Author: Badalian Vardan

GYUMRI MURDER CASE: RELATIVES OF SLAIN FAMILY SUSPICIOUS OF RUSSIAN-LED INVESTIGATION

ANALYSIS | 17.04.15 | 11:05

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has published information about
expert conclusions in the high-profile murder case in Gyumri where a
Russian soldier allegedly gunned down a seven-member Armenian family
in January.

The results of the examinations provided little news. One of the few
remarkable statements is that all bullets found in the house of the
Avetisyans were fired from the submachine-gun belonging to Valery
Permyakov, a 19-year-old conscript at the Russian base stationed in
Gyumri. Also it was established that the submachine-gun allegedly
used by Permyakov had no muffler.

The mass murder appears to be one of the obstacles in the way of
traditionally friendly Armenian-Russian relations. Russia refuses
to transfer the accused to Armenian justice. At the same time, the
Armenian side does not seem to be doing enough – at least as it appears
to the Armenian public – to secure Permyakov’s handover. This situation
is perceived negatively by most members of the Armenian society.

Judging from the actions of the Armenian and Russian sides, there
is some sort of agreement about the maximum possible concealment of
the circumstances of the high-profile crime. Two criminal cases have
been instituted on the same case – by the investigative committees
of Russia and Armenia.

It is remarkable that in the case instituted by the Russian
Investigative Committee the victim is the Republic of Armenia. By
the Armenian case, the victims are the Avetisyan family and their
legal successors.

Armenia’s leading human rights activist Arthur Sakunts finds it
odd that the legal successors of the Avetisyan family do not figure
as a party in the case investigated by the Russian side. Moreover,
it is not known whether there is an accused party in the case being
investigated by the Armenian side, as Armenian investigators have no
possibility to interrogate Permyakov who is kept at the Russian base.

Meanwhile, it is most likely that the real trial will be based on
the criminal case being investigated by the Russian side.

However, as things stand now, it is unlikely that anyone will really
represent the Avetisyan family at the trial by the Russian court and,
accordingly, the victims’ relatives will not have an opportunity
to ask questions to Permyakov even in the court-room. Meanwhile,
there appear to be a lot of questions to be asked. Relatives of the
Avetisyans have long harbored suspicions that Permyakov acted not
alone, but had accomplices and that the investigators hide something.

Lawyers say that the Russian and Armenian side could have some secret
agreement to hide some of the true circumstances of the crime and
“isolate” the relatives and lawyers of the victims’ legal successors
so that they could not ask questions during the trial. Lawyers and
human rights activists argue that even if the Armenian side fails
to get Permyakov’s handover to Armenian justice, it should seek the
involvement of the Avetisyans’ legal successors as a party in the
case being investigated by Russia.

L’ETAT DU NEVADA A RECONNU LE GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS

Etats Unis 1915-2015

La vague de reconnaissance du genocide des Armeniens se poursuit. La
Chambre des representants et du Senat de l’Etat americain du Nevada
ont adopte une resolution reconnaissant le genocide des Armeniens,
soulignant de la necessite de le condamner.

Le document indique que le crime perpetre contre les Armeniens dans
l’Empire ottoman entre 1915 et 1923 a ete le premier genocide du XXème
siècle. Il prie instamment le president americain et le Congrès de
reconnaître ce fait politique, et exhorte la Turquie a accepter son
propre passe.

C’est le 43ème Etat americain a reconnaître le genocide armenien.

vendredi 17 avril 2015, Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

OP-ED: IT’S TIME FOR OBAMA TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

The Patch
April 16 2015

A Bedford Man issued an essay in light of the upcoming centennial
anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

By Barry Thompson

The following op-ed was sent to Bedford Patch by Robert Kalantari,
of 8 Donovan Dr., Bedford:

President Obama, during his 2008 campaign told the world, “My firmly
held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a
personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented
fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence.”

“The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats
to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy,” Obama wrote.

“As President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

Armenian People in the United States and around the world are still
waiting for the president to fulfill his promise.

Speaking at the Mass on Sunday April 12, 2015, Pope Francis defined
the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians as “the first genocide of the
20th century,” quoting the statement made by John Paul II. He continued
his speech acknowledging the other genocides of the 20th century.

“The remaining two were perpetrated by Nazism and Stalinism,” Francis
said. “And more recently there have been other mass killings, like
those in Cambodia, Rwanda, Burundi and Bosnia.”

Pope Francis said it was “necessary, and indeed a duty,” to remember
the Armenians killed, “for whenever memory fades, it means that evil
allows wounds to fester. Concealing or denying evil is like allowing
a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it!”

In 1915, leaders of the Turkish government set in motion a plan to
expel and massacre Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. By the
early 1920’s, when the massacres and deportations finally ended,
some 1.5 million of Turkey’s Armenians were dead, with many more
forcibly removed from the country.

As David Fromkin put it in his widely praised history of World War
I and its aftermath in the text, “A Peace to End All Peace”; “Rape
and beating were commonplace. Those who were not killed at once were
driven through mountains and deserts without food, drink or shelter.

Hundreds of thousands of Armenians eventually succumbed or were
killed.”

The man who invented the word “genocide” Raphael Lemkin, a lawyer of
Polish-Jewish origin was moved to investigate the attempt to eliminate
an entire people by accounts of the massacres of Armenians. He coined
the term “genocide” in 1943, applying it to Nazi Germany and the Jews
in a book published a year later, “Axis Rule in Occupied Europe.”

Today, most historians, including numerous Turkish historians and
scholars call this event genocide. However, the Turkish government
does not acknowledge these mass killings as genocide, and in fact they
have passed a law that criminalizes any mention of Armenian genocide
in Turkey. Sadly enough, our own government has not acknowledged
this crime as genocide, in spite of the fact that over 20 counties,
the Vatican, and 43 out of 50 states have officially recognized this
event and genocide.

In the past 30 years several bills to recognize the Armenian genocide
have been introduced by the congress, but none have passed. A similar
bill was recently introduced in 2009. However, once again, our leader
then and now, President Barack Obama and the Secretary of State,
Hillary Clinton campaigned so hard to prevent the US Congress
acknowledging that the Ottoman Turkish massacre of 1.5 million
Armenians as genocide.

When Hillary Clinton was in the senate, she had cosponsored successive
Armenian Genocide resolutions since 2002. But responding to a
question from a participant of a Town Hall Meeting on January 28,
2012 in CA she said, recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US
“opens a door that is a very dangerous one to go through.” This is
the same Hillary Clinton who, four years ago, pledged that she would
recognize the Genocide as President of the United States.

The rational for such an irresponsible act by our current and past
leaders, (with the exception of President Ronald Reagan, who did in
his speech mentioned genocide) is that if the U.S. acknowledges the
Armenian genocide, then Turkey, “our ally” will retaliate and not help
the U.S. in the region. Based on the past, we all know that Turkey
has always shown their true colors and have not supported any U.S.

missions in the area.

As we all know, history will repeat itself if crimes are not punished
and acknowledged. Turkey did not punish the perpetrators of this
crime when it happened, and they have not recognized this horrific
crime. An unrecognized crime is a repeated crime.

April 24 is the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
first genocide of the 20th century. World leaders, who care about
preventing such crimes, will gather in Armenia to commemorate the
anniversary of this sad, unpunished crime forgotten by some nations.

We hope the 100 year anniversary will open the eyes of those who care
about the human race. We hope that once and for all there will be
acknowledgement and recognition of this crime as genocide and more
importantly for Turkey to accept the evil crime of their past. As
Pope Francis said, “Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a
wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it!”

To find out more about this horrific event, please search the web
about the Armenian Genocide.

WHY DO THE INFLUENTIAL ESCAPE THE BLAME GAME?

The National, UAE
April 16 2015

Alan Philps

April 16, 2015

In recent days, 100-year-old black-and-white images of women carrying
infants through the desert have flashed up on the screens of news
channels. The images are followed by more recent footage of similar
head-scarfed women fleeing with their babies across the sand. The
first images are shots of the expulsion of Armenians from eastern
Turkey in 1915 during which up to 1.5 million were killed or died of
hunger and thirst. The modern footage is of Yazidi families fleeing
the onslaught of ISIL in Iraq last year.

Is it fair to put these two events side by side on screen, given the
power of images to suggest a continuum of oppression of religious and
ethnic minorities from the First World War to today? The question
will be hard to escape over the next week. Foreshadowing the 100th
anniversary of the start of the Armenian deportations on April 24,
Pope Francis lit the fuse for an explosive debate by describing the
Armenian massacres “the first genocide of the 20th century”.

The pope is used to poking sticks into hornet’s nests. The Vatican
diplomatic service cannot have failed to be aware of the likely
reaction in Turkey, a country recently visited by Francis and one
where the Roman Catholic hierarchy has invested much effort in good
relations. Turkey recalled its ambassador from the Vatican in protest.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging Turkey
to recognise the events of 1915 as genocide. The Turkish President,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, responded angrily: “The stain of genocide on
our nation is out of the question.”

This is not the place to rehearse the arguments on both sides, which
have been aired in these pages, including by the Turkish ambassador
today. Under Mr Erdogan the taboo on discussion of the massacres has
been lifted, and he himself has expressed condolences to the Armenian
victims. But there is adamant refusal to accept the term genocide
even though the term is supported by many scholars.

The issue for the Turks is the context of these terrible events. They
took place during a war that caused industrial scale casualties and
against the background of the decades-long collapse of the Ottoman
Empire during which millions of Muslims died and were forced out of
their homes. The Armenians were far from the only victims.

The list of countries where genocide has been ruled by international
courts to have taken place usually includes Nazi Germany and Rwanda,
and in Bosnia at the hands of the Bosnian Serbs. But the powerful
countries escape. Was not Russia guilty of genocide by deporting the
Circassian Muslims in the 1860s from their homeland in the Caucasus,
land where the Sochi winter Olympics were held? And what about Stalin’s
treatment of the Muslim Chechens, deported en masse from their homes
in 1944 and left to die on the steppes of Kazakhstan? And shouldn’t
the European settlers in America be deemed guilty of genocide for
their destruction of the native peoples?

Americans would argue that this argument is ridiculous. After all,
that was in the past. But when did the past stop and the present
begin? Perhaps the line should be drawn from 1948 when the Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted
by the UN General Assembly.

No one can deny that battles over other people’s history are deeply
attractive to the media and to legislatures looking for an easy vote.

It is much easier for the European Parliament to approve a motion
on 1915 than to tackle the tragedy unfolding in the Mediterranean,
where thousands – Syrians, Eritreans and others – are likely to
drown in leaky boats over the summer trying to reach Europe from
Africa. There are no easy solutions there.

A visitor from Mars would be shocked that countries are arguing over
events a century ago while a real humanitarian crisis is unfolding
along Turkey’s southern border.

Some 40 to 50 million people around the world have been forced to
leave their homes by war, civil unrest or climate stress. What to do
about these people and the wars that have ruined their lives is the
real issue of our time. Who, for example, has found a way to help the
16,000 remaining residents of the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp on
the outskirts of Damascus, besieged and bombed by government forces
and then laid waste by ISIL? The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon,
made a desperate plea for outside intervention, describing Yarmouk
as the “deepest circle of hell”. There was not much response either
from Arab states or the outside powers.

Here lies the answer to why Pope Francis threw caution to the wind
last Sunday. It is not about redress for events 100 years ago. It
is about the future of the Christians in the Middle East at a time
of unprecedented war and dislocation. In the past, the Vatican has
spoken softly in defence of Christians in the region, aware that their
position as integral parts of their communities is undermined if they
appear to have colonial protectors. To put things in context again,
ISIL has killed many more Muslims than Christians or Yazidis.

That policy has not worked. Continuing war in Syria is hastening the
exodus of Christians from the region. If the pope took his gloves
off with Turkey, it is because of Mr Erdogan’s role in the Syrian
conflict, where he has given priority to toppling Bashar Al Assad over
containing the jihadists of ISIL. The Vatican sees things differently –
the triumph of ISIL would be a catastrophe.

Raising the Armenian issue is a stick to beat Mr Erdogan with. But
whether the western world has the right to give morality lessons in a
region where its intervention has caused so much pain and bitterness
is an open question.

Alan Philps is a commentator on global affairs

USA : BATAILLE DES POUR ET CONTRE UNE RESOLUTION ARMENIENNE AU CONGRES

1915-2015

La tension monte chaque jour un peu plus dans les couloirs du Congrès
américain a l’approche de la 100ème commémoration du génocide
des Arméniens. C’est ce qu’explique le correspondant au Congrès
pour Al Monitor Julian Pecquet.

Il y a d’une part les 55 membres qui ont présenté un projet de
résolution pour la reconnaissance du génocide des Arméniens, et
d’autre part les opposants, avec a leur tête le Président de la
Chambre des représentant John Boehner, dont l’argumentaire basique
met en avant le rapprochement stratégique de l’Arménie avec l’Iran,
et dans une certaine mesure avec la Russie, alors que les Ã~Itats Unis
voient en la Turquie “un allié très important dans notre guerre
contre les terroristes”, dit-il. Boehner ajoute que cette région
est un endroit très stratégique dans le monde. La Turquie est
“un grand allié, mécontent de cette résolution”. John Boehner a
rencontré le Président du parlement turc, Cemil Cicek, a la fin du
mois dernier et n’a pas encore décidé s’il permettra a la proposition
de résolution de se confronter au vote.

Du côté des partisans pour la reconnaissance, on compte surfer sur
les déclarations du pape Francois qui a exhorté les dirigeants du
monde a parler “avec un sens du devoir, sans céder a des ambiguïté
ou compromis.”

Le ministre des Affaires étrangères turc Mevlut CavuÅ~_oglu se rendra
a Washington entre le 18 et le 21 avril pour tenter de convaincre de
ne pas faire passer la résolution. Il devrait rencontrer John Kerry
a cette occasion.

J.E

vendredi 17 avril 2015, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

KARABAKH PRESIDENT ATTENDS ASSEMBLY OF DEFENSE ARMY MILITARY DIVISIONS

14:54 17/04/2015 >> SOCIETY

Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic President Bako Sahakyan on Friday
attended the assembly of the Defense Army’s military divisions’
commanders and deputy commanders, the President’s press office reports.

In his remarks, President Sahakyan stressed the importance of such
events, held in parallel with multi-stage command staff maneuvers,
for the Defense Army and Armenian armed forces.

According to the President, they enable to refine theoretical and
practical skills and knowledge of the command staff, get acquainted
with the advanced experience and its application on the spot, raise
the combat readiness of the military divisions’ command staff, as
well as reclaim the existing shortcomings and omissions.

President Sahakyan gave concrete instructions to the Defense Army’s
command staff towards the solution of a number of strategic and
tactical issues.

ARMENIA AND CHINA IMPLEMENT PROJECTS IN INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION, AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN, April 17. / ARKA /. Armenia and China are implementing joint
projects in the fields of industrial cooperation and infrastructure
construction, China’s ambassador to Armenia Tian Erlun told ARKA.

According to him, both governments are taking additional measures to
stimulate diverse bilateral relations.

“We are discussing now a number of projects in the fields of industrial
cooperation and infrastructure construction, which means increased
cooperation,’ said Erlun.

During Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s state visit to China
on March 24-28, the sides signed more than a dozen agreements on
cooperation in various fields, including bilateral cooperation in
the legal, economic, techno-economic, customs, education, tourism
and other fields.

According to experts, Sargsyan’s visit will strengthen bilateral
economic ties, which have great potential both in terms of the
implementation of mutual investments and trade growth.

According to Armenia’s National Statistical Service, the trade
turnover between Armenia and China in 2014 increased by 29.4% from
the previous year to $588.4 million (9.9% of the total foreign trade
of Armenia). China is Armenia’s second largest trade partner.-0-

FRENCH-ARMENIAN ACTOR SAYS THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS LIKE A WOUND THAT NEVER HEALS

17:28, 17 April, 2015

PARIS, 17 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. During the television program called
“Stories of French-Armenians”, French-Armenian actor Simon Abgarian
talked about the Armenian Genocide, reflected on his past, the history
of his ancestors and called on Turkey to recognize the crime that it
committed in the early 20th century and turn a new page in its history.

As “Armenpress” reports, Abgarian emphasized that the Armenian
Genocide is like a wound that never heals and doesn’t allow one to
forget what has happened. “The wound is still open. It’s impossible
to forget the pain, and it has to remind the future generations,
including the Turks about what happened 100 years ago. It has to
remind them so that such events never happen again,” Abgarian said.

Talking about Turkey, the actor placed emphasis on the future
and stressed the fact that Turkey’s modern society and generation
acknowledge what their ancestors did.

“The events taking place today show that we have to learn the lessons
from the past because only be condemning will we be able to prevent
future crimes against humanity,” the French-Armenian actor mentioned.

LEGENDARY FOOTBALL PLAYER HARUTYUN KEHEYAN PASSES AWAY AT 85

14:32 | April 17,2015 | Sports

Armenian legendary football player Harutyun Keheyan died on Friday,
April 17, at the age of 85.

Keheyan was the first football player in the Soviet Armenia who was
awarded the title of Honored Football Player.

He was also Honored Master of Sports and Honorary Citizen of Yerevan.

He was director of Hrazdan stadium for many years.

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY TO PARTICIPATE IN CAUCASUS TOURISM FAIR – 2015

YEREVAN, April 17. /ARKA/. The South Caucasus Railway is participating
in Caucasus Tourism Fair – 2015 in Tbilisi on April 16-17, the press
office of the company reported.

The exhibition was officially opened by the Mayor of Tbilisi David
Narmania, minister of environment Erguj Khokrishvili and deputy
minister of economic development Mikhail Janilidze.

The exhibition will showcase mainly internal and outgoing tourism
opportunities, rehabilitation of local resorts and promotion of
consumers’ interest toward new destinations.

More than 100 tour and related companies are participating in the
exhibition.

The South Caucasus Railway (SCR) company is presented through a full
description of its passenger routes, services and new tour products,
tours in Armenia and Georgia in particular.

As part of the exhibition the head of international links at the SCR
Aleksandr Boyko had talks with the Georgian deputy minister of economic
development Mikhail Janilidze and presented the company’s innovative
projects. Boyko said they cooperated closely with Georgian railroaders.

The main aim of the new tour packages is to increase the company’s
operational capacity the passenger traffic along the route
(Yerevan-Tbilisi-Batumi).

The Caucasus Tourism Fair is held at Expo Georgia Exhibition Center
by Expo Georgia, in cooperation with the Georgian ministry of economy
and Tbilisi Municipality.

The South Caucasus Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, runs
Armenian Railway, which was handed over to the South Caucasus Railway
on February 13, 2008 for 30-year concession management with a right
to prolong the management term for other 10 years. -0–