Vartkes Mahdessian's pre-election meeting on 13 May 2011
Azad-Hye Special
The race for electing the Armenian representative in the Cypriot parliament (officially known as “Representative of the Armenian Religious Group” in the Cyprus House of Representatives) has been very tense this year. About 2.200 Armenians with voting rights are going to choose on Sunday 22 May 2011 between the existing representative Vartkes Mahdessian and his rival candidate Antranik Ashdjian.
In an appearance on the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) Ashdjian claimed in front of Greek speaking audience that the Armenian community is divided and is going from bad to worse. He expressed regret that the current representative Vartkes Mahdessian refrained from appearing with him in the “debate”. Mahdessian clarified that the appearance was not a debate and said that he did not participate in the TV program because he had promised to “refrain from any activity that could further damage the image and unity of the Armenian Community of Cyprus”.
Gibrahayer e-magazine's editor Simon Aynedjian said in an editorial (20 May 2011) that the facts on ground show that community life is different from what Ashdjian and his supporters were trying to portray. According to Aynedjian, Nareg Schools (in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca) are in a steady move forward and cultural life has never been more vibrant. He pointed out that printed and online media outlets are so diversified and there is remarkable freedom of news and opinion in the community. Aynedjian mentioned that Armenian youth and families have been frequenting Armenian centers and clubs in bigger numbers, sport teams have been increased and the overall image of the Armenian community and its status in the Republic of Cyprus has been in the past years “positive and bright”. He accused Ashdjian's supporters in creating an “unholy alliance”.
In the 2005 elections, Ashdjian was supported by ARF (Dashnaktsutyun) and managed to secure 44% of the votes. In a strange twist, those who voted against him in 2005 are now his main supporters. This year Ashdjian is not supported by ARF. He has officially left the party. Instead he is supported by Hunchak party and other fractions such as the Progressive Movement of Armenian Cypriots. Ramgavar party announced that there is no reason that the party should officially support any of the candidates, thus leaving it free for its members to vote according to their preferences.
In an article published in Artsakank (13 May 2011) Arto Tavitian accused Antranik Ashdjian for being unrealistic. “You are referring to your old friends in sarcasm and you express regret that they have turned their backs on you. You have first turned your back on your old friends and your old party … for the sake of securing a seat. If you are talking about your departure from Dashnaktsutyun as a praise-worthy act, why you will be expecting support from your old friends?”, he asked.
Tavitian accused Ashdjian for misrepresenting the Armenian reality and depicting it as a divided one, while in fact, the community has never been in harmony as today. “It was the most peaceful five-year term in the history of the community”, he emphasized. He accused Ashdjian for being influenced by people of his surrounding who are still influenced by “anti-Dashnak propaganda of Soviet times”.
On 13 May 2011, around 700 Cypriot Armenians met at an election gathering in support of the current representative Vartkes Mahdessian, who assured that he would deliver his election promises, in the same way he was doing in the previous five years. “My program is familiar to you all … let us all continue together”, he announced. Ashdjian, whose pro-election gathering was attended by 200 people, expressed doubts about the number of attendants in his rival's gathering, pointing out that present were Greeks, youngsters under the age of 18 and other Armenians who do not vote.
The topics that are on the agenda of both candidates are: Constitutional rights of Armenians, the fate of the Armenian monuments in the Turkish occupied side, Armenian language, cultural and educational issues, especially the issue of getting Armenian education after the elementary level. Other issues include the situation of Armenians from Armenia who have settled in Cyprus in the last two decades, etc.
Elections will take place on Sunday, 22 May 2011 in all Nareg Schools in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca, from 7:00-12:00 and from 13:00-18:30. Results will be announced soon after.
Hunchak Executive Committee has launched Radio Nayiri online channel to broadcast songs and election news.
Cyprus Armenian media covering elections and other community events:
Artsakank Gibrahayer Newspaper: www.artsakank.com.cy/ (ARF / Dashnaksutyun)
Gibrahayer e-magazine: www.gibrahayer.com/ (Independent, Simon Aynedjian)
Cyprus Armenians: www.cyprusarmenians.com/en (Official publication of the Community, includes MP Vartkes Mahessian'ss activities and Lradou bulletin; see latest issue of Lradou)
Gibrosi Tzayn: www.gibrositzayn.com (Includes candidate Dr. Antranik Ashdjian's activities and newsletter; see latest issue of newsletter)
The two candidates:
1) Vartkes Mahdessian: Business Administration and postgraduate diploma in management studies. Businessman-managing director of two companies in Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates. At the parliamentary elections of 21 May 2006 he was elected Member of the House of Representatives as the Armenian Religious Group candidate. He is a member of the House Standing Committee on Educational Affairs. He was chairman of the Armenian Young Mens Association (AYMA) in the early nineties. He was a member of the Board of Management of the English School (1998-2004). In 1999 he was elected member of the Cyprus Armenian Church Diocesan Council. Knows Armenian, Greek, English and Turkish. Born in Nicosia on 13 November 1950.
Vartkes Mahdessian's Facebook Page
2) Dr. Antranik Ashdjian: Partner/Dental Surgeon at Nicosia Dental Clinic. Studied at Semmelweis University. Lives in Nicosia, Cyprus. Knows Armenian, English, Greek, Hungarian. Born on May 9, 1972.
Official and semi-official bodies in Cyprus Armenian community (For any clarification or correction please inform us):
Catholicosal Vicar of the Cyprus Prelacy
Representative of the Cyprus Armenian Community (in the House of Representatives)
Temagan (Diocesan) Council
National Council
Hunchak Party
Dashnaktsutyun Party
Ramgavar Party
Hay Tad (Armenian Cause) Committee in Cyprus
Armenian Relief Society's “Sose” branch
Cyprus Hamazkayin “Oshagan” branch
“Nor Serount” Cultural Union
HMEM
Armenian Young Mens Association
Armenian Club in Larnaka
Dashnaktsutyun Armenian Youth Union
Artsakank monthly
Azad Tzayn monthly
Gibrahayer weekly e-magazine
Gibrosi Tzayn newsletter
Lradou bulletin of the MP
The official and semi-official bodies in Cyprus Armenian community (in Armenian language):
Կիպրոսի Թեմի Կաթողիկոսական Փոխանորդ
Կիպրահայ Համայնքի Պետական Ներկայացուցիչ
Կիպրոսի Հայոց Ազգային Իշխանութեան Թեմական Ժողով
Կիպրոսի Հայոց Ազգային Իշխանութեան Վարչական Ժողով
Սոցիալ Դեմոկրատ Հնչակեան Կուսակցութեան Կիպրոսի կառոյց
Հայ Յեղափոխական Դաշնակցութեան Կիպրոսի կառոյց
Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցութեան Կիպրոսի կառոյց
Կիպրոսի Հայ Դատի Յանձնախումբ
Հայ Օգնութեան Միութեան Կիպրոսի ?Սօսէ? Մասնաճիւղ
Համազգայինի Կիպրոսի ?Օշական? Մասնաճիւղ
?Նոր Սերունդ? Մշակութային Միութիւն
Հ.Մ.Ը.Մ.-Հայ Երիտասարդաց Միութիւն
Լիմասոլի Հայ Երիտասարդաց Միութիւն
Լառնաքայի Հայ Ակումբ
Հ.Յ.Դ. Կիպրոսի Երիտասարդական Միութիւն
?Արձագանգ? Ամսաթերթի Խմբագրութիւն
?Ազատ Ձայն? Ամսաթերթի Խմբագրութիւն
?Կիպրահայեր? Ելեկտրոնիք Շաբաթաթերթի Խմբագրութիւն
?Կիպրոսի Ձայն? Լրատուական Հրատարակութիւն
?Լրատու? Կիպրոսի Համայնքի Պետական Ներկայացուցիչի հրատարակութիւն
