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Armenia: Sayid Avdalyan on the achievements and losses of #Yazidi community

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President of the Association of Young Yazidis of Armenia NGO Sayid Avdalyan#

“Yazidi community had more losses than achievements in this year,” President of the Association of Young Yazidis of Armenia NGO Sayid Avdalyan noted during today’s press conference when summarizing the year.

In his words the genocide against the Yazidis (Yezidis) of Shangal town which began in 2014 continues up to now, and as a result of the ISIS attacks over 25.000 Yezidis were murdered, numerous settlements of Yezidi communities became under their control and many sanctuaries were destroyed.

“According to the data provided by the UN 3500 Yezidi women and children are held captive as of now. And the destinies of those people are unknown as ISIS militants have sold them into slavery in different countries. More than half million Yazidis have become refugees,” Avdalyan noted.

He mentioned that many states, as well as international organizations reacted to the genocide against Yezidis, however those reactions remained only on the paper as no concrete steps are taken to stop the atrocities against those people. “Yazidis are not safe in Muslim-majority countries,” he added.

However he added that the Yazidi community has registered some achievements together with significant losses.  “On 1 April 2016 the first pan-Yezidi satellite TV channel launched in Russia. On 28 September the Yazidi organizations in Russia came together and established a joint organization called Yazidi Congress. During the Georgian parliamentary elections a Yazidi person was elected PM, and he will present the interests of the Yazidi people,” Sayid Avdalyan said.

He considered the liberation of a Yazidi neighbourhood located 20km near Mosul as one of the most important achievements of this year.

President of the Association of Young Yazidis of Armenia NGO added that in Yerevan and in Aknalich monuments dedicated to the memories of the Iraqi Yazidis genocide were opened.

 

Source Panorama.am

Armenian American Museum unveils design for Glendale site

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The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center (AAM) has unveiled the Concept Design of the museum for the location across from the Central Library in downtown Glendale at a gathering of more than 400 community members at the Brandview Ballroom, Asbarez reports.

The Museum envisions an iconic design that will depict the rock formations and mountain range found in Armenia. Alajajian-Marcoosi Artchitects described the design as also capturing the sensation one gets from the San Gabriel Mountains rising to the north of Glendale.

Over the next two months, the Armenian American Museum will implement its outreach efforts to obtain feedback about the Concept Design.

In March of this year, the Glendale City Council recommended that the Armenian American Museum consider locating the Museum and Cultural Center in what is commonly known as the Central Park Block Project area in the heart of the City near the Colorado Street and Brand Boulevard intersection. An Exclusive Negotiating Agreement was executed by the City and the AAM Governing Board in the summer to initiate the process for conducting feasibility studies, developing concept designs, and negotiating ground lease and development agreements.

The City and the AAM are on schedule to complete the concept design, traffic, parking, economic, and environmental studies in time for the consideration of the ground lease agreement by the City Council during the first quarter of 2017.

The Central Park Block Project envisions the construction of a new downtown public parking structure and repurposing the parking lots located to the south and east of the Central Library to recreational uses. The Concept Design calls for constructing a museum and cultural center on top of the subterranean garage.

The unveiled Concept Design demonstrates how the exhibit galleries, halls, theater, research facilities, learning center, demonstration kitchen, and archive space will connect to each other and the outdoor covered plaza. City and Museum officials are also considering improving the large area between the Central Library and the Museum’s building into a public plaza and paseo connecting the Central Park Block to the Museum of Neon Arts and the Americana at Brand.

City officials and community organizers believe the synergy between the Armenian American Museum and the neighboring Central Library, Museum of Neon Arts, and Americana at Brand could make the downtown area an extremely appealing location for the City’s residents and tourists.

Related links:

Asbarez. Armenian American Museum Unveils Concept Design for Downtown Glendale Site

Armenian Genocide Institute among Turkish DDoS competition targets

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A Turkish crime group has come up with a new scheme that will create a competitive league of groups carrying out DDoS attacks. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan is among the targets, The Merkle reports.

This “league table” will only apply to groups using the crime syndicate’s own DDoS tools, though.

As one would come to expect, the Turkish crime group has also put together a list of target organizations. For now, this list is rather small, although it contains some prominent targets. For example, the CDU Party led by Angela Merkel, and the Armenian Genocide Institute are two potential future DDoS targets.

Relations between Germany and Turkey deteriorated after the Bundestag adopted a resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide on June 2. Merkel’s party also backed the motion then.

Surface Defence is the Turkish crime group organizing this DDoS competition. Participants who use their tools will receive 1 point for every 10 minutes of successful attacks using the Tor-hosted Sledgehammer tool. Assuming that the participants can continue their relentless attacks for an extended period, they will track up points rather quickly.

Related links:

The Merkle. Turkish Crime Syndicate Launches Global DDoS Competition Against Prominent Targets

“Unfortunately, I do not know an “Aurora” pretender Turkish figure.” Arman Jilavyan

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aurora-turkish-figure“As a teammate, I would be happy and proud if we have such news and if one day, a Turkish citizen or an ethnic Turkish figure will be able to go up on the stage in Armenia who truly will be honored to receive this award, willingly or unwillingly recognizing the Armenian Genocide and will be worthy of this award,” said Aurora Prize project CEO Arman Jilavyan in an interview with Aravot.am, interpreting the opinion of businessman Ruben Vardanyan, one of the founders of “Aurora” humanitarian initiative, that “we would be happy if one day a Turk received an “Aurora” award. We inquired to know whether there is such a figure.

“Unfortunately, I personally do not know such a Turkish figure but I hope there is one. We do not nominate the candidates, the nomination is open,” replied Arman Jilavyan. He also informed that recently they have hosted Turkish journalists. Arman Jilavyan has not expressed a desire that the latter would write an article about the Armenian Genocide because they will appear in the jail. Jilavyan mentioned that Turkish journalists were told about the Armenian Genocide and necessary materials were presented. The reactions as Arman Jilavyan said, “They were weeping.”

Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2016/12/02/184835/

Armenian Genocide recognition on Syrian parliament agenda: lawmakers

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armenian-genocide-agendaDiscussions on the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide are underway at the Syrian parliament, lawmakers from the People’s Council Omar al Arabi and Alan Bakr said Tuesday, November 29.

At a Yerevan-hosted meeting with Armenia’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, the MPs thanked Armenia for supporting Syria and its people in times of hardships.

Sharmazanov said, in turn, that the Armenian-Syrian friendship has a centuries-old history, which has further strengthened after Syria gave shelter to the thousands of Armenian migrants who had survived the Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Also, the lawmakers dwelled upon the crisis in Syria, with the Armenian MP stressing the country’s position in the struggle against terrorism.

The Charge d’Affaires of Syria to Armenia Essam Nayyal also attended the meeting.

Alan Meale of PACE Monitoring: Everyone must condemn the atrocities committed by Turks against Armenians

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alan-mealeEveryone must condemn the atrocities and the Genocide committed by the Turks against the Armenians. The Governments must recognize what has actually happened. PACE Monitoring Committee Co-Rapporteur for Armenia Alan Meale has made such a statement. “People must be informed, schools must teach about the Genocide and everything must be done to prevent such kind of tragedies,” he has noted.

Alan Meale, together with other Co-Rapporteur for Armenia Giuseppe Galati, have paid a visit to Tsitsernakaberd Memorial accompanied by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE Hermine Naghdalyan. The European high ranking officials have laid flowers at the Eternal Flame paying tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims with a moment of silence. As the NA Public Relations Department reports, PACE Monitoring Committee Co-Rapporteurs for Armenia also visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and got acquainted with the documents on the Genocide.

Source: http://en.aravot.am/2016/11/23/184251/

Problem of reparations to Armenian Genocide victims reaches academic level

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genocide-reparationsIn the past, while speaking of reparations to Armenian Genocide victims, everyone thought of unleashing war against Turkey without properly assessing the reality, Ashot Melkonyan, Director of the Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of Armenia, said at an international academic conference entitled “The Armenian Genocide and reparation problem.”

“The reparation problem is a most important one. In the case of Jewish Holocaust, Jews got things right and took a course of reparation. And the process started in the early 1950s and has continued since, while Jews go on complaining the amount is too small against what happened to Jews,” Mr Melkonyan said.

After being discussed with scholars, political parties and Hay Dat, the issue of reparations has reached the academic level and relevant demands need to be properly formulated – material and territorial reparations.
“Society may strongly oppose you when you speak of something new, but they get accustomed step by step,” Mr Melkonyan said.

Even Germans, who used to persuade Armenians into giving up claims for reparation, have now supported it after the German Bundestag adopted a resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

Drawing parallels between the Jewish Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide, Mr Melkonyan noted the difference is territorial claims.

“The Armenian Genocide was committed in Western Armenia, with the indigenous population deported,” the scholar said.

The proposals for reparation put forward at the conference will be considered and will form a volume in a few days.

Egypt Prepares to Include #ArmenianGenocide Resolution in Agenda

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Egyptian Parliament (Photo: AFP)

Egyptian Parliament (Photo: AFP)

CAIRO, Egypt (Armenpress)—The Parliament of Egypt is preparing to include the resolution on condemning the Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turkey in its agenda.

Head of the Armenian National Committee of Egypt Armen Mazlumyan said that Egyptian MP Mustafa Pakri mentioned the inclusion of the resolution during a meeting with a European delegation.

“Mustafa Pakri briefed the members of the delegation on the stance of the Egyptian Parliament regarding the Armenian Genocide, affirming that they are preparing to present the resolution on condemning the massacres by Turkey to voting. He confirmed that it is a “shame stigma” for Turkey and all other governments must also condemn that inhumane massacre” said Mazlumyan.

Pakri said they initiated a petition and 337 lawmakers approved the initiative on recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide – expressing confidence that the voting will be done in favor of the resolution. The Egyptian lawmaker also condemned the stance of Arab states regarding the Armenian Genocide, mentioning that until now only Lebanon has recognized it.

US congressman says Trump has no relevant information on Armenian Genocide

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armenian-genocideJim Costa, a State of California Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives of the US Congress, told the Voice of America Armenian service that he does not believe that President-elect Donald Trump has relevant information on Armenian Genocide, and we need to see whom he will appoint as the new US Secretary of State.

To note, Congressman Costa was re-elected in Tuesday’s elections.

When asked whether Armenian Genocide recognition at the level of the US President is possible during Trump’s term in office, he responded that the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues should raise this matter sooner or later.

As per Jim Costa, it is very important as to what US foreign policy team Trump will select.

The congressman, for his part, pledged to continue the ongoing efforts—together with his colleagues in the US Congress—toward recognition of Armenian Genocide, deepening of US-Armenia relations, and resolving matters with respect to several other important issues for Armenia.

Italian Foreign Minister pays tribute to the memory of Armenian Genocide victims

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italy-fm-genocideItalian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today.

Minister Gentiloni laid a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and paid tribute to their memory with a minute of silence.

Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum (AGMI) Institute Hayk Demoyan briefed the guest on the history of construction of the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial.

The AGMI Director presented the English publication of the “Armenian Genocide: Frontpage Coverage in the World Press” to the Italian Foreign Minister.