Wednesday 30 September 2015

Armenian News...A Topalian


Interfax: Russia & CIS General Newswire
September 26, 2015
Sixteen thousand Armenians arrive in Armenia from Syria since
beginning of crisis

Yerevan is concerned about the situation in Syria, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian said.

"We are deeply concerned about the clashes continuing in Syria and the
humanitarian situation, which is getting worse every day. The Armenian
authorities are focusing on the problems of Syrian Armenians, which is
indicated by the Armenian general consulate in Aleppo, the only
foreign diplomatic mission, and also the embassy in Damascus,"
Sargsian said at a meeting of the state commission on the coordination
of events devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

The Armenian president said 16,000 Armenians have already arrived from
Syria in Armenia since the beginning of the crisis. 


ITAR-TASS, Russia
September 26, 2015 Saturday 10:19 PM GMT+4
Armenia's president concerned over situation in Syria


Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan has expressed his deep concern
over the Syria crisis affecting the Armenian community, Sargsyan told
on Saturday a meeting of the governmental commission on coordination
of events dedicated to the centenary of Armenian genocide in the
Ottoman Empire

Armenia "is deeply concerned with the continuing clashes in Syria and
with the daily deteriorating humanitarian situation in that country,"
Sargsyan said. "Armenia keeps a watching eye on the problems of
compatriots living in the region and in particular, of Syrian
Armenians."

"The only diplomatic mission operating in Aleppo, Armenia's consulate
general, testifies to the fact," he said noting that "Armenia's
embassy keeps working in Damascus."

"Successors of the Armenians, who were lucky to survive in the 1915
genocide, share the destiny of the people who thrusted out a helping
hand to them then and now are suffering huge human and material
losses," the president said recalling that his country had accepted
16,000 Syrian refugees.

"Without a single exception, all the Armenian state bodies have been
involved in solution of Syrian Armenians' problems and in socialising
them," he said.

Besides, Sargsyan thanked the countries and international
organisations, the Armenian community abroad and individuals who have
provided and are providing assistance in settlement of Syrian Armenian
refugees in Armenia. 



Business Insider
Sept 27 2015
Five killed in clashes between Armenian-backed Karabakh troops 
and Azeri army
Reuters
By Hasmik Mkrtchyan and Nailia Bagirova


BAKU/YEREVAN (Reuters) - One Azeri soldier and four troops from the
Armenian-backed breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region have been killed in
border clashes, the Azeri defense ministry said on Saturday.

The Azeri defense ministry accused Armenia of provoking the
confrontation but Armenia said on Friday that Azeri forces had
attacked several villages near the border between the two former
Soviet republics, killing three civilians.

Clashes around Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies inside Azerbaijan but is
controlled by a majority of ethnic Armenians, are stoking fears of a
wider conflict breaking out in the South Caucasus, which is crossed by
oil and gas pipelines.

Nagorno-Karabakh has run its own affairs with heavy military and
financial backing from Armenia since a separatist war ended in 1994.
Its Armenian-backed forces hold seven Azeri districts surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh.

One Azeri soldier was killed and three were wounded in the clashes,
the Azeri defense ministry said in its statement.

"Responsibility for escalation of tension at the frontline is on
Armenia's political and military leadership," the ministry said.

The Nagorno-Karabakh ministry of defense said on Friday that four of
its soldiers had died and several were wounded as a result of
artillery shelling and gunfire from the Azeri forces.

Armenia's defense ministry accused Azerbaijan of stoking the conflict.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan say the other side has been using heavy
weapons.

"In order to quiet and deter the adversary ... Armenia's armed forces
will hereafter apply adequate artillery and rocket striking means,
continuously targeting permanent deployment areas, military movements,
military equipment and manpower," the ministry said in a statement.

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in the dying years of the
Soviet Union and has killed about 30,000 people. Efforts to reach a
permanent settlement have failed despite mediation led by France,
Russia and the United States.

Oil-producing Azerbaijan, host to global oil companies including BP
Plc, Chevron Corp and ExxonMobil Corp, frequently threatens to take
the mountain region back by force, and is spending heavily on its
armed forces.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
appealed to the sides to avoid civilian casualties. 


RFE/RL Report
Mediators Urge Baku To Accept Karabakh Ceasefire Safeguard
27.09.2015

The U.S., Russian and French mediators urged Azerbaijan on Saturday to
accept their long-standing proposal to set up a mechanism for
international investigations of ceasefire violations in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

"Armenia has agreed to discuss the details of the mechanism, and we
urged Azerbaijan to do the same," the three co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group said one day after hosting fresh talks in New York between
the foreign ministers of the two states.

The talks were overshadowed by recent days' fresh escalation of
fighting along "the line of contact" around Karabakh and the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which has left about a dozen soldiers and
civilians dead.

"The Co-Chairs condemned in strong terms the use of artillery that
caused additional casualties in the last twenty-four hours," read a
joint statement issued by them. "We extend our deepest condolences to
the families of the deceased. An escalation of violence is not in the
interest of Azerbaijanis or Armenians, or a negotiated settlement."

The mediators said that they discussed with Foreign Ministers Edward
Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov the "immediate need to reduce
tensions" on the frontlines. They believe that an "OSCE mechanism to
investigate ceasefire violations" would help to defuse tensions.

Armenia and Karabakh's ethnic Armenian leadership have repeatedly 
said that they support the idea. Nalbandian reaffirmed this stance 
during the talks with Mammadyarov.

By contrast, Azerbaijan has objected to the proposed investigations
until now. Its leaders have said that such an arrangement would be
meaningless in the absence of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal.

Significantly, the mediating troika also announced on Saturday that
the two ministers "agreed to continue preparations with the Co-Chairs"
for a meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. The summit
is "expected to be held before the end of this year," it said. 


armenpress.am 
Blessing of the Holy Muron launched at Mother See of 
Holy Etchmiadzin
27 September, 2015


YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27. Blessing of the Holy Muron is
launched at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Primates of dioceses of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, leaders of Hierarchical Sees of
Jerusalem and Constantinople, representatives of the Great House of
Cilicia came to participate in the ceremony conducted ones in 7 years.

`Armenpress' reports that the silver pot of Muron is located at the
Holy See open-air altar St. Trdat,filled with olive oil mixed with a
substance made from 40 spices of herbs. The pot had remained on the
Main Altar of Mother Cathedral for 40 days.

After the blessing of the Holy Muron, covered with a veil, will remain
on the altar for the believers and pilgrims.

The blessings and consecration of the Holy Muron (Chrism) is a sacred
and mysterious service, which is traditionally held once every 5 to 7
years. Muron has two essential elements: olive oil and balsam, which
are mixed with more than 40 varieties of incense, flowers, spices,
flower essences, oils and leaves. 40 days before the Blessing and
Consecration of Muron the caldron filled with pure olive oil, is
placed on the altar of the Mother Cathedral and covered with a woven
veil. During each of the 40 days, a special service is offered after
the evening worship, in preparation for the upcoming Muron Blessing
Ceremony.

In the Armenian Church, the right to Bless and Consecrate the Holy
Muron is reserved for the Catholicos of All Armenians, who blesses it
with three traditional Holy relics of our Church: the Relic of the
True Cross, which contains a piece of the Life-Giving Cross of the
Lord; the Holy Lance `Geghard' which pierced the side of Christ; and
the reliquary of the Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator.

The blessing of the Holy Muron is a sacred act for every Armenian. It
is a uniting force for Armenians spread all over the world and a
powerful tie between the past and present of this small nation. 


EURASIAN UNION FAILS TO DELIVER FOR ARMENIA
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
Sept 24 2015

by Armen Karapetyan

Against expectations that Armenia's economy would be boosted by
membership of the Eurasian Economic Union, the figures show the
country worse off than before.

Many Armenians hoped that improved customs and trading terms would
open the way to a boom in exports to other members of the bloc,
which came into being in January 2015.

When President Serzh Sargsyan formally signed the accession treaty
in October 2014, he was upbeat about the prospects.

"It's obvious to us that together, we are stronger economically and
it's easier for us to respond to global challenges," he said. "The
Eurasian union is huge in terms of geographical reach. We are certain
that there's enormous untapped potential there to boost our position
on the map of the world."

But in 2015, Armenia's weak economy has struggled to compete against
giants Russia, Kazakstan and Belarus.

A weak ruble has made Armenian goods relatively expensive in Russia,
and imports from that country are correspondingly cheaper. The fifth
bloc member, Kyrgyzstan, is also suffering a disappointing start.

The head of the Union of Exporters, Raffi Mkhjyan, says the promised
benefits of accession have yet to arrive.

"In recent years, we've constantly been told that the
170-million-strong market of the Eurasian union countries will open
up colossal opportunities for us and that we'll get easier access to
the Russian market," he told IWPR. "But what do we see now? The same
queues and problems at the Russian border. That country thinks only
about its own companies. The ruble has been devalued so much that
it's quite simply unprofitable for us to sell there. As a result,
our exports are falling."

Armenian's statistical office reports that exports to Russia fell
by a whopping 47 per cent year on year in the first half of 2015,
and by 33 and 30 per cent to Kazakstan and Belarus, respectively.

Imports from Russia might have been expected to rise, since a weaker
ruble has made them cheaper for Armenians. But instead they too
fell, by 15 per cent, as spending power contracted due to the general
economic situation, and specifically a reduction in spending power as
Armenian migrant workers in Russia send less money home. Nevertheless,
Armenia's imports from Russia still dwarf exports to that country,
at 420 million US dollars against 70 million in January-June.

The fall in Russian imports fits a pattern of slowing trade among all
Eurasian bloc members, as regional economies slow down as a result
of recession in Russia caused by low oil prices and Western sanctions.

International Monetary Fund figures from June predict the Russian
economy will contract by 3.8 per cent this year, while Armenia will
see zero growth.

Figures for January to May (the month Kyrgyzstan joined) show that
trade between Russia, Belarus, Kazakstan and Armenia fell by 26 per
cent compared with the same period in 2014.

The ruble has fallen to 50 per cent of its value against the US
currency at the start of 2014, whereas the dram has fallen by only
17 per cent over the same period - and almost not at all in the last
seven months.

Gagik Makaryan, chairman of the Armenian Employer's Union, says Russia
has gained an unfair advantage over its Eurasian bloc partners because
a cheaper ruble makes its goods so much more competitive than theirs.

"If the Russian economic slump continues, other countries will
experience growing disappointment with the Eurasian Economic Union,"
he said.

Stepan Safaryan, head of the Armenian Institute for International
Affairs and Security, said the government in Yerevan should be doing
a lot more to protect domestic businesses.

"We now see that when important economic decisions are discussed within
the [Eurasian] union, the Armenian government's voice isn't heard,"
he said.


RFE/RL Report
Human Rights Watch Condemns Attack On Armenian Activist
Sisak Gabrielian
23.09.2015


Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned as "savage" the beating of yet
another Armenian anti-government activist and called on the
authorities in Yerevan to identify and punish those responsible for
the violence.

In a statement released late on Tuesday, the New York-based watchdog
stressed that Smbat Hakobian, a member of the Alliance of Freedom
Fighters, was assaulted and severely injured on Monday shortly after
taking part in an anti-government demonstration in Yerevan.

"The effectiveness of the investigation into the vicious assault on
Smbat Hakobian will be a true test of how seriously the Armenian
government takes its commitment to free expression and peaceful
assembly," Rachel Denber, HRW's deputy director for Europe and Central
Asia, was quoted by the statement as saying.

"People in Armenia shouldn't be risking serious injury to take part in
a peaceful protest," Denber said. "The government needs to make clear
that anyone who interferes with peaceful protesters will be held
accountable to the full extent of the law."

HRW noted in that regard that three other members of Hakobian's
organization, which unites Armenian veterans of the Nagorno-Karabakh
war critical of the government, were beaten up in Yerevan late last
year. "No one has been held accountable for those attacks," it said.

Meanwhile, the Armenian police said on Wednesday that they have
detained three men on suspicion of involvement in Hakobian's
beating. A police spokesman did not identify them, saying only that
none of the suspects is called Tigran.

Hakobian claimed on Tuesday that one of his attackers, a certain
Tigran, works as a bodyguard for Ruben Hayrapetian, a controversial
businessman close to the government. He said that Hayrapetian
threatened him with violence when he attended last June's street
protests in Yerevan against an electricity price hike. The tycoon
angrily denied any involvement in Hakobian's beating, branding the
activist a "well-known liar."

Hakobian told RFE/RL's Armenian service from his hospital bed on
Wednesday that he continues to suspect Hayrapetian of having a hand in
the assault. He at the same time sounded optimistic about the outcome
of the criminal investigation launched by law-enforcement
authorities. He said that Vladimir Gasparian, the chief of the
national police service, twice phoned him on Monday to inquire about
his health condition and offer support. 


[Tigran is performing with member of the Yerevan State Choir in 
London on 15 October] 

The Irish Times
September 25, 2015 Friday
TIGRAN HAMASAYAN Luys I Luso HHHH ECM
by: Cormac Larkin

Could this be the next ECM dinner-party hit? On his label debut,
Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasayan's seriousness about exploring his
musical heritage is not to be doubted, and the ancientness and
profundity of Armenian sacred music are beyond question; but whether
those issues are going to matter when ECM's latest jazz-improv-
meets-spooky-male-choir reaches the ears of the chattering classes is
another matter.

Light from Light, as the name translates, will reward close attention,
touching the ancient roots of western music and revealing a pianist of
growing international stature; but this delightful filigree of melodic
invention, laid over a shifting reed bed of male vocal harmony, will
also provide a perfect accompaniment to a goat's cheese salad. I'm
just saying. propermusic.com 


RFE/RL Report
Vatican Cardinal Opens New Catholic Church In Armenia
Satenik Kaghzvantsian
24.09.2015


Underscoring Armenia's warm relationship with the Vatican, President
Serzh Sarkisian attended on Thursday the inauguration of a newly
constructed Catholic church in Gyumri which was led by a visiting
Vatican cardinal.

The Church Of Holy Martyrs was consecrated by Cardinal Leonardo
Sandri, head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Oriental Churches,
five years after the start of its construction financed by Roman
Catholic structures in Europe and the United States. The Lebanon-based
Patriarch Gregory Peter XX, the head of the Armenian Catholic Church,
also took part in the ceremony.

Armenia is home to some 20,000 Catholics following traditional
Armenian religious rites. They are concentrated in the northwestern
Shirak province, of which Gyumri is the capital. All Catholic churches
in Gyumri were shut down shortly after Armenia was incorporated into
the Soviet Union in 1922.

Thousands of other Armenian Catholics live in Georgia's Javakheti
province bordering Shirak.

"I'm a believer of the Armenian Apostolic Church but decided to come
to the Catholic church. It doesn't make any difference," a Gyumri
resident attending the consecration told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am).

Senior clerics of the Apostolic Church, to which the vast majority of
Armenians belong, were also present at the ceremony. They included
Bishop Mikael Ajapahian, the head of its Shirak diocese.

Officials said that the Church of Holy Martyrs is dedicated to some
1.5 million Armenians who were massacred by the Ottoman Turks during
the First World War.

Pope Francis referred to those massacres as "the first genocide of the
20th century" in April while holding a special mass at the Vatican's
St. Peter's basilica on the 100th anniversary of the tragedy. Turkey
reacted angrily to that characterization, accusing the pontiff of
distorting history and recalling its ambassador to the Vatican in
protest.

Armenia rejected the Turkish criticism. Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian praised Francis for delivering the "important message of
solidarity with and support to the Armenian people."

Francis again paid tribute to Armenians massacred "just for being
Christians" after holding a mass with Gregory Peter XX at the
Vatican's St. Martha chapel earlier this month. He compared their
suffering with the ongoing persecution of ancient Christian
communities of the Middle East.

arka.am
ARMENIAN GRAPE HARVEST EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 
300,000 TONS 
YEREVAN, September 25. This year's grape harvest is expected
to be around 300,000 metric tons, by 20,000 tons more than in 2014,
Armenian agriculture minister Sergo Karapetyan told a Cabinet session

The minister said some 80,000 tons have been already bought by wineries
and other processing companies, by 20,000 less from the year before.

According to the ministry, the purchase of grapes began on September
7 and 32 of the 49 processing companies are buying grapes. Procurement
is not started yet in Vayots Dzor region, Karapetyan said.

According to him, there are certain difficulties due to lack of
funding, but the processing companies are working so that all the
grapes be procured.

Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan on September 19 instructed the
ministry of agriculture to ensure that all grape and fruit grown by
farmers be procured in full.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

FATHER FRANK’S RANTS Rant Number 649 28 September 2015 THE POPE & THE ANTICHRIST


POPE FRANCIS IS THE VICAR OF CHRIST. NUTS TO BELIEVE HE IS THE ANTICHRIST!
------------------------------------------------------------


To get an Oxford theology degree in AD 1625 you might have had to answer the question: ‘Is the Pope Anti-Christ?’ Huh! How could the Vicar of Christ – one of the Roman Pontiff’s titles – be the Antichrist? The prince of Christ’s enemies? The chief of the demonic forces of evil unveiled before the Second Coming? Yet, many wonder about Pope Francis. I have googled the question - I got over a million results in a few seconds.

Back in 1625 Protestant divines were perhaps gunning for the reigning Pope, Urban VIII. More likely, they foamed about the historic institution of the hated Papacy. Insane charge. Because it seems to negate Christ’s prophecy to St Peter: ‘The gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church’. Thus, if the whole Catholic Church was under the sway of Antichrist, Christ would have been wrong. No sane Christian should accept that.

Admittedly, some of Francis’ recent acts and omissions are perplexing. Why, for example, in his speech to the US Congress did he not mention Jesus Christ? He alluded to Moses, ‘the patriarch and lawgiver of the people of Israel’, but said nothing of one infinitely greater than Moses, Jesus the Messiah? (The US Congress ain’t quite Israel’s Knesseth…)

He lashed at unbridled capitalism – good – but why pass over in silence scourges like Communism, atheism and secularism? Helping the poor is essential but isn’t the Eucharist inclusive, for all believers? The rich, too? God’s Sacraments cannot be restricted to one class or underclass of the Faithful.

He warned against the ‘polarization’ that divides the world into ‘the righteous and the sinners’. Er…what else is Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats if not that? And what did Moses do to the Hebrews who had sinned worshipping the Golden Calf?

Francis singled out for praise four eminent Yanks but no canonised woman, like St Elizabeth Seton. Isn’t she good enough as American role model?

His attack on the death penalty will be cheered by beautiful souls. In fact, neither by Scripture nor by Sacred Tradition nor by Right Reason – the firm tripod of Catholic theology - can you rule out the legitimacy of capital punishment. Moses certainly did not.

None of that remotely makes Francis an Antichrist. Oh, is such beast singular or plural? The New Testament at times refers to a single satanic ruler or world demagogue, hell-bent on deceiving mankind into sin and evil. But St John in his First Letter speaks of ‘many Antichrists’, as opposed to a single, grand impostor. Throughout history too many got fingered. Caligula, Nero, Domitian, Simon Magus, Arius, Mahomet, Martin Luther, Pope Leo X, Charles Taze Russell - founder of those pesky nuisances, the Jehova’s Witnesses – Trotsky, Hitler, President Obama…and so on. Safe to infer that antichristian personages, real or imagined, have always existed. And always will.

The deepest modern meditation on the Antichrist is by the Russian Orthodox writer Vladimir Soloviev. Christ’s adversary is young, an acclaimed public celebrity and a great thinker. A person indeed of exceptional genius, beauty and nobility of character. As befits the author of the best-selling book, A Way to Universal Peace and Prosperity, he is a philanthropist, a reformer, a lover of humanity. A radical fellow, endowed with exceptional sympathy for the needy.

Soloviev’s Antichrist is no grotesque medieval devil, showing the clover hood and spitting fire. On the contrary, like in Paolo Signorelli’s painting of the Last Judgment, he physically looks remarkably like Christ. But he is envious: ‘Christ is first, why am I only second?’ So Satan seduces this champion of truth and goodness into rebellion…A story amazingly prophetic about a United States of Europe, with a President looking uncannily like Tony Blair! Only the Jews eventually suss him out. You can’t fool God’s ancient people, can you?

In America Pope Francis has scored exceptionally high. He has become a mega-star, almost universally loved and acclaimed. Conservatives are less enthusiastic but all the bien-pensants adore him. Is that a problem? It can be, because being adored by the dominant Zeitgeist is not always a good sign. (‘He who marries the Zeitgeist will soon find himself a widower’, quipped Dean Inge.) The Western Spirit of the Age is liberal, progressive and permissive. Francis is almost a dream Pope going by that. He has not yet handed out condoms like confetti or blessed abortion clinics or gay bars but…even dreams – or nightmares - must have limits, no?

You cannot really understand Pope Bergoglio unless you remember he is a Jesuit. A member of a formidable religious Order founded by St Ignatius of Loyola. A fiery Basque soldier and sensualist, whose conversion turned him into contemplative and warrior, in both the mystical and the earthly worlds. Jesuits became the Pope’s own crack battalions and entered Protestant demonology after the Reformation. Ignatius’ children were subtly clever, casuistic and scheming. An awesome threat to English mercantile Protestantism. Hundreds were martyred but the Order thrived. Of course, today Jesuits have changed a lot. Embraced Liberation Theology and similar muddled-headed but trendy ideas. So, Moses led the ‘migrant’ Jews from Egyptian slavery to freedom in Canaan, the Promised Land. (Palestine, aargh!) Alas, the migrants quickly morphed into keen exterminating warriors against the pagan natives. A moral there?

No, the Holy Father is not the Antichrist.

Only…how good a Vicar of Christ is he?

Revd Frank Julian Gelli

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Monday 28 September 2015

HOLY TRINITY ARMENIAN CHURCH, MANCHESTER




                        on  Sunday  4th  October 2015

          when our Primate,  His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan

                       will celebrate the Badarak  at 11.15 am

               This will be followed by  Lunch    at    1.30 pm

         If you would like to join us for lunch, please help us by 

                        booking as early as possible but

               by Friday  2ND  OCTOBER  at the very latest !

through     Penny Evenson       at      pennyevenson@gmail.com

                                                 or      0161  434  4996

         or      Elsie Couligian       at      elar@talktalk.net

                                                 or      01625  549  123

                          We look forward to seeing you! 

Friday 25 September 2015

Eleonora Asatryan



The Office of the Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairman-in-Office held a regular monitoring visit...
ASBAREZ.COM

Wednesday 23 September 2015

Keghart.com

Original essays published in Keghart may be reproduced, but credit must be provided.
All views expressed in keghart.com are those of respective authors.

Baptism Matters

 Editorial, 22 September, 2015
Two recent Keghart articles about the refusal of priests in Armenia to baptize several hidden Armenians visiting the country from Turkey this summer drew a huge and mostly negative response from Keghart readers.
By early September “Moslem Armenians” (Aug. 19) article by Souren Seraydarian, head of the National Congress of Western Armenians and Raffi Bedrosyan’s “Church Refuses to Grant Baptism to Hidden Armenians” (Aug. 18) had a combined 1,500 hits, not counting the additional number of 2,500 hits tracked through the distribution software and Facebook, which do not appear on the website. Together, the two pieces received 28 comments. Readers overwhelmingly supported facilitating the baptisms and many condemned Echmiadzin for its perceived intransigence. The clergy were dismissed as Pharisees, ignorant, archaic, holier-than-thou… The Church was called preposterous, dysfunctional. ....Read more>>
Your rating: None Average: 5 (3 votes)

Միայն Սեւ Ակնոցներ Չենք Դներ…

Հայկական Դպրոցները եւ Մեր Մարտահրաւէրները
 Դոկտ.  Մինաս Գոճայեան, Լոս Անճելըս, 21 Սեպտեմբեր 2015
Ամէն կասկածէ վեր է որ հայկական դպրոցները արտասահմանի մէջ ի վերջոյ կոչուած են ըլլալու ապահով ապաստան, դառնալու ամպհովանի եւ փրկարար ովասիսներ հայածին սերունդներու համար։ Տարակուսանք չունինք նաեւ թէ՝ ծնողներու, հայ ուսուցիչներու, տնօրէններու եւ կրթական պարտաւորութիւններ վերցուցած մեր ազգայիններուն մէջ չեն պակսիր սրտցաւ ու նուիրեալ հայրենակիցներ, մանկավարժներ, բարերարներ, ծնողա-ուսուցչական օժանդակ մարմնի անդամ-անդամուհիներ։
ԱՄՆ-ի մէջ քսաներկու տարիներու իմ մանկավարժական փորձառութեանս ընթացքին հանդիպած եմ հայ դպրոցին ներկայով ու ապագայով մտահոգ կրթական կեանքի մէջ ընդգրկուած անձերու, որոնք արժանի են շքանշաններու։ Իմ նմաններու քննադատութիւնները չարամտութեան ու մաղձի ակունքներէն չեն սնանիր, այլ արդիւնք են կարգ մը ճչացող թերութիւններու, անձեռնհասութեան, հայ դպրոցներու մէջ նկատուող գոյութեան իմաստի (raison d'être) շիջումին կամ շեղումներուն։ Լուրջ թիւրիմացութեան մէջ են այն անձերը, որոնք փոխանակ վերատեսութեան ենթարկելու (եթէ ատոր ատակ են ի հարկէ) իրենց մօտեցումներն ու կրթական փիլիսոփայութիւնը,  մեր նմաններուն կը վերագրեն վրէժխնդրական եւ կամ «այրած սիրտը» պաղեցնելու տրամադրութիւններ։ ....Read more >>
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The Good Life in Ottoman Deutschland

 Jirair Tutunjian, Toronto, 21 September 2015
Several times, back in 2011, we documented the scintillating and mind-expanding conversations of Ahmet and Mehmet, two Turkish friends living in the deepest Anatolia. The two met regularly, over a cup of kehve coffee, to discuss everything under the sun. But since late 2011 there had been no word from the deep-thinking analysts. Impelled by queries from Keghart.com fans, who wondered as to what had happened to the learned pair, we visited Ahmet and Mehmet to learn why their silence when there’s so much happening in the region. Here’s their recent conversation.--Editor
At the Ataturk Pasha Café in the town of Selçuklar
Ahmet: Mehmet…is that you arkhadash?
Mehmet: Avet, avet. Yes. It’s me, Ahmet.
Ahmet: Geula, geula. Sabah khayir… sorry, I mean Gunay Sun. I heard last week that you had returned from Europe. It’s years since we had our kehve chats. I see you’ve put on weight, arkhadash. Life must be good. Where were you? ....Read more >>
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Buying Their Silence?

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Թուրքը Եւ Խիղճը

Կը խնդրենք այն ընթետցողներէն, որոնք կը փափաքին անգլերէնի թարգմանել սոյն յօդուածը, դիմել խմբագրութեան օգտագործելով dikran@keghart.com է-հասցէն: Մեր փափաքն է զայն յղել շուրջ 5,000 Գանատացի համալսարանական դասախօսներու. շնորհակլութիւն:-Խմբ.
Թուրք պետութիւնն ու  ժողովուրդը, պատասխանատու են
գաղթականներու դիմագրաւած դժուարութեանց համար,
ուր շատեր իրենց կեանքն ու ընտանիքները կորսնցուցին:

(Փրոֆեսոր Այհան Գայա –Պիլկի Համալսարան)
 Ոսկան Մխիթարեան, Լոս Անճելըս, 21 Սեպտեմբեր 2015
Այս անշնչացած մարմիններուն սրտաճմլիկ, ողբերգական նկարներուն ի տես, --մէկը ջրամոյն, միւսը՝ սովամահ,-- ինչպէս՞ կարելի է չողբալ մարդկային անարդարութիւնը: 2 Սեպտեմբեր 2015 թուականին տեղի ունեցած ողբերգական դէպքին, փոքրիկն Այլան Քըրտիի ջրամոյն եղած անշնչացած մարմինը հասած էր Թուրքիոյ հարաւ-արեւելեան միջերկրականեան Պոտրում քաղաքի Աքեարլար  ծովափը: Թուրք մամուլը փորձեց զանազան սրտամորմոք նկարներով արթնցնել մարդկութեան՝ նամանաւանդ Եւրոպական պետութիւններուն խիղճը: Կրնա՞ք երեւակայել նման հակասական երեւոյթ մը -- բարբարոս պետութիւն մը որ առանց խղճահարութեան խողխողեց մէկ ու կէս միլիոն անօգնական հայ ժողովուրդը, արմատախիլ ընելով զայն իր հազարամեայ պապենական հայրենիքէն, կը փորձէ արթնցնե՜լ մարդկութեան խիղճը: ....Read more >>
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Canadian Politician Receives Mkhitar Gosh Medal

 Long-time friend of Canadian Armenians James (Jim) Karygiannis, a Toronto councillor and former member of parliament, was honored with the Mkhitar Gosh Medal at the Sept. 18 celebrations of the 24th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia. The award was presented by Armenia's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada H.E. Armen Yeganian.
A staunch supporter of Canadian-Armenians, veteran politician Karygiannis worked for many years with the Ontario Armenian community to have the Canadian House of Commons recognize the Genocide of Armenians. Canada recognized the Genocide in April 2004. The medal was presented to Councillor Karygiannis for his substantial input in international recognition of the Genocide of Armenians. ....Read more >>
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Armenia’s Oligarchy’s Corrupting Influence on the Diaspora

 Dr. Berge A. Minassian, Armenian Renaissance, Toronto, 16 September 2015
In my last essay (‘Debate and Decision’, Keghart, August 9, 2015), I asked whether there is any good reason to select oligarchy as our system of governance of Armenia.  The only valid reason I had heard was that Russia itself is oligarchic, and would not countenance a democratic Armenia in its fold.  I went on to make the case that while this may be a valid argument it is wrong.  The comments in response to my article agreed on this point.  The bottom line is that it is time to decide to reject the system we have and move into the modern world.
A much more expert economist than me, Prof. Daron Acemoglu, uses the more precise terms of ‘extractive’ for ‘oligarchic’ and ‘inclusive’ for ‘democratic’.  Another term he expounds on in fantastic detail in his ground-breaking book “Why Nations Fail” is ‘creative destruction’.  The latter describes one of the processes through which stagnant countries with extractive rule, break out into modernity and success with some new invention or approach that destroys the hold by the old oligarchy on the economic levers of the country.  ....Read more >>
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Հիմա Ի՞նչ

Հրայր Կարապետեան, Վիեննա, ԱԱՀ, 15  Սեպտեմբեր 2015
«Հող պահանջեցինք, երբ հողային պահանջ կրնան ներկայացնել միայն պետութիւններ, իսկ հայրենի իշխանութիւնները արդէն քանիերորդ անգամ է կը յայտարարեն, թէ հողային պահանջներ չունին ոչ ոքէ»:
...................
«Ամէն կողմէ շրջափակուած, նոյնիսկ իր գոյութիւնը առանց մեծերու հովանաւորութեան պաշտպանել չկրցող երկիր մը ինչպէ՞ս կրնայ այդպիսի հաւակնութիւններ ունենալ։»
....................
«Միջազգային պայմանագիրները, որոնք  կ̓առնչուին հայկական հարցին, ի մասնաւորի արեւմտահայաստանին… արեմտահայ ոչ մէջ պաշտօնական մարմին չէ ընդունած, իր հաւանութիւնը չէ տուած այդ համաձայնագիրներուն, այլ անոնք պարտադրուած են մեզի մեր կամքին հակառակ։»
Յատկանշական տարի մըն էր անկասկած այս անցնող տարին։ Ամիսներ առաջ ազգովին եւ մեծ շուքով նշեցինք Մեծ Եղեռնի 100-րդ տարելիցը։ Խորունկ երկիւղածութեանբ յարգեցինք յիշատակը մեր բիւրաւոր նահատակերուն, որոնք ինկան որպէս մարդ-գազանի վայրագութեան զոհեր, դարձան աշխարհի նոր պատմութեան գիրքին յառաջաբան, որուն էջերը մինչեւ այսօր կը լրացուին մարդկային դաժանութիւնը պատկերող սահմռկեցուցիչ էջերով։ ....Read more >>
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Return to Historic Armenia

 Jirair Tutunjian, Toronto, September 2015
America-born lawyer Matthew Karanian went to Western Armenia in 1995 as a hitchhiking young man, and long before Turkey had relaxed its rules regarding Armenians tourists visiting their historic homeland in Western Armenia, Cilicia and other regions where their parents or grandparents were born.
Karanian has revisited historic Armenia many times since and every time he has photographed buildings which have barely survived Turkish ethnic and religious hatred, treasure hunters and army cannons which have used Armenian churches for target practice. “Historic Armenia: After 100 Years” is the result of Karanian’s peregrinations. The 176-page book, with 125 color photos and maps, is a welcome addition to the growing library of recent books about historic Armenia, outside of the Republic of Armenia. ....Read more >>
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Ե՞րբ է պահը

 Համօ Մոսկոֆեան , Պէյրութ, 12 Սեպտեմբեր 2015
Վերջին տարիներուն հայկական պետական, քաղաքական թէ գաղութային շրջանակներուն մէջ գունագեղ երազներ շրջագայեցան մերօրեայ սուլթան Էրտողանի եւ ժպտացող Տավուտօղլուի կառոյցներուն եւ վարչակարգին հետ երկխօսութիւն ծաւալելու եւ իբր թէ պատմական «հաշտեցման» գալու ակնկալութիւններով:
Բազմաթիւ` յայտնի եւ գաղտնի հանդիպումներ տեղի ունեցան, փրոթոքոլներ ստորագրուեցան, Միրտանօղլուներ Սփիւռքի երբեմնի մայրաքաղաքներուն մէջ Անգարայի եւ Պոլսոյ պալատականներուն գովքերը հիւսեցին, նշելով Սուրբ Փրկիչ հիւանդանոցին եւ քանի մը հայապատկան կալուածներուն բարեգո՜ւթ սուլթան Էրտողանի հայասէր նուիրատուութիւններուն մասին: Մինչ այդ Արեւմտահայ  թէ Արեւելահայ համագումար «գոնկրէսներ» միամտաբար ջերմ հանդիպումներ ունենալով Թուրքիոյ մերօրեայ Իթթիհատականներուն հետ, ոտնակոխեցին ազգային ազատագրական պայքարի ելած կրօնափոխ «քրտացած» հայերու, քիւրտերու, զազաներու, քզըլպաշներու պատիւն ու նահատակները: ....Read more >>
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War, Refugees and Passports

 Alan Whitehorn, Kingston ON, 10 September 2015
I watch the powerful images of hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war in the Middle East and I hear the harsh voices of some senior government officials and state bureaucrats claiming that little can be done since these “people on the move” lack proper government identification. However, I also recall the illustrious Norwegian diplomat Fridtjof Nansen and his innovative and creative solution to a similar bottleneck in the humanitarian crisis that affected the Middle East and Europe almost a hundred years ago.
Fridtjof Nansen (1861 – 1930) was a Norwegian scientist, polar explorer, diplomat, human rights and refugee official and Nobel Peace Prize recipient (1922). Achieving international fame first as an artic explorer, oceanic scientist, and author, Nansen became active in national and international diplomatic service. He served in Norwegian Foreign Service postings in London and Washington. ....Read more >>
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Յո՞ Երթաս, Հա՛յ Ժողովուրդ ...

 Աւետիս Եափուճեան, Սիտնի, Աւստրալիա, 10 Սեպտեմբեր 2015
Կ'ըսուի, թէ  Աւստրալահայ  գաղութը  կը հաշուէ 30-40,000 հայ: Սակայն, վերջին մարդահամարէն ի  յայտ կու գայ, թէ միայն 9,000 անհատներ պատասխանած են, թէ իրենց մայրենի լեզուն հայերէնն է:
Click on "Where Goes Thou, Armenian People?"
to read the English translation (abridged) by Vahe A. Apleian
Կը մէջբերեմ  9 Օգոստոսի «Սասուն»  և  «Թամզարա» հայկական պարախումբերուն  ելոյթներէն ետք, Առաջնորդ Գերշ. Տէր  Հայկազուն  Ս. Եպս. Նաճարեանի փակման խօսքէն հետեւեալ պարբերութիւնը, «Ժողովուրդի մը գոյատեւումը պայմանաւորուած է  իր ոտքի տակի հայրենի հողով: Սփիւռքի մեր պայմաններուն մէջ, մեր ոտքի տակի հայրենի հողը, մեր մշակոյթն է, մեր մայրենի լեզուն է,  մեր գիրն ու գրականութիւնն է, մեր երգն ու պարն է»:
Թէ այդ օր,  ներկաներէն քանի՞  հոգի անսաց Սրբազան Հօր պատգամին, չի  գիտցուիր, հաւանաբար, անոնց մէկ ականջէն մտնելով, միւս ականջէն դուրս  ելած էր, առանց հետք մը թողելու իր ետին:  Հիմա ալ,  թէ  քանի՞  հոգի պիտի  կարդայ  իմ այս յօդուածս, չի գիտցուիր,  բայց անպայման  պիտի կարդան հին սերնդականները,  ատոր  վստահ եմ, որովհետեւ,  անոնց ալ սիրտը կ'արիւնի,  ի տես  նոր սերնդականներուն բռնած այլասերման ուղիին:  Սակայն,  նոր  սերունդին  ներկայացուցիչները, պիտի չկարդան զայն,  պարզ այն պատճառով,  որ  անոնք  հայերէն չեն գիտեր,  եթէ  գիտնան  իսկ,  հայերէն գիր-գրականութիւն, հայերէն թերթ-գիրք չեն կարդար:  Իրենց  համար  աւելի  հեշտ  կը  հնչէ, իրենց  աւելի  սրտամօտ է օտար  լեզուն,  քան  իրենց  մայրենի լեզուն, որ  օտարացած  է  իրենց  համար: ....Read more >>
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Conservative Party Pledges to Open Consular Office in Armenia

Toronto--Sept. 8, 2015--A re-elected Conservative government would strengthen ties with Armenia by opening trade and consular office in Yerevan, announced Minister of National Defense and Multiculturalism Hon. Jason Kenney at the Armenian Community Centre today. Some 150 Armenians in attendance welcomed the minister's announcement with rousing applause.
“The pledge to open a trade and consular office demonstrates the Conservative government’s ongoing commitment to strengthen commercial and social ties with Armenia," said Mr. Kenney and added: “Canada-Armenia trade is increasing rapidly and this new office will help spur even more growth. That’s good news for the economies of both of our countries.” ....Read more >>
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Unionist Terror Against Anatolian Minorities

Boycotts, Pillages, Murders, Exiles and Fires

 Sait Çetinoğlu, Turkey, 6 September 2015
Translator: Serdar Koçman
The economic boycotts of the Ottoman minorities, started in 1908 with the rule of the Union and Progress party and continued until 1924 with the reign of the Kemalists, were part-and-parcel of the planned dispossession and extermination of Christians. These operations were carried out by the Young Turks as state policy. The second function and purpose of these operations was to enhance  national feeling and construct the Turkish identity.
To better understand the boycott strategy the period has to be divided roughly into three parts: 1908 (Infancy); 1909 – 1911  (Maturation); and the Final Solution period after the Balkan War (starting in 1913) and its discharge under the name of exchange. After 1924 the policy to destroy the surviving remains of the sword continued and a homogeneous structure was created where the country became—proudly--99.9% Muslim. ....Read more >>
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