Author: nina hovnanian

ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP MAKES ANY FUTURE COOPERATION IMPOSSIBLE

news.az
Aug 1, 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Yuri Bocharov, an Israeli political scientist and
member of the board of the Azerbaijan-Israel international association.

International mediators speak much of the need to raise mutual
trust between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia and now on
this background we heard the famous statement by Sargsyan that his
generation returned Karabakh while the next generation of Armenians
must return Armenian lands in Turkey. What can you say about his
statement?

Armenia is approaching the socioeconomic crisis, the country is
practically on the verge of crisis, which will naturally lead to
shift of powers. Therefore, the country’s leadership has to prove
its importance to its people every day. As it is useless to speak
of economy, they have to speak only of politics, call for a fight
for ‘great Armenia’, speak of Turkish genocide and frighten with
Azerbaijani aggression.

After Armenia attained the prolongation of the treaty about military
cooperation with Russia to 2044 and almost isolated from the rest of
the world with the Russian troops and S-300 rockets, it dares to make
any bellicose statements. Now when Russia is again responsible for the
security of Armenia, Armenia can bear no responsibility for its words.

Thus, the Turkish government will likely have to put claims to Moscow
for its vassal’s pranks. I think that people in Turkey knows the fable
about the lap dog that barks at the elephant and they realize that
they have nothing to take from a lap dog. Let is bark further. Though
probably, by barking at her hosts’ order, it is trying to provoke
one more interregional conflict.

What can be the result of turning the younger generation of Armenians
into zombies and raising them in hatred to neighbors?

Majority of modern wars need suicide attackers, while zombie-soldiers
can easily be sent to death. Such can be prepared from years of youth.

Making a fool of someone results in that further those young men
are ready to fulfill any order of their Fuerer. For this reason, the
ongoing developments in Armenia say that the leader of the nation is
preparing the growing generation to war rather than constructive works.

I have no idea whether such demarches of leaders of the opposite
sides have ever been seen in Palestinian-Israeli conflict
with the humiliation, but we already see it in the case of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Can they agree anything in such an
atmosphere?

In any dispute, when one of the debating sides understands that it
starts to lose, it is immediately shifts to abuses. When there are no
arguments at all, they are usually trying to settle a debate in their
favor by way of abuse or threats. Unfortunately, in this conflict
Azerbaijani side has no partner in talks at all. Armenia is merely
protracting negotiations.

Sargsyan’s words clearly do not promote the peaceful resolution of
the Karabakh conflict. Does it raise possibility of the forced way
of conflict settlement?

Armenia, if exactly, its political leadership needs war. It is
practically the only chance to settle its socioeconomic problems and
get rid of such hemorrhoid as the problem of NKO. The situation to
which Armenian leaders and their lobbyists have driven themselves does
not allow them settle the issue of Nagorno Karabakh peacefull. In
any script of the peaceful way to solve the conflict on the basis
of current international norms and commitments of international
law, as well as proposals of the Minsk Group, there will always be
provocateur-patriots to accuse Armenian leadership of cowardice and
betrayal of ideas of Great Armenia.

For this reason, only way and even defeat will help the current
leadership of Armenia preserve its image. And even if later they
will have to resign, by their opinion, the majority will consider
them heroes. Therefore, it is becoming clear why Armenian leadership
is making any future cooperation impossible by its hostile attitude,
bellicose rhetoric and constant policy of xenophobia. And this is the
paradox of our time and place, only war brings ‘fame’ while peace is
sinking into oblivion.

Only in the event when any Armenian leadership is recognized the
hero for peace with Azerbaijan primarily by its people, it will make
real steps toward peace. But when people are starving, unfortunately,
it is more profitable for them to speak of and to prepare to war.

F.H.

News.Az

AZERBAIJAN MAY BLACKLIST ONE MORE JOURNALIST

news.az
Gun.Az
Aug 1, 2011
Azerbaijan

Journalist of Ukraine’s Sivershina newspaper, Alexander Voloshuk has
visited the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

In his impressions about Georgia and Armenia, where he paid a visit,
Voloshuk also allocated a place to Nagorno Karabakh.

‘We visited ‘Stepanakert’ and Shusha. The life is quiet there.

Karabakh resembles Dniester. Nonrecognition of the country does not
hamper the normal living of local residents”.

Spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Elkhan Polukhov said due
instructions will be given to Azerbaijan’s embassy to Ukraine for
investigation to be launched.

ARMENIAN ARCHBISHOP FELICITATES IMAM KHAMENEI AND PRESIDENT ON RAMADAN

ABNA.ir

Aug 1, 2011
Iran

Archbishop of Armenian community in Tehran Sebouh Sarkissian on Sunday
felicitated Imam Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad on advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – Armenian pontiff has congratulated Iranian
officials on the occasion of the arrival of holy month of Ramadan.

Archbishop of Armenian community in Tehran Sebouh Sarkissian on Sunday
felicitated Imam Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad on advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

In the meantime, the archbishop also felicitated Majlis Speaker Ali
Larijani and the head of Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
on the auspicious occasion.

Ramadan has started in some Muslim countries on Monday, including
Saudi Arabia, but the beginning of the holy month in Iran has not
been confirmed.

Some clerics, however, doubt over the beginning of the month on Monday
in Iran.

During the holy month, Muslims are banned from eating and drinking
from dawn to dusk.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITIONIST COMPARES ANC TO S-CLASS MERCEDES

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 2, 2011 – 20:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – During Armenian National Congress (ANC) rally in
Yerevan, Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper editor-in-chief Nikol Pashinyan
briefed those gathered on the achievements of ANC.

“3 years ago, we had over 100 political prisoners, we have none at
present; 3 years ago, the Liberty Square was banned for opposition
rallies, yet here we are today; 3 years ago the authorities were
trying to avoid investigating March 1, 2008 events, now they have to
address the issue,” Pashinyan said, crediting ANC’s struggle for all
those achievements.

As he further noted, current authorities have to negotiate with the
opposition rather speak the language of force.

Addressing to those unsatisfied with the pace of ANC activities,
Pashinyan said, “even S-class Mercedes can’t always move with the
same speed,” a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from the ground.

In conclusion, Pashinyan noted peoples’ trust to be the main priority
for ANC.

ANM BOARD CHAIRMAN SAYS MIGRATION KEY ISSUE IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 2, 2011 – 21:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian National Movement (ANM) board chairman
Aram Manukyan expressed his disbelief for the authorities at Armenian
National Congress (ANC) rally, referring to opposition -coalition
dialogue.

As a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from the ground, Manukyan
noted migration as one of the key issues in Armenia. “350000 Armenians
died in World War II; current migration rate will soon reach the
figure cited,” Manukyan stressed.

Ashe stressed, the authorities are only driven by fear in the face
of people. “Nowhere else would so many people gather in 40C heat,”
he said.

ANC rally launched at 8:00 p.m. Yerevan time, gathering several
thousand people, the least number of demonstrators as compared to
previous rallies.

“GENOCIDE RECOGNITION IS A MATTER OF TIME”

06:47 pm | Today | Politics

French-Armenian political scientist Albert Grigoryan says we are in
a new era of fighting for Armenian Genocide recognition. According
to Grigoryan, Armenia should quit “knocking” on the doors of other
countries’ parliaments.

“We must create a strong Armenia. We must improve our country’s
economic state and create workplaces,” said Albert Grigoryan, adding
that Armenians always look toward Armenia, even though relations
don’t always develop correctly.

Albert Grigoryan, who has been living and working in France for the
past 14 years, has come to realize that Armenia must solve its issues
on its own.

“Different people have different explanations of why the French Senate
didn’t approve criminalization of Armenian Genocide denial. France
and Turkey have an economic balance worth billions, while France and
Armenia have an economic balance worth several hundreds of millions.

Which do you think is more important? To recognize the historical
past of a couple of hundred citizens, or create workplaces?” said
French-Armenian Albert Grigoryan.

The French-Armenian says Turkey’s recognition of the 1915 Armenian
Genocide is only a matter of time since it is still hard for the
Turks to recognize the fact that their ancestors were assassins.

“At the same time, I must say that there has not been any progress made
in the past 100 years. Recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide will
happen only when the Turkish society completely opens up in front of
the whole world,” said Grigoryan.

WILL PUTIN GIVE A SURPRISE OR…
JAMES HAKOBYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 19:45:18 – 02/08/2011

The invitation which was voiced during the meeting of participants of
the youth camp and Putin in the place called Seliger, Russia, caused
lively interest in the Armenian press and social networks. The author
is Ms. Ani Alaverdyan from the Bargavach Hayastan Party who invited
Putin to Armenia to participate in the CIS Youth Conference which kicks
off August 20 in Armenia. Putin promised to think on this invitation.

It became known a few weeks ago that a group of Armenian young people
are going to invite Putin to Armenia. It is the initiative of the
organization of the Youth Government of Armenia whose leader is a
member of the Bargavach Hayastan Party. This organization undertakes
the CIS young people’s gathering in Armenia.

In fact, the youth wing of the BGP is seriously set to invite Putin.

They were not limited to the written invitation and were able to use
the opportunity and invite Putin personally. Will Putin arrive? The
time of the invitation is notable.

Putin is invited to Armenia on August 20. Last year on this day the
Russian president Medvedev visited Armenia. He signed the agreement
on prolonging the term of deployment of military bases.

It is symbolic that Putin is invited to Armenia a year after Medvedev’s
visit, considering that his presidential pretensions are acquiring
more open and brazen forms.

Interestingly, the invitation comes from the BHP, even though its
youth wing. After all, the BHP youth would hardly do this without
the consent of the leader of their party, Gagik Tsarukyan. In other
words, Putin’s visit will be of great political importance, one
way or another. It will increase the political weight of the BHP,
at least in the government camp.

Certainly, Putin is aware of this, and the question is whether he
will agree to take a step which will trigger political manipulations
in Armenia. In this sense, Robert Kocharyan’s recent meeting with
Putin was interesting. When a few weeks ago Robert Kocharyan’s office
informed about his meeting with Putin that lasted for two hours,
the Russian Regnum Agency, referring to the staff of the Russian
prime minister, denied there had been a meeting.

Interestingly, after this information, Robert Kocharyan’s office
did not rush to refute Regnum’s reports. It implies that Kocharyan’s
office was embarrassed by Regnum’s report, trying to guess why Putin
denied meeting with Kocharyan. Then everything was settled, of course,
and Putin’s office confirmed the meeting.

It is evidence that Putin does not want his name to be manipulated
in Armenia. Perhaps Putin will refuse the invitation, knowing that
it will trigger political interpretations.

Even though nothing should be ruled out in politics, especially that
the situation in both Armenia and Russia develops dynamically, and
changes happen continuously, and the question is the frequency at
which it happens.

Consequently, don’t be surprised if soon Putin comes to Armenia or even
meets with Robert Kocharyan in Armenia. The ongoing developments in
Armenia seemed impossible a few months ago but today the government and
the opposition have designated delegations which started negotiations,
approved the agenda of snap elections, and even announced that
Ter-Petrosyan and Serzh Sargsyan may eventually meet face to face.

So, we have appeared in a political cycle where surprise is a waste
of effort, attention and time.

TOURISM INDEX IN ARMENIA INCREASED BY 15.6%

ARMENPRESS
August 2, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: 266 thousand 155 tourists have arrived
in Armenia in the first half of the running year. Head of Tourism
Department of Armenian Economy Ministry Mekhak Apresyan told Armenpress
that tourism index has increased by 15.6% against the same period of
the last year.

Armenia receives many tourists especially from Russia and Georgia. For
the first time Armenia has received tourists from Latin America and
Scandinavia. Mr. Apresyan noted that showing of a film about Armenia
in Scandinavian countries gives its result.

According to him, tourists’ growth is a result of right policy.

Considerable work has been implemented in the direction of advertising
of Armenia. Diaspora too plays a large role in attracting tourists
to Armenia.

Considerable works are being carried out over quality improvement of
infrastructures and services as well. The active policy will go on
in near future as well.

Numerous events are organized in Armenia directed toward tourism
development, particularly, visit of foreign journalists to Armenia,
wine festival, etc.

YOUNG ARMENIAN CONDUCTOR TO PERFORM AT ORCHID SUMMER FEST

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 2, 2011 – 17:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Macedonia-hosted music fest, Orchid Summer Festival
will feature Tenors of the 21st Century music spectacle.

The spectacle will be performed by 8 Russian tenors, Alexander
Zakharov, Maxim Paster, Sergei Pisarev, Alexander Skvarko, Alexander
Bogdanov, Mikhail Urusov, Georgi Faradzhev, Dmitry Sibirtsev and
Orchestra of Macedonian Opera and Ballet under the guidance of Armenian
conductor Sergey Smbatyan.

Compositions of R. Strauss, Puccini, Rossini, Albinoni, Verdi, Tosti,
Rodrigo will be featured in the program.

Sergey Smbatyan belongs to the youngest generation of the conducting
profession who has succeeded to achieve significant results and
build a promising international career. Being a BA from the Yerevan
and Moscow Conservatory, founder and chief conductor of the Youth
State Orchestra of Armenia, Smbatyan continues his conducting
education at the Royal Academy of Music in London. So far Smbatyan
has collaborated with the leading world conductors Riccardo Muti, Sir
Colin Davis, Valery Gergiev and he has had a remarkable performances at
renowned festivals with leading orchestras from the rank of Krzysztof
Penderecki, Vladimir Spivakov, Boris Berezovsky, Denis Matsuev, Vadim
Repin, Maxim Vengerov. Smbatyan is the founder and chief conductor
of the unique UNICEF Children~Rs Orchestra consisted of musicians
aged between 10 and 15, with which he has performed in many European
cities and at the Armenian Composing Art Festival under the patronage
of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

PROFESSEUR CHARNY : LA MORALE AVANT LA POLITIQUE

NAM
02-08-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite à lire une traduction de Gilbert Béguian d’un article en
anglais mise en ligne sur le site de NAM (Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine)
le 29 juillet 2011.

Le Professeur Charny dans son Bureau de Baka – Photo : Tomer Appelbaum

L~Rexpert en Génocide Appelle Israël à placer le Génocide Arménien
au dessus de la Politique

La Turquie conteste avec véhémence que les événements de 1915 à 1923
au cours desquels les forces ottomanes ont tué plus d~Run million de
personnes puissent être qualifiés de génocide.

Par Raphaël Ahren, Haaretz

Si Israël reconnaît le génocide turc de plus d~Run million d~RArméniens
dans un futur proche, cela sera peut-être dû largement aux longs
efforts que de l~Runiversitaire Israël Charny, natif d~RAmérique,
fait depuis des dizaines d~Rannées. Mais Charny, qui vit maintenant
à Jérusalem, se montre circonspect quant à une impulsion nouvelle
pour une détente entre Israel et la Turquie, qui pourrait torpiller
sa campagne de reconnaissance.

“Dans l~Rensemble, l~Raffaire du rapprochement avec la Turquie est
un jeu que les politiciens devraient et se doivent de jouer, parce
que nous voulons sortir de ce processus aussi vite que possible”,
a dit Charny à Anglo-File”. Mais je ne pense pas qu~Ril soit sain de
se donner l~Rillusion que le pays avec lequel nous discutons n~Rest
ni totalitaire, ni dangereux. Je ne pense pas que nous puissions
accepter de faire encore un compromis sur le principe éthique de
la négation du Génocide arménien – pour tenter en quelque sorte un
remariage après un divorce.

La Turquie objecte avec véhémence qu~Ron puisse appeler génocide les
événements de 1915 et 1923 au cours desquels les forces ottomanes ont
tué plus d~Run million d~RArméniens. Israël, qui considérait la Turquie
comme un allié régional important jusqu~Rà il y a peu, n~Ra jamais
officiellement reconnu le génocide. Mais depuis que les relations
bilatérales se soient refroidies au cours des années récentes, en
particulier après l~Raffaire de la flottille de Gaza de l~Ran passé, au
cours de laquelle des hommes de troupe israéliens ont tué neuf Turcs –
la demande pour que soit reconnu le Génocide Arménien a gagné en force.

Le fait que la question ait été retenue par la Knesset est le résultat
de dizaines d~Rannées de travail de Charny, depuis longtemps directeur
de l~RInstitut de l~RHolocauste et du Génocide de Jérusalem. Il a
reçu en mai une distinction pour son travail pour la reconnaissance
du Génocide Arménien des mains du Président de ce pays du Sud-est
de l~REurope.

“Le Professeur Charny est une personne de qualité qui tient à ses
principes – il n~Ry a personne comme lui”, a dit Georgette Avakian,
la responsable du Comité de la Cause Arménienne de Jérusalem, ajoutant
que si Israel reconnaissait les souffrances de son peuple, ce serait
en grande partie grâce à Charny.” C~Rest l~Rune des rares personnes
dans le monde qui cherche vraiment le vérité,” a-t-elle dit.

Charny, qui est né à New-York, est cofondateur et président de
l~RAssociation Internationale des Chercheurs en Génocide.

“Le professeur Charny est un vrai pionnier de ce domaine, ayant été
le premier probablement à informer le monde sur l~Rétude comparative
des génocides, qui s~Rapplique à la reconnaissance de la portée
de l~Rholocauste mais sans oublier les souffrances et les génocides
d~Rautres peuples du monde,” dit Marc Sherman, originaire de New York,
directeur des services d~Rinformation à l~RInstitut de l~RHolocauste
et du Génocide. Dans le passé, alors qu~RIsraël se félicitait de
ses bonnes relations avec la Turquie, Charny a souvent lutté pour la
reconnaissance du génocide, contre les souhaits de Jérusalem. En 1982,
il avait organisé à Tel Aviv la première conférence internationale
à laquelle participaient des intervenants arméniens, a dit Sherman.

Quelques années après, à la suite des pressions reçues par la TV
d~Rétat pour ne pas diffuser un film sur le Génocide Arménien, Charny
organisa une projection privée dans un cinéma de Jérusalem. Il a aussi
témoigné contre l~Rhistorien réputé judéo-américain Bernard Lewis, à
qui un procès a été fait en France pour avoir nié le génocide. “Charny
n~Ra jamais cédé et il s~Rest toujours opposé à la négation du Génocide
Arménien” a dit Sherman.

Mais Charny ne nie pas le besoin de realpoliik d~RIsraël.

La Knesset a discuté de la reconnaissance du Génocide Arménien pour la
première fois le 19 mai. Le 29 juin, la députée membre de la Knesset
Arye Eldad a introduit une proposition de loi pour déclarer le 24
avril jour du Souvenir du Génocide Arménien.

Sa proposition a été rejetée, mais sera discutée, en même temps
qu~Rune reconnaissance officielle du génocide, par la commission de
l~Réducation de la Knesset.

Aucune date n~Ra cependant été fixée pour la discussion, a-t-il déclaré
à Anglo File. Il est peu probable que cela se produise avant que la
Knesset ne procède à sa fermeture d~Rété, a-t-elle dit.

“Je comprends tout à fait que les responsables qui conduisent le
pays ont quelquefois des décisions qui sont apparemment contraires à
l~Réthique des valeurs les plus hautes, parce qu~Ril existe d~Rautres
questions dont les valeurs sont plus élevées. La survivance d~RIsraël
est sa première priorité absolue”, a-t-il dit à Anglo File dans son
bureau encombré de livres de Baka, aux environs de Jérusalem. “Mais
il me faut insister sur les limites.”

En dépit de préoccupations politiques, économiques ou militaires
légitimes, Israel ne doit pas continuer à nier les souffrances d~Run
autre peuple, si c~Rest seulement pour ses propres souffrances,
a dit Charny.

“Lorsqu~Ril s~Ragit de la négation par Israel du Génocide Arménien,
je demande tout d~Rabord : que dirait notre gouvernement et quelle
serait la réaction de notre peuple envers un gouvernement, quel qui
soit, qui nierait l~RHolocauste ?” a-t-il dit.

Psychiatre de profession, Charny s~Rest intéressé aux études des
génocides dans les années 1960 à la suite d~Run rêve.

“Quand je me suis réveillé, j~Rétais encore pris par les très fortes
expériences émotionnelles de mon rêve, y compris par de la rage :
comment pourraient-ils faire ce qu~Rils ont fait à notre peuple
avec l~RHolocauste ? Comment des êtres humains peuvent-ils en venir
à de telles cruautés bestiales ?” s~Rest-il rappelé. “Puis j~Rai
pris conscience d~Rune réalité horrible : j~Rétais un spécialiste
du comportement humain, accrédité par les meilleures institutions
clinique et éducative américaines, et je n~Ravais jamais entendu un
seul misérable mot à propos de la cruauté humaine et à propos du mal”.

C~Rest à la suite de cela que Charny a décidé de se consacrer à
l~Rétude des génocides.

“La première chose que j~Rai faite a été d~Récrire à Yad Vashem leur
demandant de m~Rindiquer dans leur bibliothèque des livres sur la
psychologie de l~RHolocauste et sur les génocides. La réponse a été,
désolés, nous n~Ravons aucun livre sur ces sujets”.

Depuis lors, Charny a écrit et édité plus d~Rune douzaine de livres
sur ce thème, dont trois ont reçu le prix du Livre Exceptionnel de
l~RAnnée décerné par l~RAmerican Library Association. Son dernier
ouvrage, “Et Vous Devez Détruire le Mal en Vous : Nous Sommes des
Etres Humains qui Commettons l~RHolocauste et le Genocide,” sera
publié cette semaine en hébreu.

vendredi 29 juillet 2011, Jean [email protected]

Traduction Gilbert Béguian pour Armenews

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