Author: Andres-Papazian

TURKISH COURT ACQUITS SUSPECT OVER DINK MURDER CASE

Feb 13 2012
Turkey

Ýðci said at the court that he had informed gendarmerie intelligence
officers in Trabzon that a plan to assassinate Dink was in place four
months prior to the murder.

A court has acquitted Coþkun Ýðci, one of 19 defendants in the murder
case of Hrant Dink, the founder and former editor-in-chief of the
Armenian-Turkish Agos weekly who was assassinated in 2007 in front
of his office in Ýstanbul, after forgetting to include him in the
final verdict in January.

Ýðci, who allegedly called on Yasin Hayal to buy a gun with which to
shoot Dink, was accidentally left out of the final verdict and the
judge issued a ruling separately for him on Monday.

On Sept. 19, 2011, the prosecution recommended his acquittal on the
grounds that there was no substantial evidence to suggest he took
part in the crime.

Ýðci’s lawyer said at the court on Monday that his client has no
ties to the murder except for being the uncle of Hayal, one of the
main suspects.

Ýðci said at the court that he had informed gendarmerie intelligence
officers in Trabzon that a plan to assassinate Dink was in place four
months prior to the murder.

“I am not guilty. The people I reported about were tried in Trabzon
and they were punished because they neglected their duties. Those
people are Col. Ali Oz, Capt. Metin Yýldýz, non-commissioned officer
Orhan Þimþek and Sgt. Veysel Þahin,” he said.

When a judge at the court asked Ýðci if he had been in contact with
those four people, Ýðci replied that he had contacted Þimþek and Þahin.

The Ýstanbul 14th High Criminal Court hearing issued its ruling on
Jan. 17 in the 25th hearing of the case. Hayal and Erhan Tuncel,
the main suspects, who were accused of being instigators, and all
other suspects, were cleared of charges of membership in an outlawed
organization.

The prosecutor and the Dink family’s lawyers accused them of acting
under the orders of a clandestine criminal network suspected of having
ties with senior state officials and military and police officers.

The court handed down a life sentence to Hayal, while Tuncel was given
10 years and six months in prison for his involvement in the bombing
of a McDonald’s restaurant in 2004. Gunman Ogun Samast was sentenced
last July to nearly 23 years in prison by a separate juvenile court.

Tuncel was released.

From: A. Papazian

SLOVAK OFFICIAL HAILS MAINTENANCE OF CHRISTIAN VALUES IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 14, 2012 – 16:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Slovak politician, member of the National Council
of the Slovak Republic František Mikloško describes Nagorno Karabakh
Republic as a normal democratic country.

“Karabakh must develop ties with countries in the fields of culture,
education and religion,” the official said, calling on the West to
extend assistance to foster strengthening of Karabakh’s statehood
and economy.

Mr. Mikloško further hailed maintenance of Christian values in NKR,
in contrast to Europe, that has already forgotten them.

Dwelling on programs implemented in Karabakh through assistance of
Slovak enterprises, the politician dubbed the situation in the region
rather unfavorable for investors “in face of possible war with Iran.”

“However we will keep initiating project, hoping for appropriate
perception of human values by the international community,” he
concluded.

From: A. Papazian

EXPERT: PROSPEROUS ARMENIA, ANC MAY BECOME ALLIES AFTER ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 14, 2012 – 14:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Expert on political and electoral technologies
Armen Badalyan does not rule out the possible alliance between the
coalition Prosperous Armenia (PA) party and the opposition Armenian
National Congress (ANC) after the parliamentary elections.

He says if PA and ANC work properly, the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia will not manage to forge the figures after voting, and all
the three forces will get roughly equal number of seats. “The next
parliament will also have a coalition, yet we cannot say which forces
will form it,” he noted.

In particular, Badalyan urged the Prosperous Armenia and ANC to
cooperate in majority constituencies to avoid competing with each
other, and make a more efficient use of their resources in fighting
against the RPA.

The expert also said that Prosperous Armenia will benefit more from
this alliance, because ANC will continue as opposition after the
elections while Prosperous Armenia may vanish if the Republican Party
of Armenia gets the majority of votes.

From: A. Papazian

ARTSAKH REPUBLIC PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN VISITED THE RESIDENCY OF THE ARMENIAN DIOCESE OF GREECE

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 08:09

On 13 February Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited
the residency of the Armenian Diocese of Greece and met head of the
diocese Bishop Khoren Toghramajyan.

Thereafter the Head of the State visited “Zavaryan” Armenian school
where in a warm atmosphere met representatives of the local Armenian
community. Bako Sahakyan introduced to the participants current
socioeconomic and political situation in Artsakh, successes registered
in recent times and answered questions raised by the participants of
the meeting.

On the same day Bako Sahakyan visited also “Ararat” club and partook
in a reception organized by local Armenian community in honor of the
Artsakh Republic President.

From: A. Papazian

FIRST FILM ABOUT ARMENIA’S SAINT NAREKATSI TO BE PRESENTED ABROAD

ARMENPRESS
BEBRUARY 14, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: The first film shot about Grigor
Narekatsi – “Pastor” will be shown February 15. The film was shot in
two years in Western and Eastern Armenia. It is a true documentary
telling about Narekatsi.

“Our goal was to present Narekatsi, to make him known all over the
world. He was a saint living thousand years ago. His character, his
face has been forgotten,” producer of the film Archbishop Ter-Rafael
Minasyan said at a news conference Tuesday. He said the film is neither
theological nor of familiarizing nature, it is of an all-human value.

“We have very little information but there are traditions among the
people connected with him, commented in different ways,” author of
the scenario of the film, director Artak Avdalyan said.

He said though Narekavank does no longer exist in Western Armenia,
the creative group of the film managed to find caves in Eastern and
Western Armenia where the majority of shooting took place. He confessed
that they faced a number of difficulties, including financial ones,
but a hand from above was guiding the group helping it overcome all
the undesirable obstacles.

The main role in the film was embodied by actor Arthur Karapetyan who
confessed that the role was so difficult and unusual that there were
moments when he even refused to participate in the shootings.

“It was a very responsible role for me. I cannot give any assessment
to the work I have done, I was guided by the dictation of our Saint,”
Karapetyan said.

In near future the film will be shown in the Unites States, Lebanon
and a number of European countries. The film did not have any sponsors.

From: A. Papazian

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF BELARUS PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ARMENPRESS
BEBRUARY 14, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: Deputy chairman of the House of
Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Victor Guminski and
members of the the Armenian-Belarus inter-parliamentary cooperation
commission visited memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide
February 14. They put a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial and
paid tribute to the memory of the victims.

Deputy Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Suren
Manukyan presented the history of the greatest crime committed against
humanity in early 20 century. Accompanied with Manukyan, the guests
got acquainted with the samples presented in the museum.

“It is very painful to speak about this fact. I think the day will
come when the Republic of Belarus will also discuss the issue demanding
serious and accomplished approach,” Victor Guminski said.

More than 20 countries have recognized and condemned the Armenian
Genocide.

From: A. Papazian

RA NA SPEAKER RECEIVES THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF NATO FOR THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA J. APPATHURAI

13.02.2012

On February 13 the RA National Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan received
James Appathurai, Special Representative of the Secretary General of
NATO in Caucasus and Central Asia.

First the NA Speaker welcomed James Appathurai’s already second visit
to Armenia, then touched upon positively developing Armenia-NATO
cooperation. He emphasized the works being done within the framework
of Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan, the cooperation
of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the RA National Assembly,
the participation of Armenia’s Armed Forces in the NATO peacekeeping
missions. “It’s very important that Armenia not only make use of
the security international system, but also it actively take part in
those processes. I think that here the usefulness is bilateral,” Mr
Nikoyan noted. The NA Speaker presented the works, done in the Army
in the direction of strengthening the legal bases, public oversight
and improvement of public awareness processes. With this respect he
stressed the cooperation with the NGOs.

Congratulating Samvel Nikoyan on the occasion of being elected
NA Speaker and his birthday James Appathurai has noted that the
NATO greatly emphasizes the relations with Armenia, which, to his
assessment, develop well and have intention of further deepening. He
thanked Armenia for participating at best in the NATO peacekeeping
forces. “Armenia being a small country has a big contribution in the
international peacekeeping missions. I have been myself to Afghanistan,
and I wish to convey my gratitude for higher service of the Armenian
Armed forces,” James Appathurai noted. He highlighted the role of
the NA in the spheres of oversight and public awareness, as well as
the cooperation within the NATO PA. Mr Appathurai said that in future
the NATO delegation would arrive in Armenia to specify the upcoming
programs with relevant departments.

In the course of the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were
also discussed. The further deepening and enforcement of cooperation
was mutually stressed.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY’S COURT AGAIN DOES NOT SENTENCE MURDERER OF ARMENIAN SOLDIER KILLED IN TURKISH ARMY

news.am
February 14, 2012 | 12:54

ISTANBUL. – During the fifth trial into the death of Sevag Balikci-the
Istanbul Armenian who was killed, on April 24, 2011, in a military
unit while serving in the Turkish army-the court again denied the
motion to imprison Kivanc Agaoglu-the soldier who killed Balikci,
and who is charged with murder.

The court judge stated that it is a matter of honor for him that
the trial ends with a fair verdict. He also ordered that Bulent
Kaya-Agaoglu’s relative who had instructed the eyewitness soldier Halil
Eksi to give false testimony-be present in the next court hearing,
Haberturk of Turkey informs.

Halil Eksi had claimed that a certain Bulent Kaya, who had presented
himself as the uncle of Kivanc Agaoglu, had contacted him and said
it would be good for him to testify in Kivanc’s favor. Bulent then
gave him a paper which Halil signed under. During the hearing on
September 9, 2011, this paper was read, in which it was stated that
he had not seen how the shot was fired, but he was convinced that it
was accidental. And during the hearing on December 27, Eksi confessed
to what had actually transpired.

“Kivanc loaded the rifle, aimed it at Sevag, and fired. But I do not
know why he killed Sevag,” the eyewitness ex-soldier said.

To note, Sevag Balikci was killed by Kivanc Agaoglu, but the Turkish
gendarmerie had stated that the death had occurred accidentally
while the soldiers were joking around. Agaoglu was released at the
very first court hearing, and on the grounds that he had no reason
to escape. The Turkish Military Prosecutor’s Office demands a mere
nine-year sentence for Agaoglu, and on charges of “murder as a result
of negligence.” But at Diyarbakir Military Court, a senior officer
had stated that, after Sevag’s murder, an eyewitness soldier had told
him that Kivanc Agaoglu had told Sevag: “Chubby, I will kill you!” Yet
the other military servicemen at the trial denied these words.

From: A. Papazian

ZHOGHOVURD: VARTAN OSKANIAN TO BE ON PROSPEROUS ARMENIA TICKET

Tert.am
14.02.12

The newspaper’s sources close to the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
say that Armenia’s former FM, Head of the Civilitas Foundation Vartan
Oskanian will be among the first five candidates on the Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP) ticket.

According to the sources, he is even ready to resign as head of
the Civilitas Foundation. Despite serious financial problems, the
foundation is most unlikely to be dissolved. Mr Oskanian may announce
his de jure resignation today, on Tuesday.

From: A. Papazian

IF ALIYEV OFFERS ELECTION BRIBES
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:00:15 – 14/02/2012

Mesrop Harutiunyan, the head of information and campaign of the
election office of Sasun Mikaelyan nominated for the mayor of Hrazdan
Town, has announced that if Ilham Aliyev offers 100 dollars in the
presidential elections, he will be elected president of Armenia.

Mesropyan used this metaphor to describe the vicious power of election
bribes, and the low, almost zero level of voters in Armenia.

One can understand Mesropyan’s fury, as well as the fury of people
who are fighting for free, fair elections, democracy and civil
rights and freedoms, and have to go through social, psychological,
physical hardship, clash with the resistance of the government, and
the election bribes in the face of the citizens accepting them with
delight, which make this resistance stronger.

But is the solution of the problem in metaphoric descriptions or
“nominating” Ilham Aliyev for president of Armenia? Hardly so. If a
citizen accepts money or in-kind assistance to make a decision on
his or her vote, it does not mean that the citizen does not do it
consciously. It means that the citizen does not believe in any other
option. One can fly into a fury, stamp his feet, call the citizens
Turks, but it is not a solution. The solution will be found as soon
as it is clear that the citizen has a choice and the citizen chooses
the bribe because the opposition does not appreciate the opposition
in terms of the prospects of their life.

Perhaps, it is worthwhile for the opposition to inquire why the
citizens appreciate it so low. It is very easy to call the citizens
Turks, venal, Aliyev’s witnesses, and what not. It is easy to blame
the citizens for political inefficiency and issue a row of metaphoric
attributes after every election. It is difficult to admit that the
election bribes are the assessment of the opposition by the citizens.

In fact, it is a bad criterion but if the citizens use this criterion,
the problem is the opposition because it is the responsibility of
the political opposition to improve the election criteria.

If some people think that the citizens accepting 5000 drams and
voting for the Republican Party know the value of the state less
or there is no difference between the Republican Party and Aliyev,
they are mistaken about this mindset in particular and the tactics
in relations with the citizens.

Before the presidential elections in 2008, Sasun Mikaelyan was a
Republican and supported Serzh Sargsyan, became member of parliament
on the Republican ticket. However, by 2008 Armenia did not seem to
be a democratic country and the government was not more tolerant than
now. However, Sasun Mikaelyan was on the side of the government till
2008 and joined the opposition only after Ter-Petrosyan’s return.

Why was Mikaelyan on the side of the Republican Party and the
government until 2008? He did not support the opposition and fair
elections. The parliamentary election in 2007 when the Republicans
gained absolute majority was the period of blossoming election bribes.

At that time, Sasun Mikaelyan was not with the Impeachment Bloc, the
People’s Party of Armenia, he was with the Republican Party. Perhaps
because he did not know the value of democracy then or did not
understand the vice of the election bribes or simply did not believe
the opposition could achieve these things.

In what way did Mikaelyan in 2008 differ from the voters of Hrazdan
in 2012? In fact, in no way. Only at that time the election bribe he
offered was bigger – property and seat in parliament.

But will it occur to anyone to say that if it were needed to cooperate
with Aliyev, Mikaelyan would? Will it occur to anyone to doubt
Mikaelyan’s patriotism?

So why do they doubt the patriotism of other citizens who, unlike
Sasun, continue to support the government and cannot find in the
opposition what Sasun Mikaelyan found in the opposition in 2008,
as well as many more other people who used to support the government.

To defeat this vice it is necessary to try to identify the causes and
set to eliminate them, forgetting about the emotional assessments. It
will thus be possible to change the criteria and landmarks for the
citizens, as they changed for most activists in February 2008.

From: A. Papazian