Des plaies inguérissables

Des plaies inguérissables
Odile Tremblay
Édition du vendredi 30 septembre 2005 Le Devoir
Titre VO : Le Génocide en moi
Description : Réalisation, scénario et image: Araz Artinian.
La jeune cinéaste montréalaise Araz Artinian a réalisé un fascinant
documentaire sur le lourd héritage qu’elle subit et aime à la fois.
Avoir des origines arméniennes avec un père obsédé par le génocide de
1915 n’est guère de tout repos. D’où le questionnement
existentiel. Qui suis-je ? Puis-je connaître une liberté hors du champ
de mon identité arménienne ? Pas sûr. Le papa d’Araz Artinian ne peut
envisager qu’une de ses deux filles puisse épouser un non-Arménien,
réduisant leurs perspectives d’avenir.
«Tout ce qui m’arrive aujourd’hui remonte à 1915, dira la jeune
femme. J’ai pris le poids de la dénégation turque dans mon sac d’école
toute mon enfance.»
Araz Artinian avait collaboré au film Ararat d’Atom Egoyan et réalisé
The Story of Arsinée Khanjian, portrait de l’épouse et muse du
cinéaste torontois d’origine arménienne. Ce documentaire suit les
mêmes pistes que sa fiction.
Il démontre à quel point la non-reconnaissance du génocide par le
gouvernement turc rend les plaies inguérissables pour toute une
diaspora empêtrée dans ses racines rouges, en mal d’identité.
À travers une oeuvre sur la mémoire en tant que périple initiatique,
la réalisatrice rencontre les derniers survivants du génocide,
nonagénaires qui gardent en eux des images et des sensations gravées,
indélébiles : femme enceinte éventrée, les poux, la mort, la soif.
Elle déambule aussi avec sa petite vidéo numérique pour capter les
images et les témoignages familiaux, certes, mais aussi sur les routes
de la Turquie dans les anciennes terres arméniennes, où des guides
taisent le génocide aux touristes. Des documents d’archives, photos
et films tournés en Égypte et au Canada ajoutent des fragments à cette
mosaïque.
C’est l’amalgame des regards sur le génocide et l’identité arménienne
qui donne sa vivacité au documentaire d’Araz Artinian. Quel que soit
le bout par lequel elle aborde son sujet, le massacre de 1,5 million
d’Arméniens par les Turcs en 1915 vient la hanter pour mieux
bouleverser sa vie. Le Génocide en moi dit et répète à quel point peut
peser lourd le poids de l’Histoire.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARRIVES IN TORONTO
“OUR PEOPLE’S SUPREME INTERESTS DEMAND COOPERATION FROM ALL OF US”
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
His Holiness Aram I arrived in Toronto on September 29, starting the second
part of his Pontifical visit to Canada. Addressing the thousands of
believers who had gathered to greet him, His Holiness stressed the
importance of faith, Armenian identity and cooperation in individual as well
as the nation’s collective lives.
His Holiness Aram I traveled to Toronto from Montreal by land with Prelate
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, V Rev Fr Krikor Chiftjian and Rev Fr Housig
Mardirosian and the delegation members.
The Pontiff was welcomed by the pastor of Toronto, V Rev Fr Meghrig
Parikian, the board of trustees, the National Assembly, other
representatives from the community and a huge crowd of believers at the St.
Asdvadzadzine Church in Toronto.
Representatives from sister churches as well as pastors of the Armenian
Catholic Church, V Rev Fr. Yeghia Kiredjian and the Armenian Evangelical
Church, Rev Yesayi Sarmazian, attended the Holy Mass held in the Church.
The Prelate of Canada, Archbishop Hagopian, delivered the opening remarks
expressing the love and respect of the believers towards His Holiness.
The Catholicos first welcomed the representatives of sister churches, seeing
in their respect the evident unity and brotherhood between Christian
Churches. His Holiness highly praised the hard work carried out by Prelate
Archbishop Hagopian and V Rev Fr. Parikian in Toronto.
His Holiness then delivered a sermon, stressing three concepts: holding
strong to the Armenian Church’s and nation’s origins and working on
rendering the Armenian nation’s collective life more fruitful.
“It is more than essential to preserve faith especially in today’s world,
where deterioration of moral values can be seen everywhere. This is
essential, because it is our faith in God that brings us closer to the
church and the teachings of the Holy Bible and makes our individual lives
more fruitful,” said His Holiness.
His Holiness also stressed the importance of identity. “Preserving identity
is as important, especially when away from the homeland. We are a nation. A
nation does not mean a collection of individuals. Nationhood is one of the
expressions of a people’s identity, where the children of the same people
are united with a unique history, traditions and goals.”
Speaking about the third concept, His Holiness stressed that cooperation
between all the children of the Armenian nation is most essential in these
coasts. “Our nation’s supreme interests demand cooperation from all of us,”
said His Holiness. The Pontiff called on the believers to work together to
become stronger in face of the challenges threatening to wear out their
Armenian identity.
The believers then approached the Catholicos kissing his right hand and
receiving his blessings.
##
View pictures here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

A1+
| 17:15:27 | 30-09-2005 | Social |
DOES GAGIK BEGLARYAN HAVE A FINGER IN IT?
61-year-old Hrachik Haroutyunyan watched with tears in his eyes how the
furniture of his house in Buzand 17 was being taken into the lorry. They
were taken in not by the residents of the house, but by the workers of the
court officers. The court officers did not even allow Hrachik Hovhannisyan
to enter his house, as he is not registered there.
«It is now clear why they postponed the eviction. They did it for us not to
hinder the elections. Now everything is over, and they are here», said the
daughter of Hrachik Haroutyunyan Astghik whose family was not visited by the
court officers for the last 15 days.
According to her, today early in the morning about 50 people – court
officers and policemen «attacked their house». Now the Hovhannisyans do not
know where to go. «They will take the things to the store as we have nowhere
to take them», said Astghik.
They were paid 10 500 USD for 35 square meters. «We cannot buy even a
one-room flat with that sum», said Hrachik Haroutyunyan.
The dwellers of the Buzand street now foresee the eviction of the Buzand 15
residents.

A1+
| 17:02:39 | 30-09-2005 | Politics |
NOT CONGRATULATED YET
«The court was not subject to pressures», said the newly elected head of the
Qanaqer-Zeytun community Arayik Qotanjyan during the press conference about
the elections in the community today in «Azdak» club.
After the elections were announced invalid, Arayik Qotanjyan did not even
hope that the trial would be held, but when it was, he was sure to win, «In
case of holding the trial there could be no other decision, as the forgery
and the crime were obvious».
The newly elected community head is worried that his opponent has not
congratulated him. Before that he had decided to give them an opportunity to
work with him, but today he said, «How shall we sit around a table and work
together? ».
By the way, the Qanaqer-Zeytun community head has not yet taken up his
responsibilities, but he announced beforehand, «There will be no drastic
steps, we will keep the hard-working officials and change the rest».

A1+
| 15:37:20 | 30-09-2005 | Official |
PRYAKHIN AND SERGE SARGSYAN SIGNED
Today in the RA Defense Ministry Serge Sargsyan and the OSCE Yerevan office
head Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin signed a memorandum about the «
Realization of the three phases of eliminating the rocket fuel ingredients
stores».
As a result of the realization of the program the mélange will be processed
into ecologically clean fertilizer which will be used to fertilize soils
poor in pH.

A1+
| 14:28:34 | 30-09-2005 | Politics |
YEREVAN SAVIOR FOUND
`I am convinced now that I am an important factor in the political field as
the whole power system fought against me’, announced Kenton community head
candidate Rouzan Khachatryan during today’s press conference.
She reminded that Robert Kocharyan, Serge Sargsyan, Andranik Margaryan and
Andranik Manoukyan have never been involved in the community head elections.
«On the election day Robert Kocharyan announced that he whom he votes for
always wins, and I don’t think anyone will doubt the choice of the
President», Rouzan Khachatryan said.
She found her candidate important in another respect: this was the first
case when a woman puts forward her candidacy for the post of the community
head. She is convinced that during the nest elections there will be more
woman candidates.
Besides, after the elections Rouzan Khachatryan considers herself the savior
of Yerevan, «They say after the elections Gagik Beglaryan was going to
become the Yerevan mayor. Nevertheless, after the problems connected with
the elections it will be meaningless to leave the post of the community
head. So, I saved Yerevan from a potential mayor», Rouzan Khachatryan
announced.
CONFIDANT BEATEN SAVAGELY
The Kentron community head elections are over, but the results are not yet.
Two days after the elections 7 young people took Rouzan Khachatryan’s
confidant Karen Haroutyunyan to the area near the Metax factory and beat him
savagely.
Rouzan Khachatryan announced about it today during the press conference. At
the end of the conference the mother of the victim Telik Haroutyunyan too
talked to the journalists. She said that they did not turn to doctors in
order to avoid further development of the case. Neither will they turn to
the police.
Rouzan Khachatryan claimed that this was not the only case of violence, and
as the majority of the confidants were women, she asked them to leave the
electoral areas immediately in case of violence.
«One of the woman members of the committee who refused to sign the protocol
was told by the police that either she will sign or she will be taken to
police from where she may even fail to return. She called me, and I asked
her to sign the protocol and leave the area immediately as we did not want
any victims».
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #176, 01/10/2005
Karabakh diary
NAGORNO KARABAKH: ON ONE LEVEL WITH DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
President of Nagorno Karabakh, Arkady Ghukasian, received yesterday a group
of members of the World Armenian Congress and Union of Russia’s Armenians
visiting Artsakh within the frameworks of the Days of Russia’s Armenians in
Armenia and Artsakh. The head of the republic welcomed the guests
emphasizing the importance of such meetings. Speaking of current
socio-economic situation of Artsakh, Pres. Ghukasian mentioned of the poor
conditions of Artsakh’s settlements. “Seeing you in Karabakh today, we are
sure that the country will revive, and we will overcome problems in all
spheres. We have to win the economic war, too. I think that will be so”,
Ghukasian said. After having roamed in ins and outs of Stepanakert, deputy
chairman of URA German Anyanyants and his friends expressed their happiness
with what they saw. “It’s hard to imagine that once there was a war here.
Karabakh does fall behind any country with its development. We got in touch
with teachers and pupils and saw happiness and faith for Karabakh’s future
in their eyes”, he said.
The members of the delegation were also interested in the conflict
regulation process. Arkady Ghukasian said on this regard: “We do not say
that Azerbaijan’s army makes no headway but a nation’s spirit is an
important factor. We had a chance to make sure of that. No matter how much
Azerbaijan fumes, Karabakh can never again be its appendage; that’s an
absurd that everybody understands”.
On behalf of the Union of Russia’s Armenians and its chairman Ara
Abrahamian, the delegation presented the schools of Stepanakert with
computers.
By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert

AZG Armenian Daily #176, 01/10/2005
Karabakh diary
NKR PRESIDENT RECEIVES AGBU REPRESENTATIVES
On September 29, Arkady Ghukasian, NKR President, received Levon Kebabjian,
member of the AGBU Central Board, and Ashot Ghazarian, head of the AGBU
Armenian Office.
NKR President discussed issues concerning the construction of Norashen
village, in Hadrut initiated and supported by AGBU. Arkady Ghukasian
promised that NKR authorities will spare no efforts to overcome all the
obstacles that may occur during the construction works.
The sides also discussed other projects that are to be implemented by AGBU
in NKR in future.

A1+
| 20:56:48 | 30-09-2005 | Politics |
5 YEARS OF PATIENCE
The Venice Commission is interested in the change of Constitution in RA.
According to the Venice Commission secretary Gianni Buquicchio, it proceeds
from the interests of Armenia, «We want Armenia to be like the other
countries and to develop like them».
Even in case of this interest Mr. Buquicchio assures that if the
constitutional referendum fails, the CoE and EU experts «will express their
honest opinion». But he also noted that patience is not unlimited
underlining that «the Venice Commission spent lost 5 and Armenia – 7 years»
on the Constitutional reforms.
Today the European experts participated in a round table in the NA in which
there was not a single representative of the Parliamentary opposition. «We
sent invitations to everyone», informed the NA deputy president Tigran
Torosyan. He also said in his speech that by the adopted draft «some dreams
will be realized, others will not».
According to him, this draft not only amends the Constitution, but also
gives the opportunity of Constitutional reforms. And as far as no other
changes can be introduced into the draft adopted by the third hearing, the
round table was organized, according to Tigran Torosyan, «to bring the draft
to life».
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 20:42:22 | 30-09-2005 | Politics |
BETTER NOT ADOPTED?
The RA President’s representative in Constitutional affairs Armen
Haroutyunyan answers the questions of «A1+».
– According to you, is the draft Constitution adopted by the NA third
hearing better than the one which was not adopted by referendum in 2003?
– Of course it is. In general, of all the drafts for these years this one is
the best. And it is not by chance that the Venice Commission mentioned this
one.
– But several months ago the Venice Commission announced that the 2001 draft
was the best.
– No, it was mentioned in the conclusion that this is the best of all the
drafts since 2001.
– What must be done in order for this draft not to deserve the same fate as
the previous one?
– The political powers must act as locomotive and realize propaganda of the
draft, otherwise the same will happen to this version. The author is the
coalition, but those political powers which participated in the voting must
also share the burden of organizing the preaching.
– And can the opposition play a significant role with its negative attitude?
– When the draft is a good one, it is difficult to make it appear bad, and
when it is not good, it is difficult to make it appear good. I think in case
of a good draft the only way to play a significant role it to support it.
KARINE ASATRYAN