Category: 2017

Justice Minister David Harutyunyan should disappoint the Republicans, the bill on Domestic Violence will be passed without significant changes, and the social importance is evident. “Very often violence is applied because the victim is defenseless, he does not have any means, he does not have any place to go. The provisions of the law will give opportunity of, even though not big, state assistance.”

David Harutyunyan is glad that there is no unanimous opinion in the Republican Party, but he does not remember the threat of voting against the law. “The considerable part of the faction had concerns, which should be dissolved. The fact that they cannot be left out of the law is evident, because the law would be meaningless if it did not contain the main type of violence.”

David Harutyunyan knows that his party is a traditional family, but domestic violence indicators are worrying.

Eduard Sharmazanov’s opinion and concerns here

Honorable Madame President of the General Conference
Madame Director General
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to congratulate Mrs. Audrey Azoulay for the nomination by the Executive Board for the post of the next Director-General of UNESCO.

Madame President,

The strong leadership of UNESCO is essential in guiding our joint efforts for meeting the objectives of this organisation. Education plays a crucial role in this regard. Armenia has co-authored and supported several education-related initiatives both within the UN and UNESCO. We also closely cooperate with the UNESCO Education Sector in developing our Higher Education Strategy for 2017-2030.

Education, science and search for knowledge have deep roots in the Armenian society. In two years the State University of our capital Yerevan will mark its 100th anniversary. However, already 800 years ago the capital of the Cilician Armenian kingdom used to have a secular higher education institute, the University of Sis. Armenians have carried out these traditions throughout the centuries, including by founding schools in many places worldwide. This year marks the 300th anniversary of the Armenian Mekhitarist Congregation of San Lazzaro in Venice that was recognized as an academy by Emperor Napoleon. More than 200 years ago another famous school – the Lazarian Seminary opened its doors in Moscow and later became one of the two founding institutions of Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The education is a strongest tool for boosting the values that this Organization adheres to. It is regrettable that some states abuse the education for contrary objectives, exploiting it for dissemination of nationalist hatred especially among the youth. There are many such examples in the textbooks of Azerbaijan, one of them teaching the children that Armenians are their genetic enemies. The 2016 report of the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance states: “Political leaders, educational institutions and media have continued using hate speech against Armenians; an entire generation of Azerbaijanis has now grown up listening to this hateful rhetoric”. It is rightly described in the Constitution of UNESCO that “wars begin in the minds of men”. The societies will not be prepared for reconciliation unless the defense of peace is constructed in their minds.

As great German writer Heinrich Heine wrote “Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people”. The books of the renowned Azerbaijani novelist were burnt on the streets of Baku just for speaking the truth about Armenian massacres and calling for reconciliation. He wrote а story about his home village in Nakhijevan that during his childhood used to have twelve churches. All of them, together with numerous other Armenian sacred sites and cemeteries in Nakhijevan and all over Azerbaijan were wiped out in 1990s and 2000s. In the same manner thousands delicately carved medieval cross-stones of the Armenian cemetery in Jugha were bulldozed under the watchful eyes of the Azerbaijani authorities.The site was transformed to a shooting range.

After ethnically cleansing the Armenian population of Azerbaijan, now Baku aims at wiping out even the memory of several millennia old Armenian presence, every traces of the indigenous Armenian culture and history of the region. Baku erases the past merely because it does not fit the present day self-portrayed image of Azerbaijan, probably following George Orwell’s famous words on “who controls the present, controls the past”. Those who control Azerbaijan today think they can rewrite the history to legitimize their present xenophobic policies.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Historically being situated on the crossroads of different civilizations Armenia has cultivated deeply rooted traditions of coexistence and respect towards other cultures and religions. That is why Armenia preserves a rich cultural heritage that includes among others the Hellenistic era temple, some of the oldest churches in the world, medieval Jewish cemetery, 18th century mosque and soon will host the world’s largest Yazidi temple.

The cooperation on preservation of the cultural heritage, that has been among the main pillars proclaimed by UNESCO. It has a very special meaning for the Armenian nation, since we have monuments all over the world built by the Armenians communities in about one hundred countries and particularly many in the countries of the region.

Our neighbors have displayed different approaches towards the preservation of Armenian historical heritage. There is a good cooperation with Iran that takes proper care of the Armenian monuments situated on its territory in a sharp contrast with neighboring Azerbaijan, but also Turkey, where numerous cultural monuments that were of universal value, have been lost forever. In this regard I would like to reiterate Armenia’s interest for the participation of our experts in the excavation and restoration of archaeological sites in Turkey, in such places as Ani, the Armenian medieval capital.

We are also very much concerned of the attacks on the Armenian monuments and sacred sites in war-torn Syria. We strongly believe that the post conflict rehabilitation in Syria should reaffirm the rights of ethnic minorities, including Armenians, on their religious and cultural heritage.

This year the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution 2347, which deplores and condemns the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage, including of religious sites notably by terrorist groups. We hope that the international community will continue to vigorously purcue such efforts.

Madame President,

I would also like to draw the attention on two anniversaries proposed by Armenia to the UNESCO calendar.

For 2016 with the support of France and Netherlands we have nominated 350th anniversary of the first printed Bible in Armenian. This is indeed a remarkable event not just for the 500 years long history of the Armenian book printing, but also it is symbolic for a nation that was first adopted Christianity as a state religion more than 1700 years ago and whose translation of the Holy Bible was one of the first in the world.

For 2017 jointly with Russian Federation and supported by Italy we have nominated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky, the world famous marine artist.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Nowadays there is a higher demand of such efforts that build and consolidate peace in the minds of people, that turn our differences into our strengths, that preserve and use our common heritage as a bridge between generations, cultures and peoples. Armenia strongly believes in this mission of UNESCO and stands ready to continue its contribution to the realization of these goals.

Thank you.

Today is Alexander Spendaryan’s birthday. Traditionally, the composer’s home-museum staff, members of the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater, the students of Spendiaryan Music School, composers, musicians and composer’s fans gather at his tomb at the Opera House to pay tribute, and events are organized at the home-museum after A. Spendaryan. Two interactive educational programs were presented today.

“The 21st century generation visits the museum today. The use of modern technologies is aimed at making educational and cognitive programs more exciting and perceptible to them,” said Marine Otaryan, head of the museum.

The events will continue and will be dedicated to the 50-year-old home-museum, which opened on 25 November, 1967.

The museum cooperates with the Charents Museum of Art and Literature and Spendiaryan’s fund studying, digitizing, will help to unify and understand what inheritance is in the archives.

Marine Otaryan said that the culture of visiting museums had changed. And in order to keep their hands on the pulse of time, they organize various events, concerts, presentations. And after the reconstruction of the museum, the area of the hall helps to have a new audience and provides with a great deal of visitors.

Yandex. Map editing service is available in Armenian since November 1. Due to this, Armenian residents can help Yandex team create accurate maps of settlements.

“Maps is easy to edit, anyone can do it,” says Nikolay Kalashnikov, head of the Yandex Geoscience content group.

“Satellite images can be found in roads, buildings, shops. Even business owners can specify addresses and working hours for their offices. Within 4-5 days these data will be available to everyone. ”

 

In the list of CIS countries, Armenia occupies the 4th place with adjustments.

In an interview with Rossia 24 TV channel, Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia had requested a new loan from Russia to modernize the armaments, and he hoped it would be permanent. “Our Armed Forces have a serious modern weapon at their disposal. But it does not mean that our Armed Forces should not develop. In order to modernize, we have asked Russia to provide a loan. This is not the first one, this is already the second, and we hope it will be permanent.”

To remind, Armenia and Russia have already signed a $ 100 million loan agreement after a 200-million-dollar loan.

“Since Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan’s explanations on why he did not serve in the RA Armed Forces are not enough, I applied to the RA Military Commissar Henrik Muradyan today, with a request by asking to provide me with all the documents, which served as the basis for dismissing the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia from compulsory military service in 1999-2000,” Nikol pashinyan, head of the Yelk (Way Out) faction, posted on Facebook.

“Armenians are one of the exceptional nations that have a powerful Diaspora and presentable communities in different countries of the world. Armenians are one of the peoples who founded the 223-year-old multinational Odessa, and today the community has its own role in this city,” said Armen Petoyan, the Founder President of the Odessa Cultural Heritage Foundation, our compatriot, Ukrainian citizen.

The important branch of the foundation is Armenian Studies because we do not have the right not to be loyal to our national cultural wealth inherited in a foreign land.

“Some people joke, calling me the Armenian Eagle with Greek and Ukrainian wings, because one of my assistants is Greek and the other is Ukrainian,” said he.

The foundation employs Greeks, Jews, Bulgarians and Ukrainians. Nationality has nothing to do, being a good specialist is important.”

We have had strong communities in Ukraine, the Armenian trace is everywhere, and by the efforts of the Foundation the work of the famous Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Dashkevich “Armenians in Ukraine” is spread.

Armen Petoyan said that the author of the book had donated half century to this study and had used about two hundred original sources, the collection represented the history of the Armenian immigrants of 15-19 centuries. He had founded a science school, where studies on the history of thousands of Armenians in Ukraine are still held.

Thanks to the foundation, in Odessa, Avetik Isahakian’s memorial board was opened at 24 Bunini Street, where he was deported in 1878, for a year, with the decision to exile the Hnchakians of Tsarist Russia in different terms.

“Shirvanzadeh was exiled to Odessa for two years and his memorial plaque should be opened here, too,” said Armen Petoyan. It turns out that Odessa’s businessmen are very helpful in implementing projects.

The winners of the regional tournament organized by the Armenian community of Odessa and sponsored by the Tsiatsan Charitable Foundation were rewarded with a one-week tour to Armenia. This was also suggested by Armen Petrosyan.

Now a documentary is being filmed about our patriarch Margar Sedrakyan, who was exiled to Odessa during the postwar years where he worked at the brandy factory and created “Ukraine” and “Odessa” cognacs.

When the factory was re-opened in the post-Soviet era, it was named after Shustov, and a museum also was opened, where Margar Sedrakyan’s name was never mentioned. Now the foundation is working on it.

“If we become more united, we will have more accomplishments. As my Armenian teacher used to say, if you do not listen with your ears, they will hit you, and then you will understand,” said Armen Petrosyan.

Yet another manifestation of RA Government’s ambiguous attitude towards the concept of “traditional, family values” was the support expressed by Serzh Sargsyan towards the statement on “Support to the Family Institute and Traditional Family Values” during the meeting of CIS Council of Heads of State in Sochi on October 11.

It is worth reminding that during the last few weeks, a number of politicians from the Republican Party had started a campaign against the bill on domestic violence.  Thus, for instance, RPA Speaker, RA National Assembly Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov announced on October 30, “The preliminary version of the Bill on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of the Victims of Domestic Violence does not correspond to the ideology of the Republican Party of Armenia. We are a national conservative party. Of course we are against violence, we are bearers of traditional values, namely, church, family, traditional family”.

Armenia Supports…

While the aforementioned bill was being discussed in Armenia and some claimed that it is “forced by Europe”, RA President Sargsyan announced in Sochi, “We support the statement on Support to the Family Institute and Traditional Family Values, realizing that family is the basis of the society, and a factor unifying people”. However, it is unclear what we support since the statement text was not introduced to the Armenian public beforehand.

Children’s Rights

Based on the inquiry by Union of Informed Citizens NGO, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided the text of the aforementioned statement. In particular, the document mentions that “the parties highlight the need for cooperation in solving issues related to prevention and investigation of cases of domestic violence, violation of children’s rights, as well as reduction of child mortality rates…” Moreover, the document highlights the importance of establishing efficient legal procedures for adopting children.

The hasty signing of this statement containing a clause related to children’s rights is interesting in light of the fact that Ararat TV company, which de facto belongs to the Republican Party of Armenia (they even share the same headquarters), has been actively spreading disinformation related to the Bill on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of the Victims of Domestic Violence, stating that the law is unacceptable since it is aimed at alienating children from their families and depriving parents of their parental rights. However, the bill does not have any mention of children’s adoption in contrast to the aforementioned Sochi statement.

Gender Equality

The Sochi document also addresses gender equality. It is worth reminding that during the discussion of 2013 amendments to the RA Law on Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, some people had turned the word “gender” into an international scandal, which resulted in substitution of the formulation “gender relations” with “equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men. A number of Republican Party deputies were also against using the word “gender”.

Thus, it turns out that the Sochi document proposed by Russia and immediately accepted by Serzh Sargsyan contains items that on many occasions have been proclaimed as “evil” by the Armenian audience, namely, fight against domestic violence, prevention of violation of children’s rights, gender equality.

Double-Standard Approach

In fact, when it comes to legislative initiatives supported by the EU the RA authorities and the pro-Russian forces start to remember about their traditional values in order to get as much concessions as possible from the EU. Meanwhile, the documents proposed by the Russian side are accepted without reservation irrespective of their “anti-traditional” nature, similar content and even items related to children.

Anna Pambukhchyan
“Union of Informed Citizens”