Month: February 2015

ARTHUR CHILINGAROV- ARMENIA AND RUSSIA SHOULD ENHANCE THEIR FRATERNAL RELATIONS

YEREVAN, February 25. / ARKA /. Armenia and Russia should work to
further cement their fraternal relations that have been linking
them for centuries, famous Russian polar explorer, oceanographer,
politician and Hero of the Soviet Union Arthur Chilingarov said in
an interview with Sputnik-Armenia radio station.

Chilingarov said economic and other problems which Russia is facing
now, should not become an obstacle for the two peoples to strengthen
their ties and friendship.

According to him, the Union of Armenians of Russia does a great deal
to keep in touch with the Armenian Diaspora in Russia. He said mutual
visits of public figures are also desirable.

‘Both Russia and Armenia are experiencing difficulties now, but
a friend indeed is a friend in need. We need to understand this,”
said Chilingarov.-0-

CHILINGAROV: ARMENIANS WORLDWIDE RALLY UP TO MARK CENTENARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. Armenians worldwide have rallied up
to mark the centenary of Armenian Genocide, but there is still room
for a closer cooperation, legendary polar explorer and Hero of the
Soviet Union and Russia Arthur Cghilingarov, who is also a statesman
and political activist, said in Sputnik-Armenia radio’s live broadcast.

He also pointed out that the Church plays a special part in it and
help gathering Armenians.

“Although there are Armenian communities in almost all the cities
of Russia, it is hard to guide them,” Chilingaryan was quoted by
Novosti-Armneia as saying in the live broadcast.

Armenian Genocide was the first genocide committed in XX century.

Turkey rejects the accusation of massacres and the killing of one
and a half million Armenians during World War I.

The fact of the Armenian genocide is recognized by many countries,
particularly by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, most of the U.S.

states, as well as by the parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina,
Belgium, Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Common House of
Canada, the Seym of Poland and lower house of Italian parliament.

—0—-

ARMINE ADIBEKYAN: AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT LOOK FOR JUSTICE IN AGHDAM EVENTS BUT INDULGENCY FOR FURTHER ATROCITIES AGAINST ARMENIANS

19:06 25/02/2015 >> SOCIETY

Panorama.am held an interview with the head of the “Xenophobia
Prevention Initiative” NGO, sociologist Armine Adibekyan.

– Each year at the end of February Azerbaijan with a widespread
propaganda marks the Aghdam events that took place in 1992, which
are called “Khojalu events”. How would you comment on this campaign?

– I will not relate again and again what happened that time, I’d like
to talk about what’s going on today. The arguments of the Armenian
side can be found in the film titled “Between hunger and fire”. And
if somebody needs it is possible to organize objective and rational
discussion with facts and not emotions, whims and wishes. But
this is not possible as it never has been before. The active and
uncontrollable replenishment of the emotional sphere is the the only
and primary challenge facing the Azerbaijani side, and they do it as
they can. The Armenian side has repeatedly called the for discussion.

– What is the grounded disposition of the Armenian side based on?

– We use only the Azerbaijani sources and the chronicle of those
years. We compare them with each other, and not with the “Armenian
version”. Our arguments are based also on the contradictions of
Azerbaijani propaganda. After all, the one who tells the truth
does not need to lie, to change the story and the testimonies. The
falsification of photographs is the tip of the iceberg. Everything
that is connected with the concept of “Khojalu” is being falsified –
starting with illustrations and lists ending with the testimony of
witnesses. At present they have are on a new type of retrospective
interpretation and presentation of facts. For example, Gyulali Binalu
who had been “in captivity” in an interview tells about “the horrors”
of captivity, where he was tortured by Robert Kocharyan. However,
he or maybe the journalists have forgotten that in February 1992,
he had given an interview and on the newsreel he did not leave the
impression of a man who had been tortured. By the way, the next
day, after the interview, this group of people was transferred
to the Azerbaijani side. And Robert Kocharyan not only did not
participate in the interrogations, but he was not present in the
newsreel either. Another “witness” in the film “When the sun went out”
gives evidence, but cannot exactly remember the name of her husband,
calling him Elmar Akhmedov Naib oglu, who, according to the official
list of the victims, at that time, February 26, 1992 was only 6 years
old. The third one, Panah Magerramov, says that he had his ear cut off,
while on the photograph accompanying the journalistic investigation,
we see that both of his ears are on their placec. And the photograph
clearly shows that these are his “native” ears, not prosthesis. What
can be expected from ordinary mortals, if “competent” people, such as
Ramiz Fataliyev (the chairman of the commission of on investigation of
the Khojaly tragedy at Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan), after 23 years,
instead of talking about what they know and about the results of the
investigation, build their evidence based on “confessions of Zori
Balayan” or authoritatively’ claim via facebook that “there were
710 dead (instead of 613 yet unproven), and more than a hundred of
children”? I tried to contact Ramiz Fataliyev through Facebook in order
to get clarifications on topic, but received no response. By the way,
any attempt to get a response from “competent” people on specific
question remain in dead silence on certain allegations or facts.

– We would like to address the issue of falsifications in the lists
of those dead …

– The falsified lists of the dead in Khojalu have been studied back
in 2012 in details. It is important to note several vital points –
there are three official lists differing from one another; none of
them contains 613 names (available options are: 630 names, 601 names,
508 names); over 70% of the victims are men aged 18 to 60 years,
some of them have no relation to Khojalu at all – they have been
killed in another time and another place.

– And, nevertheless, the Azerbaijani side periodically threatens
to appeal to the International Court of Justice on wording “Khojalu
genocide.”

– As I said earlier, with such an approach and a collection of
“factual” materials they have nothing to go to court with, thus the
talks about the international court – the talks in favor of the poor,
as well as the threats are designed for the ignorant ones. Anyway,
if they are going to court with the facts that they have in their
hands then I will attend that court with pleasure.

As for the considering the events that took place as a genocide, which
supposes “total or partial physical destruction of an ethnic group”,
here there are a lot of white spots too. Azerbaijan’s population in
1992 was 7,324,100 people. They will have to try very hard to prove
that the death of three, even six hundred people, as the report of
the international organization “Human rights watch” reads, served a
threat to existence of an ethnic group that consisted of seven million
people. It is, I think, needless to say that basically members of
other ethnic groups like Meskhetian Turks, who were settled in the
epicenter of the battle deliberately, were killed.

They are not looking for justice, but a “victory”, as they understand
it, which over the time will give them a moral justification in the
eyes of the outside world for the atrocities and massacres planned
against the Armenians. Perhaps it is already giving, judging by the
statements of the first party of Azerbaijan, which are rather plain:
“We will avenge”, “Armenia must cease to exist,” “we’ll be back, we’ll
destroy and we’ll build our own one”. In particular, the main product
of propaganda in 2015 “Khojaly: A trial over Armenia” testifies this
fact. People, who want to reveal the truth and justice, would call
the book “The trial of the guilty.” But Armenia and the Armenians are
already considered as a culprit without trial or investigation. They
need not the true, but the indulgency.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR KHOJALY EVENTS, LOOK FOR THEM IN AZERBAIJAN: ARTAK ZAKARYAN

19:21, 24 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Speaking at the Parliament today, Chairman of the National Assembly’s
Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Artak Zakaryan referred to
the Azerbaijani propagana campaign on the so-called “Khojaly” events:

“Azerbaijan’s costly propaganda in different corners of the world is
continuing its fraud march, which in these days is devoted to so-called
“Khojaly,” actually to the Aghdam events. What happened?

On February 26, 1992, Aghdam events took place, which are
interpreted as “Khojaly massacre” by Azerbaijan. During these events,
the Azerbaijani armed groupings ruthlessly shot down a number of
residents of Khojaly settlement in a territory under their control. In
order to overthrow President Muthalibov, the opposition Azerbaijani
National Front used the forced operation of Karabakh armed forces
aimed to suppress the Azeri shooting, as this was where capital
Stepanakert and surrounding areas were being shelled from. This is
also evidenced by President Ayaz Mutalibov in his interview on 2th
of April, 1992 to ” Nezavisimaya Gazeta.” Before the operation, the
Karabakh side, according to the norms of humanitarian law, informed
Khojaly authorities about planned operation and leaving a corridor
for the safe evacuation of Azerbaijani population.

After the tragic events in the territories controlled by Azerbaijanis
Azeri journalist Cnigiz Mustafaev photographed and filmed the dead
bodies which were not disfigured. The existing files confirm that
the Karabakh side physically was not able to access the territories
where the people were killed and the bodies were disfigured.

After the upheaval followed by Khojaly provocation, the Azerbaijani
new leadership headed by Abulfaz Elchibey, initiated a deliberate
falsification of the events to conceal his monstrous crime interpreting
it as “a massacre” of civilians by Karabakh forces.

This policy is being continued by official Azerbaijan till today. By
distorted propaganda of presenting Aghdam events as massacre of Khojaly
Azerbaijani authorities are trying to hit the international reputation
of two Armenian states, to impose the distorted interpretation of
the events on the international community to boost anti-Armenian moods.

I call on our partner parliamentarians from different states,
municipal and provincial councils to avoid the pitfalls of Azerbaijani
propaganda. Don’t buy into false information and fictitious events.

Keep clean the parliamentary agendas and don’t let the Azerbaijani
propaganda penetrate there. If you are looking for those responsible
for Khojaly events, so look for them in Azerbaijan.”

OSCE AND UNISON NGO PRESENT REPORT ON ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN ARMENIA FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

19:07, 24 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The findings and recommendations of an OSCE-supported survey exploring
the main obstacles encountered by people with disabilities in accessing
Armenia’s higher education system, was presented today in Yerevan.

The report commissioned by the OSCE Office in Yerevan was produced
by the Unison NGOthat supports people with special needs. It
provides comprehensive statistical data and focuses on physical
and programmatic, as well as the academic inclusiveness of higher
education.

“The report is a good example of innovative thinking. It analyzes
the system of higher education from the perspective of students with
special needs. The report’s recommendations and the effort investedare
positive steps toward increasing the integrity of higher education
in Armenia,” said Oliver McCoy, Democratization Programme Officer at
the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The report finds that only one of the 29 higher education institutions
surveyed is physically accessible to people with mobility issues. The
majority of universities think that inclusiveness of higher education
should be guaranteed only to young people with mobility, sight,
hearing, speaking or general disabilities, excluding those with
mentalissues. There are no set mechanisms within universities to adapt
the educational process to the needs of people with disabilities. It
is only the good will of faculty members and fellow students to make
the learning process favourable to disabled students, the report notes.

Armen Alaverdyan, Executive Director of the Unison NGO, said: “The
survey outcomes show that Armenian universities mostly lack inclusive
policies, facilities and academic programmes for students with
disabilities. I strongly believe we should fill this gap by heavily
promoting equal opportunities to get a decent education in Armenia.”

The survey is based on opinions of students with and without
disabilities, administrative and academic staff of higher education
institutions and young persons with disabilities, as well as the
general public. Twenty-nine universities in Yerevan, Gyumri and
Vanadzor were included in the survey which was conducted during
September-November 2014.

WHAT HINDERS EDMON MARUKYAN FROM JOINING HHK (VIDEO)

19:10 | February 24,2015 | Politics

When becoming a deputy independent deputy Edmon Marukyan didn’t promise
his electors that by entering the National Assembly he would demand
Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation, “As I have known that it is unrealistic.”

Now he is fighting so that the radical opposition leaves the politics
and new opposition comes, “All are happy in this system. It means
that they can shout every day, they can demand the resignation of
Serzh Sargsyan, but when an impeachment project comes, not to vote
for the project.”

It turns out that the opposition is happy that they are not government,
“Yes. As they don’t want to come to power.”

Independent deputy thinks that all three Presidents have hindered
the formation of opposition in Armenia, and what we have has no
connection with political culture, “See, when I was making speech,
those, whom I was criticizing, hampered me, in the same way Arakel
Movsisyan hampered them. So what is the difference for me?”

But the opposition doesn’t threaten the authorities with bloodshed,
the authorities threaten with bloodshed if the opposition comes out
into the streets. So, mustn’t the head promising bloodshed, leave
without elections? “No one must leave without elections, as the next
will be worse.”

Normal electoral system, normal political powers are needed, which
will replace each other without bloodshed. Asked how there could
be regime change under the rule of a person, who threatens with
bloodshed, Edmon Marukyan answered, “First, I have no information
about the threat of bloodshed. Second, no one is speaking of that
fact at the moment. Third, I think that there is enough political
freedom in Armenia.”

What hinders Edmon Marukyan from joining HHK? Edmon Marukyan answers
that the fact, that the Republican Party like the opposition is in
favor of the Eurasian Economic Union, hinders him.

But independent deputy didn’t clarify why four years ago he didn’t join
the Republican Party, which led Armenia into the European Association.

BHK CONFERENCE IN THE BEGINNING OF MARCH: AZATUTYUN

16:23 | February 24,2015 | Politics

In the beginning of March the 8thconference of Prosperous Armenia
Party (BHK) will be held, BHK press secretary Tigran Urikhanyan told
“Azatutyun”.

Asked whether the issue of BHK leader Gagik Tsarukyan’s resignation
as the Party Head will be included in the conference’s agenda,
Urikhanyan answered, “The issues of conference’s agenda and the future
developments will be commented and discussed when decisions are made.”

More here

JEWISH HEIRS SUE GERMANY OVER NAZI MEDIEVAL HOARD

24 February 2015 Last updated at 15:50 GMT

The Guelph treasure is worth over £100m

The heirs of Jewish art dealers who claim their relatives were forced
to sell a medieval treasure trove to the Nazis have filed a US lawsuit
against the German state.

They allege that the Nazis forced the sale of dozens of relics known
as the Welfenschatz or Guelph treasure.

They want to recover the collection, now thought to be worth $226m
(£146m), which is currently in a Berlin museum.

The government says the deal was fair and the relics should stay
in Germany.

The descendants believe that the original deal took place under duress
and that the Nazis forced the Jewish dealers to accept a lower price.

“Any transaction in 1935, where the sellers on the one side were
Jews and the buyer on the other side was the Nazi state itself is by
definition a void transaction,” said lawyer Nicholas O’Donnell.

The four dealers received millions of dollars when they sold them to
the Gestapo founder Hermann Goering.

In March last year Germany’s advisory body on cases of suspected
Nazi-looted art, the Limbach Commission, found no evidence of
persecution and that the price was fair.

This is the largest collection of medieval church art in the hands
of the German state, and was recently classed a national cultural
treasure. Some of the pieces are more than 800 years old.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SPEAKS UP FOR TALISH NEWSPAPER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF IMPRISONED IN AZERBAIJAN

20:20 24/02/2015 ” SOCIETY

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks,
published written observations submitted to the European Court of
Human Rights on the case of Hilal Mammadov against Azerbaijan, in
which he stresses the systematic deficiencies in the area of freedom
of expression, including judicial harassment of critical voices,
and a pattern of retaliatory measures against those who co-operate
with international organizations to expose human rights violations
in the country. The statement is posted on Council of Europe website.

“The case of Hilal Mammadov, whom I met in 2012 and 2013 in a pre-trial
detention center, is emblematic of the reprisals that journalists,
bloggers and human rights defenders face in Azerbaijan because of their
work. They are often harassed with unjustified or selective criminal
prosecution on charges that defy credibility, a structural problem
which both affects the human rights of the persons concerned and
obstructs the functioning of international human rights mechanisms,”
the statement reads.

It’s also noted that is the first of five appeals that the Commissioner
will submit regarding Azerbaijan. The next ones will concern the
cases of Intigam Aliyev, Rasul Jafarov, Anar Mammadli and Leyla and
Arif Yunus.

Hilal Mammadov, the editor-in-chief of the only Talish newspaper in
Azerbaijan “Tolyshi sado”, was arrested by the Azerbaijani police on
21 June, 2012. He was charged with drug possession; later the Ministry
of National Security of Azerbaijan accused him of high treason and
espionage. Among others, Mammadov is known for the popular on the
Internet video “Who are you? Come on, good-by”. In summer, 2012 three
protests were held in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy to Moscow
demanding to cease the ethnocide and release Hilal Mammadov.

Also, several international organizations addressed an open letter
to Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the
UN Human Rights Council concerning the deteriorating environment for
human rights and independent media in Azerbaijan. The letter is posted
on the website of the human rights organization “Article 19”.

Since early 2014, the Government of Azerbaijan has orchestrated an
unprecedented campaign to suppress dissenting voices in the country.

As a result of this unrelenting crackdown, several dozen human
rights defenders, bloggers, journalists, peaceful political activists
remain behind bars. In addition, many independent media outlets and
civil society organizations in the country have been forced to cease
their activities or subjected to legal prosecution or other targeted
government persecution.

“Legislative and other measures taken by the Azerbaijani government
to curtail the legitimate work of civil society organizations, human
rights defenders and independent media are in serious violation of
Azerbaijan’s international human rights obligations,” the authors of
the letter write, noting that in 2014 alone, Azerbaijani authorities
convicted or imprisoned 34 human rights defenders, political and civic
activists, and journalists for their engagement with international
human rights mechanisms. Many others have fled the country or gone
into hiding to avoid arrest.

As the letter reads, despite provisions of international law
safeguarding the right to freedom of expression, the government
of Azerbaijan has only escalated its use of criminal charges and
restrictive legislation to silence independent journalists and media
outlets in the country. As a result, virtually no independent print,
radio or television outlet can operate freely in the country.

At least 12 journalists remain in prison in Azerbaijan.

Amendments introduced to the legislation, limit the opportunities
of the civil society organizations to get funding, they also provide
the government with discretion to impose financial sanctions on these
organizations for minor infractions of existing laws, the letter reads.

The letters is signed by Article 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for
Citizen Participation, Civil Rights Defenders, FORUM-ASIA Asian Forum
for Human Rights and Development, Freedom House, Front Line Defenders,
Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights Watch, International
Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International Service for Human
Rights (ISHR), People in Need.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN AZERBAIJAN, JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES CAN FACE UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING RELIGIOUS LITERATURE

20:15 24/02/2015 >> SOCIETY

A Judge in the Azerbaijani capital Baku ordered two female Jehovah’s
Witnesses to be held for three months in the National Security Ministry
secret police investigation prison, according to the decisions seen
by Forum 18 News Service. Irina Zakharchenko and Valida Jabrayilova
face up to five years’ imprisonment if convicted of offering religious
literature without state permission.

“This is a gross violation of the human rights of two innocent women,
who are currently imprisoned because of their religious beliefs. The
court’s decision contradicts both Azerbaijani and international law,”
complained Jehovah’s Witnesses members.

According to the article trouble began for Jehovah’s Witnesses
Zakharchenko, a 54-year-old pensioner, and 38-year-old Jabrayilova on
5 December 2014. They were going from door to door to discuss their
faith and offer copies of Jehovah’s Witness publications in Pirallahi.

One of the residents reportedly filed a complaint against them to
the district police for illegal distribution of religious literature.

However, the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations –
which implements the compulsory state censorship of all religious
literature published in or imported into Azerbaijan – approved import
of this publication on 11 August 2014. State Committee Deputy Chair
Gunduz Ismayilov authorised the State Customs Committee to allow the
import of 2,000 copies of the book, the Forum 18 notes.

As noted in the article the women’s relatives (Zakharchenko’s son and
Jabrayilova’s mother) came to the investigation prison to try to meet
them. However, prison officials refused them. As the article notes,
this is the first time Jehovah’s Witnesses have been imprisoned
on criminal charges not connected to refusal to serve in the armed
forces, Forum 18 notes. In recent years the only non-Muslim prisoners
of conscience jailed for exercising the right to freedom of religion
or belief have been Jehovah’s Witness conscientious objectors to
compulsory military service, Forum 18 notes. In recent years several
Protestant Christians have also served prison sentences to punish
them for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief.

According to the article it was among Azerbaijan’s prisons visited by a
delegation from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of
Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in December
2012. However, the Azerbaijani government has refused to allow the
Committee to publish its report of the visit.

Forum 18 reminds that a Judge in Sumgait sentenced Sunni Muslim Zohrab
Shikhaliyev to six months’ imprisonment to punish him for maintaining
a prayer room in his home. “Shikhaliyev established a Sunni Muslim
prayer room in his home more than two years ago as no other Sunni
mosque exists in Sumgait. The government is hostile to Sunni Muslims,”
the publication reads.

The representative of the State Committee for Work with Religious
Associations refused to discuss the problem with the “Forum
18.” The article notes that Many Muslims are in prison or on trial
for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. The
largest single group consists of those imprisoned to punish them
for protesting on the streets of Baku in October 2012 against a
2010 Education Ministry ban on girls wearing a headscarf (hijab)
in schools. Ten are still imprisoned.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress