Month: February 2015

Azerbaijan Oil Price Decline Could Affect Standard of Living
By Aydin Mammadov
Feb. 9, 2015

Serious decline of world oil prices forces Azerbaijan to reconsider
some of the costs as it is about to face and unemployment in 2015.

`International agencies predict the price of oil from USD $55 to 60
per barrel, even in this the maximal price drop, our country will face
serious challenges,’ says economist and board member of the public
movement REAL Natig Jafarli.

`Our country was making USD $500 millions per month only from taxes
from oil companies, but when the oil price dropped, this amount
decreased as well,’ he adds.

At the same time the Budget for the year 2015 was based on oil prices
of USD $90 per barrel and to fill the budget expenditures the
authorities allocated USD $10 billion from the national reserve, the
Oil Fund.

`It is not possible to support the budget this way, and there are
other means to use right now,’ Jafarli says adding that at the end of
2014 Azerbaijan’s Central Bank spent USD $1 billion to support the
exchange rate of the local currency manat last year.

But Jafarli says the country can’t keep spending money on supporting
manat, because it’s not clear how much more money will be needed for
this process on one hand, and, on the other hand, locals, worried
about depreciation of the currency, keep buying dollars.

Jafarli says the government’s goal is to support the economy until
November parliamentary elections. But then, by the end of this year,
the economy will undergo serious problems.

`If there will be manat devaluation, it will cause severe inflation,
as we are by 60% we are dependent on imported goods, and non-oil
production in Azerbaijan is minimal,’ Jafarli says.

Aside from these problems, Jafarli says, Azerbaijan has committed to
spending on the construction of Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars, TANAP and other
projects, which means that USD $7 billion out of Oil Fund’s USD $32
billion will be spent on various ambitious projects.

`And if oil prices will remain low in 2016, then all the Oil Fund
money will be spent for the budget,’ Jafarli says.

Former president of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR)
Sabit Bagirov, however, isn’t that pessimistic.

`I do not expect a serious impact on citizens’ well-being because the
state has foreign exchange reserves (about USD $50 million). In
addition, we have still income for the Oil Fund from oil and gas, even
if it is less,’ ` says Bagirov, adding that if in the near future the
oil prices will remain low, `the state is likely to develop more
cost-effective policies and aims at diversifying economic
development.’

Another problem ahead of Azerbaijani economy in 2015 is unemployment,
says Jafarli, adding that spheres that will suffer the most are
construction and transportation.

According to another economist, Gubad Ibadoglu, Head of Center for
Public Initiatives, there could be layoffs also in the oil sector.

`If prices remain the same until summer, there could be layoffs at
SOCAR and foreign oil companies. Other sectors related to oil industry
will suffer as well, such companies as Azeriqaz and Azerenerji.’

Bagirov, however, doesn’t see any changes that should lead to unemployment.

According to Sabit Bagirov, changes in government funding are not as
significant that it could lead to unemployment.

`I do not think investment in construction will be seriously reduced,
because important events of political significance are coming up `
European Olympic Games and parliamentary elections,’ he says.

Jafarli says one more important factor is the reduction of labor
migrant remittances from Russia to Azerbaijan.

But Ibadoglu says that Russian crisis will affect Azerbaijan not as
much as other countries in the region.

`As the percentage of revenues imported into the country from Russia
make less than 5% of total GDP, while in Armenia and Tajikistan income
from Russia is about 20% total profits, we shouldn’t be affected as
much,’ he adds.

On the other hand, Jafarli notes that while even in Russia the crisis
and its consequences are being discussed openly, while in Azerbaijan
the crisis is being denied overall.

TURKEY’S PM CRITICIZES GULEN’S NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE

Turkish Press
Feb 9 2015

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has rubbished claims of the self-exiled
U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen against the ruling AK Party

SAKARYA – Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday criticized
U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen’s article published in the New
York Times on Feb. 3 that criticized the ruling Justice and Development
or AK Party.

“Gulen kept silent on Feb. 28 1997; Sept. 12, 1980 military coup; and
any kind of persecution against Muslims, non-Muslims, Kurds and Alevis,
but now, he claims that ‘everyone in Turkey’ is now under persecution,
using freedom of speech which was served during AK Party’s term,”
Davutoglu said.

On Feb. 28, 1997, the military had deposed the then elected Prime
Minister Necmettin Erbakan.

“So what this person wants to do? He lobbies in the U.S. Congress. He
tries to provoke Armenian, Greek and Jewish lobbies against us. And
he also says ‘all of you are under pressure, resist’ from where he
lives,” the premier said.

Self-exiled Pennsylvania-based Gulen is said to be the leader of
the Gulen movement, which is accused of masterminding an illegal
organization that is trying to topple the Turkish government through
what has been dubbed as the “parallel state,” an alleged group
of Turkish bureaucrats and senior officials nestled within key
institutions of the state, such as the police and the judiciary.

Gulen has been in the U.S. since leaving Turkey in 1999 allegedly for
“medical reasons.” Shortly after his departure, Turkish prosecutors
opened a case against him for incitement to attacking the secular
state. He was acquitted in 2008.

Davutoglu also spoke about the latest development in the ongoing
illegal wiretapping operations in Turkey. He confirmed that two
suspects wanted in the case were detained in Romania, where they
had escaped.

“An arrest warrant has been issued for these two people. We have some
agreement for extradition with Romania and we discussed this issue
with the country’s officials,” he said.

Interior Minister Efkan Ala also spoke about the two suspects in
Romanian custody Saturday. “Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
launched legal procedures for extradition. I think we will get results
in a short time,” Ala said.

The two suspects detained in Romania are suspected of involvement
in bugging the office of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his
tenure as prime minister before August 2014.

According to the Izmir governorate, 92 people, including high-ranking
army officers, academics, senior policemen and journalists, were
illegally wiretapped between 2009 and 2013. To date, hundreds of
police officers have been detained and questioned in the alleged
wiretapping probe.

The ongoing operations follow a December 2013 probe that led to the
arrest of several high-profile figures, including the sons of three
former government ministers and leading business people.

The government has blamed the wiretapping case on the Gulen movement,
and accuses the alleged “parallel state” of attempting to infiltrate
and undermine the Turkish administration.

TURKEY’S PM SAYS AKP WILL NOT SUCCUMB TO ‘JEWISH LOBBY’

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Feb 8 2015

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said his government will not
succumb to the Jewish lobby, the Armenian lobby or the lobby of the
Turkish-Greek minority, a sentence he said in regards to President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s words on Jan. 31 that the Gulenists in the
country, which he dubs “the parallel structure,” have joined forces
with the Israeli intelligence service.

“I announce it from here: we have not and will not succumb to the
Jewish lobby, the Armenian lobby or the Turkish-Greek minority’s
lobbies,” said Davutoglu during a speech at the ruling Justice and
Development Party’s (AKP) provincial congress in Istanbul Feb. 8. “I
call out to the parallel lobby that sent them a message: We will
stand before you with dignity no matter where you are; you will be
despicable for the treason you have done to this nation.”

While addressing a meeting of business leaders in Istanbul on Jan. 31,
Erdogan had said the U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen’s
supporters, “the parallel structure,” was in cooperation with Israeli
intelligence organization, the Mossad.

“The sincere people backing this parallel structure should see this
structure is cooperating with … Shame on them if they still cannot
see that this structure is cooperating with the Mossad,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan accuses the followers of Gulen of illegal wiretappings and a
“coup attempt,” starting from the revelation of a large corruption
investigation in December 2013 that included four former ministers
and their sons, who were later acquitted of all the charges pressed
against them.

February/08/2015

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA URGED TO EASE TENSIONS

World Bulletin, Turkey
Feb 9 2015

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has expressed
concern over a record high number of casualties in January during
clashes.

World Bulletin / News Desk

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has called
for easing of tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Last year, some 60 people were killed over a long-standing conflict
between the two countries over a disputed zone.

In a statement Saturday, the organization expressed concern over the
volatile situation.

The remarks came after a meeting in Munich between the interim chairman
of the organization, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and the OSCE
Minsk Group, which was established to solve the conflict by Russia,
the U.S. and France.

In January, 12 people were killed, while 18 others were injured,
which is a record high number since a cease-fire was established in
1994, according to the statement.

“We call on the sides to end incursions, cease targeting villages and
civilians, stop the threat of reprisals and the use of asymmetric
force, and take additional steps to reduce tensions and strengthen
the cease-fire,” the statement said.

An Azerbaijani solider died Friday after succumbing to his wounds
following clashes a day before, officials said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia, two former Soviet republics, fought a war
over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in the 1990s.

On May 12, 1994, a cease-fire agreement was signed between Azerbaijan
and Armenia after two decades of conflict over the disputed territory.

In February 1988, the regional parliament in Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is largely populated by ethnic Armenians, voted to declare its
independence from Azerbaijan.

Armenia’s parliament voted to recognize the independence, a move that
prompted a forceful evacuation of over 200,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis
from Armenia. Thousands of Azerbaijani civilians lost their lives in
the resulting conflict.

AZERBAIJAN NOT TO ATTEND EURONEST PA SESSION IN YEREVAN

APA, Azerbaijan
Feb 9 2015

Elkhan Suleymanov: “This organization keeps Armenia under its umbrella
and attempts to insure Armenia from any sanctions and responsibility
for its aggressive criminal actions against Azerbaijan”

Azerbaijan will not attend the Euronest PA session to take place in
Yerevan on 1618 March, Elkhan Suleymanov, Chairman of Azerbaijani
Delegation to the Euronest PA, told APA.

E. Suleymanov said bureau meeting of the Euronest PA will take place
in Strasbourg on February 11, 2015. The meeting will discuss the draft
agenda of the 4th plenary session, among other issues. The 4th plenary
session of the Euronest PA will be held in Yerevan between 16th and
18th March of 2015, and this decision was adopted by Bureau in 2014.

“It should be noted that the Azerbaijani delegation repeatedly and
resolutely expressed its objection against holding the Euronest PA
sessions, Bureau and Committees’ meetings in Armenia, as well as
against cochairmanship of Armenia to the Euronest PA, during Bureau
meetings between 2011 and 2014.

The Azerbaijani delegation highlighted in its statements that it is
inadmissible to hold the Euronest PA sessions, Bureau and Committees’
meetings in Armenia and to allow Armenia to cochair the Euronest PA
until Nagorno Karabakh and 7 surrounding provinces are liberated,
threat for frontier provinces of Azerbaijan with 400 thousand
population is fully eliminated as a result of the occupation of
Sarsang reservoir for over 23 years, blockade of Nakhchivan is ended.

Furthermore, the Azerbaijani delegation unambiguously stated that
it won’t attend plenary sessions and meetings of the institution to
be held in Armenia. Therefore, the decision on holding the plenary
session of the Euronest PA in Yerevan was adopted despite resolute
objections of Azerbaijani delegation,” he noted.

E. Suleymanov added that the point of attention is that the 4th session
of the Euronest PA in Yerevan will coincide with 100th anniversary
of socalled Armenian genocide. Undoubtedly, the Armenian side will
use this international event as a means of propagation of socalled
Armenian genocide.

“I’d like particularly underline that despite the fact that Armenia
signed a Customs Union agreement and joined the the Eurasian Economic
Union, the Euronest PA neither expressed its attitude towards this
fact nor discussed this situation.

On the contrary, the fact that the plenary session of the Euronest PA
will be held in this country in such situation proves the approval of
Armenia’s political decisions to join the abovementioned institutions.

And this means that Armenia will achieve the adoption of any decision
in favor of its own interests during Yerevan session of the Euronest
PA. On the other hand, Yerevan session provides the Armenian side
with additional opportunities for propaganda of 100th anniversary of
socalled Armenian genocide.

We witnessed double standards policy regarding Azerbaijan for
several times within the Euronest PA, as it was the case in other
international organizations. Despite our multiple efforts, it was
impossible so far to discuss the fact of the occupation of 20% of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia for over 23 years in Committees’
meetings and plenary sessions of Euronest PA.

We always faced a statement that Euronest PA is not an institution able
to solve the issue of NagornoKarabakh and other occupied territories,”
he underlined.

E. Suleymanov went on to add that it’s clear that on the background
of the annexation of Crimea to Russia and armed confrontations
in the southeast of Ukraine, a number of leading world states
and international organizations, as well as the European Union,
demonstrate highlevel support to Ukraine.

“Nevertheless, despite the fact that we claimed the adoption of
documents regarding sanctions against aggressor Armenia by demanding
the same level of support to Azerbaijan, territories of which have
been occupied for long, our efforts were definitely blocked by
different means.

Thus, as other international organizations, the Euronest PA, a
parliamentary institution of the European Union within the framework
of Eastern Partnership program, keeps Armenia under its umbrella and
attempts to insure Armenia from any sanctions and responsibility for
its aggressive criminal actions against Azerbaijan.

At the same time, Euronest PA confirms itself to be a propagation
facility in promoting these stupid claims among the world community
by holding its 4th session in Yerevan on the eve of 100th anniversary
of socalled Armenian genocide.

Interestingly, this institution, which actually supports socalled
Armenian genocide, doesn’t take into account that Armenians, who
are going to celebrate 100th anniversary of socalled claims, have
been committing genocide crimes against the Azerbaijani people since
1905 and that genocide crimes of Armenians against Azerbaijani people
continues for already 110 years.

Finally, I’d like to stress once again that Azerbaijani delegation
insists on its position, and we won’t attend the plenary session to
be held in Yerevan,” he completed.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT: MY MESSAGE TO ARMENIA: STOP THE OCCUPATION”

APA, Azerbaijan
Feb 8 2015

[ 08 February 2015 03:28 ]

Baku-APA. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and
his wife Mehriban Aliyeva attended the panel “Outside Ukraine –
unresolved conflicts in Europe” held in the framework of the Munich
Security Conference, APA reports quoting “Vestnik Kavkaza”.

President of Azerbaijan spoke delivered speech at the panel, then
answered questions from participants.

The representative of Armenia addressed to the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev, accusing the Azerbaijani army in the shelling of the
Armenian positions and increased tensions on the front line.

President Aliyev said the following: “In principle, this is tactic
of the Armenian side – always throw the blame on us. They invaded our
territory, violated international law, committed genocide in Khojaly,
destroyed our historical and religious monuments, and shift the blame
on us. But the question is that what the Armenian soldier are doing in
the occupied territories? What Armenian soldier is doing in Agdam? If
he does not want to be killed, he shall not go to Agdam. Let him
stay in his Yerevan, Gyumri, in their own country. You have enough
space in own country, there is, in fact, not too many people left,
so what are you doing in Agdam, what are you doing in Fizuli?”

“The year 2014 was generally remarkable in terms of the activity of
intermediaries in the negotiations. President Putin organized a meeting
between President Sargsyan and me in August. Already in September,
Secretary of State [John] Kerry organized a round of negotiations
with the Armenian president and me. Finally, at the end of October,
President Hollande invited us to Paris, where we had, I would say, an
excellent, very constructive meeting. Both parties then stated that
they considered this meeting a great success and will try to reduce
tension on the frontline. What happened then? After less than ten
days, Armenia began military exercises on the occupied territories,
particularly in Agdam, with the participation, according to the
Armenian media, of 47 thousand soldiers. They organized manoeuvres
in occupied territory with the use of military equipment, aircraft
and helicopters. For three days our army remained patient enough not
to respond, but then Armenia with the help of its Mi-24 helicopters
attacked Azerbaijan’s position. Our army had to respond and one of
the helicopters was shot down. For Armenia, it was an occasion to
accuse Azerbaijan. With this provocation, it showed disrespect to
the leaders of France, Russia and the United States that have made
so much effort to reduce tensions. Armenia thinks itcan do anything,
and no one will punish it. This is the main reason behind Armenia’s
behavior. Now they are blaming us, saying, Do not shoot!.

So, my message to Armenia is: end the occupation.” As soon as you stop
the occupation, we will have peace, cooperation and reconciliation.

And the reason why it is not happening is because the Armenian soldier
is still in Agdam and Fizuli”, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SOLUTION REQUIRES MORE EFFORTS

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 9 2015

9 February 2015, 17:53 (GMT+04:00)
By Mushvig Mehdiyev

The resolution process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan is becoming more actual requiring more
involvement of the world’s influential organizations amid the recent
Armenia-triggered skirmishes on the contact line and border of the
two neighboring countries.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a mediator
in the peace talks over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has expressed
its serious concerns over the latest skirmishes on the contact line
of the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.

The OSCE leadership and Minsk Group co-chairs gathered on February
7 to discuss the latest developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, according to the OSCE press service.

As a result of the high-level meeting, the OSCE released a statement
to admit that the military situation along the contact line and
Armenia-Azerbaijan border is deteriorating, posing a threat to regional
stability and endangering the civilians’ lives.

“Kasprzyk’s monitoring reports in January said about 12 people were
killed and 18 others wounded. This is the highest confirmed number
of victims in the first month of a year since the ceasefire agreement
signed in 1994. Approximately 60 people lost their lives in 2014.

Since then the disturbing trend has been continuing,” the statement
said.

The OSCE excluded any military solution to the conflict, calling on
the sides to end incursions, stop targeting villages and civilians,
halt retaliatory attacks and use of asymmetric force, and take
additional steps to reduce tensions.

It said the partial observation of the security guarantees during
the OSCE monitoring exercises was unacceptable.

The Minsk Group co-chairs, with the full support of the
chairperson-in-office, are preparing to host an intensified negotiation
process that can lead to a peaceful end to the conflict that has
scarred the region for too long.

“We strongly urge the sides to strengthen the political will to begin
this process immediately without any preconditions,” the OSCE said.

Earlier, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs held meetings with Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian.

They called for the resumption of presidential dialogue, as it was
said in a statement issued after the meeting with Nalbandian in Munich
on 5 February.

“We urged the minister to show more flexibility to kick off such
negotiations,” the co-chairs said.

Mediators also emphasized the importance of implementing the
presidents’ agreement on how exchanging the data on missing persons
under the aegis of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

“This data exchange can build a trust between the sides and facilitate
the reconciliation process. Moreover, we call for the resumption of
presidential dialogue at the earliest opportunity,” they noted.

The co-chairs are expected to travel to the region in late February.

As the efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group have brought no tangible
results so far, authorities and individual diplomats from different
countries have started to emphasize the significance of solving the
Karabakh knot.

Pascal Monnier, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said it was important
not to consider the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh as a dispute to
last forever.

He said the conflict in Ukraine should not sideline the dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Monnier noted that the mediation in the conflict’s settlement is
neither a tribunal nor a court. It is the way of using all the
techniques available by the diplomats and experts in confidence
building, conflict resolution, and post-crisis management.

“The Minsk Group co-chairs cannot decide for the presidents in terms
of what is acceptable for them and the people of the region,” he said.

Monnier noted that France urges, by all means, both presidents and
both countries to start a dialogue and avoid any measures threatening
this dialogue.

Armenia is unlikely happy with the status-quo, said Monnier.

“As we know, Armenia is occupying a lot of territories, seven
districts, and also controlling Nagorno-Karabakh. If we consider
the economic situation of Armenia, we don’t have an impression that
Armenia is getting a lot from the existing situation,” he said.

Monnier believes that Armenia would get more if peace is restored.

“This year is a very important year in terms of the conflict’s
resolution. Of course, 2015 could appear more complicated for the
EU because of the Ukraine crisis and ISIS threats. But it is not a
reason to be inactive, we will continue to be active,” he said.

Asked about the inclusion of Germany in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair
countries, Monnier said Germany as a government is supporting the
Minsk Group co-chairs, as does the European Union.

Monnier believes that the co-chairing group is the appropriate body
to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict.

“I don’t think that there is debate in Europe on this subject,”
he said.

“The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter
of concern for all the nations because it violates the stability in
the region and also prevents economic integration of the region,
and it also puts a negative impact on everyone. I think that any
concrete support of any member states to the conflict’s settlement
is welcomed,” Monnier added.

The Azerbaijani leadership is not satisfied with the poor activity of
the OSCE Minsk Group in the two-decade negotiation process, accusing
the mediator structure of remaining indifferent particularly when it
comes to illegal presence of the Armenian army in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Despite regular statements on unacceptability of the status quo in
the conflict, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs has failed to contribute
to the solution of protracted problem. Furthermore, the organization
lack any action plan, or means of impact to achieve solution to the
conflict, which frequently gives birth to ideas about replacing it
with more effective format.

Armenia keeps under control over 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory,
avoiding fulfilling four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate
withdrawal from the occupied lands and in fact facing no pressure.

This comes as other standards are applied in another part of Europe –
in Ukraine – to prevent aggression.

Such approaches towards the conflict solution are sometimes interpreted
as double standards, apparently used by certain forces to enforce
their power in the region.

Based on international law Azerbaijan prioritizes the withdrawal of
Armenian forces from its internationally recognized territory as a key
condition to move forward. Despite its strong army and capabilities to
liberate its occupied lands, Azerbaijani authorities opt for peaceful
end to the two-decade long conflict.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from
Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than
20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced
as a result of the war ending in occupation of Azerbaijan’s 20 percent
historical and internationally recognized lands.

IVETTA TONOYAN: FAULT FOR SHAMEFUL SITUATION IN COUNTRY LIES WITH AUTHORITIES

Armenia’s political leadership along with all its structures bears
responsibility not only for this specific situation, but also for
uncertainty and injustice in the country, for the shameful economic
situation and emigration, Ivetta Tonoyan, spokeswoman for the leader
of Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) Gagik Tsarukyan, told Aysor.am
when commenting on Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan’s response to the
statement issued by BHK.

She said that in general, one can ask people who bears responsibility
and for what.

“I think the answer is obvious,” I. Tonoyan said.

We would remind you Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan told
Tert.am when speaking about the kidnapping and beating of civil
activist, member of BHK Party’s political council Artak Khachatryan
that the leader of BHK Gagik Tsarukyan “should personally follow the
statement released by the political force; otherwise, we will have
to take the emotional nonsense for a personal opinion”.

“I find the statement by the BHK hastily-made and a gross error,
which is simply unacceptable. I expect Gagik Tsarukyan to personally
follow the statement released by the political force; otherwise, we
will have to take the emotional nonsense for a personal opinion. In
that case, the entire responsibility of possible developments and
exacerbations will lie upon Gagik Tsarukyan in person,” Mr Abrahamyan
said in particular.

The political council of Prosperous Armenia Party earlier issued a
statement in which it proposed discussing the possibility of boycotting
the work of the Armenian parliament until the incident related to the
kidnapping and beating of BHK activist Artak Khachatryan is resolved.

The party said in the statement that consultations with other
parliamentary factions should be held on the issue so as coordinate
the further joint actions.

The political council of BHK said that the civil activist, member
of the party’s political council Artak Khachatryan was abducted and
beaten up for 5 hours.

“We consider it as a cynical challenge to political forces and
society. The responsibility for the incident rests with the political
leadership of the country. We demand that law enforcement bodies
solve as soon as possible this incident as well as other attacks on
political and public figures. Let no one doubt that these cases will
go unpunished. If the law enforcement system does not punish them,
then the people will do it,” the statement notes.

As was reported, Armenia’s Investigative Committee has opened a
criminal case. On the afternoon of February 7, a group of people
used violence to abduct Artak Khachatryan. Investigative and
operational-search are underway to reveal all the circumstances of
the incident.

Artak Khachatryan, an active participant in rallies against the
introduction of the new law on turnover tax, was taken home after he
was beaten up.

A protest took place outside the Armenian government today. Protesters
demanded that those guilty should be found and punished.

09.02.15, 21:26

From: A. Papazian

Armenian Studies Program
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator
5245 N. Backer Ave. PB4
Fresno CA 93740-8001
ASP Office: 559-278-2669
Office: 559-278-2669
FAX: 559-278-2129
ASP Website:

Major International Conference to Mark the Centennial of the Armenian
Genocide at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb.-On the occasion of the Centennial of the Armenian
Genocide, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) will host a two-day
conference from March 19-20, 2015 entitled `Crossing the Centennial:
The Historiography of the Armenian Genocide Re-Evaluated’ at the Wick
Alumni Center – Great Hall, 1520 R Street.

Organized by Prof. Bedross Der Matossian from the Department of
History at UNL, the conference is sponsored by the Norman and Bernice
Harris Center for Judaic Studies, the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) in Belmont, Mass., the Society
for Armenian Studies (SAS), the Department of History, the Faculty
Senate Convocation Committee, the Human Rights and Humanitarian
Affairs Program, the Women’s and Gender Studies program , and the
Institute of Ethnic Studies at UNL.

The conference will focus on four under-researched themes that have
recently gained scholarly attention and analytical depth: a)
humanitarianism and humanitarian intervention in the Armenian
Genocide; b) women and children in the Armenian Genocide; c)
comparative dimensions of the Armenian Genocide; d) and the impact of
the Armenian Genocide on society, politics, literature, and
culture. Twenty-two scholars from Armenia, Cambodia, Canada, Holland,
Hungary, Israel, and the United States representing 17 different
academic institutions will participate in five panels of the
conference.

The conference will start at 2:00pm on Thursday, March 19, with
welcoming remarks by Prof. William G. Thomas III, the chair of the
Department of History at UNL, and opening remarks by Prof. Bedross Der
Matossian from the Department of History.

The first panel, entitled `Humanitarianism and Humanitarian
Intervention’ will be moderated by Prof. David Forsythe (UNL), who is
widely regarded as being among the first scholars who have established
the study of human rights and humanitarian affairs in the disciplines
of political science and international relations. The panel will
feature the following speakers and topics: Dr. Hilmar Kaiser (Phnom
Penh, Cambodia), `Humanitarian Intervention and Ottoman Opposition to
Extermination: A Neglected Aspect’; PeÃŒ=81ter PaÃŒ=81l KraÃŒ=81nitz
(Pázmány Péter Catholic University), `Armenian Refugees, Humanitarian
Assistance and Hungary’; and Prof. Mark Toufayan (University of
Ottawa), `Between Intimacy and Alienation: Armenian Property,
Denationalization and the Passions of `Protection’ in French Mandated
Cilicia, 1918-1923′.

The second panel, which will be the featured one of the Conference,
will be moderated by Prof. Jean Cahan, the director of the Harris
Center for Judaic Studies and will include three speakers:
Prof. Richard G. Hovannisian (University of California-Los Angeles),
`The Centenary of the Armenian Genocide: What Have We Learned?’;
Prof. Michelle Tusan (University of Nevada-Las Vegas), `Humanitarian
Empire: Britain’s Response to the Armenian Genocide,’; and Prof. Keith
Watenpaugh (University of California-Davis), `Armenia, Armenians, The
League of Nations and Modern Humanitarianism.’

The second day of the conference will start at 9:00am and will feature
four panels. The first panel entitled `Women and Children during the
Genocide’ will be chaired by Prof. Patrice McMahon, an expert on
international security, conflict, and human rights, and will feature
the following speakers and subjects: Prof. Benny Morris (Ben-Gurion
University), =80=9CWomen and Children in the Turkish Ethnic Cleansing
of Armenians and Greeks, 1919-1923′; Prof. Carina Karapetian Giorgi
(Pomona College), `Critical Examination of the Historiography of Women
during the Armenian Genocide’; Anna Aleksanyan (Clark University), `
`Neutral home’ and the Issue of Identity of the Surviving Armenian
Women and Children’; and TuÄ=9Fçe Kayaal (University of Michigan-Ann
Arbor), `A Critique of the Concept of the `Genocide Survivor’:
Armenian Orphans in Aleppo Between the Years of 1915-1918.’

The second panel entitled `The Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust’
will be chaired by Prof. Ari Kohen, the director of the Human Rights
and Humanitarian Affairs Program at UNL and will feature the following
speakers and subjects: Ã=9Cmit Kurt (Clark University), “Legal’ and
`Official’ Plundering of Armenian and Jewish Properties during the
Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust within a Comparative Perspective’;
Prof. Stefan Ihrig (Van Leer Institute, Jerusalem), `From the Armenian
Genocide to the Holocaust – A Connected Perspective’; and
Prof. Harutyun Marutyan (National Academy of Sciences of Armenia),
`The Institute of Righteous Among the Nations in the Armenian and the
Jewish Cases.’

The last panel of the conference entitled `Aftermath of the Genocide:
Politics, Culture, Society, and Literature,’ will be chaired by
Prof. Chantal Kalisa, an expert on the Rwandan Genocide and director
of the Women’s and Gender Studies program at UNL, and will feature the
following speakers and subjects: Prof. Tsolin Nalbantian (Leiden
University), `Armenian Nation Building through Sport: The Armenian
Olympiad Before and After the Armenian Genocide’; Prof. Heghnar
Watenpaugh (University of California-Davis), `Art, Heritage, and the
Armenian Genocide: Toros Roslin’s Zeytun Gospels between 1915 and
2015′; Prof. Talar Chahinian (California State University-Long Beach),
`Impossible Testimonies: Literature and Aesthetics in the Aftermath of
the Armenian Genocide’; and Dr. Seyhan Bayraktar (Historical Seminar
of the University of Zurich), `The Armenian Genocide and the Politics
of Denial: on Turkey, Civil Society, and EU Recognition Politics.’

Closing remarks will be delivered by Prof. Lloyd Ambrosius from the
Department of History. `It is a great honor for the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln to hold the largest conference in the Midwest to mark
the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide,’ said conference organizer
Prof. Der Matossian. `It is not only that we are bringing scholars
from various disciplines to discuss different aspects of the Armenian
Genocide but that we also should think of this Conference as a unique
opportunity for the University community at large to benefit from the
expertise of top scholars in the field and understand better one of
the first genocides of the modern period.’

The poster of the conference was prepared by Ruben Malayan, a renowned
artist from Armenia. The poster displays Malayan’s expression of the
experiences of the Armenian nation (represented by women and children)
on the death marches of the Genocide. The white auras around their
heads symbolize the sanctity of the victims. The stark contrast of
black and white background represents the inhuman suffering people had
to endure before perishing. The work was inspired by a real photograph
of an Armenian family taken during expulsion and extermination of
1915.

The event is open to the public. For further information, please
contact Prof. Der Matossian at [email protected] or (402)
472-2417.

BELGIAN MEP FILES A BILL CALLING ON TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

10:38, 09 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

On January 29, 2015, anniversary of the recognition of the Armenian
genocide by France, the Belgian MEP Gerolf Annemans (nationalist party
Vlaams Belang “Flemish Interest”) submitted to European Parliament
a bill calling on Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide, Jean
Eckian reports from France.

The proposal is also signed by the French deputies of the Front
National party, with its President Marine Lepen.

A. Considering that previous resolutions have not led to
the recognition of the Genocide by the Turkish government ;
B. Considering a century after the event, the time has come to
initiate reconciliation; 1. Calls on the Turkish government to
officially recognize the genocide in 1915 by the government of the
Ottoman Empire against the Armenians living in Turkey; 2. Instructs
its President to forward this resolution to the Turkish government,
the Armenian government, the Commission, the Council and the Presidents
of the Parliament of the Republic of Turkey and the Parliament of
the Republic of Armenia.