Author: Babajanian Karo

AZERBAIDJAN : VISITE OFFICIELLE DU PRESIDENT AZERI EN FRANCE LE 27 OCTOBRE

FIDH

Lettre ouverte adressee a M. Hollande exprimant nos preoccupations
sur la situation des defenseurs des droits humains en Azerbaïdjan

M. Francois Hollande

President de la Republique francaise

Palais de l’Elysee

Paris-Genève, le 24 octobre 2014

Re : Preoccupations quant a la situation des defenseurs des droits
humains en Azerbaïdjan

Monsieur le President de la Republique,

A l’occasion de la visite du President Ilham Aliyev en France le 27
octobre prochain, l’Observatoire pour la protection des defenseurs des
droits de l’Homme, programme conjoint de la Federation internationale
des ligues des droits de l’Homme (FIDH) et de l’Organisation mondiale
contre la torture (OMCT), ainsi que la Ligue francaise des droits de
l’Homme (LDH), vous appellent a demontrer l’engagement de la France
pour la defense des droits humains et a inscrire la protection des
defenseurs et des libertes a l’agenda des discussions avec votre
homologue azeri.

L’Azerbaïdjan a connu au cours des derniers mois une vague de
repression et d’arrestations contraires au droit international a
l’encontre d’un nombre important de defenseurs des droits de l’Homme.

Les pratiques repressives se sont intensifiees a l’encontre de Mme
Leyla Yunus directrice de l’Institut pour la Paix et la Democratie
(IDP) et membre de l’Assemblee generale de l’OMCT, de son mari M. Arif
Yunus, de M. Intigam Aliyev, president de la >, de M. Rasul Jafarov, president du Club des droits humains
d’Azerbaïdjan, et de M. Emil Mammadov, directeur de l’ONG >. Tous ces defenseurs ont ete arretes de manière arbitraire
et se trouvent toujours en detention, la date de leur procès n’ayant
pas ete determinee.

Nous tenons egalement a exprimer notre vive preoccupation face aux
risques de traitements inhumains a l’encontre des defenseurs des
droits de l’Homme, aux journalistes independants et aux figures de
l’opposition azeris. A cet egard, Mme Leyla Yunus, a qui vous avez
decerne la Legion d’Honneur de la Republique Francaise, a ete, le 18
octobre dernier, transferee a la prison d’investigation du Ministère
de la Securite Interieure, et a fait face a des serieux risques de
torture. Le Comite contre la torture de l’ONU ainsi que le Comite
europeen pour la prevention de la torture ont a de nombreuses reprises
exprime leurs vives preoccupations quant aux conditions de detention
dans cette prison, qui est la seule en Azerbaïdjan a ne pas dependre
du ministère de la Justice.

Par ailleurs, MM. Anar Mammadli et Bashir Suleymani, respectivement
president et directeur executif du Centre d’etudes sur la supervision
electorale et la democratie, M. Hilal Mamadov, redacteur-en-chef
du journal Tolishi-Sado (La Voix des Talysh) et M. Hasan Huseynli,
responsable de l’ONG >, ont ete condamnes a
la suite de procès iniques fondes sur de fausses accusations dans le
but de limiter leurs activites en faveur des droits humains.

Les persecutions se traduisent egalement sous la forme de perquisitions
et de fouilles au sein des locaux des organisations et des domiciles
des defenseurs, de menaces a l’encontre de familles, ou d’interdictions
de quitter le territoire. Le 5 août 2014, M. Emin Huseinov, president
de l’Institut des journalistes pour la paix et la securite (IFRS),
a ete empeche de quitter le pays alors qu’il se rendait a l’etranger
pour raisons medicales. Plusieurs defenseurs ont subi des agressions
violentes, a l’instar de M. Ilqar Nasibov, brutalement attaque le 21
août dernier dans les locaux du Centre de ressources de Nakhchivan
pour la democratie et les droits humains, pour lequel il travaille
en tant que journaliste.

Tous ces cas s’inscrivent dans le cadre d’une campagne de repression
deliberee visant a restreindre la liberte d’expression et d’association
en Azerbaïdjan. Nous sommes particulièrement preoccupes par le
contexte de durcissement general dans l’ancien espace sovietique et
par la diffusion de lois liberticides depuis la Russie.

Rappelons que l’Azerbaïdjan a egalement adopte une loi visant a
restreindre les financements etrangers des ONG independantes ainsi que
leur liberte d’action. Les ONG qui ne figurent pas sur le registre
officiel risquent des poursuites penales, qui ont deja ete engagees
pour une vingtaine d’ONG independantes.

Nous tenons a souligner que le 30 septembre dernier, la Commission
des questions juridiques et des droits de l’Homme de l’Assemblee
parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe a deplore les recentes
arrestations et condamnations de defenseurs des droits de l’Homme et
de dirigeants d’ONG en Azerbaïdjan, et a appele a la liberation de MM.

Rasul Jafarov, et Intigam Aliyev, de Mme Leyla Yunus et M. Arif Yunus,
et de MM. Anar Mammadli, Bashir Suleymani et Hasan Huseynli.

Nous pensons que la visite du President Ilham Aliyev est l’occasion
pour la France de faire avancer la cause des droits de l’Homme en
Azerbaïdjan. Nous vous prions d’exiger de votre homologue azeri le
respect des normes internationales en Azerbaïdjan, ainsi que l’arret
de la repression du droit a la liberte d’expression et des represailles
a l’encontre des ONG independantes.

En esperant que vous porterez une attention particulière a nos
preoccupations et que vous porterez celles-ci auprès du President Ilham
Aliyev, nous vous prions d’agreer, M. le President, l’expression de
notre plus haute consideration.

Karim LAHIDJI, President de la FIDH

Pierre TARTAKOWSKY, President de la LDH

Yves BERTHELOT, President de l’OMCT

lundi 27 octobre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ISTANBUL MUNICIPALITY DECIDES TO TURN ARMENIAN PROPERTY INTO A PARK

11:55, 27 Oct 2014

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has decided to turn a
42,000-square-meter field in the district of Zeytinburnu, that was
previously returned to the Armenian Hospital Foundation in Yedikule
in compliance with the return of minority property law, into a park,
Today’s zaman reports.

The area was confiscated in 2007 from the foundation. Last month,
an Istanbul court canceled the confiscation and decided to return
the property to the foundation. However, despite the court order,
the Ä°stanbul Metropolitan Municipality announced on Friday that the
field will be turned into a park.

Releasing a statement following the decision, the board of
management of the foundation said they will bring a suit to counter
the municipality’s decision. “The decision of the municipality is
illegal and completely against the principles of the law.”

In 2012 the Turkish government adopted a decree to return all
confiscated immovable property belonging to minority foundations in
Turkey, a long-overdue step to expand the rights of minorities in
the country.

This decree, which was published in the Official Gazette on Aug. 28,
2012, enables minority foundations to reclaim their confiscated
properties. All real property, cemeteries and fountains will be
returned to their rightful owners. Immovable property which is
presently in the hands of Turkish owners will also have its value
reimbursed to Armenian citizens.

ARMENIAN SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC UNION WITH RUSSIA NEARLY UNIVERSAL: RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT

Speaking at a meeting of the Armenian National Congress, former
Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted that the country’s
accession to the Eurasian Economic Union is irreversible.

(c) RIA Novosti. Mkhitar Khachatryan 12:32 27/10/2014

Related News

EEU Offers Armenia Higher Level of Security Than EU: World Armenian
Congress Armenia Lacks Alternatives to Eurasian Economic Union
Membership: Researcher Armenia’s Accession to EEU Launches New Phase of
Eurasian Integration: President Armenia Joins Eurasian Economic Union

MOSCOW, October 27 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia’s entry into the Eurasian
Economic Union is supported by virtually every political group in the
country, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volinkin told journalists
on Saturday following a Friday meeting of a coalition of the country’s
liberal opposition parties.

“Listening to the speeches made by the opposition, one notes that
almost all of them are in favor of preserving Armenia’s status [as
a candidate for entry into] the Eurasian Economic Union. Apart from
maybe one group, no one is against it.”

At a meeting of the Armenian National Congress (ANC), a coalition of
13 classical liberal opposition parties on Friday, coalition leader
and former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted that Armenia’s
accession to the EEU is irreversible, and that any opposition to it
is not only too late, but also dangerous, pointing to the example
of Ukraine.

Ter-Petrosyan, the country’s first president, served between 1991 and
1998. He noted that even the West has been sympathetic to Armenia’s
choice, and that a small group of people was unjustifiably trying to
provoke anti-Russian sentiment in the country. Only the leader of the
“Heritage” party Raffi Hovannisian has stepped out against Armenian
accession to the EEU. Heritage controls just four of the 131 seats
in Armenia’s unicameral legislature, the National Assembly, which
is dominated by the center-right Republican Party (70 seats) and the
economically liberal, socially conservative

Prosperous Armenia party (36 seats). The Armenian National Congress
holds seven seats in the legislature.

Commenting on Ter-Petrosyan’s speech, Volinkin noted that “Armenia’s
membership in the EEU is the correct strategic decision, but by no
means does it mean that the country will close the door on cooperation
with other countries.”

Armenia had been set to sign an Association Agreement with the
European Union in November 2013 in Vilnius, but instead declared its
intention to join the Customs Union, and to participate in the Eurasian
integration project that currently includes Russia, Kazakhstan and
Belarus. The three countries have ratified the EEU treaty, which will
come into force January 2015. Armenia signed on at the beginning of
October, with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan also expressing interest in
joining the organization.

“Golden Lace” Fashion Week launches in Yerevan

20:56, 24 October, 2014

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS: In the framework of the Yerevan Show
jewelry exhibition, for the first time in Armenia, the Armenian
Jewelers Association (AJA) holds the “Yerevan Fashion Week: Golden
lace”.

During the fashion exhibition designers from Armenia, Russia, Georgia,
France and the United States of America will exhibit their
collections. Armenpress, being one of the main information sponsors of
the show, presents exclusive interviews and videos from the show
behind the scenes. (THE FULL ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Oct 26 2014

France hosts Karabakh talks

TBILISI – Agence France-Presse

French President Francois Hollande hosts leaders from Armenia and
Azerbaijan today as Europe makes a fresh push to end the festering
conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited both
countries last week after a sharp escalation in violence over the
disputed region in recent months as war raged in Ukraine.

Although few expect a breakthrough after more than two decades of
bloodshed, it is `important to bring the two presidents together, to
call on them to work together, to get back to the table to reduce
tensions,’ a French diplomatic source said ahead of the summit.

Armenian separatists backed by Yerevan seized the mountainous region,
which is mainly inhabited by ethnic Armenians, from Azerbaijan in a
war in the 1990s that left some 30,000 people dead.

Despite years of internationally mediated negotiations since the 1994
ceasefire, the two sides have not yet signed a final peace deal on
Karabakh.

Oil-rich Baku, whose military spending exceeds Armenia’s entire state
budget, has threatened to take back the region by force if
negotiations do not yield results.

Armenia, heavily armed by Russia, says it could crush any offensive.

Last August saw a dramatic surge in violence across the countries’
border and along the Karabakh frontline as more than 20 troops died in
the deadliest clashes since the ceasefire.

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have escalated as Russia
confronts the West over Ukraine, where government forces are battling
pro-Russian separatists.

`What happened in Ukraine has had a direct impact’ on the conflict, a
source in Hollande’s entourage said, adding that Russia’s annexation
of Crimea `exacerbated the climate.’

`Moscow holds the keys to the conflict’s solution, but is
intentionally not using its levers as it has an interest in keeping
the status quo, in maintaining its influence over Azerbaijan and,
especially, Armenia,’ Shahin Abbasov, an independent Azerbaijani
analyst, told AFP.

Abbasov said that by hosting talks in Paris, Hollande `aims at
depriving (Russian President Vladimir) Putin of his role as an
exclusive arbiter’ in the conflict.

A French diplomat admitted that Hollande will face an uphill battle in
his efforts to facilitate the Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue.

`It would be extremely surprising to have concrete progress. But there
is a will from President Hollande to make progress with both parties,
to have a dialogue,’ the diplomat said.

Hollande will hold separate meetings with Azerbaijani President Ä°lham
Aliyev and Armenia’s Serzh Sarkisian.

October/26/2014

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 26 2014

Why does Turkey see minorities as a threat?

GÃ`NAL KURÅ?UN
October 26, 2014, Sunday

>From time to time, we discuss the situation of minorities living in
Turkey. A minority group is a sociological category within a
demographic majority. The term refers to a category that is
differentiated and defined by the social majority who hold the social
power in a society. The differentiation can be based on one or more
characteristics like ethnicity, race, gender, wealth, health or sexual
orientation.

The Treaty of Lausanne is the peace treaty signed in Lausanne,
Switzerland, on July 24, 1923, and that officially concluded the war
between Turkey and the allied Kingdom of Greece, the French Republic,
the Empire of Japan, the British Empire, the Kingdom of Romania and
the Serb-Croat-Slovene State and the Kingdom of Italy. In the Treaty
of Lausanne, it is understood that non-Muslim Turkish citizens will
enjoy minority rights. Although it is the accepted belief in Turkey,
there is no wording in the Treaty of Lausanne stating that these
minority groups are solely Greek, Jewish and Armenian. It is quite a
`narrow definition’ to say that all non-Muslim groups living in Turkey
fall into these three groups, as it excludes many groups, like
Assyrians, for example.

After pogroms in 1934 against Jews in Thrace, after a wealth tax in
1942 for Greeks, Jews and Armenians, after vandalism in Ä°stanbul
against all minorities on Sept. 6-7, 1955, there were only a few
thousand families left in Turkey which are deemed minorities. It is so
pathetic that Turkish policy’s perception of minorities was always
security-based. According to this perception, minorities are a Trojan
horse inside Turkish society and have the potential to become a clear
and present danger to ordinary Turks. And yet, at the same time, in
Turkish culture Muslims and non-Muslims got along with each other for
centuries. This cultural heritage is full of stories of friendship
from all sides.

In my opinion, it is pathetic that a few thousand members of
minorities among 77 million can be seen as a security threat. I really
cannot understand how these people can attack or pose a danger to the
vast majority of the Turkish population. The only explanation is that
our previous administrators were blind or lacked the courage to see
that Turkey would be stronger if its minorities were truly integrated.
If only we had an administrator who could envision this brighter
future. Today, we still have problems about the legal status of the
ecumenical patriarchate of Ä°stanbul because of this hypocritical
pathetic view. It is very humiliating to see that the ecumenical
patriarchate that is recognized as the first among equals — primus
inter pares — is subordinated to the Eyüp District Governor’s Office
(Eyüp KaymakamlıÄ?ı) and not free of the state.

I believe that there is another way to approach minority issues: If
Turkey changes this at least 150-year-old, Union and
Progress-copyrighted perception policy towards minorities and replaces
it with a science and commerce-based one, it will be much more
beneficial for all sides and we will have a brighter outlook for the
future. Only after this can we have peace at home and expect peace in
the world. Furthermore, it will influence foreign policy, and then we
can expect zero problems with neighbors instead of neighbors with
problems.

Brilliant Russian writer Ayn Rand says, `Individual rights are not
subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the
rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to
protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest
minority on earth is the individual).’ Will we see them as `our
values’ one day?

Rotowire
Oct 26 2014

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Uninspiring In Midfield

Posted on October 26, 2014 at 12:49 AM

NEWS UPDATE

Mkhitaryan had a decent early chance but was ineffective overall as
Dortmund lost 1-0 to Hannover Saturday.

ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSIS

The game against Hannover was a bit of a mixed bag for Mkhitaryan who
was involved in much of the action but failed to stamp his authority
on the match. Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler denied an early
Mkhitaryan strike, one of four shots for the Armenian during the
afternoon. He also won the most tackles in the game (20) highlighting
his combative approach to the game but for all his fight Mkhitaryan
was often a bit directionless. There is certainly more to come from
him but currently he helps make up a weak Dortmund midfield.

IRNA Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Oct 25 2014

“Terrorists” show no mercy on divine faiths followers – Iran Speaker

Tehran, 25 October: Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani described terrorism as
a fire which threatens all nations and followers of all religions,
adding that terrorists show no mercy on the divine faiths followers.

In a meeting with Armenian religious leader from Sicily Church Jasliq
Aram I, he appreciated positive role of Iran’s Armenian community in
post-Revolution era, especially during wartime era, saying that
Armenian community was always respected in Iran and there are cordial
and friendly ties between Muslims and Armenians in Iran.

Condemning world powers, for supporting hardline currents. Larijani
said that terrorist groups have created numerous problems for all the
divine religions in the region.

Tactical encounter by world powers with the evil phenomenon of
terrorism has strengthened it, he said.

Jasliq Aram I, for his part, thanked Iran’s support for Armenian
community, saying that Armenians enjoy sufficient freedom in Iran.

Describing terrorism as the main concern of all nations and a
catastrophe for the whole world, he added that terrorist groups abuse
divine religions.

He hailed Iran’s role in confronting terrorists in the region, in Iraq
and Syria in particular, as effective and very significant, saying
that all countries admit the constructive and important role of Iran
in the campaign against terrorism.

ARMENIE
Un événement dédié à l’écrivaine danoise Inga Nalbandian (1879 – 1929)

Un événement a eu lieu à l’Institut-Musée du Génocide arménien dédié
au 135e anniversaire d’Inga Nalbandian, une écrivaine danoise et
armenophile. Le petit-fils d’Inga Nalbandian Frans Nalbandian était
également présent.

le Directeur de l’AGMI Hayk Demoyan a accueilli les invités et au nom
du peuple arménien a exprimé sa gratitude à Inga Nalbandian pour son
travail unique.

Frans Nalbandian, a prononcé un discours et a présenté les moindres
détails de la vie de sa grand-mère.

Lors de l’évènement la traduction arménienne du triptyque d’Inga
Nalbandian à partir de 1917 > a été
présenté. Le travail se compose de trois livres ; Le Grand Mal, puni
par le destin, le champ blanc. Hasmik Kurghikyan a traduit le livre du
danois à l’arménien.

Pendant l’événement, la cérémonie d’achat de cartes postales dédiés au
135e anniversaire d’Inga Nalbandian a également eu lieu.

Le nom de jeune fille d’Inga Nalbandian était Inga Henrietta Lucinde
Collins, né en 1879 dans la ville danoise de Solerod. Après avoir reçu
son éducation dans sa ville natale, elle avait déménagé en Suisse pour
apprendre le français. Là, elle a rencontré son futur mari, Paul
Nalbandian. Ils se marient en 1904. En 1909, ils ont déménagé à
Constantinople. Son mari a été affecté dans la Direction du Gymnase
Arménien et elle a commencé à travailler à l’hôpital arménien local.

la Première Guerre mondiale commence et les Jeunes Turcs massacrent
les Arméniens. Le mari d’Inga tombe très malade et meurt peu après.
Inga ne peut rien faire, mais pour sauver ses enfants. Elle retourne
dans son pays natal et s’établit à Copenhague, où elle décède en 1929.

Inga Nalbandian a une riche histoire d’édition, elle est l’auteur de
nombreux ouvrages.

Ayant échappé de justesse vers le Danemark en 1916, elle commence à
écrire sur ce quel a vu et entendu. En trois ans, elle a écrit un
ensemble complet d’histoires courtes et le triptyque, qui était la
première tentative d’écriture sur le génocide arménien pour la société
européenne.

Ses livres ont été traduits en suédois, anglais, flamand et français.
Plus tard Inga commence à coopérer avec le délégué du Danemark à la
Société des Nations Henni Forchhamer dans la défense des droits des
réfugiés ayant survécu au génocide arménien.

dimanche 26 octobre 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

FOOTBALL-CHAMPIONNAT D’ALLEMAGNE
Bousculade entre l’Arménien Henrikh Mkhitaryan et le Turc Ceyhun
Gülselam lors du match Borussia Dortmund-Hanovre (0-1)

La série noire continue pour le Borussia Dortmund qui a concédé sa 4e
défaite consécutive lors de la 9e journée du Championnat d’Allemagne
face à Hanovre (0-1). Pourtant le Borussia Dortmund eut de nombreuses
occasions d’ouvrir le score. A l’exemple de la frappe du gauche de
l’international arménien Henrikh Mkhitaryan (12e) qui oblige Zieler le
gardien de Hanovre à détourner en corner ou le tir de Hummels (19e)
une nouvelle fois détourné. Aubameyang et Reus (39e) sont également
tout près d’ouvrir le score. Mais c’est Hanovre avec le joueur
Kiyotake qui ouvre le score à la 62e donnant la victoire à son club.

A noter un incident important lors de ce match avec une bousculade
entre l’Arménien Henrikh Mkhitaryan et le Turc Ceyhun Gülselam qui
provoque d’un coup sur la nuque alors qu’il est à terre suite à une
action dangereuse d’un joueur de Hanovre pour stopper l’international
arménien. Henrikh Mkhitaryan se lève et les deux hommes se bousculent
sérieusement. Ils écopent chacun d’un avertissement. Le Turc coupable
d’une nouvelle agression sera sanctionné à la 89e minute du match d’un
autre avertissement synonyme d’expulsion pour jeu agressif.

Krikor Amirzayan

Bousculade entre l’Arménien Henrikh Mkhitaryan et le Turc Ceyhun
Gülselam lors du match Borussia Dortmund-Hanovre (0-1)
Bousculade entre l’Arménien Henrikh Mkhitaryan et le Turc Ceyhun
Gülselam lors du match Borussia Dortmund-Hanovre (0-1)
Bousculade entre l’Arménien Henrikh Mkhitaryan et le Turc Ceyhun
Gülselam lors du match Borussia Dortmund-Hanovre (0-1)

dimanche 26 octobre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com