Event Archives

Presidents of Artsakh and Armenia take part in Independence Day event in Stepanakert

September 3, 2018 By administrator

ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan participated today at the Independence Day celebrations.

Sahakyan’s office said that the President, together with Armenian counterpart Armen Sarkissian, visited the Stepanakert Memorial to honor fallen soldiers and first Speaker of Parliament Arthur Mkrtchyan.

Former President of Artsakh Arkadi Ghukasyan, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin Pargev Martirosyan, Speaker of Parliament Ashot Ghulyan, State Minister Grigory Martirosyan, other officials and foreign guests also attended the events.

How Not to Run a Government, And Get Dethroned by the People

May 8, 2018 By administrator

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

The recent events in Armenia surprised and impressed both Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide because a leader thought to be irreplaceable by his supporters was replaced by a newcomer without any violence or bloodshed. Furthermore, what is taking place in Armenia is much more than unseating a particular leader. A regime entrenched for two decades was overthrown almost overnight!

To understand what took place in the last few weeks in Armenia we need to go back to 1991, the date of Armenia’s independence from the Soviet Union. Since then, Armenia has had three presidents, none of whom cared about the people and ruled the nation democratically. Power was concentrated in their hands as well as the military leadership and oligarchic clans.

While a handful of autocrats sat at the top of the pyramid of power, the overwhelming majority of the people were deprived of the basic necessities of survival, such as food, clothing, medicine, and of course, money. In the past quarter of a century, over a million Armenians left the homeland and resettled wherever they could find a job and feed their families. Many of those who could not leave, barely survived on funds sent by relatives and friends overseas.

Under these pitiful circumstances, the anger and resentment of the population against the authorities, particularly the head of state, kept on rising. In addition to abject poverty, people suffered because of corruption, fraudulent elections, unfair courts, unemployment, censorship and periodic police brutality. While those who had the means to get a visa and purchase airline tickets emigrated from Armenia, the rest were forced to keep their mouth shut and put up with the difficult conditions.

Every now and then there were public protests either challenging fraudulent elections or unbearable living conditions, but the police were able to quell the unrest by beating and arresting the demonstrators. The most violent incident took place in April 2008 when 10 people were shot and killed for challenging the election of Pres. Serzh Sargsyan.

While Pres. Sargsyan and his predecessor, Pres. Robert Kocharyan, remained oblivious to the deplorable conditions of the public, their dissatisfaction, resentment and anger against the authorities kept growing. These heads of state, surrounded by aides who kept heaping praise on them and reassuring them that everything was marvelous in the country, remained unaware of the public’s miserable situation.

Over the past 27 years, during hundreds of hours I spent privately in meetings with the three successive Presidents of Armenia, I brought to their attention the various problems existing in the country, from corrupt aides and government ministers to unfair court judgments based on bribery, fraudulent elections, etc. These Presidents told me that they were hearing about these issues for the first time. Very few people had the courage to bring them to their attention.

I dared to tell Pres. Kocharyan to his face that Armenia’s population hated him. He disagreed with me, but I insisted, challenging him to stand one night in a street corner disguised in a hat and overcoat and ask passers by what they thought of the President. I warned him that he would hear very abusive comments.

I also recall telling Pres. Sargsyan on the eve of his first election not to ignore the common people and not to appear on TV at weddings of wealthy oligarchs and the ribbon-cutting of their businesses. I suggested that he make a surprise visit once a month to the home of a poor family without his aides and bodyguards, and inquire about the family’s employment, income, and health; to show that he cared about the poor people who were the majority of the country. Unfortunately, he did not once make such a visit.

I also told Pres. Sargsyan that he should appoint an independent group of advisers from wise and experienced individuals who were not government employees. They would be able to give him their honest advice without any fear of getting fired. Regrettably, this suggestion was also ignored!

To make matters worse, the public never forgot or forgave Pres. Sargsyan for the killing by the Police of 10 protesters in 2008, and with each fraudulent election and continuing economic misery, their frustration increased. When the constitution was being modified in 2015, Pres. Sargsyan reassured the people that he had no intention of staying in power in 2018 when his second term of presidency would be over. Most people did not believe him and suspected that he would remain in office, switching from the ceremonial President’s chair to become the all-powerful Prime Minister, under the new constitution. During a private meeting in 2016, I remember asking Pres. Sargsyan if he planned to go home at the end of his term, as he had promised. I was alarmed when he said that he would make a decision based on the results of the 2017 parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of the people, despite their suspicions, were counting the days and hours for the end of Pres. Sargsyan’s term in office. When the Republican Party’s majority in Parliament elected him to become the new Prime Minister last month, the citizens could no longer control their anger. Tens of thousands of people came out in the streets, led by opposition Parliament member Nikol Pashinyan to vent their frustration.

Fortunately, the massive outpouring of anger was kept in check by Pashinyan’s constant exhortation not to commit any violence and to respect the Police forces. A series of blunders by Prime Minister Sargsyan and his Republican Party members in Parliament followed, when Sargsyan met with Pashinyan and walked out after three minutes. In a few hours, despite his Parliamentary immunity, Pashinyan was arrested and kept in an undisclosed location by the Police, turning him into a greater hero. Due to escalating protests, Pashinyan was released from incarceration, and unexpectedly, Prime Minister Sargsyan announced his resignation, confessing: “I was wrong, Nikol was right.”

On May 1, the Parliament met to elect a new Prime Minister. After a lengthy deliberation, the Republican Party majority almost unanimously voted against Pashinyan’s candidacy. On May 2, the crowds blocked all major streets, highways, and paralyzed the trains, subways and the road to and from the Yerevan airport. The following day, the Republican Party officially announced that it will not block Pashinyan’s planned election on May 8 as Prime Minister. At the time of writing this column on May 7, barring any surprising developments, Pashinyan is expected to be elected Prime Minister by the Parliament.

Pashinyan’s election probably would not resolve Armenia’s multiple problems. In the following 15 days, he will select his Cabinet of Ministers and present his government’s agenda to the Parliament for approval. There will be then a lengthy debate on amending the election laws, followed by new Parliamentary elections in several months. Despite the transformation in leadership, Armenia will continue to suffer from blockades by Turkey and Azerbaijan and the military conflict involving Artsakh.

We have to wait and see whom Pashinyan will appoint to key ministerial posts as Foreign and Defense Ministers. What kind of compromises will be made between Pashinyan’s minority members and the Republican Party’s majority in the Parliament while changing the election laws? Only then new parliamentary elections will be held. Assuming the new elections will be fair and properly supervised by the new government, it remains to be seen if Pashinyan’s party and his supporting parties will gain the majority in Parliament. The good news is that all of these developments have been taking place in line with the constitution, under pressure from the newly-awakened Armenian public-at-large.

Finally, the most important issue now is that the thousands of newly-empowered young people, who came out to the streets demanding a more democratic state with a great degree of enthusiasm and emotion, should not be disappointed. Armenia cannot afford to lose its youth which are the future of the country!

Everyone in Armenia and the Diaspora should do everything in their power to ensure stability, peace and prosperity in Armenia under its new leadership.

Istanbul governorship bans holding of Armenian Genocide remembrance event

April 24, 2018 By administrator

istanbul ban Genocide remembrance event

The Governorship of Istanbul, Turkey, has prohibited an Armenian Genocide commemoration event.

The Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch had planned to carry out an event devoted to the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, at Sultanahmet Square, on Tuesday at noon, according to Evrensel newspaper of Turkey.

But learning that the term “genocide” will be used during the event, the Governorship representatives prohibited to carry it out and suggested doing it without using that word.

Its organizers, however, refused to hold this event without the term “genocide,” and decided to put off this public assembly until 1։30pm and hold it at Taksim Square, instead.

They noted that there will be figures from France at Taksim Square, and therefore Turkish authorities will avoid interference.

Commemorating Hrant Dink Event schedule World wide

January 15, 2017 By administrator

Hrant Dink

Hrant Dink, the founder of our newspaper, will be commemorated in Istanbul and various cities in the world on the 10th anniversary of his passing away.

ANKARA

On Thursday, January 19, Hrant Dink will be commemorated in Ankara. Organized by “Ankara Initiative for Commemorating Hrant Dink”, the program will start at 3 pm in Yüksek Street.

ISTANBUL

On January 14-15, “Freedom of Expression Conference” will be held in memories of Hrant Dink, Uğur Mumcu and Metin Göktepe. Organized by Penal Law Association and Istanbul Bar Association, the conference will start at 10 am.
Hrant Dink will be commemorated where he was shot, in front of Agos. Friends of Hrant invites people to old building of Agos on January 19 at 2.30 pm.
GERMANY
- In Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin, a commemoration event titled “Commemorating and Understanding Hrant Dink” will be held on January 19. In the event, Can Dündar will read selections from writings of Dink. After the reading, Collectif Medz Bazaar will perform.
In addition to reading that will start at 7.30 pm, two more events will be held in the same place. Miraz Bezar’s play “Reflections” will be performed in Studio Я (at 7, 8.30 and 10.30 pm) and Osman Okkan’s documentary “Hrant Dink murder case – Armenians in Turkey” will be screened (at 6 pm).

Click here for the event
- At Kottbusser Tor station in Berlin, the group called “Hrant Dink’s Friends” will commemorate Dink on January 19 at 6 pm.
Click here for the event

FRANCE
- In Lyon, Hrant Dink will be commemorated on January 19. Organized by Mayor of Lyon Gérard Collomb and Media Club of Lyon, the event will start at 11 am in Hrant Dink Street.
- In Bouc-Bel-Air city in southern France, Dink will be commemorated. Hosted by municipal council and Mayor Richard Maliié, the event will start at 11 am in Rond-point Hrant Dink.
- In Paris, a reading event will be held in memory of Hrant Dink. Prof. Dr. Ronald Grigor Suny and Prof. Dr. Hamit Bozaraslan will attend the event. After the reading performance by Selin Altıparmak and Rostom Hanedanian, there will be a performance by Yeghso, İlker Çakal, Mahmut Demir, Ela Nuroğlu, Ruşen Ozan Filiztek and Shushan Kerovpyan. The event that will be held on January 17 at 8.30 pm is free.
  Click here for the event
CANADA
- In Toronto, an event titled “Tribute to Hrant Dink” will be held on January 22. Co-chair of German Green Party Cem Özdemir, who played an important part in the issuing of Bundestag’s Armenian Genocide resolution, will speak at the event. Organized by 8 Armenian associations in the city, the event will start at 8 pm at Armenian Community Center.
In the event, there will be a presentation which was prepared by Zoryan Institute and covers the historical context of the murder of Hrant Dink. Pianist Rafi Bedrosyan is the keynote speaker.
- There is another commemoration event in Ottowa. Voices in Dialogue (ViD) initiative, which was founded in 2007 with the purpose of forming dialog between Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish people, will hold an open course by Prof. Dr. Ariel Salzmann. After that, Nare Mkrtchyan’s documentary “The Other Side of Home” will be screened. The event will be held in Ottowa Library Oditorium and start at 2 pm.
- Click here for the event
ENGLAND
- In St. Sarkis Church in Kensington, Hrant Dink will be commemorated with words, music and visual materials. Excerpts from Hrant Dink’s biography written by Tuba Çandar will be read. Musicians from Armenia, Turkey and England like Aygül Erce, Olcay Bayır, Anais Heghoyan, Aris Nadirian and Djanan Turan will perform. The event will start at 7.30 pm on January 19.
  Click here for the event

Anti-Christmas events were organized all over Turkey

December 30, 2016 By administrator

Erdogan’s policy of intolerance in a banner in Istanbul: “We are Muslims. No to Christmas and New Year celebrations. “

At a rally, a gun was pointed at the head of a man disguised as Santa Claus.

Summary of major Armenia-related developments in 2015

December 31, 2015 By administrator

Tert.am is providing a brief summary of the major historic developments in Armenia in 2015.

Below are the major developments following the historic events concerning international recognition of the Armenian Genocide:

the events marking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; adoption of a Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Armenian Genocide; international mass media’s response; Kim Kardashian’s visit to Armenia; a Yerevan concert of System of a Down (SOAD); a religious service at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican; canonization of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide; 15-day protests against rising electricity prices in Yerevan’s Baghramyan avenue; a referendum on constitutional reforms; a Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting toward the end of the year.

The 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has been a key event of this year. It not only opened a new chapter in the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Due to Pope Francis’ speech and condemnation by a number of European structures it is not a global tragedy, not only that of Armenians.

A Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Armenian Genocide was unanimously adopted in Yerevan. On April 12, a religious service dedicated to the Armenian Genocide was held at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican.

Turkey attempted to prevent that service by the Pope by exerting unprecedented pressure on Vatican. Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoğlu accused the Pope of joining the axis of evil against Turkey.

Another historic step in international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a concert the world-famous SOAD Armenian-American rock band gave in Yerevan. Besides bringing joy to thousands of Armenian residents, the concert was a cultural means of informing the world of a need for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

A few days after the concert, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute organized an international conference themed ‘The Crime of Genocide: Prevention, Condemnation and Elimination of Consequences’ in Yerevan.

On April 23, the Mother See held a ceremony of canonization of 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.

On April 24, the Russian, French, Serbian and Cypriot presidents were among the hundreds of guests that visited the Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims in Tsitsernakaberd.

The same day Turkey marked the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had to think up a scheme for guests in Yerevan and in Çanakkale.

International mass media provided extensive coverage of the April 24 events.

On April 23, an ecumenical service dedicated to the Genocide of Armenians, Assyrians and Pontic Greeks in the Ottoman Empire took place in Berlin Cathedral.

In 2015, three more states, Brazil, Luxembourg and Austria recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Moreover, different European structures approved resolutions condemning the Armenian Genocide.

An Armenian pavilion presented Armenian culture at the Vienna biennale.

Yerevan hosted successive cultural events, concerts by Vladimir Spivakov, Dmitri Khvorostovski and Chulpan Khamatova, which were dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Yerevan hosted one more major cultural event this year. Beth Hart, an American singer, songwriter and musician, performed in Yerevan. Ornella Muti and Nastassja Kinski visited Yerevan during the Golden Apricot 12th Yerevan International Film Festival. World-famous singer Charles Aznavour performed in Yerevan as well.

This year, Armenia hosted the 6th Pan-Armenian Games.

A referendum on constitutional reforms on December 6 was a major event in Armenia’s political life.

The most important event in Armenia’s foreign policy was a meeting between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. The Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting behind closed doors in Bern, Switzerland, followed a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ participation and a meeting with Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Toward the end of the year, Azerbaijan intensified ceasefire violations. Speaking at a collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Moscow, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan did not rule out Azerbaijan used tank fire, egged on by external forces.

BBC: Armenia marks centenary of mass killings by Ottoman Turks, Putin the events of 1915 “shook the whole world”

April 24, 2015 By administrator

President Vladimir Putin said the events of 1915 “shook the whole world”

Ceremonies have been held in Armenia and around the world to mark the centenary of the start of mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

The presidents of France and Russia joined other leaders for the memorial in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

Armenia says up to 1.5 million people died, a figure disputed by Turkey.

Turkey strongly objects to the use of the term genocide to describe the killings and the issue has soured relations between the nations.

Turkey accepts that atrocities were committed but argues there was no systematic attempt to destroy the Christian Armenian people. It says many innocent Muslim Turks also died in the turmoil of war.

A memorial service was held in Turkey on Friday and its prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said the country would “share the pain” of Armenians. But he reiterated Turkey’s stance that the killings were not genocide.

Turkey also hosted ceremonies on Friday to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Gallipoli.

However, the actual fighting there began on 25 April, and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has accused Turkey of “trying to divert world attention” from the Yerevan commemorations.

The purple forget-me-not is the symbol of the centenary.

‘Never again’

After a flower-laying ceremony in Yerevan, Mr Sargsyan addressed the guests, saying: “I am grateful to all those who are here to once again confirm your commitment to human values, to say that nothing is forgotten, that after 100 years we remember.”

In his address, French President Francois Hollande said: “We will never forget the tragedies that your people have endured.”

France has been a strong advocate of recognising the killings as genocide and President Hollande has pushed for a law to punish genocide denial.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killings as “one of the most tragic disasters in the history of humankind” which “shook the whole world”.

“There cannot be any justification for mass murder of people,” he said. “Today we mourn together with the Armenian people.”

Commemorations in Yerevan drew to a close with a candlelit procession. People carried flowers to the city’s memorial late into the evening.

Elsewhere:

In Lebanon – home to one of the largest Armenian diasporas – tens of thousands of people attended a march and commemoration service in Beirut
In Jerusalem, Armenian priests held a two-hour mass in the Old City. Posters outside the church called on Turkey to recognise the mass killings as genocide
And in Tehran, hundreds of Armenian-Iranians attended a rally from an Armenian church to the Turkish Embassy.

US President Barack Obama issued a carefully worded statement for the anniversary, referring to “one of the worst atrocities of the 20th Century”, without using the term genocide.

During his 2008 presidential election campaign, then senator Obama had vowed to “recognise the Armenian genocide” and in his new statement said: “I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed.”

However, his phrasing has angered Armenian Americans.

Bryan Ardouny, executive director of the Armenian Assembly of America, said in a statement: “President Obama’s exercise in linguistic gymnastics on the Armenian genocide is unbecoming of the standard he himself set and that of a world leader today.”

Turkey: Gallipoli events lose flair with many no-shows, low-level reps

April 22, 2015 By administrator

Only about 20 heads of states will be attending the Turkish government’s centenary commemorations of World War I’s Gallipoli Campaign — also known as the Battle of Çanakkale — on April 24-25, a date chosen to deflect attention from Armenia’s centennial commemoration of what they consider to be genocide.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had invited 102 heads of state, including Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan, to the Gallipoli commemorations, which are traditionally commemorated on March 18 every year. Sarksyan in an open letter to Erdoğan turned down the invitation and called on Turkey to stop its “denial policy.” report Zaman

Sarksyan had previously invited Erdoğan to the centennial commemorations of the Armenian “genocide” in Yerevan. Turkey denies that the mass killings and deportations of Armenians in 1915 at the end of World War I amount to genocide.

The Prime Ministry’s Directorate General of Press and Information (BYEGM) announced on Wednesday that the 100th anniversary of the battles of Gallipoli in Çanakkale and the İstanbul Peace Summit to be held on April 23-25 will be attended by senior representatives from 73 states, including 20 heads of state, three parliamentary speakers, three vice presidents, five prime ministers, two former presidents, 28 ministers, seven deputy ministers and five general secretaries of international organisations.

Today’s Zaman has learned the Arab League was not among the international organizations that were invited to the Gallipoli ceremonies.

A foreign diplomat in Ankara told Today’s Zaman the Turkish government at first stressed that the invitations were originally only for heads of states, heads of governments and ministers but after receiving poor responses, the government notified the embassies in Ankara that invitations to the Gallipoli commemorations are also extended to ambassadors as well.

A number of countries, including the US, are attending the commemorations at the ambassadorial level. A US Embassy spokesperson told Today’s Zaman on Wednesday “Ambassador [John] Bass will be the US representative at the Çanakkale ceremony.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be going to Yerevan for the centennial commemorations in Armenia, while Russian Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin will be attending the April 24 Gallipoli events.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic will also be attending the ceremonies in Yerevan, while the country is sending its First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic to attend the Gallipoli commemorations.

French President François Hollande will also be attending the ceremonies in Yerevan and is sending a minister of war veterans to the ceremonies in Turkey.

Fresno: Armenian Genocide Commemoration Preliminary Calendar of Events

February 15, 2015 By administrator

January 2-25, 2015 “Remembering Armenia” Photography Exhibit

Dr. Jane Kardashian and Michael Karibian

Spectrum Gallery, 608 E. Olive Ave, Fresno, California

Art Hop Reception Jan 8, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Open: Thursday 12:30-5:00 p.m.

Friday 12:30-8:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Admission Free

January 24, 2015 Sayat Nova Choral Group of Los Angeles Hamazkayin

First Armenian Presbyterian Church

430 S. First Street, Fresno, California

January 8-February1 “/alter/pieces: degrees of sacrifice”

Hazel Antaramian-Hoffman art exhibit

Art Hop reception, Jan 8, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Fig Tree Gallery 644 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno, California

Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m. Admission Free

February 11, 2015 “The Armenian Genocide in Film: Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives” Part I, first in a three-part series of lectures by Kazan visiting Professor Dr.Myrna Douzjian (UCLA).

Organized by the Armenian Studies Program, California State University, Fresno

University Business Center, Alice Peters Auditorium Room 191 7:30 p.m.

Admission Free

February 21, 2015 Armenian Cultural Day

(Backgammon Tournament, Music, Dancing, Costumes,

Arts and Crafts, Food Demonstrations, Coffee Reading) 2:00 p.m.

Fresno, Art Museum, 2233 N. First Street, Fresno, California 93703

Open Thursdays-Sundays 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Admission: $5.00 for non-members, Free for members

Children under 5 years of age are free

March 2- April 9 Art Exhibits:

“Armenia Observed”

Photography by Peter Carapetian

and they walked for you and for me

Installation by Joyce Gostanian Kierejczyk

Art Space Gallery, Fresno City College Admission Free

1101 E. University Ave., Fresno, California

Art Hop Reception March 9, 2014 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Hours: Monday/Tuesday 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.,

Wednesday/Thursday 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Closed Friday-Sunday

Closed March 30-April 3

March 8, 2015 Chookasian Ensemble and Dance Troup

April 2014 Genocide Awareness & Prevention Month Concordia University, Irvine, CA. (Video) #armeniangenocide

April 5, 2014 By administrator

Remembering the Past Toward Healing our Future.

Speakers: Barbara English, Jeff Mallinson, Levon Marashlian

Concordia University

April 2014 Six-event commemorative film series featuring the stories of survivors and their children. Armenian, The Holocaust, Cambodia, rwanda, Bosnia…
this Video is one of the six on Armenian Genocide

1915-1923 Genocide of Armenians, The Turkish Government sought the creation of the new homogenous Turkish state extending into Central Asia and now saw the Armenian minority population as an obstacle to the realization of that goal. on April 24, 1915, began the genocide at first with arresting and then with mass deportation into the Syrian desert. ultimately, more than half the Armenian population, 1.500,000 people were annihilated. In this manner the Armenian people were eliminated from their homeland of 3,000 year.