Author: Babajanian Karo

RALLIES OF PROTEST IN TURKEY AGAINST COURT’S DECISION OVER DINK’S CASE

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 18, 2012
YEREVAN

ISTANBUL, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS: After the verdict on the case
of Dink’s murder, hundreds of people organized a rally of protest
January 18 in the streets of Istanbul, Armenpress reports citing
Euronews. The family of Hrant Dink denounced the verdict, arguing
the murder was a political assassination.

On January 17, Yasin Hayal received a life sentence for conspiring
to kill Dink. The actual killer, Ogun Samast, was given 22 years
in July by a juvenile court. Nineteen other defendants, known to be
Turkish nationalists were acquitted of being members of a terrorist
organization.

“This process is a true disaster. Those who committed this organised
crime were dealt with as if it was just an ordinary murder,” said
a demonstrator.

Dink was known for promoting Armenian causes and his death has
triggered EU concern over Turkey’s failure to protect freedom of
expression.

MEPS CONDEMN JOURNALIST MURDER IN AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
January 18, 2012 – 11:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – During a plenary session on human rights, members
of the European Parliament strongly condemned the murder of Rafig
Tagi, a prominent Azerbaijani writer and journalist, and express
their concern over the safety of Samir Sadagatoglu, the editor of
the Sanat newspaper.

MEPs said they welcome the move by the Azerbaijani government to set
up a special working group to investigate the murder of Rafiq Tagi and
call on the Azerbaijan authorities to ensure that the investigation
is thorough and effective, and that perpetrators are prosecuted and
brought to justice in a trial which meets international fair trial
standards. At the same time, Azerbaijani authorities must to do their
utmost to protect the life and safety of Samir Sadagatoglu, they said.

MEPs finally insist that threats and incitement to violence against
individuals expressing views deemed ‘offensive’ by some adherents of
religions and beliefs systems are “totally unacceptable”, that those
responsible for such threats and incitement must be prosecuted,
and that the freedom of expression and safety of the threatened
individuals must be fully guaranteed.

IRAN, ARMENIA INK LITERARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT

Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA
Jan 17 2012
Iran

Tehran, Jan 17, IRNA – Iranian and Armenian literary institutes signed
on Tuesday a cooperation agreement with the start of cultural programs
in Yerevan as the World’s Cultural Capital for 2012.

Havva literary institute of Iran agreed with its Armenian counterpart
to introduce and market all copy righted books in the two countries.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
announced Yerevan as World’s Cultural Capital for the year 2012.

Hence, based on the agreement Iran and Armenia will do their best to
coordinate all their cultural activities, especially in the field of
printing industry.

ALGERIA URGES TURKEY TO STOP TRYING TO MAKE POLITICAL CAPITAL OUT OF FRANCE’S KILLING OF THOUSANDS OF ALGERIANS
Garibov Konstantin

The Voice of Russia

Jan 17 2012

The diplomatic row between Turkey and France has intensified with
Turkey accusing France of committing “genocide” in Algeria in the 1940s
and 1950s. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan made a statement to
this effect, a ratcheting up of rhetoric over controversial French
legislation that would criminalize any public denial of what the bill
calls the Armenian genocide of the last century in Ottoman Turkey.

In response, Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia urged Turkey to
stop trying to make political capital out of France’s killing of
thousands of Algerians during the colonial period.

France takes its time leaving hostile moves by Turkey without
response. Turkey has renamed the Ankara street where the French
Embassy is situated from Parisian to Algerian, and announced plans
to call Charles de Gaulle Street by a name of a prominent Algerian
rebel leader and build a monument to Algerian victims of the killings
in the vicinity to the French Embassy.

Professor of Saint-Petersburg University Alexander Sotnichenko
describes this asymmetrical response by Turkey as a huge blunder:

“This is a political cock-up. France and Algeria have long ago seen
eye to eye on the issue. France has been waging a colonial war in
Algeria, and Algeria fought for its independence during the protracted
liberation war. Nonetheless, the issue is not of any importance for
their current bilateral relations, as the sides have built strong
political, economic and cultural ties and have no plans to review
them.”

On the contrary, the Turkish genocide of Armenians is one of the
primary issues in Turkey. It even became the main obstacle for the
country’s attempts to join the European Union. Europe has already
made up its mind: there is no place for Turkey there, and France’s
President Nikolas Sarkozy decided to use anti-Turkish sentiments
ahead of the presidential elections.

The French bill needs the approval of the Upper House before it becomes
law. French politicians are eager to get the votes of influential
Armenian Diaspora, which is the largest in Europe. This is one
of the reasons why France has not responded to the Turkish moves
yet. Political scientist Stanislav Tarasov says that it is trying to
hush it up and act as if nothing happened.

“Turkey has decided to play an Algerian card, but that is very
unfortunate. The Algerian reaction was very accurate. If Turkey tries
to teach Egypt or Tunisia, the response will be the same – you have
got to solve your own issues, but not at the expense of other nations.

This is especially so because the Turkish genocide of Armenians has
been recently acknowledged by several European countries.”

Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed by the Ottoman
Turks in 1915-16.

During World War I, Turkey supported Germany in the war against Russia,
England and France. Ankara says closer to 300,000 people died, and that
Turks were also killed as Armenians rose up against the Ottoman Empire
when Russian troops invaded eastern Anatolia, now eastern Turkey.

More than 20 countries, including Russia, have formally recognized
the killings as genocide.

OVER 600 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTEND PRELATE’S NEW YEAR AND CHRISTMAS DINNER

asbarez
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

The clergy pray during the Christmas dinner

LA CRESCENTA-More than 600 Prelacy sponsors, supporters and friends
gathered at “Bagramian” Hall of Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello
on Friday, January 6 for the Prelate’s traditional New Year and
Christmas Dinner. The dinner is held annually under the auspices of
Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, by the initiative
of the Religious and Executive Councils, and organized by the Prelacy
Ladies Auxiliary.

Among the guests in attendance were Consul General of Armenia the
Grigor Hovhannissian and his wife, Armenian National Assembly member
and Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian, Central Executive members
Khajag Dikijian and Vahe Yacoubian with their wives, Executive Council,
Members of the ARF Central Committee, ARS, Homenetmen, and Hamazkayin,
Parishes’ delegates and Boards of Trustees, Board of Regents and
Prelacy Schools’ principals and directors, media representatives,
sponsors, and friends.

This year’s dinner was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Cheryl
Nadjarian. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Rev. Fr. Vazken
Atmajian.

The evening began with the entrance of the Prelate and clergy into
the hall in a procession, candles in hand and singing Christmas hymns.

H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian read the passage from the Bible on
the Birth of Christ, after which the Prelate blessed the tables.

Master of Ceremonies Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian welcomed the guests and
reflected on the spirit of Christmas, the good tidings of the Birth of
our Lord Jesus Christ and the message of peace, love, and harmony. Fr.

Vazken also commended the service of the Ladies Auxiliary members,
noting that they greatly contributed to the Pontifical Visit and also
once again organized the evening’s dinner. He then invited Ladies
Auxiliary Chair Salpi Srourian and Executive Council Chair Rima
Boghossian to deliver their remarks. Srourian welcomed the guests
and wished them an enjoyable evening together. Boghossian thanked the
guests for the support and encouragement they demonstrated with their
attendance. She spoke in high regard of the efforts and leadership
of the Prelate, reflected on the role of our Churches and Schools
in our community life and our work towards the Armenian Cause, and
concluded by conveying her well wishes on the New Year and Christmas.

Guests then watched the taped message of His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, which began with His
Holiness conveying his New Year and Christmas well wishes to the
Prelate, Councils, and guests. His Holiness reflected on the three
main themes of his recent Pontifical Visit, which were spiritual
renewal, continued progress of our Schools, and furthering of our
Cause, stating that these are ongoing missions which must form the
basis of all our endeavors and collective lives.

The evening also included a cultural program. Throughout the night,
guests enjoyed traditional Armenian music presented by pianist
Professor Levon Aprahamian and singers Anahit Nercisyan and Kevork
Chakmanian.

Fr. Vazken then thanked all those who contributed to the success of
the dinner, among them the Jabarian, Kurkjian, and Alexanian Families
for donating the evening’s souvenirs, centerpieces, and drinks, as well
as the participants of the cultural program, organizers, and sponsors.

The Prelate was then invited to deliver his message.

The Prelate commended Fr. Vazken for successfully carrying out
his duties as Master of Ceremonies, the Ladies Auxiliary for
organizing the evening, and all the sponsors and volunteers who
made the evening as well as the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness a
great success. The message reflected on the spirit and messages of
Christmas, the Prelacy’s endeavors and achievements in the past year,
and the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I. In his message,
the Prelate also thanked the Prelacy’s sponsors and donors, and
especially Mr. and Mrs. Harry & Cheryl Nadjarian who were the main
sponsors of the Pontifical Visit and also the hosts of the Prelate’s
New Year and Christmas Dinner.

The evening came to a close with the Prelate’s benediction, and the
singing of the Cilician and Pontifical anthems.

Prelate’s Christmas Dinner Message

Distinguished guests, dear sponsors and friends,

With Christian love and with the warmest spirit of Christmas, I
congratulate you all on the New Year and the Nativity of our Lord
Jesus Christ.

A few days ago we welcomed the year 2012, and tonight, with great joy
we are gathered here to collectively celebrate the Glorious Nativity
and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ. We offer our gratitude to
Almighty God for His boundless blessings, for this new year, and
especially for granting us the greatest of gifts, the gift of His
Son Jesus Christ and eternal life. Indeed each day of our lives is a
gift from God and we must therefore give thanks and praise God each
and every day for His undying love and care.

First and foremost, we express our thanks and appreciation to our
beloved Pontiff, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, who was with us
tonight in spirit through his video message. Recently, last October,
we were honored with the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness to our
Prelacy. We were grateful to personally receive his blessings,
and were inspired by his powerful messages on spiritual renewal,
the continued progress of our schools, and the furthering of the
Armenian Cause. His messages are timeless and will remain our guiding
force for years to come. In the three weeks His Holiness was with us,
he was a daily and motivating presence in the lives of our parishes
and parishioners, students, and youth. It was truly an inspirational
and unforgettable visit.

The year 2011 was proclaimed to be the Year of the Armenian Child
by His Holiness. This proclamation is not limited to the previous
year; it did not end with the ending of the year. Children form
the foundation of our future, and our mission for their spiritual
care and upbringing is an ongoing and unending one. The survival
of our people depends on rooting our faith, language, traditions,
and heritage in subsequent generations.

The perpetuation of the Armenian people depends also on the
preservation of our cultural treasures. Though Armenian culture
arose in pre-Christian times, our written heritage was formed in
the 5th century with the invention of the Armenian alphabet and the
translation of the Bible and other sacred books into our own language.

Armenian books are priceless as they have been and remain a
fountainhead of our history and literary legacy. The year 2012 has
been proclaimed the Year of the Armenian Book by His Holiness, and
for this reason, we dedicated this year’s Prelacy calendar to the
Armenian Book. Books are not just decoration in our homes and offices;
they must be read and the knowledge they contain shared to enlighten
the minds and spirits of our people and especially our youth.

Dear faithful supporters and friends,

On this joyous occasion, I would like to once again thank all of
our sponsors and donors for their unwavering support throughout the
years and especially during the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness. It
is you, our sponsors and volunteers, who made the Pontifical Visit a
successful one, and for that we commend you. You selflessly donated
your time, efforts, resources, and input, and embodied the Scripture
passage. “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

Our collective life, our national life cannot progress without our
united efforts. Through collaboration and cooperation, we have
reached new heights in our service and will continue forward to
even greater achievements. With the support of our community, we
can achieve great things, and one example of that is the Pontifical
Visit of His Holiness. With the contributions of our sponsors and
donors on the occasion of the Pontifical Visit, we recently made a
record allocation of $800,000 to our Prelacy Schools to alleviate
the financial difficulties they face. I would like to once again
express our gratitude to our old and new sponsors who made this
possible. Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Cheryl Nadjarian,
who were the main sponsors of the Pontifical Visit and have so
generously hosted this evening’s dinner; to Prof. and Mrs. Harut and
Tamara Barsamian, Mr.

and Mrs. Mark and Margaret Shirin, Mrs. Silva Tchakmakjian, Mrs. Tina
Carolan and the Carolan Family Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Osko and Yeran
Karaghossian, Mr. and Mrs. Harout and Christina Jabarian, Mr. and Mrs.

Vahe and Nora Yacoubian, Mr. Hank Khachaturian and his Torian Holdings
company, Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian, Mr. and Mrs. Vahan and Nora Bezdikian,
Forest Lawn, Glendale Memorial Hospital, as well as our parishes and
sister organizations. A thank you also to all of you here today. Even
in these difficult economic times, you once again pledged your support
and encouragement of our Prelacy with your presence here tonight. The
names of all our sponsors and donors can be found in the evening’s
program book.

Throughout the past years we also had various other achievements,
among them a number of events to celebrate the Year of the Armenian
Child, and the ordination of a new priest. In late July, the former
choir leader of the Crescenta Valley Parish was ordained into the
priesthood and renamed Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian. Tonight, he is
with us for the first time as a clergy member. In the coming year,
we will ordain new priests, among them Deacon Khatchig Shannakian who
recently relocated from Canada and is with us tonight. He recently
completed his studies, earning a Master’s Degree in Theology. We look
forward to having him join our clergy order in the near future.

Dear loved ones,

The inspiring messages of the Glorious Nativity and Theophany of our
Lord Jesus Christ are timeless treasures and the eternal lighthouse
that lights up our hearts and lives just like the bright star above
Bethlehem that lit the night sky and guided the wise men to the manger
to worship the Baby Jesus. The spirit of peace, love, and harmony
of our Lord’s Nativity reverberates just as powerfully today, 2012
years after His birth, and continues to guide us in fulfillment of
our God-pleasing endeavors and mission. With harmonious collaboration
and unity, we can fulfill our greatest goals and dreams. We have
already seen progress in our Cause through our united efforts here,
in Europe, and elsewhere, and must therefore continue on this same
path until we reach our ultimate goals.

Let us begin this new year inspired by the renewing and invigorating
messages of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord, and may our
hearts remain a manger where our Lord Jesus Christ dwells each and
every day of this new year and every year.

A blessed new year to you all. Christ is Born and Revealed.

” LA MEMOIRE ET LA CONSTITUTION ” PAR PATRICK DEVEDJIAN
Ara

armenews.com
mercredi 18 janvier 2012

A entendre certains historiens, non seulement ils devraient avoir le
monopole de l’histoire mais ils pourraient egalement dire le droit !

Qu’est-ce qu’une loi memorielle ?

Ce serait ” une loi declarant, voire imposant, le point de vue
officiel d’un Etat sur des evenements historiques “, d’après le
Collectif Liberte pour l’Histoire. Cette distinction parmi les lois a
ete inventee par le ” lobby ” des historiens et n’appartient a aucune
categorie juridique. Car toute loi commemorative est memorielle.

Le 11 janvier 2012, l’Assemblee nationale a vote le Projet de loi
” fixant au 11 novembre la commemoration de tous les morts pour la
France “. Le 14 juillet a ete institue fete nationale par la loi
en 1880 en reference a la prise de la Bastille et a la Fete de la
Federation comme fondement de notre pacte republicain. Une nation
a le droit de se faire une idee de son passe pour asseoir le projet
qu’elle construit pour son avenir.

Elle peut aussi definir des evenements du passe pour determiner des
droits : c’est le cas de toutes les lois de reparation. Je pense a
l’Alsace et a la reintegration des ” malgre-nous ” après 1945.

La memoire est presente en permanence dans le debat politique, elle
est sous-jacente a beaucoup de lois. Interdire au Parlement de se
referer a l’histoire aurait des consequences considerables.

Que dit la Constitution ?

M. Badinter affirme que la loi de 2001 reconnaissant le genocide
des Armeniens comme le texte qui vient d’etre vote par l’Assemblee
nationale pour penaliser le negationnisme outrancier, seraient
inconstitutionnels. Il n’a guère d’autre argument que celui qu’il a
ecrit dans un rapport sur ” le risque d’inconstitutionnalite des lois
memorielles ” et qui se borne a enoncer que ” a l’evidence, l’article
34 de la Constitution (qui definit la loi et limite son domaine) ne
permet pas au Parlement de se prononcer sur un evenement historique “.

Or l’article 34 (1) de la Constitution enumère de manière non
limitative les principaux domaines de la loi et la jurisprudence du
Conseil constitutionnel a conduit a une extension de fait du domaine
de la loi.

Mais surtout l’article 34 a pour objet de distinguer la ” Loi “,
votee par le Parlement, du ” Règlement ” sujet de l’article 37 qui
definit le domaine reglementaire dans lequel le Gouvernement peut
prendre des decrets, c’est-a-dire tout ce qui n’est pas precisement
compris dans le domaine de la loi.

Le debat se limite donc au fait de savoir a quel domaine appartient
la reconnaissance du genocide : comme il ne peut s’agir du
domaine reglementaire, il s’agit bien du domaine de la loi. Car la
reconnaissance du genocide des Armeniens est un acte politique. Il
est donc du domaine naturel du Parlement. Il ferait beau voir qu’on
interdise au Parlement de proclamer des positions politiques !

Dire que la Constitution ” ne permet pas “, c’est faire croire qu’elle
interdit, or elle ne parle pas des lois memorielles. En France,
ce qui n’est pas interdit formellement, est autorise naturellement.

La menace d’une Question Prealable de Constitutionnalite (QPC) de
la loi de 2001 sur la reconnaissance du genocide a d’autant moins
de sens que la QPC est destinee a proteger les libertes publiques et
ne peut donner lieu a annulation que si la disposition mise en cause
represente une menace a cet egard.

Ce ne peut etre le cas de la loi de 2001 qui est seulement declarative
et n’est assortie d’aucune contrainte envers qui que ce soit.

Quant a la proposition de loi actuellement en debat, elle entre
formellement dans le champ de l’article 34 qui prevoit que la
definition et la sanction des infractions sont du domaine de la loi.

On est d’autant moins justifie a craindre une atteinte a la liberte
d’expression que c’est uniquement le negationnisme ” outrancier ” qui
est vise. Il s’agit en fait de la propagande diffusee sur le territoire
national par un Etat etranger et visant certains de ses citoyens.

L’histoire appartient a tout le monde, nul ne saurait s’en arroger
le monopole. Les historiens professionnels ont souvent ecrit sous
l’influence d’une ideologie. On connaît ainsi des histoires très
contradictoires de la Revolution Francaise. Certes l’Histoire est en
permanence reecrite, on repondra que la Loi aussi, et qu’elle peut
toujours l’etre…

——————————————————————————–

(1) Article 34 : La loi fixe les règles concernant : – les droits
civiques et les garanties fondamentales accordees aux citoyens pour
l’exercice des libertes publiques ; la liberte, le pluralisme et
l’independance des medias ; les sujetions imposees par la Defense
nationale aux citoyens en leur personne et en leurs biens ; -la
nationalite, l’etat et la capacite des personnes, les regimes
matrimoniaux, les successions et liberalites ; – la determination
des crimes et delits ainsi que les peines qui leur sont applicables ;
la procedure penale ; l’amnistie ; la creation de nouveaux ordres de
juridiction et le statut des magistrats ; – l’assiette, le taux et les
modalites de recouvrement des impositions de toutes natures ; le regime
d’emission de la monnaie. La loi fixe egalement les règles concernant :
– le regime electoral des assemblees parlementaires, des assemblees
locales et des instances representatives des Francais etablis hors
de France ainsi que les conditions d’exercice des mandats electoraux
et des fonctions electives des membres des assemblees deliberantes
des collectivites territoriales ; – la creation de categories
d’etablissements publics ; -les garanties fondamentales accordees aux
fonctionnaires civils et militaires de l’Etat ; -les nationalisations
d’entreprises et les transferts de propriete d’entreprises du secteur
public au secteur prive. La loi determine les principes fondamentaux :
-de l’organisation generale de la Defense nationale ; – de la libre
administration des collectivites territoriales, de leurs competences
et de leurs ressources ; -de l’enseignement ; -de la preservation de
l’environnement ; -du regime de la propriete, des droits reels et des
obligations civiles et commerciales ; -du droit du travail, du droit
syndical et de la securite sociale. Les lois de finances determinent
les ressources et les charges de l’Etat dans les conditions et sous
les reserves prevues par une loi organique. Les lois de financement
de la securite sociale determinent les conditions generales de son
equilibre financier et, compte tenu de leurs previsions de recettes,
fixent ses objectifs de depenses, dans les conditions et sous les
reserves prevues par une loi organique. Des lois de programmation
determinent les objectifs de l’action de l’Etat.Les orientations
pluriannuelles des finances publiques sont definies par des lois de
programmation. Elles s’inscrivent dans l’objectif d’equilibre des
comptes des administrations publiques. Les dispositions du present
article pourront etre precisees et completees par une loi organique.

MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC COUNCIL UNDER RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE: “IF THE WAR WITH IRAN BEGINS, AZERBAIJAN’S MAIN DUTY WILL BE THE PROTECTION OF THE CASPIAN OIL AND GAS FIELDS”

MilAz.info
Jan 17 2012
Azerbaijan

“Azerbaijan must defense its national interests during the US and
Israel’s attack on Iran”, said Igor Korotchenko, member of the Public
Council under the Ministry of Defense of Russia and editor-in-chief of
“National Defense” magazine, APA reports.

According to him, if the war with Iran begins, Azerbaijan’s main
duty will be the protection of the Caspian oil and gas fields:
“Why are the “S-300” Favorite systems purchased? Because there is a
threat that Iran can launch missile attack on unfriendly countries if
the war begins. The attacks can be launched on Azerbaijan’s oil and
gas fields in the Caspian Sea. Then Azerbaijan must take a position
close to Turkey and coordinate its position with Turkey. If the
military conflict begins, Turkey can defend Azerbaijan, for example,
by bringing Patriot systems to Azerbaijan. It will be necessary for
more active defense of airspace. The main thing for Azerbaijan is not
to damage its oil infrastructure, because Iran can launch an attack on
Azerbaijan’s oil infrastructure in the Caspian Sea through “Shahab-3″
missiles. That’s why Azerbaijan and Turkey will coordinate this issue”.

The analyst also assessed the assumption of settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict against the background of the start of military
operations against Iran: “As regards the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
I think that the new realities will be established while Azerbaijan
increases its military force. Thus, Armenia can go to any negotiations
while seeing the increase of Azerbaijan’s military force. It will be
in the constructive course. Now Azerbaijan is increasing its military
power, new military systems are being purchased. President Ilham
Aliyev actively invests in defense sphere. Azerbaijan established
Defense Industry Ministry. I don’t think that Azerbaijan will use the
situation in Iran for settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. There
is more difficult situation here”.

LIFE SENTENCE FOR TURKISH JOURNALIST’S MURDER

MWC News

Media With Conscience
Jan 17 2012

A Turkish court has convicted a man for instigating the killing of a
Turkish-Armenian journalist five years ago, sentencing him to life
imprisonment.

Hrant Dink was the editor of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly
Agos and Turkey’s best known Armenian voice abroad when he was shot
as he left his office in Istanbul in January 2007. He was 52.

The Istanbul court on Tuesday sentenced Yasin Hayal, 31, to life
imprisonment and cleared 19 defendants of a charge of being part of
a terrorist group.

Last July a juvenile court sentenced Dink’s self-confessed assassin,
Ogun Samast, to 22 years and 10 months in jail. He was 17 when the
killing took place.

Another prime suspect, Erhan Tuncel, a police informer, was sentenced
to 10 and a half years’ jail, but for another crime – the 2004 bombing
of a McDonalds restaurant in the northern Turkish city of Trabzon.

The acquittal of all the suspects of the charge of acting as members
of an illegal armed organisation was denounced by Dink’s lawyers who
say the murder was a planned act.

Broader inquiry urged

Dozens of intellectuals, politicians and activists had gathered on
Tuesday in Istanbul’s commercial hub demanding a broader investigation
into Dink’s murder.

The group, which included Dink’s widow, Rakel, marched to the court,
calling for the punishment of state officials they accuse of being
behind the murder.

Protesters chanted: “Those who ordered the murder should be judged.”

Dink’s assassination sent shockwaves through Turkey and grew into a
wider scandal after reports that the security forces had known of a
plot to kill him but failed to act.

Dink had been receiving death threats from ultra-nationalist Turks.

A leading member of Turkey’s tiny Armenian community, Dink campaigned
for reconciliation between Turks and Armenians over their bloody
history.

Nationalists hated him, however, for calling the massacres of Armenians
under Ottoman rule a genocide, a label that Turkey fiercely rejects.

The Dink case has been closely followed by the European Union as it
underlined concerns over Turkey’s human-rights record and democratic
credentials.

TURK COURT GIVES MAN LIFE SENTENCE OVER DINK MURDER CASE
By Ece Toksabay

Reuters
Jan 17 2012

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – An Istanbul court convicted a man Tuesday for
instigating the killing of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
five years ago, sentencing him to life imprisonment in a case closely
watched by human rights groups.

Editor of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos and Turkey’s
best known Armenian voice abroad, Dink was shot in broad daylight as
he left his Istanbul office in January 2007.

The judge sentenced Yasin Hayal to life imprisonment and acquitted
19 defendants of a charge of being part of a terrorist group. A
juvenile court sentenced Dink’s assassin, Ogun Samast, to 22 years
and 10 months in jail last July. He was 17 when the killing took place.

The Dink case has been closely followed by the European Union as it
underlined concerns over EU-candidate Turkey’s human rights record
and democratic credentials.

After the verdict, 200 people joined members of Dink’s family in a
march from the court to the place where he was shot dead in central
Istanbul, angered that the court did not further examine the alleged
role of state officials in the killing.

In a statement ahead of the verdict, Amnesty International said
authorities had still not investigated the full circumstances behind
Dink’s murder.

“The Turkish authorities have failed to address state officials’
alleged involvement in the killing,” said Andrew Gardner, Amnesty
International’s expert on Turkey.

“The security services knew of the murder plot and were in
communication with those accused of the murder yet nothing was done
to stop it taking place,” he said.

Calls by Dink’s family to investigate the collusion and negligence
of state officials in the murder, have not been heeded, he added.

In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkish
authorities to pay 100,000 euros to Dink’s family in compensation,
saying authorities had failed to adequately protect Dink even though
they knew ultra-nationalists were plotting to kill him.

Seven security officials have been convicted for their failure to
relay information of the plot that could have prevented the murder.

Dink had angered nationalists with articles on Armenian identity and
references to a Turkish “genocide” of Christian Armenians in 1915. He
was repeatedly prosecuted for insulting “Turkishness.”

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Daren Butler)

EU AND OSCE TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

HETQ
15:52, January 17, 2012

The European Union and OSCE will support democratic general elections
in Armenia in 2012 and 2013. The European Union and the OSCE have
agreed on a joint project, worth 1,7 million Euro, to be financed by
the European Union and implemented by the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

A press conference on the project will be held at 10:00 on 19 January
in the EU Delegation to Armenia, where the Head of EU Delegation
to Armenia Traian Hristea and the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in
Yerevan Carel Hofstra will present and highlight details concerning
their joint project.

This initiative of the two international organizations re-confirms
their desire to support Armenia in conducting elections in line with
international standards. Being the first joint project related to
elections in Armenia, the project aims to support all stakeholders
involved in elections.

The project foresees the achievement of the following outcomes:

Skills among civil society are strengthened for professional
domestic observation and reporting on electoral processes, including
pre-electoral campaign, polling and complaints/appeals procedures.

Human rights protection in the country is enhanced and promoted through
strengthening the Human Rights Defender’s Office (HRDO) and expanding
its geographical outreach before, during and after the parliamentary
and presidential elections in 2012 and 2013 respectively. By
establishing regional offices the HRDO will become more accessible for
the population from the regions and will contribute to the improvement
of the protection of the human rights in the Republic of Armenia.

Technical and professional capacities of election commissions are
strengthened at all levels to carry out efficient and accountable
administration of electoral processes.

Technical and professional capacities of the Police to provide for
accurate and accessible voter lists that are integrated with other
relevant databases are improved.

Technical capacities, knowledge and skills of police officers involved
in organising rapid reaction to crime notifications, protecting public
order and investigating pre-electoral violence are improved.

Public awareness of electoral rights and procedures is raised among
population, especially outside Yerevan.