Author: Tumanian Talar

BETWEEN HUSBAND AND SON
A. Grigoryan

KarabakhOpen
03-03-2008 13:52:33

When many years ago Ella gave birth to her fourth son, his husband
was excited and proud. Four sons in a row and no "error". His wife
did not let him down. Ella was also happy, she felt four times as
self-confidence before her father-in-law. She could not even imagine
what would happen to her fourth son.

The war in Karabakh started. Everyone went to the army. Ella’s sons did
not stay at home. The younger son, Edo, was 19. On that unfortunate
day he had just come home to have a rest to return to the outpost
when the neighbor came and asked to go to the abandoned Azerbaijani
village for products.

Those were hard times, there was not enough food. Ella asked her son
and husband not to go, she had a premonition, but the husband would
not listen to her. They went and both were taken hostage.

As soon as Ella heard the news, she broke down. The doctor was sure
after examination that she would die in a few days. But apparently
it was maternal morale and heart. Ella recovered and started looking
for ways of saving her husband and son together with her other sons.

Friends and relatives came together. Everyone helped. There were also
callous people. There were cheaters and bribers.

Life became hell. Where are they? How are they? Are they alive? Her
husband is already an old man. Edo has a fiancée. They were going
to marry. What will happen now?

After a year of nightmare Ella went to Stepanakert. She was told about
a man in Stepanakert who deals with hostages and he will help her.

The man turned out to be good. He met her with respect, even got
up when she entered. Tears came to Ella’s eyes from such kind
treatment. He asked her to have a seat, she kept crying and could
not stop. She told about her sorrow through tears. The man listened
to him, did not interrupt, and told her tenderly not to worry because
the government knows about the father and son in captivity, and they
are trying their best to have them released.

Ella went home. She was excited. She had a ray of hope. Every week she
went to Stepanakert, and every time they accepted her and reassured
that she need not worry and everything is fine.

One day when she arrived in Stepanakert, she felt there was news.

"You see, Ms. Ella, you need to make a choice whom to return earlier.

Your husband or son?"

Ella was confused. She could not utter a word for a while. She could
not imagine that she would have to choose.

Ella looked at the major: "Husband or son? Better son. He is young, her
fiancée is waiting for him. My husband is already old. He has lived
a good life. He is old, and they will not hurt him. They may hurt Edo."

"So, the son," the major smiled.

Some time later Edo was exchanged. He was in captivity for a year. A
year later Ella’s husband returned. Ella remembers and thanks the
major every day.

Now Ella’s family does not remember those terrible days. The husband
and son do not want to remember the horrors of captivity. Edo has
married her beloved girl, and they have three children. The elder
brothers are also married, they have grown-up children. When they come
together, Ella looks at her grandchildren and says with pride: "I have
four sons." And her heart beats, like on the day when she was asked
to make a choice between her husband and son at the major’s study.

–Boundary_(ID_LocAbx3fqLiwSOMTUlTeKg)–

Vartan Oskanian: "If the leader of the protestors does not call them to
order, Armenian President will be forced to announce a state of
emergency"

March 1, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian refuted
today the information of victims as a result of the morning dispersal
of rally of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s supporters.

Mediamax reports that Vartan Oskanian said this at a special briefing
today, called in the building of the Presidential Administration. He
informed that, according to the information of the Healthcare Ministry,
31 people turned to hospitals, 6 of which – police employees. There
is no threat to the lives of the injured.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia refuted the statements
on excessive use of force in the process of dispersal of
the rally. According to Vartan Oskanian, the first column of the
policemen, which entered the Square, aimed at checking the received
operative information on the presence of a large quantity of arms and
explosives at the Square. The Minister stated that after the column
was attacked by the protestors, special forces of the Police had to
start an operation on emptying the Square.

"Use of force was of adequate nature, and this is evidenced by the
absence of serious injuries", Vartan Oskanian stated.

Talking about the situation, which is present near the French
Embassy, where Ter-Petrosian’s supporters are forming barricades,
Vartan Oskanian stated that "all the decrees are already ready,
and if the leader of the protestors does not call them to order,
the President will be forced to announce a state of emergency",
Vartan Oskanian stated.

Eight killed in Armenia protests

Story from BBC NEWS:
europe/7273497.stm

Published: 2008/03/02 09:27:19 GMT

Eight people were killed in clashes in Armenia’s capital Yerevan on Saturday
between police and protesters alleging election fraud, police say.
The government has declared a state of emergency and troops and armoured
cars are patrolling the centre of Yerevan.

TV pictures showed burnt-out cars and smashed shop windows in the city.

There have been 11 days of protests over the 19 February presidential vote
which gave a convincing win to Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

Appeals for calm

Outgoing President Robert Kocharian declared the state of emergency late on
Saturday after police used tear gas and fired shots in the air to break up a
crowd of thousands of opposition demonstrators.

A police spokesman said that eight people were killed and 33 police officers
injured in the clashes. He said several officers had been injured by
gunfire.

By Sunday morning, calm had returned to Yerevan, with the city centre under
tight security.

Opposition presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian has said he was under
house arrest but recorded an appeal for his supporters to leave the streets.

The government has said Mr Ter-Petrosian is not being prevented from leaving
his home.
The state of emergency declared by outgoing President Robert Kocharian bans
public gatherings and imposes restrictions on media reports and is to remain
in force until 20 March.

As he announced the emergency state, he appealed "to the people of Armenia
to show restraint and understanding".

Official results gave Mr Sarkisian 53% of the vote, with Mr Ter-Petrosian, a
former president, getting 21.5%.

International observers judged the election in the ex-Soviet Caucasus
republic to be generally democratic.

But the opposition says the poll was rigged in favour of Mr Sarkisian, a
close ally of Mr Kocharian, who is barred constitutionally from seeking a
third term in office.

Correspondents say the unrest has risked destabilising a key Russian ally
which lies between the energy-rich Caspian Sea and the markets of Europe.

The clashes broke out after security forces cleared an opposition protest
camp from a city centre square on Saturday morning.

Protesters reassembled nearby and later in the day there were pitched
battles between security forces and protesters.

Demonstrators hurled stones and petrol bombs, setting vehicles on fire, and
police and troops responded with truncheons, tear gas and by firing bullets
in the air.

UNQUENCHABLE FIRE BROUGHT BY ARMENIANS THROUGH CENTURIES IN BORIS YEGHIAZARIAN’S CANVASES

Noyan Tapan
Feb 29 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Bright colors as if torn off from
a fairytale, bold and original choice of paints, warmth and love
reaching for the soul… This is the first impression from painter
Boris Yeghiazarian’s canvases. Medieval, vanguard, out of time – each
of these words can characterize the Ukraine-based Armenian painter,
who in the National Gallery of Armenia between February 15 to March 3
gave a possibility to the Armenian art loving society to get acquainted
with his inner world.

"In order to understand Boris Yeghiazarian’s art one need not
understand much in art, as there is an inner radiation of love and
light accessible for everyone in his art," the painter’s sister,
art critic Gayane Yeghiazarian considers, "the most influential
thing in his art is the greatest love he feels for the God, people,
and the world."

Boris Yeghiazarian, who was born in Aparan, on his way of becoming a
painter was inspired by great masters Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Aparan
mountains of undescribable beauty. When creating portraits the painter
is not guided by any style: he considers that each person is so unique
that to dictate his style means to distort personal features peculiar
of only that individual.

"I try to feel and to give the original," the painter said.

The spirit of medieval Armenian culture with elements of miniature,
wall-painting is felt in the painter’s canvases. The unquenchable
fire brought by the Armenians through centuries today lights up in
Yeghiazarian’s canvases strongly and purely.

However, there was a moment in the painter’s life when he took arms
instead of a brush. During the Karabakh movement Boris Yeghiazarian was
the commander of Aparan detachment. He was not able to work for a long
time after the fight. He started creating first on the paper by writing
stories, which helped him to again sink into the magic world of color.

Boris Yeghiazarian had personal and group exhibitions in picture
galleries of different countries of the world, in Switzerland, France,
Germany, Greece, the United States, Canada. The painter’s works are
kept in different museums, in the National Museum of the Ukraine,
in the Museum of Russian Art, in Parajanov Museum, Yervand Kochar
Museum, as well as in many private collections in the U.S., Canada,
Greece, Switzerland, and other countries.

Boris Yeghiazarian was included in the catalogue "2000 Prominent
Painters and Designers of the 20th Century" by the International
Biographical Center of Cambridge, as well as was awarded Diploma of
Cambridge International Biographical Center for making a considerable
contribution to 20th century’s painting and art.

ARMENIA FOILS OPPOSITION ATTEMPT TO ATTACK TV CENTER

Xinhua General News Service
February 27, 2008 Wednesday 1:21 AM EST

Armenia’s National Security Service said on Tuesday it had foiled an
attempt by the opposition to storm the national television center,
Russian news agencies reported.

The service said a man arrested on Monday, identified as Karen
Ter-Stepanian, revealed that supporters of opposition presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan planned a march to the television tower
and the Public Television and Radio Company.

"They planned to enter the building and demand a chance for
Ter-Petrosyan to go live on air," the service was quoted by the
Interfax news agency as saying.

Several people have been arrested in connection with the plot.

Opposition supporters have been rallying in the capital Yerevan to
protest the Feb. 19 presidential election, which Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan won with 52.8 percent of the vote.

The opposition led by Ter-Petrosyan, who got 21.5 percent of the vote,
claimed the vote was rigged and demanded a repeat vote.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian on Tuesday called the rallies the
work of "irresponsible politicians" and urged protesters to come to
their senses.

"No authorities in any country in the world would tolerate processions,
rallies or other actions that were unsanctioned," he said in a
televised address, according to Interfax.

"It’s the time to wake up, come to one’s senses," Kocharian said.

GOVERNMENT TO PAY COMPENSATIONS FOR ASF-CAUSED DAMAGES

ARMENPRESS
Feb 28, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS: Agricultural minister David Lokian
said yesterday during a parliament questions and answers session
that the ministry will approve today the final list of farmers who
are eligible to financial compensations for damages caused by the
African Swine Fever (ASF) that destroyed thousands of pigs last year.

Many farmers had also to butcher their animals to stave off the spread
of the deadly disease.

The minister said the government has released 480 million Drams to
pay the compensations. Farmers will start receiving compensations
from March 3.

The deputy minister of agriculture, Samvel Avetisian, told earlier this
month that owners of pigs will receive 1005 drams (a little over $3)
per each kg of the destroyed meat.

Overall 18,800 pigs were registered to have died or destroyed because
of the disease.

FOREIGN MINISTER VARTAN OSKANIAN RECEIVED THE OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE

armradio.am
26.02.2008 16:53

On February 26 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva.

During the meeting the parties referred to the presidential elections
held in Armenia. The Foreign Minister of Finland informed that visiting
Armenia he had the opportunity to learn about the assessment of the
elections by both the authorities and the opposition, which will
provide the opportunity to get a true notion.

Later the parties dwelt on bilateral relations, noting the great
potential for the development of economic cooperation.

The Ministers discussed issues related to the activity of the OSCE
Office in Armenia and appreciated the programs the Office implements
in our country.

The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the process of settlement
of the Karabakh conflicts. Ilkka Kanerva noted he fully supports
the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group. Reference was made to the
developments in Kosovo.

Minister Oskanian presented Armenia’s approaches on the normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations.

The meeting was attended by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly Goran Lenmarker.

The meeting was followed by the joint press conference of the two
Foreign Ministers.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb. 26, 2008

OSCE Chairman Prepared to Contribute In Talks on Peaceable Resolution
of Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
26.02.08 16:13

Ilkka Kanerva, the OSCE chairmanship-in-office and also the Finish
Minister, is prepared to contribute in the talks on the peaceable
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

`It is very important to move forward the negotiations on the
peaceable resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As the OSCE
chairman in-office I am prepared to contribute in the peaceable
talks,’ Kanerva said in a news conference in Yerevan on 26 February,
Novosti Armenia reports.

The OSCE chairman-in-office the said that the negotiation process
needs in assistance of all parties, necessary conditions for the
conflict resolution. Kanerva said that the negotiations held within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is an only organization
involved in the solution of this conflict, assume special importance.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Feb 21 2008

`Armenia’s New President is a Murderer’

Thursday , 21 February 2008

ANKARA – Yenicag, Turkish daily, reports that the Armenian voters
preferred a murder as President of the country:

* HEAD OF THE TERRORISTS

`Serj Sarkissian organized the armed militants in the Mountanious
Karabakh conflicts, he ordered massacres in Hocali, and now he is the
President of Armenia. Sarkissian controls all armed forces and at the
same time a good businessman. He has very good relations with the
Armenian diaspora as well.’

* MURDERER PRESIDENT

`Armenia has a murderer president and it is expected that Mr.
Sarkissian will follow similar policies to previous President
Kocharian. It is expected that Armenia will continue to occupy
Azerbaijani territories in his period.
New President Sarkissian was the first responsible commander in
Hocali Massacre and he order his militants to kill women, children
and old people in Hocali. Hocali was a 10.000-people town and about
1.300 of Hocali people were killed by the armed Armenian forces under
Sarkissian command.’

The previous Armenian President Robert Kocharian was also Karabakh
veteran and responsible for many murders in the Karabakh region of
Azerbaijan.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb. 22, 2008

Gül congratulates Sarksyan, calls for `normalization’ of ties

President Abdullah Gül yesterday sent a message of congratulation to
Serzh Sarksyan, the winner of Armenia’s presidential elections,
saying that he hoped Sarksyan’s victory would lead to a
"normalization" of relations between their estranged countries.

"I hope your new position … will permit the creation of the
necessary environment for normalizing relations between the Turkish
and Armenian peoples, who have proven over centuries they can live
together in peace and harmony," Gül said in his message, which was
released by the president’s press office. "I sincerely hope that …
an atmosphere based on reciprocal trust and cooperation can be
established that will contribute to regional peace and prosperity,"
Gül noted in the message.
Ankara has recognized Yerevan since the former Soviet republic won
independence in 1991, but nevertheless refuses to establish
diplomatic ties because of Armenian efforts to secure international
condemnation of the controversial World War I era killings of
Anatolian Armenians as genocide. Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of
their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings during the last
years of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey categorically rejects the claims,
saying that 300,000 Armenians along with at least as many Turks died
in civil strife which emerged when the Armenians took up arms for
independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with the Russian troops
that were invading Ottoman lands.

In 1993 Turkey also shut its border with Armenia in a show of
solidarity with its close ally Azerbaijan, which was at war with
Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, dealing a heavy economic
blow to the impoverished nation. Ankara wants Armenia to abandon its
campaign for the recognition of the killings as genocide and make
progress in its dispute with Baku before formal diplomatic relations
can be established.

Groomed by outgoing President Robert Kocharian, Sarksyan has vowed to
continue the policies of the incumbent president.

Sarksyan, a 52-year-old former welder, is from Nagorno-Karabakh — as
is Kocharian, a notorious hard-liner. Nagorno-Karabakh is a territory
inside Azerbaijan that has been controlled by Armenian and local
ethnic Armenian forces since a six-year war which ended in 1994.
Tensions remain high between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Sarksyan was at
Kocharian’s side in the separatist administration during the war.

22.02.2008

Today’s Zaman Ankara