Author: nina hovnanian

PRESS RELEASE

The Genocide Education Project
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 264-4203
[email protected]

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Contact: Raffi Momjian: [email protected]

Dec. 13, 2013

`A PROBLEM FROM HELL’: GENED TRAINS TEACHERS AT NATIONAL HISTORY CONFERENCE

Seattle, WA – The Genocide Education Project presented a day-long
training workshop for high school history teachers at the National
Council for the Social Studies annual conference in Seattle, Washington
and distributed Armenian Genocide teaching materials to more than 300
educators during the series of conference events, November 15-18.

Borrowing a title from the 2007 book `A Problem from Hell,’ on the U.S.
response to genocides, beginning with the Armenian Genocide, the
in-depth, full-day workshop was led by GenEd education specialist, Sara
Cohan. Joining the workshop as co-presenters were Mary Johnson of Facing
History and Ourselves, Mimi Stephens of Choices, and Kelley Szany of the
Illinois Holocaust Museum.

`It was heartening to hear educators discuss the importance of including
the history of the Armenian Genocide in their classrooms,’ said Cohan.

Workshop participants studied the origin of the term `genocide,’ coined
by legal scholar, Raphael Lemkin, after learning about the systematic
annihilation of Armenians. Cohan shared Armenian Genocide survivor
testimonies, beginning her presentation with GenEd’s recently produced
12-minute documentary for use in schools, “The Armenian Journey: From
Despair to Hope in Rhode Island,” the story of Armenian Genocide
survivor Margaret Garabedian Der Manuelian, told through her
great-granddaughter, 21 year old Dalita Getzoyan.

Educators also heard case studies of 20th century genocides and
appropriate approaches to teaching the subject. They participated in
activities that can be replicated in their classrooms and were provided
lesson plans and other teaching materials from the presenting organizations.

The National Council for the Social Studies is the largest U.S.
organization devoted to social studies education. This year’s conference
location, Seattle, made it possible for GenEd to introduce its services
to more educators from the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the
day-long workshop, GenEd also held a one-hour `poster session’
describing the eight stages of the genocide process.

Cohan also distributed Armenian Genocide materials to hundreds of
educators at GenEd’s information booth. `Many teachers said they use
our online resources with great success in their classrooms. It was good
to hear our TeachGenocide.com website is well-utilized, helping to fill
the void left by most textbooks which often don’t appropriately cover
this important part of modern history.’

####

The Genocide Education Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, tax-exempt
501(c)(3) educational organization that assists educators in teaching
about human rights and genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by
developing and distributing instructional materials, providing access to
teaching resources and organizing educational workshops. For more
information about The Genocide Education Project, go to

Photo Caption:
– GenEd Education Specialist Sara Cohan (left) and NCSS participant, Ann
Marie Surabian, Edmonds School District, Washington

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Inmate mutilates his body in Armenian prison

tert.am
13:01 – 13.12.12

The Armenian inmate, who was earlier reported to have staged a protest
against the prison authorities’ decision to deny him an anti-drug
treatment, is now said to have resorted to self-mutilation.

Speaking to Tert.am, Arthur Smbatyan’s mother said his son has sewn
his mouth shut and nailed his feet.

`He hasn’t denied your article. The administration went there to
inquire into the matter, and they are now committing some
transgressions. He says the administration has fixed its muscle
against him,’ said Arthur’s mother, Roza Sardaryan.

The inmate had earlier warned – speaking to our correspondent – that
he would resort to such a step in case his demand isn’t met.
Smbatyan,who serves time at the Nubarashen penitentirary, complained
that it is already six or seven months his continuuous requests for
involvement in a Metadon therapy, have met the prison administration’s
rejection.

A spokesperson for the Justice Ministry’s Penitentiary Department, Gor
Ghlechyan, later told Tert.am that the penitentiary facilities do not
have anything to do with the Metadon treatment program.

`That’s a commission which decides whether or not to enroll a person,
regardless of being a convict,’ he said.

Catholicos of Cilicia calls helping Syrian Armenians priority

12:15, 13 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I has
received Lebanese “Armenian Relief Cross” responsibles and
“Garagyozyan” fund chairman. The quests have thoroughly presented the
humanitarian work conducted by them targeted to show assistance to
currently Lebanon based Syrian Armenians. In this regard His Holiness
praised the work done by them and stated ”All those benevolent
institutions, organizations and bodies are confidently pursuing their
committed task. Helping our brothers and sisters living in Syria
should become priority for all Armenians. We should care no efforts to
help our compatriots in such difficult days for them. We are confident
Syrian Armenians currently temporarily settled in Armenia are
surrounded by attention. The same must be done in case of Lebanon
moved Syrian Armenian families, focusing on their concerned issues,
namely accommodation and employment. We call all businessmen to
provide our Syrian Armenian brothers and sisters with job.

Syrian Armenian Relief Fund was opened in the name of Cilicia
Catholicosate, where the gathered money are being transferred to
Aleppo national primacy further on being used for the needs of Syrian
Armenians in various programs.

ARMENIE
La compagnie des Chemins de fer du Sud Caucase a transporté environ
50000 passagers d’Arménie vers la Géorgie

La compagnie des Chemins de fer du Sud Caucase a annoncé qu’elle avait
transporté environ 50000 passagers d’Erevan à Tbilisi et Batumi en
Géorgie voisine du 15 juillet au 19 septembre.

Ce chiffre représente une augmentation de 25,3 % comparé à 2011 (39788
passagers).

Du 1er juin au 19 septembre la société a vendu 50109 billets pour la
liaison Erevan et Batumi, une destination populaire au bord de la Mer
Noire en Géorgie soit 24,3 % de plus qu’en 2011 (40310 billets).

jeudi 13 décembre 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.co

La France a un incroyable talent
Raffi sélectionné pour la Grande Finale

Après avoir gravi les échelons un à un il s’est qualifié directement
pour la Grande finale par le vote des télespectateurs.

Encore une fois, notre jeune Raffi The blues Kid (11 ans), arborant au
poignet un bracelet au couleurs arméniennes, s’est défoncé à la
demi-finale de l’émission de M6 La France a un incroyable talent dans
un rock échevelé (Johnny B Good : Chuck Berry) sous les cris de la
salle et les compliments dithyrambiques du jury composé de Gilbert
Rozon, Sandrine Corman et Dave. A star is born si les petits cochons
ne le mangent pas et qu’il trouve les bons titres originaux lorsqu’il
passera au cap du professionnalisme.

En seconde partie d’émission, le Petit prince du swing a joué Pas de
boogie woogie (Eddy Michell) avec Sandrine Corman et les
co-finalistes.

Rendez-vous le 26 décembre sur M6 pour la finale.

jeudi 13 décembre 2012,
Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

UCLA students react to Turkish diplomat’s planned appearance

Published: Wednesday December 12, 2012

A view of the UCLA Model UN conference.

LOS ANGELES – The collective efforts of the UCLA Armenian Students
Association (ASA) and Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), with the
support of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) caused Tolga Arslan, Turkish Vice Consul to cancel his
appearance at the Los Angeles Model United Nations Conference at UCLA
on November 18.

The Los Angeles Model UN Conference has been hosted by BruinMUN (Bruin
Model United Nations) for the past eight consecutive years and
attracts over 1,000 high school students from across Southern
California to gather at UCLA and participant in dialogues regarding
current events, international relations, and above all, the United
Nations principles.

“The United Nations is an international organization whose mission
includes the advancement of friendly international relations, thus
emphasizing regional peace and stability, the freedom of thought and
expression, and human rights in general.” Explained Stepan Keshishian,
Executive Director of the AYF, “Many of Turkey’s policies are in
direct violation of UN principles. It is therefore highly problematic
to invite the Vice Consul of Turkey to serve as the keynote speaker at
this conference, and to essentially present himself and his country as
a valid representation of UN principles.”

Arslan was invited to be the keynote speaker at the BruinMUN
conference, and was supposed to deliver an introductory speech to the
conference participants. Just as the conference began, it was
announced that Arslan had made a last minute cancellation.

“When the Vice Consul of Turkey, a country notorious for its Human
rights violations, is invited to our campus to speak to thousand
impressionable high school students on human rights, we cannot stay
silent.” said Knarik Gasparyan, Publicity Director for UCLA ASA. “It
was not only our right but also our responsibility to protest against
his presence and speech as well as to educate the students on what the
Consul and his country stand for and represent.”

During the event, as students started filing into Ackerman Grand
Ballroom, the UCLA ASA the AYF combined forces, protesting outside and
passing out informative flyers about Turkey’s complete disregard for
Human Rights and the United Nations Charter.

“It is not only important that the student participants are educated
about Turkey’s blatant violations of human rights and the UN Charter,
but that the organizers of the event are abreast of these issues as
well,” remarks ANCA-WR External Affairs Deputy, Tereza Yerimyan. “The
ANCA-WR is very pleased to have seen the youth organizations come
together on a college campus to highlight the facts of the situation.”

The Armenian Youth Federation along with the UCLA ASA would like to
thank the ANCA for their continuous support of our activities and
commend them on their work for the Armenian Cause.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2012

Azerbaijani and Armenian FMs to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement in late January

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 12 / Trend S. Agayeva /

Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers will meet in late January,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told media at a
briefing in Baku on Wednesday.

The sides will discuss the current situation with the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

Turkish Radio and Television Corporation
Dec 11 2012

EXHIBITION ORGANIZED BY THE ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN DENMARK

Istanbul:

The opening in Denmark of an exhibition on the so-called Armenian
genocide and the developments in its aftermath have grabbed headlines
in Danish newspapers.

The Turkish embassy’s initiative to open an alternative exhibition at
the Royal Library in Copenhagen, where the exhibition “The Armenian
Genocide and the Scandinavian Response” opened on November 6 has
flabbergasted the Armenian Diaspora. Never expecting such a response,
Armenians and their supporters have accused Danish library officials
of giving in to Turkey’s wishes. The Royal Library officials have
rejected allegations of pressure from Turkey and have stressed they
will not give up on their decision to let Turkey co-arrange an
alternative exhibition. A statement made by the director of the Danish
Royal Library, Ernald Nielsen says that the Turks have been given an
opportunity to put forth their viewpoint about the Armenian
allegations and no pressure has come from the Turkish embassy either.
He said politicians should not get involved in their work and added
that was their burning all the books and documents looking at
historical events from a different angle what was wanted .

Turkey’s ambassador to Denmark Berki Dibek has said the preparation to
open an alternative exhibition is underway. The exhibition which
features the incidents between 1915 and 1917 through the eyes of
Scandinavian statesmen, authors and missioneries has not lived up to
the Armenians’ expectations in terms of the number of visitors.

Patch.com (Watertown, MA)
Dec 12 2012

Gov. Patrick Meets with Armenian Prime Minister, Discusses
Armenian-Massachusetts Ties

Deval Patrick and Tigran Sargsyan met in the State House in and effort
to strengthen relationships and celebrate Massachusetts’
Armenian-American population.

The following information was provided by Gov. Deval Patrick’s Office:

Governor Deval Patrick today welcomed Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran
Sargsyan to the Massachusetts State House. Prime Minister Sargsyan’s
visit to Massachusetts served as an opportunity to foster
Massachusetts’ global image in education and innovation and to
recognize and celebrate the Armenian-American population in the
Commonwealth.

Massachusetts is home to approximately 33,095 Armenian-American
residents, with Watertown having the third largest Armenian community
in the nation, according to 2010 data.

This visit was part of a growing economic relationship between
Massachusetts and Armenia. In May, Governor Patrick welcomed a
delegation of Armenian officials to Massachusetts for a ceremonial
opening of the Armenian Heritage Park. Members of the delegation
included Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, Minister of the Diaspora
Ms. Hranush Hakobyan and Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the
US Mr. Tatoul Markarian.

Governor Patrick has prioritized advancing Massachusetts’
relationships around the world in order to compete in the 21st century
global economy. In addition to his meeting with Armenian Prime
Minister Sargsyan, Governor Patrick yesterday met with Hungarian
Ambassador to the United States Gyorgy Szapary to discuss economic
collaboration between Hungary and Massachusetts. He has previously led
delegations of business, academic and government leaders to Chile,
Israel, the United Kingdom, and China to secure new economic
development opportunities for the Commonwealth.

Foreign Ministers of Poland, Sweden and Bulgaria to visit Armenia

armradio.am
11:03 12.12.2012

The Foreign Ministers of Poland, Sweden and Bulgaria Radoslav
Sikorski, Carl Bildt and Nikolay Mladenov will visit Armenia December
13-14.

During the visit the Foreign Ministers will have meetings with
Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and representatives of the
parliamentary forces.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Poland, Sweden and Bulgaria will
give a joint press conference.

Issues related to Armenia-EU cooperation, the perspectives of
development of cooperation within the frameworks of the Eastern
Partnership will be discussed, the future plans will be outlined ahead
of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in 2013.