Life in the Armenian Diaspora

Footage of the Armenian-Turkish Negotiations

2009-10-11T03:30:00.003+05:00

Here is some actual footage of the negotiations I thought I'd share, but it is not in English. Just the original Armenian and Turkish dialogue... very interesting to see the process behind the document, you can really see where it comes from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjO0vx97BfQ

Armenia-Turkey protocols signed...

2009-10-11T00:47:00.005+05:00

by the presidents, now let's see how they do in the Parliaments of the two countries.

I've already shared my thoughts on the deal, so now I'll write about the news articles that have been published about the protocols.

They're terrible! So many mistakes!!! I think they illustrate quite well how little the media knows about Armenia, Armenians, the Diaspora, the Turks, the Genocide, etc.

One thing I have found interesting during this whole back and forth among Armenians around the world, including Armenia, is that nobody was against the border opening. I'm not saying they should be, I'm just saying they weren't, even though I expected some would vocally just be 100% against opening the borders without recognition of the genocide. Some newspapers however, published just that. That Armenians who are against the protocols wanted genocide recognition first. Not so.

Another thing often gotten wrong is they say that some Armenians are afraid that the historical panel will decide there was no genocide. I haven't heard Armenians contemplate that outcome either. Their complaint is that there was a genocide, and studying whether there was one is stupid, and that it will just be used by Turkey to delay recognition by third countries like the US, who happily take any excuse possible to avoid recognizing the genocide.

Another mistake I've seen again and again is that "Turkey and Armenia" have agreed to open their borders. Not right. Turkey has agreed to open it's borders, not Armenia. Armenia's borders have never been shut with anybody. They are open to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran, and always have been. Turkey and Azerbaijan however have closed their side of the border.

Another point. Armenia has never mentioned Turkey pulling out of "their close Greek friends lands" in Northern Cyprus. Every time the stupid Turks bring up the "occupation" of Karabakh by Armenians, the Armenians need to bring up the occupation of Northern Cyprus. It's ridiculously hypocritical for the Turks to even mention Karabakh, and Armenia sits there and listens to that drivel, year after year.

And the final thing that comes to mind on this is that when the signing of the documents was delayed, apparently the Armenians refused because of something the Turks were going to say in their statements after the signing. Let the Turks say whatever they want. Take that opportunity to talk about the Armenian Genocide to their faces, telling them that one day they will come around and admit it, and become a little more civilized and human for it.

The Opposition continues... Fight On! Lebanon, You're Up!

2009-10-06T02:10:00.004+05:00

I'm finding it a bit hard to believe that the repat and diaspora blogs are so dead. I'm very interested in hearing from the repats about what is going on in Armenia in regards to the protocols. My father who lives in Armenia claims he has been at Republic Square for the past 18 days taking part in the protests. He says there is a news blockade and they are not hearing or seeing reports of all the protests in the diaspora. Can it be that the media in Armenia is being repressed and censored? There are reports here of a hunger strike in Republic Square.

Things aren't too different here in the diaspora. In Los Angeles we heard about the protests in Argentina, France and New York. It was difficult to watch the images of police brutality towards our brothers and sisters in France. It's been hard to swallow President Serz Sargsyan's audacity to propose these protocols which are a slap in the face for every diasporan! The Genocide hits home with so many of us because it is because of the Genocide that our families ended up in the Diaspora. If it weren't for the Genocide my grandparents would have not lost their families and been forced out of their village in Dikranagerd and into Syria!

If you have not read these disgusting protocols you can educate yourself here;
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/protocols_explained.pdf

Yesterday over 10,000 Armenians in Los Angeles protested outside the Beverly Hills Hilton where President Sargsyan met with community organizations. It was a great feeling to see young and old gathered, people from every political group, different churches all united shouting in unison. It was inspiring to see both recent immigrants from Armenia and people who were born in the diaspora all protesting side by side for the same issues. For years I remember feeling like the Diaspora was fighting for Hai Tad by itself, but hearing about the protests in Armenia and seeing so many recent immigrants from Armenia out at the protest felt great! For once we were one united voice. One people. It's so very sad that the one time we have come together like this is against our own nation's President. The man who in fact should be the one bringing us all together to fight for our Country not bringing us all together to protest his actions.

There was such a great energy at the protest. The most popular chant was by far "Tavajan" every time the monitors would start that chant our voices seemed to get louder. I think the most chilling moment for me was late into the afternoon when I could tell people were running out of gas. The monitors voices were horse from yelling for hours. The microphone was passed to a young boy who was probably 10 years old and he lead the crowd in the "Baykar,Baykar Minchev Verch" We may have only had 10,000 people shouting their hearts out but it felt like 50,000 because at that moment our voices were reverberating off the building and filling the air. I can only hope that our voices were heard in Sargsyan's ears.

The support for these protocols is so minimal it's almost non-existent. As I write this blog hundreds from the Los Angeles area are in Montebello. They have created a barricade by forming a human chain and surrounding the monument. President Sargsyan was scheduled to visit the monument to pay his FAKE respects to the memory of the victims of the Genocide. However, our community is there to stop him and get the message across that he is not welcome at our monument. We don't want a hypocrite like him anywhere near it. We do not support him or his protocols. We do not support the formation of a historical committee to debate the Genoice. We reject the idea and we reject him. The Genocide is not up for debate. No historian in their right mind would join such a commission. Is the Holocaust debatable? NO! Are the massacres in Darfur debatable? NO! It blows my mind that the President of Armenia would even consider the fact that the Genocide is debatable!

We do not recognize the current border! Ararat is ours! Moosh and Van are ours! Kharapagh is not for sale or up for trade! The decision to illegally close the common border was a unilateral decision made by Turkey! The decision to deport and murder over 1.5 million Armenians was that of Turkey. You tell me... who is the hostile neighbor?

Unless Sargsyan is a secret genius who is staging this entire thing to show the world that he tried to normalize relations with Turkey their way and his nation is not behind it I feel he should be impeached. The chances of him never having intended to sign these protocols is very slim, but regardless of the outcome I feel he needs to be impeached! Any Armenian who would even entertain these protocols is not fit to be the President of our country.

Sargsyan will be leaving Los Angeles today and heading to Lebanon and then Russia. I'm sure Lebanon will greet him with open arms...but I don't know what those arms have up their sleeves but news is that the Lebanese-Armenian community has started their protests already!

Something tells me when all this is over Sargsyan is going to need to seek political asylum somewhere. Maybe Turkey or Azerbaijan will take his Tavajan ass!

STOP THE PROTOCOLS!

http://stoptheprotocols.com/

Links everywhere

2009-10-02T01:06:00.004+05:00

Parevner !

Of course there's much more serious things happening here around armenian concerns, but they're not as satisfying as they should be, so let's wait for better things to tell...

Just received 2 surprising web links, the kind of which i love to have... and share :)

The first from a french friend of a french friend : an original creative person ! i don't know how else describing her, and the best is probably to visit her newly born website Aurélie Barbereau

And the second one from Artsvi Bakhchinyan, interesting for learning an armenian danse lesson with chinese teacher and students :)
So enjoy TAMZARA DANSE and have a good practice ! :)

Ecco, ciao

Sarksyan to visit Diaspora. Diaspora to Protest!

2009-10-01T21:03:00.003+05:00

Armenia's president, Serzh Sargsyan has called a meeting on October 3, 2009 in New York City with Armenian organizations from the Eastern United States to discuss the Armenia-Turkey protocols. Following this meeting in New York, Sargsyan will be traveling to Los Angeles where he will be attending a gala banquet at the Beverly Hills Hilton.

It is my hope that during the meeting in New York the Armenian Organizations he will be meeting with give him a piece of our mind. It is also my hope that the protest that has been planned across the street from the gala banquet in Los Angeles will get his attention along with all the other protests and rallies being organized in Armenia and the Diaspora.

It comes as no surprise to me that once again, the United States is getting involved with an issue that is none of its business. The only opinion that matters on these protocols is that of the Armenian nation and it seems that the Armenian people around the world have spoken. The question is...will we be heard?

No to the Turkey-Armenia protocol

2009-09-25T02:05:00.003+05:00

I'm not against Turkish-Armenian relations at all, but I think that there is something very critical being swept under the rug here, and not even talked about, which is evil.

The protocol forces Armenia to recognize the current border with Turkey. Why? That is an incredible concession being made by Armenia, in return for absolutely nothing. While most people are protesting the historical commission, that does not interest me as much. It is silly, but it is not as harmful in the longrun. The genocide is a fact that the whole world now recognizes, whether officially or not. The endgame in that battle is getting near, and Turkey already knows how it is going to end. That is why the commission is a mere delay tactic.

When the genocide is recognized by Turkey, the question will be reparations, and if Armenia recognizes the current borders, which is totally unncessary in order to simply establish normal diplomatic relations and an open border, it will be in a much worse position at that time.

In other words, we are giving up a lot, in return for what, being treated like human beings? Like neighbors? The people of Armenia have sacrificed a great deal over the past 18 years due to the closed border, and now Armenia has established trade routes through Georgia and Iran, as well as the air. There is no point in making such a large concession to the Turks in return for nothing at all.

No, no, no, I say. No Serzh. You may be trying to distract people from your corruption, you may be getting pressured from the West in exchange for brushing your post-election murders under the rug, but you cannot do this. You cannot act like we are on board, and that we want it.

You want a new protocol? A fair one? Here it is in one sentence, go ahead and sign it:

"Turkey and Armenia agree to establish diplomatic relations and open their land
border to trade."

And actually, it should just just read "Turkey agrees to establish...", since Armenia has agreed to have diplomatic relations and an open border this whole time.

Turkey needs this for the EU. It needs it to revive the economy of the eastern provinces. We do not need to make any concessions like this in order to get what ought to be ours to begin with.

Enjoy the Hamburger, Don't Forget the Chips

2009-09-15T08:28:00.007+05:00

This is not an LA morning, I thought silently when I woke up. Went to work praying, as I always do. I met an Armenian student who came from Krasnodar last week. Not a word in English, but you'll make it, son --I thought. He was good in Math, knew Geography, spoke a few words in Armenian--the rest was in Russian. You will make it, but please don't forget your kind, we can't afford that--I was thinking while helping him fill the papers at school.

After school I went somewhere. Had to do some business. Met an old friend there who returned from Armenia several days ago. He confessed "It is different, not the 80's any more, but I'd love to live there." A young lady in her 30's was eavesdropping to our conversation. It was evident she was willing to participate. "Wait until you live there, you'll run away like crazy," she said. Who is she. I asked. Don't mind her, she is a hot head, my friend replied. She was a recent immigrant, I thought. Educated, gorgeous facade--but where did this hatred come from? She does not speak English yet, is in the process of acculturation. Wait until it hits you in several years, I thought. Wait until you pass through the 4 stages of naturalization, and I will talk to you then. Never mind, I don't want to talk to you, it'd be a tremendous waste. Find out on your own how difficult it is to be uprooted, planted in a different setting that has all the necessary components to grow, yet something would still be missing. Wait until you are able to purchase a nice car, some decent furniture; I hope you learn English the way you speak Armenian --then you'll get a well paying job, because you are ambitious, strong. Sooner or later you will realize that it's not "vortegh hats, endegh kats," as wise as it sounds, but "babo, vorn e mer hayrenin?" Can't help imagining how your heart will tremble when you hear a duduk melody, how guilty you'll feel when your husband will raise the shot of cognac to drink for "Hayastan." You still have some excuses, you're a newcomer. I hope you will change your views, because if you don't, then please stay away from me. I consider myself a kind and understanding human being, but will unleash my fury when I hear the same reaction in a couple of years. Stop confusing the government with the "yergir," please! I will not argue with you today, and I am not your enemy either. We have the same origins regardless of the fact whether you come from Middle East or Europe, Australia or Kenya. You, just like me, ran away. I stopped, you are still running. I have realized many things I used to disregard. The sorrow and pain made me an artist, a songwriter. I create, and I hold the "hayrenik" in my heart. Every time I visit Armenia my love to the land becomes stronger. I cherish every second of the limited time I have in Yerevan. I miss my family and my friends in LA when I am in Armenia. I miss Armenia when I am in LA. It's a catch 22, I guess. I infuse my feelings into the child who is confused, acts out, rebells without understanding, that his state of mind is boiling because he does not have the answers to the question "why did we have to leave Armenia for LA, Paris, Burkina Faso?" Wait until your son asks you the killer question. Meanwhile, enjoy the hamburgers with soda, and don't forget the chips.

Armenian in Georgia

2009-09-06T03:49:00.002+05:00

Georgia has said it is "open" to the idea of Armenian being an official language in heavily Armenian areas. That would be a big step for a country that has tried hard to assimilate its minorities. Now let's see if they actually take the step, even on paper. Some Georgian officials reacted pretty explosively to the idea, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Temur Yakobashvili.

Turkish border to open in 3 and a half months?

2009-09-04T19:21:00.003+05:00

According to the New York Times, the "roadmap" between Armenia and Turkey ought to be ratified by both sides in about 6 weeks, and it calls for an opening of the border within 2 months after that. The headline says the border will be opened to "trade", while the short article just says "opened", so I wonder if tourists and people would be able to cross the border as well?

Of course I also wonder if this is so much hot air and lies, and nothing is going to happen except for more excuses for the U.S. State Department to brush the genocide under the rug.

Baby Boom in Karabakh

2009-08-21T00:29:00.002+05:00

Armenialiberty reports that "Medical services in Nagorno-Karabakh are struggling to cope with a surge in child births more than nine months after a mass wedding (of 1,356 people, in other words 678 couples) that was organized and sponsored by a Moscow-based Armenian businessman."

Azeris voting for Armenia in Eurovision questioned by police

2009-08-18T21:49:00.001+05:00

From BBC:

People in Azerbaijan who voted for a song by neighbouring Armenia in May's
Eurovision Song Contest have been questioned by the authorities.

One man told the BBC he was accused of being unpatriotic and a
potential security threat, after he sent a text backing Armenia's song, Jan
Jan.

The Azerbaijani authorities said people had merely been invited to
explain why they voted for Armenia.

Paradise Now?....Paradise How!

2009-07-02T20:37:00.005+05:00

I was prepared to dedicate this blog to writing about a summer concert in the park I attended last week at Pasadena's Levitt Pavilion. I wanted to write about the band I saw (Element) and how they have progressed over the last few years, the atmosphere of the event and seeing a bunch of familiar faces, but then I remembered that I blogged about seeing Gor at the Levitt Pavilion a year ago and decided there's something else on my mind that I could blog about instead.

A few months ago, a friend recommended I watch a film called "Paradise Now" it immediately got added to my Netflix queue and a few weeks later it arrived in my mailbox. I had read the synopsis of the film and loosely knew about the premise, however I wasn't expecting it to take such a profound effect on me.

In the first scene of the film, a Nancy Ajram song was playing in the background and right there I felt something.... I watch many Spanish language foreign films and many times a song I recognize will be playing in the background and it won't even phase me why was this different?

I don't want to say too much about the film because I highly recommend it and don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'll just stick to points that are discussed in the short description of the film online. There are two male characters who are chosen to go into Israeli settlements and carry out an operation. The viewer gets insight into each man's internal struggle towards doing this and also their motivation. There are female characters who have been affected by husbands and fathers who in the past were dragged into the conflict in various capacities and whose lives have been affected by the voids left by lost family members. Basically the film portrays the women trying to convince the men that sacrificing more Palestinian lives and perpetuating the cycle is not the answer while the men believe taking things lying down is not the answer either. Although I side with the Palestinians I couldn't decide whether I sided with the views of the women or the men.

It's fairly interesting, that although I was not born in the Middle East, I have never lived in the Middle East, or visited the Middle East, and I don't speak Arabic that a movie such as this can stir up my emotions and affect me so deeply. A few years ago, during the International Film Festival at the Archlight in Los Angeles, my cousin Shooshig and I sat through a very long documentary about the last days of Arafat. That film even with scenes of Arafat in the helicopter as he was flown out to seek medical treatment and all the information it contained didn't do for me what "Paradise Now" did.

It's no secret that when it comes to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict I've always been sympathetic towards the Palestinians and I view Israel as the oppressor. However, why am I not impartial to this issue? Why is it that my peers can be so oblivious about it, yet it enrages me that this is still going on? I'm not an anti-Semite, as I'm sure some would label me. I live with a Jew for Pete's sake! Even my Jewish roommate doesn't care about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as much as I do! (Granted she's more of an US Weekly reading, Pop Culture aficionado who thought Abu Dhabi was on the continent of Africa and I'm more of an Economist reading, current events and history buff, who couldn't identify even one Jonas brother or actor/actress from the film "Twilight" if my life depended on it!) I guess it could very well be that I liken the struggle of Armenians and our issues with occupied territories to that of the Palestinians, but surely, there must be more to it than just that. Why is it that of all the people in the world with territorial occupation issues I sympathize most with the Palestinians? I’ve observed that most Armenians feel the same way I do. Can it be just as simple as that? Is there a deeper underlying reason?

What shocked me most about my reaction to this film was that I realized if I were a Palestinian I don’t know which side of the debate I would be on and the film showed me that neither do the Palestinians. They themselves are torn on whether they should keep doing what they’ve been doing or find new means.

Armenia Gears Up For Direct Flights To U.S.

2009-06-25T19:24:00.000+05:00

24.06.2009
Hovannes Shoghikian
RFE/RL

Armenia’s national airline will likely start first-ever direct flights to the United States by the end of this year in line with a U.S.-Armenian “open skies” agreement signed in November, officials said on Wednesday.

The agreement, which entered into force on June 16, entitles Armenian and American airlines to operate regular flight services between any cities in the two countries. They will be free to determine the frequency of flights, the equipment used, and the prices charged.
Artyom Movsisian, head of the Armenian government’s Civil Aviation Department, told RFE/RL that Armenia’s leading carrier, Armavia, intends to fly to New York and Los Angeles and will soon apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a relevant license. He said a team of officials from the department’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will then arrive in Yerevan to look into Armenian aviation facilities, safety rules and practices, and their conformity with international standards.

Movsisian was confident that Armavia will get the green light to launch the service that will allow thousands of Armenians traveling to and from the United States each year to avoid lengthy layovers at European airports. They account for a large part of passengers taking daily flights between Yerevan and major European cities.

“Unfortunately, all these procedures necessary for the airline to carry out flights [to the U.S.] are a bit slow,” said Movsisian. “They could take up to five or six months.”

A spokeswoman for Armavia told RFE/RL that the private carrier, which presently flies to 26 destinations in Europe, Russia and the Middle East, is already preparing to acquire a long-haul jetliner for the transatlantic service. “As soon as we get the permission, we will be able to have a big plane in our fleet that will carry out those flights,” said Nana Avetisova.

According to Movsisian, the U.S. side has yet to name an American airline interested in flying to Armenia.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, meanwhile, welcomed on Wednesday the entry into force of the U.S.-Armenian aviation agreement. “The agreement will strengthen and expand the already strong trade and tourism links between the United states and Armenia, and provide multi-million dollar benefits to American and Armenian carriers and the traveling public, while preserving the United States' commitments to aviation safety and security,” the embassy said in a statement.

Roxana Saberi and Silva Harotonian

2009-06-03T22:18:00.002+05:00

Roxana was an Iranian with a US passport who was jailed on espionage in Iran. A large international ruckus ensued. Silva was an Iranian of Armenian descent working for an American organization, but without US citizenship. She shared a cell with Roxana. There has been very little about her in the media, sadly. She still sits in jail.

Obama laughs at Armenians request to honor his promise

2009-05-28T20:44:00.004+05:00

My opinion of Obama has dropped to a new low, after he joked about Armenian protesters asking him to honor his pledge to recognize the genocide yesterday in Los Angeles.

A gaggle of sign-waving protestors milled around outside The Beverly Hilton, the sprawling hotel on Wilshire Boulevard. They must have caught the president’s eye when he arrived at the hotel from an earlier stop in Las Vegas because he relayed one of their messages to the crowd.

“One of them said, “Obama keep your promise,’” the president said. “I thought that’s fair. I don’t know which promise he was talking about.”

The people at the audience – who paid $30,400 per couple to attend – laughed as they ate a dinner of roasted tenderloin, grilled organic chicken and sun choke rosemary mashed potatoes. (N.Y. Times)

Seriously, Barack? Shouldn't you be finding out which promise instead of laughing about it? Ouch!

Summer in Yerevan

2009-05-20T03:23:00.002+05:00

I have pretty much been over the moon because of the fact that I'm spending the summer in Armenia. My day-to-day existence has suffered, since all I can think about is Yerevan in all its wonder. I visit often, so I still remember my city well and have been in every imaginable historical site outside of Yerevan, but I can't help but notice every single summer that Yerevan isn't nearly the same place I leave after each trip. New sites, cafes, bookstores, and other establishments spring up on every turn. Yerevan is changing, and I seriously can't keep up with it from the villages of Alabama.

So, I have a plea. Please please please tell me some of your favorite places in Yerevan so I can put them on my gargantuan to-do/see list. I have all the musts down--Cascade, Opera, Paplovok, puppet theatre, etc.--but have a small understanding of where to seek actual Yerevanian fun. (It does not help that the younger me was really nerdy and spent excessive hours in the museums downtown.)

Liar, liar... Obama the typical politician.

2009-04-25T02:16:00.003+05:00

January, 2008, Obama the candidate:

"The Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence," he said in a January 2008 statement on his campaign website. "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that president."

April, 2009, Obama the president:

Both in Turkey (when asked) and in his April 24th statement, completely avoided using the term Genocide. He did hypocritically state however that "My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts."

It's like talking about the Holocaust without using the word Holocaust, lest you offend the Germans. As if it's the German's feelings that are important in that case.

So we continue waiting for justice, watching the last of the ancient survivors dying off, until soon, not one will be left to hear the United States, supposed beacon of democracy and human rights, use the right word to describe the hell on earth they lived through.

Turkish-Armenian relations here? Genocide recognition on hold again?

2009-04-23T06:03:00.004+05:00

The State Department just announced a statement by Turkey and Armenia on Normalization of Relations. The Associated Press published an article 2 hours ago titled "Turkey says accord reached with Armenia on roadmap". The article of course gives no details at all about any actual plan, and certainly doesn't mention any signatures, commitments, or anything concrete.

So an announcement like this can only mean one thing. It's April 22nd, and Turkey is worried Obama will say GENOCIDE in his April 24th statement. After making all those announcements before Obama's Turkey visit about how close they were to normalizing relations, Turkey has said three times in the last few days that it will absolutely not normalize without the Karabakh precondition. So now everything is all settled? Just yesterday Turkey pulled their Ambassador to Canada because Canadian officials attended a genocide related event. I will say this, I just can't wait to see this roadmap.

Will Obama keep his promise, or will the Turkish games win the day? I want to believe that good will prevail, that this time, the campaign promises could be believed, but... the doubt is strong in me.

Obama: Strike 1

2009-04-06T19:24:00.002+05:00

Obama's first chance to openly acknowedge the genocide has come and gone. He struck out. Very, very disappointing. April 24 is his next chance. I hope he doesn't blow that one, too.

Meanwhile, Armenia has agreed to build a rail link with Iran. It's good they're not depending on a benevolent Turkish opening of the borders for their future transportation links. Even if Turkey opens them tomorrow, there's no reason to believe they won't close them again at their first whim.

Our home

2009-03-28T21:22:00.005+04:00

Here's a universal and spectacular project to be aware of : HOME is the documentary-movie of Yann Arthus Bertrand, that will be launched in more than 70 countries, on next june 5th, world wide day of environment considerations, in cinemas, but also every other available supports (TV, dvd, books...), in order to increase public awareness of the environmental issue of our planet.

Spectacular because of the way YAB presents it to us : never seen gorgeous images filmed like that, even more gloryfied with a music that can't let you indifferent. Judge by yourself with the english video here :
http://www.home-2009.com/us/index.html

The duduk player, amongst them, is Levon Minassian, one of the world's best dudukist after the masters of Armenia, who worked with them and many other great artists, often for wonderful movies like "va, vis et deviens".

The amazing voice singing Mcho Dacht is Roselyne Minassian, his younger sister.

Both are born in Marseilles from a family devoted with all its heart, to armenian culture through music.

With YAB, the music composer Armand Amar, and so many other people that made this never-ever-done thing possible, they contributed to that creation, an exceptional work that will certainly move you.

Enjoy & wake up !

Bumps

2009-03-27T13:24:00.008+04:00

On this happy friday morning, let’s take a glance at the program of the week-end :

Saturday evening : in the Cultural Center of China in Paris, celebration of the 1st anniversary of the YP Paris web of Armenian young professionals of Paris (as it exists in much AGBU around the world). In normal time I would have had laziness crisis for such things, but I get convinced that I had to go since I prepared an article about this innovative concept (yes amongst Armenians it’s still possible !). The present responsibles of YP Paris managed in a very professional and interesting way, to federate Armenians who usually don’t attend commonly known Armenian gatherings, around their professional career developments considerations and toward the only thing they have in common : being Armenian. Beginning from nearly nothing last year, it now reunites 400 members, and now “recruits” by simple word of mouth, which means it had enough convinced its members of its potentials…
For more informations : http://ypparis.agbueurope.org/
And here’s a nice clip made during their launching event last year
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4q752_ugab-yp-paris-jeunes-professionnels_news

Sunday at noon : at the Château Dampierre (in the south west suburb of Paris), dansing lunch for celebrating the 25th birthday of the club franco-arménien d’Antony, a town of Paris’s south suburb. Again, i wasn’t supposed to go, but as i had good relationships with some singers of their little choir, i get strongly invited to go… which is not so bad, cause this club is so close to my living place and i didn’t even know it existed, and since such time. Do you see what i mean ? I’ll have to write something about them of course ! But it’s alright cause the subject is also worthy: Antony is a town which long had Patrick Devedjian as mayor, and since he’s now in the Government (in charge of the Plan de Relance, that is to say Reflation plan for our plundged in crise economy), his wife took it over. Of course it explains why the club exists, giving Armenian lessons, singing and dansing lessons with its little means (amongst which a house freely rented by the town hall). And well, it contributes to maintain an Armenian official presence in a town where Armenians are important, a visible presence for local public authorities, and that should be more visible for Armenians also ! We all know that those 2 aspects are never to be neglected !

Ok, now you might have understood by now my suspicions of any kind of obsession, extreme, absolutism & etcaeteras, particularly with those Armenian points of view that i bump into so often. So i want to balance this post with nothing-to-do-with-armenian-points…
Just heard this morning on the radio, Seether’s cover of Georges Michael’s “Careless Whisper”. At first i was like “wait, it reminds me sthg… Uh ?!” and then, it wasn’t so bad, actually its energy was even making the song better ! YESSSS !

And, which ended my trip to the office this morning : the neverending feeling of love for Paris… thanks to city tours i had to do a lot this month (because of Armenian friends coming from abroad, oops!) i often rediscovered new secret beauties of the city, aaaaah sights of happiness while reading my Balzac’s “Lost illusions” in the metro, enjoying his living & merciless views about the huge human comedy, remembering his Parisian house i’ve visited last week end for the 1st time (so cute and quiet place… a muse-um),

and while watching outside the wagon passing on one of the south-east bridge’s upon the Seine (on one side is the classic and historical Paris, on the other one you see the newly renovated quarters which are also impressive). Bah, you’ll say it’s cliché & easy, and you’ll be right, but even obvious things need to be repeated … and cliché’s are born from real exceptional moments, so ecco !
Have a nice week end , in advance ! ;o)

Coming Soon... More Aquatic Opportunities for Armenia's Kids!

2009-03-18T22:24:00.002+04:00

From an article in The Armenian Weekly

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The decorative fountains of Armenia have longed served a dual role in the infrastructure of this historic land.

In addition to beguiling tourists each year, they’ve continuously attracted frolicking youngsters to their midst—under what may be considered unkempt and unsanitary conditions.

On a hot summer’s day, children throughout Armenia are taking the plunge in these fountains for lack of better recreational facilities, when not being evicted by local police.

Youngsters take the plunge in an unsanitary fountain in Yerevan.
But help is on the way through the efforts of a newly formed organization named Aquatics Armenia.
Thanks to a group of concerned Greater Boston Armenians, the push is on to provide between three to five fully fledged aquatics centers throughout the country, the first of which will be constructed just outside of Yerevan in the community of Nor Nork.

Each pool will eventually become self-sustaining with its own board of governors and finance mechanism in place.

The ambitious project has been gaining impetus since 2005 and began steamrolling two years ago.
An acre of prime land in this heavily populated section of the country has already been settled with construction set to begin once paperwork and preliminary details are negotiated.

It’s the vision of Garo Lachinian, a former press photographer-turned-missionary who deems this “pool project” a necessity—one that will enrich the community and provide sustenance to its growing population, especially in terms of quality of life.

On a searing mid-summer’s day, young boys seek relief from the heat in the public fountain in Republic Square in downtown Yerevan.
“For people of limited means in Armenia, this project aims to provide an escape from the summer’s hot, dry, and dusty climate by creating an oasis for fun, for fitness, and for families,” said the 46-year-old Watertown resident.
“During the hot summers, most of Armenia’s children lack access to safe and supervised recreation,” he added.
“Many try to cool off in unhygienic areas such as polluted rivers and public fountains. With the increased privatization of public spaces, children also lack clean and safe playgrounds to stay active.”

The idea came to Lachinian five years ago during a photo assignment in Armenia commissioned by the Armenian Tree Project. While driving through Republic Square, he saw youngsters splashing inside the public fountain and found it disconcerting.

“At a time when Armenia was making a big push to promote tourism, that just seemed out of place to me,” he recalled. “It was clear to me these kids were swimming in a space that wasn’t designed for that purpose.”
A further inquiry with a friend revealed the unthinkable: “There are no public community pools in Armenia,” he was told.

With old, Soviet-built pools crumbling and public fountains stagnant with bacteria-laden water, the alternative approach would have to be private pools with clean, filtered water, trained lifeguards, swimming lessons for one and all, and fully handicapped accessible—recreational equity for Armenia’s communities, one facility at a time.

After confirming there were no community pools for people with limited means, Lachinian set the wheels into motion. He organized a committee and began laying out the groundwork. As for capital, his godfather (Berdj Medjelian) was so moved by reports of the deprivation of youth activity in Armenia that he offered $100,000 as seed money.

Dangerous waters in Yerevan will soon give way to public swimming pools, thanks to Aquatics Armenia, based in Watertown.
Today, Aquatics Armenia has an executive director on board named Lenna (Garibian) Kaligian, a Belmont resident with an economics degree from UMass-Amherst, who left her marketing role in private business for the non-profit sector.

The staff also includes Arman Arakelyan, the organization’s country director based in Yerevan, together with a five-member board of directors headed by Lachinian, who spent 20-plus years in the newspaper industry as an award-winning photojournalist.

Today, he devotes his time to his family and his passion as evidenced by 11 trips to Armenia in an effort to realize his dream.

“There are many private pools in Armenia,” Kaligian pointed out. “Unfortunately, they are very costly for locals. You’ll find them in private clubs and hotels, not in the public sector. There happens to be a noticeable lack of appropriate space for recreation and we aim to do something to fill that void.”

Two separate advisory boards, one here and the other in Armenia, have the endorsement of such individuals as Rev. Dajad Davidian, the former pastor at St. James Church in Watertown (now living in Armenia), and Massachusetts State Rep. Peter Koutoujian, along with Jirair Haratunian, former board chairman of the Armenian Assembly of America.

Police arrive to evict youngsters from an unhygienic fountain, as much for their own protection as for the presumed eyesore they pose at the height of the tourist season. (Photos courtesy of Photolure)
The organization’s newest board member, Tsoleen Sarian, has a background in YMCA work and sees the good this project can do for Armenia in the long run.

“It’s something that bears substance, not just a diasporan project,” she agrees. “The ripples from this aquatics project will extend throughout Armenia and have a positive impact upon the population.”

The design of the aquatics centers will be dictated by available land in the outlying regions. They will come equipped with playgrounds, green spaces for family gatherings, formal swim lessons, lifeguards, trainers, coaches, and competitive teams.

A feasibility study showed Nor Nork as the ideal pilot community, on the western edge of Yerevan’s city limits, on land donated by the municipal government. A satellite view of the location shows a densely populated area marked by a number of adjacent buildings and home fronts. Davit Petrosyan, the “mayor” of Nor Nork, is said to be bubbling with excitement over the plan.

The swimming pool will be joined by a smaller wading pool for toddlers, a playground and picnic area, concession stand, offices, first aid station, family changing rooms, benches, and shade areas.

“Studies show that active children achieve higher grades and are less likely to smoke and abuse drugs and alcohol,” Kaligian added. “In the United States and Canada, access to community recreation programs has been linked to reduced crime rates. A clean, supervised swimming pool brings all the benefits of recreational activity to Armenia’s politically maturing, economically depressed communities.”

Through athletics, programming, and public health-focused alliances, the facility will also function as a health promotion center encouraging good nutrition, regular exercise, and smoking cessation whereby stronger families will become compatible to stronger communities.

The activity bodes well with insiders like Marieta Basilisian, leading specialist for the Ministry of Health in Armenia. “It is strictly prohibited to swim in decorative pools and fountains because people wash their dogs in those places late at night despite our prohibitions,” she says. “It’s not hard to guess what can happen with a child who swims in the same place that very next day.”

According to Sergey Karapetian, the head of the sanitary hygienic department of the Center of Disease Control in Yerevan, 19 filtering stations inside the city can clean the rivers and lakes only from pollution.
“Decorative pools are not disinfected at all,” he confirms. “The only way to prevent the infections is to spread the information. But not everybody follows the news.”

While the pool project wasn’t meant to solve an economic crisis in Armenia, it does represent a model for recreational standards that should improve the quality of life. Lachinian sees it as a boost to employment and a heavy shift toward enriching health standards.

“The best way to rehabilitate a country is to start with the youth,” he maintains. “The feedback has been positive. What we have here is the genesis for a competitive aquatics program in Armenia. We also intend to partner with other agencies related to health and hygiene, and drug and domestic abuse intervention.”

A capital campaign is being launched in the spring to raise $1.5 million for the first phase of the project. In addition to individual donations, the group will reach out to the private sector. Contributions may be sent to Aquatics Armenia, P.O. Box 965, Watertown, MA 02471.

“I close my eyes and can hear the kids in Armenia chirping and laughing in the water,” said Lachinian. “That’s what keeps me motivated. It’s music to my ears.”

www. aquaticsarmenia.org

Unusual... really unusual ?

2009-03-16T01:38:00.003+04:00

PAREV TSEZ !

I can't write here as often as i'd like too, but my armenian world is still alive, and maybe more living than ever. Quite strange because even when i'm doing nothing for it, it all turns back to it ! There are moments like that... maybe i should take a break, but i'm not sure it's possible ! ;)

A recent example with a concert of the Sipan-Komitas choir last friday, for the farewell of its 83 years old leading chief, Maestro Garbis Aprikian (he has been leading the choir more than 50 years!). I didn't intend to go, quite exhauted those last days, but during last week, i've been asked more than once by different persons if i'do go there. I got cold and ill with fever's up & down so going at the concert was definitely out of my mind. Would you think that would suffice ?
On wednesday I got a call : another person offered her place to me cause she couldn't go as planned when she bought it.
Sometimes, you just have to follow the current...
So I packed myself well (the concert was in a huge & wonderful church of Paris, Eglise St Vincent de Paul), and went. It was as usual, full of people, sympathic with funny meetings, some pari djarbigutyun to imagine for getting correct place to listen in spite of the crowd seated, and the music was getting more and more pleasant as the songs followed one after the other... And more when the created songs of Garbis Aprikian have been presented !
Finally i was really happy to go... even if now my voice probably won't come back clear before some days but well, I must confess that my broken and uncontrollable voice is also quite funny to listen for me : i never really know how the sound will go out, surprise, surprise !

Anyway, initially I connected here just to show a little pearl that have absolutely no link with my blas-blas above (but it came to my wandering mind while writing...), so let's show it :

CHINESE SPEAKING ARMENIAN !!! :))

That's really worthy to see, the student needs translation for english, but he speaks armenian !!!

Hayde hima, dodo for me !
Have a nice week !

No dollars in Armenia

2009-02-27T23:54:00.003+04:00

It's been speculated for a few years now that Armenia's currency has been artificially manipulated to keep it strong against the dollar (300 drams per dollar vs. the nearly 600 a few years ago). Oftentimes there has been no logical explanation, and even as other currencies would fluctuate against the dollar, the dram just stood firm, or gained strength. The reason for the conspiracy theories, besides the inexplicable rise of the dram, is that many of the most powerful men in Armenia are big importers, and the strong dram has benefitted them a great deal. Meanwhile, those who actually want to help Armenia by creating jobs, manufacturing, exports, etc have been suffering huge losses, and some have closed up shop. In the past couple of days, a massive shortage of dollars has made it clear, that something is fishy behind the exchange rate...

Buying U.S. dollars was all but impossible in Yerevan on Friday in a further sign that the exchange rate of Armenia’s national currency, the dram, is no longer market-based.

Unlike many other currencies, the dram has not depreciated against the dollar since the onset of the global financial crisis late last year. The government and the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) have since been facing allegations by critics that they are using the country’s hard currency reserves to artificially bolster the dram.

The authorities deny any heavy intervention in the currency market. Many Armenians seem unconvinced by these assurances and anxious to convert their dram
savings into dollars. Lines of dollar buyers could be seen outside some Armenian banks and currency exchange shops on Friday. “Dollars are not for sale in any currency shop,” one woman told RFE/RL.

“Everyone wants dollars, but we don’t sell them,” complained one currency trader at a food supermarket in downtown Yerevan. “It’s a panic. I have only $125 in cash right now. I used to have $20,000 at this time of the day.” -RFE/RL

Diaruntarach (Terendez)

2009-02-20T10:17:00.006+04:00

A few months ago something compelled my family to decide that this year for the first time ever we were going to celebrate Diaruntarch (one of the daghavars of the Armenian Church) or Terendez as it's referred to in Armenia. I'm willing to bet that the average person would assume this wouldn't be a big deal and we would just gather, light a fire and jump over it. WRONG! In the case of my family we begin with someone coming up with the idea and vocalizing it. Next, everyone mobilizes and tasks are assigned via e-mail. My aunt who is a former teacher of Armenian language and Armenian history was assigned the task of researching foods associated with the holiday. My cousin who is also an educator was given the assignment to research Diaruntarach so that she could further enlighten the rest of the family about the origin, symbolism and traditions of the holiday. Another cousin took on the role of hosting the event and decided her backyard would stage the event (so I'm assuming her husband had to figure out the logistics of how to make fire...ha ha... some things never change men are always in charge of making fire).

On the Sunday before Diaruntarach I had gone to church at St. Garabed in Hollywood. That day the sermon strayed from the usual biblical story and moral message and instead the priest read the Catholicos' message about 2009 being "The Year of the Youth". It was a very interesting message and if anyone is interested in reading it in Armenian or English you can find it on the prelacy website www.westernprelacy.org (under the News tab in 2009 Press Releases at the very top) Right before reading this message the priest announced that on Friday the church would be observing Diaruntarach and the community was invited to come and gather around the fire that would be lit in the parking lot adjacent to the church and "joghovurtagan" songs would be song and then the brave were invited to leap over the fire. Can you guess what happened the very next morning? I sent out an email to every member of my family with an e-mail address to see who wanted to accompany me on Friday night to church for "research purposes". Three of my cousins bit!

So, on Friday, February 13th we arrived at Soorp Garabed church to find a small group gathered in the parking lot around the fire (I'm assuming the group would have been larger had it not been raining on and off) singing songs. It was so nice to see members of our community gathered together singing. I truly believe a people that sings together....stays together HA HA! After we left Hollywood we cruised by the Glendale church (yes, we were Diaruntarach groupies) and though the crowd there was larger and the scouts were involved the festivities hadn't begun yet and we didn't stick around. We had seen enough in Hollywood and learned what we set out to learn.

The next day my family gathered around a similar fire in my cousin's backyard. My cousin the teacher gathered all the children around her and the attention of the adults and she told the story of Diaruntarach. Next my aunt the former teacher explained the significance of Diaruntarach halva (which my eldest aunt had taken on the responsibility of making) Next some songs were song, a few shoorchbars were danced and young and old alike were invited to leap over the fire.

The reason I'm blogging about Diaruntarach is because as a diasporan Armenian I found it interesting that my family all of a sudden decided to note this holiday and it just so happened that for the first time I learned that our churches also have events for the holiday. Was it just all one big coincidence? Being that this was the year of the youth the timing could not have been more perfect, we were able to get the younger members of our family excited about a new event which is tied to our church. Where had Diaruntarch been all these years?

By the way that sporty kid in the picture jumping over the fire is my Godson!