Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

The Independent’s natural wine selection Armenian Karasi Areni among

By

The Independent in a fresh article about natural wines recommends trying Armenian Karasi Areni Noir 2014 for an authentic experience.

According to the feature, ‘natural’ wines must tick a number of boxes: organically or biodynamically produced grapes, hand-harvested, fermented using natural wild yeast and additive-free, other than no or very low sulphites. They should, mostly, not be fined – the process where chemicals are put in wine to reduce astringency and residues – and be only lightly filtered. In summary: minimal human intervention – or as one natural winemaker put it: our work is in the vineyard, not in the winery.

The article says a key natural wines trend is amphorea wines – where the wine is fermented in traditional egg shaped terracotta clay vessels, a process which originated many thousands of years ago when wine was first made in central Europe and parts of the Middle East.

“For the authentic experience, try the Armenian Karasi Areni Noir 2014 made from the Areni grape, which is indigenous to Armenia – a country whose robust red wines are well worth discovering – and named after a village where a 4,000 year old winery was discovered,” the article says.

“An extraordinary, iron-fist-in-velvet-glove wine: a perfumed nose, fresh and medium bodied, yet fabulously rich and powerful on the palate, with grippy tannins and layers of ripe red fruits.”

Related links:

The Independent. Wine of the Week: Seven Natural Wines from Online Retailers

Jerusalem must be an independent country like the Vatican, Govern by the three religion

By

By Wally Sarkeesian,

Jerusalem must be an independent country like the Vatican govern by the three religion Christian, Jews, and Muslims. No one religion should possess full control.

History of Jerusalem

During its long history, Jerusalem has been attacked 52 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, besieged 23 times, and destroyed twice.[1] The oldest part of the city was settled in the 4th millennium BCE, making Jerusalem one of the oldest cities in the world.[2]

Given the city’s central position in both Israeli nationalism and Palestinian nationalism, the selectivity required to summarize more than 5,000 years of inhabited history is often[3][4] influenced by ideological bias or background (see Historiography and nationalism). For example, the Jewish periods of the city’s history are important to Israeli nationalists, whose discourse states that modern Jews descend from the Israelites and Maccabees,[Note 1][Note 2] while the Islamic periods of the city’s history are important to Palestinian nationalists, whose discourse suggests that modern Palestinians descend from all the different peoples who have lived in the region.[Note 3][Note 4] As a result, both sides claim the history of the city has been politicized by the other in order to strengthen their relative claims to the city,[3][3][4][9][10] and that this is borne out by the different focuses the different writers place on the various events and eras in the city’s history.

Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beyond Catalonia, Independent movements in Europe, Basque, Scotland, Flanders, Padania, South Tyrol, Corsica

By

Catalonia’s regional government plans to hold its independence referendum on Sunday. But separatist movements are not unique to Spain: Several other European regions have aspirations of becoming autonomous.

The fall of the Soviet Union and break up of Yugoslavia created several new countries in Eastern Europe. Borders in Western Europe, by contrast, have remained firm. Yet, this foundation is being challenged by a series of independence movements, some of which are militant. They have varying chances of success.

Catalonia

Nowhere in Western Europe is the call for independence louder than in Catalonia. The regional language was oppressed in the Franco years, but Catalonia has since achieved a considerable amount of cultural and political autonomy, including its own regional parliament. That is not enough for many of Catalonia’s 7.5 million residents. They want their own country, largely for economic reasons. They believe that the central state is sucking their wealth dry. The region that includes Barcelona accounts for 20 percent of Spain’s GDP.

On Sunday, the regional government wants to have a referendum. Spain’s conservative government led by Mariano Rajoy is firmly against it, calling it unconstitutional. The central government in Madrid is trying to block the referendum through the courts and by using police force.

Read more: Catalonia, Madrid ramp up rhetoric ahead of contested independence referendum

Basque Country

Catalonia looks to its Spanish neighbors in Basque Country. It is the only region in Spain that does not send its tax revenue to Madrid to be shared across the country. Basque Country is responsible for its own taxation, sending just a small amount to the central government. However, it is a poorer region than Catalonia.

Like Catalonia, Basque Country was also oppressed by the Franco dictatorship. Its history has created a more militant push for independence, giving rise to ETA separatist group, which killed more than 800 people in 50 years of attacks. In 2011, the organization declared an end to violence.

Neither attacks nor talks have brought Basque Country closer to independence: Madrid rejects the idea as it does for Catalonia.

Scotland

Scotland has been part of the United Kingdom for more than 300 years, and many Scots have been less than happy about that. They already have their own parliament, and the Scottish National Party (SNP) has been pushing for full independence. The referendum in 2014 failed to achieve that, however, but independence sentiments were again stoked by the Brexit result in 2016. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) reasoned that her country, which voted largely to remain in the EU, should not be forced to automatically leave the EU along with the rest of the UK. She is floating the possibility of another referendum for 2018, when the details of Brexit are clearer. But opinion polls show the result would likely be the same as in 2014.

Read more: Scotland delays independence vote until after Brexit talks

Flanders

The pro-independence leader of the New Flemish Alliance, Bart De Wever, leads Belgium’s current Chamber of Representatives. Wever is convinced Belgium will one day break up and his Flemish-speaking Flanders region would be economically better off without the country’s other region, majority French-speaking Wallonia.

If that were to happen, there would be little of Belgium left: It would lose more than half of its people and economy, calling into question Brussels’ status as EU capital and NATO headquarters, as well as the future of Wallonia. The leftover Belgian region could then be absorbed by France, Luxembourg or even Germany. At the moment, however, there are no immediate plans for a Belgian break up.

Padania

The secession movement in northern Italy is purely financially motivated. The region is Italy’s industrial powerhouse and banking center, producing most of Italy’s GDP. Many in the north feel their poorer compatriots to the south make off with their hard-earned money. The Lega Nord party in the 1990s wanted a complete split from the rest of the Italy, calling their region “Padania,” referring to the Po river valley. Since then, the focus has shifted away from a clean break and towards more control over finances.

South Tyrol

Even further north in Italy is the region that belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of the First World War. There followed a period where South Tyrol was Italianized under Mussolini, before gradually gaining more political and linguistic autonomy after the Second World War. Now the prosperous region is allowed to keep and control most of its revenue.

South Tyroleans were largely satisfied with this arrangement, but separatist sentiments were stirred up by the debt crisis. After Greece, Italy has the highest amount of debt in the Eurozone. Many in South Tyrol didn’t want to have anything to do with the problems of Italy’s central government in Rome.

Corsica

France has long tried to deny the island of its local language and fought strongly against independence movements. The National Liberation Front of Corsica (FLNC) tried to pressure France by force, attacking representatives and French state symbols. The separatist group announced an end to hostilities in 2014, but the potential for conflict remains. French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin made some cautious proposals in the 2000s to allow for some autonomy. This was strictly opposed by the opposition. They feared other regions would then want to break away, too. The central government in Paris tends to pay little regard to regional languages, which are viewed as a danger to national unity.

Read more: In Corsica, a language breeds controversy

Source: http://www.dw.com/en/beyond-catalonia-separatist-movements-in-western-europe/a-40761144

Armenians from the Greater NY-NJ area Celebrating Keghart and Independent Media

By

Armenians from the Greater NY-NJ area gathered at a luncheon program in January 2017 to celebrate independent Armenian media and honor the Armenian opinion and analysis website Keghart.com

Armenians from the Greater NY-NJ area gathered at a luncheon program in January 2017 to celebrate independent Armenian media and honor the Armenian opinion and analysis website Keghart.com and its principals, Publisher Dr. Dikran Abrahamian and English Language Editor Jirair Tutunjian.

Sponsored by Friends of Keghart, the program featured a Kinetson, or book dedication with wine, of Keghart: Vol. III – a compendium of editorials penned in 2015 and 2016 by the Keghart Collective.

Nearly 30 guests invited by Friends of Keghart learned about the history of Keghart and independent Armenian Diaspora media from Abrahamian and about the objectives and achievements of Keghart from Tutunjian. Keynote speaker David Boyajian, an independent journalist based in Boston, discussed a number of contemporary American and Armenian issues and how these issues shape the public’s understanding of current events. Mistress of Ceremonies Lucine Kasbarian, independent journalist and political cartoonist, introduced speakers Abrahamian, Tutunjian and Boyajian.

The overall intention of the gathering was to generate interest in ensuring the future survival of Keghart. Citing circumstances such as mounting expenses personally taken on by Publisher Abrahamian, Keghart suspended operations in September 2016.  A group of concerned individuals called Friends of Keghart stepped forward in an effort to sustain the online opinion and analysis magazine.

Keghart – the Armenian word for spear or lance, referring to that which pierced Christ – was founded in 2007 by Dr. Abrahamian.

The assassination of Hrant Dink in January of 2007 was a major motivation in starting Keghart.com. Its initial mission was to inform and educate non-Armenian audiences about Canadian and international political and human rights issues, as well as issues crucial for the global Armenian nation. However, because of the March 2008 government killings of protesters in Armenia, Keghart decided to focus primarily on Armenian issues.

In some years, Keghart.com has reached close to one million unique visitor hits. Global readers hailed from more than 80 countries, predominantly the USA, Canada, Europe, Armenia, Russia, Australia, Latin America, the Middle East, India, in that order, and occasionally from China and Japan.

In his Introduction to Keghart: Volume III, veteran journalist Douglas Kalajian pointed out, “Keghart has become a unique voice in the Armenian media because it is independent of political parties and related interests, so its writers aren’t pressured to bend the truth or to avoid offense. There is no hidden agenda. As a result, these editorials are unusually forthright and thoughtful. Reading them can be a bracing experience because none of Armenia’s problems are ever sugar-coated by the Keghart team: corruption in government, corruption in the church, the underhandedness of Armenia’s enemies, the treachery of Armenia’s supposed allies.”

The Ontario-based Abrahamian explained to the luncheon attendees the history of independent media in the Armenian Diaspora leading up to the establishment of Keghart.  Abrahamian defined “independent” media as “not being beholden to any political organization, having the luxury of providing equal opportunity to various opinions, and reporting events as they occur without bending them to fit a certain political or other agenda(s).”  Abrahamian used the term “Armenian Diaspora” to refer primarily to the foreign nations to which Armenians were dispersed after the 1915-23 genocide.

He spoke of the legacy and necessity of independent Armenian media, citing among them predecessors such as Antranig Zaroukian’s Nayiri, Simon Simonian’s Spurk (Diaspora), Yeridasart Hay (Young Armenian), the early editions of AIM and others.

Abrahamian’s capstone message urged Armenians and others to utilize Keghart as a free marketplace of ideas in the Armenian struggle to spread truth in a media world tainted with propaganda and falsehood.

The Toronto-based Tutunjian, an award-winning newspaper and magazine journalist, spoke of his experiences with and contributions to Keghart. Upon joining Keghart, he surveyed editorials that had appeared in a dozen or so Diaspora Armenian publications. Tutunjian found that many of their articles were overly partisan as the publications were owned by political parties.

(L-R) David Boyajian, Jirair Tutunjian, Dikran Abrahamian & Mcee Lucine Kasbarian

The pieces lacked punch and there were often not enough “calls to action.”  Abrahamian and Tutunjian decided that Keghart editorials would stand out by being hard-hitting and addressing topics that most Diaspora papers hadn’t touched. They wanted Keghart’s editorials to emphasize independent thought and non-partisan approaches.

Tutunjian said that Keghart editorials had another aim: to provide readers the English words, phrases, memes and facts which readers could use to present the Armenian Case to non-Armenians to rebut Turkish propaganda.

While Tutunjian could not be certain of the demographics of Keghart readers, he followed his gut feeling about what readers might respond to. His guess turned out to be accurate. Keghart soon began to receive many letters. Many agreed with the stands taken in Keghart editorials. Those who didn’t were the trigger for stimulating exchanges among readers. Keghart discovered a “virtual political party” of Armenians… from such places as Sydney, Beirut, London, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile.

They comprised readers who were unhappy with the Armenian status quo and welcomed Keghart’s independence with open arms.  Keghart became an open market for constructive ideas about the Armenian world. Issue after issue, readers could see that Keghart provided a forum that aired ideas with which Keghart didn’t necessarily agree.  If a letter or article were coherent, made interesting points and wasn’t abusive, Keghart would publish it, uncensored.

David Boyajian talked about several popular topics that the American media had discussed in the previous months, such as: “fake news,” media bias and conspiracy theories.

Boyajian also assessed the performance of journalists of Armenian descent who reported on Armenian topics in non-Armenian mainstream media. He said that they were generally a disappointment but that their editors and supervisors were probably responsible because the latter were usually uninterested in, or unfriendly towards, Armenian topics.

Boyajian cited his favorite Keghart editorials in categories from the practical to the historical, the political and the humorous.  He also talked about “Heroes & Villains” –  among his favorite recurring features in Keghart –  which annually singles out commendable and condemnable newsmakers in the global and Armenian worlds.

Boyajian also praised Keghart for taking up activist causes, hosting panel discussions and organizing public polls.  In describing Keghart’s unique position in the Armenian media universe, Boyajian said: “Keghart has a point of view: it’s frankly Armenian.  It vigorously defends Armenian interests.  It does not hesitate to critique – but in a fair way –  the Armenian community, its leaders, the church, Armenia, and Artsakh  –  ­but also seeks to improve Armenian life, not beat it down. I truly cannot think of any other Armenian website that has editorials with such erudition, imagination, and wit.”

Emcee Kasbarian praised Keghart for a series of articles that contained practical suggestions and guidelines to Armenian article and letter writers who wished to reach non-Armenians about the topic of the 2015 Genocide Centennial. Keghart sent these to every Armenian church and organization for which Keghart possessed email addresses with a request that they republish them in their newsletters.

Kasbarian also cited a memorable instance of media analysis and criticism in which Tutunjian excoriated Western media outlets for their dishonest coverage of the April 2016 Azeri attacks on Artsakh.

In his editorial titled “The First Casualty,” reprised on p. 177 of Keghart: Vol. III, Tutunjian recited, chapter and verse, the typical falsehoods carted out by mainstream media.  A modified version of his editorial was sent to – and appeared in –  15 non-Armenian independent and alternative media outlets.

Kasbarian concluded, “We cannot afford to lose Keghart.”

Friends of Keghart took up the mission to continue Keghart’s successful publication and expand its reach with professional editors and technical personnel at the helm.  In October 2016, an online appeal issued by Dr. Berge Minassian raised over $22,000 in donation pledges. In connection with this Kinetson, donation pledges of more than $4,000 have been collected to date.  When a new Keghart gets off the ground, a new guard of non-partisan individuals intend to approach those who pledged to fulfill their intentions to donate and discuss ways and means to remain self-sustaining.

Before ceremoniously pouring wine onto an open Keghart Vol. III, writer C.K. Garabed performed the Kinetson saying, “I dedicate this publication, in friendship, to all those free and independent spirits who refuse to be coerced into believing that they see the Emperor’s New Clothes when their eyes clearly tell them otherwise.”

The guest speakers were presented with gifts as thanks for their dedication and service.

To ensure the future survival of Keghart, Kinetson attendees suggested starting an online crowd-funding campaign through KickStarter.com or similar websites, establishing non-profit status, and engaging auditing firms to handle budgetary issues.

Friends of Keghart invites further suggestions and ideas from supporters and readers as it moves forward with garnering support for this unique and beloved online analysis and opinion magazine.

Additional donation pledges (not checks at this time) may be sent to Dr. Berge Minassian at: berge.minassian@sickkids.ca or Lucine Kasbarian at: editor@lucinekasbarian.com.

Keghart: Volumes I, II and III are downloadable on Keghart.com.

Publisher’s Note

Dr. Minas Kojayan could not attend the kinetson. As the Armenian language primary editor of Keghart.com, he has been one of the pillars of the website. A veteran editor and teacher, Armenologist Dr. Kojayan has taken the pulse of the Armenian Diaspora through his well-informed and brilliantly-penned articles providing practical solutions to the challenges the Diaspora faces.

PM: In 20 years Armenia will be independent, secure, just and intellectual

By

pm-secure-armeniaYEREVAN. – We must create such conditions which will make the Diaspora want to make investments.

Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan stated the aforementioned on Saturday, responding to questions during an event dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

In his words, the regular address to the Diaspora—as a source of benevolence—is unpromising and wound’s our vanity.

The discussion host Mark Grogoryan, for his part, presented the criticism of actress Arsinée Khanjian in regard to the existence of monopolies and legislative gaps in the country, to which Karapetyan noted that the mentioned issues deserve attention.

Asked which problems hinder Armenia-Diaspora ties, the Prime Minister said:  ”It is necessary to create regular contact to listen and understand each other.”

To the question on how he sees Armenia in 20 years, Karapertan responded: ”Independent, secure, just and intellectual.”

Referring to the question on what kind of opposition he dreams of, the PM said: ”Intellectual opposition.”

Responding to the question of a Facebook user on whether he believes in fairy tales, the head of the Government said: ”A person, who grew without fairy tales, is a dangerous one.”

 

Karabakh 25 Congratulation. was is will always be Artsakh gagrule.net

By

karabakh 25Sept. 2 marks the 25th anniversary of the proclamation establishing the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic (NKR/Artsakh). These have been years of struggle, battles, heroism, creativity, and achievement. These achievements would not have been possible without the unity and collective support of the Armenian nation.

 

42% of Russians believe that Karabakh must be an independent state

By

arton116456-430x298

 

Almost half (49%) of Russians believe that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are independent states. They also believe that Transnistria must formally have the status of independent country. This is what emerges from a survey conducted by the Levada Centre from August 21 to 24 on a representative sample of 800 people in 134 municipalities in 36 regions of Russia. However 10% of respondents believe that South Ossetia should be part of Georgia.

Independent Greeks leader says ready to form coalition again with SYRIZA

By

kammenos--2-thumb-largeGreece’s right-wing Independent Greeks party said on Sunday it would ally with election winners SYRIZA to form a coalition government.

“From tomorrow morning, with Alexis Tspiras as Prime Minister we will form a government,” Independent Greeks president Panos Kammenos told reporters.

SYRIZA was emerging as the clear winner in Sunday’s poll, with 35.5 percent based on more than half of votes counted. That would give it 145 seats in the 300-strong parliament.

Kammenos’s party was polling about 3.7 percent, with an estimated 10 seats.

[Reuters]

#TakeUsWithYouScotland: 1000s in N. England sign petition to join ‘future independent Scotland’

By

independent-ScotlandOver 35,000 people from northern England have signed a petition, asking to join future independent Scotland and sever from London. It says ‘the northerners’ have more bonds with Scotland than with “the ideologies of the London-centric south.”

“The deliberations in Westminster are becoming increasingly irrelevant to the north of England,” says an online petition to the UK Government on change.org website.

The document dubbed: ‘Allow the north of England to secede from the UK and join Scotland’ has been signed by almost 35,000 people.

“The northern cities feel far greater affinity with their Scottish counterparts such as Glasgow and Edinburgh than with the ideologies of the London-centric south,” the petition says. Hashtag #TakeUsWithYouScotland that appeared a week ago has been retweeted more than 25,000 times.


The document states the north of England “should join the newly independent Scotland and regain control over its own destiny.

“We, the people of the north, demand that in the event that Scotland becomes independent the border between England and the New Scotland be drawn along a line that runs between the River Dee and the mouth of The Humber.”

Source: RT

White House won’t support independent Kurdish state: spokesman

By

White-House-spokesman-Josh-Earnest-photo-ap.jpg.pagespeed.ce.Kc0WbVfsACWASHINGTON,— The White House said Tuesday that it still backs a “unified” Iraq even with the president of the Kurdish Regional Government set to ask for U.S. support for his government during his current visit to Washington.

“It continues to be the view of the United States that a unified Iraq that’s governed in an inclusive way is clearly in the best interest of Iraq’s diverse population,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

Iraqi news agencies said self-determination of Iraqi Kurds in Kurdistan Region will be one of the main topics to be discussed during Massoud Barzani’s visit, citing his Chief of Staff Fuad Hussein.

The White House released a readout saying President Barack Obama on Tuesday met Barzani at the White House, along with Vice President Joe Biden.

Though Kurdish leaders were expected to raise the possibility of a “self-determined” Kurdish government during the meeting, the White House readout said fighting against Islamic State IS was the main topic of discussion.

The leaders “discussed a range of issues, including the campaign to degrade and ultimately destroy IS and the status of ongoing political initiatives to address the needs of the Iraqi people and foster cooperation across all communities,” the readout said.

Iraqi troops and Kurdish peshmerga forces are fighting against IS, supported by a U.S.-led coalition that has been conducting airstrikes against the extremist group.

Obama reaffirmed Washington’s support for the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and the Kurdish people and also “reaffirmed the United States’ enduring commitment under the Strategic Framework Agreement to a united, federal, and democratic Iraq, as defined in the Iraqi constitution,” according to the readout.