Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

TURKISH COURT ACQUITS SUSPECT OVER DINK MURDER CASE

armradio.am
14.02.2012 13:33

The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court has acquitted Coskun Igci,
one of 19 defendants in the murder case of Hrant Dink, the founder
and former editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish Agos weekly who
was assassinated in 2007 in front of his office in Istanbul, after
forgetting to include him in the final verdict in January.

Igci, who allegedly called on Yasin Hayal to buy a gun with which to
shoot Dink, was accidentally left out of the final verdict and the
judge issued a ruling separately for him on Monday.

On Sept. 19, 2011, the prosecution recommended his acquittal on the
grounds that there was no substantial evidence to suggest he took
part in the crime.

Igci’s lawyer said at the court on Monday that his client has no
ties to the murder except for being the uncle of Hayal, one of the
main suspects.

Igci said at the court that he had informed gendarmerie intelligence
officers in Trabzon that a plan to assassinate Dink was in place four
months prior to the murder.

“I am not guilty. The people I reported about were tried in Trabzon and
they were punished because they neglected their duties. Those people
are Col. Ali Oz, Capt. Metin Yıldız, non-commissioned officer Orhan
Å~^imÅ~_ek and Sgt. Veysel Å~^ahin,” he said.

When a judge at the court asked Igci if he had been in contact with
those four people, Igci replied that he had contacted Simsek and Sahin,
Turkish media report.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS NATO SECRETARY GENERAL’S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE JAMES APPATHURAI

armradio.am
14.02.2012 11:00

President Serzh Sargsyan received today NATO Secretary General’s
Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James
Appathurai.

The parties hailed our country’s relations with NATO in all areas
and deepening cooperation.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that from the viewpoint of cooperation
development, 2011 was a rather efficient year and underscored that
active political contacts have been maintained, Armenia has expanded
its participation in the International Security Forces in Afghanistan,
and Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan for 2011-2013
has been adopted.

The NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the South
Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai expressed gratitude to
Serzh Sargsyan and in his person to the Armed Forces of Armenia and
the people of Armenia for the excellent service of the Armenian troops
in Afghanistan and said that the Armenian nation can be proud of them.

At the meeting, the parties spoke also about regional challenges and
recent developments in the NK peace process.

From: Baghdasarian

PAKISTANI PRESIDENT: “ISLAMABAD WILL SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN IN NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE”
By Aris Ghazinyan

ArmeniaNow
14.02.12 | 12:10

Photo:

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Irish Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore

OSCE Chairman Eamon Gilmore, who is also Deputy Premier and Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, presented a report at the UN
Security Council (SC) on February 9 in New York, stressing his pursuit
of “long-term settlement of protracted conflicts in Transnistria,
Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh”.

Addressing the Karabakh issue, Gilmore spoke highly of the work of
OSCE Minsk Group (MG). “We welcome the efforts of OSCE Minsk Group for
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and expect close cooperation
with the co-chairs during this year”.

After Gilmore’s speech, ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev, Permanent
Representative of Azerbaijan (Non-Permanent member of UN SC) to
UN, urged OSCE to deal with the issue more actively and recognize
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

The same day official Islamabad criticized the low efficiency of
American, Russian and French diplomats (MG co-chairs) and spoke for
the necessity of involving also other countries in the OSCE MG.

Pakistani ambassador to Azerbaijan Inayatullah Kakar stated: “OSCE
Minsk Group has been working over the issue for a long time, but
that work has not been productive. One of the reasons, I believe,
is double standards. I think, in order to raise the work efficiency
of Minsk Group, it should be expanded to include also other states.”

Pakistan is a country that has never recognized the independence of
the Republic of Armenia.

In this connection the ambassador said: “As you know Pakistan is the
only country that has not recognized Armenia as a state. Pakistan
has always recognized, and always will, Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. In the Nagorno Karabakh issue Azerbaijan can always rely
on Pakistan’s support, just like Azerbaijan is supporting Pakistan
in the Kashmir issue.”

Yet Benazir Bhutto during her premiership talked about Pakistan’s
readiness to get engaged in the Karabakh conflict settlement.

It was during her second term as a premier (1993-1996) that Taliban
brigades were formed in Azerbaijan, which fought against the Defense
Army of Nagorno Karabakh and declared jihad to all Armenians.

Pakistan’s current president Asif Ali Zardari is the bearer of Bhutto
clan’s pan-Islamic course and the spouse of Benazir Bhutto who was
assassinated in a bombing in December, 2007.

Recently Ali Zardari stated: “The relations between Pakistan and
Azerbaijan are based on common historical, cultural and religious
grounds. Islamabad will always support Azerbaijan in the Nagorno
Karabakh issue.”

Pakistan is the second country after Turkey to have recognized
Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991. It is Azerbaijan’s most important
military partner, along with Turkey.

Azeri officers are currently undergoing training in Pakistan. Further,
the Pakistani diplomatic academy offers education courses in Azeri
diplomacy.

From: Baghdasarian

PHOTOS: ENVIRONMENTALISTS PROTEST KIOSKS’ CONSTRUCTION IN YEREVAN PARK

epress.am
02.13.2012

On Sat. Feb. 12, local activists gathered to protest the construction
of kiosks in the strip of green space between Aram and Buzand streets
just off of Mashtots Ave. in central Yerevan. Recall, these same kiosks
recently were dismantled on Abovyan St. – only to be reconstructed
in the park adjacent to the Research Center of Maternal and Child
Health Protection (also a maternity hospital) on Aram St.

Environmentalists were protesting the destruction of trees and what
they say is illegal construction. On Saturday, they had gathered to
prevent construction from moving forward; however, workers continued
their work, occasionally throwing the wet concrete they used for
laying bricks their way.

“This is illegal construction, and we are also urging police officers
to prohibit this illegal activity and not supervise us,” said one
protestor, environmentalist Mariam Sukhudyan (pictured below).

Later in the day, protestors were joined by Heritage Party MP
Anahit Bakhshyan (pictured below, far right), Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) representative Lilit Galstyan and Green
Party of Armenia leader, Armenian National Congress representative
Armenak Dovlatyan, all of whom likewise condemned the construction.

“The interests of 3-4 people cannot be prioritized over everything
else. Regretfully, a situation has been set up in our republic
whereby we have to fight for every right. Since our citizens don’t
yet realize who they’re voting for and how we become prisoners in the
hands of that political majority, we have to enjoy the fruits of this,”
said Galstyan.

Later, activists collected signatures protesting the construction.

Many passers-by seemed willing to sign the petition and support
their cause.

The protest was still going on at 8 pm. Protestors had cordoned off
the area with green ribbon and even built a snowman for the occasion.

Despite the freezing temperatures, they wanted to spend the night
in the park; however, as police didn’t allow them to bring wood to
light a fire, they decided to go home and return the following day.

From: Baghdasarian

WILL ARMY INTERFERE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS?
Naira Hayrumyan

Lragir.am

Published: 13:05:40 – 13/02/2012

The law on the state of emergency was adopted in Armenia according
to which, in certain cases, the authorities can involve the army
in home affairs. Quite “accidentally” the Russian vice-minister of
emergency situations was visiting Armenia on those days who discussed
the establishment of a joint education center with Armenia, and the
Secretary of the Russian National Security Council Nikolay Patrushev
agreed to expand military cooperation between both countries. Again
accidently, last autumn an agreement was reached within the frameworks
of the CSTO to support partner countries in case of states of
emergency.

All these events may not be interrelated but the law on state of
emergency in Armenia must be connected with the CSTO. However, the
adoption of such a law can be a favorable platform for “support”
by the CSTO, if a state of emergency is declared in Armenia and the
army is deployed.

Note that the CSTO has “simplified” the procedure of support: if so far
the CSTO could not interfere in the home affairs of member countries
if other members were against it, now troops can be sent to this or
another CSTO country who asks for help without complications.

In other words, if military situation is declared in Armenia after
the elections, Russia, without asking other CSTO members, may help.

Experts retain this law anti-Constitutional because the army,
according to the Constitution, cannot interfere in internal affairs of
a country. Army is created to defend the country from external enemies,
while for the internal order, there are other forces – the police,
National Security Service and others. But in Armenia the army is a part
of the home political processes. Not only the votes of militaries are
a guarantee to the preservation of the power at elections, but the army
can also become a means to frighten or even repress the protest moods.

It is symptomatic that the law on emergency situations was adopted
by first reading with the voting procedure breach. The ruling party
was unable to ensure quorum and RPA members voted for their absent
colleagues. This story became public but it did not change the
voting exist.

The fact that ruling party was not even afraid of a pre-election
scandal evidences that the Emergency law was very important to them.

Either the ruling party sees no other ways to ensure from “fair
elections” and post-election events, but the involvement of the army,
or it is forced to adopt this law. In the end, Moscow would like to
test the CSTO troops in an “emergency situation” and to show that its
troops exist not only for military exercises but they are a real force.

In this situation, the position of the Armenian leadership is very
important. If it treats the power’s opponents as the enemies of
the nation which should be fought by weapons, then the army would
certainly take part in the post-election events without this law too.

But if the leadership of the army respects the Constitution and does
not treat the acting power as constant, it should become the main
opponent of the adoption of this law.

From: Baghdasarian

KARABAKH PRESIDENT VISITS ARMENIAN CHURCHES IN ATHENS

Tert.am
13.02.12

President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Bako Sahakyan is
now in Greece on a working visit.

According to a press release by the NKR Presidential Office, Sahakyan
yesterday visited the Armenian churches in capital Athens and attended
a Sunday holy mass at the St. Mary church.

Later in the day, the president met with the local representatives
of the Armenian political parties (Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaksutyun’s, Ramkavar Liberal Party, Armenian People’s
party) and the Greek-Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The president also had a meeting with Armenian mass media
representatives.

From: Baghdasarian

ROOF OF ARMENIAN POET-WRITER’S HOUSE-MUSEUM NO LONGER IN DANGER OF CAVE-IN

news.am
February 13, 2012 | 13:05

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Recue Service received a distress call, on
February 10, informing that the rooftop of the great Armenian poet
and writer Hovhannes Tumanyan’s house-museum in the capital Yerevan
could cave in from the weight of the snow which had accumulated on it.

A rescue squad was dispatched to the scene, Rescue Service informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The rescuers removed the snow from the roof, and therefore the danger
of its collapse was eliminated.

From: Baghdasarian

CONFERENCE : LES KURDES ET L’AVENIR DU MOYEN ORIENT
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 13 fevrier 2012

PARIS : CONFERENCE “LES KURDES ET L’AVENIR DU MOYEN-ORIENT”

Les associations Sciences Po Monde Arabe et Persepolitique,
l’association franco-iranienne de Sciences Po, vous convient a une
conference exceptionnelle sur “Les Kurdes et l’avenir du Moyen Orient.”

Avec l’aimable participation de : Hamit Bozarslan, historien et
politologue (EHESS), auteur de La Question Kurde (1993) et Le Conflit
kurde : le brasier oublie du Moyen Orient (2009) Seve Aydin, Avocate
kurde syrienne Chris Kutschera, journaliste et ecrivain, auteur de Le
Mouvement National Kurde, (Paris, Flammarion 1979), Le Defi kurde,
ou le reve fou de l’independance (Paris, Bayard, 1997). (en attente
de confirmation)

De part sa dimension transnationale, son importance demographique, et
les enjeux geopolitiques qui lui sont sous-jacents, la question kurde
est aujourd’hui un enjeu incontournable du Moyen-Orient contemporain,
malheureusement souvent ignoree…

Questionner son actualite et son avenir paraît d’autant plus pregnant
qu’elle s’inscrit au croisement des grandes restructurations politiques
et geopolitiques de la region : entre retrait americain d’Irak,
revolution syrienne, affirmation turque, et ebranlement interne de
la Republique Islamique d’Iran.

Cette conference est avant tout destinee a toutes les personnes
desireuses de s’informer sur la place des Kurdes au Moyen Orient,
leur(s) actualite(s) et leurs defis a venir.

Dans quelle mesure les politiques nationales turque, irakienne,
syrienne et iranienne influencent-t-elles l’avenir des revendications
kurdes ? A l’inverse, quel poids strategique les kurdes ont-ils dans
les dynamiques internes a ces memes Etats ?

L’objectif de cette conference est d’apporter des elements de reponse
a ces questions, en adoptant un point de vue a la fois regional et
interne aux Etats concernes.

From: Baghdasarian

BAKU RESTATES COMMITMENT TO REGAINING KARABAKH

News.Az
Wed 08 February 2012 09:24 GMT | 9:24 Local Time

A senior official has restated Azerbaijan’s position that it will
restore its territorial integrity either through talks or “other
options”.

Ali Hasanov, head of the socio-political department at the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration, said in Azerbaijan newspaper on Wednesday
that Baku was determined to see the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

He blamed what he described as the non-constructive position of Armenia
and the lack of serious pressure on Yerevan from the OSCE Minsk Group
of mediators for the failure to resolve the conflict, Gun.Az reported.

“Expectations of resolution of the conflict do not depend entirely
on us. Of course, we expect many things and these expectations are
based on international law, but unfortunately, our position is only
one side of the issue. The other side involves the non-constructive
position of Armenia and the third side – the co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group who show very weak influence and pressure.”

Hasanov set out again Azerbaijan’s position on settlement of the
conflict.

“President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated his position on this
issue. The restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is
directly connected with the Karabakh problem. Azerbaijan will restore
this integrity either through negotiations or any other options.”

The formula “any other options” often refers to the use of force.

“For us, the settlement of the Karabakh conflict means the restoration
of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Azerbaijan has always and
will always be ready to discuss any issue within this framework,”
Hasanov said.

Hasanov’s comments echo remarks by Defence Minister Safar Abiyev,
who said yesterday that since the OSCE Minsk Group had not produced
concrete results, Azerbaijan was obliged to take back the occupied
territories by other means and was, therefore, strengthening its
armed forces.

Azerbaijani officials tend to refer to resolving the Karabakh conflict
by “other means” when they are frustrated by lack of progress in the
peace talks.

The Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made claims on the
Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. In a bitter war Armenian
armed forces occupied a swathe of Azerbaijani land, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Despite a
ceasefire in 1994, no long-term peace agreement has been reached.

The nub of the conflict remains unresolved – the competing claims of
territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan insists takes precedence in
the case of Karabakh, and self-determination, which Armenia wants to
see for the Armenians of Karabakh.

From: Baghdasarian

Think Again: The French turn the leadership tables
By Zanku Armenian

,0,7064398.story
February 11, 2012 | 10:00 a.m.

The French often are the butt of jokes here, but last month they
turned the tables and are teaching our elected officials about
leadership. With the support of President Nicolas Sarkozy, the lower
house of the French parliament and the French Senate recently passed a
bill that makes it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide.

On a daily basis, the Turkish government and their agents conduct a
systematic campaign of denial of the Armenian Genocide in the U.S. and
around the world, trying to erase history. It is a history in which
1.5 million innocent people lost their lives in 1915 at the hands of
Ottoman Turkish troops simply because of their race.

Los Angeles Times It is a crime against humanity that has been
perpetrated by many governments since then.

Once the French president signs this bill, whoever publicly denies the
Armenian Genocide in France will be subject to prosecution and will
face monetary penalties or jail. While it doesn’t address the larger
issue of Turkey coming to terms with its past and paying reparations
to the affected Armenian families, it does take a stand on the side of
truth and justice.

Many countries, especially in Europe, have similar laws with regard to
denying genocides, including the Jewish Holocaust. France passed a
Holocaust denial law in 1990. Like others, the Los Angeles Times
editorialized against France’s proposed Armenian Genocide denial law
based on the principle of freedom of speech, even at the price of
protecting hate speech – a topic worth its own column.

However, if making that argument, then one also must oppose the
Holocaust denial law to be consistent. Curiously, the Holocaust denial
law was not mentioned in the editorial.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton advocated for congressional
recognition of the Armenian Genocide while she was a senator and as a
presidential candidate – similar to then-candidate President Obama,
and similar to Vice President Joseph Biden throughout his tenure as a
senator. Their position statements could not have been more clear in
calling it what it is, a genocide. However, once elected, all three
abandoned positions of principle and sold out our national interest
and values by supporting and enabling Turkey’s denial campaign.

This administration’s hypocrisy became even more shameful on Jan. 26.
During a town hall meeting with State Department employees, Clinton
was asked about the French bill. Clinton replied: `I think it’s fair
to say that this has always been viewed, and I think properly so, as a
matter of historical debate and conclusions rather than political. And
I think that is the right posture for the United States government to
be in, because whatever the terrible event might be, or the high
emotions that it represents, to try to use government power to resolve
historical issues, I think, opens a door that is a very dangerous one
to go through.’

She continued: `We need to encourage anyone on any side of any
contentious historical debate to get out into the marketplace of
ideas….’

In 2008, Clinton said the opposite: `I believe the horrible events
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear
case of genocide … as president, I will recognize the Armenian
Genocide. Our common morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice
for human rights challenges us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be
recognized and remembered by the Congress and the President of the
United States.’

Putting questions of Clinton’s `common morality’ to one side, one
thing is clear: She is a hypocrite and has successfully undermined our
nation’s credibility.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s about our country’s leaders
reflecting American values, instead of supporting regimes, like
Turkey’s, that demonstrate they are capable of committing the next
genocide if it serves their political interests.

France’s leaders aligned themselves with an important national value,
differentiating themselves from Turkey on this issue. We must do the
same.

ZANKU ARMENIAN is a resident of Glendale and a corporate
communications and public affairs professional. He can be reached at
[email protected].

From: Baghdasarian