Author: nina hovnanian

DES OEUFS POURRIS ET DES PETARDS CONTRE L’AMBASSADE DE TURQUIE A BEYROUTH

L’Orient-Le Jour
‘ambassade_de_Turquie_a_Beyrouth.html
25 avril 2012
Liban

” La Turquie se cache, la Turquie est coupable de genocide “, peut-on
lire sur une banderole que les manifestants tentent de faire passer
au-dela des fils barbeles qui protègent l’ambassade de Turquie. Faire
entendre leur colère, au-dela de la diplomatie… Mohammad
Azakir/Reuters Genocide armenien Le catholicos armenien de Cilicie
Mgr Aram Ier a mis en garde contre ” la politique turque qui use de
son autorite internationale pour faire taire le peuple armenien “.

À l’occasion de la 97e commemoration du genocide armenien, le
catholicos armenien de Cilicie Aram Ier a preside hier une messe au
siège du catholicossat a Antelias, a laquelle a assiste une importante
foule de fidèles et de responsables de la communaute.

Dans son sermon, Mgr Aram Ier a mis en garde le monde arabe contre
la Turquie, ” dont les ancetres ont tue vos aïeux, chretiens et
musulmans “. Il a signale en outre que l’Etat turc aujourd’hui ”
commence a s’infiltrer, non seulement dans les pays du Moyen-Orient et
du monde musulman, mais aussi dans les continents d’Europe, d’Afrique
et d’Amerique. La Turquie use de ses relations diplomatiques et de son
influence politique afin de faire taire la voix du peuple armenien
qui reclame la justice “. Or, ” l’amitie apparente des descendants
de l’autorite ottomane est une amitie mensongère “, a-t-il encore
prevenu. Ils ” se presentent au monde en defenseurs des principes
democratiques et des droits de l’homme, mais recourent au langage
des menaces “. De plus, la Turquie continue de ” renier les droits
des minorites et le meurtre caracterise qu’est le genocide armenien
(…) et depense des sommes faramineuses pour semer la confusion au
niveau de l’opinion publique internationale “, a ajoute le catholicos.

Il a toutefois declare que ” nous n’avons pas encore desespere dans
notre lutte pour que justice soit rendue au peuple armenien “. Mgr
Aram Ier a rappele ainsi les principales revendications reiterees
depuis des annees par les Armeniens. ” Nous voulons que la Turquie
reconnaisse dans les faits historiques le genocide et admette cette
verite, avant de payer les indemnites aux familles des victimes et
de restituer a l’Eglise ses biens confisques “, a affirme Mgr Aram Ier.

Rappelons que le catholicossat armenien avait organise une conference
internationale de trois jours en mars dernier en vue d’examiner les
voies juridiques pour la restitution de ses biens.

Un million et demi de morts…

Après le service, la foule reunie a marche en direction de l’ambassade
turque a Rabieh, dans la banlieue nord-est de Beyrouth, brandissant des
banderoles ecrites en arabe, armenien et anglais, et demandant a Ankara
de reconnaître officiellement le genocide armenien. Près de 25 000
Armeniens ont participe a la marche, au rythme de chants patriotiques,
epousant les trois couleurs rouge, bleu et orange du drapeau de
leur pays d’origine. Cette marche accompagne pour la première fois
la commemoration annuelle du genocide. Les organisateurs, a savoir
les differents partis armeniens, ont voulu que cette manifestation
soit pacifique et retransmette, sans violence, les revendications des
Armeniens devenues inherentes a leur memoire collective. Toutefois,
les manifestants n’ont pu contenir leur colère (plusieurs drapeaux
turcs ont ete dechires et brûles). Une colère qu’ils ont voulu faire
entendre surtout devant le bâtiment de l’ambassade turque, sur lequel
ils ont jete de l’eau, des ~ufs, des bâtons et des petards, au-dela
des fils barbeles visant a proteger le bâtiment et derrière lesquels
se sont positionnes des agents de l’ordre.

L’attaque a pris une ampleur telle que les cadres des partis et les
deputes armeniens qui participaient a la marche ont traverse les fils
barbeles et forme un bouclier humain pour dissuader les manifestants
de poursuivre leur assaut, leur demandant de garder le caractère ”
pacifique et civilise ” de la manifestation. Ces derniers se sont
calmes au fur et a mesure que la manifestation prenait fin en debut
d’après-midi.

Rappelons que quelque 140 000 Armeniens vivent au Liban, ce qui
en fait la plus importante communaute au Moyen-Orient. La majorite
d’entre eux sont des descendants des survivants des massacres.

Le genocide des Armeniens est commemore chaque annee le 24 avril, date
de l’arrestation en 1915 a Constantinople de plus de 200 intellectuels
et dirigeants de la communaute armenienne, un evenement qui avait
marque le debut d’une vague de massacres et de deportations qui a
dure jusqu’en 1917.

Pour les Armeniens, le genocide a fait plus de 1,5 million de morts,
alors que la Turquie ne reconnaît qu’entre 300 000 et 500 000 morts.

COMMEMORATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : ” UN DEVOIR DE MEMOIRE ” .

Toulouse Infos

25 avril 2012
France

La commemoration du genocide armenien s’est deroulee devant le
Monument aux Morts ce mardi. Le 24 avril 1915 represente une date
tragique pour ce peuple victime du plan d’extermination turque où 1,5
millions d’armeniens ont peri. L’Amicale des Armeniens de Toulouse,
le Conseil Regional, ainsi que Michel Pech, conseiller municipal
charge de la memoire et du monde combattant, ont depose des gerbes
de fleurs aux pieds du monument.

La communaute armenienne de Toulouse a commemore mardi le 97e
anniversaire du genocide armenien devant le Monument aux Morts. Des
gerbes de fleurs ont ete deposees au pied du monument place Francois
Verdier avant de respecter une minute de silence pour toutes les
victimes de cette ” extermination “. L’hymne armenien a retentit,
ainsi que la Marseillaise pour honorer le pays qui les a accueilli. Le
24 avril 1915 est une date de souffrance pour cette communaute, date
du lancement du massacre d’1,5 millions de personnes par les turcs.

Stephane Kojayan, president de l’Amicale des Armeniens de Toulouse,
s’appuie sur cette tragique date d’anniversaire afin de se battre pour
faire reconnaître a la Turquie ” sa responsabilite, la realite des
faits qu’elle nie “. ” Nous sommes determine a obtenir gain de cause
pour ces crimes qui sont restes impunis ” exprime-t-il. A l’heure
actuelle, seulement 24 pays ont reconnu ce genocide. La communaute
juive, egalement a leur côte a la ceremonie, leur a apporte leur
soutien car ” elles ont toutes les deux connu la meme souffrance “.

Des gens de tous âges etaient presents. Aram, un jeune francais
d’origine armenienne, a tenu a effectuer son ” devoir de memoire “. ”
Mon arrière-grand-mère a ete victime de ce genocide. J’ai entendu
beaucoup sur ce triste evènement historique depuis mon enfance “,
confie-t-il. Pour lui et comme pour beaucoup, leur presence a ce
rassemblement est un moyen d’honorer leurs ancetres.

S’en est suivie une marche silencieuse jusqu’a la place d’Armenie
où s’est tenu allocutions, prières et recueillements, ainsi que
recitations de poèmes par les ecoliers de l’ecole armenienne de
Toulouse.

PRESIDENTIAL “CONCERNS” OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Marina Ananikyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 – 19:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Another April 24 has passed by. On this day Armenians
worldwide honor the memory of Armenian Genocide victims. As expected,
this year, too, U.S. President Barack Obama proved unwilling and
perhaps unable to pronounce the word “genocide” in his annual April 24
address, confining himself to using the Armenian term “Meds Yeghern.”

Like previous years, Obama’s statement sparked criticism of Armenians,
particularly that of the Armenian American community, that once again
reminded the U.S. President of his pledge to recognize the Armenian
Genocide given during his presidential election campaign.

Commenting on American President’s address on Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Day, head of Armenian Cause Office Kiro Manoyan noted
that the Armenian community might not back Obama’s candidacy during
the oncoming presidential elections.

Nevertheless, the U.S. President’s attempts not to offend Turkey
failed.

Turkey’s “upset” Foreign Minister slammed Obama’s statement claiming
it reflected the Armenian stance on Genocide issue.

Ahmet Davutoglu described Obama’s remarks as “biased” and a distortion
of “historical facts.”

Thus, Obama’s wish to kill two birds with one stone once again failed.

This time, expectation for the U.S. President’s statement was seasoned
with the French sauce. On April 23, a message was issued on forthcoming
participation of both presidential candidates of France – Francois
Hollande and current President Nicolas Sarkozy in Armenian Genocide
commemorative ceremony.

In contrast to his rival Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy was to partake
in such an event for the first time in his term of office, thus
converting the surroundings of Memorial to Komitas and victims of
Armenian Genocide in Paris into election ring on the threshold of
the second round of presidential elections due May 6. Though the
candidates didn’t meet one another at the venue, they seized the
moment to reiterate their pledges to adopt a bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial. Moreover, Sarkozy promised that the new
text of the bill will be submitted already in June.

This was followed by the Turkish Foreign Minister’s criticizing both
candidates for “speculation of history to pursue political goals”.

Time will show whether the French Armenian community and the Armenians
worldwide will succeed in testing how Sarkozy will keep his promise
this time. According to certain sources, Armenians in France incline
to vote for the current French President.

Recently it has become a kind, or, rather, a sad tradition for several
candidates to win the heart of the Armenian community through various
pledges, that get erased from their memories as soon as they come
to power.

MORE TURKISH OFFICERS ARRESTED OVER 1997 COUP

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 – 20:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to local NTV television, the arrests were
made in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kars.

A total of six retired and seven active officers were arrested,
including Former Gendarmerie Commander General Fevzi Turker.

Officials so far have not released any details about the arrests.

The latest probe is focused on a military-orchestrated campaign forcing
Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan from office in 1997 over perceived
threats to Turkey’s secular order, in an episode often referred to
as Turkey’s “post-modern coup.”

Current Turkish President Abdulah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan were top officials in the government at the time. They formed
a new party in 2002 which won the elections.

An investigation has been launched against 50 former and active
officers suspected of being involved in the coup.

The Turkish military overthrew governments in 1960, 1971 and 1980.,
b92.net reported.

VIOLINIST SERGEY KHACHATRYAN, HIS SISTER TO PERFORM IN LUXEMBOURG

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 – 12:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian violinist Sergey Khachatryan and his pianist
sister Lusine Khachatryan will perform Beethoven’s violin sonata no.9
(the Kreuzer Sonata) and Bach’s Partita N° 2 on Saturday, April 28,
at Luxembourg’s Philharmonie Grand Auditorium, Delano.lu reports.

Both works are renowned as being particularly challenging for the
violinist. The Bach piece is famous for its climactic chaconne
movement, which was described by violinist Joshua Bell as “not just
one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, but one of the
greatest achievements of any man in history.”

Sergey Khachatryan, a winner of the Concours Reine Elisabeth in 2005,
performed at the opening of the Philharmonie and has received critical
acclaim all over the world. The New York Times used adjectives such as
“dazzling” and “bewitching” to describe his playing style.

ISRAEL CHARNY: WE NEED TO JOIN TOGETHER IN RECOGNIZING VICTIMS OF ALL GENOCIDES

armradio.am
25.04.2012 14:05

About 2,000 Armenian-Americans, as well as friends and supporters
gathered Tuesday at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument at Bicknell
Park to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the genocide.

Speakers, including elected officials, scholars and professionals,
gave voice to the frustration of the continued denial of the slaughter
of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire from 1915
to 1923.

“The continued failure of the U.S. government to recognize the Armenia
genocide is deeply disturbing and from a human rights point of view,
terribly counterproductive,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena. “If we
are to lead the fight against genocide in Darfur or elsewhere, we must
be willing to recognize genocide wherever and whenever it has occurred.

“We cannot pick and choose among genocides.”

The monument, at 901 Via San Clemente, was approved by the Montebello
City Council in 1965. It symbolizes the first genocide of the
20th century and is in memory of the those who were systematically
massacred. It was unveiled in April 1968 to honor the Armenians and
all victims of crimes against humanity.

“Armenian genocide recognition demands for the formal acceptance that
the massacre and forced deportation of Armenians committedby the
Ottoman Empire constitutes genocide,” said Tom Alexanian, a board
member of the United Armenian Council of Los Angeles, the event’s
sponsor.

“As of 2009, 21 countries, including France, Canada, Argentina and
Sweden, and 43 states of the United States of America, have followed
suit,” he added.

United Armenian Fund President Harout Sasounian chided elected
officials, including President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe
Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for not acknowledging
the genocide.

“They act as politicians versus those elected officials here today,”
Sasounian said.

The keynote speaker was Israel Charny, the executive director of the
Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide.

“This is a holy day,” Charny said. “It’s to remember and honor the
memories of victims, communities and Armenian nation. We have to
fight for full acknowledgment and apologies, reparation and redress.”

Charny acknowledged the tension he receives from the Jewish community
when he speaks about the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide.

But he implored those in attendance, “We need to join together in
recognizing victims of all genocides.”

The event also included a religious service led by all denominations
of the Armenian community, a flag ceremony performed by the Homenetmen
and the Armenian General Benevolent Union scouts and the placement
of wreaths by various organizations.

PRIME MINISTER DOESN’T RECEIVE THE STUDENTS OF THE LINGUISTIC UNIVERSITY: THEY WILL START A STUDENTS’ STRIKE

17:54 . 25/04

As we had already informed the students of the Yerevan State Linguistic
University after V. Bryusov organized a demonstration in front of the
RA Government building and demanded that the prime minister either
receives them or comes down to the yard.

Yerkir.am informs that instead of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,
Government Appeal-Complaints Department Head Alexander Ghazaryan
answered the questions of the students. He tried to persuade that
the students to leave promising to pass the issues raised by the
demonstrators to the prime minister. The demonstrators, in turn, warned
Alexander Ghazaryan that if this issue is not settled justly, they will
start a students’ strike and will raise a big wave of demonstrations.

To note, the Administrative Court has refused the application of the
university’s former rector Suren Zolyan and didn’t start proceedings.

Zolyan had demanded to annul Decree N 160-A of RA Minister of
Education and Science Armen Ashotyan “to exert a strict reprimand,
disciplinary penalty”, which further served a basis for dismissing
the rector from post.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS THREATEN NATIONAL SECURITY OF ARMENIA

* arminfo
* Wednesday, April 25, 21:06

The demographic problems threaten national security of Armenia and
the relevant measures should be taken for their removal, President of
Armenia, the leader of the Republican Party of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan,
said at today’s meeting with Vardenis residents.

He said that disposal of social inequality, which is the main reason
of the outflow of population, is the key task of the ruling party.

“There are numerous defects in the state management system and out
party keeps them in the center of attention. Every citizen of Armenia
is a synonym of his state. The future depends on each of us”, –
the president emphasized.

He also added that raising of the welfare level will become one of the
key tasks of the ruling party if it gains victory at the parliamentary
election. “We shall go on increasing payment for birth of the second
and the next child. We shall create all the necessary conditions for
living and creating”, – he said. The president asked the voters to
take an active part in the parliamentary election and vote for the RPA.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER SKEPTICAL ABOUT PUBLIC OPINION POLLS

news.am
April 25, 2012 | 17:30

YEREVAN. – The Democratic Party of Armenia leader Aram Sargsyan is
extremely skeptical about public opinion polls on the results of the
parliamentary elections.

Sargsyan called the surveys ‘manipulations’ at a press conference on
Wednesday and stressed that when majority of the citizens are scared,
survey results will hardly be accurate.

He also sharply criticized giving bribes adding that his party has
no intention to follow the lead.

The Democratic Party of Armenia is a left-wing party established in
1991. Chairman of the party is Aram Sargsyan.

The proportional list includes 45 names. The party’s motto is “If
Justice then Democrats.”

Eight political parties and one block have presented their nominations
– Republican Party of Armenian, Prosperous Armenia Party, Orinats
Yerkir, opposition Armenian National Congress, opposition Heritage
Party, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, the Communist Party of Armenia, Democratic
Party of Armenia and United Armenians Party.

For entering the National Assembly, parties must poll over 5% of votes,
while blocs – over 7%.

The election campaign will be held till May 5 – the day prior to
elections when campaigning is banned. The parliamentary elections
will be held from 8 am to 8 pm on May 6, 2012.

OSCE, EU ENHANCE CO-OPERATION WITH ARMENIA ON ELECTION ADMINISTRATION

armradio.am
25.04.2012 17:36

The Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Andrey Sorokin,
and the Head of the Armenian Central Electoral Commission (CEC),
Tigran Mukuchyan, signed a long-term co-operation agreement today
on promoting efficient election administration, including through
an EU-funded project on supporting democratic elections in Armenia,
as well as other international election-related efforts.

The agreement envisages the facilitation of technical, educational
and informational support to the Armenian CEC for the forthcoming
parliamentary elections in 2012 and the presidential election in 2013.

“While it is acknowledged that genuine electoral reform and the conduct
of democratic elections depend primarily on the political will and
resources of domestic players, the role of the international community
with its collecting positive engagement is an important contribution to
promoting democratic elections in line with internationally recognized
standards,” said Sorokin.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea
noted the decisive role of the CEC in ensuring free and fair elections
in Armenia.

Main areas of co-operation under the agreement signed today include the
provision of technical equipment for the streamlined operation of the
automated “Elections” system, the modernization of the CEC’s internal
computer network, training for election officials and observers,
as well as the production of informational and awareness raising
materials for voters.

The major part of the assistance package will be provided through a
1.7 million euro project, implemented by the OSCE Office in Yerevan
and funded by the EU. The agreement also envisages co-operation with
other international partners.