Author: Andres-Papazian

NIYAZI MEHTI: “AZERBAIJAN PATRIOTISM BECOMES A MEANS OF BUSINESS.”

June 6 2013

On May 25, during the public hearing on “Mimicry of Humanity
peacekeeping practice” held in the village of Tekal, Georgiant, the
Azerbaijani Professor Niyazi Mehti said, – “In the beginning of
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in Azerbaijan, there were many who with
love to their country were outraged that Azerbaijan could lose
Karabakh. During the time this (patriotism, note by V. S.) became a
means of business. There are people who through the love to Heydar
Aliyev earn money. There are problems in the society that one should
be brave to criticize them, but they are afraid to criticize them. And
to look brave, they begin to act against Armenia and all Armenians.

Hurray to patriotism, they are going to demonstrate their hatred
against Armenians showing how brave they are. Although there is no
courage in it, you may be brave if you do it in Khankendi
(Stepanakert), but sitting in Baku, it’s ridiculous.” A participant of
the Public hearing, a writer Levon Javakhyan then announced, – “I just
thought up a plan. First of all, we should think that not we are
fighting, but they make us fight. The first point of the plan is to
neglect those who make us fight, stay together with each other, making
false reconciliation, make us fight, let’s get rid of them. I mean
especially the North. They don’t like us, nor Azerbaijan, they are
fond of their interests. Second, if the 2 sides fight, they curse from
one side, they curse from the other side, it is not possible to
elaborate any smart plan with hothead. First, we must put an end to
these curses from this and that side. And third, start from the most
innocent thing: from the cultural ties. Why, for example, our writers
do not go to Azerbaijan, cultural figures from Azerbaijan do not come,
the businessmen do not cooperate on the state level, if these things
are not done, there will be no ground to start the actual negotiation.

Even before the state level, on NGOs level… Only after it we should
sit at the table of reconciliation. Without all these things, no
matter how many times Serzh Sargsyan and Aliyev sit down, no questions
will be solved. Voskan Sargsyan

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

From: A. Papazian

THE SHOTS ‘SEEN’ BY THE GOVERNOR

June 6 2013

Those who read the Western authoritative mass media websites,
probably, have noticed that in the message of any crime, even if
it is obvious who committed the crime, there are some reservations
made in the description: “according to the investigation”, “according
to law enforcement officials”, allegedly (as if presumably), and so
on. Thus, solid media keeps from assuming the role of prosecutor and
respects the presumption of innocence of the suspected. We do not
have such culture, starting from official messages of law enforcement
authorities. In a type of programs like “02â~@³, it is directly said
that so-and-so entered, broke, stabbed, stole and fled making an
action stipulated by given clause of given Article of the Criminal
Code. But wait, such a claim can be made by a court only. On June 2,
shamshyan.com website was the first (or one of the first) to announce
about the shootings in Goris. The material was obviously one-sided
and extremely beneficial for the Governor of Syunik Marz. Killed
and seriously injured Budaghyan brothers were spoken about in an
unacceptable tone, i.e. with “hot heads”, drunk. In short, Surik
Khachatryan’s hypothesis was completely introduced in that narration,
which he presented yesterday at the café of “Marriott” hotel.

‘Piratical attack’ qualification, which he called, as I understand,
is also a legal category. In this case, it turns out that Budaghyan
brothers attacked the Governor’s house and not on at the Governor.

Let’s assume it is a preliminary hypothesis, but why it is put
forward by a man who was deep asleep during all those events. In
addition, in case of a piratical attack, a normal citizen applies law
enforcement officials, and not opens a fire with weapons illegally
kept in the house and through “bodyguards” of unknown status. But the
most surprising was the statement made yesterday by Syunik Governor’s
Office, which described the video of cameras at the Governor’s house,
which the Governor’s staff (who exactly?) had allegedly seen. Here
there might be three versions. Immediately after the incident, the
governor’s staff had come especially to Goris from Kapan, watched
the video after which it was confiscated as tangible evidence. Or, in
the preliminary investigation body has invited the Governor’s staff
to Yerevan and has shown the confiscated video and allowed them to
describe it in the message. Or, the most probably, the Governor, who,
allegedly, was temporarily suspended from his duties has dictated his
hypothesis to his own staff, which later became a statement. Here, one
of the primary role-players of such case, being at large, influences
of the investigation. Aram ABRAHAMYAN

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

From: A. Papazian

HRAPARAK: SEFILIAN FOUNDED ALL-ARMENIAN STRUCTURE

Friday,June

“Hraparak” writes that an all-Armenian structure called “Renaissance
Armenia” has operated in the Armenian Diaspora for several
months. The hero of the Karabakh war and Shushi liberation, member
of Pre-parliament opposition force Zhirayr Sefilian initiated the
creation of Renaissance Armenia that tries to coordinate work with
Diaspora Armenian communities in a new way.

“ARFD did not like the initiative. Renaissance Armenia poses an
external threat to Hranush Hakobian and Ministry of Diaspora headed
by her as activists of that structure have to be present at meetings
of Serzh Sargsyan with representatives of Armenian communities during
his trips abroad and voice urgent issues, expressing concern about
the internal political situation in Armenia,” the paper notes.

Sefilian promised to give details of the structure’s goals soon.

From: A. Papazian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS 2012 BUDGET PERFORMANCE REPORT AT ITS NEXT SITTING

STEPANAKERT, June 7. /ARKA/.The parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
will discuss 2012 budget performance report at its next sitting,
the parliament press service reported.

Thursday the parliament had a preliminary discussion of the report.

The report has been already considered by all standing committees
and factions of the parliament, according to the report.

The parliament speaker Ashot Ghulyan pointed out the necessity
to involve the capital and the regional administrations in budget
discussions for clarifying respective financial and economic data.

-0–

From: A. Papazian

ARF SPECIAL CONGRESS WILL BE ARMENIA’S IMPORTANT POLITICAL EVENT IN SUMMER – POLITICAL TECHNOLOGIST

June 07, 2013 | 01:18

YEREVAN. – The elections in Armenia are over, and this means there
will not be a hot political summer in the country and the politicians
will go on vacation, political technologist Karen Kocharyan told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“The political forces in our country position [themselves] six months
prior to elections. They still do not have the culture to realize that
politics is a continuous process. [But] of course, there are political
forces that have understood this, but they are fewer,” Kocharyan said.

According to him, the special congress of the opposition ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Party will be this summer’s sole important political
event in Armenia, and the results of this congress could be quite
serious. “The word is about a change in the leaders,” he stressed.

“The leader in our [political] parties is perceived as an idol, if not,
[as] a God. As a result, the leader does not change and a political
stagnation comes about,” Karen Kocharyan noted. He added, however,
that only the presence of external signals could prevent a political
stagnation in summer.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S WATER RESCUERS TO GET NEW SPECIALLY EQUIPPED OFF-ROAD VEHICLE

YEREVAN, June 7. /ARKA/. Armenia’s minister of emergencies Armen
Yeritsyan will give the special water rescuers team a new ZIL 131 Kung
offroad vehicle Friday, the press office of the ministry reported. The
vehicle is equipped and has a heating system.

In particular, the vehicle is equipped with an inflatable boat,
a portable power generator, a breathing apparatus, a device for
underwater examination, breathing balloons, summer and winter rescue
uniforms, halogen light fixtures, stretchers, and etc.

Currently the water rescue team s carrying out lifeguard services on
two beaches of Sevan Lake.

According to the ministry of emergencies, the group rescued 34 people
in 2012; there were 11 drowning cases in the period.

In 2013, the ministry recorded four drowning cases, one in Sevan and
three in other water basins. -0–

From: A. Papazian

ARAVOT: VARDAN BOSTANJYAN UNDERSTOOD THAT PARTY DOES NOT NEED HIM

10:09 07/06/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

Member of Prosperous Armenia Party Vardan Bostanjyan said on one
occasion that at a certain moment, he understood that the party does
not need him. Aravot daily’s correspondent asked him to comment on it.

Bostanjyan said, “I was not included in the party’s proportional
candidate list for the 2012 parliamentary elections and I thought
that in all probability the party does not need me. I have repeatedly
met with the PAP leader, and maintain good relations with him, but
I credit myself enough so as not to ask what the cause is.”

Source: Panorama.am

From: A. Papazian

ANCA SEATTLE TOWN HALL DRAWS IN DIVERSE AND ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD

Thursday, June 6th, 2013

ANCA Seattle activits flank ANCA-WR’s Elen Asatryan and Haig
Baghdassarian

LOS ANGELES-On Sunday, June 2, more than 50 community members from
the Seattle area gathered at Holy Resurrection Armenian Apostolic
Church for a town hall meeting organized by the Armenian National
Committee of America – Western Region.

The event, which came after a series of similar town halls hosted in
Boise, Fresno, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, gave attendees an opportunity
to learn about the efforts and successes of the ANCA, the challenges
facing the Armenian-American communities on local, state and federal
levels, discuss local issues, and learn about ways through which they
can get involved.

“We were pleasantly surprised to see such a diverse crowd
attend the town hall gathering. From third and fourth generation
Armenian-Americans to recent immigrants, the discussions around
local needs varied from community education initiatives to reviving
efforts on Genocide recognition and government affairs started
long ago,” stated ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan. “Given
the overwhelmingly positive response and eagerness by attendees to
start a local chapter in the area, we will be reconnecting with our
new friends in the coming weeks to help them develop strategies and
activate the Seattle Armenian-American community,” added Asatryan.

While Asatryan shared with the audience the history of the ANCA,
its structure and programs, and ventures taken on by local chapters
in other regions, ANCA-WR Legislative Director Haig Baghdassarian
discussed current initiatives taken on by the organization and the
challenges ahead. The meeting wrapped up with a Q&A session, followed
by one-on-one discussions with attendees on how they can get involved
in organizing their local community.

“The audience was very engaged and inquisitive about the topics
covered, including Genocide recognition, independence for Artsakh,
and U.S. foreign aid to Armenia. They were particularly interested
in learning more about our advocacy on a national and regional level,
and it was most encouraging to witness their enthusiasm to participate
locally,” stated Baghdassarian.

From: A. Papazian

TURQUIE : MANIF DE SOUTIEN A STRASBOURG

Entre 200 et 300 personnes se sont rassemblees hier soir sur une
place du centre-ville de Strasbourg pour apporter leur soutien aux
manifestations organisees depuis plusieurs jours en Turquie. “Ne
touche pas a notre liberte Tayyip”(Recep Tayyip Erdogan, le Premier
ministre turc, ndlr), “un pays uni ne sera jamais vaincu”, pouvait-on
notamment lire sur les pancartes des manifestants, qui se sont deja
reunis plusieurs fois a Strasbourg depuis le debut des manifestations
en Turquie. “Montrons-nous solidaires avec les citoyens de la Turquie
! Prouvons que la-bas, ils ne sont pas seuls, qu’on les soutient
de loin et qu’on refuse de voir notre pays a nouveau divise”, ont
exhorte les organisateurs du rassemblement.

Ces derniers avaient appele les participants a ne pas brandir
de drapeaux aux couleurs de partis politiques ou d’associations,
pour eviter toute recuperation. Des membres de l’equipe municipale
socialiste de la Ville de Strasbourg etaient presents lors du
rassemblement. Des elus municipaux d’origine turque de plusieurs
villes de l’est de la France avaient regrette mercredi des prises
de position d’elus PS strasbourgeois soutenant ces rassemblements de
soutien, dans un texte communique a la presse.

Ce soutien “froisse la majorite des associations turques de la ville,
favorables en très grande majorite au parti de l’AKP”, au pouvoir a
Ankara, avaient-ils affirme. “Ce qui se passe en Turquie aujourd’hui
est très preoccupant, et le rôle de Strasbourg, ville symbole de
la democratie et des droits de l’homme, est d’appeler au dialogue
et a la fin des violences”, a reagi jeudi le maire PS de la Ville,
Roland Ries, dans un communique.

Les manifestations en Turquie, qui durent depuis une semaine, ont
fait trois morts (deux manifestants et un policier). Le syndicat
des medecins turcs a recense 4.355 blesses, dont 47 grièvement. Le
dernier bilan officiel fait etat de “plus de 300” blesses. Le ministre
francais delegue aux Affaires europeennes Thierry Repentin a denonce
jeudi “la repression policière” en Turquie.

vendredi 7 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

TURQUIE. 76 JOURNALISTES EN PRISON : IL FAUT SOUTENIR LA LIBERTE D’EXPRESSION

Les affrontements qui se deroulent en ce moment en Turquie s’enracinent
contre le gouvernement de l’AKP, le parti au pouvoir accuse de museler
l’opinion publique et les libertes individuelles.

Pour le collectif Vigilance Armenienne contre le Negationnisme,
il faut faire bouger la Turquie et soutenir les prisonniers politiques.

Tribune collective d’intellectuels turcs et armeniens soutenue
egalement par de nombreuses associations.

Les evènements en cours en Turquie traduisent l’exasperation d’une
jeunesse qui ne supporte plus les derives et l’autoritarisme du
gouvernement AKP de Recep Tayyip Erdogan. L’usage disproportionne de la
force par la police turque est symptomatique de la violence exercee a
tous les niveaux de l’appareil d’Etat. Depuis 2009, le pouvoir mène
en effet une veritable repression a l’encontre de ses opposants,
emprisonnant des milliers d’etudiants, enseignants, universitaires,
avocats, journalistes et elus.

Sevan Nichanian, emprisonne pour insulte a l’islam

Le collectif Vigilance Armenienne contre le Negationnisme (VAN)
ainsi que les personnalites et associations signataires s’elèvent
contre la decision de la 14e chambre du Tribunal de police d’Istanbul
qui a condamne le 22 mai 2013, l’intellectuel armenien de Turquie,
Sevan Nichanian, a 13 mois et demi de prison pour avoir, dans l’un
de ses articles, “ouvertement insulte les valeurs religieuses d’une
certaine partie de la societe”.

Ce libre-penseur, bien connu pour ses prises de position estimees
iconoclastes, ne peut beneficier de sursis pour cause d’une
condamnation anterieure : ayant interjete appel, il devrait neanmoins
rester en liberte jusqu’a son nouveau procès pour “blasphème”.

Condamner Sevan Nichanian, c’est une atteinte a la liberte
d’expression, mais c’est aussi le designer officiellement a la vindicte
des islamo-nationalistes et intimer le silence aux Armeniens de
Turquie, deja en proie a des discriminations, des menaces recurrentes
et des assassinats cibles, suivis de procès biaises.

Le cas Ragip et Deniz Zarakolu

Ainsi, les veritables commanditaires de l’assassinat, le 19 janvier
2007 a Istanbul, du journaliste armenien de Turquie, Hrant Dink,
n’ont pas ete inquietes jusqu’a present ; l’execution par un appele
ultra-nationaliste le 24 avril 2011, date commemorative du genocide
armenien, du jeune Sevag Balikci, qui accomplissait son service
militaire, a ete jugee “accidentelle”. Le meurtre raciste de Maritsa
Kucuk, une Armenienne âgee, egorgee a Istanbul le 28 decembre 2012,
a ete fort opportunement impute a un Armenien qui ne jouit pas de
toutes ses facultes mentales.

À l’occasion du verdict qui frappe Nichanian, le “Don Quichotte
armenien”, il est bon aussi de se souvenir du sort que l’Etat turc
reserve a ses opposants turcs et kurdes.

Le procès de Ragip et Deniz Zarakolu se tient du 27 mai au 7 juin
2013 a Silivri, a 60 km d’Istanbul.

Si l’emblematique editeur et defenseur des droits de l’homme, Ragip
Zarakolu, incarcere pour “terrorisme” le 28 octobre 2011, comparaît en
prevenu libre après avoir effectue 5 mois et demi de preventive, il
n’en est pas de meme de son fils Deniz Zarakolu, toujours emprisonne
depuis le 4 octobre 2011 pour avoir donne une conference sur “La
Politique” d’Aristote, dans le cadre de l’Academie du BPD, parti
legal pro-kurde ayant 36 deputes au parlement turc. Doctorant en
sciences sociales, Deniz Zarakolu travaille pour la maison d’edition
familiale “Belge” (prononcer “Belgue” qui veut dire “documents”). Son
incarceration – tout comme celle de son père Ragip – vise a museler
“Belge”, renommee pour ses publications sur le genocide armenien et
les droits des minorites de Turquie.

D’autres collaborateurs de “Belge”, tels Aziz Tunc, le poète kurde
Mulazim Ozcan, la traductrice Ayse Berktay, attendent dans leur cellule
l’issue de procès-fleuves regroupant des centaines de prevenus et
risquent de lourdes peines de prison a l’instar de l’universitaire
Busra Ersanli, en liberation conditionnelle. Enfin, n’oublions pas
la sociologue feministe Pinar Selek, en exil a Strasbourg du fait
de son invraisemblable condamnation a perpetuite au terme de moult
procès kafkaïens.

76 journalistes incarceres en Turquie

On s’interroge sur l’indifference generale de l’Europe. Avec 76
journalistes incarceres, la Turquie, candidate a l’adhesion a l’Union
europeenne, a pourtant ete designee en 2012 “plus grande prison du
monde pour les journalistes devant l’Iran, l’Erythree et la Chine”
par le Comite pour la protection des journalistes (CPJ). Les lois
anti-terroristes en vigueur renforcent la tendance du pouvoir turc a
“assimiler journalisme critique et terrorisme”.

Une petition* intitulee “Sevan Nichanian n’est pas seul” a ete lancee
par des intellectuels de Turquie, publiee en solidarite avec lui
mais egalement avec les journalistes Ibrahim Guvenc et Necati Abay
qui viennent de se voir infliger respectivement 10 et 11 ans et de
3 mois de prison pour “terrorisme”.

Le Collectif VAN ainsi que les personnalites et associations
signataires s’associent a cette demarche : tous les militants
des droits de l’homme doivent voir la fin des procedures indues
engagees a leur encontre, qu’ils soient en liberation conditionnelle
a l’instar de Ragip Zarakolu et Busra Ersanli, en exil comme Pinar
Selek, en prison tels Deniz Zarakolu, Aziz Tunc, Mulazim Ozcan et
Ayse Berktay, en attente d’un second jugement comme Sevan Nichanian,
ou sous le coup de poursuites au titre du liberticide article 301,
“pour insulte a l’identite turque”, comme Rober Koptas, redacteur en
chef du journal armenien de Turquie Agos, l’ecrivain Umit Kivanc et
le journaliste Temel Demirer.

Il est temps que la France, qui semble avoir abdique sur le terrain
de la defense des droits de l’homme en Turquie, trouve le courage
d’affronter ceux qui pietinent l’idee meme de democratie. Elle se
doit d’apporter son soutien a ces femmes et ces hommes d’exception :
ils representent le seul avenir possible pour un pays qui n’arrive
toujours pas a se defaire de ses tentations totalitaires.

Signataires :

Seta Papazian, Presidente du Collectif VAN [Vigilance Armenienne
contre le Negationnisme], Benjamin Abtan, President du Mouvement
Antiraciste Europeen EGAM (European Grassroots Antiracist Movement),
Catherine Coquio [Professeur de litterature a Paris 7], Aircrige-Paris
[Association internationale de recherche sur les crimes contre
l’humanite et les genocides], Serge Klarsfeld, Memorial 98,
Meïr Waintrater, Yves Ternon [Historien], Seve Izouli-Aydin
[Avocate], Frederic Encel [Politologue], Etienne Copeaux [Historien
de la Turquie], Claire Mauss-Copeaux [Historienne], Erol Ozkoray
[Ecrivain-journaliste – Istanbul/Turquie], Dogan Ozguden [Journaliste –
Bruxelles/Belgique], Inci Tugsavul [Journaliste – Bruxelles/Belgique],
Jacques Berès [President de France Syrie Democratie], Bernard Schalscha
[Secretaire general de France Syrie Democratie], MPCT [Mouvement
Pour la Paix et Contre le Terrorisme], Andre Metayer [President
d’Amities kurdes de Bretagne], LICRA [Ligue internationale contre
le racisme et l’antisemitisme], Alain David [Bureau executif de la
LICRA, philosophe], Roger W. Smith [Professor of government emeritus,
College of William and Mary, Virginia, USA], Jacky Mamou [President
du CUD – Collectif Urgence Darfour], Alain Gauthier [President du
CPCR – Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda], Appui Rwanda,
Serge Avedikian [Acteur et realisateur], Anne Laine [Cineaste],
Taner Akcam [Historien, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies,
Clark University, USA], Marcel Kabanda [President d’Ibuka-France],
Cindy Leoni [Presidente de SOS Racisme], Jonathan Hayoun [President de
l’UEJF – Union des Etudiants Juifs de France], Aline Le Bail-Kremer
[Directrice de la Communication de l’EGAM – European Grassroots
Antiracist Movement].

vendredi 7 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian