Author: Ani Basmajian

Education: Genocide Survivor Testimonies Enrich Learning at NSU

Ani Basmajian
IT Business
—

ANN ARBOR, Mich., /PRNewswire/ –�Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is one of a growing number of institutions offering access to University of Southern California (USC) Shoah Foundation's Visual History Archive� database via ProQuest.

This fully streaming primary source archive includes 55,000 testimonies from survivors of and witnesses to some of humanity's most serious and solemn events, including the Holocaust, and the Armenian, Cambodian, and Guatemalan genocides, the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and the Nanjing Massacre. The testimonies speak to the profound, far-reaching impact of genocide, as well as the political, cultural, and social context surrounding these atrocities.

"When ProQuest announced it would be distributing the Visual History Archive to colleges and universities, we were designing The Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Room (HRRR), here in the Alvin Sherman Library," said James Hutchens, M.S.L.S., NSU Interim Vice President of Information Services and University Librarian. "Telling stories of the Holocaust is extremely important to the NSU Libraries. It is clear to us that the Visual History Archive will be a great complement to the HRRR. It provides incredible opportunities for faculty, student, and community research, while reflecting on the Holocaust as well as other crimes against humanity."

The largest digital collection of its kind in the world, Visual History Archive contains interviews conducted in 62 countries and 41 languages, providing an unedited recollection of life before, during, and after the interviewee's experience with genocide. Using standard indexing methodology for each interview, the result is over 115,000 hours of video, fully searchable with over 64,000 index terms at the one-minute segment level. Visual History Archive also provides tools to help with the study and sharing of testimonies, including: bookmarking segments; saving and sharing projects; and the option to embed testimony durable URLs in LMS course packs.

USC Shoah Foundation and ProQuest launched an exclusive partnership in 2016 to expand, enrich, and simplify access to Visual History Archive in the academic market. This streaming version surfaces the library's related ProQuest� content, which can encompass more than a billion searchable items spanning dissertations, news and historical newspapers, periodicals, scholarly journals, and primary source materials a combination that improves contextual discovery while viewing the video testimonies.�In addition, USC Shoah Foundation is engaged in a large project to create transcripts for all the testimonies, beginning with those in English and then adding other languages.

"Our goal is to curate and provide content that puts researchers inside the pivotal moments of history, empowering them with the tools they need to gain insights they aren't going to find anywhere else," said Susan Bokern, ProQuest Vice-President, Product Management. "ProQuest is honored to be entrusted with connecting students, faculty and researchers with such a unique and valuable resource as Visual History Archive."

About Nova Southeastern University (www.nova.edu)

Located in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional degree levels. A private, not-for-profit institution, NSU has campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa, Florida, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico, while maintaining a presence online globally. For more than 50 years, NSU has been awarding degrees in a wide range of fields, while fostering groundbreaking research and an impactful commitment to community. Classified as a research university with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is 1 of only 50 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie's Community Engagement Classification, and is also the largest private, not-for-profit institution in the United States that meets the U.S. Department of Education's criteria as a Hispanic-serving Institution.

About ProQuest (proquest.com)

ProQuest is committed to supporting the important work happening in the world's research and learning communities. The company curates content that matters to the advancement of knowledge, assembling an archive of billions of vetted, indexed documents. It simplifies workflows so that people and institutions use time effectively. And because ProQuest connects information communities, complex networks of systems and processes work together efficiently. With ProQuest, finding answers and deriving insights is straightforward and leads to extraordinary outcomes.

ProQuest and its companies and affiliates Ex Libris, Alexander Street, Bowker stand for better research, better learning, better insights. ProQuest enables people to change their world.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/genocide-survivor-testimonies-enrich-learning-at-nsu-300473097.html

SOURCE ProQuest

Artsakh President meets with Minsk Group Co-Chairs, reiterates Stepanakert adherence to the conflict peaceful settlement

Ani Basmajian
Panorama, Armenia

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received today the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Igor Popov (Russian Federation), Stephane Visconti (France) and Richard Hoagland (USA), personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk and officials accompanying them.

As the Information department at the president’s Office reported, issues related to the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement and situation along the borders between Artsakh and Azerbaijani were on the discussion agenda.

“President Sahakyan drew the attention of the co-chairs to the destructive policy of Azerbaijan, numerous facts of breaches and violations of the ceasefire regime, international norms and principles, qualifying them as the most important hindrances of the conflict settlement process and serious threats for maintaining peace and stability in the region,” the release said, adding,  Artsakh Republic President reiterated adherence of the official Stepanakert to the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Yerevan Says ‘Atmosphere of Trust’ Needed for Progress on Artsakh

Ani Basmajian
Asbarez
June 8 2017
            

Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan at a press conference on June 8

YEREVAN—Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsho Kocharyan on Thursday outlined Armenia’s expectations ahead of a visit by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen scheduled for Saturday, saying that the lead negotiators for a resolution to the Karabakh conflict must ensure that agreements reached last year in Vienna and St. Petersburg are implemented.

The aforementioned agreements were reached after the conflict reached a crescendo in April 2016, when Azerbaijan launched a brutal attack on Karabakh position, now referred to as the “Four Day War,’ and envisioned increased monitoring of borders and installation of mechanism to ensure the safety of the population and the security of the frontlines.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Kocharyan said “progress in negotiations is impossible unless an atmosphere of trust is established between the parties.’ As a first step, he said, the shooting and provocations by Azerbaijan must end.

Commenting on forecasts on the possibility of resumption of war, which were further intensified after the International Crisis Group published a new report, Kocharyan said that Yerevan was concerned.

“The escalation of the situation is surely a matter of concern, first of all for the mediating countries, all of whom are permanent members of the UN Security Council and are responsible for peace anywhere in the world,” said Kocharyan.

Turning his attention to other pressing matters in the region, Kocharyan reiterated Armenia’s condemnation of Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Iran, voicing solidarity with Armenia’s neighbor to the south, calling the surge in terrorism around the world a “shared challenge.”

“The contradictions that exist today will remain, but we need to realize that it’s a global challenge that affects all countries and all peoples,” said Kocharyan.

FM Edward Nalbandian: We are looking forward to signing Armenia-EU Partnership Agreement this fall

Ani Basmajian
Panorama, Armenia
June 8 2017

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Angelino Alfano, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, held the first session of Armenian-Italian Intergovernmental Commission in Rome, Italy, on June 7.

As the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Panorama.am, the agreement on convening an intergovernmental commission was reached between the sides still in 2016, during the meeting between former Foreign Minister and the current Prime Minister of Italy Paolo Gentiloni and Edward Nalbandian in Armenia.

A protocol has been adopted based on the results of the first meeting of Armenian-Italian Intergovernmental Commission.

FM Edward Nalbandian made the following opening remarks at the meeting:

“I am honored to co-chair the first meeting of the Armenian-Italian Intergovernmental Commission. I would like to welcome all participants and wish fruitful and productive deliberations.

I certainly share the views expressed by Minister Alfano and would like to complement with some thoughts.

Needless to say that this commission could play a vital role in future expansion and strengthening of Armenian-Italian relations. As we mark this year the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Italy, we can undoubtedly highlight a number of achievements ranging from high level political dialogue to the economic cooperation, partnership in cultural, academic and many other fields.

The necessity of boosting our trade, economic and sectoral cooperation has always stood high on our agenda. It is very important that during last year's visit to Armenia of His Excellency Paolo Gentiloni, in his capacity as the Foreign Minister, we together agreed on the establishment of this format, and I am particularly pleased that today we are holding this meeting.

The convening of the Armenian-Italian intergovernmental commission is a momentous event, and it will definitely open new horizons in our economic ties, contributing to deepening our partnership in different areas, such as Information and communication technologies, infrastructure development, energy, services, machinery, agriculture and food processing, as well as encouraging decentralised cooperation, opportunities for the advancement of interaction in education, culture, tourism, and other fields.

International experience proves that this is a very practical forum which will reveal new opportunities for enhancing bilateral trade and economic ties on a regular basis, also facilitating the intergovernmental contacts as well as creating more conducive environment full of opportunities for mutual investments.

We participate at this meeting with an interagency team, with the intention of taking full advantage of the opportunities provided by this platform.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are looking forward to signing this fall at the EU Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, between Armenia and the European Union, which defines the framework for dynamic trade and economic relations as well as expanded sectoral cooperation.

The EU – Armenia partnership provides good framework for further enhancement of bilateral cooperation with the EU member states. And we are keen to utilise this opportunity for deepening our bonds with Italy.

I hope that the Intergovernmental Commission in the course of its activities will also make use of the advantages that Armenia's membership to the Eurasian Economic Union can offer.

I am confident that the Business Forum to be held today, within the margins of this Commission, will provide both sides with ample opportunities to further develop our bilateral trade and economic agenda through business-to-business contacts.

We get off to a good start today, that will undoubtedly solidify the centuries-long Armenian-Italian friendship and add to the prosperity of our nations.

On behalf of the Armenian delegation I would like to thank our Italian partners for hosting this event and wish a very productive day.”

 

Sports: Armenia drops 1 spot, lands 68th in FIFA ranking

Ani Basmajian
PanArmenian
June 1 2017
June 1, 2017 – 19:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia national football team dropped 1 spot to be placed 68th in the June 1 FIFA ranking.

Armenia’s rivals in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers were placed as follows: Poland – 10th spot, Romania – 46th spot, Denmark – 51st spot, Montenegro – 52nd spot and Kazakhstan – 100th spot.

Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Chile, Colombia, France, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain made it to FIFA’s top 10.

Sweden drops Assange rape case

Ani Basmajian

Sweden’s director of public prosecutions has decided to drop the rape investigation into Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the BBC reports.

Marianne Ny filed a request to the Stockholm District Court to revoke his arrest warrant, apparently ending a seven-year stand-off.

Mr Assange, 45, has lived in the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012, trying to avoid extradition.

He feared being extradited to the US if sent to Sweden.

He could face trial in the US over the leaking hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents.

A brief statement ahead of a press conference by the prosecutor later on Friday said: “Director of Public Prosecution, Ms Marianne Ny, has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange.”

Royce Demands Accountability for Brutal Attack on DC Protesters

Ani Basmajian

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) on Wednesday sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urging immediate action to hold individuals accountable for brutal attacks on peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassadorā€™s residence on Tuesday.

ā€œI am writing concerning the brutal attack on individuals outside the Turkish Ambassadorā€™s residence in Washington, D.C. yesterday. Video evidence indicates men dressed in suits viciously beat multiple individuals, throwing them to the ground and kicking them in the head. Numerous news reports indicate these individuals were members of President Recep Tayyip Erdoganā€™s security detail who accompanied him on his official state visit this week. Alarmingly, this behavior is indicative of the broad crackdowns on political activists, journalists and religious freedom in Turkey that have greatly harmed Turkish democracy in recent years,ā€ said Royce in his letter.

ā€œTo send a clear message that these acts of violence will not be tolerated, I ask that you immediately look into this matter and bring all appropriate criminal charges before these individuals leave the United States. Agents of foreign governments should never be immune from prosecution for felonious behavior. Above all else, they should never be permitted to violate the protections afforded by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,ā€ added Royce.

Uruguayan Human Rights Lawyer Denounces Bakuā€™s ā€˜Blacklistā€™

Ani Basmajian

– Uruguayan human rights lawyer, Oscar Lopez Goldaracena, denounced Azerbaijan for adding him to their so-called ā€œblacklist,ā€ after the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry forbade him and other deputies and authorities of Bolivia who had officiated as international observers during the constitutional referendum in the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic, from entering the country.

Goldaracena said that ā€œI immediately made the complaint to the Chancellor of the Republic Rodolfo Nin and to the National Human Rights Institutionā€ and explained that Nagorno-Karabakh is ā€œa country of Armenian population, independent for 25 years by history and by decision of its people; A democratic, republican country, with an institutional framework in rights, with an Ombudsman and mechanisms of direct democracy that really work.ā€

ā€œAn example,ā€ added the lawyer. ā€œA country that is not recognized by any other country in the world but exists. It is Azerbaijan who attacks it.ā€

ā€œThe population is at risk and has been the victim of war crimes. Hundreds of international observers, among whom I find myself, have corroborated what I am writing, as a way of threatening and preventing its recognition as an independent state. I would like to express my hope that, for peace and freedom, Uruguay repudiates these practices of ā€˜black listsā€™ and recognizes the independence, as sovereign state, of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh,ā€ said Goldaracena.

Bolivian Members of Parliament Alicia Canqui, Nelly Lenz, Mario Mita Daza, and the Coordinator of Multi-Sector Solidarity Fair in the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies, Sandra Quiroz Quilo, are some of the new names of the extensive list of ā€œpersonae non grataā€ in Azerbaijan.

Man Utd signing of Paul Pogba subject of Fifa inquiry

Ani Basmajian

Paul Pogba’s world-record transfer from Juventus to Manchester United last year is the subject of a Fifa inquiry, the BBC reports.

Football’s world governing body has written to the Premier League club “to seek clarification on the deal”.

It is believed to concern who was involved in the Ā£89.3m transfer, and how much money was paid to them.

A United spokesman said: “We do not comment on individual contracts. Fifa have had the documents since the transfer was concluded in August.”

Pogba, 24, is in his second spell at Old Trafford, having left the club for Juventus for Ā£1.5m in 2012.

The France midfielder first joined United from French side Le Havre in acrimonious circumstances in 2009.

He returned to the club last summer for a world-record fee of 105m euros.

United also agreed to pay Juventus 5m euros in performance-related bonuses plus other costs, including 5m euros if Pogba signs a new contract.

When they confirmed the transfer, Juventus said the “economic effect” to their club was “about 72.6m euros”.

A book published in Germany this week – The Football Leaks: The Dirty Business of Football – and reproduced in media reports, includes what it says is a breakdown of the Pogba fee and alleges his agent Mino Raiola earnt Ā£41m from the deal.