Deutsche Welle Dec. 18, 2020 Jailed Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala is going on trial on charges connected with a failed 2016 coup. His yearslong imprisonment without a conviction has been condemned by rights groups across the world. Kavala has been in prison in Turkey for more than three years without being convicted of a crime Turkish civil society leader Osman Kavala is to appear on Friday before a court in Istanbul for a fresh trial seen by critics as part of a government campaign to crack down on dissent. Kavala, a 63-year-old businessman and philanthropist, who is known partly for his efforts to promote human rights through the arts, has been in prison in Turkey for more than three years without a conviction. His case has drawn condemnation from around the world, with the EU and US both calling for his immediate release. Kavala is the director of Turkey's Anadolu Kultur civil society organization and has supported a range of art and social projects. He was also a founding member of philanthropist George Soros' Open Society Foundation in Turkey. He was acquitted in February of attempting to overthrow the Turkish government during 2013 protests against the planned demolition of an Istanbul park that turned into anti-government rallies. However, he was rearrested almost immediately on fresh charges of espionage and trying to destroy the constitutional order in connection with a failed coup in July 2016. Quashing dissent In the aftermath of the coup, Turkish authorities have carried out a massive crackdown on suspected government opponents. Tens of thousands of judges, teachers, police and civil servants have been suspended or dismissed from their jobs, with many arrested and imprisoned. Human rights group say that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used the failed coup as a pretext to enact authoritarian policies. Turkey's constitutional court is currently deliberating on whether Kavala's detention is lawful. It is not known when it will deliver its verdict.
Month: December 2020
Yerevan citizens demanding Armenian PM’s resignation at metro stations, chanting "Nikol traitor"
News.am, Armenia
Dec 18 2020
Yerevan citizens demanding Armenian PM's resignation at metro stations, chanting "Nikol traitor"
18:41, 18.12.2020
Today, citizens burned their homes and cattle farms remaining on the other side of the border before transferring all the posts of the city of Kapan of Armenia’s Syunik Province to the Azerbaijani side. Armenian News-NEWS.am’s correspondent reports that before 5 p.m. the citizens whose homes were located in the village of Kashatagh region bordering Kapan were removing their items from their homes. They were also burning their constructions passing along the border, and one of them, for example, is located next to the airport in Kapan.
Armenian News-NEWS.am’s correspondent reports that as of 5 p.m. Armenian border guards had already left the posts near Kapan. They had to retreat more than 10 km. The locals told Armenian News-NEWS.am that Kapan and, for example, Syunik village will completely be at the observation post of the adversary since the highest peaks of that territory will be transferred to the adversary.
Armenia National Academy of Sciences History Institute reaffirms demand for government’s and PM’s resignation
News.am, Armenia
Dec 18 2020
Armenia National Academy of Sciences History Institute reaffirms demand for government's and PM's resignation
21:10, 18.12.2020
The History Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia has issued the following statement:
“Taking as a basis the November 25 statement by the presidency of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia on the resignation of the Government and Prime Minister of Armenia, as well as the fact that the humiliating trilateral statement signed on November 9, the Academic Council of the History Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia expresses its indignation with the inconsistent and passivity of the authorities of Armenia in regard to the events unfolding in the country.
In particular, the withdrawal of Armenian troops located in several settlements of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), including Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd villages of Hadrut region), Sanasar (Kubatlu) and Kovsakan (Zangelan) regions poses a direct threat to the security of Artsakh and the eastern borders of Armenia.
As a matter of fact, such a demand for the retreat from positions under Armenians control in the Kubatlu and Zangelan regions isn’t even envisaged by the unacceptable document signed on November 9. Proceeding from the processes that are already getting out of control, the History Institute of the National Academy of Sciences reaffirms the demand for the resignation of the Government and Prime Minister of Armenia.”
Marking 102nd anniversary of founding, ARMENPRESS eyes modernization and diversification
09:37,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. December 18th 2020 marks the 102nd anniversary of the founding of ARMENPRESS State News Agency.
ARMENPRESS chief executive Aram Ananyan remarked that the agency is planning to further strengthen its international reputation in the next year.
“Our goal is to increase our agency’s presence in international news flows, as well as make our production more diversified, modern and in conformity with the consumers’ demands. Soon we will have the technical opportunities for this, and we believe that our readers, subscribers and colleagues will very quickly notice the changes,” Ananyan commented.
In his words, ARMENPRESS has all opportunities to become the voice of Armenia. This year, all news agencies around the world were working in emergency regimes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the Armenian media operated in extra difficult conditions because of the Artsakh war. “The pandemic and the war showed that the agency is able, and must have the strategic goal of becoming Armenia’s voice, and solve this objective. Today, it is more than important for our voice and ideas to be heard first of all to our allies, as well as all people, states and organizations interested in the fate of Armenia and Artsakh. We will make vigorous efforts in this direction,” Ananyan said.
ARMENPRESS was established on December 18, 1918. Back then, it was known as the Armenian Telegraph Agency.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Armenia registers highest decline in investments in main capital within EAEU
09:21,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Investments in main capital in Armenia comprised 462,4 million USD with the current prices and the average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar calculated by the Central Bank for the period of January-September 2020: this figure has declined by 15.7% compared to the same period of 2019 with the permanent prices, the Eurasian Economic Commission reports.
According to the EEC data, the total capital investments in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) comprised 197 billion 374,7 million dollars in January-September 2020, which declined by 4.2% compared to January-September 2019.
In Belarus, 8 billion 389,9 million USD investments were made in January-September 2020, which declined by 2.1% compared to the same period of 2019.
In Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia capital investments comprised 20 billion 194,4 million USD (a decline of 4.9%), 1 billion 20,7 million USD (a decline of 14.7%) and 167 billion 306,7 million USD (a decline of 4.1%) respectively.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
EU stands ready to assume a role in shaping durable settlement to Nagorno Karabakh conflict
10:12,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The 3rd Partnership Council meeting between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia was held in Brussels on , the EU Delegation to Armenia told Armenpress.
The Council was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr Josep Borrell, and attended by EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi. Foreign Minister Mr Ara Ayvazyan led the Armenian delegation.
The Partnership Council reviewed the implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which covers a wide range of cooperation in the political, economic, trade, and other sectoral areas. It also discussed other issues relevant for EU-Armenia relations. The EU reiterated that it remains fully committed to the joint agenda as well as to supporting Armenia in overcoming challenges on its reform path.
The Partnership Council also addressed the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, underlining the EU's support to Armenia’s efforts protect lives and livelihoods, and to reopen societies and the economy.
The EU and Armenia also discussed the situation in and around Nagorno Karabakh following the cessation of hostilities on 10 November 2020, the EU's role in supporting recovery and reconciliation, as well as regional issues.
“The EU welcomes and supports Armenia's strong commitment to further pursue its reform agenda and to fully implement our bilateral agreement, despite the challenges the country is confronted with”, said High Representative, Josep Borrell. “The EU stands ready to assume a role in supporting and shaping a durable settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, in close complementarity with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We are ready to use our peacebuilding and reconstruction tools to support this”.
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, underlined that “The EU is strongly committed to support Armenia's socio-economic recovery and continued domestic reforms for the benefit of the Armenian citizens and businesses. With substantial assistance already provided to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government's priority reforms in justice and police, we stand ready to explore how to further support Armenia under the current challenging circumstances. We are also ready to contribute €10 million to further humanitarian assistance and to work towards more comprehensive conflict transformation and longer-term socio-economic development”.
Ahead of the Partnership Council, the European Union issued a report on developments in Armenia and EU-Armenia relations since May 2019. The report underlines Armenia's progress in implementing the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, its commitment to domestic reforms, and the key role of the EU in supporting them.
The EU-Armenia Partnership Council took place one day ahead of the EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council. These meetings reiterate the importance of the EU's partnership with the countries in the region and the EU’s support to its recovery and to sustainable peace.
Russia’s Federal Security Service Director visits Armenia
11:32,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The Director of Russia’s Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov has arrived in Yerevan on a visit, the Armenian National Security Service told ARMENPRESS.
Other details from the visit weren’t immediately available.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Belgium’s Chamber of Representatives condemns Azerbaijan’s aggression against Artsakh
Belgium’s Chamber of Representatives condemns Azerbaijan's aggression against Artsakh
12:14,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The Chamber of Representatives of Belgium adopted 130/12 a resolution condemning the Azeri attack on Artsakh, the Committee of Armenians of Belgium reported.
The resolution “condemns the resumption of military actions by Azerbaijan on September 27, 2020” and calls upon the government to take several actions to help the affected civilians, to reveal and bring to accountability those guilty for war crimes, maintain the ceasefire and lead the negotiations to a peace treaty that would respect the borders of Artsakh and its right to self determination.
The resolution also condemns Turkey’s destructive role in the war and demands Ankara to stop meddling militarily in the NK conflict and refrain from actions that destabilize the region.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
COVID-19: Armenia reports 861 new cases, 1223 recoveries in one day
10:55,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. 861 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia in the past one day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 152,253, the ministry of healthcare said today.
1223 more patients have recovered in one day. The total number of recoveries has reached 131,213.
2567 tests were conducted in the past one day.
15 more patients have died, raising the death toll to 2596.
The number of active cases is 17,796.
The number of patients who had coronavirus but died from other disease has reached 648 (6 new such cases).
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Bodies of 35 servicemen, 1 civilian found in Karabakh
12:20,
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. 35 bodies of Armenian troops and 1 body of a civilian person were found during search operations for the remains of the Artsakh war victims in Fizuli, Jabrayil and Hadrut, the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh told ARMENPRESS.
“The body of the civilian, an elderly woman, was found in the village of Vardashat in Hadrut. So far, a total of 969 bodies of the missing persons were found,” State Service of Emergency Situations spokesperson Hunan Tadevosyan said.
He said that volunteers familiar with the terrain and family members of those missing have joined the rescuers in the search operations in Nerkin Tchartar, Fizuli, Jabrayil and Ishkanadzor of Kashatagh region.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan