ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF BERLIN TO CELEBRATE FIRST REPUBLIC DAY
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.05.2009 18:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community of Berlin will celebrate
First Republic Day on May 30.
A liturgy will be chanted. Then, chairman of Armenian Academic Union
Azat Ordughanyan will give a report. Festivities will end in a banquet.
FIRST AMBASSADOR OF BRAZIL COMPLETES HER DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
May 27, 2009
YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 26, RA President Serzh Sargsyan
received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brazil to
Armenia Renate Stille on the occasion of completing her diplomatic
mission in Armenia. S. Sargsyan thanked the Ambassador for her work
and said that Armenia attaches much importance to development of
relations with Brazil.
R. Stille, in her turn, said that during her three-year activity she
tried to bring closer and develop the two countries’ relations as
far as possible.
According to the report of the RA President’s Press Office, the sides
attached importance to activation of political dialogue, expansion
of economic cooperation considering very important Brazilian Armenian
community’s role in the bilateral relations. They agreed that opening
of Embassy of Armenia in Brazil by the end of the year will be a
serious ground and stimulus for deepening cooperation between the
two states and peoples.
TURKISH JOURNALISTS’ VISIT TO ARMENIA ARRANGED
AzerNews Weekly
May 27 2009
Azerbaijan
A group of Turkish journalists have visited Yerevan in a bid to
advance the solution of problems between Turkey and Armenia through
public diplomacy, the influential Turkish Huriyyet newspaper reported.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two
countries has been closed since 1993 on Ankara`s insistence due to
Armenia`s policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Armenian
claims about an alleged World War I-era genocide.
The journalists, who headed to the Armenian capital as part of the
Turkey-Armenia Journalist Dialogue Project, have held a number of
meetings with government officials and political leaders.
Emma Mirzabekian, head of the Women`s Resource Center who first
hosted the visitors, revealed sensational facts. According to her,
such disasters as war, earthquakes and unemployment have turned
Armenia into "an Amazon country."
Mirzabekian said that, according to the 2001 census, 2.1 million, out
of Armenia`s overall population of 3.15 million, are women. Economic
pressures that emerged following the collapse of the Soviet Union
in 1991, and a powerful earthquake that killed 30,000 people, have
caused many men to flee the country. Also, men who died during the
Garabagh war in the early 1990s have completely turned the South
Caucasus republic into "a country of women."
"60 percent of men are outside the country and the majority of them
have abandoned their families, while women are having to work to
support themselves and their children. Also, due to the lack of men,
instances of one man living with several women are becoming more
frequent."
The visit was organized by the German Heinrich Boll Foundation, a
non-profit organization striving to promote democracy, equality and
a healthy environment internationally, and the International Hrant
Dink Foundation.
The Turkish media representatives witnessed a strong desire of the
part of the Armenians to achieve recognition of the alleged Ottoman
Empire-era genocide. For instance, Ruben Melkonian, an instructor
with the Turkish studies section of Yerevan State University`s Western
science department, claimed in discussions with them that "they could
demand the homes they left behind and compensations after the genocide
is recognized."
The government in Yerevan has accused Turkey of genocide against
Armenians in the latter years of the Ottoman Empire, which preceded
modern Turkey. The Turkish government says the developments took
place as part of clashes with Armenian groups supporting Russia
against Turkey during World War I. Ankara insists the killings were not
orchestrated by the Ottoman government and has proposed opening Ottoman
archives to international scholars to try to resolve the dispute.
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has said the alleged genocide
issue would never be removed from the agenda, and Yerevan`s position
on the issue cannot change. From this standpoint, Turkey`s citing any
pre-conditions on resolving the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict
within Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity or the genocide issue is
unacceptable, he claimed.
As for a possible re-opening of the Turkey-Armenia border, the Armenian
premier said the issue would be clarified by the time the soccer
match is held between the two countries` national teams this fall.
The Turkish and Armenian leaders attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying
soccer match together in Yerevan in September 2008 when Abdullah
Gul became the first Turkish president to visit Armenia. Further,
Gul invited his Armenian counterpart to Istanbul for a return game
due this September.
Meanwhile, Vardan Oskanian, who served as Armenia`s foreign minister
from 1998 until April 2008 said, speaking to the Turkish journalists,
that his country`s relations with Turkey may actually deteriorate. He
noted that Turkey and Armenia will not be able to make progress in
their efforts to normalize relations if Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan brings the Garabagh dispute between Azerbaijan and
Armenia to the table, noting that relations may even get worse if
Turkish officials start to politicize issues such as Armenian workers
in Turkey.
"The moment we leave Garabagh out, we can improve Turkish-Armenian
relations. If we bring Garabagh in, I really don`t see this
happening. Garabagh is a separate issue. My conviction is that if
Turkey normalizes its relations with Armenia first, then the Garabagh
solution will be much easier."
Oskanian said he first heard Erdogan bringing the Garabagh problem
to the forefront three months ago.
"Until that time, I was really hoping that there was a change of
policy on the part of Turkey and we would get results," he said in
response to questions from the journalists.
Following recent talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in
Baku, Erdogan said that Azerbaijan`s sensitivity about Upper Garabagh
increased Turkey`s sensitivity, too. Erdogan said Turkey had closed
its border gates with Armenia because Upper Garabagh was occupied
and that it would be impossible to reopen the gates as long as the
occupation continues. He also said the mediating OSCE Minsk Group,
co-chaired by the U.S., Russia and France, should speed up peace talks,
which have been continuing for 15 years.
On the other hand, Armenian leaders have been criticizing Erdogan
for making the normalization of ties with Armenia conditional on the
Garabagh settlement.
NATO PA – ANOTHER INSTANCE FOR BAKU’S ANTI-ARMENIAN PROPAGANDA
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.05.2009 19:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Stepan Safarian, member of the Heritage Party’s
parliamentary faction, who recently replaced Heritage’s founder Raffi
K. Hovannisian at the Armenian National Assembly’s delegation to the
NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), was in the Norwegian capital
Oslo from May 23 to 26, where he participated in the spring session
of NATO PA.
On May 23, Stepan Safarian attended the session of NATO PA’s Defense
and Security Commission. Heritage’s MP offered comments and put forth
queries specifically during the discussions devoted to Afghanistan
and, subsequently, to the threats which the women and young girls face
in times of military conflicts and post-conflict situations. In her
remarks, Malahat Ibrahimkizi, the member of Azerbaijan’s associated
delegation to NATO PA, made a "smooth" transition from the issue of
violations against the women and young girls in the conflict zones
to the Karabakh conflict and made slanderous accusations against
Armenia. She argued that Armenia was the aggressor, that twenty
percent of Azerbaijan was under occupation, and that there were
one million Azerbaijani refugees. And offering his comments on the
topic of discussion, Stepan Safarian noted: "I deeply regret that
I must commence my remarks by responding to the slanders made by my
distinguished Azerbaijani colleague. I was preparing to deliver an
altogether different speech, but now I am obliged to start my words
from this issue. I understand that my Azerbaijani colleagues have a
task given to them by their highest leadership, and this task is to
make use of any opportunity to smear Armenia in order to distort the
truth. Ladies and gentlemen, we can interpret the historical facts
and the history in different ways, yet it is impossible to falsify the
facts and write a new history. However, I do agree with my colleague
in one description, but with a certain editing: The NKR conflict is the
tragic story of an aggression and a failed attempt at occupation. More
specifically, it is the tale of Azerbaijan’s instigating aggression
against and its failed attempt to occupy Mountainous Karabakh. When
Azerbaijan decided to seize Karabakh by military means, this was
prevented by the effective Armenian defense. And today, my Azerbaijani
colleague is trying to misrepresent this fact, which resulted in
tragic consequences and in the present-day realities. It is impossible!
to refor xamined the matter of and the challenge toward disarmament and
the women’s engagement in different militarized conflicts. Following
the Heritage MP’s intervention, the Azerbaijani deputy became edgy
and, pretentiously obstructing the session, left the session’s hall
screaming. The same day, Safarian also participated in the session
of NATO PA’s Economy and Security Commission, Heritage Party’s Office
reported to PanARMENIAN.Net.
THE LEGEND IN MALATIA
A1+
09:36 pm | May 26, 2009
Politics
The "Prosperous Armenia" party’s campaign stands out from the rest
of the campaigns in that the party is mainly involved in praising
the party leader rather than the mayor candidate.
For instance, Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, who is the second contender on
the party’s proportional list, held a meeting today in the square
near the Zoravar Andranik statue and presented Gagik Tsarukyan as
"great benefactor and legend of the Armenian nation." The host of
the meeting informed citizens of Sebastia that Armenia has turned
into nothing more nothing less than a "superpower in sports" under
sponsorship of Gagik Tsarukyan.
"Prosperous Armenia" party members informed residentes of the
Malatia-Sebastia district that their party is strong thanks to their
leader Gagik Tsarukyan.
Let us remind that Gagik Tsarukyan is not participating in the
elections for mayor. Mr. Mnatsakanyan did not forget to say a few
words about mayor candidate Harutyun Kushkyan and informed that he
has known him since childhood and that he is a skilled manager.
Mayor candidate Harutyun Kushkyan assured residentes of
Malatia-Sebastia that people’s lives would change if they were elected.
In his speech, leader of the party Gagik Tsarukyan underscored all
the needs of citizens of Yerevan today, including a clean city, water,
greenery and garbage that is disposed on time.
Tsarukyan called on citizens to vote by their conscience. "If they
offer money, take it, but listen to your heart come voting time,"
said leader of the "Prosperous Armenia" party.
In the end the "Prosperous Armenia" party announced: "We’re not
saying good-bye because we are going to be back on June 1 to build a
prosperous Armenia. "Prosperous Armenia" is first on the ballot and
it is going to be the first after the elections as well."
Unlike the meeting of the ANC that took place on Sunday, the police
officers did not remove the license plates of people participating in
the meeting. What’s more, it was impossible to drive on the streets
due to heavy traffic.
MP: THE WORDS OF THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER MEAN THAT ARMENIA IMITATE ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS
Today.Az
s/52602.html
May 26 2009
Azerbaijan
"The statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey means that
Armenia imitate its participation in the negotiation process". said
chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party Asim Mollazade, commenting
on a statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ahmed
Davutoglu who said "Let Armenia not act in the artistic manner".
According to him, artistry means a frequent change of masks by the
authorities of Armenia, which is actually intended to conceal a policy
of aggression, occupation and war.
"And I think that the Foreign Minister of Turkey, making such an
assessment of Armenia’s actions, is absolutely correct", stated the MP.
A. Mollazade also noted that, in general, A. Davudoglu’s visit promotes
the greater closing of ties between Azerbaijan and Turkey and "fully
destroys the myth, Armenia and its supported have tried to impose.
"The myth that states that there can be a split in the relations
between Azerbaijan and Turkey and Davutoghlu called everything by
their real names", concluded he.
PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Press Office
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
email: [email protected]
web:
_________________________
College Student Raises $10,000 for FAR through Music
A magnificent concert – the first of its kind – commemorating the 1915 Armenian
Genocide, as well as raising money for the charitable organization Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR), took place at Seelos Theater at the College of the Holy Cross on Sunday,
April 19, 2009. The concert, featuring father-daughter duo Fr. Untzag and Ani Nalbandian,
in addition to the John Berberian Ensemble, was sold-out with 370 people in attendance.
The concert made for a truly historic occasion, serving as the inaugural event of
the Armenian Students’ Association (ASA), which was newly founded by Ani Nalbandian,
a College of the Holy Cross senior. What is more, Nalbandian and the other students
involved succeeded in raising upwards $10,000 for Armenia, $7,657.12 of which remains
after expenses, and is being donated to FAR. The money is to specifically benefit
young students and children in Gumri, Armenia, the site of the devastating earthquake
in December 1988.
Included among the audience members was the President of the college, Fr. Michael
McFarland, Society of Jesus, who offered his remarks praising the concert, the students
of the ASA, and concert organizer, Ani Nalbandian. Also in attendance was the Executive
Director of Fund for Armenian Relief, Garnik Nanagoulian, who offered his remarks,
reflecting upon Ani’s welcoming statement in which she spoke about the importance
of solidarity among Armenians and non-Armenians alike in helping the people of Armenia.
Local members of the Worcester and neighboring Armenian communities also flocked
to this event, including local clergy and members of the Armenian communities in
Worcester, Whitinsville, Framingham, Springfield, Watertown, and even as far as
southwestern CT and NJ. For months leading up to it, the concert was highly publicized
in Armenian and non-Armenian networks, with Ani Nalbandian and John Berberian even
being invited for a guest appearance on the Hank Stolz Show. The Worcester Telegram
& Gazette also conducted a feature story on Ani, John, and the concert, as did
the College of the Holy Cross Public Relations office who posted an on-line video
of an interview with Ani.
For those approximately 150 non-Armenian students, professors, and faculty at the
College of the Holy Cross, the concert was a beautiful introduction to the richness
of Armenian music and language. In letters and emails to Ani, countless many people
relayed their overjoyed feelings during the concert, and how the music and atmosphere
brought them to tears, and even had them stomping their feet with the music!
The musical performances by the Nalbandian duo were all songs, sung solo by either
father or daughter, or jointly. Both Fr. Untzag and Ani played the piano, and Ani
also surprised the audience by playing the accordion, and reciting Baryour Sevag’s
poem, "Unlurelee Zankagadoon," ("Unsilenced Belltower") with the familiar tune of
Dle Yaman in the background. In addition, the Nalbandian duo was accompanied by
several highly accomplished student musicians at the College of the Holy Cross,
including: Michael Ferraguto on violin, Justin Rucci on drums, David Sheerin on
piano, and Michael Simms on clarinet. The concert also featured the acclaimed oudist,
John Berberian, and members of his ensemble: Mal Barsamian on clarinet and guitar,
Harry Bedrosian on keyboard, and Bruce Gigarjian on dumbeg. Their selections included
traditional Armenian music, from the melancholy Yeraz to the uplifting Hamest Kourikner
(Tamzara).
To conclude the concert, the last performance was Fr. Untzag and Ani singing the
song Pour Toi, Armenie, which was fitting as the song is one of the many in the
repertoire of French-Armenian singer, Charles Aznavour, and was composed in commemoration
of the victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. The song was also the inspiration
for the title of this benefit concert. Reflecting upon the concert, Ani Nalbandian
remarks, "I believe that we succeeded in achieving something unprecedented that
day. We fostered an atmosphere of sincere interest and compassion at our college
for the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, and for those who continue to lead
difficult lives in Armenia. More importantly, we did so by bringing together young
and old, non-Armenian students and non-Armenian professors, as well as Armenians
from the nearby and not-so-nearby communities. Never before has such unity of spirit
for Armenia been experienced on this campus." It truly was something special.
# # #
Picture Captions:
Picture 1: Ani Nalbandian, College of the Holy Cross senior, and
concert organizer, singing on stage at the April 19, 2009 concert, Pour Toi, Armenie.
Picture 2: The Nalbandians with College of the Holy Cross faculty, president, and
Executive Director of Fund for Armenian Relief after the concert. From left to right:
Professor Michael West, Dean Earl Peace, Professor Kenneth Prestwich, Fr. Michael
McFarland, S.J., President of the College of the Holy Cross, Barbara Letourneau,
Ani Nalbandian, Professor John Anderson, Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, Yn. Setta Nalbandian,
and Garnik Nanagoulian, Exec. Director of FAR.
About FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served hundreds of
thousands of people through more than 220 relief and development programs in Armenia
and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $265 million in humanitarian assistance
by implementing a wide range of projects including emergency relief, construction,
education, medical aid, and economic development.
For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630 Second Avenue,
New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; ;
e-mail [email protected].
— May 25th, 2008
Fund for Armenian Relief | 630 Second Avenue | New York | NY | 10016
ARMROSGAZPROM PROLONGS "ACTION WITHOUT PREPAYMENT" TERMS TILL OCTOBER 1, 2009
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.05.2009 11:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ArmRosgazprom CJSC has prolonged "Action without
Prepayment" terms till October 1, 2009, the company’s press office
said. The citizens, who will apply for gasification and pay 80% of
the sum, essential for building and mounting works, will not do any
other prepayments.
KAZAKH PRIME MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH HIS ARMENIAN, MOLDOVAN AND UKRAINIAN COUNTERPARTS
Kyiv Post
May 25 2009
Ukraine
Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister
Karim Masimov held bilateral meetings with prime ministers of Armenia,
Moldova and Ukraine on Friday in Astana, Kazakh Prime Minister’s
press office reported.
According to the press office, during the talks with Armenian Prime
Minister, Tigran Sargsyan, the sides exchanged opinions on results
of the CIS Prime Ministers’ session and discussed issues of bilateral
economic cooperation.
"During the meeting the sides also discussed anti-recessionary measures
taken by the governments of both countries," the press office said.
Masimov discussed issues of boosting sales turnover between Kazakhstan
and Moldova during his meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister, Zinaida
Greceanii
"The sides also discussed possibilities for signing intergovernmental
agreements in fuel and energy field, as well investment protection,
in the nearest future", the press office said.
Meanwhile, "the state and prospects of developing bilateral
Kazakh-Ukrainian relations in trade and economic sphere" were discussed
during the talks of Masimov with the Prime Minister of Ukraine,
Yulia Tymoshenko.
"The sides noted a large potential for widening trade and economic
ties and spoke of the need to step up bilateral ties on a mutually
beneficial basis," the press office said.
Toronto Star , Canada
May 23 2009
Civil wars never end, they just move to Canada
How the conflicts of the 21st century are being waged by other means
right here in the mosaic
May 23, 2009 04:30 AM
Olivia Ward
Foreign Affairs reporter
In the smoky, near-darkness of the ramshackle schoolhouse that served
as a barracks for the Georgian army, I huddled against the wall
listening to the sputter of machine guns and the deep throaty boom of
mortar shells.
"I believe you speak English," said a soldier sitting next to me, his
face barely visible above his sweat-stained flack jacket. "I’m from
the United States."
My neighbour, one of several hundred weary troops who joined the fight
against separatists in western Georgia in 1993, was not only American
but also a professor at an Ivy League university. And he told me:
"When my country is threatened, I put down the books and pick up my
gun."
He was not alone in his desire to fight for the country of his birth,
despite a comfortable life in a new land. Even when guns fall silent,
the fog of war often hangs heavy over the new countries where diaspora
populations from far-flung conflict zones have settled.
But in the 21st century, when global migration affects nearly every
country and one in every 35 people on the planet is an international
migrant, it would be naïve to expect that what happens in the
old country stays in the old country ` or the country of one’s
forbears.
Toronto’s recent Tamil demonstrations, protesting the killing of
civilians in a Sri Lankan military operation against the Tamil Tigers,
ignited new controversy over the limit to which diasporas can continue
their struggles in Canada. The burning of a mainly Sinhalese Buddhist
temple sparked fearful and furious reactions from those who declared
that "foreign conflicts" had no place here.
The media, too, have been caught up, as cyberspace sizzles with angry
diatribes from both sides.
The Sri Lankan conflict is not unique. As electronic communication
burgeons, so have journalists’ email baskets and Twitter lists,
overflowing with complaints or entreaties from pro-Israeli and
pro-Palestinian groups, Serbian and Kosovar exiles, Iranian dissidents
and advocates for Armenia, Tibet, Burma, Afghanistan, Somalia, Darfur
and Haiti ` to name a few.
While some diasporas have been actively engaged in reconstruction,
development and peace-making in their original countries, others are
more hardline than the people they left behind, and the polarized
debates they arouse make it more difficult to find accommodation or
peace.
"Politics these days is often acted out by populations who are
geographically removed from the sites of conflict," notes a paper by
Camilla Orjuela of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. "But
although politics is to a large extent `deterritorialized’ ` it can be
carried out (no matter) where you are ` it has not ceased to be about
territory."
Diasporas have the power to shape debate at home and abroad, to push
local politicians to take part in international events and to use
their money to support political or military movements that can change
history for better or worse.
In some cases their power increases in their adopted countries, where
they have less direct influence but more, and safer, access to
communication tools. And for dissidents who oppose dictatorial
regimes, it is easier to defend human rights while staying out of
range of murderous revenge.
But political lines may also harden as distance increases. And as
years go by, second- and third-generation diasporas may be most
adamant, and inflexible, about a solution for their families’
homelands, which they see in idealized terms.
They also lack one of the main ingredients of settlement: the sheer
war weariness that takes over when one or both parties have suffered
enough destruction.
Some Irish-descended Americans, for example, backed the IRA’s violent
campaign for a united Ireland, while the exhausted population of
Northern Ireland, both Catholic and Protestant, were ready for a peace
process that was forged in compromise.
The difficulty diasporas may have in coming to terms with
less-than-ideal solutions is clear. The 250 or so conflicts simmering
throughout the world guarantee that they or their families will have
fled quickly, with few resources and deep psychological wounds. Their
view of their familial countries is flash frozen in an agonizing
moment of time.
"For years I woke up screaming," a young Rwandan-born woman who lost
her family in the genocide told me. "It was something I lived with. In
the daytime I could feel normal, but at night it was different."
The first generation of traumatized refugees spends its lifetime
coping with the horror of murder, torture, ethnic cleansing and
violent seizure of their homes. Their nightmares are passed on to
their children and grandchildren, who suffer their own forms of
trauma, including the guilt that comes from leading double lives,
inside and outside of their own families and communities.
Multiculturalism ` encouraging communities to preserve their own
cultures, languages and traditions ` fosters pride, but may make
adaptation more difficult for the young, who receive mixed
messages. Some soothe their sense of alienation by identifying with
the struggles in their parents’ homelands, creating an ideal future
from a sometimes-mythical past.
Even in the U.S., where the melting pot trumps multiculturalism,
emotional attachment to a cultural "motherland" remains. The diasporas
have long arms, supporting "foreign" struggles through lobbying and
fundraising for their causes.
"It’s the most important work I could do right now," said an
impeccably dressed American businessman smoking in the lobby of a
rundown Albanian hotel during the 1999 Kosovo conflict. Of Albanian
descent, he had come to hand over funds raised for the guerrillas who
were battling the Serbs for an independent state. And he said, he
would continue until the fight was won.
It’s a sentiment that many feel about many national causes. And one
that is questioned by others who see no room for "dual loyalty." But
in the new transnational landscape, where boundaries are virtual as
well as real, identity has taken on a new dimension. And so have the
conflicts that once seemed so far from our shores.
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