Ali Bastian: “the epitome of an English rose” of Armenian and Russian descent

I knew Ali Bastian as Becca from a popular Channel 4 TV soap Hollyoaks. I never knew her real name. Watching yesterday BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, where 6 celebrities compete in an “end of year dancing extravaganza”, it suddenly occured to me that her surname is “ian”. I know, it’s probably genetic, when each time hearing -yan/ian on a non-Armenian TV or event or a news item, our heart beat increases and we start looking for an Armenian heritage and so on and so on :) Yes, I accept this, and that’s exactly what I did. Quick search on Google brings me to this source that Ali Bastian is of Armenian and Russian descent. She is gorgeous and sexy. BBC describes her as “the epitome of an English rose”.

Originally hailing from Windsor, Ali is the epitome of an English rose. She made her first forays into TV with quintessentially English dramas such as Jane Eyre (when she was 10 years old) and A Touch Of Frost.

Ali is best known for playing Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007. Becca's most controversial storyline in Hollyoaks saw her fired from her teaching job and sent to prison after having an affair with one of her students.

She did not manage to pass through to the final for Strictly Come Dancing 2009 competition. She was dancing in pair with Brian Fortuna, a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer from the US. Apparently, they are an item too.

[...] But just a week after they were controversially voted off Strictly Come Dancing during the semi-final, Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna have finally confirmed they're an item.

After leaving the BBC show where they met, the couple journeyed to Paris for a romantic city break in the snow.

In an interview with the new issue of Hello! magazine, the couple said they are finally ready to go public with their romance.

In fact, they're getting so serious about each other Brian, 27, has bought Ali, 26, flight tickets to join him at his parents' home in New Jersey for Christmas. [...]

Before finding love with Brian, Ali dated London Irish rugby player Nick Kennedy and her Hollyoaks co-star Kevin Sacre.

But yesterday... she won the ultimate festive Christmas edition of the programme with all judges awarding the highest 10 score + being voted the highest by the audience.


Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna dance the Viennese Waltz to Please Come Home For Christmas.


The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2009 Champions are crowned.


*picture - via Ali Bastian fan site

Quote of The Day (in Armenian)

Highly recommend reading today's article by detained for his political views opposition editor Nikol Pashinyan. His trial is currently underway in Yerevan and Nikol is facing up to 8 years imprisonment. Below is what I consider truly a Quote of The Day (in Armenian):

"[...] Եթե իսկական Եղիշե Չարենցից վերցնենք մտքի ազատությունը, ըմբոստությունը, արդարամտության զգացողությունը, հանուն գաղափարի զոհվելու պատրաստակամությունը, ամենադառը ճշմարտությունն ասելու ուժն ու խիզախությունը, դրան ավելացնենք մի քիչ վախկոտություն, հարմարվողականություն, ամպուտացիա անենք այդ Չարենցի ողնաշարը, կստանանք մի... այնպիսի Լեւոն Անանյան, որին նույնիսկ օրիգինալը կնախանձի: Սրանում է մեր իրականության ողբերգական առանձնահատկությունը. բանաստեղծները ուզում են Չարենց լինել, բայց շողոքորթել իշխանություններին, հոգեւորականները ուզում են Հիսուս լինել բայց չխաչվել, գիտնականներն ուզում են Ջորդանո Բրունո լինել, բայց չայրվել խարույկի վրա, նկարիչներն ուզում են Վան Գոգ լինել, բայց գլուխ չունեն ածխահատների գործադուլային շարժման հետ: [...]"

Read the article in full here: ԼԻՆԵԼ, ԲԱՅՑ ՉԼԻՆԵԼ. ԱՅՍ Է ԽՆԴԻՐԸ

My New Year resolution for the Armenian Cause

Aram Hamparian of the Armenian National Committee of America tweeted the other day:

#anca is interested in your New Year's resolutions for the #Armenian Cause.
@ANCA_DC

Well, here is mine: to make, however small, but personal contribution to evolve Armenia into a democratic state where human rights are not simply words but a reality. Everything else will follow.

To readers of my blog: BIG THANK YOU for reading my blog, for being in touch, for inspiring me. Whether it’s global, or very personal/intimate, whatever your dreams are, I hope and wish that at least some of them will come true in 2010. Have a very happy one!! x

Yet another report on alleged brutalities and human rights violations in the Armenian army

Not your usual festive story before Christmas and New Year, but yet another depressing and tragic story on alleged brutalities and human rights violations in the Armenian army (in Armenian, video - via Gyumri-based GALA TV station). This case is currently under investigation.

Mrs Armenia Gohar Haroutyunyan - new Mrs Globe 2009 (!)

Mrs Globe 2009 (*via Newscom, via Fotoglif)

2009-12-13, Bratislava, Slovak Republic: Mrs. Armenia and new Mrs. Globe 2009 Gohar Haroutyunyan poses after she won world final of a beauty contest for mothers and married women Mrs. Globe 2009 on December 13, 2009, in Bratislava, Slovakia. (many thanks to bsw_am for the info; also moon_lusin)

Mrs Globe 2009 (*Facebook)

Mrs Globe 2009 and Mrs Globe 2002 (*Facebook)

Cute Christmas tree :)

I was passing by this Christmas tree by Benetton in London and find it charming :)

First ladies of Latvia and Armenia at the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts in Yerevan

The Cafesjian Centre for the Arts reports that first ladies of Latvia, Mrs. Lilita Zatlere, and Armenia, Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, toured the Centre’s exhibition galleries on 11 December 2009.

Some people suck. Big time (re yet another video scandal in Armenia)

This video scandal (+ here) was just another reminder why I could never stand Hrant Tokhatyan & co. They suck. Big time.


*source of picture

Armenia: Free ALL political prisoners

10 December - Human Rights Day

Armenian opposition will march on 10 December (authorised by Yerevan city hall) to demand release of all political prisoners.

*I found this T-shirt via google search - "armenian political prisoners" 

The power of bloggers and state of human rights in Azerbaijan

#EminAdnan - 10 December Human Rights Day

Picture of the Day (source)

World AIDS Day 09, Yerevan, Armenia (Picture of the Day)

*picture - by Lara Aharonian
**More about the events - here
***video

"I received flowers today"... ("Այսոր ես ծաղիկներ ստացա"...)

*via Women's Resource Centre Youtube channel:

from the candle lighting ceremony on November 25 to end violence against women. Elvira Meliksetyan from the Women's Resource Center is reading a poem [in Armenian] on domestic violence by an unknown author. 

WTF?! - ‘Hayastanci: Anti-Russia’

After reading this IWPR report and glancing at this so called group’s so called website, my only reaction was - WTF?! They look like a group of hackers playing with others’ nerves, hoping for publicity and having fun. Mentally disturbed people with sick agenda.

A burst of anti-Russian [Unzipped: not only anti-Russian] emails and text messages, supposedly sent from an Armenian activist group [Unzipped: I do not think it’s an ‘Armenian activist group’], has left Armenians baffled as to who’s behind it and what their motives are.

The emails and text messages originate from an organisation calling itself Hayastanci: Anti-Russia, and thousands of Armenians have received them. More...

Armenia: Scandal of the Day - ‘party’ in prison - Picture of the Day

When I first looked at this picture, it never crossed my mind - until I read the accompanying text - that I am looking at prison here...

Armenia -- Artyom Khachatrian (R), editor of the pro-government ''Azatamtutyun'' daily, pictured with three men serving life sentences for politically motivated murders in Yerevan's Nubarashen prison on October 5, 2009. Photo courtesy of ''Haykakan Zhamanak. (RFE/RL)

Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian ordered an inquiry on Thursday after the publication of a revealing prison photograph that shows the editor of a pro-government newspaper in the company of three men serving life sentences for politically motivated murders.

The photo, which appeared on the front-page of the pro-opposition daily “Haykakan Zhamanak,” shows Artyom Khachatrian of the “Azatamtutyun” newspaper and one of his aides drinking coffee and soft drinks with the convicts at Yerevan’s Nubarashen prison.

All five men smiled as they had their picture taken by an unknown photographer. Two of them, Derenik Bejanian and Eduard Grigorian, were among the gunmen that had burst into Armenia’s parliament in October 1999, killing its speaker Karen Demirchian, Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisian and six other officials. They share their prison cell with Arsen Ardzruni, a former member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation convicted of being a member of a death squad that had allegedly operated in the early 1990s.

“Haykakan Zhamanak” called the photograph scandalous, saying that Khachatrian’s joint appearance with the convicted assassins was a serious breach of prison regulations. “What common things do they have to discuss and to do?” it asked in a dig at the editor who is reputed to have close ties to the government. More...

Armenia: violence against women (posters, part 1)

For part 2 - see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Look at these posters. Difficult, I know. Chilling, I know. ...But do not turn away. Let’s face up these real life stories of violence against women still happening in our society.

These posters will be translated into Armenian, and used throughout the country as part of the campaign by Women’s Resource Centre to stop violence against women.

On November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Women’s Resource Center in Yerevan will mobilize community members and other NGOs to protest gender violence. The events planned for November 25th will mark the beginning of 16 days of activism to end violence against women and girls, which will include an exhibition and film screening at Kino Moscow in December. This will be the fourth year that the Women’s Resource Center has joined countries around the world in organizing events on November 25th to raise awareness about the issue of gender violence.

*posters by zArt - Araz Artinian

Ghost Forest, Trafalgar square, London

Pretty surreal view in London's Trafalgar square this week (ends Sunday 22 November).

This is a project by Angela Palmer - Ghost Forest Art Project - "to raise public awareness of the connections between deforestation and climate change. It involves taking a series of 10 rainforest tree stumps, most with their buttress roots still attached, from a regulated, commercially logged tropical rainforest in Ghana."

The tree stumps - the installation of “ghost forest” - will then move to Copenhagen (7-18 December 2009) to coincide with the UN Cop15 Climate Change Conference in December.

Junior Eurovision 2009: The Netherlands won, Armenia did pretty good - No. 2-3

Was watching Junior Eurovision live on their official website. That was such a mistake. Well, I did not have much of the choice, really, as I am in London now, and they do not show it here. Commentators at Junior Eurovision website were so annoying. They were speaking, making their comments during children’s performance (!). For example, when Armenia entry was performing, they started interviewing Serbian children; then camera failed to show Luara’s actual performance on stage, but rather other parts of the auditorium under the accompaniment of her voice. How ridiculous. And this happened not only during Armenia entry but most of the other entries too. Anyway.

There were 2 Armenians in this year's Junior Eurovision: Luara Hayrapetyan from Armenia and Andranik Alexanyan from Ukraine.

Just watched some of the performances on YouTube (as I said above, the online broadcast I was following was horrible).

Luara is such a cool girl. I am not a big fan of that particular song (song-wise I preferred Ukraine one) but Luara did really a great job performance-wise. I quite liked the Netherlands (the winner), Belgium and Russia too.

Oh, and I loved "Bari ereko, Hayastan" greeting at the very start of Junior Eurovision. Sounded cute :)

Armenian Genocide themed film at Kurdish Film Festival in London

21 November 2009, Birkbeck Cinema, London
AZAD
Director: Nicolas Tackian
France / 2009 / 60mins/ French with English Subtitles / PG
Cast: Jacques HERLIN, Virgile BRAMLY, Alexandra BIENVENU, Jacky NERCESSIAN, Anne SUAREZ

6th London Kurdish Film Festival takes place 20-30 November at various venues in London. Within the programme of the festival, there is also this new (2009) award winning Armenian Genocide themed film “Azad” (made in France; written and directed by Nicolas Tackian). It will be shown at the Birkbeck Cinema this Saturday 21 November at 3pm.
***

Mayak is a young Armenian man and part of the underground cartoon world. He dedicates himself to creating a graphic novel: 'Azad' (which means freedom both in Armenian and Kurdish), a project that looks back to 1915 when his grandfather tried to escape the Armenian genocide. He puts together this project by listening to his grandfather’s memories and it becomes a chance for him to get back in touch with his roots and build a better relationship with his family. However when Mina, a young Kurdish girl enters his life, he is forced to question his beliefs. Mayak convinces himself that she is denying the memory of the Armenian people and accusing the Kurds for also taking part in the Armenian genocide. This leads to a crisis of identity. (LKFF)
***
Named for the Armenian term for liberty, ‘Azad’ concerns a grandfather’s recollection of the genocide of 1915 to his illustrator grandson, Mayak. Set in Paris, it manages to be light-hearted, yet sombre, dealing with Mayak’s discovery of his roots and reconnection with his family. However, when Mina, a Kurdish woman moves in, Mayak is forced to question his own identity. (by Sabrina Bangladesh, Time Out London)

Azerbaijan cultural weekend in London

This weekend-long festival “Azerbaijan: an untapped cultural melting-pot” is organised by The European Azerbaijan Society.

Below is a quote from the festival’s leaflet:

“Located on the threshold of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan, formerly part of the Silk Road, has an unique heritage, taking influences from both Persian and Russian Empires, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The Azerbaijani Cultural Weekend is your opportunity to explore the many facets of this vibrant and diverse culture.”

The events will take place at London’s Cadogan Hall on 21-22 November 2009. Full programme: Day 1; Day 2.

Little Armenia: In Search Of Kim Kardashian (@LaCoacha)

Hilarious! :)

Tasteless promotion of violent games by HMV store in London

HMV is the largest chain store in the UK selling CDs/DVDs/games etc. Here is how they promote the very recent release of a reportedly very violent game. Tasteless.

*Life size mannequin of heavily armed soldier, at the entrance of HMV store, Oxford street, London

Arshile Gorky in London, Tate Modern 10 Feb - 3 May 2010

*Thanks to Dave for passing this info:

Cool - the Arshile Gorky Restrospective is coming to the Tate Modern in Feb http://tinyurl.com/arshile - Extraordinary Armenian artist

@davechapman 

*Tate Modern, London

Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective

10 February  –  3 May 2010

About | Visiting information | Book tickets

This exhibition celebrates the extraordinary life and work of Arshile Gorky (c.1904-1948). Along with Rothko, Pollock and de Kooning, Gorky was one of the most powerful American painters of the twentieth century, and a seminal figure in the formation of Abstract Expressionism. The exhibition includes paintings and drawings from across his career, and a handful of rarely seen sculptures.

The Armenian-born artist first arrived in the US in 1920 fleeing persecution in his home country. He adopted the name Arshile Gorky with reference to the Russian writer Maxim Gorky. First in Boston and, after 1924, then in New York, he studied the Modern European masters in books and galleries, teaching himself art by combining this with art classes. His early still-lives show his reliance upon the examples of Cezanne, Picasso and others, but his portraits in the 1920s and 1930s, especially the two versions of The Artist and His Mother, show how Gorky was able to pour his personal experiences and his studies into a highly individual realism.

During the 1940s Gorky encountered Surrealists exiled from wartime Europe. Stimulated by their ideas of free flowing, automatic painting, he rapidly developed the style for which he became famous. Works such as Waterfall 1943 are evocative, layered, and translucent, with a liquid glowing quality. Gorky's characteristic paintings of this final period include biomorphic forms in strong colours, shifting abstract elements and the energetic line that he developed in his drawings. They capture a sensual enjoyment of landscape as well as the mood and memories that the subjects can evoke. Just as he came to be seen as a leading figure in Abstract Expressionism, his career was cut short by a series of personal tragedies, which ended with him committing suicide in 1948.

Organised with the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles


*picture: Arshile Gorky, Waterfall  1943, Tate © ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2010

Ara Darzi and Larry Gagosian among London's 1000 most influential people in 2009

London's Evening Standard puiblished its list of 1000 most influential people in Britain's capital in 2009. At least two of them, prominent representatives of medical profession and art, are of Armenian origin.


Lord Darzi - Imperial College, professor of surgery
Shocked Westminster by quitting as health minister and “GOAT” — member of Gordon Brown's government of all the talents. Darzi wanted to return to his first love, surgery, which he performs while listening to Pink Floyd. (read also - here)

Larry Gagosian - Art dealer
Legendary Manhattan art figure who launched two galleries in King's Cross and Mayfair in past five years. Now spending more time back in Big Apple, he still has fingers in London market. Has been dubbed “the art world's greatest businessman”. (read also - here)

*pictures - via Evening Standard and BBC

Song of the moment - Muse: “Uprising”

"They will not force us

They will stop degrading us

They will not control us

We will be victorious"

Bloggers and youth activists Emin and Adnan jailed in Azerbaijan

Azeri bloggers and youth activists Emin and Adnan received jail sentences of 2.5 and 2 years, respectively. (here and here)

Live blogging from the court hearings and the reactions to that spread via Twitter under the #EminAdnan hashtag.

Sadly, this yet another sign of a total deterioration of human rights in Azerbaijan will probably generate an overall muted reaction by the international community. Oil rules…

I am not convinced by the World Blogging Forum’s statement either. Not strong enough.

*picture - via RFE/RL

They say Armenia is “prepared” to face a possible swine flu outburst. I do not think so

This is beyond my understanding. How on earth Armenian health officials can state they are “prepared” for dealing with the swine flu cases, if they cannot even diagnose it in Armenia? I am not even going into other aspects of "preparedness". We have 3 suspected cases of swine flu, as officially reported. However, to confirm the diagnosis, analyses were sent to London, and will come back in 20-25 days (!!) Truly, a sign of ‘great preparedness’ in the face of possible outburst.

P.S... and in Ukraine

*pictures - (1) by Photolur, via ankakh.com; (2) by AFP/GETTY, via Telegraph

Alexander Agadzhanov 60th birthday tribute in London

*Alexander Agadzhanov (left), in conversation with Julian Gallant (right), director of Pushkin House in London 

*Students of Alexander Agadzhanov (back of the picture) were also present

Thanks to Pushkin House in London, I made yet another discovery for myself of a talented Armenian with a colourful career in ballet. I am amazed that I have not heard of him before. Last Thursday (5 November 2009), they organised a 60th birthday tribute evening (although his actual birthday, if I remember right, in May) during which Alexander Agadzhanov talked about his career in ballet. There were also excerpts of his work with some of the greatest dancers of our age. Over the last 25 years, Agadzhanov lives and work in London, at the Royal Opera House.

Alexander Agadzhanov – has been Senior Teacher and Répétiteur to the Principal Artists at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for over 25 years.

Born in Mary, USSR, he studied with Alexander Zaitsev, Margarita Nazarova and Genrikh Maiorov in Kiev and joined Moscow Ballet Theatre as a Soloist in 1969, becoming a Principal in 1972. He danced leading roles as a guest Soloist in New York, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and at Deutsche Oper Ballet, Berlin, and as a Principal with Bonn Opera Ballet. He taught at The Royal Ballet School (1985-1988): his pupils have included Sergiu Pobereznic, Stuart Cassidy, Michael Nunn, William Trevitt and Tetsuya Kumakawa. He was Ballet Master/teacher at La Scala Ballet, Milan (1988-1989). Since 1989 he has taught and coached Royal Ballet Principals. He has also been guest Ballet Master/teacher at Scottish Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, among others. He has worked with such choreographers as Serge Lifar, Alvin Ailey, Flemming Flindt, Yuri Grigorovich, Kenneth MacMillan, Rudolf Nureyev and Roland Petit.

Just want to add few points from his biography which you won't normally find elsewhere. His father is Armenian, mother - Russian. He was born in Turkmenistan where his family immigrated to after the Armenian Genocide. He then grew up in Ukraine. He performed with many great world class ballet dancers. He is greatly influenced by Rudolf Nuriyev.

He has not been in Armenia yet...

My respects to Aravot daily and doctors.am Everyone in Armenia and Diaspora should read this

There were times in recent past that popular Armenian Aravot daily was known for its homophobic publications. When it was the case, I made it very clear on a number of my posts of what I think of it, with the hope that change will come. I have to say, that over the last few months, Aravot daily changed significantly, and for better, much better, posting number of neutral to positive reflections on sexuality, sexual orientation, gay people. Yesterday’s publication by Aravot on sexual orientation, with the use of correct terminology and calls to respect diversity, based on doctors.am publication, gives me hope that change did come, indeed. Let's hope, this trend will be sustainable. When praise is due, praise is due. I hope that Armenian media will follow suit.

Everyone, absolutely everyone in Armenia and Diaspora should read this. My thumbs up to doctors.am website for its highly professional and invaluable educational role.

Սեռական կողմնորոշվածության տեսակները

Սեռական կողմնորոշվածությունը բնորոշվում է մշտական հուզական, զգայական, զգացմունքային և սեքսուալ հակումներով որոշակի սեռի անձանց հանդեպ: Գոյություն ունեն սեռական կողմնորոշվածության երեք տեսակներ՝ տարասեռական, նույնասեռական և երկսեռական:

Տարասեռականը բնորոշվում է անձի սեքսուալ հակումով դեպի հակառակ սեռի ներկայացուցիչը: Տարասեռական կողմնորոշվածություն ունեցողները բավականություն են ստանում միայն հակառակ սեռի ներկայացուցիչների հետ կենակցելուց:

Նույնասեռականը բնորոշվում է անձի սեքսուալ հակումով դեպի նույն սեռի ներկայացուցիչները: Նույնասեռական կողմնորոշվածություն ունեցողները բավականություն են ստանում իրենց իսկ սեռին պատկանող ներկայացուցիչների հետ կենակցելուց:

Երկսեռականը բնորոշվում է անձի սեքսուալ հակումով դեպի և՛ իր սեռի, և՛ հակառակ սեռի ներկայացուցիչը: Երկսեռական կողմնորոշվածություն ունեցողները բավականություն են ստանում և՛ տղամարդու, և՛ կնոջ հետ կենակցելուց:

Մարդու սեռականության ամբողջական պատկերը ստանալու հարցում կարևոր դեր են խաղում անձի հոգեբանական և սոցիալական սեռերի բնութագրումը: Անհրաժեշտ է սեռական կողմնորոշվածությունը տարանջատել սեռական վարքագծից: Ինչպես սեռական կողմնորոշվածությունը, այնպես էլ սեռական վարքագիծը կարող է լինել տարասեռական, նույնասեռական և երկսեռական: Հարկ է ընդգծել, որ եթե անձը ցուցաբերում է այնպիսի սեռական վարքագիծ, որը միանգամայն տարբերվում է իր սեռական կողմնորոշվածությունից, ապա տվյալ անձի մոտ բացակայում են սեռական կողմնորոշվածությանը բնորոշ հակումները: Օրինակ, բոլոր տարասեռական կողմնորոշվածություն ունեցող անձինք, հայտնվելով այնպիսի միջավայրում, ուր բացակայում են հակառակ սեռի ներկայացուցիչներ (կալանավայրեր, բանակ), կամ զուտ կենսափորձի նպատակով, երբեմն էլ՝ ալկոհոլի, թմրամիջոցների կամ այլ ազդակների ազդեցության տակ, նրանք կարող են ունենալ պատահական սեռական հարաբերություններ նույն սեռի ներկայացուցչի հետ: Այլ ազդակների բացակայության դեպքում տարասեռականները կամ չեն կիրառում նույնասեռական վարքագիծ, կամ էլ կիրառում են՝ որոշակի շահադիտական նկատառումներից ելնելով (օրինակ՝ մարմնավաճառները փող վաստակելու նպատակով): Այս դեպքում արդեն տարասեռականը հանդես է բերում նույնասեռական վարքագիծ:

Այսօր դեռևս գոյություն չունեն հստակ պարզաբանումներ մարդու սեռական կողմնորոշվածության ծագումնաբանության և պատճառաբանության վերաբերյալ՝ լինի այն տարասեռական, նույնասեռական, թե՝ երկսեռական: Գոյություն ունեցող բոլոր վարկածներն էլ թերի են և պահանջում են հետագա ուսումնասիրություն՝ դրանք ապացուցելու կամ հերքելու նպատակով:

Ինչպիսին էլ որ լինի մարդու սեռական կողմնորոշվածությունը, այն պահանջում է հարգալից, հանդուրժողական վերաբերմունք, ինչպես նաև սեռական բազմազանությունը որպես այդպիսին ընդունելու խրախուսում, իսկ որոշ դեպքերում՝ մասնագիտական խնամք և աջակցություն:

*picture - via doctors.am

Britain’s cynical foreign policy and media re the Armenian Genocide denial

Britain’s foreign policy has always been cynical. No doubts that the same approach has been applied to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I recommend reading this article by the Guardian. However, I am disgusted that the Guardian journalist opened his post by saying “the so-called Armenian massacre of 1915”. This proves that not only the British foreign policy is cynical, but also the media does not go far away from the same approach, save the Independent, I guess.

Britain was accused of "genocide denial" today after the disclosure of Foreign Office documents revealing the government's refusal to recognise the so-called Armenian massacre of 1915, in which up to a million people died.

The documents, dating back over the last 15 years, say Anglo-Turkish relations are too important to be jeopardised by the issue because "Turkey is neuralgic and defensive about the charge of genocide".

One Foreign Office briefing for ministers conceded that the British government "is open to criticism in terms of the ethical dimension", but goes on to say: "The current line is the only feasible option" owing to "the importance of our relations (political, strategic and commercial) with Turkey". The 1999 briefing said: "Recognising the genocide would provide no practical benefit to the UK."

Britain's stance, stretching back over Labour and Tory administrations, was called a cynical "genocide denial" by Geoffrey Robertson, the QC who served as first president of the UN war crimes court for Sierra Leone. Robertson was commissioned by Armenian expatriate groups in London to review the foreign office files, obtained in heavily redacted form from freedom of information requests. He published a report today which says: "Parliament has been routinely misinformed by ministers who have recited FCO briefs without questioning their accuracy." [...]

Khloe Kardashian 'wedding': farce or reality?

They still did not formally legalise the marriage, and they got married only after a month (!) they actually started dating. This leads to speculations which question the motives behind the ‘wedding’ considering it a part of the ongoing reality show Kardashian & co.

Anyway, here is a brief reflection with video by Huffington Post. (picture via Huff Post)

Khloe Kardashian's Wedding Video: Veil Woes And A Major Tonguing (VIDEO)

Khloe Kardashian's 'wedding' to LA Laker Lamar Odom will air on E! this Sunday night (they are still not legally married) and E! has released a 2:15 video clip of the special, seen below. In the video viewers see guests arriving, the Kardashians prepping and Khloe saying she looks like a beekeeper in her veil.

Most memorable is 2:00 in when the couple share their first kiss as (still not legal) man and wife.

Yerevan diaries: Cascade - Cafesjian Centre for the Arts

After 2 years delay, with construction works still going on as per these pictures I took a month ago, Cafesjian Centre for the Arts (Yerevan MoMA) will have its Grand Opening on 8 Nov (fireworks display 7 Nov). Cascade has always been a favourite place for Yerevantsi and tourists alike. Soon to be opened Yerevan MoMA will make the place even more definite must see not only in Armenia, but in the whole South Caucasus too.

Yerevan diaries: passport services (No Corruption)

Talking about corruption... There are good news and success stories in Armenia too, after all. I can confirm that passport services in Yerevan, one of the most corrupt institutions in past, are no longer as such. Well, at least that what I may conclude based on personal experiences of dealing with one of Yerevan passport services; also talking to people who dealt with them over the last few months. After recent government crackdown on that particular institution, there is completely different picture there nowadays. No connections needed, no money needed or asked, everything is done efficiently, in time, helpful and respectful.

Now if only this example could be widened applying to other fields of life in Armenia...

British MP Chris Bryant calls PanArmenian.Net report a “complete and utter nonsense” re being appointed as "rapporteur on Armenia and Turkey"

When I read this news report by PanArmenian.Net, based on French journalist Jean Eckian info, I became suspicious, as could not find any other more formal sources confirming it.

May UK give up its policy of Armenian Genocide denial?
24.10.2009 18:52 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ For the first time since 1918, members of British parliament who spoke the truth about the Armenian Genocide were appointed rapporteurs on Armenia and Turkey.

MP Chris Bryant called on the House of Commons to recognize the Armenian Genocide, freelance French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Mr. Bryant reminded that the previous Cabinets refrained from any assessment of the 1915 events, saying that “historians can't come to a conclusion on the issue.”

“However, Geoff Hoon, Dennis Macshane, Doug Alexander, Baroness Ramsey Baroness Scotland , Lord Treisman and Lord Malloch-Brown never consulted any prominent historian,” he said. “And the person responsible for the policy of denial is Jack Straw, currently Minister of Justice.”

According to Mr. Bryant, to show solidarity with Armenia, the parliament should urge resignation of Minister Straw, who disseminated lies for so many years.

In a parliamentary debate in 1921, Sir Neville Chamberlain said, “I cannot think without something like horror and dismay of the abominable barbarities which have been practised in Armenia, and if I condemn Turkish rule in Armenia it is not because it is Mohammedan rule over Christian people, but because it is a barbarous and brutal rule, which would disgrace whatever Government in which it originated."

As much as the prospect of British MP Chris Bryant being appointed as a “rapporteur on Armenia and Turkey” sounds like an exciting news to come out from the UK, it’s not true.

I asked Chris Bryant via Twitter to clarify the news. Below is our exchange of messages.

@ChrisBryantMP Is this true that you've been appointed as "rapporteur on #Armenia-#Turkey"? http://bit.ly/3mqE9t Trying to confirm the info.
http://twitter.com/unzippedblog/status/5127416363

@unzippedblog No - complete and utter nonsense.
http://twitter.com/ChrisBryantMP/status/5145211605

@ChrisBryantMP Thanks for clarifications, will post on my blog. I was suspicious re that news item.
http://twitter.com/unzippedblog/status/5145372463

'Human Rights' in Armenia

*via Hetq Online (photo by Gagik Shamshyan); and 7or blog

Unheard Voices of Armenia: Voiceless People who have to be Heard (new blog)

This is why I like blogging. It provides a free platform for people to make their voices heard. Via personal email from the author, I came across this relatively new blog by the advocate for deaf and hard of hearing people in Armenia. It's named very appropriately Unheard Voices of Armenia, with the aim to empower those voices.

Here is background information about The Situation of The Deaf in Armenia.

Currently there are 8000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing people living in the different provinces of Armenia and in the Capital Yerevan where the majority of the Deaf reside.[...]

For the 8000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing, there are only ten interpreters none of whom are certified. They are CODAs, Children of Deaf Adults, and initially they became interpreters to help their parents in the hearing world. There are no higher institutions where interpreters may specialize in Deaf culture, or understand interpreter’s code of ethics.[...]

Although only recently the first Armenian Sign Language Dictionary was published, it is not available to anyone who wishes to have one. There are no known publications or researches done about Deaf culture or Deaf studies in Armenia today.

And here the author explains the reasons why she started her blog: Voiceless People: Not by Choice

The aim and purpose of the blog, Unheard Voices of Armenia is to empower the Deaf and Hard of Hearing who have remained voiceless for so many years in Armenia.

Armenia: video shows chilling example of animal cruelty allegedly at oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan’s ‘private zoo’

Scandal of The Day

An example of animal cruelty at its most chilling exhibition

Thanks to a tweet by @GoldenTent, I came across this link to the YouTube video, which alleges that Armenian oligarch and head of ruling Bargavatch Hayastan (‘Properous Armenia’) party Gagik Tsarukyan stages this fight between his lions and a donkey. (or it was staged at his ‘private zoo’)

#Armenia oligarch & govt. political leader Gagik Tsarukyan stages fight between his lions & a donkey http://bit.ly/1tF5j4 #animalcruelty
http://twitter.com/GoldenTent/status/4990840936

*The video (uploaded 9 October 2009) has now been removed from the YouTube. (minutes after tweets and re-tweets came out): “This video has been removed due to terms of use violation.”

However, it’s been already uploaded into other video sharing websites, particularly Dailymotion (see below).

There are also gunshots heard in the video. It’s not immediately clear whether they were shooting the lions or the donkey, or simply shooting in the air. Also, it’s not clear whether the animals were hit by gunshots or they were aimed at scaring them, or to complete the ‘show’ for spectators after the fight was over.

This is so disgusting that at first I could not force myself watching beyond the first few seconds. Then I forced myself... I felt physically sick after watching this video.

Any country, any society which has any prospect of calling itself a “civilised” should ban these sorts of outrageous displays of animal cruelty, and perpetrators should be held responsible before the law.

Turkey - Armenia: Whispering Memories and Talking Pictures

The photographic journey of Ghazaros Kerjilian to his paternal home town in Turkey and his search for the lost great uncle in 1915.

a short documentary
by Mehmet BINAY / M.Caner ALPER

Post-production by Jasmin GUSO
Pictures by Huseyin ONAN
Music by Paolo POTI
Narrated by Mehmet BINAY
(c) CAM Film Ltd. 2009

Director's blog
whispering-memories-docu.blogspot.com/

Official site
cam-story.com/CAM/documentary.html

Facebook group:
facebook.com/group.php?gid=30514440135&ref=ts



"Whispering Memories", a 42 minute documentary film, tells the story of a rural wedding in the Taurus mountains of Turkey by exploring local traditions, culture and regional history through the eyes of young villagers and their elders.

While speaking to their elders, the young people of the village also asked questions about the times when Armenians lived in the area until 1915 as their neighbors.

"Whispering Memories" is not a story of Armenians who had to leave Turkey but of those who stayed behind and silently became Muslims: they are now called the 'Converts'.

http://www.cam-story.com/CAM/wm.html

directed by Mehmet Binay
(c) CAM Film 2008 

*Thanks to Lara and Raffi for links.

Armenia - Turkey protocols: Moving forward, not forgetting the past

If there is one big policy issue which I actually agree with and support current Armenian authorities, its their policy towards rapprochement with Turkey.

I disagree that protests in Diaspora were harmful for current Armenian president Serj Sargsyan. Internally, may be (he does not have much support and trust inside the country, anyway). But internationally - not. Quite the contrary. He does not have a reputation on international scene, and these actions - going through difficult and sensitives agreement with Turkey despite Diaspora and some internal protests - will put him on the map to the level which he could never had dreamt of.

Here current Armenian president displayed leadership qualities. (I would never thought I'd ever say this re Serj Sargsyan but here we go) There are times when head of states need to conduct unpopular policies which may not be supported from a populist point of view but important for country’s future. It’s exactly that moment now in Armenia.

Where were Diaspora organisations when 1 March 08 happened in Armenia? Where were their voices when Armenians in Armenia were left alone in face of widespread human rights abuses and election fraud? The answer is simple. They were dead silent. Now when I hear “democracy” or “human rights” or anti-Serj shout or posters during the protests in Diaspora, I simply can’t take them seriously. Well, with one important reservation. If only this whole anti-protocol hysteria would help for Diaspora groups and individuals to understand that what we need first and foremost is democratic Armenia where human rights are respected, if only they understand that this is the main direction where their efforts should be directed at, then I would happily take back my skepticism. Until then, I am afraid, it’s too little too late.

My main reservation with the document, as I mentioned earlier too, is the so called ‘historical commission’. However, from a pure language point of view, there is no prefix “historical” in the protocols, and there is absolutely no mention of the Genocide there, although, yes, it is implied. However, we should not be afraid of it: no ‘historical commission’ is able to put a question mark for the Armenian Genocide. It’s the fact for international and scientific community, regardless of the limited numbers of countries which officially recognised it. (which is a sole consequence of their geopolitical interests) What is more important is the recognition of the Genocide by Turkey. I do believe that opening up the dialogue on the issue, which will be inevitable following the ratification of the protocols (and partly happened already thanks to international pressure and efforts by few Turkish intellectuals), would contribute to it. Protocols are not about forgetting or denying the Armenian Genocide. Protocols are about moving forward without forgetting the past.

Now the ball is on the Turkish side. The general consensus in Yerevan is that Armenia will formally ratify the protocols only after Turkey first ratify them. Taking into account the circumstances, I do support such approach.

P.S. below are just few of my recent tweets on the topic.
For my full twitter feed, see http://twitter.com/unzippedblog

Reports: Live broadcast of #Armenia - #Turkey protocols signing ceremony from #Zurich on Armenian public TV from 8pm local time #Yerevan

#Armenia president Serj Sargsyan statement re signing of protocols with #Turkey (AM) http://bit.ly/fBaQl 

All eyes on #Zurich today. What's more important, however, #Armenia & #Turkey parliaments afterwards. They have to ratify the protocols.

Group of prominent #Diaspora Armenians issued an open letter in support of #Armenia president policy re #Turkey deal http://bit.ly/hddLI

Imitational rally by ARF Dashnaktsutyun & co against #Armenia - #Turkey protocols soon to start in #Yerevan. A show which decides nothing.

The Economist: #Armenia - #Turkey : Bones to pick http://bit.ly/Cd1L3 

Double standards: ARF allowed to protest at government buildings, others - not. http://bit.ly/f0V24 #Yerevan #Armenia

I respect Robert Frisk of The Independent, but disagree that #Armenia - #Turkey protocol means "Genocide forgotten". http://bit.ly/D5NjL

The very fact that this 'opposing forces' joined by the neo-nazi homophobe Aryans made me treat them as a joke http://bit.ly/1ZSsMz #Armenia

It sucks seeing Heritage & ARF Dashnaktsutyun signatures along with neo-nazi homophobe Aryans against #Armenia #Turkey deal http://bit.ly/Klipx

#Yerevan diaries: Dashnak's 'protest' re #Armenia - #Turkey protocols http://bit.ly/boQU1

Kim Kardashian on her 'Armenian bottom'

Says Kim Kardashian: "[...] My body shape comes from my father's side of the family - he's from Armenia, where all the women are voluptuous. Thanks to role models like Jennifer Lopez, I'm comfortable with my curves."

*source of photo

Yerevan diaries: NPAK - "Body investments" (by Karen Ohanyan)