Author: Badalian Vardan

The Sunday elections in Turkey were a regress for the ruling Justice and Development Party, expert of Turkish studies Arestakes Simavoryan told reporters today.

“The voters sent clear messages to Erdogan, making it clear they stand against constitutional changes,” he said.

According to expert of Turkish studies Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, the elections marked a turning point, first of all with regard to the correlation of forces.

“For the first time in history, 95 percent of the Turkish electorate will be represented in the Parliament,” Vahram Ter-Matevosyan said. According to him, the elections can be seen as a “vote of no confidence” on Erdogan’s political objectives, and more than 2 million people voted against Erdogan’s vision of Turkey.

“The elections changed the correlation of forces in the parliament, and on the political field, at large. After a leadership of 13 years, the Justice and Development Party has to take the new realities into consideration and seek ways of cooperation with the opposition.”

The worst scenario for the Armenian-Turkish relations will be a coalition between the Justice and Development Party and the Nationalist Movement. “In this case there will be no shortage of anti-Armenian statement,” he said.

Another expert of Turkish studies Anush Hovhannisyan said the election of three Armenians from three different parties is unprecedented.

“The three MPs will at least try to raise issues concerning the Turkish Armenian community. I think they will actively participate in discussions on the Armenian Genocide, the Turkey-Armenian relations, if there are any in the Parliament,” she said.

Vahram Ter-Matevosyan said the expectations from the three Armenian MPs should be different. He expects more from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and its representative Kato Palyan.

“At this point the HDP is the only force capable of bringing any change in the Armenian-Turkish relations,” he said.

If the Justice and Development Party opts for a minority government, it will not survive long and unwanted developments will be unavoidable.

Experts say it’s clear to everyone that early elections will mean a period of political instability, which will, in turn, lead to great economic shocks.

Turkey should form a government in 45 days.

On Tuesday, June 2^nd, the Brazilian Senate voted to approve the motion recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The decision is posted on the Senate’s

Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ivica Dačić, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian reiterated Armenia’s support for the Brazilian Senate’s decision to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

“This was yet another important step in favor of the efforts of the international community targeted at the prevention of new genocides and crimes against humanity,” he added.

The resolution expresses its “solidarity with the Armenian people during the course of the centenary of the campaign of extermination of its population” and states that “the Senate recognizes the Armenian Genocide, whose centenary was marked on April 24, 2015.”

In addition, it denounces the “systematic denial, pressure and intimidation against those who try to reconstruct historical events.”

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is being investigated by US officials as part of their inquiry into corruption at the world football body, the BBC reports.

The news came hours after Mr Blatter, 79, announced that he was stepping down from his role.

US prosecutors launched a criminal inquiry last week, with seven FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland, part of a group of 14 people indicted.

Two days after the arrests, Mr Blatter was re-elected president of FIFA.

However, he said on Tuesday that it appeared the mandate he had been given “does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world”.

Mr Blatter said: “FIFA needs profound restructuring.” He said he would continue in post until an extraordinary congress is called to elect a new president.

No dates have been set, but it is expected to take place between December 2015 and March 2016.

World famous Armenian photographer Yousuf Karsh between 1943 and 1987, including the three powerful portraits on view—capturing her first as a warm, spontaneous princess and then later as the elegant queen she became, the British Embassy of Armenia writes in a Facebook post.

Yousuf Karsh has snapped portraits of some of the most iconic figures of the last century. His wide-ranging pool of subjects includes Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Joan Crawford, and Walt Disney.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Latvia on May 21 to participate in the summits of the European People’s Party and the EU Eastern Partnership.

President Sargsyan is expected to have a number of bilateral meetings within the framework of the visit.

Russia’s economic contraction will curb the growth prospects this year for ex-Soviet republics in central Asia and the Caucasus, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said on Thursday, Reuters reports.

Declining remittances from migrant workers in Russia will take a heavy toll on countries from Armenia to Tajikistan, while oil producers such as Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan also have to wrestle with sharply lower global crude prices.

The EBRD released forecasts for the region during its annual meeting, held this year in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.

“As the Russian economy has declined, remittances from Russia to Central Asia and to eastern Europe and the Caucasus have been declining at an alarming rate,” the EBRD said.

Neighbouring Armenia, heavily dependent on aid and Russian investment, will contract by 1.5 percent this year and grow by 1 percent in 2016, the EBRD predicted.

Arthur Abraham and Robert Stieglitz will face each other for the fourth time in July. A super middleweight belt will once again be on the line when the familiar foes clash July 18 at Gerry Weber Hall in Halle, Germany, according to boxingscene.com.

The first fight between the pair of top super middleweights saw Abraham (42-4, 28KOs) score a career-resurrecting decision win to dethrone Stieglitz.

Their rematch eight months later saw Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27KOs) post his lone win of the rivarly, forcing a 4th round stoppage to regain his title in March 2013. The bout marked the only bout among their three previous meets to end inside the distance.

Abraham – who claimed a split decision win last March to begin his second tour as a super middleweight titlist – vows to get his own knockout win to provide a definitive end to this series.

“Robert is mandatory challenger, so of course he deserves his shot,’’ acknowledges Abraham, who has made three successful defenses during his second super middleweight title reign.  I’ve enjoyed our rivalry, but like all good things, this must come to an end.”

“The Gerry Weber Stadium will provide the perfect venue for me to finish our feud. I had Robert down in the 12th round of our last encounter, but this time he will hit the canvas a lot sooner!”

KEY: OPERATION “NEMESIS”

April 24, 2015 13:47
EXCLUSIVE

This time the Key section reflects on the history of establishment
of Operation “Nemesis” aimed at the punishment of the perpetrators
of the Armenian Genocide.

1. What is “Nemesis?”

“Nemesis” was an operation, which aimed to punish the leaders of the
Young Turks who perpetrated and implemented the Armenian Genocide
in 1915 as well as perpetrators of the Baku Pogrom – the massacre of
Baku Armenians in 1918.

2. When and how was “Nemesis” conceived?

After Turkey was defeated in World War I, the leaders of the Young
Turks fled to Germany. On December 16, 1918, a suit was brought
against them – Talaat, Enver, Nazım, Djemal and their accomplices
were accused of drawing the Ottoman Empire into war and organizing
the deportation and massacre of Christians (Armenians). The court
pronounced a death penalty for four out of the 31 accused – Talaat,
Enver, Djemal and Nazim.

In order to execute the sentence of the criminals who escaped it,
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) established “Nemesis.” At
its 19th General Assembly in Yerevan, ARF singled out 41 out of the
650 criminals. A responsible authority led by special Ambassador of
Armenia to the United States Armen Garo and a special fund headed by
Shahan Satchaklyan were set up to carry out Operation “Nemesis.”

Shahan Natalie and Grigor Merjanov stood accountable for the
operational management and the logistics of the operation.

3. Which sentences were executed?

– Berlin, March 15, 1921 – Soghomon Tehlirian assassinated principal
perpetrator of the Armenian Genocide Talaat Pasha.

– Rome, December 5, 1921 – Arshavir Shirakian killed head of the
first office of the Young Turks Said Halim.

– Berlin, April 17, 1922 – Arshavir Shirakian and Aram Yerkanian
assassinated Cemal Azmi, who had ordered to drown 15 000 Armenian
children in the sea, as well as Behaeddin Shakir.

– Tiflis, July 22, 1922 – Petros Ter-Poghosyan and Artashes Gevorgyan
killed Minister of the Navy Djemal Pasa.

– May 31, 1920 – One of perpetrators of Baku Pogrom in 1918 Nasib
Yusifbeyli was killed.

– June 19, 1920 – Aram Yerkanian assassinated former Prime Minister
of Azerbaijan Fatali Khan Khoyski.

– Tiflis, July 19, 1920 – Aram Yerkanyan killed Hasan bey Aghayev,
one of the main figures accountable for the massacres of Shushi and
Baku Armenians.

– July 18, 1921 – Misak Torlakian assassinated Behbud Khan Javanshir,
Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan.

Three traitors – Mkrtich Harutyunyan, Vahe Ihssan (Yesayan) and Adur
Yasyan were also killed during Operation “Nemesis.”

4. The execution of which sentences failed?

-The list of Operation “Nemesis” included the names of former War
Minister Enver Pasha and Secretary General of Committee of Union
and Progress Nazim Bey. The members of Operation “Nemesis” failed to
assassinate them.

Enver had fled to Central Asia from Germany. He was assassinated by
Armenian Commander of Red Army Hakob Melkumov in Tajikistan in 1922.

Nazim was sentenced to death in Turkey. He was accused of attempting
to assassinate Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

5. What caused Operation “Nemesis” to discontinue?

In 1922, the governments in exile of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
signed “Prometheus” bill of joint struggle against Bolshevism and
the ARF Bureau decided to discontinue Operation “Nemesis.”

This decision was not unanimously accepted and came to be known as
“most embarrassing” in the history. Years later Shahan Natalie
suggested restoring Operation “Nemesis,” but his proposal was
rejected. He established “Western Armenian Liberation Alliance”
in Paris.

Mari Taryan

LITHUANIA FM: WE SHARE GRIEF OF ARMENIANS

15:11, 24.04.2015
Region:World News, Armenia, Turkey
Theme: Politics

Lithuania shares the grief of Armenians caused by the 1915 events,
Lithuania’s Ambassador Linas Linkevicius said.

“We share #Armenians grief caused by horrifying events in 1915. World
must do everything poss 2prevent such tragedies from ever happening,”
hetweeted.

April 24, 2015 marks the centennial of the Armenian Genocide
perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire.

The Armenian Genocide is recognized by many states. The first to
acknowledge the fact was Uruguay in 1965. France recognized the
Armenian Genocide in 2001. Genocide was recognized by Russia, Italy,
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina,
and 42 U.S. states. Armenian Genocide was recognized by the Vatican,
the European Parliament, the World Council of Churches.

LE 24 AVRIL SUR FRANCE 24

Genocide

Le 24 avril sur France 24 :

Dès 06h30 et tout au long de la journee, France 24 retransmettra en
direct et en trois langues les ceremonies qui se tiendront dans la
capitale armenienne, en presence de nombreux chefs d’Etat.

A 12h15, l’emission culturelle de France 24 A l’affiche ! ( Encore !

sur la chaîne en anglais) sera egalement dediee aux artistes armeniens
avec une emission speciale realisee a Erevan. Sonia Patricelli et
Eve Jackson recevront notamment Tigram Hamazyan, pianiste de jazz,
et le photographe Antoine Agoudjian.

La chaîne ponctuera egalement ses editions d’information par des
interventions et des reportages de ses correspondants et envoyes
speciaux en Armenie, en France et a travers le monde. Enfin, cette
programmation speciale sera agrementee par la rediffusion d’extraits
des recents entretiens exclusifs avec les presidents armenien et turc,
Serge Sarkissian et Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

France24.com proposera aussi un webdocumentaire inedit consacre aux
survivants du genocide de 1915 qui ont reussi a transmettre leur
histoire et leur culture millenaire aux generations suivantes. Les
internautes pourront decouvrir quelques portraits de descendants de
rescapes qui ont repris le flambeau en cultivant, a leur manière,
l’heritage de tout un peuple.

vendredi 24 avril 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com