Author: Badalian Vardan

HISTORICAL TEXTS IN TURKEY’S NATIONAL LIBRARY SOLD FOR PAPER VALUE

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
dec 10 2013

ISTANBUL – Hurriyet

More than 140 tons of historical texts were sold to second-hand
booksellers for their paper value by Turkey’s National Library. The
historical pieces were bought by booksellers and collectors, who then
allegedly sold the texts to auctioneers at high prices

DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SONMEZ

Many historical books and texts in the inventory of the National
Library of Turkey were sold to second-hand booksellers for lower
prices and were later bought by collectors.

Around 147 tons of historical texts, including books and magazines
of which there are no records, were sold to second hand booksellers
by the National Library for between 15 and 50 kuruÅ~_ per kilogram.

Second hand booksellers and collectors bought the historical texts
for around 15 to 50 kuruÅ~_ per kilogram and priced and sold them to
auctioneers at higher prices.

Culture and Tourism Minister Omer Celik said they would clamp down
on the corruption in the National Library on Dec. 7 via his Twitter
account.

“We have detected some criminal and corrupted practices over many
works in the National Library,” said Celik in his first tweet over
the corruption in the library.

“The National Library is the memory of the national culture and is
the institution that bridges us with the international culture. It
should be protected cautiously. It will be protected determinedly,”
Celik also tweeted.

Negligence

“It seems that the neglect in [the library] has links to some interests
groups outside [the library]. We will crack down on these,” Celik
added via his twitter account.

The corruption was first detected during a meeting of the library when
it was realized that a historical book with the National Library’s
stamp was sold to the Konya manuscript department.

Around 102 tons of historical books which were not listed or classified
were sent to the waste department in 2007 with 11 trucks.

Also another 45 tons of books were sent to the waste house with a
notice saying that these depots were needed urgently and should be
evacuated. The waste house has opened auctions for these books at
different times and sold them from 15 to 50 kuruÅ~_.

It is possible to find books with stamps of the National Library
in Ankara’s second-hand booksellers which are sold for between 400
and 1000 Turkish Liras. The daily Hurriyet found two books written
in Armenian in 1860 and 1800, and Greek-language Pontus magazine
published in Merzifon in 1913.

December/10/2013

TURKISH PM AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
dec 10 2013

10 December 2013 – 1:22pm

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President
Vladimir Putin have discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Moscow.

The talks were preceded by a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan in Vienna on November 19
and a meeting of their foreign ministers at an OSCE summit in Kiev
on December 4.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey was
interested in a normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian ties. Davugotlu
said a few days before attending the BSEC summit in Yerevan that Turkey
considered it a good moment for peace initiatives for Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sinan Ogan, a member of the Turkish parliament and Director of the
Center for Strategic Studies (TURKSAM), said that Russia and Turkey
had a common interest in the settlement of the conflict. He noted
that Europe and America saw the need for resolution of the problem.

Ogan emphasized that Turkey had thought that Russia was interested
in the conflict. The attitude has now changed and they realized
that isolation of Armenia meant isolation of Russia in the South
Caucasus.Sergey Mikheyev, Director General of the Institute for
Caspian Cooperation said that Russia and Turkey were had a common
interest because Turkey did not want the conflict to escalate. Russia
is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group and always wants the conflict
to be resolved, Turkey wants it only ‘sometimes,’ when it needs to
support Azerbaijan.

The expert added that the offer of Europe to normalize relations with
Turkey for signing the association agreement was in force.

Hasan Selim Ozertem, an analyst of USAK, noted that Nagorno-Karabakh
had played a great role in the Russian-Turkish relations of the past
20 years. Turkey closed the border for Armenia due to occupation of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenians. Attempts of military action to
resolve the conflict may affect Russian-Turkish relations.

MURALI KARTHIKEYAN STUNS LEVON BABUIJAN

The Hindu, India
Dec 10 2013

Young IM Murali Karthikeyan sprung the biggest surprise of the meet
so far by upstaging Armenian GM Levon Babuijan in the sixth round of
the SREI International Grandmasters chess tournament on Tuesday.

The 14-year-old Karthikeyan, who is the National sub-junior champion
and one of the youngest participants in the tournament, brightened
the prospects of picking up his second GM norm after the big win. He
had picked up the first norm at the 11th Delhi International Open
Chess Festival in January this year.

Murali, now on 4.5 points, is in joint second position with eight
others including compatriots GM Deep Sengupta and IM Anurag Mhamal.

Overnight leader, Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan lost to GM Samvel
Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia, who along with IM Jacek Stopa of Poland
jointly share the lead with five points each.

National women’s (Premier) champion, Mary Ann Gomes drew against the
Ukrainian GM Vladislav Borovikov to take her tally to four points.

Meanwhile, GM Tejas Bakre and GM Niaz Murshed of Bangladesh, both
withdrew from the tournament citing health reasons.

Important results (all Indians unless specified): Sixth round:
Marat Dzhumaev (Uzb) 4.5 lost to Samvel Ter-Sahakyan (Arm) 5, Anurag
Mhamal 4.5 drew with Ivan Popov (Rus) 4.5, Mikhail Mozharov (Rus)
4.5 drew with Tornike Sanikidze (geo) 4.5, Merab Gagunashvilli
(Geo) 4 lost to Jacek Stopa (Pol) 5, Surya Sekhar Ganguly 4 drew
with Drazic Sinisa (Srb) 4, Levan Pantsulaia (Geo) 4.5 bt Neelotpal
Das 3.5, Deep Sengupta 4.5 bt Swayams Mishra 3.5, Mary Ann Gomes 4
drew with Vladislav Borovikov (Ukr) 4, Praveen Thipsay 4 drew with
Valeriy Neverov (Ukr) 4, Levon Babujian (Arm) 3.5 lost to Murali
Karthikeyan 4.5, Vahe Baghdasaryan (Arm) 4.5 bt Hovik Hayrapetyan
(Arm) 3.5, Azer Mirzoev (Aze) 3.5 drew with N.R. Visakh 3.5.

DAVUTOGLU WILL NOT VISIT GENOCIDE MEMORIAL, SOURCES SAY

Tuesday, December 10th, 2013

Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers Eduard Nalbandian and Ahmet
Davutoglu sign dangerous protcols in Geneva in 2009

Ankara begins to backpedal on normalization talks during Davutoglu’s
visit.

ANKARA/YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Ankara officially announced that
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had not plans to visit the
Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex while visiting Yerevan on Thursday,
reported Hurriyet Daily News.

On Saturday, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan told
Armenpress news agency that instead of making “provocative statements”
regarding regional issues, Davutoglu should visit Dzidzernagapert
Memorial Monument and pay respect to the victims of the Armenian
Genocide.

“The minister is going to Yerevan within the framework of a BSEC
meeting. Visiting the monument is not on his agenda,” a senior Turkish
diplomat told Hurriyet Daily News.

Turkish press reported that Davutoglu was going to Armenia with a
message to normalize ties with its neighbor, however preconditioning
that Armenia “cede” at least two of the so-called “occupied
territories” in reference to liberated regions around Artsakh.

On Tuesday however, the Turkish government and media were singing a
difference tune.

Hurriyet Daily News reported that officials in Ankara have cautioned
against high expectations for Davutoglu’s visit to Armenia, but
indicated that there was a chance for “normalization” to follow in
the future.

The Dec. 12 visit will take place on the occasion of a meeting of
the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

Turkish officials, speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News, said it
was still not clear whether Davutoglu and his Armenian counterpart,
Edward Nalbandian, would hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines
of the BSEC gathering.

“We are not going there with a specific proposal,” a senior Turkish
diplomat told the Daily News, in an apparent reference to several
news reports in the Turkish media suggesting that Turkey would offer
a proposal to the Armenian side in exchange for reopening the border.

“Furthermore, such a proposal would also be premature and wrong,”
added the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“However, if such a bilateral meeting takes place, we will explain
our vision with regard to regional peace, including normalization of
our bilateral relations. Then, the steps that could be taken may come
on the scene,” he said.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Political Affairs Director Giro
Manoyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Tuesday that Davutoglu’s
visit to Armenia is merely a ploy by Turkey to create the illusion that
there are advances in Turkey-Armenia normalization before 2015–the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

The only way to normalize relations, Manoyan said, “is to ratify the
Protocols, although as a party we are opposed to the documents.”

Manoyan was referencing the US-led effort in 2009, which yielded in
signing of the dangerous Protocols by Armenia and Turkey. The latter,
however, opted to pre-condition a solution to the Karabakh conflict–in
favor of Azerbaijan–to normalizing relations with Armenia.

Manoyan added that Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has
decided to not attend the BSEC summit because “he has not intention
of showing good intentions and as such he has no need to come [to
Armenia]. However, Davutoglu feels the need to create the false
impression that there is some sort of [normalization] movement.”

“On the occasion of [Davutoglu’s] visit, we should remind Turkey that
it has obligations–lift the blockade of Armenia and recognize the
Armenian Genocide,” Manoyan told RFE/RL.

He also added that a protest was being planned against Davutoglu’s
visit to Armenia by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Nigol
Aghbalian Student Organization. The protest is scheduled to take place
in front of the Armenia Marriott Hotel, where the BSEC meeting will
be held.

I TURNED MY BACK ON ARMENIA

By Apo Sahagian

December 10, 2013

After years of being what I called a die-hard Armenian, this year I
went soft. Maybe it had to do with the pessimism I have towards the
world in general; perhaps it finally crept into my sentiments of my
Armenian heritage. Whatever the cause, I came down from the ladder
of resolute nationalism, while my 18-year-old brother climbed up and
has been going higher every passing day.

I see in him who I used to be: dedicated to the struggle of justice for
the Armenian Genocide, supporting any anti-government protestor in the
streets of Yerevan, and a convinced believer in the unique greatness
of these unique Armenians. It is not that I have lost my commitments
to these ideals. I have only changed my perceptions of them, and with
the changed perceptions, I have re-evaluated my approach to them.

He, along with the rest of my family and close friends, believe me to
have fallen away from my Armenian roots, due to my “supposed” constant
critique of Armenians, gloomy assessments of Armenia (though I correct
that it’s a realistic assessment), and my unorthodox presentation of
Armenian culture. Thus to them, my behavior has been highlighting the
norms that are uncommon-or, to an extent unwanted-in our traditional
communities. I use the word “traditional” in the sense of what
socio-political ideas are dominant.

This past summer, while in Armenia, I decided to wash my hands
clean of the country and return in 10 years. The rising poverty,
evident unemployment, and degradation of justice had made me heavily
disillusioned.

I saw how Armenia has been reduced to a simple breeze on the
international arena, where Russia pulls strings comfortably from Moscow
or the EU threatens our political reforms from Brussels. It is then
you realize that Armenia-as a state, not a country-is a failure that
hasn’t produced a single worthy contribution to the world; it has
only given emigration. The oligarchs have hijacked the government
for their personal benefit, and the opposition is so pathetically
divided and scattered that the likes of Shant Harutyunyan and his
Nazi-loving hooligans have taken over the streets of Yerevan.

Thus, I turned my back on Armenia. Maybe I was too weak in the face of
disappointments. Maybe my expectations had been too high. Maybe the
traditional ideas fed into me by the community no longer had their
effect. I was stuck between a directionless-country in a down spiral
and a lethargic, delusional diaspora on an endless wander. I woke up
to find us a lost nation.

Then I traveled to Western Europe…

It was in the beautiful hills of the Basque country that I, lost
in translation, understood from a stranger that the theory of their
supposed Armenian roots is quite known in the region. We said goodbye
with a simple exchange: “Yo Armenos, tu Basque.”

It was during a stroll in Vienna that I accidentally found an
Armenian couple chatting about the price of jewelry. My self-imposed
introduction triggered only enthusiasm, and we departed after comically
agreeing that “there are a lot of Turks in this city.”

It was a random left turn that brought me in front of the Armenian
embassy in Madrid, “the closest embassy to the Royal Palace,” as the
ambassador stressed when he invited me in for a chat. I left with
this comfortable feeling that for once, the Republic of Armenia had
lived up to its responsibility to the Armenian people, and not only
to the citizens. “Can a French person knock on the French embassy’s
door and sit down with the ambassador,” I later asked myself. I think
we all know the answer.

It was hearing two men arguing in the dark-lit streets of Berlin
that led me to follow them for a good 15 minutes to understand what
language they were speaking, knowing that although it sounded like
a functional mix between Turkish and Russian, it was undoubtedly
Caucasian. And when one of the men sighed, “Vosh insh, vosh insh ara,”
I knew I had just witnessed Hamshen Armenians from Abkhazia debating
in front of the Reichstag.

And finally, it was the chanting of Gregorian music that reminded
me of the goosebump-producing effect that Komitas and Armenian folk
music have on me. I sat in that church and listened to the serene
melodies, interpreting them in my mind as the seducing whispers of
our beautiful mountains.

I found our lost nation, and I joined them in the loss. Although
I still hold my “pessimistic and provocative” views on our people,
and persist in my defiance of the traditional ideals, I have found
pleasure in these disagreements and see it as the only way forward to
a more comprehensive understanding of where we as a nation are heading.

Apo Sahagian is a Jerusalemite-Armenian musician and writer. He holds
a bachelor’s degree in government, diplomacy, and strategy, and is
currently involved with NGOs that work for peace between Palestinians
and Israelis.

GIRO MANOYAN ABOUT THE LONGEST ARMENIAN-TURKISH HANDSHAKING AND DAVUTOGLU’S VISIT

December 10 2013

Giro Manoyan, representative of ARF Armenian Cause and Political
Affairs, is convinced that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s
upcoming visit to Armenia will not affect the Armenian-Turkish
relations. “Nothing should be expected. His visit to Armenia has
nothing to do with the Armenian-Turkish relations. His decision to
attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council, to some extent,
is due the attempts of Turkey to create an illusion, they are trying
to show that there is some process in the Armenian-Turkish relations.

But, in reality, there is nothing, they just are trying to create an
impression”, – said Mr. Manoyan to Aravot.am. He does not share the
circulating views that Davutoglu’s visit to Armenia is also expressing
Turkey’s concern about weakening the positions in the region.

Mr. Manoyan does not think that Turkish foreign minister’s visit is
also conditioned with RF President Vladimir Putin’s recent statement
regarding strengthening its position in the Transcaucasus. As said by
Mr. Manoyan, Davutoglu’s visit will not affect the Armenian- Turkish
protocols. “It should affect to the extent that our authorities would
once again remember that there is no progress, and to recall signatures
from the protocols.” He also said that, prior to Davutoglu’s visit, the
publication in the Turkish “Sabah” newspaper regarding the arrangements
on returning 2 liberated territories was also an attempt of creating
an imitation in the progress of the Armenian-Turkish relations. “There
are preconditions from the Turkish side in Armenian-Turkish relations,
but they do not talk about this…

And, generally, this is not a visit to Armenia rather than attending
a conference that will be held in Armenia, just like the President of
Iran attends the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, but this
does not mean that the Iranian-American relations would be a matter
of discussion.” Regarding the longest handshaking between Armenian
and Turkish actors in Tbilisi, yesterday, Mr. Manoyan said, “People
can go for anything just to appear in the Guinness Book, however,
it has nothing to do with Davutoglu’s visit, and the Armenian-
Turkish relations.”

Arpine Simonyan

Read more at:

ARMENIAN EUROBONDS PAVE THE WAY FOR FURTHER FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Monday, December 9th, 2013

Investment Banking Director of Ameriabank Arno Mosikyan

YEREVAN (Arka)-On September 19, Armenia completed its first
issuing of Eurobonds. The volume of the issue was $700 million,
with a maturity period of 7 years, and yield of 6 percent. The
main underwriters of the issue were Deutsche Bank, London Branch,
HSBC Bank and J.P.Morgan Securities. According to the Ministry of
Finance of the Republic of Armenia, the demand for Armenia’s first
US dollar-denominated Eurobonds crossed $3 billion during the very
first days of their issuing. In his interview with Arka News Agency,
Investment Banking Director at Ameriabank Arno Mosikyan talked about
the Armenia’s pioneering Eurobonds.

ARKA: What is your evaluation of Armenia’s first issue of Eurobonds?

ARNO MOSIKYAN: The decision to enter the Euro-market was a right one
and we do hope that the market terms of the attracted funds will help
manage public finance and debt more effectively.

Both teams, the team of underwriters and our country’s team at road
shows in New York, Los Angeles and London, were quite representative.

Overall, the executive part of the project was very well planned.

Ameriabank kept a finger on the pulse from preparation stages until
the closing of the transaction. Our friends and colleagues from JP
Morgan and other investment banks, as well as investors attending
the road show, were quite impressed by our team. According to one of
our partners, a famous institutional asset manager who had attended
the road show in New York, the team of our Ministry of Finance and
Central Bank was able to adequately answer even the most scrutinizing
questions from investors.

However, in our opinion there were two major factors adversely
affecting the yield of bonds: certain geopolitical developments
which were information-wise not well planned. We believe we could
have saved dozens of basis points if we had done the media planning
more efficiently and organized the underwriter/lead manager selection
process more transparently.

As for maturity and volume, they depend on the yield. Note that the
volume of subscription to these first Eurobonds of Armenia shows
that investors are interested in our debt papers and we can attract
another 2-3 billion from international debt capital market.

ARKA: How will the issue of Eurobonds influence Armenian stock and
financial markets and the economy as a whole?

A.M.: The impact on Armenia’s stock market cannot be efficiently
assessed since the market itself is in a nascent stage and there is no
apparent correlation between the issuing of Eurobonds and our stock
market. But there are certain indirect factors which can influence
our market. Just the fact of the issuing of Eurobonds and appearance
of the name “Armenia” in the international debt capital market can
increase investors’ awareness of our country and there is a chance
that they will more frequently than before consider Armenia for other
potential investments.

The influence on the financial sector will be more tangible. By
issuing Eurobonds, the government set a minimum threshold for those
corporate issuers, including banks and credit organizations, which
attract debt from international markets. This means that the limit
of attracted IFI loans for banks is now closely connected with the
current and future yield of sovereign Eurobonds: the lower the yield,
the lower the interest rates for attracted loans and hence the lower
the rate for funds on-lent to economy.

As regards overall impact on economy, all our hope is that government
will use the attracted funds efficiently and pursuant to the same
reasonable logic which has been helping developed countries for well
over 300 years: credit funds should only be invested in those projects,
the return of which is higher than the interest rate of the credit. If
the attracted funds are “locked” in inefficient projects such as
asphalting the streets in Yerevan, we will drive ourselves into a debt
pit whence there is only one way out – default and loss of sovereignty.

Note that 2014-2017 will be rather hard years for Armenia in terms
that the peak of external public debt payments falls upon these years.

Therefore if we use the attracted funds correctly we will be able
to mitigate this huge outflow of funds, achieve multiplier effect of
added value in economy and stimulate GDP growth.

ARKA: In your opinion, will Armenia’s Eurobonds be attractive and
competitive on international markets?

A.M.: This maiden issue of Eurobonds was an important step towards
the development of practice and public debt management systems. Until
now, Armenia was working with IFIs which had mandates for assisting
sovereign member states in achieving economic development and gave
loans under subsidized non-market terms.

Now we have to deal with investors from Wall Street and City, who have
purely commercial interests and who are emotionally more neutral. Key
criteria for them are stable credit risk (not worsening at least
until maturity) and the credit rating of the issuer, efficient public
finance management systems, transparent budget policy, and liquid,
deep and wide secondary market of bonds.

Our government has done a huge job, but there is much to be done yet
to improve this and further issues with respect to quality, in order
to make them more attractive for investors.

We expect, among other things, for subsequent issuings to build the
yield curve at least for a 10-year period and cooperation with rating
agencies to develop and obtain sovereign credit ratings from S&P. We
also expect road shows and meetings with investors to be conducted
regularly during key events in international debt capital markets.

In addition, we must strive to have our bonds included in top indexes
oriented to developing countries, such as J.P. Morgan Emerging
Markets Bond Index Global (EMBI Global), create liquid, deep and wide
secondary market of bonds, and try and rid ourselves of the nickname
“Kardashian Bonds.”

FIRST SESSION OF THE “CIVIL CONTRACT” BOARD HELD IN YEREVAN

by Marianna Lazarian
Monday, December 9, 17:29

The first session of the “Civil contract” union board was held
in Yerevan.

As a member of the union Nikol Pashinyan said, the most important
purpose of the movement is to stimulate mass returning of Armenians
to the native land. “Another purpose of the movement is to reach power.

The incumbent President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and his team are
the main obstacles on the way of development of the country. For
this reason, the movement will work for the incumbent power to lose
its present status. Moreover, the movement will take part in the
presidential and parliamentary elections”, – Pashinyan said.

To note, any resident of Armenia and Armenian Diaspora may become a
member of the “Civil contract” if he is 18.

The duties of the contract consist of several points including
decrease of emigration volumes. Those who join the contract, will take
a responsibility not to emigrate from Armenia. As for the Armenians
of Diaspora, the contract supposes a duty to move to Armenia over
the next 5 years.

ARMENIE
L’Arménie diminue ses importations de blé et augmente sa production

Le volume de blé importé dans la République d’Arménie dans la première
moitié de cette année a diminué d’environ 3,3 fois par rapport à la
même période de l’année précédente à 62 596,1 tonnes.

Selon les données du Comité des recettes d’Etat au cours des six
premiers mois de l’année précédente, l’Arménie avait importé 206 439
tonnes de blé et pendant toute l’année 477 681 tonnes.

Le blé importé dans notre pays au cours des six premiers mois de 2013
était apporté de Russie (54 833,1 tonnes) et d’Ukraine (7762,5
tonnes).

Cette année, l’Arménie n’a pas exporté de blé.

La demande intérieure de blé dans la République d’Arménie est
annuellement de 700 000 tonnes. Au cours des dernières années, les
volumes de récolte de blé brut ont connu une croissance. En 2010, il y
a eu une récolte de 183 500 tonnes de blé, en 2011 de 224 100 tonnes,
en 2012 de 243 000. Dans l’année en cours il est attendu autour de 305
000 à 310 000 tonnes de blé ce qui dépassera le précédent résultat de
près de 25 pour cent.

Selon les normes internationales l’indépendance alimentaire est
considérée comme fixée lorsque 70-75 pour cent de la nourriture la
plus nécessaire est garanti grce à sa propre production. Cela
signifie que, pour être auto-suffisante en blé l’Arménie doit
augmenter la production de blé à 500 000 tonnes.

dimanche 8 décembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

KURDISTAN
Un journaliste tué au Kurdistan irakien

(AFP) – Des hommes armés ont abattu à son domicile le directeur d’un
magazine enquêtant sur la corruption dans la région autonome du
Kurdistan, dans le nord de l’Irak, ont rapporté une ONG et une source
policière.

Kawa Ahmed Germyani, le rédacteur en chef du magazine Rayal et
correspondant pour le journal Awene, a été abattu jeudi soir, a
indiqué Rahmane Gharib, un responsable de Metro Centre, une
association kurde de défense de la liberté de la presse.

Un capitaine de police a confirmé sa mort.

Germyani, 32 ans, a été touché à la tête et la poitrine devant sa mère
à son domicile dans la ville de Kalar, selon M. Gharib.

Le journaliste avait reçu des menaces et été poursuivi en justice par
des hommes politiques pour ses écrits sur la corruption, a précisé le
responsable de l’ONG.

L’organisation Reporters sans frontières (RSF) s’est dite `horrifiée`
par ce meurtre. `Connu pour son professionnalisme et ses enquêtes sur
des affaires de corruption et de népotisme dans le Kurdistan irakien,
le journaliste se savait menacé`, a ajouté l’ONG.

`Il avait d’ailleurs alerté les autorités de la région sur ces
menaces. Ce crime aurait pu être évité si ces mêmes autorités avaient
pris les mesures nécessaires pour assurer sa protection`, a-t-elle
poursuivi.

L’organisation s’est dit par ailleurs très `inquiète du fort climat
d’insécurité qui pèse sur les journalistes au Kurdistan, et plus
généralement en Irak, et de l’impunité dont bénéficient leurs
agresseurs ou assassins`.

Il y a moins de deux semaines, le journaliste Alaa Edwar a été tué
dans la ville de Mossoul (nord). Trois autres journalistes avaient été
tués dans cette même ville en octobre.

L’Irak est régulièrement critiqué pour son manque de liberté de la
presse, et a été placé premier du classement `Impunité` du Committee
to Protect Journalists, une ONG basée à New York, qui recense les
meurtres non résolus de journalistes.

Si la région du Kurdistan se présente comme une région plus sûre et
plus respectueuse des droits de l’Homme que le reste de l’Irak, elle a
été vivement critiquée par des ONG pour son non-respect de la liberté
d’expression.

dimanche 8 décembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com