Kurdish studies department in Armenia

The Armenian Academy of Sciences

In 1969 The Armenian Academy of Sciences founded a Kurdish
Studies Department in 1969 to document and research all aspects
of Kurdish culture but also to study Kurdish-Armenian relations.

Ties between people are tightened by culture

read the full article here and interview with Artsvi Bakhchinyan is a Yerevan, philologist, film researcher, Dr. of Armenian language and literature.

"I have been in Istanbul for two times, but did not feel I was in Turkey. In Diyarbakir I had that feeling that I am in Turkish land, although I met only Kurdish and Zaza people there, says Armenian intellectual Artsvi Bakhchinyan after visiting Turkey."

...

"This was your first visit to Diyarbakir, what was your impression as a foreigner and as an Armenian?

I have been in Istanbul for two times, but did not feel I was in Turkey. In Diyarbakir I had that feeling that I am in Turkish land, although I met only Kurdish and Zaza people there. Their interest and attitude toward the Armenian guest was very warm. For me it was thrilling to see the remnants of the Armenian church. It is a unique architectural monument that can be one of the beautiful sights Diyarbakir. Unfortunately the roof doe snot exist anymore but I have heard it is going to be recovered. The Armenian monuments in Eastern and Southern Turkey have important significance for the world cultural heritage so they need a special treatment from the government.

Which films were shown in Diyarbakir? Can you tell us about the feedbacks?

Only the "Return of the Poet" was screened in Diyarbakir. Before that there was an interactive discussion not only about the cinema but also about Armenian-Kurdish relations generally. I had a project to organize an Armenian-Kurdish film festival in Diyarbakir and not only there. The very first film about the Kurds is made in Armenia in 1926, by the founder of

Armenian cinema Hamo Beknazaryan. By the way, this film, "Zare," is the second feature film production of Soviet Armenia. There are also some other films, both features and documentaries, that have been made about the Kurds in Armenia. I mean particularly Hineer Salem's films, "Vodka Lemon" of which was rather successful in international festival and was screened in Istanbul as well.

You gave some lectures in Istanbul too, on which subjects did you talk? How was the reaction in the conferences and screenings held in Istanbul?

I gave talks about the past and present of the Armenian cinema. Although the Istanbul audience had no problem with English and I also could give my talk in English, I preferred to talk Armenian and my colleague and friend Sevan Ataoğlu translated it into Turkish. I am sure that the neighbour peoples do not need intermediary languages; it is always preferable to speak in our native languages.

As I said already, because the audience of Diyarbekir was consisted of Kurds, their questions were mainly about their own connections with Armenia. Few people came to the meeting at Bilge University, but in Bosporus University the audience was very active and professional. I am especially impressed by the enthusiasm of the director of Mithat Alam Film Centre, Yamac Okur. We both are full of decisiveness to continue our cooperation. He gave me DVD-s of recent Turkish short films, which I would like to suggest including in the program of Golden Apricot 2007. The cultural cooperation is the best way for dialogues between nation, especially between Armenians and Turks, which are, as we always know, are

more than complicated. "

....

Artsvi Bakhchinyan, born 1971, Yerevan, philologist, film researcher, Dr. of Armenian language and literature. Contributed to periodicals of Armenia and abroad with articles on film, culture and various fields of Armenian studies. He is the vice president of Armenian branch of FIPRESCI (International Union of Film Critics and Cinema Journalists). Co-editor of "Armenian Cinema 1924-1999: a complete filmography" catalogue (Yerevan, 2001). Author of books: "Armenians by Origin" (a biographical dictionary of Armenian Diaspora: Yerevan, 1993), "Figures of Armenian Origin" (Yerevan, 2002), "Napoleon Bonaparte and the Armenians" (Yerevan, 2003), "Armenia-Scandinavia: Historical and Cultural Relations" (Yerevan, 2003), "Armenians in World Cinema" (Yerevan, 2004), "Armenia-Sweden" (in English, 2006).

Kurdistan and Hayastan Celebrating 1 year!

This is from me to you, great people that have been following this blog.

Ezidi Kurd from Russia as they say singing in Armenian

Kurdish village in Armenia [Video]

The Heko village in Armenia

VIDEO

Kurdistan PM: Merry Christmas, the christians of Kurdistan!

The KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government in Southern Kurdistan , N. Iraq) congratulated the christians of Kurdistan on the birthday of christ: Christmas.

The prime minister Necirvan Barzani (grandson of the Kurdish national hero Mustafa Barzani) also wished a happy new year and was "wishing for gaining more achivments for the Kurdish people in the new year!)

Massoud Barzani, the president of Kurdistan (son to Mustafa Barzani and uncle to ) said on the 8th december:

Pope Benedict XVI met the President of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, who was
accompanied by his government's Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani. 2005.

"We welcome any Christian brothers who choose to come and live in Kurdistan, whether temporarily or more permanently. This is their country and we will not prevent any of them from taking refuge.

You are the owners of this land, you are the protectors of its ancient history, therefore no one can prevent you from living here," the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party said, inviting Christians to "send letters to your relatives and your brothers in Baghdad, Basra or any other Iraqi city, or even abroad, to come and reside in Kurdistan, whether definitively or until the security conditions in the country improve.

I can assure you that we will not allow anyone to oppress you, you are free to accept this fraternal co-inhabitance and to help in the building of your country."

There are several Armenian, Assyrian and Chaldean villages in south Kurdistan such as Ainkawa (Hewler), Duhok and in the rest of the Bahdinan region.

Saint Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Avzrog, Dahuk Governorate, Iraq.

Yerevan worried about the Turkish invasion of south Kurdistan

In the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, Foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
is worried about the methods that Turkey is using to invade south
Kurdistan (northern Iraq). He thinks that they can use the same
methods against Armenia, Turkey wants to help Azerbaijan to solve
the Karabakh conflict and that is why the Turkish methods is dangerous.
Vartan said during he Armenian-Turkish Relations: Problems and
Prospects extended parliamentary hearings:

"Turkey crossed the border of a sovereign state without UN sanction.
This move can't but arouse concern. Armenia, as Turkey's 
neighbor, can't feel safe"

Karabakh could be next, according to Oskanian.

The Kurdish Armenian congress 1909

The need of a military alliance between the Armenian and Kurdish people was more important a hundred years ago than it is today, the only way theese two people has affected each other in modern history was actualy when the Turkish parliament a couple of weeks ago gave thumb up to invade southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) after the US congress voted Yes for recognition of the Armenian genocide. The recognition made the Turkish parliament angry and this decreased the ties between USA and Turkey, this made it possible for the Turks to invade southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) wich is the most stabile and safe region in Iraq wich US opposed.


The Armenian and Kurdish peasantry were more secure and prosperous than they had been in living memory in 1908 in northern Kurdistan (occupied by the Ottoman Empire before the republic of Turkey was created).

Sheik Abdul Qadir created in the spring of 1909 in Shamdinan the Kurdish Armenian congress in purpose to unite the Kurdish and Armenian people and to create a brotherhood between them.

Sheik Abdul said

"We must live like brothers with the Armenians. We must restore those lands wich they claim and wich have not yet been restored. We will work to strengthen understanding and concord among Ottoman compatriots"

A year after this, in the autumn of 1910, Sayyid Nursi himself traveled through Amêd (Diyarbakir in turkish occupied Kurdistan) and urged the Kurds to unite and not see each others diffrences. He also said:

"Kurdistan belonged to the Kurds and Armenians, not the Turks"

Robinson Crusoe in Kurdish from Armenia (1936)

First edition of Robinzon Cruz in Kurmancî , published in Armenia 1936First edition of the book Robinson Crouse from 1719 in English, considered to be the first novel in English.

The book is from Sara Distribution (Stockholm, Sweden), the owner is named Goran Candan and opened the shop 20 years ago.

San Diego Statement

Found in "The Kurdish and Armenian genocides: from censorship and denial to recognition?" by Desmond Fernandes.

Today, Turkish special commandos actually collect rewards for the severed heads of Kurdish guerillas and others, casually referring to their victims as Armenians, leaving no doubt as to what is in store for the Kurds and their national aspirations

Statement by Congressman Bob Filner (D of San Diego in 1997 at the United States congress 1th May 1997.

Armenian Kurdish song

Tatoul & Vle - Sharan (Kurdish and Armenian)

Thanks to Lawîn

Kurdish Vle sings in Armenian

Vle Khaloyan is a Kurd from Armenia and prefers to sing in Armenian.

Listen to Vle Khaloyan! - Click here!

Desmond visits Sweden

Desmond Fernandes is invited to Sweden from London for a lecture called:
“The Linguistic Genocide of Kurds in Turkey and the Problem of Educational Rights"
(8 Dec - 17.00 - Kurdish Library in Stockholm)

Desmond was a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography (1994-2006) and The Geography of Genocide (2001-2006) at De Montfort University, Bedford, England, and has published widely in a number of journals, including The Thailand Environment Institute Quarterly, Socialist Lawyer, L'Appel du Kurdistan, Armenian Forum, Kurdistan Aktuell, and Law, Social Justice and Global Development.'

Desmond Fernandes is a member of the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) and author of:

• The Kurdish and Armenian Genocides: From Censorship and Denial to Recognition?
• Colonial Genocides in Turkey, Kenya and Goa
  

Kurdmania mentions the Armenian Genocide

The Armenian genocide is mentioned in the kurdish portal Kurdmania.com in the "Genozide" section.

This page is in German but visit this link and Google will translate the page to English.

Egite Jmo

Egite Jmo - Kurdish man playing Armenian instrument in Armenia
( Thanks to EzdiTv.ru )

Antranik Pasa - Above the crowd (rare)

This picture is rare but now published

This picture was published in 10 november, 1921 in the NY Journal and is created by Stookie Allen.

The first name in the Armenian struggle for national liberation in modern times is
Andranik.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

This rare and unseen picture together with the Yezidi-Kurdish leader Cihangar Aga was for the first time published on the internet from this blog several months ago.