Author: Tigranian Ani

THE MANY FACES OF BOURJ HAMMOUD
Matthew Mosley

The Daily Star
April 15 2010
Lebanon

BEIRUT: The tangled alleyways, the buildings, the characters, and
the distinctive cuisine of Bourj Hammoud exert a fascination for a
surprising cross-section of parties.

For academics and students, the quarter forms a distinctive world
within Lebanon’s capital Beirut that is ripe for study, both
historically and sociologically.

The area has a special significance for Lebanese Armenians, since it
was the first place that Armenians settled in Lebanon after arriving
from Syria and Turkey.

Young hipsters love Bourj Hammoud for its bargain-hunting potential –
there are treasures to be unearthed in its tightly-packed shops.

"It’s very authentic," says photographer Ariane Delacampagne. "Unlike
a lot of Beirut, it hasn’t changed too much over the years. Bourj
Hammoud has retained its cachet – in some ways this is a good thing,
but it has downsides too."

The distinctive character of Bourj Hammoud, however, is increasingly
under threat. Its proximity to both central Beirut and the ocean
means that real-estate developers are increasingly eyeing the area
as a potential source of cash.

The area has already been eaten into: In recent years a new highway
bridge has bisected the area, ferrying traffic eastward from Achrafieh.

Over the past five years, Delacampagne has been taking photographs
in what might prove to be a vanishing world.

"I think it’s important to have a record of this time," says
Delacampagne. "This is a part of our history."

Over the time, her project’s focus has narrowed to become a series
of portraits of the inhabitants. A selection of her images was
revealed Wednesday at the Centre Culturel Francais under the title
"The Armenians of Bourj Hammoud."

In luminous black and white, Delacampagne’s photographs offer a
warts-and-all portrayal of her subjects, at the same time placing
them on an aesthetic pedestal with elegant composition and the kind
of luxuriant chiaroscuro that monochrome photography does so well.

There is a disarming frankness to Delacampagne’s photos that makes them
particularly compelling. Her subjects stare out with an utter lack of
self-consciousness, as though in mid-conversation with the spectator.

"I take time to build up a rapport with the person," says
Delacampagne. "It either happens or it doesn’t, but if there’s no
rapport then the shot won’t be successful."

Some of Delacampagne’s subjects are captured at work. A shoe-seller
grins genially from behind teetering mountains of boxes, a television
at his side. A carpet-weaver glances up mid-stitch, glaring at the
lens from under-hooded eyes. A lady proudly displays the priestly
vestments she has sewn.

Others are photographed in the home. Many of the subjects in the
selection are elderly women, propped up in bed by a mound of pillows
or perched on a chair with stick in hand.

Some of these characters are spectacularly aged. The skin hangs
from the bone in swags and deep creases mark the faces. Speaking
of a wealth of life experience, one could stare at these compelling
characters for hours.

This focus on the elderly wasn’t part of the original project.

"I chose these particular images for aesthetic reasons," says
Delacampagne. "These were the ones that pleased me most. But I’m
conscious of a lack of younger subjects here and next time I want to
concentrate on the youth."

Delacampagne’s project is ongoing. Ultimately, she plans to publish
a book of the images, but there are still many more facets of Bourj
Hammoud that she wants to capture. This is a project that thrives on
chance and spontaneity.

"I don’t plan anything," says Delacampagne. "Every time I go to
Bourj Hammoud there’s something new. The work is in a constant state
of flux."

Delacampagne is of Armenian heritage. She was born in Lebanon and still
has family here, but now divides her time between Paris and New York.

In some respects, Delacampagne’s photographs of Bourj Hammoud seem
to be linked to an exploration of her own identity as an Armenian.

"[Turkey’s] non-recognition of the Armenian genocide is something that
affects all of us," she says. "How do you live with that? Should you
just forget about it and carry on?

"My friends sometimes ask me whether this legacy is a stultifying
thing, whether it prevents me from going forward. But I don’t think
like this. I don’t think that this issue should prevent participation."

Delacampagne’s photographs offer a glimpse of diverse lives, united
only by a geographical area and their shared Armenian heritage. They
are at once a preservation of a particular moment of Armenian history
and an exploration of the many ways of being an Armenian.

But her compelling photographs possess a wider aesthetic appeal. The
general fascination of Bourj Hammoud is likely to continue undimmed.

"The Armenians of Bourj Hammoud" continues until April 29. For more
details, call +961 1 420 200.

OBAMA WILL NOT USE THE WORD GENOCIDE, ARTAK SHAKARYAN SAYS
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
14.04.2010 16:34

Why did Armenian and Turkish leaders meet in Washington? Did they
have anything to discuss or the meeting was just necessary?

Turkologist Artak Shakaryan considers that the US Administration
organized the meeting to be able to declare on April 24 that the
Armenian-Turkish talks proceed normally despite there are some thorny
questions, and the adoption of H. Res. 252 or the use of the term
"genocide" in the President’s address would hamper the advancement
of the healthy process.

According to Artak Shakaryant’s assessment, the absence of any results
after the meeting, the common cold atmosphere and the statements
of the leaders show that calling the meeting a step forward would
be incorrect.

The Turkologist considers that the Turkish side will not take any step
by April 24 towards ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols.

"Obama will not utter the word genocide in his annual address, after
which there will again be calmness in the Armenian-Turkish relations,"
Artak Shakaryan said adding that "nothing will happen unless the
Armenian side comes forth with some initiative."

"I hope the Armenian side will try to keep the issue on agenda in May,
but the protocols will hardly be ratified," Artak Shakaryan stated.

The News Herald

Retired editor writes memoir for new generation

Published: Wednesday, April 14, 2010

By Paula Evans Neuman

A few months ago, Mitch Kehetian, 79, of Allen Park sent a letter to
President Obama.

He urged the president to `honor the memory of the 1.5 million
massacred Armenians’ by officially acknowledging what happened in
`Turkish-held Armenia’ in 1915.

Kehetian’s grandparents and many other family members perished in that
` ethnic cleansing,’ the first genocide of the 20th century.

A few decades later, Adolph Hitler justified the coming Holocaust of
World War II to his commanders, saying, `After all, who remembers
today the extermination of the Armenians?’

Kehetian remembers, and thousands of other descendants of those who
died in the 1915 massacre remember, too. And they want others to honor
the memory.

He wants the president to repeat the words he used during his
campaign, when Obama promised to `speak truthfully about the Armenian
genocide.’

He wants those words to be spoken by a president, not just by a
candidate.

The newspaper editor hasn’t heard back from Obama yet, but he’s
hopeful. He sent the president a copy of his new self-published book,
`Giants of the Earth,’ as well.

The official recognition – and use of the word `genocide’ – matter
today, nearly 100 years later, because Turkey, an American ally, still
refuses to admit that it happened, Kehetian said.

`By denial of the truth, justice remains denied,’ he said.

He wants Turkey to be pressured by the United States to issue a
statement of condemnation over the genocide, much as Yugoslavia has
done for the people of Kosovo, and he wants two of the former Armenian
provinces in present-day Turkey to be returned.

`Those lands are desolate,’ Kehetian said, adding that they’re also
virtually depopulated, so the return of the land isn’t as far-fetched
as it might seem at first blush.

He wrote his book, a memoir of his 1969 visit to the land where his
parents were born, those parts of Turkey that once were Armenia,
originally as a family story.

His cousin, the late Rev. Vartan Kassaibian, convinced him to turn it
into book form,

`Your grandchildren aren’t going to read any looseleaf notebook,’ the
priest told Kehetian.

He includes in the book the story of how his 1969 trip was inspired by
` the hand of God.’

Kehetian, before the journey was planned, was in Moscow in 1968, with
his wife, Rose, on the way to visit her few surviving relatives now
living in Soviet Armenia.

Amazingly, he ran into an old Armenian family friend in the elevator
of Moscow’s Metropole Hotel. With that friend was an old woman.

The woman was from the same village where Kehetian’s father had
lived. She told him his Aunt Parancim, his father’s sister, had been
alive in 1947.

The family had believed until then that she was killed with other
relatives in the genocide.

Hoping against hope, Kehetian decided to travel to his ancestral lands
in Turkish-held Armenia to find out if his aunt was still alive, 22
years after she was seen.

His book, written frankly and with undisguised anger at the government
of Turkey, describes his journey and his discovery of his aunt’s grave
site. She had died seven years before he found it.

At the turn of the last century, despite hundreds of years of
persecution of the Christian Armenians, who lived `surrounded by a sea
of Islam,’ nearly 3 million Armenians lived in the lands he visited.

When he made his trip, there were no more than 50,000 left there,
Kehetian said.

Woven into the story of his trip is a well-documented history of the
Armenian people.

He also talks about growing up in southwest Detroit as an Armenian.

`When it was vacation time, all my friends said they were going to see
their grandparents, their aunts and uncles,’ Kehetian said.

`I would ask my parents, `Where are mine?’ The answer was the same,
over and over, `The Turks killed them.’ You grow up with a sense of
despair.’

His goal now is to reach `the third generation’ – his grandchildren
included – of those killed in the genocide.

Kehetian says there can be no forgiveness, no closure, until the
present-day Turkish government acknowledges what happened.

`Whenever two Armenians meet, we reach out to each other,’ he
said. `We do because we are the children of genocide survivors.’

His book, `Giants of the Earth,’ is available online through Publish
America or by phone at
1-301-695-1707.

THE SIMILARITIES OF THE ARMENIANS AND THE JEWISH

Aysor
April 13 2010
Armenia

"I get a unique pleasure when I simply walk through the streets of
Yerevan, tasting the Armenian delicious food and contacting with the
people," the Jewish doctor Aharon Cheykhanover, who was awarded Noble
Prize, said in the Ministry of Education and Science.

He mentioned that there are similarities between the Armenian and
Jewish peoples, they have a common destiny, he also noticed that
both countries are not like China, Russia or America. They are both
smaller in their size and population thus according to the scientist
the science should be promoted.

"Both our nations are fighting for peace, both of us struggle. I
don’t understand why the people kill each other. We create medicines
which are used in Iran who at present is against Israel. I think the
people should stop killing and should love each other, take care of
one another," said Cheykhanover.

The doctor thinks that we should forget about the politics and get busy
with a serious science and will lead to success, "Israel is as small
country as Armenia and we connect our future with the innovational
technologies. I think Armenia too has to take that path."

Armen Ashotyan, the Minister of Education and Science who had hosted
Aharon Cheykhanover, mentioned that in the 21st century Armenia has
no other choice than to impact the education and science.

According to the Minister it will allow us to have a high quality
education and economy.

ASSESSMENT OF THE HISTORY IN THE PARLIAMENTS IS UNFAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA AS WELL – TURKISH PM

Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 13 2010

Assessment of the history in the parliaments of countries is
unfavorable for Armenia as well, said Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan at the George Mason University in Washington on Monday,
where he arrived after a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Serj
Sargsyan.

"We reject the accusations of genocide in relation to the events of
1915 and reject the unfair and unilateral decision of parliaments. We
believe that the history should be studied and evaluated by historians,
but not parliaments. We have indicated willingness to open our archives
and urged other countries to do the same," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

After the meeting with Turkish Prime Minister, Serj Sargsyan met
with the representatives of the Armenian community in America,
Mediamax reported.

"Our position was and remains the same: Turkey can not speak with
Armenia and Armenians in the language of preconditions, simply we
will not allow it," said Sargsyan.

He said that Armenia is not going to discuss in any format the fact
of so-called "genocide" or pretend to believe as though Turkey may
have some positive role in the negotiation process on Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement.

The meeting between the sides continued for one and a half hours,
CNN Turk website reported.

The Russian service of TRT reported that one of the important topics
of the meeting was the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
for which the Turkish Prime Minister expressed his point of view.

Any statement was not made at the conclusion of the meeting. Sources
from Turkish Foreign Ministry reported that it is expected that
both countries mutually reaffirm their commitment to the process of
normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan, TRT reported.

The meeting which was the first one after the Davos forum in 2008
was held during the Summit on Nuclear Safety, organized by the White
House. The two leaders met at the Congress Center in Washington.

The meeting was also attended by the Foreign Ministers of Turkey Ahmet
Davutoglu and Armenia Edward Nalbandian, Advisor of Foreign Ministry
of Turkey Firudin Sinirlioglu and Assistant Secretary of the Armenian
President Vigen Sargsyan.

ARMENIAN AMERICAN SINGER EVA MEDZORYAN DEDICATES HER YEREVAN CONCERT TO VICTIMS OF ARTSAKH HEROIC BATTLE AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 13, 2010
YERAVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian American
singer Eva Medzoryan dedicated her Yerevan concert to the victims of
the Artsakh heroic battle and the Armenian Genocide. She performed
Armenian and American classical songs during the concert held at the
Komitas House of Chamber Music under the patronage of the RA Ministry
of Diaspora.

At the conclusion of the concert, the Minister of Diaspora Ms. Hranush
Hakobian presented a diploma to Eva Medzoryan for her significant
contribution to the promotion of Armenia-Diaspora relations.

In the words of Nadya Antonian, Head of the Unit of Cultural, Sport and
Youth Programs of the Ministry’s Department of Pan-Armenian Programs,
"Armenia-Diaspora cooperation is also carried out through the
organization of such cultural events in the homeland. Eva Medzoryan
puts all her potential, her cultural ability and skills into the
development of the Armenian soul. Works of both world and Armenian
classical music are in her repertoire, which shows that while living
away from Armenia, Eva Medzoryan is attached to the homeland with
her heart and blood and her activities are aimed at promoting the
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation".

Susanna Zurabian, an employee of the State Museum of Nature of
Armenia, said: "The repertoire of Eva Medzoryan bears evidence of
her patriotism, while her love of music shows that she is a nice
and kind person. I would like such events to be held as often as
possible so that our people will become kinder and return to the old
Armenian culture".

Eva Medzoryan is also a member of the Armenian Young Women’s
Assocaition (AYWA).

ARMENIA’S PROSECUTOR GENERAL VISITS THE CZECH REPUBLIC

armradio.am
12.04.2010 15:42

At the invitation of the General Prosecutor of the Czech Republic, on
April 12 the delegation headed by the Prosecutor General of Armenia,
Aghvan Hovsepyan, left for the Czech Republic on a working visit.

During the visit the Prosecutors of the two countries will discuss
issues of cooperation, particularly the development of main directions
of cooperation envisaged by the memorandum signed between the General
Prosecutor’s Offices of the Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic
in 2009, in Yerevan.

ARMENIA : ARMENIA SHOULD SET A PROFITABLE PRICE FOR GAS

TendersInfo
April 7, 2010 Wednesday

Armenia should set a profitable price for gas, Anatoly Podmishalsky,
chief of Gazprom’s division in charge of relations with the near
abroad and deputy chairman of ArmRosgasprom s board, said Tuesday at
a news conference in Yerevan.

Commenting on the suit filed by Armenian opposition in connection with
gas price rise, he said: Armenia continues enjoying preferences, but it
can t stand still and should follow Russia and set a profitable price.

Natural gas price for Armenia s consumers was raised 37.5% form AMD
96 per one cubic meter to AMD 132 on April 1, 2010.

Those consumers using more than 10,000 cubic meters of gas monthly
will pay $243.13 per each 1,000 cubic meters instead of former $215.

ArmRosgasprom, explaining this move, said that the price for the
natural gas imported from Russia rose from $154 per 1,000 cubic meters
to $180.

Podmishalsky stressed that for three consecutive years Russia have
exported natural gas at $110 since it signed the relevant agreement
with Armenia in March 2006.

In April 2009, Russia raised the price to $154, and now time has come
to raise it again.

He added that prices for natural gas are going up also in Russia.

The representative of Gazprom said that Belarus, who is building a
federal state with Russia, receives gas from the latter at $200.

He said that Russia sells its natural gas to Ukraine at $350 and to
Moldova at $300, while the average European price ranges between $325
and 330.

Podmishalsky also said that Armenian government has already taken
some measures to shield the poor from the increase-caused shocks.

He expressed hope that Armenians will take the steps taken by Russia
and Gazprom with understanding.

Shushan Sardaryan, the press secretary of ArmRosgasprom, said that
the company was concerned about the price rise, thinking it can strike
hard at ordinary consumers.

However, she said, even after the increase, natural gas will remain
the cheapest fuel.

That since November, when the word of gas price rise already reached
consumers, over 10,000 new customers joined the system.

ArmRosgasprom CJSC is the sole importer and distributor of Russian
natural gas in Armenia.

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN INNOVATION CENTER TO OPEN SOON

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 8, 2010 – 14:05 AMT 09:05 GMT

The Armenian government has approved the decision to sign a memorandum
of cooperation in the filed of information technologies between the
RA Ministry of Economy and the RF Federal Agency on CIS affairs,
compatriots living abroad and international humanitarian cooperation
(Rossotrudnichestvo).

According to Armenian Economy Minsiter Nerses Yeritsyan, the memorandum
envisages establishment of the pioneer Armenian-Russian innovation
center, which will bring together leading specialists in the filed.

The opening ceremony till take place in mid-April.

STUDENTS OF ARARAT MARZ HOSTED IN THE OPEN LESSON

parliament.am
April 8 2010
Armenia

Within the framework of Open Doors policy of the National Assembly
it had already been the second day the students of the senior classes
of different schools of Ararat marz were hosted.

As during all four-day sittings on April 7 also the students had
opportunity to walk about the parliament building and to follow the
work of the four-day sittings. Later they took part in the open lesson,
which was held by RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan. Mr.

Abrahamyan informed the students about the activities of the
legislative body, the powers reserved by Constitution, the National
Assembly-government cooperation. The NA Speaker touched upon the NK
problem and the Armenian-Turkish relations’ normalization process,
issues pertaining to the foreign and inner policy. Mr. Abrahamyan noted
that due to undertaken steps the parliament-society relation has been
activated and it became closer, more open and transparent. The head
of the parliament stressed that the legislative body, being elected
by the people with its working activity should promote the adoption of
bills emanating from the people’s interests and stabilizing the social
situation. Mr. Abrahamyan also touched upon the efforts of the state
aimed at overcoming the consequences of the global financial-economic
crisis. In his conviction we should fight against crisis with united
forces for having positive indices in 2010, and Mr. Abrahamyan sees
those opportunities.

Then a warm and close conversation was held between the NA Speaker and
students, during which the head of the parliament gave clarifications
to numerous issues concerning them. The students of the schools of
Ararat marz were interested in the inner and foreign policy of the
country, social, economic, educational, ecological spheres, overcoming
the financial-economic crisis, ratification of the protocols and as
a result of which, issues pertaining to the possible achievements
of Armenia.

The students and teachers thanked the NA Speaker for the meeting,
noting that this was a peculiar step to make the young generation
know about the state processes. They stressed that Hovik Abrahamyan
permanently had supported the schools and socially vulnerable
families. Mr. Abrahamyan recorded that the mentioned support would
be continuous.