Author: Hovsep Chakrian

Photos:  Armenian National Committee of Canada

 

Asbarez – In partnership with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), the Armenian National Committee of Canada co-organized the premiere of the museum’s new film about the Armenian Genocide, “Acts of Conscience: Armin T. Wegner and the Armenian Genocide” on October 13th, 2016.

The event took place at the Armenian Youth Centre of Toronto and attracted hundreds of community members and supporters of the ANCC and CMHR. The event was also attended by Peter Farenholtz, Consul General of Germany in Canada, MP Arnold Chan. Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt and Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Councilor Jim Karygiannis, Toronto City Councilor, TDSB Trustees and a large number of activists.

After the screening of the documentary, the event featured a discussion with renowned Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan, who narrated the short documentary which will play in the Museum’s “Breaking the Silence” gallery.

Subsequently, remarks were delivered by CMHR president and CEO, John Young, MP Arnold Chan – who also read a statement from The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau – and Councilor Jim Karygiannis, Toronto city councilor. Closing remarks were delivered by ANCC president, Shahen Mirakian. In his remarks, Mirakian said that it is only through our concerted efforts that we can stay true to our commitment and carry on the legacy of Wegner by standing up against any forms of injustice towards humanity.

The film “Acts of Conscience” looks at the genocide through the lens of Armin T. Wegner, a German war medic who photographed and documented atrocities against the Armenian-Christian minority that were occurring around him in the Ottoman Empire during the first World War – including forced “death marches” through the desert. In the 1930s, Wegner also voiced his opposition to the anti-Semitic policies of the Nazis and authored an impassioned plea to Hitler on behalf of the Jews of Germany.

Compelled by his conscience to take action despite great personal risk, Wegner’s story epitomizes the importance of efforts to combat the denial and minimization that often surround gross human rights violations.

An exhibit at the CMHR explores the efforts for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Wegner and others. In 2004, the Canadian Parliament voted to officially acknowledge and condemn the Armenian Genocide.

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots human rights organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues and works to eliminate abuses of human rights throughout Canada and the world.

Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has applied to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, the European Ombudsman Institute, the International Ombudsman Institute and the leaders of the International Committee of the Red Cross with a request to ensure the safety of Armenians in Syria and provide them with assistance.

In a letter to international structures, the Ombudsman has expressed deep concern over the casualties among Armenians as a result of shelling over the past months and has asked for a practical support on the part of the above-mentioned international bodies.

Egypt’s short film Wintry Spring (Rabie Chetwy) scooped-up the Best Short Film Award at the Sose 2016 International Film Festival, which took place between 23 and 30 September in Yerevan, Armenia, according to Ahram Online.

Released in 2015 and directed by Mohamed Kamel, the 16-minute film depicts a relationship between a father and his daughter Nour. In an apparently otherwise regular relationship and life, typical youth problems emerge with Nour and create a rift between the two.

The film screened across over 90 film festivals around the world and received many awards.

Sose International Film Festival highlights women’s rights in the language of art. This year the festival featured 104 films from 38 countries. For the complete list of winners click .

On 3 October 2016, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a project cooperation agreement for the project “Support to Migration and Border Management in Armenia” (MIBMA) in Yerevan. The project is fully funded by the European Union and implemented by ICMPD in partnership with UNDP.

Integrated border management is vital for the expansion of Armenia’s economic, trade, and cultural ties with the countries of the region, but also to manage and control the flow of travellers efficiently with full protection of their rights,” stated senior representatives of the EU, ICMPD, and UNDP who took part at the signing ceremony of the project cooperation agreement.

The overall objective of the project, which is financed by the European Union and implemented by ICMPD in partnership with UNDP, is to improve the approximation of migration and border management in Armenia to the European standards of governance in order to increase security and facilitate trade. UNDP will also support the government in preparation for the modernisation of the southern border crossing with Iran.

“ICMPD and UNDP have vast experience in the integrated border management sector and contributed greatly to adopting and implementing integrated border management concepts and principles in Armenia, such as the Border Security and State Border Integrated Management Strategy and Action Plan. UNDP has also worked extensively on infrastructure upgrades, on sharing knowledge and expertise in transparency, accountability and integrity, as well as in trade facilitation. Together with our partners, we will build on these results and continue supporting Armenia’s efforts in this area,” said Mr. Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia.

Ambassador Świtalski, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, shared that: “Expanding and improving regional connectivity is a global priority for the EU, which is manifested in large investments in economic and infrastructure development in the European Neighbourhood Region. I am very pleased with and proud of the strong EU support to increasing Armenia’s trade, economic cooperation and wider relations with Iran through the MIBMA project. This represents an enormous current-day development potential for Armenia while re-establishing an important historic cultural and economic corridor that has influenced Armenia, Europe and Asia for centuries”.

“Although ICMPD has established a permanent presence in Armenia in April of this year, we have been working with the Government of Armenia on improvement of border management at a technical level since 2010. Throughout, ICMPD’s activities in this area have been implemented in partnership with UNDP, thus, we are happy that the EU has granted us the financial means to continue and build on the success of this partnership,” said Mr. Carel Hofstra, Team Leader of the MIBMA project.

The EU is financing the 3-year MIBMA project with a grant of close to EUR 4.000.000. As a project partner UNDP will lead the implementation of the border management component with a price tag of EUR 880,000 to be spent before the end of 2017.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan receives congratulations from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Lithuania, Government’s Press Ofice reports.

The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire about 60 times at the line of contact with the Karabakh forces last night, NKR Defense Ministry report.

The rival used weapons of different calibers as it fired more than 1,000 shots in the direction of Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army confidently continue with their military duty and resort to response actions in case of extreme necessity.

Asbarez – Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich will officially unveil a permanent Armenian Genocide monument at Grand Park’s Olive Court on September 17 at 5:00. Last year, Supervisor Antonovich sponsored the highly popular and well-received iWitness public rt installation at Grand Park and the Music Center. Moved by the great response, LA County has teamed-up with the iwitness project to install a permanent memorial to the Genocide. The unveiling will include musical performances and speakers.

The iWitness project is a collective made up of artists Ara Oshagan, Levon Parian, architect Vahagn Thomasian and other activists and artists.

The permanent monument is made of black volcanic tuff rock imported directly from the Ararat Valley of Armenia. Tuff is indigenous to the Armenian highlands and deep-rooted in that millennial history. It has been the material of choice for centuries and used to build hundreds of churches, historical buildings and artworks. The monument is a silent witness to that history as well as a witness to the Genocide itself. The sculpted angular shape of the iwitness monument is an echo and extension of the iwitness installation.

Sculpted by Vahagn Thomasian, the monument is both organic and conceptual. It is sourced from the earth itself and blends in with the natural flora and fauna of Grand Park. The monument is split in two, symbolizing the spiritual and physical rupture of the Armenian Genocide: a disruption of history and community not only for the Armenian nation but also for all of humanity.

“The idea that a rock can be a witness is perhaps unusual but very significant”, says artist Ara Oshagan. “It was there and that history is imbedded in it. A witness need not speak to be a witness. Just like the trees around Auschwitz are witnesses to the Holocaust.”

The juxtaposition of smooth and rough surfaces on either half of the iwitness monument further symbolizes the past and the present and re-emphasizes the disruption between the two realities.

Wrapped around the foot of the iwitness memorial are words by the Pulitzer Prize winning Armenian- American playwright and author, William Saroyan—urging a celebration of life and hope for the future. “This is a memorial to a horrible event,” says artist Levon Parian, “but Saroyan’s words elevate and remind us of the mysteries and joys of being alive. We remember the past, but live in the today- reaching for the future.”

Dear Compatriots,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

September 2, 1991 opened a glorious page in the modern history of the Armenian nation. A quarter of a century ago, the Armenians of Artsakh made their irrevocable choice. That critical step was conscientious and deliberate. That choice, that will and determination brought back from the brink of a deadly precipice to life and freedom the most endangered part of the Armenian nation – the Armenians of Artsakh.

You fought and won in the unequal war. You built a state and society which are free as never before. You created an army which is strong and combat ready as never before. You raised from the ashes a piece of land which never before was so cultivated and beautiful. You proved to yourselves, to the entire Armenian nation, and the world that the free Artsakh is not only viable but also possesses a huge potential for development.

There is no doubt that the potential has not been fully utilized yet. There is no doubt that there is still much to be done in Artsakh and in Armenia. And there is no doubt that we will fulfill our task. We will do it through the efforts of the entire Armenian nation. We will do it despite all difficulties and challenges.

Last April’s military actions once again or rather once more proved that if the enemy tries to solve the problem through military means, he will be thrown back with losses. It proved that no force in the world is capable of solving the Artsakh issue through military means. There is no such force because you live, because you are true to the choice you made 25 years ago. There is no military solution; solution is political.

Today, on this memorable day, I tell you once again: just as yesterday and today, tomorrow too you will decide your own destiny. We have no doubts about Artsakh’s bright future.

Long live the free and independent Artsakh!
Long live the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh!

On August 29, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Giorgi Saganelidze, the newly appointed Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia on the occasion of presenting the copies of his credentials.

Congratulating the Ambassador on his appointment, Edward Nalbandian wished success to Giorgi Saganelidze in his important mission to further strengthen the cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Expressing gratitude for the reception and good wishes, Ambassador Saganelidze noted that it is a great honour to represent Georgia in centuries-old friendly country of Armenia and emphasized his readiness to spare no effort to develop cooperation in all areas.

The interlocutors reflected on the preparatory works for the upcoming visit of the Prime-Minister of Georgia to Armenia.

During the meeting, numerous issues on bilateral agenda were discussed, including cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, infrastructure, energy and culture; expansion of the legal framework was touched upon.

Minister Nalbandian presented the joint efforts exerted by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries and Armenia towards the exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.