Author: nina hovnanian

CO-CHAIRS PROPOSE NEW KARABAKH ACTION PLAN

asbarez
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-International mediators said on Tuesday that they
have presented the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with a
plan of actions aimed at clearing the remaining hurdles to a framework
peace accord.

The U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk
Group said the unpublicized plan aims to “put into action” a joint
statement that was issued by Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s president at
their January 23 meeting in Sochi, Russia.

In that statement, Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev pledged
to “accelerate the achievement of an agreement on the Basic Principles”
of a Karabakh settlement put forward by the Minsk Group co-chairs.

“Building on the two Presidents’ joint commitment to accelerate
reaching agreement on the Basic Principles, the Co-Chairs proposed
steps to assist the sides in furthering work on the framework
for a comprehensive peace settlement,” the mediators said in a
joint statement issued in Baku at the end of their latest round of
regional shuttle diplomacy. It was not clear if they have made fresh
modifications in the text of the proposed peace deal.

The mediators began the regional tour on Friday with talks with
Sarkisian in Yerevan and proceeded to Karabakh at the weekend. They
met with Aliyev late on Monday and Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov the next day.

Russian and Azerbaijani news agencies quoted Mammadyarov as saying
after the meeting that the mediating troika will again visit the
conflict zone next month. He also said that this year’s elections in
Armenia, France and the United States will hamper the search for peace.

“Unfortunately, we are unable to agree on some principles with
Armenia. We will continue to work in that direction and could achieve
progress after the elections,” Mammadyarov told journalists, according
to Regnum.

In their statement, U.S. envoy Robert Bradtke, Russia’s Igor Popov and
France’s Jacques Faure said they also discussed with the conflicting
parties a draft “mechanism” for jointly investigating ceasefire
violations along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the more volatile
“line of contact” around Karabakh.

“In addition, the Co-Chairs discussed humanitarian and people-to-people
contacts, which should be used to promote mutual understanding among
peoples of the region, and not be politicized or manipulated to the
detriment of the peace process,” added the statement.

UNE ORGANISATION TURQUE INVITE ANKARA A RECONNAÎTRE LE GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 7 mars 2012

L’Organisation de Circassiens et des Lazes de Turquie (OCLT) a publie
un communique appelant la Turquie a reconnaître le Genocide de 1915 des
Assyriens, Armeniens et Grecs. Le communique a ete publiee lors d’une
conference organise par l’OCLT sur les droits des minorites en Turquie.

Le communique invite la Turquie a reconnaître les evenements
historiques de la première Guerre mondiale et a faire des excuses
pour le genocide et le deplacement des Armeniens, Assyriens et Grecs
en 1915, aussi bien que la deportation des Circassiens en 1922.

GUITAR VIRTUOSO IAKOVOS KOLANIAN TO PERFORM IN WATERTOWN

Armenian Weekly
March 6, 2012

WATERTOWN, Mass.-On Fri., March 30, the Boston chapter of the
Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society presents
Greek-Armenian classical guitar virtuoso Iakovos Kolanian in concert
at the First Parish of Watertown.

Iakovos Kolanian Based in Athens, Greece, Kolanian is considered
one of the leading classical guitarists of his generation. Born
to an Armenian father and Greek mother, Kolanian is best known
for having expertly transcribed folk songs from both sides of his
unique ethnic heritage. Of his recent album “Iakovos Kolanian Plays
Mikis Theodorakis” (Legend Classics), Theodorakis raved that Kolanian
“achives technical and expressive perfection.” In Soundboard Magazine,
Albert Kunze said “his tone is beautiful, his playing sensitive” when
describing Kolanian’s “Shoror” (Pomegranate Music), a collection of
Armenian folk music transcribed for classical guitar. Other recordings
include collections by J.S. Bach (Legend Classics) and masterworks
by Agustin Barrios (Pomegranate Music).

Iakovos Kolanian has performed with every major orchestra in Greece
and Armenia, and has made select appearances in Europe, North America,
and the Middle East. He currently lives in Athens, where he balances
a busy schedule of teaching, transcribing, and teaching with his
various performance engagements around the world. In 2011, he was
awarded the Komitas Medal in Yerevan for his ongoing contributions
to Armenian culture. In his spare time, Kolanian gives gratis master
classes in Armenia to underprivileged youth. He currently holds the
post of guitar department director at the Contemporary Music Education
Conservatory of Athens.

During the March 2012 tour, Iakovos Kolanian will be performing
the works of Komitas, J.S Bach, Agustin Barrios, Mario Guiliani,
Leo Brower, Antonio Lauro, and his own transcriptions of Armenian
folk music.

The Watertown show begins at 8 p.m. at the First Parish of Watertown,
35 Church St. in Watertown. Tickets ($20) can be purchased by visiting
or by calling (617) 221-0426.

***

Hamazkayin-Boston aims to uphold the ethnic identity and cultural
heritage of the Armenian community in the Greater Boston area by
cultivating and promoting local, national, and international Armenian
arts; celebrating important educational and cultural milestones in
our history; and engaging the youth and the young professionals in
our community to raise interest and awareness toward educational and
cultural issues of importance to the Armenian community and cultivate
the next generation of local and national community leaders.

Hamazkayin-Boston holds monthly meetings at their Hamasdegh Library,
located on the second floor of the Armenian Educational and Cultural
Center (ACEC) on 47 Nichols Ave. in Watertown. Their doors are open
to all who would like to help promote our cultural treasures. For
more information, visit , call (617)
331-0426 or e-mail [email protected].

ARMENIAN SCANDALOUS ACTRESS’ HUSBAND INTERROGATED ON PORN PICS CASE

news.am
March 05, 2012 | 19:35

YEREVAN. – The court interrogated three witnesses, as well as
scandalous actress Angela Sargsyan’s husband Ghazar Avetisyan on
Monday within the court hearings of Karen Arayan’s case, who is
charged with having posted nude photos of Angela Sargsyan, Arayan’s
lawyer told Armenian News-NEWS.am adding Angela Sargsyan did not
attend the hearings.

According to the lawyer, there are no essential proofs against his
defendant on having posted the scandalous photos. Besides, it is very
easy to clarify whether the electronic address which posted the photos
belongs to Arayan or not.

To note, Karen Arayan is charged with illegal collection, storage,
use, or dissemination of information on personal or family life, and
with illegal distribution of pornographic materials (nude pictures
of Angela Sargsyan).

‘ARMENIA ON VERGE OF DEMOGRAPHIC CATASTROPHE”

5 March 2012

The growth of migration rates in Armenia will lead the country to
the demographic catastrophe, Expert Samir , when commenting on the
statement of Armenia’s former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who named
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the closed border with Turkey as
the main reasons for the increasing pace of migration from Armenia.

Hamidov said the both reasons named by Ter-Petrosyan are linked with
each other. “Armenia was blockaded due to the occupation of 20 percent
of Azerbaijani territory. Therefore, Armenian as a country-occupier
faced a similar attitude from the region and the world community.

Armenia is left out of a number of regional projects in view of certain
objective reasons. Thus, the country population faced a serious crisis,
due to which the economic situation in Armenia is deteriorating day
by day,” he noted.

Because of the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and lack of
relationships with regional countries on the basis of international
legal norms, Armenia’s social situation is not fully developed.

“This will lead to increasing of the number of those leaving the
country and the Armenian government will continue to face the problem
of migration. Ultimately, this will lead to a demographic catastrophe
of Armenia,” Hamidov stated.

VARTABEDIAN: GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL A REASON TO PONDER
Tom Vartabedian

March 5, 2012

Hayg Boyadjian made a valid point.

Vartabedian: Music and art should be a focal point for 2015.

The Lexington-based composer suggested a universal concert as a way
of properly commemorating the Armenian Genocide centennial in 2015.

His idea bears scrutiny. A hands-across-the-universe concept on April
24 underscoring music, arts, and the humanities.

“Let’s demonstrate to the world our progress in these mediums,” he
said. “Because they speak a universal language, people will get the
message, no matter where they live and what their church or political
affiliations may be.”

Boyadjian went on to suggest the recruitment of our professional
singers, poets, artists, writers, and theater stalwarts all coming
together to make an artistic point. Give the world an overture,
then the libretto. Let them know that Armenia is alive and well,
despite a genocide that wiped out half our nation a century ago.

It seems that music calms the savage beast. Perhaps this is just the
right note to get our point across.

However, if a centennial of this nature is to be observed, planning
and preparation must have begun as early as yesterday. A thousand days
will come and go quickly before a proper acknowledgement is rendered.

For what it’s worth, Boyadjian’s suggestion, however grandiose,
is not absurd.

A concert like what we have in Boston each year with “Armenian Night
at the Pops” could be extended to every major city across America.

Much as we have a noted musician or singer at this venue, I’m sure
there are other divas in places like Detroit and Los Angeles. Get
them involved.

Bring out our works of art. Get our thespians on stage. Show a film
that day. Keep the kids out of school with the promise that they will
worship their heritage. Let April 24th become an international day
of recognition where tricolors are flown from every municipality,
proclamations are signed into effect, and newspapers and TV cameras
document the cause.

Let that week become a mecca for schools to welcome Armenians telling
their story. Inform every dubious legislator that 100 years of silence
and denial is about to erupt like a volcano.

If there are five million Armenians in a diaspora, let each of them
throw a dollar into the pot and send the money to Armenia.

Collectively, April 24th would be a time to ease the plight and
bolster the economy in places like Javakhk.

It would behoove all Armenian churches that day-Apostolic, Catholic,
and Protestant-to hold hands spiritually. Let us gather in Washington,
much like we did 30 years prior for “A Gathering of Survivors,”
which culminated with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

If memory recalls, the arts were well represented at this conclave
as Armenians gathered from across the country, spanning generations.

Let the smaller commemorations be joined by larger ones for greater
impact. Make every effort to get the inactive aroused. Apathy would be
negated on this day. Erect a martyrs’ memorial in every municipality
where there is none.

Find your way to a community high school during this week and address
a student assembly. Tell them about something they may not know
already-our genocide-but inform them of the contributions we have
made to world civilization after having overcome such adversity.

Let 2015 be the year you finally make that trip to Armenia or Historic
Armenia, and adopt an orphan along the way. Support a charity.

What we don’t need is another speech rapping the Turks or another
chicken dinner ensemble with a mundane program. We do not need to
hear the same words as our ancestors.

A fresh approach to a monumental milestone begins with one individual.

If any survivors are still alive, they should be placed upon a pedestal
and revered with homage. Keep in mind that the genocide lingered
through 1923 so the search should go on to find all surviving members.

I recently visited a literature class in Melrose. The students were
each holding a copy of David Kherdian’s The Road to Home about his
mother’s story. In conjunction with the centennial, let’s then outfit
our local schools with books about Armenian literature and history.

You will be amazed at how few there are.

Mobilize the outside student population to join our cause on this
centennial. Pressure the postal authorities into minting a stamp
commemorating man’s inhumanity toward man. A centennial would be an
ideal time for Hollywood to do justice to Franz Werfel’s Forty Days of
Musa Dagh. There must be someone in the industry to take an initiative.

As the days and months approach 2015, let us examine our protocol,
emerge with a plan, and forge ahead now, not later.

BOMB BLAST NEAR TURKISH PM’S OFFICE

02:30 pm | Today | Politics

A percussion bomb exploded near the Turkish Prime Ministry’s office
in the capital Ankara early on Monday.

The explosion reportedly took place about an hour before a cabinet
meeting.

One person was slightly injured. No more details are reported.

The explosion comes after a bomb blast wounded 15 policemen and one
civilian near the ruling party offices in Ä°stanbul on Thursday. No
one has claimed that attack.

Bomb experts, wearing protective gear, are searching the area to make
sure that no other bomb has been placed.

Photo by Reuters news agency.

TURKISH SINGER’S CD FEATURES ARMENIAN SONG

news.am
March 05, 2012 | 17:50

New album of Turkish singer Sezen Aksu will feature Armenian song
“Sari Gelin” (Girl of Mountains).

Back vocalists are members of Armenian chorus, Sabah newspaper reports.

QUAKE JOLTS ARMENIAN VILLAGE

NEWS.AM
March 05, 2012 | 16:32

YEREVAN. – A magnitude-3.3 tremor was registered in Armenia, on
Monday at 3:12 p.m. local time, 17 km northeast of Ashotsk village,
the Ministry of Emergency Situations informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The earthquake measured magnitude 4-5 at the epicenter, and its
hypocenter was 5 kilometers beneath the surface.

The seismic activity measured magnitude 3-4 in Ashotsk, Bavra, and
Zuygaghbyur villages.

B. SAHAKYAN: “THERE CAN BE NO DOUBTS ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE OF ARTSAKH”

05.03.12, 10:12

On 3 March Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan met co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk group Robert Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russian
Federation) and Jacques Faure (France).

At the beginning Bako Sahakyan congratulated Jacques Faure on his
appointment as a co-chairman and wished him efficient work, Central
Information Department of the office of Artsakh Republic President
informs.

Thereafter the parties discussed issues related to the current stage
and prospects of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

Touching upon the settlement of relations with Azerbaijan President
Sahakyan underlined that the position of official Stepanakert remains
unchanged. It will be impossible to reach comprehensive settlement
of the conflict without restoration of the full-fledged format of
negotiations and direct participation of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
at all stages of the process. At the same time the President made
a special emphasis on the fact that there could be no doubts about
the independence of Artsakh or even the slightest weakening of the
republic’s security.

The parties discussed also issues related to the situation along
the border.

Artsakh Republic acting foreign minister Vassily Atajanyan was present
at the meeting.