Boston-Area Teachers Receive Training on Armenian Genocide Education

August 20, 2016 By administrator

genocide-training WATERTOWN, Massachusetts—The Genocide Education Project (GenEd) provided a full-day workshop on teaching about the Armenian Genocide for Boston-area History and English teachers on June 10th.

Held at the Armenian Library and Museum of America, the training covered historical context as well as various approaches to teaching the subject, including the use of survivor testimony, photographs, documentary film, book reading assignments, and persuasive composition. Teachers also met a local 106-year old Armenian Genocide survivor and were given a tour of the museum and library, and provided a traditional Armenian luncheon.

“I have been teaching for over 25 years and I have been to a lot of conferences, and this was by far one of the best. The survivor presentation was incredible as were the other speakers and many resources,” said Joanna Honig, Watertown High School English teacher.

Co-hosted by Armenian Library and Museum of America, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, Watertown and Boston Public Schools, and Project Save, and with the participation of the USC Shoah Foundation, the free workshop also provided numerous instructional materials, including a variety of lesson plans and a classroom poster and guidance through the downloadable resources, an online interactive lesson, and classroom videos accessible through GenEd’s website.

Sara Cohan, USC Shoah Foundation Armenian Education & Outreach Specialist and GenEd Education Adviser, discussed the value of the Armenian case in genocide coursework. Cohan also introduced teachers to interviews of Armenian Genocide survivors filmed by documentary filmmaker, J. Michael Hagopian, and now being preserved, cataloged and posted online by USC Shoah Foundation.

Dr. Dikran Kaligian, historian and GenEd Board member, provided the historical and political context, timeline, and methodology of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the U.S. humanitarian response, and the government of Turkey’s denial of event and its ramifications on education, international affairs, and US policy.

GenEd Board Member Roxanne Makasdjian presented the biography of Genocide survivor Asdghig Alemian and then conducted a live interview with Alemian. After her father and the other men of the town were killed by Turkish authorities, Alemian, her mother, sister, and two brothers were forced onto the death march into Syria. After her two brothers died on the trek, her mother gave her five-year old Asdghig and her older sister to a Turkish policeman, who smuggled them in large bags of plums loaded onto a mule, to a Turkish home. There, the girls were treated as servants and abused, forced to denounce their Christian faith, and punished severely for speaking Armenian.

Asdghig was later sent to another Turkish home in Aleppo. Asdghig told the workshop teachers of the anguish she felt when separated from her sister. Her sister escaped and the two were rescued, spending several years at Aleppo’s Evangelical Armenian orphanage, before relocating to their uncle’s home in Massachusetts. Asdghig married another Genocide survivor from Keghi and together they ran a grocery and raised a family.

“It was a great privilege for me to learn about Asdghig’s extraordinary life and introduce her to the educators, to allow us all the benefit of her life experience and inner strength,” said Makasdjian.

Ruth Thomasian, Executive Director of Project SAVE – the Armenian Photograph Archive, discussed how she collects and uses family photographs as a teaching tool and window into the life of Armenians in the past.

Marc Mamigonian, Director of Academic Affairs at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research focused on how novels and memoirs about the Armenian Genocide are valuable resources for English Language Arts and Humanities courses. Highlighting the books Forgotten Fire, Black Dog of Fate, Goodbye Antoura, and My Name is Aram, Mamigonian described their value both as good literature and as historical instruction.

The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, as the prototype for genocide in the modern era.

Top Armenian Opposition Party Member Released On Bail

August 19, 2016 By administrator

By RFE/RL’s Armenian Service

August 19, 2016

YEREVAN — A Yerevan appeals court has granted bail to another leading member of the Heritage opposition party who was charged in connection with his participation at a recent rally.

The court on August 19 ordered David Sanasarian, who serves as a member of Yerevan’s municipal assembly as part of an opposition faction, to pay 1.5 million drams (about $3,150) before being freed pending his trial.

On August 17, the court released the deputy chairman of the Heritage party, Armen Martirosian, on bail.

Sansarian and Martirosian were arrested on July 29 along with another top Heritage party member and an opposition activist on charges of organizing mass disturbances during public protests on that day and remanded to pretrial detention earlier this month.

On August 16, the Heritage party announced it was pulling out of local elections scheduled for September-October because of the arrests of its leading members.

Azerbaijan: Calls made to lynch wrestler defeated by Armenian right in airport and to deprivehim of citizenship

August 19, 2016 By administrator

lynch-wrestler Some Azerbaijanis demand lynching for the local wrestler who lost to an Armenian, Azerbaijani website Haqqin.az reports commenting on the defeat of the Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestlerRasulChunayev (66 kg) by the Armenian MihranHarutyunyanin the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Chunayev’s defeat by Harutyunyan became the main topic of discussion in Azerbaijan yesterday. According to the website, Azerbaijani social network users even suggested collecting signatures for a petition to deprive the wrestler of Azerbaijani citizenship. “There were also calls to lynch the sportsman right upon his arrival at the airport,” Haqqin.az writes.

According to the article, the call to separate sport from politics during bouts with Armenian sportsmen is “a bit doubtful.” Moreover, it is highlighted that in this case, the “wrestling mat turns into a political one,” and a considerable part of the Azerbaijani society “makes a sportsman a hero just for a triumph over an Armenian,” and “executes” him in case of defeat. Therefore, according to Haqqin.az, despite his numerous triumphs in the past, RasulChunayev faced a “riches-to-rags” situation.

Meanwhile, the website writes that Chunayev commented on his performance to the press-service of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sports and attempted to justify himself saying that he had a “difficult fate.” He particularly stated that he understands people who criticize him. “After all, I was defeated by an Armenian,” the sportsman said. At the same time, according to SamaiMammadova – the head of the press-service of the Ministry of Youth and Sports — “there were tears in Rasul’s eyes when he spoke.”

Meanwhile, according to Azerbaijani website Oxu.az, Qafqazinfo reports that MihranHarutyunyan, the wrestler of the Armenian national team, who triumphed over Chunayev, hugged and congratulated him on his bronze medalduring the awards ceremony yesterday.

MihranHarutyunyan, member of the Armenian national team, won a silver medal during the 2015 Baku European Games. It was reported then that the Azerbaijani audience gave a hostile welcome to the Armenian delegation when it entered the Olympic stadium during the opening ceremony of the Games. Several spectators were chanting “Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan!” and waving the national flag during the Armenian delegation’s entry, which marched with its flag, while other Azerbaijanis were whistling at it. At that time, the silver medal winner Harutyunyan also stated that the audience had shouted and whistled during his fight in Baku putting psychological pressure on him.

DOCUMENTARY DVD release of “Armenian Genocide, the 1915 spectrum” by R. and N. Gente Jallot

August 17, 2016 By administrator

genocide-book 1915: the Ottoman Empire is plunged into the Great War: it will cause his downfall. In this historical context so special, more than a million Armenians were massacred by the Turks. It is the first genocide of a century that will not be stingy.

To tell this bloody history page on the occasion of its centenary, the film Armenian Genocide, the 1915 spectrum co-written by Nicolas Jallot Genté and Regis, going to the meeting of two iconic characters, a Turk and an Armenian in Turkey: Hasan Cemal, Fethiye Çetin.

Family exorcise demons move Turkish society, this is the meaning of their struggle for recognition of the Armenian genocide. Through them, the film mixes the “big” and “little” history between family chronicle and national destiny, between History and Memory. With interventions of Raymond H. Kevorkian and Edhem Eldem.

Amazon by clicking here: https://www.amazon.fr/Génocide-arménien-spectre-Nicolas-Jallot/dp/B01G2KJSKY/ref=sr_1_17 ?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1464872433&sr=1-17&keywords=1915

The Armenian Artur Alexanyan (Greco-Roman wrestling, 98 kg) who crushed the Turkish Cenk Ildem (9-0) IS FINAL! Tonight the final at 23:30

August 16, 2016 By administrator

Artur-alexanyan-crush The Armenian Artur Aleksanyan (23) in the colors of Armenia is in the final of the Greco-Roman wrestling at the Olympic Games in Rio. In the semifinals the Armenian world champion title, just sent the Turk Cenk Ildem (30) with the score of 9-0! The favorite at Olympic title is final. With Mihran Harutyunyan also qualified for the final of the 66 kg Greco-Roman wrestling, Armenia has the possibility of having tonight two Olympic champions! In the quarter finals, Artur Aleksanyan had easily won (8-0) against the Romanian Alin Alexuc-Ciuriaru.

Tonight at 23:30 Artur Alexanyan will face in the final for an Olympic title against Cuban Yasmany Lugo Daniel Cabrera (26 years).

Krikor Amirzayan

Armenia embassy building groundbreaking ceremony is held in Brazil

August 16, 2016 By administrator

new-ambassy President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on a working visit to Brazil, attended, in capital city Brasília, the groundbreaking ceremony for the building of the Embassy of Armenia in Brazil.

Construction of embassy building is scheduled to be completed within one year.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, and Minister of Foreign Relations of Brazil José Serra delivered remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony.

After the ceremony, a joint memo was signed and a respective container was placed in the foundation of the embassy building which is under construction.

According to a Turkish nationalist Islamized Armenians are estimated to number 400 000 in Turkey

August 12, 2016 By administrator

According to the Turkish newspaper Yenicag, the Turkish Muslim leader Fethullah Gulen would have a list of Turkish populations following their faiths and would appear in this list the number of Islamized Armenians. The article written by the nationalist Arslan Bulut says that according to documents Gülen and Professor Hasan Ken “during the movement of Turkish Armenians, there were many who were converted to save their lives.

But we do not know clearly that these were actually converted Armenians, “wrote the latter and continues” Their number is between 300 and 400 000. Unfortunately Turkey does not want to see this. Probably because among the leaders of Turkey many senior officials have Armenian roots. “Arslan Bulut emphasized the importance of” Population Register of Turkey “which would have Fethullah Gulen. A. Bulut was in 2010 during one of his interviews said that the main problem in Turkey was the “hidden Armenians”.

Hard not to make parallels between Turkish nationalism today and Nazism yesterday.

Krikor Amirzayan

Armenia’s exports of fresh fruits, vegetables to EEU member-states up 90%

August 12, 2016 By administrator

As of August 12, 2016, Armenia’s exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member-states showed a 90% increase as compared with the corresponding period of last year, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Armen Harutyunyan told reporters on Friday.

“The EEU is the most convenient market for or agricultural produce now. The Ministry of Agriculture has focused on exports,” he said.

The ministry is working with the EEU in different formats.

“We are also improving our research institutes’ efficiency. We have recently discussed creation of produce exchanges. Moreover, free trade agreements with other states are being drafted,” Mr Harutyunyan said.

A free trade agreement was recently signed in Vietnam, but the document has not yet been published.

Asked whether the exports to Russia are the reason for the 90% export growth and what is being done to export agricultural produce to the other EEU member-states, Mr Harutyunyan said that exports of fresh fruits and vegetables are the major reason for the growth.

“And work to organize exports to the other member-states is in progress now. I think the reason for the growth is all types of procedures – food safety, customs control, and others – which enables small and medium-sized producers to enter the EEU market,” the official said.

An intergovernmental commission is to hold a meeting to discuss logistical issues.

“This is being done to ensure exports of Armenian agricultural produce to Kazakhstan,” Mr Harutyunyan said.

Work is being done to organize export of Armenian agricultural produce to other countries, and free trade agreements will soon be signed with ten countries.

Armenian Weightlifter Nazik Avdalyan takes 5th spot at Rio Olympics

August 11, 2016 By administrator

nazik-avdalyan-5th Women weightlifters at 69kg weight class started the competition on the fifth day of the 31st Summer Olympic Games, Panorama.am said.

Armenia’s representative, reigning European champion Nazik Avdalyan snatched first 103kg then failed to lift 107kg; in her third attempt she finally lifted 107kg.

Avdalyan began the clean and jerk lifting a 103kg barbell. In her second and third attempts Nazik lifted 133kg and 136kg. With a total of 242kg result Nazik took the 5th spot.

“A year ago I had greater expectations from myself. I thought I could regain my old kilos but I got unforeseen injuries which impeded my trainings. I regret nothing, I did what I could. There were trainings when I was in pain. Today I did my best. All athletes dream of participating in Olympic Games, including me. Maybe, I could have lifted more kilos in the snatch but we have what we have,” Avdalyan stressed.

Photo: Armnoc

Armnoc.am: 5-րդ տեղը Նազիկի առավելագույնը չէր. Արտաշես Ներսիսյան.

One of world’s last survivors of Armenian Genocide dies at 102

August 11, 2016 By administrator

genocide-survivor-dies Ramela Carman, a longtime Oakland County resident and one of the world’s last survivors of the Armenian Genocide, has died at age 102,

Mrs. Carman was a treasured family member and devoted worshipper at St. John for many years, said Jeff Axt of Bloomfield Township, a cousin and Parish Council chairman.

“On top of that, she was a symbol of what the Armenian people have endured,” he said.

She was born April 7, 1914 in Yozgat, Turkey, and died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, with her family by her side.

Mrs. Carman, a former Pontiac resident, was believed to be one of only about 30 survivors worldwide of the event that resulted in the deaths of as many as 2 million people. She was the last remaining genocide survivor in Michigan.

As her family gathered to celebrate her 102nd birthday last April, Mrs. Carman reflected on stories that relatives told her about the genocide. She was too young to have horrific memories of it, but relatives told her that her father was one of the people whom the government forced to march off one day.

“He turned back,” she said, explaining that he wore disguises, changed his name, went into hiding — did whatever was necessary to stay alive. He later reunited with his family but died of kidney disease after just a short time.

Mrs. Carman recalled that even after the genocide “ended” in 1918, there was often different treatment for Armenians, who couldn’t ever predict how they would be received.

With her mother and grandmother, Mrs. Carman relocated from their small village to Istanbul. Her mother worked in a factory and her grandmother worked as a cook. By the time she was 16, both her mother and grandmother became too ill to work and she took responsibility for supporting them.

She worked in a factory and later bought a sewing machine and assembled men’s shirts.

In 1960, she came to the United States, marrying Masa Carman a few months after arriving. She taught herself English and was later hired by Hagopian to repair their Oriental rugs. Later, in retirement, she and her husband enjoyed traveling together.

After her husband died in 1995, she traveled to France and Turkey to visit relatives. She visited Turkey again in 2001.

Axt said she fell and broke her hip about six weeks ago, leading to a series of related health problems.