Author: nina hovnanian

THE GATEWAY: A VISIT TO THE BORDER VILLAGE OF CHINARI
By Gohar Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
13.03.12

Residents of Chinari village, located in the most heated spot on the
volatile border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, where shooting is
heard constantly, say proudly that Armenia starts with their village,
and that they are the northeastern gateway of the Homeland.

Zina AperyanEven 18 years after Armenia and Azerbaijan signed
ceasefire, shooting in Chinari, Tavush province (some 250 kilometers
from Yerevan), is a routine occurrence here along 28 kilometers of
the border between warring countries.

“The war has not stopped in Chinari yet. What happens here is obscene.

Had they [Azeris] fired from base to base that would have been another
issue, but they fire directly at the village, at a peaceful population,
at cars and cattle,” says head of Chinari village Samvel Saghoyan.

Chinari, which is surrounded by mountains, is stuck in the
Armenian-Azeri border like a triangular peninsula. It borders with
Azerbaijan’s Tovuz and Getabek regions. The frontline positions of
the Azeri side are clearly visible even with naked eye.

“They [Azeris] are on the mountains and the village is under the
mountains. They directly have power over the village and they are
so close that whenever they wish they cause damage. Even without a
sniper they can cause damage easily,” says Saghoyan, adding that the
last house of the village is located some 650 meters from the Azeri
side’s frontline positions.

According to Saghoyan, since 2008 the situation in Chinari has
become more explosive, when Azerbaijan advanced one of its frontline
positions, making it closer to the village, and since May 2008 till
today snipers have been working in Azeris’ frontline positions.

“On June 18, 2008, Azeri snipers killed two Armenians within one day.

I was a shepherd then and I saw from above that they shot and I
walked down to help. They [Azeris] fired at me, too, however, I was
very lucky that only my leg was wounded,” says 56-year-old resident
of Chinari village Samvel Mirzoyan, father of five children.

Saghoyan says that after this incident the residents of the village
have stopped raising cattle.

“In 2008, we had 700 cattle and 800 sheep, whereas the village now
has only 60 cows and 25 sheep. People sold all of them out of fear,”
Saghoyan says.

As of this January the population of Chinari village makes 1,384
(in 1994 the village had 1,860 residents). Some of them work at
the village school which has 140 students, others – at the village
kindergarten with 30 children, as well as at the village municipality;
the total number of employed people in Chinari is only 60.

Villagers mainly deal with winegrowing in Chinari, and the vineyards
cover 60 hectares. And even though since 2009 the border lands of the
village have been freed from land tax, according to Chinari residents,
more than 70 percent of the village’s 1,000-hectare land area is
located on the border, which is mined and is under the enemy’s control;
therefore it is more than 16 years that these land areas are not used.

“Our village is a heaven, its geographical position, its climate are
just wonderful. Whatever we plant, grows, we have figs, persimmon,
cornel, even olives and kiwi. The only thing we do not have is peace,
in order to enjoy all this,” says 68-year-old Zina Aperyan, showing the
traces of gunfire (on March 7) on their window frame. “They [Azeris]
keep on disturbing our peace all the time,” Aperyan says.

And even though Chinari lives under daily shooting, life keeps on
developing here. Villagers who migrated to Russia, sent money to pay
for street lights and for a community center.

“Armenia starts with Chinari, and we, united with our border guards,
stand on our land steadily,” people say proudly in the village center,
just in front of an Azeri frontline position.

ARMENIANS of COLORADO
P.O. Box 13854
Denver, Colorado 80201
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Kim Christianian
Telephone: (303) 588-5524
E-mail: [email protected]
Denver, Colorado
March 13, 2012

Workshop With Award Winning Author Peter Balakian
A Huge Success at Denver’s Facing History And Ourselves

Over seventy educators and students spent the day learning how
to bring the Armenian Genocide curriculum into schools across
Colorado. The workshop was a collaboration between FHAO and Armenians
of Colorado Inc, (AOC). `This has been in the works for over a year’,
say Kim Christianian, chair of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration
committee for AOC. `We didn’t know what to expect and we were
thrilled to see how enthusiastic the teachers were about teaching the
subject in their history classes’, says Christianian. The workshop
was overflowing with participants. `Professor Balakian really fed our
teachers well’, say Regional Director of FHAO, Dave Fulton. `We’re
anxious to have him back!’ The workshop concluded with the showing of
a ten minute documentary entitled The Armenian Genocide and the Treaty
of Sevre, made by Alik Christianian for the 2011 History Day, where
she was awarded first place in the state of Colorado and competed in
Washington DC in the middle school category.

The Saturday workshop, entitled Why Studying The Armenian
Genocide Matters Today, was part of a series of educational events in
Colorado. Balakian started the weekend at Colorado State University in
Fort Collins where he read from his latest book of poems Ziggurat for
the Creative Writing Program Reading Series.

On Sunday, Armenians of Colorado Inc., hosted a talk and book
signing with Balakian entitled Literary Memory and Catastrophe: From
the Armenian Genocide to 9/11… The event was held at the Tattered
Cover Bookstore and drew a large crowd from both the Denver and
Boulder area.

The weekend lectures are part of the Armenian Genocide
Commemorations organized by the Armenian Genocide Commemoration
committee for AOC. April events include the annual resolution
designating April 24 as Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide. `This is will be the eleventh year that we have had this
resolution in place’ says, Kim Christianian, who spearheaded the
initiative with the help of committee members, Ken Allikian and Simon
Maghakyan. `We have seen the effect of these grass root efforts on our
congressional delegation and believe that it is only a matter of time
that the Armenian Genocide will get its proper recognition at the
national level’ says Christianian.

Armenians of Colorado will host the annual commemoration
program on Sunday, April 22, 2012, 1:30PM at the State Capitol’s
Armenian Genocide Memorial Plaque dedicated in 1982, and located in
the Armenian Garden at the State Capitol.
The Armenian Genocide was carried out by the Ottoman Turks
during and after WWI. It resulted in the complete extermination of
modern Turkey’s indigenous Armenian population (1.5 million), and in
the annihilation of Armenian cultural artifacts dating back thousands
of years. The Turkish government to this day denies that the Armenian
Genocide ever happened despite scholars’, historians’, and most
western governments’ published reports and archives affirming the
facts. You may view the Alik Christianian’s History Day 2011
documentary at
Armenians of Colorado, Inc. (AOC) was established in June
1982. It is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, cultural organization charged
with a purpose to create a cohesive Armenian community and to further
the understanding of Armenian history, culture, and heritage. AOC
actively supports issues and concerns of the Armenian-American
community here in Colorado as well as those identified within the
Armenian Diaspora throughout the world. For more information about
Armenians of Colorado go to

FIGHTERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CALLED INSANE IN NAKHIJEVAN

Panorama.am
13/03/2012

Patient’s political orientation often does matter for the doctors
in Nakhijevan, as they refuse to cure those who criticize the ruling
administration. The opposition activists are deprived of their right
to get medical treatment, news agency Turan reported.

Sevindik Ahmedov, a resident of Nakhijevan, unable to cope with social
problems, attempted to commit a suicide drinking large number of pills.

Hospitals refused to cure the patient, as he was from opposition
“People’s front” party. Ahmedov was taken to psychiatric hospital in
Nakhijevan but after three days he was thrown away.

Human rights defenders think Nakhijevan’s leadership are responsible
for Ahmedov’s fortune.

“Those who fight for their rights are called insane and taken to
psychiatric hospitals in Nakhijevan,” human rights defender Ilgar
Nasibov said.

VIKTOR DALLAKYAN HAS NOT YET MADE FINAL DECISION ON ELECTIONS

Panorama.am
13/03/2012

I have not yet made a final decision on participation in elections,
MP Viktor Dallakyan told a Panorama.am reporter, commenting on media
reports saying that RPA will support the candidacy of independent
MP Viktor Dallakyan running in the election in majority system in
Vanadzor.

At the same time Dallakyan promised to clarify his plans in the next
two days. Also, he promised a surprise related to his nomination.

ARMENIAN GOLD MINE’S ISSUE IS BEING DISCUSSED

news.am
March 13, 2012 | 12:00

The Geoteam Company, which had received the right to operate Armenia’s
Amulsar Gold Mine, is not attending Tuesday’s discussion being held
in Jermuk city and entitled “Amulsar Gold Mine’s Impact on Jermuk
Health Resort City.”

“The Geoteam Company will not take part in today’s discussion, since
it has not received a formal and a properly formed invitation. In
addition, our company was included among the participants, but without
prior notice,” the Company’s corresponding statement reads.

The Amulsar Gold Mine is located 12 kilometers from Jermuk health
resort city. And even though there are concerns that the operation
of the Mine would jeopardize the future of the city, the Geoteam
Company stated, on numerous occasions, that this will not create any
environmental hazard.

ARMENIA’S DELEGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN EURONEST’S BUREAU SITTING

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 14, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. ARF faction’s head Vahan Hovhannissyan
will represent Armenia at the March 15 sitting of the Euronest
Parliamentary Assembly’s Bureau in Strasburg, member of the Armenian
delegation in Euronest, MP from the Republican Party of Armenia
faction Artak Zakaryan told Armenpress.

“The Bureau is collegial, consulting body the sitting of which will
form the agenda of the plenary sitting and the coming plenary sitting
will take place in Baku April 2-4,” Zakaryan said.

In response to the question whether the issue of participation of our
delegation in the plenary sitting in Baku has been solved, Zakaryan
said there is no final decision yet and the issue is in the phase
of discussion. “After Bureau’s sitting it will be clear we will go
there or not,” the MP said.

The sitting in Strasburg will discuss the drafts of reports prepared
by the standing committees of the Euronest.

HOLLANDE VOWED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL-MUSEUM IN PARIS

Panorama.am
14/03/2012

French socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande appeared
with electoral vows including issues related to Armenian Genocide
and Turkey’s membership to the EU family.

Website “HaberTurk” quotes Hollande as promising to bring on the
agenda Armenian Genocide denial bill which was suspended by the
Constitutional Court.

The socialist presidential candidate promised French Armenian community
to make the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey one of the
basic criteria for Turkey’s membership in the European Union. Hollande
also vowed creation of a memorial-museum of Armenian Genocide in
Paris planned in 2015 in the framework of the events commemorating
the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide.

TRADITION OF BUSINESS POLITICS: REPORTERS AND SHOWBIZ PEOPLE TO DIVERSIFY ASSEMBLY, BUT NOT OUTNUMBER OLIGARCHS
By Gayane Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
14.03.12 | 11:56

The next National Assembly is expected to be special by its diversity
of representation, however it is rather obvious now that the promise
of a year ago on no businessmen in the new parliament will not be kept.

But in the May 6 election, and historically unique, next to businessmen
MPs – currently making some 60 percent of the parliament – noted
journalists and showbiz representatives will be competing for seats
in Armenia’s chief legislative body.

Tuesday popular Armenian singer Shushan Petrosyan confirmed the news
that she is joining the Republican Party of Armenia and will, most
probably, become a mandate holder as part of RPA’s proportionate list.

There is widespread speculation that other notables from the
entertainment world will be included on RPA’s list.

The current parliament has two deputies who had been journalists,
Haykakan Zhamanak daily’s Naira Zohrabyan and H2 TV commentator Aram
Safaryan (both from Prosperous Armenia Party). In the coming elections,
seven more career media professionals will be in the coming campaign.

Political analysts often stress that reporters’ presence in the
parliament will make it “more cultured and competent”, however the
hope that businessmen will be replaced by reporters has proven to be
futile over the past two weeks.

While parties are busy making their what analyst Petros Ghazaryan’s
calls their “Schindler’s Lists” of proportionate representation,
businessmen have taken up a fierce fight for the 41 single mandates.

Despite President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement that “business has
to be consistently distinguished from the state system and public
administration” – which was later interpreted as a beginning of
clearing the parliament from businessmen and was repeatedly confirmed
by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan – businessmen will still be allowed
an entry to the National Assembly.

Political analyst Sergey Minasyan, deputy director of Caucasus
Institute, is convinced that “the authorities might have indeed decided
to get rid of oligarchs, but separating business from politics is a
difficult process and takes decades to be achieved”.

Ever since the formation of the second parliament of independent
Armenia (1999-2003) the number of businessmen MPs has been increasing
steadily, going from 45 to 67 in the third parliament and reaching
78 in the current one, making 60 percent of the 131-seat body.

Article 65 of Armenia’s Constitution forbids parliamentarians to be
engaged in business. All of them naturally deny their involvement in
their own businesses. For example in case of the most famous oligarch
in Armenia Gagik Tsarukyan his business is claimed to be led by his
mother; or the country’s largest sugar importer, chain owner of Yerevan
City supermarkets and Natalie Farm pharmacies Samvel Alexanyan often
claims all his business is run by his wife.

The majority of current businessmen-MPs have announced their
participation in the coming elections.

Samvel Abrahamyan, Vice-President of oppositional Armenian All-National
Movement party board, says big business owners make 0.05 percent
of Armenia’s population with around half of the national wealth
concentrated in their hands.

“So what we have is that the country’s power is in the hands of
that 0.05 percent, they make the government, the state budget is
defined based on their interests and to their advantage, so are the
tax, customs, and social policies, domestic and foreign affairs,
etc. They are the top brass controlling the security, defense and
law-enforcement agencies as well as the army. The absolute majority
of our society is deprived of a chance to represent and defend their
personal and social interests,” says Abrahamyan.

APA, Azerbaijan
March 12 2012

Azerbaijani Copyright Agency Urges Turkish Singer `Not To Immolate
National Interests’

Monday, 12 March 2012 17:58 .

The Azerbaijan Copyright Agency voiced attitude towards the
performance of the Azerbaijani song `Sari Gelin’ by Turkish singer
Sezen Aksu in Armenian.

The agency reported that the singer informed the press about it.
`Sezen Aksu has right to perform Azerbaijani folk song in Armenian,
but the press reports that Sezen Aksu, who represent Turkish nation
and calls herself a Turkish woman, will present `Sari Gelin’ as an
Armenian folk song. It contradicts to the Turkish and Azerbaijani
legislations, as well as to the Berne Convention for the Protection of
Literary and Artistic Works.’

The World Intellectual Property Organization has not yet adopted an
international tool for the protection of folk pieces, but Azerbaijan
has its own legislation on it. According to this law, to use
Azerbaijani folklore, including the folk songs for commercial
purposes, foreigners must get permission of the Azerbaijan Copyright
Agency and make payment in accordance with the legislation.

The copyright agency stated that the folk song `Sari Gelin’ belongs to
Azeri Turks. `The expert opinion submitted to the agency by well-known
Azerbaijani composer Javanshir Guliyev said that `Sari Gelin’ was
composed on the basis of mugham `Shur’, which is one of the seven
major mughams of Azerbaijan and being used mostly in the national
music compositions. Thousands of Azerbaijani songs are based on this
mugham and performed during the national festivals. The genre of `Sari
Gelin’ is a long melody, which is the element of folk music of the
Turkic-speaking peoples. It differs from other folk songs because it
has no refrain. The refrain was replaced in `Sari Gelin’ by the
modulation of the part of `Shur’ mugham entitled `Shur-Shahnaz’.
`Shur-Shahnaz’ is one of the major parts of `Shur Desgah”.

The Azerbaijan Copyright Agency urges Sezen Aksu to read the notes
about `Sari Gelin’, to be attentive in this sensitive and delicate
issue, and not to immolate national interests for commercial one.

Blog TO (Toronto, Ont.)
March 11 2012

Hamazkayin Presents Megerdich Mikayelian,

Mr. Mikayelian has performed in several countries, such as Lebanon,
Syria, Armenia and Canada.
He is currently a guitar professor at the Lebanese National Higher
Conservatory of Music, `Parsegh Ganatchian’ Musical College and
`Antonine University’. He is the coordinator of classical guitar and
the director of the Guitar Ensemble at `P.Ganatchian’ College of Music
and Professional Institute of St. Michel.

The concert will include various Classical, Armenian and Flamenco
(Spanish) pieces. After the concert you are welcome to stay for some
wine and cheese. We will also be featuring his CDs for purchase and
autograph.

If you like to read more about Megerdich Mikayelian, please visit:

p.s. The Concert will be starting at 7:30PM and it will end at 9:00PM.
If you see otherwise on the event page, it is because of a glitch from
Facebook.

For tickets, please contact:

Araz Boghossian: (416) 525-5113
Taline Naranian: (416) 509-2057
Levon Golendukhin: (647) 709-4361