Author: Arpi Talalian
Forecast: Even if Serzh Sargsyan is appointed as prime minister after using force, he will fail to work in this position
Yerevan April 16
David Stepanyan. Even if Serzh Sargsyan is appointed prime minister after using force against unarmed protesters, he will not be able to work in this position. The director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies strategic research Manvel Sargsyan.
As a result of the use of force by the Police against demonstrators on Baghramyan Avenue, 18 activists and three policemen were delivered to the medical center "Grigor Lusavorich". As ArmInfo correspondent was informed in the medical center, the health condition of the wounded is satisfactory. "Protesters in the streets of Yerevan are protesting on the basis of peaceful civil disobedience technology, and the protesters do it in a peaceful and acceptable way, which they are allowed by all the Constitutions of the world. The action is gaining momentum, quite rightly taking into account the methods and results of the first such action in Armenia on protection from cutting down the Mashtots Park in 2012. And today we are witnessing a gradual recognition of the vision of political struggle in Armenia," he said.
According to analyst's estimates, in the case of the current movement, the political problem has been raised for the first time, and its agenda is of a purely national nature and significance. This movement "Take a step, refuse Serzh" is fundamentally different from all other civil actions in Armenia. The scale of youth participation in these actions is also noteworthy.
Sargsyan recalled that practically all the theorists and practitioners of revolutions in different countries in the XX-XXI century point to one very important circumstance: people must understand that they are dealing with a frank, unarmed army struggle. Unlike all other types of struggle, protest movements of this kind are associated exclusively with an unarmed army. Nevertheless, it is this unarmed army, as a rule, determines the goal, the opponent then suppresses it.
In this light, analysts consider the "absence of weapons" to be a principled, original guarantee of the success of such movements, since this fact disarms the government. World experience clearly demonstrates that the use of force in such situations works against its applicants, that is, power and leads to its collapse. According to his estimates, usually the use of force leads to a decrease in the level of support of the authorities by parties, public organizations, etc. All of them gradually pass to the side of the people.
"The classical formula of victory lies in either neutrality or the transfer of the police to the side of the people, and if the movement in Armenia manages to achieve this from the police, then it will inevitably record victory. Overall, the cautious behavior of the police testifies to the full understanding of Serzh Sargsyan's entire subtlety of the situation somehow survive his transition to the post of prime minister without violence, is perfectly aware that the use of force will increase tenfold the wave of resistance and reduce the regime's support tenfold," summed up the Director of the ACNIS.
Gyumri activists join demonstrators in Yerevan
After the second half of the day activists gathered at Theater Square decided to join the demonstrators in the capital. The autopsy at 16:00 went to the city entrance and from there to Yerevan. At the entrance to the capital policemen welcomed the activists and tried to hamper their move.
But the activists managed to enter Yerevan.
Details in the video
Cinema: Film about devastating Spitak quake included in Moscow film festival’s competition program
"Spitak", a film jointly produced by Armenia and Russia, has been included in the Main Competition program of the 40th Moscow International Film Festival scheduled for 19-26 April.
The world premiere of the full-length film cantering around the devastating earthquake that hit Armenia on 7 December 1988 (also known as the Spitak earthquake) will be held within the Moscow festival, the National Cinema Center of Armenia told Panorama.am.
"Spitak" tells the story of Gor, who left Armenia in search of a better life but now returns back after the earthquake in order to find his home and family. But it is too late. Everything is destroyed by the disaster, and he has to re-learn to love what he destroyed himself.
The film director is Alexander Kott, the scriptwriter is Marina Sochinskaya, cameraman – Pyotr Dukhovskoy, composer – Karen Margaryan, producers – Elena Glikman and Theresa Varzhapetyan.
The "Spitak" film project has received financial support totalling to €250.000 from Eurimages (Council of Europe’s cultural support fund).
Turkey’s Erdogan warns "nobody can discipline us with exchange rates"
Genève: un monument commémoratif du génocide arménien inauguré dans la cité de Calvin
Commémoration Genève a son monument commémoratif du génocide arménien dans le parc Trembley. Cette oeuvre est composée de neuf réverbères de bronze de près de dix mètres de hauteur.
Le monument commémoratif du génocide arménien "Les Réverbères de la mémoire" a été inauguré vendredi à Genève, au terme d'une saga qui a duré près de 10 ans. L'oeuvre se fond le long des allées du parc Trembley.
Le projet d'ériger un mémorial faisant référence au massacre du peuple arménien avait été voté par le Conseil municipal de la Ville de Genève, en 2008. Un concours avait été organisé et le projet de l'artiste français d'origine arménienne Mélik Ohanian avait été primé en 2011.
Cette oeuvre est composée de neuf réverbères de bronze de près de dix mètres de hauteur, qui se terminent, à leur bout, par une ampoule en forme de larme. Le mémorial devait initialement être érigé au bastion Saint-Antoine, mais la découverte de vestiges archéologiques avait conduit à l'abandon de l'emplacement.
La municipalité avait alors jeté son dévolu sur le parc du Musée Ariana, près de l'ONU. Un choix qui avait une nouvelle fois dû être abandonné à cause des tensions diplomatiques qu'il avait provoquées, conduisant même à l'intervention de la Confédération. La Ville de Genève s'est finalement rabattue sur le parc Tremblay.
Selon la Ville de Genève, les Réverbères de la mémoire rendent hommage aux liens privilégiés des Genevois et des Arméniens. "Le génocide de 1915-1917 perpétré par le pouvoir ottoman a suscité une émotion particulière et des actions de solidarité de la population genevoise", relève la municipalité.
L'oeuvre est offerte à la Ville de Genève par la communauté arménienne. Elle a été exposée, en pièces détachées, à la 56e biennale d'art contemporain de Venise, en 2015. Le chanteur Charles Aznavour, Ambassadeur extraordinaire de la République d'Arménie en Suisse, a participé à la cérémonie d'inauguration.
Le monument commémoratif suscite incompréhension et colère du côté de la Fédération des Associations turques de Suisse romande. Dans un communiqué, elle déplore que la Ville de Genève prenne le risque de "cristalliser l'hostilité entre des peuples présents sur sol suisse" avec une telle installation dans un parc public.
Film: The Ukrainian animated film took first place at the international festival
Food: Aghi Gesgoudz: Savoury Armenian Cookies
Chef Ilona Daniel says Easter was a time when her Hungarian and Armenian backgrounds intertwined in the food her family ate. (Submitted by Ilona Daniel)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus an additional ½-1 cup.
- 1 tbsp baking powder.
- ¾ teaspoon salt.
- 3 tbsp icing sugar.
- 1 tsp mahlab.
- ½ cup salted butter, melted.
- 1 cup vegetable oil.
- 1 cup yogurt.
Egg Wash (make sure all ingredients are at room temperature)
- 1 egg.
- 1 tbsp water.
- 2 to 3 drops lemon juice.
- Black caraway seeds or poppy seeds (optional).
- Line two half-sheet pans (13"x18") with parchment paper.
- Combine three cups flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and mahlab into a bowl and whisk to break up any lumps.
- Add butter, oil and yoghurt into your mixer bowl and mix gently using the paddle attachment, until all begins to combine.
- Keep mixer running on the lowest setting and add flour mixture in increments.
- Add an additional ½ to 1 cup flour to obtain a non-sticky soft yet pliable dough.
- Form into a ball, cover and chill for 30 minutes.
- Prepare egg wash by whisking the egg with water and lemon juice.
- Preheat conventional oven to 163 C/325 F.
- Transfer dough onto a clean working surface and divide into quarters. Divide to get 72 pieces. Cover with plastic wrap.
- Working with a few pieces of dough at time, roll each ball into a long log, fold in half then form a twisted rope.
- Transfer onto previously prepared baking sheets, arranging three rows of 12 cookies onto each.
- Lightly brush with egg wash and sprinkle on seeds if desired.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes until lightly golden and cool completely in pan. Store in an airtight container.
Makes 72 cookies.
Submitted by Ilona Daniel
ArmHiTec Arms and Defense Technology Exhibit Opens In Yerevan
YEREVAN—An international exhibition featuring the latest in defense technology and arms opened Thursday in Armenia with high-level government officials, among them the president and defense minister in attendance.
Known as the ArmHiTec -2018 international exhibition of armaments and defense technology, the event will through Saturday in Yerevan.
A brief cultural program and official opening ceremony were followed by a demonstration by the a special detachment of the Armenian Armed Forces.
ArmHiTec -2018 seeks to become an effective platform for dialogue between the military, scientific and business circles of participating countries. Armenian and foreign organizations from Russia, India, Germany, Italy, France, China and other countries are participating in the exhibition with their own stands.
While touring the exhibition, President Serzh Sarkisian familiarized himself with the achievements of Armenian organizations in the field of armaments and defense technology, as well as with the products showcased by international organizations.
A practical scientific program will be held on the sidelines of ArmHiTec -2018 international exhibition, involving delegations from more than 10 countries and representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, commonly known as the CSTO.
Armenia’s Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan addresses the ArmHiTec 2018 expo opening ceremony
The development of defense industry is one of the priority directions of progress of the Armenian economy, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan said during the opening of the ArmHiTec 2018.
“High tech and innovative developments in the defense industry had a unique place in recent years in the development of Armenia’s science and industry. Modern samples of military significance production were development in a short period of time and commissioned in the armed forces, a part of which you can see at this exhibition,” Sargsyan said.
The minister also discussed the seven-year military modernization program, the main purpose of which is launching production of high tech arms and entering foreign markets.
The minister also announced that 34 Armenian and more than 30 foreign companies from 14 countries are featured in the exhibit.
“State delegations from Russia, Greece, India, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Serbia and Egypt have arrived in Armenia to participate in the exhibition,” he said, adding that the CSTO delegation is also in attendance.
German Lawmaker Cem Özdemir Awarded Armenia’s Mkhitar Gosh Medal
German parliament member Cem Ozdemir (left) is presented the Mkhitar Gosh medal in Berlin
BERLIN—Bundestag Member, Greens Party Co-Chair Cem Özdemir, was awarded Armenia’s Mkhitar Gosh Medal for significant contribution toward the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide at a ceremony in the Armenian Embassy in Berlin.
Özdemir was the author of a resolution that passed in 2016 in the German parliament recognizing the Armenian Genocide and condemning Germany’s role in the events of 1915.
On Saturday, the German Der Spiegel magazine published an expose revealing wiretap recordings that directly link Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the anti-Armenian protests held in Berlin a day before the Bundestag began debating the Özdemir-authored resolution.
Armenia’s Ambassador Ashot Smbatyan noted in his opening remarks that “Özdemir has proved with his work that in the present days tolerance and courage have greater significance in establishing mutual understanding between peoples than nationalist calls or isolation from other countries.”
Attending the event were high-ranking German government officials, members of parliament and foreign envoys.