Argentina: Scores injured as violent protests breakout against pension reform plans

December 19, 2017 By administrator

Rallies outside Argentina’s Congress have turned violent, with as many as 150 people reportedly injured. Opponents of the proposed pension reform bill say it would reduce payouts for 17 million Argentinians.

Protests on the streets of Argentina’s capital turned ugly on Monday, as masked demonstrators hurled firecrackers, bottles and gasoline bombs at police officers guarding the Congress building.

Security forces in Buenos Aires responded with water canons and fired rubber bullets at demonstrators. According to reports, as many as 150 people were injured in the ensuing clashes, including many bystanders and peaceful protesters. Forty-eight people were arrested.

The rallies came in response to a pension reform plan being debated in Congress. The proposed legislation has angered many retirees and prompted trade union leaders to call a general strike.

Argentina’s largest union, CGT, began a 24-hour general strike at 12:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Monday in protest of the bill. Hundreds of airline flights were grounded and large areas of Buenos Aires ground to a halt.

“We have no one to defend us,” said 70-year-old retiree Cristina Sanmero, who found herself caught in the violence. “At my age, I have to come here and defend my contributions of 30 years. We’re governed by inept people who think that it’s easier to take away from the old.”

Demonstrators in several Buenos Aires neighborhoods also took to the streets banging pots and pans. The gesture holds a deep symbolic meaning for Argentinians who marched during the 2002 economic crisis with pots and pans, before eventually forcing then-President Fernando de la Rua to resign.

Mauricio Macri’s pension package

The proposed pension plan is part of Argentinian President Mauricio Macri’s push to reduce the government’s deficit, which currently stands at 3.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Proposed legislation would change the way pension increases are calculated, with payments adjusted every quarter based on inflation, rather than twice-yearly based on wage hikes and tax revenue.

Armenians of Argentina stage protest near Azerbaijani embassy

March 5, 2017 By administrator

The Armenian youth in Argentina held a demonstration during the afternoon of Friday 3 March in front of the Azerbaijani embassy on the 29th anniversary of the Armenian pogroms in the Azerbaijani cities of Sumgait, Baku and Kirovabad, Prensa Armenia reported.

“The authoritarian regime of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev spends millions of petrodollars on events and publicity to wash away the image of his corrupt government while keeping the civilian population in extreme poverty and harassing and persecuting journalism and opposition,” said Brenda Kechiyan, member of Armenian Youth Federation of South America in her speech.

A large number of members of the Armenian community came to support the demonstration, with a strong presence of Homenetmen scouts.

“As opposed to a dictatorial regime that oppresses its population, which censures the press and systematically denies the Armenian Genocide along with Turkey, is the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which in September 2016 celebrated 25 years of independence, democracy, of elected governments at the polls that work day by day to improve the quality of life of their people,” added Kechiyan, who then asked for the freedom of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin.

“This is why today we call the international community, but above all the Argentine authorities, to recognize the self-determination of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh as a free and independent State, and to condemn denialism in all its forms.”

Argentina’s Catamarca province recognizes Armenian Genocide

September 17, 2016 By administrator

catamarca-recognize The province of Catamarca, Argentina, on Friday, September 16 joined the National Law 26,199 declaring April 24 every year as the “Day of Action for Tolerance and Respect between Peoples” in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, Prensa Armenia reports.

“The breakthrough that led to the Law was ratified in Catamarca and demonstrates the national and federal perspective acquired in Argentina in the struggle against denial,” said Nicolas Sabuncuyan, director of the Armenian National Committee of Buenos Aires.

Article 4 of Law 26,199, enacted on December 13, 2006 and promulgated on January 15, 2007, invites provincial governments to “adhere to the provisions,” something that has already been done by 17 Argentine provinces along with the City of Buenos Aires.

The provinces that have already joined the National Law are Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Jujuy, La Pampa, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tierra del Fuego.

Argentina marks Armenian Genocide anniversary

April 24, 2016 By administrator

Argentina marked the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on Saturday, April 23 afternoon, with the President of the Senate, Federico Pinedo, and Jorge Macri, mayor of Vicente Lopez, Buenos Aires attending the commemoration ceremony, Prensa Armenia reports.

President Mauricio Macri sent a letter regretting not being able to attend. In his letter, he called for “everlasting memory of the victims, convinced that only respect for the highest values and principles will lead them to the road of peace and encounter.”

Pinedo said in his speech that it was “essential to remember the Armenian Genocide and repudiate the facts and attitudes of persecuting others for belonging to other ethnic groups.”

J. Macri, in turn, thanked the Armenian community for “building Argentina.”

The Armenian ambassador, Alexan Harutiunian, announced that Armenia will give the City of Buenos Aires a statue of St. Gregory of Narek to be placed in the Armenia Square of Palermo neighborhood, as a symbol of friendship and gratitude to Pope Francis for having recognized the Armenian Genocide on April 12, 2015.

Also, in a speech on behalf of the Armenian community of Argentina, it was announced a request to the country’s authorities “to require the implementation of measures designed to support the peace process and avoid truce fighting and loss of life of civilians and military” in Nagorno Karabakh.

Armenian Deputy speaker talks Genocide with Argentina, Paraguay Presidents

December 11, 2015 By administrator

Deputy speaker of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov attended Thursday, December 10, the inauguration ceremony of Argentina’s President-elect Mauricio Macri to meet with the latter afterwards.

Congratulating Macri on behalf of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Sharmazanov hailed the country’s efforts in helping the local Armenian community, as well as Macri’s personal contribution to the development of bilateral ties between Argentina and Armenia.

The Deputy Speaker also expressed appreciation for organizing events in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide centennial in Buenos Aires.

Following the inauguration, Sharmazanov also met with the country’s Vice President Gabriela Michetti and Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra. The latter stressed the local Armenian community’s role in Argentina’s life, expressing confidence that “the community unites two friendly nations separated by the ocean.”

Also, on Thursday, Sharmazanov met with Paraguayan President Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara in Buenos Aires.

At the meeting, the Armenian deputy speaker expressed satisfaction over Paraguay’s recent recognition of the Genocide.

“The best way to prevent genocides is to condemn them,” Sharmazanov noted, adding that the civilized world has no right to refrain from condemning past crimes.

The Paraguayan President, in turn, expressed solidarity with the Armenian people on the Genocide centennial.

Argentina’s newly-elected President and Armenian Genocide: review

November 23, 2015 By administrator

A candidate of Argentina’s conservative party Cambiemos, Mauricio Macri was elected president of Argentina Sunday, November 22, by winning the runoff against Daniel Scioli, the government candidate, Prensa Armenia reports, presenting a review of Macri-Armenian community relations.

During his tenure as Chief of Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Macri rejected the construction of a bust of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, after the intense complaints of the Armenian community and a misunderstanding of the local officials.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called off a visit to the country shortly afterwards.

In April 2012, Macri visited Yerevan for the transfer of the World Book Capital, which in 2011 had been held in Buenos Aires and in 2012 in Yerevan. He visited the Armenian Genocide Museum and stated that “Buenos Aires has received thousands of Armenian citizens who contributed to the development of Argentina and forged our cultural identity as a country.”

In June 2014, the City of Buenos Aires allocated some property for the construction of an Armenian Genocide Museum.

This time, the Chief of Staff of the City, Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, said that this museum was “a way to ensure that mankind will not commit atrocities like those committed almost 100 years ago in Armenia.”

The next month, in July 2014, Macri met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Argentina, handing him the keys to the City of Buenos Aires.

During the centenary of the Armenian Genocide in April 2015, Macri commemorated the Genocide centennial with a post on Facebook: “The Ottoman authorities started the bloody persecution of the Armenian people 100 years ago, on April 24, 1915, killing and rooting out millions of innocent people.”

The former President Nestor Kirchner enacted in January 2007 the Law 26,199, approved by Congress in December 2006, which declares every April 24 as the “Action day for tolerance and respect among peoples” in commemoration of the Genocide against the Armenian people. In September 1987 former President Raul Alfonsin made the first recognition of the Armenian Genocide during a ceremony with the Armenian community.

Argentine Ministry of Education Publishes Armenian Genocide Textbook

November 19, 2015 By administrator

“Armenian Genocide: Questions, Answers and Proposals for Education”

BUENOS AIRES (Agencia Prensa Armenia)—The Argentinian Ministry of Education presented a new textbook titled, “Armenian Genocide: Questions, Answers and Proposals for Education,” on Tuesday, November 17. The book is a teaching material produced in conjunction with the Armenian National Committee of South America.

The presentation event was attended by Education Minister Alberto Sileoni, Director of the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism Pedro Mouratian, and Carolina Karagueuzian, Director of Armenian National Committee of Buenos Aires, along with a number of Ministry officials.

Regarding the difficulty of teaching children about genocide, Alberto Sileoni said that, “It is not true that the products we show our children have to eliminate the complexity. There is a way and an age to present them. If anything, the respect we have for children is that all these stories do not have a happy ending like in the movies. They have it in a human, much deeper way.”

“This Ministry of Education was committed not only with the formation of the young, but also with the way the educational community has accompanied things that had been invisible for many years,” said Pedro Mouratian. “What has occurred in our country in terms of memory, truth and justice has been revolutionary and refreshing,” added.

Carolina Karagueuzian noted that Argentina is the only country that “publishes and disseminates educational material on [the] Armenian Genocide at the federal level”.

“The material intends to address the genocide against the Armenians as one of the most atrocious events in the history of mankind, but also as one of the most important struggles of resistance to oblivion driven by the Armenian people, and accompanied by all those who sympathized with the understanding that impunity for such crimes not only involves the people who fell victim, but represents an injury to all humanity,” said Karagueuzian.

During the presentation, a chapter of “Zamba” was also presented, a child education show by PakaPaka, a TV channel of the Ministry of Education. “The amazing lesson of Zamba about Memory,” tells the journey of Zamba, the protagonist, as he visits the various genocides of the twentieth century. The journey begins with Anne Frank in Amsterdam, and continues to Mount Ararat with the Armenian poet Vahan Tekeyan. Then, Zamba and his friends meet the indigenous leader Rigoberta Menchu in Guatemala, and then Immacule Ilibagiza, a young Tutsi during the genocide in Rwanda. The chapter was aired several times this week on Argentina’s Public television network.

Argentina 1915-2015 Symphony concert in Buenos Aires

March 30, 2015 By administrator

Sunday symphony concert was organized in Buenos Aires by the Committee of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide in front of a large audience. The title of the show “Por ti Armenia” is a direct reference to the song by Charles Aznavour and Georges Garvarentz “For you Armenia”, created especially following the earthquake of December 7, 1988.

The program works by Aram Khachaturian, Alan Hovhaness and Arno Babajanian. Also the songs of Luis Alberto Spinetta and compositions of Astor Piazzolla. #ArmenianGenocide

Several ceremonies are planned in April. Including the Book Fair of Buenos Aires and the Luna Park Stadium. Note that the traditional gathering of 24 to 28 April was postponed due to elections that prohibit political action.

Armenia president to Turkey leadership: We cannot accept such a ‘just memory’

July 8, 2014 By administrator

July 08, 2014 | 17:59

YEREVAN. – Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide. April 24 is undoubtedly a symbolic day, but it is clear that the genocide did not start and did not end in one day.

Moreover, the genocide is not completed until Turkey’s authorities continue to deny what has been committed, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said during his meeting with the Armenian community of Argentina.

“However, the day when Turkey will face its history is not far away,” president said.

He is convinced that social consciousness in the face of young, educated generation who believe it is better to apologize than to abandon the past shamefully will contribute to the recognition.

“Yes, thousands of Turks do not accept the official policy of denial and express solidarity with the Armenian people. These processes are evident and they make the Turkish authorities to take certain steps” Sargsyan emphasized.

Th Armenian leader recalled that Turkish leadership is speaking of the need for “a just memory” between Armenians and Turks, but by the next step is trying to undermine justice, putting an equality sign between one and a half million innocent victims, mostly elderly, women and children, and the Turkish military who died as a result of adventurous actions orchestrated by the leaders Ottoman Empire.

“It is not ‘a just memory’. We can not accept such ‘just memory’. In fact, this is an updated, improved, re-packaged version of the policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide,” Sargsyan added.

The President noted that Armenia will continue joint activities in terms of international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

“But we have to respect the memory of our ancestors, not only through bringing our struggle till the end, but also by strengthening our homeland using the talent and capabilities of every Armenian for the benefit of homeland,” he added.

According to him, every Armenian should be proud of the fact that on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we stand with the existence of two independent states – the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

“Even under the blockade and situation of ‘no war, no peace’ our homeland is developing,” he added.