’s popular
interior minister Manuel Valls in hot water.

Critics have lashed out at the “inhumane” way the French-speaking
teenager – whose family had lived illegally in the country for four
years – was treated, pointing to the fact she was forced to get off
a bus full of classmates in the midst of a school outing.

On Oct. 17, several thousand students marched through the streets
of the French capital, after having blocked the entrance to several
schools and disrupted the smooth running of other establishments.

Police put the total number of young protesters at 2,500, while the
FIDL high school union said there were around 7,000.

They protested the eviction of both Dibrani and Khatchik Kachatryan, a
19-year-old Paris student who was also deported on Oct. 12 to Armenia.

“Bring back Khatchik and Leonarda, they belong here,” the marching
pupils chanted, holding up signs calling for Valls to resign or
urging solidarity.

The protest movement also spread to other parts of the country. In
the southern town of Mende, around 100 students demonstrated under
the slogan “Leonarda isn’t going to class, nor are we.” Valls has
launched an investigation into the deportation of Dibrani on October
9 in the eastern town of Levier, which only came to light Wednesday
when an NGO highlighted the incident.

In accordance with international law, asylum seekers in France
cannot be deported while their case is being examined by authorities,
a process that can take years.

In the Dibrani family’s case, all their formal demands to stay had
been denied, and they had finally been told to leave.

The exact circumstances in which the girl was taken off the school
bus remain unclear but both the interior ministry’s version and the
account of a teacher agree that her arrest did not take place in view
of other pupils.

Some opposition lawmakers have backed authorities who carried out
the deportation, warning that reversing the eviction – as is demanded
by students and some politicians – would send out a damaging message
that illegal immigrants are welcome in France.

But several members of the ruling Socialist party have lashed out
at the government – and Valls in particular – for what they see as
right-wing immigration policies that do not sit well with those on
the left.

President Francois Hollande, whose own dismal popularity ratings
sharply contrast with those of his popular interior minister, has so
far not commented on the controversy.

Over 36,000 migrants deported last year

Valls, who was born in Barcelona and only took French nationality when
he was 20, is a divisive figure within his party and is no stranger
to controversy.

Last month, he caused an outcry by saying most of the 20,000 Roma
in France had no intention of integrating and should be sent back to
their countries of origin.

He has however maintained he is well and truly left-wing and backs a
“policy of integration” of foreigners in France.

The country’s immigration policy “must be firm and respectful of
the law and people at the same time,” Valls said on Radio Caraibes
International, on an official trip to the French West Indies.

For her part, Dibrani has spoken out in multiple media interviews
from Mitrovica city in Kosovo, where her family has now settled,
asking to come back to France to continue her schooling.

Her father Resat has also come under the spotlight, with several
people who had contact with the family in France alleging he had at
one stage beaten his daughters.

Gerard Guinot, spokesman for a local support committee for illegal
immigrants, said the father got into trouble with authorities over
the alleged violence, which had since stopped.

Last year, 36,822 immigrants were deported from France, a nearly 12
percent rise from 2011 that the Socialist government attributes to a
steep rise at the beginning of the year when former president Nicolas
Sarkozy was still in power.

October/17/2013

ARMENIANS’ RELATIVE RAFAEL ZINUROV TO INTRODUCE HIS THREE-VOLUME BOOK

20:10, 17 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The presentation ceremony of the three
volume-book entitled “Armenia: Route of Millennia” by the Bashkir,
lawyer, painter and sculptor Rafael Zinurov took place in the National
Parliament of the Republic of Armenia. The book is dedicated to the
Armenian Nation. As reported by Armenpress, the speakers, deputies,
public figures of the National Parliament of the Republic of Armenia
participated in the ceremony.

The Deputy Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia, Eduard Sharmazanov introduced the and his work to the
guests of the presentation. “The author has accurately introduced
the history of Armenian Nation. Being a lawyer and a political
figure by the specialization, Rafael Zinurov, with the skills of the
specialized historian has preserved the chronology of the Armenian
History using the works of a number of ancient authors including the
works of Armenian historians, ‘ pointed out Eduard Sharmazanov. He also
expressed satisfaction towards the love that Reafael Zinurov expresses
towards the Armenian Nation. “It is very important how the author
speaks about Armenian Nation, our historical values and expresses
pain for the Armenian Genocide, pointing that it must be condemned.

He says that the Armenian Nation and Mount Ararat are synonyms. He
raises the issues of the international condemnation of the Armenian
Genocide and devotes ecstatic words to the Battle of Nagorno-Karabakh”
noted the Deputy Vice President of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia, Eduard Sharmazanov, once more congratulating
the participants for the presentation of the book.

ACADEMIC CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO THE 1650TH ANNIVERSARY OF MESROB MASHTOTS

By MassisPost
Updated: October 15, 2013

GLENDALE – A new world order is in the making and history dictates
that those nations, who do not rise to the challenge, will be sidelined
from the world stage.

The spread of Christianity in the 4th century led to the establishment
of a new world order. The Armenian nation rose to the challenge,
thanks to Gregory the Illuminator and specially Mesrob Mashtots. The
invention of the Armenian alphabet reshaped our national identity
and contributed to the creation of our Golden Age.

The invention of printing and the Renaissance in the 15th century
and onward reshaped the world once again. The Armenian nation was
able to keep pace, thanks to Mekhitar of Sebastia. His movement
became the catalyst for the reawakening and rediscovering of the
Armenian Identity.

For the past several decades, the internet has been revolutionizing
our lives and changing the world. Globalization is threatening the
sovereignty of small nations. Can the Armenian nation rise to the
challenge once again? What role will our past play in shaping our
future?

To explore the above mentioned issues, an academic conference will be
held at the Fletcher Jones Auditorium of Woodbury University, 7500 N.

Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank , CA 91504 on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from
9 am to 5 pm.

The conference is jointly organized by the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, Ararat Eskijian Museum, Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Society, Nor Serount Cultural Association and the Organization
of Istanbul Armenians.

The organizing committee is honored that the following distinguished
academics have accepted its invitation and agreed to take part in
the conference.

The program will consist of the following presentations:

Prof. Father Levon Zekyian The Symbolism of Mesrob Mashtots: A
Retrospect into the Past Sixteen Centuries

Prof. Abraham Terian The Sturcture and Purpose of Koriwn’s “Life
of Mashtots”

Dr. Srbuhi Hayrapetian The Conceptualization and Rooting of National
Identity

Rev. Dr. Abel Manoukian The Plan to Create a Spiritual Statehood and
Preserve National Identity in the 5th Century and Today

Dr. Yervant Zorian The Mission of the Armenian Virtual College and
its Contribution to Preserving Armenian Identity

Prof. Hagop Gulludjian Place, Role, and Prospects of Language Facing
Globalization

Prof. Robert Hewsen Mesrob Mashtots and Mekhitar of Sebastia: the
Second and Third Illuminators of the Armenian People

We are glad to inform that the conference will be live streamed in
its entirety. You can follow the program by visiting NorSerount.com.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. Seats could be reserved
by contacting 818.357.1606 or maggiegoschin@gmail,com or Nor Serount
on Facebook.

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH HOSTS WORLD MEDIA FORUM PARTICIPANTS

19:27 ~U 17.10.13

Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II received on Thursday a
delegation of foreign journalists who are in Armenia to attend the
Third World Media Forum.

The patriarch highly praised the organizers, noting that the initiative
will help to develop and strengthen ties between different nations,
reports the Holy See of St Echmiadzin’s press service.

He briefed the guests on the Mother See’s special mission to assist
in the preservation and shaping of the Armenian national identity.

Responding to the guests’ questions, the catholicos also dwelled on
the church’s services in the social sector and its efforts towards
assisting in the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The delegation was led by Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan and
Director of the Asia Journalists Media Congress Ashot Jazoyan.

PM SARGSYAN: “IN FAST CHANGING WORLD, ARMENIA NEEDS A GENERATION THAT CAN KEEP UP”

12:25, October 17, 2013

At the opening of today’s conference of regional education ministers
of EU Eastern Partnership and Black Sea Economic Cooperation member
states, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that in today’s
ever-changing world Armenia needs a generation that can keep up.

The conference will mainly focus on issues regarding the development
of higher education in Europe.

PM Sargsyan recalled that at the last Davos Summit in China, world
leaders were united in the belief that the best way to meet the new
challenges of the day was to enact much needed educational reforms.

Addressing students at the conference, PM Sargsyan said that adjunct
bodies needed to be established at colleges and universities so that
human potential could be better integrated into the manufacturing
process.

Attending the two day conference is Armenian Minister of Education
and Science Armen Ashotyan, Head of the European Union Delegation
to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea, and other European education
specialists.

ARMENIAN MINISTER SAYS POVERTY ERADICATION UNDER GOVERNMENT SPOTLIGHT

15:52 ~U 17.10.13

Poverty eradication efforts among the Armenian Government’s priority
tasks, according to the minister of labor and social affairs.

At a news conference devoted to the International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty, Artem Asatryan said that the government’s
program envisages a poverty rate reduction on an annual basis.

He said the pension reforms largely contribute to the anti-poverty
efforts, adding that a plan for increasing the monthly payments for
the elderly are intended to help around 25,000 individuals overcome
poverty next year.

Hrayr Tovmasyan, the minister of justice also attending the news
conference, said for his part that poverty is among the problems that
can be overcome through good work, poverty eradication efforts and
strengthening of the judiciary.

OLDEST THEATER OF LECCE GIVES PERFORMANCE IN KARABAKH

October 17, 2013 | 16:56

STEPANAKERT. – The oldest theater of the Italian city of Lecce
“Cantieri Teatrali Koreja” presented the performance “Plastic Gardens”
in Stepanakert on October 14.

The theater group arrived in Artsakh within the framework of the
International Performing Arts Festival Highfest, held in Yerevan,
October 1-12.

The performance was first staged in 1996. During the 17 years of its
existence the play was shown in different countries.

Since 2004 it has been presented in more than ten festivals and has
won several prizes among which Grand-Prix of Isfahan Theater Festival
for Children & Young Adults in 2012.

Franco Ungaro, the artistic director of the theatre, noted that
performing in conflict zones had always been regarded as a particular
challenge. He also mentioned the warm attitude of the people of
Artsakh and the enthusiastic atmosphere in the hall, NKR Culture
Ministry informs.

Actress Alessandra Crocco added that she felt the positive energy
coming from the spectators and the applause at the end of the play
testifies to the fact that the performance was truly appreciated by
the audience.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am