Month: February 2012

PACE BUREAU DISCUSSES ACTIVITY OF SUBCOMMITTEE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Trend
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Jan. 27–STRASBOURG, France — The issue related to the activity of
the subcommittee on Nagorno-Karabakh was discussed at a meeting of
the Bureau within the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Friday, PACE President Jean-Claude
Mignon said in an exclusive interview with Trend today.

“The issue was discussed at the meeting held in the morning,” he said.

“A decision was made that the activity of the subcommittee on
Nagorno-Karabakh will not be restored soon. We need time to consider
this issue thoroughly. We should reconsider the issue at the meeting
of the Bureau, to be held in Paris on March 9, to make a decision
on future activity of the subcommittee on Nagorno-Karabakh at PACE
spring session, to be held in April.”

Mignon said that it is possible to restore and continue the activity of
the subcommittee on Nagorno-Karabakh, but it is not the only variant.

“The other option is that we won’t create a new subcommittee
on Nagorno-Karabakh and the OSCE Minsk Group will deal with the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We have no details yet, to talk about it
more accurately. It’s just an option. We will reconsider the issue
on March. ”

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group — Russia, France, and the U.S. —
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

POLITICIANS SHOULD NOT TAKE DECISIONS CONCERNING HISTORY

Trend
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Jan. 27–STRASBOURG, France — Politicians should not take decisions
concerning history, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human
Rights Thomas Hammarberg said on Thursday answering the question of
member of the Azerbaijani delegation Ganira Pashayeva on adoption
of the law criminalising denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide”
by the French Senate.

“Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland has
already stated his position on this issue and I fully agree with him.

Of course, it is a wrong approach to the issue from the French Senate
and it restricts freedom of speech. I fully support Mr Jagland in the
issue of assessing historical questions by politicians. Politicians
should not take decisions concerning history,” Mr Hammarberg said.

Mr Jagland said earlier that history matters should be dealt with
by historians. He said it’s wrong that politicians take decisions
concerning history.

The question of member of the Azerbaijani delegation Ganira Pashayeva
was about how will this law harm freedom of speech and expression.

“After this law 500,000 Turks living in France and everyone who denies
the so called “Armenian genocide” will be arrested or pay large fines.

How do you assess this law in the light of human rights and freedom
of speech and expression being Commissioner for Human Rights?” Ms
Pashayeva asked.

After eight hours of discussion, the Senate (upper chamber of the
French parliament) voted for adoption of the law criminalising denial
of the so called “Armenian genocide”. Some 127 senators voted for,
while 86 against.

The Lower House of the French Parliament adopted a bill criminalising
the denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide” on Dec.22, 2011

The bill demands about a year’s imprisonment and a fine of 45,000
euros for denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide”.

MPs from the French President’s Union for Popular Movement (UMP)
party which has the parliamentary majority, proposed the bill which
aims at criminalising denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide” to
the legislative committee of the National Assembly in early December.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of the
Turkey — Ottoman Empire had committed the 1915 genocide against
the Armenians living in Anadolu, and achieved recognition of the
“Armenian Genocide” by the parliaments of several countries.

CLINTON SAYS “GENOCIDE” ISSUE BEST LEFT TO SCHOLARS

Trend
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday sidestepped a
delicate dispute between two allies over the World War I-era killing
of Armenians in Turkey and said the issue was best left for scholars
to discuss, Today’s Zaman reported.

Clinton was asked why the United States has not matched a move
by French lawmakers to criminalize denial that the killings were
“genocide”. The French legislation has enraged Turkey, which has
threatened sanctions if French President Nicolas Sarkozy signs
the bill.

The US administration has avoided calling the killings “genocide”
despite support for recognition by both Clinton and President Barack
Obama Enhanced Coverage LinkingBarack Obama -Search using:Biographies
Plus NewsNews, Most Recent 60 Dayswhen they were senators.

Clinton said the administration was wary of compromising free speech.

She said the issue was best left for scholars.

“To try to use government power to resolve historical issues, I
think, opens a door that is a very dangerous one to go through,”
Clinton said at an event with US State Department employees.

Armenians claim up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman
Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by
scholars as the first “genocide” of the 20th century. Turkey denies
that the deaths constituted “genocide”, saying the toll has been
inflated and those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

The issue has also previously roiled US-Turkish relations. A move
by a US congressional panel in 2010 to advance a resolution by the
House of Representatives recognizing the killings as “genocide”
caused Turkey to temporarily withdraw its ambassador to Washington.

The resolution was opposed by the Obama administration. Ultimately, the
full House of Representatives did not bring the measure up for a vote.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH FIRST LADY SNUBS FRENCH AMBASSADOR’S WIFE

Trend
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

In reaction to the French Senate’s approval of a bill that criminalizes
denying the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces in the early
20th century, first lady Hayrunnisa Gul has not invited Sabine Bili,
the wife of the French ambassador to Turkey, Laurent Bili, to a lunch
meeting, Today’s Zaman reported.

Gul will host a luncheon for female ambassadors, wives of ambassadors
and female representatives of international organizations serving
in Ankara.

Gul will deliver a speech welcoming 90 guests to the event, which
will be held at the Cankaya presidential palace next Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the 25th anniversary of the Zaman daily,
Bili confirmed that his wife has not been invited to the lunch and
called on Ankara to remain calm. “France attaches great importance
to bilateral relations with Turkey. I will do my best to normalize
the relationship, but it mostly depends on the Turkish government,”
he added.

HILLARY CLINTON: “THE US IS NOT GOING TO APPLY THE CRIMINALIZATION OF DENIAL OF “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” AS IN FRANCE”

APA
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. “The US is not going to apply the
criminalization of denial of “Armenian genocide” as in France”, said
US State Secretary Hillary Clinton at the meeting with the employees
of the Department of State, APA reports.

“Well, first, one of our great strengths is we do not criminalize
speech. People can say nearly anything they choose, and they do,
in our country. And so other countries, including close friends and
allies like France, have different standards, different histories, but
we are, I hope, never going to go down that path to criminalize speech.

I think it’s fair to say that this has always been viewed, and I think
properly so, as a matter of historical debate and conclusions rather
than political. And I think that is the right posture for the United
States Government to be in, because whatever the terrible event might
be or the high emotions that it represents, to try to use government
power to resolve historical issues, I think, opens a door that is a
very dangerous one to go through. So the issue is a very emotional
one; I recognize that and I have great sympathy for those who are
just so incredibly passionate about it.

But I think the free market of ideas, the academic community, the
open architecture of communication that is even greater now than it
was in the past, are the proper fora for this kind of engagement,
and that’s where I hope it is worked out. And eventually, people will
have their own conclusions, which needs to be respected, but we need
to encourage anyone on any side of any contentious historical debate
to get out into the marketplace of ideas. Muster your evidence, put
forth your arguments, and be willing to engage, and that’s what I
think should happen on that too”.

ICRC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT AZERBAIJANI PRISONER OF WAR CAPTURED SOME DAYS AGO

APA
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. On January 26, the representatives
of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited the
Azerbaijani prisoner of war held in Nagorno Karabakh, spokesperson
for the ICRC Delegation in Azerbaijan Shahla Gahramanova told APA.

Corporal of Azerbaijani Army, Akhundzadeh Mammadbagir Talib, 22,
was captured by Armenians on the contact line of Azerbaijani and
Armenian troops, near Yukhari Chayli village of Terter region.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry confirmed the fact.

FATHER OF SERVICEMAN CAPTURED BY ARMENIANS ASKS ICRC TO ASSIST RETURN OF HIS SON

APA
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. Father of Azerbaijani Army’s Corporal
Mammadbagir Akhundzadeh, who was captured by Armenians on January
23, will address the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
representation in Azerbaijan to assist the return of his son.

The captive’s father Talib Akhundzadeh told APA that he came to Baku
from Lankaran to meet ICRC officials. Akhundzade said he knew that
ICRC representatives visited his son yesterday, but he has not been
yet informed officially about it. “The state organizations do best
for my son’s return. I will ask the International Committee of the Red
Cross to render assistance in this work. As a parent I am very sad”.

On January 26, the representatives of the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited the Azerbaijani prisoner of war
held in Nagorno Karabakh. Corporal of Azerbaijani Army, Akhundzadeh
Mammadbagir Talib, 22, was captured by Armenians on the contact line
of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, near Yukhari Chayli village of
Terter region. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry confirmed the fact.

TURKISH MINISTER: “ALL THE INVESTMENTS OF FRENCH ENTREPRENEURS WILL BE UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF TURKEY”

APA
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA-ECONOMICS. France plays an important role in the Turkish
economy, the minister of economy Zafer Caglayan told reporters,
APA repots citing Turkish media.

“French companies employ a large number of Turkish citizens. These
companies make an important contribution to the economy,” Mr Caglayan
said.

The minister said that all the investments of French entrepreneurs
will be under the tutelage of Turkey. French entrepreneurs also oppose
the law on “Armenian genocide,” Mr Caglayan added.

He said: “As for the Turkish companies, they will choose themselves
whether or not to work with French companies.”

PACE REPORT ON “ENFORCED POPULATION TRANSFER AS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION” CAUSES PROTEST BY AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION

APA
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Strasbourg. Fuad Gulubeyli – APA. A report named “Enforced population
transfer as a human rights violation” was heard at the last plenary
meeting of PACE’s winter session today.

APA’s European bureau reports that information about Azerbaijani
refugees and displaced persons was not reflected in the report which
presented by Lithuanian deputy Egidijus Vareikis, the chairman of the
PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the situation
in the South Caucasus around this problem was described with common
expressions. The member of Azerbaijani delegation Ganira Pashayeva
expressed protest to this issue. Azerbaijani MP said that enforced
population transfer from their lands and homes was a serious issue:
“We also support the idea that the Council of Europe must seriously
support the settlement of this problem. But the speaker points out in
the report that there were the cases of enforced population transfer
during the developments in the Caucasus. It is needed to describe
this issue concretely and clearly in the report. This report should
be pointed out that about 250 thousand Azerbaijanis were forcibly
resettle from their lands and homes as a result of ethnic cleansing by
Armenia in 1988. We want this fact to be reflected in the document. In
addition, thousands of Azerbaijanis turned into refugees and internally
displaced persons as a result of Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani
lands. These facts should be seriously reflected in the report. I
have already noted that the rights of all people should be protected
individually. But here we are talking about hundreds of thousands of
people. It is necessary to reflect the issues of these people clearly
in the report”.

From: A. Papazian

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF OSCE CHAIRPERSON-IN-OFFICE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF PUBLIC UNION “NAGORNO KARABAKH’S AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITY”

APA
Jan 27 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ramil Mammadli – APA. Ambassador Padraig Murphy, Special
Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South
Caucasus, met with the members of the Public Union “Nagorno Karabakh’s
Azerbaijani Community”.

Chief of the Union, head of Shusha region executive power
Bayram Safarov told APA that Padraig Murphy was informed about
the consequences of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, displacement of
Azerbaijanis as a result of Armenian occupation, negative impact
of the problem on the development of the region. Padraig Murphy was
told that the Azerbaijani community of the conflict region supports
peaceful solution to the conflict and wants to return home.

Padraig Murphy spoke about the efforts made by the organization for the
resolution of the conflict, existing problems and offered rapprochement
of the communities. He expressed his hope that both sides will do
their best to achieve peaceful resolution of the conflict.