Author: Vicken Chmshkian

Virginia McLaurin waited all her life to see an African-American in the White House. So, when she finally got a chance to meet President Obama, the 106-year-old woman couldn’t contain her excitement, according to .

She squealed with delight. She waved her cane in the air. And she danced — busting moves that have made her the newest Internet darling.

In a video posted by the White House Sunday night, McLaurin opens her arms wide, greets Obama with an excited “Hi!” and begins swaying.

“It’s an honor, it’s an honor,” she tells the President. McLaurin was at the White House to celebrate Black History Month.

Obama asks if McLaurin wants to meet the first lady and the answer is an obvious one. As she rushes over, Obama, who appears amused, says, “Slow down now. Don’t go too quick.”

Photo: AFP

 

Bomb blasts in the Syrian cities of Homs and Damascus have left more than 100 people dead, monitors and state media say.

In Homs, at least 57 people, mainly civilians, were killed in a double car bombing, a monitoring group reported.

At least four blasts later struck the southern Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, causing at least 50 deaths, the BBC reports.

So-called Islamic State has said it carried out the Damascus blasts.

Both Damascus and Homs have been targeted by Islamic State (IS) militants in the past.

Both attacks targeted areas dominated by minorities within Islam reviled by the Sunni Muslim radicals of IS.

In Homs, the blasts happened in a predominantly Alawite district, the sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

In Damascus, at least four explosions were reported in Sayyida Zeinab, the location of Syria’s holiest Shia Muslim shrine, said to contain the grave of the Prophet Muhammad’s granddaughter.

State television reported at least 50 dead and 200 wounded. Other reports put the death toll higher.

Homs, one of the early centres of the uprising against President Assad, was once dubbed the “capital of the revolution”.

But rebels left the city late last year under a ceasefire deal, leaving the city in government hands.

The Azerbaijani side used artillery weapons of different caliber, also as HAN-17 grenade launchers as it fired more than 800 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions last night, the NKR Ministry of Defense reports.

The Ministry said the Defense Army keeps full control of the situation at the line of contact and confidently continues with the protection of the military positions.

Photo: ITAR-TASS/Yuri Smityuk    

It is ruled out that Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) forces will start a ground operation in Syria, CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha told reporters on Friday.

“One cannot talk in full seriousness that the leaders of our countries will make a decision on starting a ground operation beyond their borders,” Bordyuzha said answering a question on whether CSTO forces may be deployed in Syria.

He added that “CSTO military potential may be used only on the territory of member countries on approval of the heads of states.”

According to the official, the Collective Security Treaty Organization is ready to consider Syria’s application for membership if the country submits one.

“To be honest, I don’t know anything about Syria’s efforts on joining CSTO,” Bordyuzha noted. “Not all countries today are ready to give up elements of their sovereignty. If a country conscientiously approaches the issue of joining CSTO… it will be considered and a decision will be made,” he added.

 

Members of Russia’s State Duma (lower house of parliament) Valery Rashkin and Sergei Obukhov (Communist Party faction) have sent a letter to the country’s leadership and the Foreign Ministry proposing to denounce the Moscow Treaty of Friendship and Brotherhood signed On March 16, 1921, by the government of Soviet Russia (RSFSR) and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, writes Russia’s Izvestia daily which has obtained the text of the letter, reports.

“We should consider a possibility of legal review of all Russian-Turkish agreements that are unfavorable for our country and its allies. Ankara must understand what the escalation of the conflict could be fraught with for it. Only this can bring it to earth and prevent it from carrying out new provocations,” Obukhov told Izvestia.

The initiative has been supported by the Just Russia faction. According to State Duma member Oleg Pakholkov, the Moscow treaty was signed to the detriment of Russia’s interests.

Obukhov noted that “two of the three South Caucasian  republics – Georgia and Armenia – did not recognize the terms of the treaty considering it unfair.” “One should realize that in 1921 the Bolshevik (Soviet) government was literally hanging by a single thread: the foreign intervention and civil war continued. Under those circumstances Soviet Russia could not speak from a position of strength and impose more favorable terms of the treaty on Turkey,” the parliamentarian said.

The newspaper notes that under the treaty “the former Kars region and the southern part of the former Batumi region that were part of the Russian Empire since 1878 as well as former Surmalin district of Erivan Governorate that was part of the Russian Empire since 1828 with Mount Ararat were ceded to Turkey.”

 

On 4 February Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received executive director of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund and deputy director Ararat Khlghatyan, NKR President’s Press Office reported.

Issues related to the course of programs being carried out in Artsakh by the fund were discussed during the meeting.

The President noted the significance of appropriate implementation of the planned activities with the maintenance of the set schedule.

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

Aubrey Herbert, British diplomat, adventurer, intelligence officer, and Member of Parliament, conducted a rare interview with Talaat Pasha, in February 1921, just days before his assassination in Berlin by Soghomon Tehlirian.

As all-powerful Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, its despotic ruler and mastermind of the Armenian Genocide, Talaat had fled Turkey in November 1918 to avoid prosecution by the new regime. The 23-page interview with Talaat was published in 1924 (London) and 1925 (New York) in Herbert’s memoirs titled, “Ben Kendim: A Record of Eastern Travel.”

Herbert first met Talaat in 1908 while stationed at the British Embassy in Constantinople (Istanbul). Eleven years later, Herbert received an unexpected letter from Talaat seeking a meeting with him “in any neutral country.” Desperately seeking to rehabilitate his diabolical image in the West, Talaat claimed that “he was not responsible for the Armenian massacres, that he could prove it, and that he was anxious to do so.” Herbert turned down Talaat’s request telling him: “I was very glad to hear that it was not he who was responsible for the Armenian massacres, but that I did not think any useful purpose could be served by our meeting at that time.”

However, Herbert reversed his decision in February 1921, after Sir Basil Thomson, Director of British Intelligence, ordered him to leave immediately for Germany and meet Talaat. The secret rendezvous took place on February 26, in the small German town of Hamm.

Talaat told Herbert again that “he himself had always been against the attempted extermination of the Armenians.” More incredibly, Talaat claimed that “he had twice protested against this policy, but had been overruled, he said, by the Germans.”

Forgetting his own claims of innocence in the massacres, Talaat justified the mass killings by accusing Armenians of stabbing his country in the back during the war. Contradicting himself again, Talaat declared his support for Armenians by claiming that “he was in favor of granting autonomy to minorities in the most extended form, and would gladly consider any proposition that was made to him.”

Talaat then switched the blame to the British for the Armenian killings: “You English cannot divest yourselves of responsibility in this matter. We Young Turks practically offered Turkey to you, and you refused us. One undoubted consequence has been the ruin of Christian minorities, whom your Prime Minister has insisted on treating as your allies. If the Greeks and Armenians are your allies when we are at war with you, you cannot expect our Turkish Government to treat them as friends.”

Herbert and Talaat then decided to move to Dusseldorf, Germany, where they continued their discreet conversation for two more days. Herbert reported Talaat’s paradoxical attempt to cover up his role in the Armenian Genocide, while justifying this heinous crime. Talaat stated that “he had written a memorandum on the Armenian massacres which he was very anxious that British statesmen should read. Early in the war, in 1915, the Armenians had organized an army, and had attacked the Turks, who were then fighting the Russians. Three Armenian deputies had taken an active part; the alleged massacres of Moslems had taken place, accompanied by atrocities on women and children. He had twice opposed enforced migration, and he had been the author of an inquiry which resulted in the execution of a number of guilty Kurds and Turks.”

Ironically, Talaat boldly told Herbert that he was not afraid of being assassinated. “He said that he never thought of it. Why should anyone dislike him? I said that Armenians might very well desire vengeance, after all that had been written about him in the papers. He brushed this aside.” Two weeks later, Talaat was assassinated in Berlin by Soghomon Tehlirian!

Concluding his interview of Talaat, Herbert observed: “He died hated, indeed execrated, as few men have been in their generation. He may have been all that he was painted — I cannot say. I know that he had rare power and attraction. I do not know whether he was responsible or not for the Armenian massacres.”

Only experts of that time period can verify the authenticity and accuracy of this lengthy interview. If true, what exactly were Talaat’s aims in proposing “an Anglo-Turkish alliance” and why was the British government so anxious to talk to him?

On January 28, the Stockholm Royal Armoury Museum hosted a presentation of the Swedish edition of the Armenian writer and publicist Zori Balayan’s book “No Right to Die” with the author’s participation.

The event was attended by members of the Swedish Royal Court, MPs, Ambassadors accredited to Sweden, representatives of municipal authorities, heads of religious and cultural institutions, media representatives, and members of the Armenian community.

In his opening remarks H.E. Hans Gunnar Adén, former Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia and the author of the preface to Swedish edition of the book, spoke about the Armenian history and culture, Zori Balayan’s legacy and the contents of his book.

During the discussion, which followed the presentation, Zori Balayan talked about the book and his motivation. He also reflected on his previous visit to Stockholm during the journey onboard the “Cilicia” sailing vessel to pay tribute to the memory of Swedish Missionary Alma Johansson, who had saved thousands of Armenian women and children during the Genocide. Zory Balayan spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its background.

In his remarks H.E. Artak Apitonyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Sweden, spoke about the public and political activities of Zori Balayan, his various initiatives, expeditions, journeys and his literary heritage. The event was followed by classical music performances and book signing ceremony.

Within the framework of his visit, Zori Balayan held meetings with the local Armenian community. During the meeting at the Armenian Church of St. Mary in Södertälje the award-winning film “”Armenia”: from sea to sea” was screened. During the discussion that followed the members of the Armenian community raised numerous issues of their concern.

The book presentation was the first in the series of Armenian cultural events at the Royal Armoury of Stockholm, which include an exhibition “Tracing the Raw Silk trade: Armenian merchants at the Court of Karl XI”, a lecture on Armenian-Swedish historical connections, and readings of Armenian fairy tales for children and adolescents.

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received the Head of the European Union delegation to the Republic of Armenia, Ambassador Peter Switalski.

At the meeting, the parties discussed issues pertinent to the Armenia-EU relations. Serzh Sargsyan stressed once again that Armenia’s cooperation and development of her relations with the European Union remain a priority for Armenia’s foreign policy. The President of Armenia expressed gratitude to the EU for the assistance in carrying out reforms in Armenia and underscored that especially after the constitutional changes Armenia has entered a new stage of large-scale reforms. Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope that assistance provided by the EU for the implementation of the reforms will be continuous, considering the efficiency of the assistance provided so far for the country.

The Head of the EU delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Peter Switalski also expressed hope that in 2016, the Armenia-EU bilateral relations will acquire a new quality and before the end of the year, negotiations on the new comprehensive Armenia-European Union legal document will have been concluded. Ambassador Switalski reiterated the EU’s interest in assisting Armenia in the development of cooperation and implementation of the reforms.

The Concert Tour of well-known pianist Hayk Melikyan, an Honored Artist of Armenia, will be launching starting from January 13, 2016 in five biggest cities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He will be having 6 recitals which are organized by the New Music Center of Tehran in cooperation with the Governmental entities of the Country.

Hayk Melikyan will mainly be presenting the contemporary music by Armenian (Tigran Mansuryan, Arthur Akshelyan and others) and Iranian (Amir Mahyar Tafreshipour, Hormoz and Shahin Farhaz and others) composers and will also include some of the world-known European ones: Heinz Holliger, Michel Karsky, Toru Takemitsu and others.

There will be several premieres during the concert tour and Hayk Melikyan will also conduct special master classes for Iranian students in all the above mentioned cities.

Concert Dates:

January 13: Bushehr (The City Hall)
January 15 & 16: Tehran (Roudaki Chamber Music Hall)
January 17: Yazd (The Municipality Concert Hall)
January 19: Ahvaz (Aftab Concert Hall)
Januart 20: Shiraz (Hafez Concert Hall)

After the return of the Pianist from Iran, he will give a recital for the Yerevan audience, which will launch the 2016 Concert Season of KOMITAS Museum Institute on January 29.