Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

AZERBAIJAN EVICTIONS BESMIRCH EUROVISION SONG CONTEST GLITZ

Agence France-Presse

A human rights dispute has marred Azerbaijan’s preparations for the
Eurovision Song Contest as homes are demolished as part of an urban
regeneration project which includes the ultramodern ‘Crystal Hall’
where the event will be staged

An urban regeneration project includes the ultramodern ‘Crystal Hall’
for Eurovision, which Azerbaijani won last year with singers Ell and
Niki (below). AP photo In the shadow of an enormous Azerbaijani flag,
a landmark concert hall is rising from the Caspian Sea shoreline as
the oil-rich ex-Soviet state prepares to host the Eurovision song
contest in May.

But a human rights dispute has marred Azerbaijan’s preparations for
the pop extravaganza as homes are demolished as part of an urban
regeneration project which includes the ultramodern “Crystal Hall”
where Eurovision will be staged.

Pensioner Minara Iskenderova lives with her daughter and son in the
last apartment block to remain standing near the construction site
in Baku’s National Flag Square.

Many of her neighbors have already moved out, leaving the block with
its impressive sea views looking half-abandoned and on the verge of
dereliction, with many doors and windows ripped out.

“I’m taking what is happening very painfully. Since this process
started, my blood pressure has risen and I’ve started to get ill,”
Iskenderova said.

“I cannot get used to the thought that we will have to move away
from here.”

Natalia Alibekova, another pensioner still holding out against eviction
from the condemned block, said she expected to be thrown out any day
now when the demolition crew moves in.

“I will have memories of my home whenever Eurovision takes place,”
she said.

Rights activists allege that several hundred families have been evicted
from the area so far under pressure from the Baku city authorities
to accept what they claim is inadequate compensation that will not
buy similar apartments in the centre of the capital.

“The pressure comes from various sides,” said Zohrab Ismailov of the
Public Association for Assistance to Free Economy campaign group,
claiming that the authorities sometimes cut off gas, electricity and
water to intimidate people into leaving.

The Baku mayor’s press office said it could not comment on the issue,
but officials have said that the compensation offered is fair.

Baku erupted into an all-night street party after singers Ell and
Nikki won Eurovision in Duesseldorf in May 2011, giving Azerbaijan
the right to host the contest this year.

Oil money has fueled construction boom

The administration led by strongman President Ilham Aliyev sees
Eurovision 2012 as a chance to boost the international profile of a
country until now mainly known as an energy exporter on the fringe
of Europe that went through war and political turmoil after the
Soviet collapse.

“This event will positively affect Azerbaijan’s overall image,”
Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev told local media.

The authorities have rejected allegations of property rights abuses
and official intimidation, saying that the redevelopment of National
Flag Square is not connected to Eurovision but part of a citywide
urban renewal scheme.

Flush with oil money, Baku has undergone a construction boom in recent
years, with hundreds of new buildings transforming the skyline of the
capital, while the once shabby downtown area has been turned into a
upmarket shopping haven.

Campaigners estimate that thousands may have lost homes during the
gentrification drive which also led to the controversial demolition
last year of the offices of local rights advocates who were campaigning
on behalf of those evicted.

“Since 2008, the Azerbaijani government has undertaken a sweeping
campaign of urban renewal which has involved illegally expropriating
apartments, forcibly evicting people,” said Giorgi Gogia, a researcher
for Human Rights Watch.

Campaigners hope that Eurovision will also focus attention on alleged
violations of democratic rights and freedom of expression.

“Azerbaijan is determined to boost its international image by holding
mega events like Eurovision, but what it doesn’t understand is that
this will put the government’s human rights record under a glaring
spotlight,” Gogia said.

A bloody local conflict could also be spotlighted because Azerbaijan’s
bitter enemy Armenia has agreed to compete in Baku after the
authorities promised to ensure participants’ safety.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA ADDRESSES CONDOLENCE LETTER TO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF EGYPTIAN ARMED FORCES

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 2, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
has addressed a letter of condolences to commander-in-chief of the
Egyptian Armed Forces Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi Soliman on the
occasion of the Port Said football tragedy.

Serzh Sargsyan expressed a heartfelt condolence to the Egyptian
Field Marshal, people of Egypt and relatives of the tragedy victims,
president’s press service told Armenpress.

From: Baghdasarian

YEREVAN RESIDENTS PROTESTING HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION V. BUSINESSMAN: COURT DATE SET

epress.am
02.01.2012

The lawsuit launched by residents of 42 Koghbatsi St., 40 Pushkin St.,
23 and 25 Teryan St., and 37 Lalayants St. against businessman, owner
of the Second Armenian (H2) TV Channel Company Samvel Mayrapetyan
will be heard in an Armenian administrative court on Feb. 16.

Recall, the firm Local Developers belonging to Mayrapetyan is
constructing a high-rise building in the common yard shared by the
aforementioned buildings.

According to the residents, not only urban development and
architectural, but also environmental and seismic safety standards
have been violated in approving the construction of this building.

Furthermore, their children have been deprived of a place to play.

Speaking to Epress.am, Vardan Geravetyan, resident of 21 Teryan St.

and the spokesperson for the residents’ concerns, said that building
construction continues.

“We submitted a motion to the court that construction be suspended
until the court issues a ruling, but the court rejected our motion.

Note, we filed this suit five months ago, but it’s only now being
heard in court,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

LES PROCUREURS DEFENDENT LE TRAITEMENT ” CLEMENT ” A L’EGARD DU GOUVERNEUR VIOLENT
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 3 fevrier 2012

Des procureurs armeniens ont soutenu la decision controversee de
la justice de ne pas lancer des accusations criminelles contre un
gouverneur regional qui a assailli une femme d’affaires a la fin de
l’annee dernière.

Le Service Special d’Investigation (SIS), qui est aux ordres des
procureurs, avait dit le mois dernier que le Gouverneur du Syunik
Surik Khachatrian avait frappe une femme, Silva Hambardzumian, dans
un hôtel d’Erevan. Mais le SIS a dit que la violence ne peut pas etre
consideree comme ” des coups ” parce qu’il n’ont pas impliques de
coups multiples et que la victime n’a pas la moindre blessure physique.

La femme d’affaires a proteste au Bureau General des procureurs
contre la decision du SIS de ne pas poursuivre Khachatrian. Selon son
avocat Karen Tunian, un procureur en charge de l’affaire a repondu
que l’enquete du SIS etait objective.

Karen Tunian a critique la decision disant que sa cliente deposera
une autre plainte devant le procureur general Aghvan Hovsepian et, si
necessaire, deposera plainte contre les procureurs devant la cour. Il
a affirme que les actions de Khachatrian constituaient un assaut. ”
Autrement, vous pourriez donner une tape a n’importe qui dans la rue et
echapper a toute poursuite ” a-t-il dit au service armenien de RFE/RL
(Azatutyun.am).

Karen Tunian a aussi pretendu que le SIS refuse de lui donner les
transcriptions des temoignages donnes par des temoins oculaires et
le video de l’incident capture par des cameras de securite de l’hôtel.

From: Baghdasarian

POURQUOI ON NE PEUT TOLERER LA NEGATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 3 fevrier 2012

Sarkis Shahinian

Après avoir rappele sur un ton grave qu’il sait, ” par experience
personnelle,combien il est douloureux d’entendre denier la realite
d’un genocide qui a englouti vos proches les plus chers “, Robert
Badinter se lance, dans son article paru le 19 janvier dans Le Temps,
dans un raisonnement obscur visant a demontrer que la proposition de
loi penalisant la negation du genocide des Armeniens est inapplicable.

Selon lui, la Shoah est d’un degre de reconnaissance juridique
superieure, ayant recu du Tribunal de Nuremberg la qualification de
crime contre l’humanite. C’est oublier que le massacre des Armeniens,
dès le mois de mai 1915,etait qualifie de ” crime contre l’humanite
et les civilisations “par les puissances de l’Entente. C’est oublier
aussi que le juriste polonais Raphaël Lemkin, père de la Convention
de l’ONU de 1948 sur le genocide, avait pris le massacre des
Armeniens comme modèle pour les crimes d’Etat punissables. En outre,
l’incrimination telle qu’elle est prevue dans la proposition de loi,
n’est pas tributaire d’une reconnaissance internationale prealable du
genocide des Armeniens (ref. a l’audition au Senat de V. Coussirat-
Coustère et R. Kalfayan, le 18 janvier 2012).

Le caractère genocidaire du crime commis a l’encontre des Armeniens
fait l’objet d’un consensus general,notammentde la communaute
scientifique internationale, consensus auquel adhère egalement le
droit suisse (ATF 6B_398/2007/rod).

Il faut rappeler que les valeurs protegees par la loi Gayssot,
correspondant a l’article 24 bis de la loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur
la liberte de la presse, sont les memes que celles de la nouvelle
proposition de loi (l’article 24ter modifiant la meme loi de 1881).

Face aux negationnistes dont l’objectif est, selon Christian Godin
(Negationnisme et Totalitarisme, Pleins Feux, 2000), ” de priver les
hommes – et d’abord les descendants de ceux qui ont eu a souffrir le
genocide – de leur memoire “, la loi Gayssot consacre dans le droit un
veritable devoir : celui de proteger l’ordre public, la morale, les
fondements d’une societe democratique et la memoire des victimes. Si
la loi Gayssot est constitutionnelle, alors le nouvel article adopte
par le parlement francais ne peut etre lui aussi que constitutionnel.

Au cours des discussions a l’Assemblee nationale et au Senat, ni
la realite, ni la qualification du genocide des Armeniens n’ont ete
remises en cause. Le nouvel article prevoit de sanctionner ” ceux qui
ont conteste ou minimise de facon outrancière […] l’existence d’un
ou plusieurs crimes de genocide definis a l’article 211-1 du Code
penal et reconnus comme tels par la loi francaise “. Cela signifie
qu’en cas d’incrimination, il reviendrait au Juge d’apprecier si le
crime juge corresponda la definition de genocide donnee a l’article
211-1 du Code penal francais. Curieusement, M. Badinter ne cite
aucunement la reference au Code penal dans son article. Aussi ne
peut-on suivre l’ancien senateur lorsqu’il evoque la violation des
droits fondamentaux que sont les libertes d’opinion et d’expression.

Car la loi sur la presse les restreint depuis plus d’un siècle
et cela n’a fait l’objet, jusqu’a aujourd’hui, d’aucun grief
d’inconstitutionnalite. Parce que le nouvel article serait depourvu
de l’element essentiel d’incitation a la haine que doit comporter la
negation du genocide contre une communaute ou sesmembres, M. Badinter
soutient que la nouvelle proposition de loi n’est pas conforme a
la decision cadre de l’UE de 2008, qui appelle les Etats membres a
transcrire dans leur droit la repression ” de l’apologie, la negation,
ou la banalisation grossière publique des crimes de genocide […].

C’est pourtant ce qui est prevu a l’alinea 2 de l’article 24 de la meme
loi, sans oublier que la dite decision-cadre souligne qu’il appartient
a chaque Etat de decider des modalites d’application de tels principes.

Il n’y a aucun doute que ” chaque projet d’extermination du XXe siècle
constitue un defi au droit “.C’est en partant de cette consideration
de l’ecrivain et philosophe Marc Nichanian(LeDroit et le Fait :
la campagne de 1994, Lignes, n° 26, Editions Hazan, 1995) que j’ai
developpe la presente reflexion. La negation d’un genocide n’est rien
d’autre que le prolongement et l’achèvement du projet d’aneantissement.

Elle fait partie de l’essence meme du crime. La situation deja
insoutenable dans laquelle se trouve le survivant, mais aussi le
descendant d’une generation successive a un genocide, est confrontee
a une entreprise systematique, repetee et universelle de denegation.

C’est la dignite de la personne qui est finalement visee, dans
une claire intention de la degrader (on rappelle ici le principe
constitutionnel de ” sauvegarde de la dignite de la personne humaine
contre toute forme de degradation “, contenu dans le preambule de
la Constitution francaise du 27 octobre 1946). On peut se demander,
après l’intervention de l’ex-garde des Sceaux, si la dignite du peuple
armenien n’en subit pas une degradation intolerable.

J’aimerais conclure sur un point personnel. Depuis Paris, ou j’etais
alle pour assister a la discussion au Senat, j’ai annonce a ma femme
au telephone que la loi avait ete votee, lui expliquant surtout
les thèses des adversaires. Elle m’a stupefait avec cette reponse :
” Pourquoi nous obligent-ils a nous replonger dans notre peine ? On
nous demande toujours de justifier notre presence, notre survivance,
a nous refouler dans nos plaies, rabaissant ainsi notre dignite. Est-ce
que tout cela va s’arreter un jour pour enfin vivre heureux ? ”

Secretaire general du Groupe parlementaire Suisse-Armenie et ancien
president de l’Association Suisse-Armenie

From: Baghdasarian

DEBATE ON RELIGION TAKES OVER POLITICS IN ANKARA

Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 2 2012
Turkey

In response to criticism by the main opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kýlýçdaroðlu, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdoðan asks Kýlýçdaroðlu if he wants to ‘raise atheist generations’

Political squabbles over religion simmered in Ankara yesterday as Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan asserted that raising devout generations
was part of his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) mission.

“Do you expect the conservative democrat AK Party to raise atheist
generations? This may be your business and objective but not ours. We
will raise a generation that is conservative and democratic and
embraces the values and historical principles of its nation,” Erdoðan
said at an AKP gathering.

His remarks came in response to criticism by Republican People’s
Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kýlýçdaroðlu, who had called the premier a
“religion-monger” and accused him of fomenting divisions among people
along religious lines. The row was triggered by the application of
a CHP deputy to the Council of State seeking the cancelation of a
regulation that put graduates of imam-hatip religious high-schools
on equal par with others at university entrance exams.

Brushing aside CHP accusations that the judiciary had become a
government puppet, Erdoðan said constitutional amendments approved
at a referendum in 2010 had marked a “turning point” in reforming
the judiciary. “The judiciary is not under government command. It is
being purified from your militant mentality,” he said.

In a bizarre remark to Kýlýçdaroðlu, he added: “You are now under the
magnifying glass. Every step you make and even every breath you take
is monitored by the nation.”

CHP hits back Erdoðan’s comments triggered an angry response from
the CHP, with the party’s Deputy Group Chair Emine Ülker Tarhan
suggesting Erdoðan’s “anger fits” could be the side effect of his
health problems. “Those are fascist views. He is talking total nonsense
and should change his advisers,” Tarhan told the Hürriyet Daily News.

“He has a society pattern on his mind. They are trying to design
society according to their despotic mentality. Designing the judiciary,
the military and now designing family life – that’s too much, too
much even for the prime minister,” she said.

Tarhan insisted the judiciary had become “an army with a chain of
command” under government control. “But this army will one day hit
them as well. They will lose control of the monster they created.” A
former judge, Tarhan said she was proud to be “a militant of democracy
and judicial independence.”

In further comments yesterday, Erdoðan hailed a move by French
parliamentarians to appeal a law that would outlaw the denial of
Armenian “genocide” but raised alarm over “the sly rise of racism,
xenophobia and Islamophobia” in Europe.

He argued the bill was the product of this phenomenon and called on
the European Union to act. “The European Union must take measures as
a top priority on its agenda,” he said.

From: Baghdasarian

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : KALTENBACH (PS) “CONFIANT”

Europe1

1 Fev 2012
France

Le senateur PS Philippe Kaltenbach se declare mercredi dans un
communique “confiant dans la constitutionnalite” du texte penalisant
la negation des genocides et “regrette” le depôt d’un recours au
Conseil constitutionnel.

Le senateur-maire de Clamart souligne qu’on ne peut “pas accuser
le Parlement de vouloir se muer en tribunal, car c’est seulement
le juge qui sera amene a qualifier juridiquement les faits”. “Des
condamnations ont deja ete prononcees contre des organisateurs du
genocide par des tribunaux turcs entre 1919 et 1921”, souligne-t-il.

From: Baghdasarian

AVRANCHES A L’HEURE ARMENIENNE

la Manche Libre

1 Fev 2012
France

Avec l’exposition “Reflets d’Armenie”, le Scriptorial d’Avranches,
musee des manuscrits du Mont-Saint-Michel est au coeur de l’actualite.

L’Armenie est un pays qui fait couler beaucoup d’encre depuis que la
France a legifere sur le genocide de 1915. Cette loi est d’ailleurs
contestee par plusieurs parlementaires de gauche et de droite qui
ont saisi le Conseil d’Etat. “L’Armenie ce n’est pas que le genocide,
c’est 3 000 ans d’histoire”, a confie le directeur du musee armenien
de France.

Le Scriptorial d’Avranches propose d’en montrer les plus beaux
reflets du 4 fevrier au 6 mai a travers des manuscrits enlumines et
du mobilier liturgique de toute beaute. Ces objets ont ete pretes
en grande majorite par le musee armenien de France. La bibliothèque
nationale de France a confie au musee huit manuscrits originaux.

Raye de la carte pendant 1 000 ans, ce pays du Caucase, a cheval
entre Orient et Occident a su garde intact sa culture. Sa capacite
de resistance reside justement dans l’ecrit et la diffusion de la
langue armenienne qui a forge son identite. Son ciment est la religion.

L’Armenie est le premier pays chretien de l’histoire.

Pratique Vernissage vendredi 3 fevrier a 18h30 au Scriptorial, place
d’Estouteville. Exposition visible jusqu’au 6 mai 2012.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH AMBASSADOR IN PARIS SAYS EXPECTS FRENCH HIGH COUNCIL TO ANNUL DENIAL BILL

Cumhuriyet
Feb 1 2012
Turkey

Turkey’s ambassador in Paris on Tuesday said he expected the French
Constitutional Council to annul a legislation that makes it a crime
to deny Armenian allegations on Ottoman era incidents of 1915.

PARIS- “We have received the result we want. We thank everyone who
extended support. Turkish-French relations could not survive with
such a law. And we expect a positive ruling from the council,” Tahsin
Burcuoglu told the Anadolu Agency.

Earlier Tuesday, French deputies and senators appealed the law to
the French Constitutional Council for annulment.

“We are optimistic and waiting for the 30-day period to expire. The
council had accepted the petition and designated a file number. The
council may appoint a rapporteur next week,” Burcuoglu said.

The law penalizes denial of the Armenian allegations with a prison
term of one year and a fine of 45 thousand euros.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH PREMIER EXPRESSES HIS GRATITUDE TO FRENCH SENATORS

Anadolu Agency
Jan 31 2012
Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) -January 31, 2012 -Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said Tuesday [31 January] that he would like to express his
gratitude to French senators who signed to appeal the law penalizing
denial of the Armenian allegations on the Ottoman era incidents of
1915 adopted at the French Senate.

Signatures of 65 MPs and 72 senators have been collected to appeal
the law at the French Constitutional Council.

Replying to questions of reporters, Erdogan said that he believed
that senators and MPs did what should be done.

French senators appealed the law at the French Constitutional Council
on Tuesday.

The council is expected to make public its decision within a month.

The law penalizes denial of the Armenian allegations with a prison
term of one year and a fine of 45 thousand euros.

From: Baghdasarian