Author: Babajanian Karo

Al Jazeera: ”Armenian factor” – another popular tool used by
governmental circles to punish dissent in Azerbaijan

19:15 19/01/2015 >> POLITICS

“So long as President Ilham Aliyev keeps saying there are no political
prisoners and no limitations on freedom of speech in Azerbaijan –
conjuring the illusion of a democratic country – little is going to
change in this country,” reads the article of Arzu Geybullayeva, a
specialist in human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan, posted on
the website of the TV channel “Al Jazeera.”

She notes that while global media is focused on debating the
limitations on free speech in France following the attack on the
French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, it is worth remembering that
France is not the only country whose media professionals are targeted.

“For years, journalists in Azerbaijan have suffered harsh penalties
for defending their freedom of speech – from prison sentences to
interrogation and the confiscation of broadcasting equipment,”
Geybullayeva writes, turning to the topic of the police raid on the
RFE/RL Baku office on 26 December, and its being seales shut. That
incident came as a part of the ongoing criminal investigation against
foreign-funded entities in Azerbaijan.

It is noted in the article, that similar measures were taken against
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS), the Media Rights
Institute, and International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), with
IREX leaving the country shortly after, and the director of IRFS, Emin
Huseynov, still remaining in hiding.

The author reminds that that was not the first time the Azerbaijani
service of RFE/RL was targeted by the authorities. In 2009, its FM
broadcast was shut down, with BBC radio service and Voice of America
following suit. For years, the Azerbaijani police harassed the radio’s
reporters, often confiscating or breaking their equipment or detaining
them for interrogation.

On December 5 RFE/RL investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova was
detained with the accusation of “incitement to suicide” and still
remains in jail – even though her accuser, Tural Mustafayev, has
withdrawn his complaint. On December 30, the Baku Court of Appeal
dismissed Ismayilova’s appeal for house arrest. Prior to this charge,
Ismayilova was already facing a criminal trial for posting a document
on Facebook revealing the identity of an informant for Azerbaijan’s
intelligence services, Geybullayeva writes, adding that Ismayilova is
recognised internationally for uncovering many of the hidden and
illegal business dealings of the ruling Aliyev clan, and is a winner
of many awards.

Geybullayeva also notes that only a day before the detention of
Ismayilova and a few weeks before the shutting of “Radio Liberty”
Ramiz Mehdiyev, the chief of staff of the Azerbaijani President,
published an article accusing Ismayilova of treason and of spying for
her foreign patrons. Noting that Ismayilova and her colleagues are
spreading lies about the Azerbaijani government, he comes to conclude
that it is the same as working for the foreign secret service.
Siyavush Novruzov, an MP from the ruling party shares his point of
view, noting that “every place that works for foreign intelligence and
the Armenian lobby should be searched.”

The author stresses that the Armenian lobby is just another popular
tool used by government circles to punish dissent in Azerbaijan.
Despite its support for Track Two diplomacy initiatives, Aliyev’s
regime was quick to accuse Leyla Yunus and Rauf Mirkadirov, who were
engaged in public diplomacy initiatives pressing for reconciliation
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, of treason and spying for Armenia.

Despite the fact, that Azerbaijan continues to maintain a steady
relationship with Europe and the image of a transforming young and
rich country, there is little hope for the country’s positive
transformation, with many of the country’s prominent advocates,
lawyers, and journalists in jail; independent media platforms under
attack; and only a handful of international non-governmental
organisations left in the country.

Town Hall
Jan 19 2015

Death toll in Armenia slaying rises to 7

AP News | Jan 19, 2015

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — The death toll in the slaying of a family in
Armenia blamed on a Russian soldier has risen to seven after a
6-month-old infant has died of his wounds.

The soldier serving at a Russian military base in Armenia is suspected
of shooting six of the family members dead at their home in Gyumri
last week. The baby, the only family member who survived the attack,
died Monday at a Yerevan hospital.

The soldier was captured and remained in custody at the Russian
military base in Gyumri.

Thousands rallied in Gyumri demanding that the soldier be handed over
to Armenian authorities.

Russia, Armenia’s main sponsor and ally, has offered condolences and
assistance in the investigation. The head of Russia’s top state
investigative agency arrived in Armenia on Monday.

Al Jazeera – English
January 18, 2015 Sunday 6:54 AM GMT

What is not being reported in Azerbaijan

by Arzu Geybullayeva

So long as the government keeps saying there are no limitations on
freedom of speech, nothing will change in Azerbaijan.

While global media appears to be focused on debating the limitations
on free speech in France following the attack on the French satirical
newspaper Charlie Hebdo, it is worth remembering that France is not
the only country whose media professionals are targeted.

For years, journalists in Azerbaijan have suffered harsh penalties for
defending their freedom of speech – from prison sentences to
interrogation and the confiscation of broadcasting equipment.

On December 26, at around 10:30am, a group of police officers and
investigators stormed the Baku bureau of Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty, ransacking the company’s safe, seizing company documents, the
official seal and equipment, while keeping the staff hostage in a
conference room for over five hours. Once the search was over, the
office was sealed shut. The staff was let go only to be forcefully
summoned a day later at the heavy crimes unit of the state
prosecutor’s office for questioning.

In just a few days, over 30 former and current staff members of RFE/RL
were questioned, including the bureau’s cleaner. On December 30, the
government accused the radio and its staff of espionage, money
laundering and appropriation of funds as part of the ongoing criminal
investigation against foreign-funded entities in Azerbaijan.

Similar measures were taken against Institute for Reporters’ Freedom
and Safety (IRFS), the Media Rights Institute, and International
Research and Exchanges Board (IREX). The offices of all three were
raided in August and sealed shut with IREX leaving the country shortly
after. The director of IRFS, Emin Huseynov, remains in hiding.

Consistent targeting

This is not the first time the RFE/RL station, locally called Azadliq
Radio (Liberty Radio) is targeted by the authorities. In 2009, its FM
broadcast was shut down. BBC radio service and Voice of America
followed suit. For years, the police harassed the radio’s reporters,
often confiscating or breaking their equipment or detaining them for
endless hours of interrogation.

On December 5, Azadliq Radio investigative journalist and the host of
the radio’s daily show, Khadija Ismayilova, was arrested and placed in
pre-trial detention for two months. Accused of “incitement to suicide”
or “an attempt to suicide” as per Article 125 of the Criminal Code,
Ismayilova remains in jail – even though her accuser, Tural
Mustafayev, has withdrawn his complaint.

Mustafayev had accused Ismayilova of inciting him to attempt suicide
and “insulting his honour and dignity on social networks and among her
friends following the break-up of their relations and his intention to
marry another woman”. On December 30, the Baku Court of Appeal
dismissed Ismayilova’s appeal for house arrest.

Prior to this charge, Ismayilova was already facing an unrelated
criminal trial for defamation linked to her posting a document on
Facebook revealing the identity of a man who was an informant for
Azerbaijan’s intelligence services.

In October, when travelling for a conference in Prague, Ismayilova was
prevented from leaving the country. A little over a week before this
trip, Ismayilova was searched and detained for four hours at Baku
International Airport. She was returning from Strasbourg where she
talked about the deteriorating human rights conditions in Azerbaijan.

Her investigative work uncovered many of the hidden and illegal
business dealings of the ruling Aliyev family and other government
officials for which she is recognised internationally. Ismayilova is
the recipient of Global Shining Award, the Gerd Bucerius Free Press of
Eastern Europe Award, the Courage of Journalism Award, and named one
of the Brave Thinkers of the world by Atlantic magazine.

‘Treason’?

Was it a coincidence that Ismayilova’s detention came just a day after
the country’s chief of staff, Ramiz Mehdiyev, accused Ismayilova of
treason and being a foreign spy? Or thatthe radio station was raided
and then closed in another few weeks time?

In his 60-page diatribe on “Western Colonialism”, Mehdiyev wrote:
“Their main concern is lip service to their bosses abroad and keeping
good relations with them. The example is Azadliq Radio’s journalist
Kahdija Ismayilova. Together with her colleague ‘friends’ she puts on
anti-Azerbaijani shows, makes absurd statements, openly demonstrates
destructive attitude towards well-known members of the Azerbaijani
community, and spreads insulting lies. It is clear this sort of
defiance pleases Ms Ismayilova’s patrons abroad.”

He concluded: “Overall there is an understanding within the society
that Azadliq Radio and its employees are on a disgusting path. There
is no need to prove that provision of false information is the same as
working for the foreign secret service. This is treason. This is what
journalists and people with a healthy mindset would think. If the
symbol of democracy is Khadija Ismayilova, then it is awful to imagine
what future awaits the society.”

Siyavush Novruzov, an MP from the ruling party, agrees. In an
interview with a local news site, Novruzov said: “Every place that
works for foreign intelligence and the Armenian lobby should be
searched.”

The Armenian lobby is just another popular tool used by government
circles to punish dissent in Azerbaijan. Despite its support for Track
Two diplomacy initiatives, Aliyev’s regime was quick to accuse Leyla
Yunus and Rauf Mirkadirov of treason and spying for Armenia this year.

Both Yunus and Mirkadirov have been engaged in public diplomacy
initiatives pressing for reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
for over a decade. The authorities were fully aware of their work for
years.

And yet, in what has been by far the most unprecedented year of
crackdowns, Azerbaijan continues to maintain a steady relationship
with Europe and the image of a transforming country, young and rich,
and eager to spend so long as its critics keep quiet.

With many of the country’s prominent advocates, lawyers, and
journalists in jail; independent media platforms under attack; and
only a handful of international non-governmental organisations left in
the country, there is little hope for the country’s positive
transformation anytime soon.

So long as President Ilham Aliyev keeps saying there are no political
prisoners and no limitations on freedom of speech in Azerbaijan –
conjuring the illusion of a democratic country – little is going to
change in this country.

Arzu Geybullayeva is a political analyst for the Caucasus region and a
specialist in human rights and press freedom in Azerbaijan.

GRAPHIC: So long as the government keeps saying there are no
limitations on freedom of speech, nothing will change in Azerbaijan.;
Many prominent lawyers, and journalists remain in jail, writes
Geybullayeva [Reuters]

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

The Representative of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Meets with His
Holiness Aram I

Antelias – 10 January 2015. On Saturday morning, Metropolitan George
Saliba of Mount Lebanon, of the Syriac Orthodox Church, met with
Catholicos Aram I to convey His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II’s
Christmas and New Year greetings. The Metropolitan also informed His
Holiness Aram I of the activities they are planning to commemorate the
100th anniversary of the massacres of their people by the Ottomans.

On the same day, Catholicos Aram I, also in his capacity as a President
of the Middle East Council of Churches, received Bishop Atallah the
chairperson of Prayers Christian Unity; they discussed the programme for
the week.

Prime Minister Tamam Salam Meets with His Holiness Aram I

Antelias – 17 January 2015. On Saturday evening Prime Minister of
Lebanon Tamam Salam came to meet with His Holiness Aram I in Antelias.
During the one-hour meeting, they discussed the conflict in the region,
the situation in the country and issues connected with the Lebanese
presidential election.

His Holiness Aram I Receives Former President of Lebanon Amine Gemayel

Antelias – 16 January 2015. On Friday morning, former President Amine
Gemayel met with His Holiness Aram I in his office in Antelias. They
discussed the presidential election, the current situation in the region
and the state of Christian communities.

# #

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias – LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]

2015 should be declared a year of support to Sevan Nisanyan: Hatspanian

17:25, 19 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Hasmik Martirosyan
Public Radio of Armenia

On the threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
Turkey continues its policy of silencing intellectuals and taking all
measures to prevent them from speaking about the crime perpetrated by
the Ottoman Empire. A vivid example of this policy was the arrest of
Istanbul-based Armenian writer, philologist Sevan Nisanyan on charges
of illegal construction.

An author of 19 books, Sevan Nisanyan, who keeps the Turkish
nationalists and anti-Armenian historians in horror, needs the support
of his compatriots, says Sarkis Hatspanian, an expert on regional
issues.

Mr. Nisanyan is a man of many interests and talents. Linguist,
journalist and hotel entrepreneur, Sevan Nisanyan graduated from the
Private Armenian School of Pangalti and attended Robert College, then
studied philosophy at Yale University, concentrating on Kant, Hegel
and Thomas Aquinas. He did graduate studies in political science at
Columbia University, where he worked under Giovanni Sartori, Zbigniew
Brzezinski, Seweryn Bialer and Douglas Chalmers.

According to Hatspanian, Nisanyan was one of the first to import
Commodore 64 computers to Turkey. He travelled all over the country to
compile a series of guidebooks on Turkey’s regions. This was part of
Nisanyan’s biography that posed no danger to the Turkish authorities,
but it would be difficult for an Armenian man to live in Turkey and
refrain from addressing the Armenian Cause, at least indirectly.

Sevan challenged the hotel businesses in Turkey, offering the hotels
he built for lower prices. Then he wrote the book The Wrong Republic,
a critique of what Nisanyan saw as the “founding myths” of the
Republic of Turkey. Written in 1994, the book circulated widely in
photocopy, until it could be legally published in 2008 without fear of
reprisals.

Nisanyan appeared on CNN Turk’s “Contrary to the Questions” to discuss
the “The Innocence of Muslims” riots and the Turkish government’s
denouncements of the film. The Supreme Board of Radio and Television
fined the private broadcast on the grounds that Mr. Nisanyan’s
comments “insulted the Prophet Muhammad,” “exceeded the boundaries of
freedom of expression” and were “insulting and injurious” to society.

According to Hatspanian, Nisanyan was silenced ahead of the Armenian
Genocide centennial. “The Turkish authorities are taking a revenge on
Nisanyan, one of the few individuals criticizing the Turkish
authorities,” he said and added that “Armenia is also indifferent.”

Remind that Armenian intellectuals also launched a collection of
signatures in support of Sevan Nisanyan. “But officials kept silent on
the issue,” Hatspanian said.

In an interview with “Haber Turk” agency in late 2014 Nisanyan spoke
about the Turkish policy regarding the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.

“With his intellectual values Sevan Nisanyan does not differ from the
Armenian intellectuals sent to death on April 24, 1915,” Hatspanian
said. “We are sending him to death, he struggles alone and tries to
rise up. The Armenian society and the Republic of Armenia should
declare a year of support to Sevan Nisanyan.”

Turkologist: Erdogan’s “Gallipoli” plan is a cynical action that will
have bad consequences

by David Stepanyan
Monday, January 19, 17:09

Turkish President Erdogan’s “Gallipoli” plan is a cynical action that
will have bad consequences, Director of the Oriental Studies Institute
under Armenia’s National Academy of Science, Ruben Safrastyan, told
Arminfo correspondent.

Erdogan announced the 24 April 2015 as a “day of the 100th anniversary
of the victory at Gallipoli”, and initiated festive events at that
day. He invited presidents of several countries, including President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, to the Turkey. For his part, Sargsyan
offered Erdogan first to reply at his invitation to visit Yerevan to
commemorate the memory of innocent victims of the Armenian genocide.

“We see a cynical attempt of using the history for counteraction to
the process of international recognition of the Armenian genocide at
their native land – Western Armenia. I should also say that we see
another attempt of falsification of the history. The Gallipoli battle
happened not on 24 but 25 April”, – he said.

Safrastyan is confident that the heads of the leading countries of the
world, for instance, Russia will hardly accept the invitation. He said
that on 24 April they will visit Yerevan to commemorate the memory of
the innocent victims of the Armenian genocide that happened 100 years
ago.

He said that Ankara’s such plan has two goals. The first is directly
linked with propaganda, as the initiators of the event want the heads
of states make a statement in Istanbul with a declaration about peace
and friendship. The second goal is by all means not to let heads of
states to visit Armenia on 24 April.

Safrastyan said that this plan will become the continuation of the
Ankara’s propaganda to confront the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide being held for several years.

ÝBFC550-9FE4-11E4-A6D20EB7C0D21663

USA
Volunteer Armenia Expo le 28 février

L’Armenian Cultural Foundation sera l’hôte toute une journée de
l’exposition des bénévoles Arménie au Centre arménien à Montebello
samedi 28 février, afin de promouvoir les volontaires, les ONG et
d’étudier les possibilités à l’étranger en Arménie, en Artsakh et au
Djavakhk, et de renforcer les liens entre la patrie et de la diaspora.

Certaines des organisations participantes comprennent TUMO, United
Nations Armenia, Armenian Land and Culture, American University of
Armenia, Armenia Tree Project, Armenia Volunteer Corps, Armenian
General Benevolent Union, AYF Youth Corps, Birthright Armenia,
Armenian Relief Society, Paros Foundation, Entanik, Habitat for
Humanity, Orran, Nor Luyce Mentoring Center, et Zartonk-89.

lundi 19 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIE
Le Ministre des AE de l’Uruguay a appelé à la reconnaissance
internationale du HK

Le Ministre des AE de l’Uruguay, Luis Almagro, a appelé à la
reconnaissance internationale de la République autoproclamée du
Haut-Karabagh et du droit de son peuple à l’auto-détermination, le 4
janvier, après une réunion avec les représentants de la communauté
arménienne. Le Ministre uruguayen a souligné la >
(avant la soviétisation).

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Arménie en
date du 12 janvier 2015

lundi 19 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

Avetik Ishkhanyan. “The invitation was a mockery to our tragedy.”

January 19 2015

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoðan plans to invite the President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, along with other presidents of the
countries in the world, to the events officially organized for the
“100th anniversary of the Dardanelles military operations”. Prior to
it, the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had
invited the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoðan to Armenia to
attend the April 24 events. Human rights activist Avetik Ishkhanayan
said to Aravot.am regarding the controversial invitation, “Because,
initially it was clear that Erdoðan would not come, it was a wrong
decision.” According to the human rights activist, it was followed by
the statement during the press conference of Erdoðan and Aliyev to
invite the resident of Armenia to the “Victory” events of April 24.
“In fact, it was a mockery to our tragedy. I think this should not be
followed by a response from the President of Armenia to Erdoðan.
However, to the question of the journalist about how he treats
Erdoðan’s invitation, the president could have been refrained from the
answer, just saying that he had not read the invitation. This
invitation was followed by the response of the president of the
country to Erdoðan. I do not want to talk about it, but, after all,
when our president addresses with the phrase “Your Excellency”, it is
double offensive to our nation and our state,” said Avetik Ishkhayan.
To our question of how to address and whether such manner of
salutation is not driven by the protocol, the human rights activist
replied, “He could have addressed as “Mr. President.””

Ruzan MINASYAN
Read more at:

World invited to make a choice between Armenia, Turkey – Boris Navasardyan

14:16 * 19.01.15

Chairman of the Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardyan believes that
Turley’s invitation to 102 world leaders to attend ceremonies marking
the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli in Çanakkale, on April 23 and
24 is, in fact, a challenge.

Thus Turkey has got involved in the processes related to the Armenian
Genocide centennial, Mr Navasardyan told Tert.am.

“This step should have been expected. It is for several years that
Turkey’s authorities have been preparing for the Armenian Genocide
centennial. And now, besides its traditional set of instruments, they
have put forward an argument that the tragedy did actually occur. That
is, they have modified their denial policy with an emphasis on a great
number of victims, but it is the entire world – not Turkey alone –
that is responsible for that. A war was raging.

“We have to meet challenges in that the world has been invited to
decide between which side – Armenian or Turks – is attaching
importance to April 24. Since the invitation has been sent out to many
world leaders, it is up to them to decide between participating in
events in Yerevan and Turkey. By making their choice they will show
their attitude to Yerevan and to Turkey, as well as to the two
nations’ leaders,” Mr Navasardyan said.

He hopes that the international attention will be focused on the
Armenian Genocide centennial.

“I would not like to be too pessimistic, but this attention will, to
an extent, be diverted,” Mr Navasardyan said.
According to him, different attitudes, with negative hints, are being
shown to Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan. Regrettably, in recent
years, Armenia has not shown any steps to evoke a positive response.