Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LES KURDES SYRIENS PROCLAMENT L’EGALITE HOMME-FEMME, UN PIED DE NEZ AUX JIHADISTES

SYRIE

Les autorites locales aux commandes dans les regions kurdes de Syrie
ont promulgue un decret garantissant aux femmes les memes droits que
les hommes, a rapporte une ONG qualifiant l’initiative “d’affront”
a leurs ennemis jihadistes.

Les femmes et les hommes doivent etre “egaux (…) dans tous les
aspects de la vie publique et privee”, proclame le texte publie
mercredi sur la page Facebook des autorites kurdes dans la province
d’Hassaka.

Les Kurdes presents dans le nord-est de la Syrie sont parvenus a
instaurer une sorte d’autonomie a la faveur du conflit declenche
en mars 2011. Ils edictent leurs propres règles qui s’appliquent a
toutes les populations –y compris arabes– dans les trois “cantons”
constituant cette region autonome, non reconnue par le regime de Damas.

Le decret balaye une serie de droits allant de l’interdiction de se
marier avant 18 ans, ou contre son consentement, aux conditions de
travail et remunerations qui doivent etre egales a celles des hommes
en passant le conge maternite garanti jusqu’au troisième enfant.

Il condamne egalement les “crimes d’honneur”, les “violences et
discriminations” contre les femmes et interdit la polygamie.

Enfin, le decret garantit aux femmes les memes droits que les hommes
en matière d’heritage et pour se porter temoin devant les tribunaux.

Selon l’Observatoire syrien des droits de l’Homme (OSDH), les femmes
kurdes syriennes ne touchaient jusqu’alors aucun heritage.

Ce decret est “un affront aux lois passees par le groupe Etat islamique
(EI) qui sont extremement discriminatoires a l’egard des femmes”,
a estime le directeur de l’OSDH Rami Abdel Rahmane.

Depuis 2013, les combats font rage entre Kurdes et jihadistes dans le
nord-est de la Syrie. La ville kurde de Kobane situee a la frontière
turque, est devenue le symbole de cette rivalite et plus de 1.000
personnes ont peri, en majorite des jihadistes, depuis le debut en
septembre de l’offensive de l’EI sur cette localite.

“Alors qu’ils combattent les jihadistes, les Kurdes veulent aussi
envoyer un message a la communaute internationale pour montrer qu’ils
embrassent une culture democratique et en faveur des droits civiques”,
a assure M. Abdel Rahmane, alors que les combattants kurdes de Kobane
sont soutenus par des frappes de coalition internationale.

Le nouveau decret constitue “une etape majeure pour la region, dont
la societe tribale a longtemps ete regulee par des moeurs sociales
conservatrices”, a-t-il ajoute.

lundi 10 novembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

The Fresno Bee, CA
Nov 7 2014

Valley Voices: Fresno State student explores her Armenian birthright

By Marine Vardanyan

Birthright Armenia. Those two words represent a program that is beyond
description.

Last summer, I had the amazing opportunity of experiencing Armenia in
its entirety — not as a tourist, but as an Armenian, returning to her
roots on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.

Birthright Armenia helped make my dream into a reality — to return to
Armenia with a purpose. I wanted to immerse myself into the Armenian
life and build connections with young Armenians who share the same
love, faith and vision for the country.

Birthright Armenia is a program that empowers young diasporans, ages
20-32, to travel to Armenia as interns and volunteers in their desired
fields. Not only does Birthright Armenia connect the participants to
internships, but it also provides opportunities to gain unique insight
into Armenia through forums, socials, community service projects,
language lessons, and excursions.

>From meeting with Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, to visiting the
21st century Ayb School, to cleaning up a park in Hrazdan and driving
a tractor with a wagon full of Birthrighters through a village in
Karabakh, Birthright Armenia truly made my summer an adventure full of
bright memories and new lessons.

An incredibly special part of my experience was meeting and connecting
with volunteers from all over the world, ranging from Germany, Egypt,
Argentina and more. We danced together, sang together and learned
together.

I encountered both Armenians and non-Armenians with fascinating
stories and backgrounds, each unique, yet sharing the same passion for
making a difference in Armenia. My journey with Birthright Armenia
gifted me with long-lasting friendships that I will forever cherish.

Birthright Armenia also connected me to CivilNet, an organization that
provides online advocacy news and journalism in Armenian and English,
covering local, regional, and international stories.

As an intern, I was given the opportunity to work on a variety of
assignments alongside journalists such as Maria Titizian and Salpi
Ghazarian.

Every morning, I awoke with excitement for what awaited me at my job.
I strolled down Tumanyan Street towards Northern Avenue, happily aware
of the sunlight, of the tall buildings, and active life surrounding
me. The assortment of tasks, the spontaneity of each workday and the
atmosphere of the office made CivilNet an ideal place that I grew to
love dearly.

On my first day, I was sent out to cover a protest at the Afrikyans
Home, a historic site that the municipality recently demolished.

On my second day, I translated an Armenian video report about the
border-village of Chinari, which regularly experiences Azerbaijani
gunfire, and recorded the English voice-over. Afterward, a viewer
donated $3,000 to the family featured in the video.

I translated numerous articles and helped with several news stories.
Some involved going out of town, for example, to a village in Armavir
province for a first-aid class and to the village of Teghut in the
province of Lori.

CivilNet welcomed me with open arms and made my internship an
eye-opening experience.

My assignments, interactions, and adventures allowed me to uncover the
issues in Armenia along with gaining real-life experience in
journalism.

Birthright Armenia has much to offer, however, it is how one takes
advantage of the opportunities that produces the unforgettable and
amazing experiences.

To all my Armenian peers, I encourage you to look into this program.
Allow yourself to be inspired, expose yourself to the new and unknown,
and trust in your ability to make a difference.

Whether it’s for a few weeks or a few months — do yourself a favor by
joining Birthright Armenia. I promise that you will not be
disappointed.

Marine Vardanyan is a Fresno State senior majoring in public health
and minoring in Armenian studies and mass communications and
journalism. She is the president of the Armenian Students
Organization, editor for the Hye Sharzhoom student newspaper and radio
host for the 90.7 KFSR Hye Oozh Show. She was born in Armenia and was
graduated from Duncan Polytechnic High School in Fresno.

From: Baghdasarian

PR Newswire Europe
November 7, 2014 Friday 8:45 AM EST

Treat us with ‘More Respect’ for Better European Cooperation,
Azerbaijan Tells Euronest PA

BRUSSELS, November 7, 2014

The Chairman of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Euronest
Parliamentary Assembly says his nation remains committed to European
cooperation but must be treated as an “equal partner, with more
respect” for it to be achieved.

Elkhan Suleymanov was speaking at a meeting of the Political Affairs,
Human Rights and Democracy Committee of the Euronest PA, at which he
was outnumbered by six Armenian MPs, including the chairperson Naira
Zohrabyan.

“Thus they tried to interrupt my speech, monopolised the discussion,
and constantly blocked my attempts to elicit obvious answers on key
subjects from the European speakers,” he later noted.

He told the meeting that while Azerbaijan has had its territorial
integrity violated like its Eastern Partnership neighbours Moldova,
Georgia and Ukraine; it does not get the same level of respect as
those nations, nor the time to discuss this issue at Euronest PA.

“Azerbaijan wants more cooperation with the EU, maybe a new treaty,
but only if the EU treats it more like an equal partner, with more
respect and invests more in its security,” Suleymanov said.

“If this institution doesn’t discuss the most important problems of
the member states and makes no effort for their resolution, then the
perspectives of this institution are obscure,” he added.

He told the meeting that while Russia has endured European sanctions
over its military role in Ukraine, Armenia remains unaffected by such
measures despite occupying Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding
Azerbaijani territories for more than two decades.

And on the topic of Russia and its regional influence, Suleymanov said
Armenia must be ruled out of any future European treaty talks of its
own, given it last month signed Moscow’s Customs Union Treaty, which
makes it “incompatible with further cooperation with the EU”.

The wide-ranging committee meeting also touched on the criminal case
against Azerbaijan activist Leyla Yunus with Armenian MP Alexander
Arzoumanyan, who called her a very close friend and “sister”.

“I immediately mentioned that Leyla Yunus was accused of treason and
was investigated for facilitating the leaking of Azeri secrets to
Armenia and Arzoumanyan’s words prove this fact,” Suleymanov said
later.

Azerbaijan maintains it is committed to European integration and, in
the past six months, Baku has signalled its preference for a strategic
modernization partnership with Europe.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
Le trafic de passagers à travers les aéroports de l’Arménie s’élève à
632 000 personnes

Le trafic de passagers par les aéroports Zvartnots d’Erevan et Shirak
de Giumry a augmenté de 34,6% à 632 000 personnes entre mai et
jJuillet, par rapport à la même période de l’année 2013 vient de
signeler le département de l’aviation civile d’Arménie.

La politique > a conduit de nouvelles compagnies
aériennes à venir sur le marché arménien d’où la croissance du trafic
passagers.

samedi 8 novembre 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

HAUT KARABAGH
Les forces internationales d’interposition ne sont pas nécessaires au
Haut Karabagh selon le président de l’Assemblé nationale d’Arménie

Il n’y a aucune utilité à l’envoi des forces internationales
d’interposition et de Paix au Haut Karabagh a affirmé le 7 novembre
lors d’une conférence de presse le Président de l’Assemblée nationale
d’Arménie, Kaloust Sahakian.
From: Baghdasarian

CAUSE ARMENIENNE-ETATS UNIS
Plus de 95% de succès au Congrès américain pour les candidats soutenus
par le bureau de la Cause arménienne

Lors des dernières élections de mi-mandat des deux chambres du Congrès
des Etats-Unis qui se sont déroulées le 4 novembre les candidats
soutenus par le Bureau de la Cause Arménienne (Hay Tad) des Etats-Unis
ont étés élus à plus de 95%. Parmi ces derniers le sénateur Robert
Dole, un fervent défenseur de la Cause arménienne et qui était il y a
quelques années le responsable du groupe des sénateurs Républicains
favorables à la Cause arménienne. « Ces dernières élections sont une
joie pour le Comité Américain de la Cause arménienne » dit le
responsable du bureau de Hay Tad (Cause arménienne) des Etats-Unis,
Aram Hamparian. Selon ce dernier son organisation a soutenu activement
en investissant des moyens importants en faveur de ces candidats élus
au Congrès américain. Aram Hamparian affirme également que le bureau
du Hay Tad se prépare déjà aux soutiens pour les élections
présidentielles américaines de 2016.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 8 novembre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
November 7, 2014

USC INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES
Contact: Salpi Ghazarian/Director
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 213.509.7109

THE MANY TRUTHS OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Harout Ekmanian, a Syrian-Armenian journalist, will be the guest of
the USC Institute of Armenian Studies at a lunchtime conversation to
be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, at 12 pm at the Tutor Campus
Center (TCC) 450 Forum, on campus.

Entitled “The Many Truths of the Middle East,” Harout will speak about
the difficult task facing anyone studying the modern Middle East, at
any time, and especially now, as violence rages across borders and
among communities who have forged bonds and lived together in the same
state for decades or centuries. USC Professor Sandy Tolan, a
journalist who teaches at the USC Annenberg School for Communication
and Journalism, will be guiding the discussion.

Harout is a journalist who had worked with Arab and western media for
years prior to the beginning of the war. He has lived in Armenia for
over three years and works in various capacities at CivilNet.TV, an
Internet television that serves as a platform for discourse on issues
facing Armenia and the region. Harout produces reports on and from
Turkey and the Arab Middle East, focusing on inclusive regional
dialogue among experts and stakeholders, including Armenians, Turks,
Kurds and Arabs. During the conflict, he traveled to Syria, including
the border with Turkey, reporting on refugees from northern Syria. He
has a broad perspective on old and new struggles for identity and
dominance in the region.

Sandy Tolan is a journalist whose book The Lemon Tree presented a
nuanced, intimate look at the complex struggles and adversities that
have come to define the Middle East generally, and Israeli-Arab
relations specifically. He has produced many programs from the
region. He teaches Radio Journalism at the USC Annenberg School for
Communication and Journalism.

Salpi Ghazarian, the director of the USC Institute of Armenian
Studies, says, “We invite the community to the USC campus for this
program. This, like our previous lunchtime programs, is not a
lecture. It’s a conversation between two people who have spent many
years writing about the Middle East, trying to explain past and
present challenges, and the search for peace. Understanding their
work is critical to understanding that intractable-seeming part of the
world which is increasingly closer and closer to us.”

Lunch will be served.

The event will be live streamed at:

Directions and parking information:

We advise guests to park in Parking Structure D, which is located on
the corner of Jefferson and Figueroa (across from the Shrine). See
attached map for the location of the event (Tutor Campus Center, TCC
450, Forum).

Please call 213.821.3943 if you have any questions regarding the
event, including parking and directions.

About the Institute
Established in 2005, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies supports
multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the
complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience –
from post-Genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the
evolving Diaspora. The institute encourages research, publications and
public service, and benefits from communication technologies that link
together the global academic and Armenian communities.

###

From: Baghdasarian

More human trafficking victims turn to police – official

14:46 * 09.11.14

Armenia has in recent years recorded progress in human trafficking
control, Colonel Tigran Petrosyan told Tert.am.

“I would like to note non-government organizations’ role. When people
see NGOs cooperating with the police, they feel more confident in
turning to the police,” he said.

More people are turning to the police now.

“Even people who are not trafficking victims arrive in Yerevan from
Armenia’s region to turn to specialized police departments,” Mr
Petrosyan said.

“Victims of sexual exploitation avoid publicity in their homeland.
They think they are to blame, without considering the fact they were
forced into prostitution. This is the main obstacle, but the police do
not disseminate confidential information because it is a legal
requirement,” he said.

Mr Petrosyan said that media outlets sometimes create problems by
making the data on victims available to the public.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIDJAN
Revue de la presse azerbaïdjanaise du 1er au 10 octobre 2014

Relations internationales

La presse officielle du 3 octobre couvre la tenue du IV ème Forum
international humanitaire de Bakou ainsi que l’intervention du
président Ilham Aliyev. Mme Valentina Matvienko, Présidente du Conseil
de la Fédération de l’Assemblée fédérale de Russie a prononcé un
discours et a lu un message de félicitation du président russe
Vladimir Poutine adressé au Chef de l’Etat azerbaïdjanais. Lors de son
discours, le président Aliyev a accusé les organisations
internationales et en particulier l’ONU d’adopter une position de
doubles standards dans la résolution du conflit du Haut -Karabakh.

Le président Aliyev s’est rendu à Minsk pour participer à la réunion
du Conseil des chefs d’Etat des pays membres de la CEI. 10.10.2014

La presse azerbaïdjanaise rend compte de la nomination du député
britannique Robert Walter, lors de la session du comité des questions
politiques de l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe, comme
rapporteur spécial pour les questions sur le Haut Karabakh. Bizim yol
cite les commentaires d’Elkhan Souleymanov, membre de la délégation
azerbaïdjanaise auprès de l’APCE : >
525-ci gazet, Yeni Musavat. 2.10.2014.

Azadlig consacre sa Une à la déclaration adoptée par le Parlement
azerbaïdjanais en protestation à la résolution du Parlement européen
adoptée le 18 septembre à Strasbourg sur la situation des droits de
l’homme et de la démocratie en Azerbaïdjan. Selon le président du
Parlement azerbaïdjanais, M. Oqtay Asadov et les parlementaires cette
résolution n’est pas objective.

La presse d’opposition couvre l’intervention du ministre
azerbaïdjanais des Affaires étrangères, M. Elmar Mammadyarov lors de
la session d’octobre de l’APCE à Strasbourg le 2 octobre. Selon les
journaux, au début du discours du ministre azerbaïdjanais un groupe de
réfugiés azerbaïdjanais a brandi des bannières demandant la libération
des prisonniers politiques en Azerbaïdjan. Yeni Musavat, à son tour,
écrit un article intitulé : s’intitulant : et de l’ancien
ambassadeur en Azerbaïdjan, M. Richard Kozlaritch.

Politique intérieure

Bakinski rabotchi couvre la tenue de la réunion du Cabinet des
ministres présidée par le Chef de l’Etat azerbaïdjanais, Ilham Aliyev,
consacrée au bilan du développement socio-économique de ces neuf
derniers mois et aux projets d’avenir. > a affirmé le président. Le
ministre des Finances, M. Samir Sharifov, le ministre de l’Ecologie et
des Ressources naturelles, M. Huseyngoulou Baguirov, le ministre de la
Jeunesse et des Sports, M. Azad Rahimov ont également présenté leurs
rapports. Le ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports a parlé de la
préparation d’une > pour la
même période.

Yeni Musavat, à son tour, reprend en titre : > 10.10.2014

Le Conseil national des forces démocratiques a annoncé l’organisation
d’une manifestation le 12 octobre en faveur de la libération des
prisonniers politiques et de l’arrêt des répressions. Concernant le
lieu, une demande d’autorisation a été envoyée à la marie de Bakou qui
a été accordée : la manifestation a eu lieu au Stade > près
du métro >. 1.10.2014

Les activistes de NIDA, actuellement en prison, ont adressé une lettre
au Président Aliyev demandant leur libération. Azadlig, Bizim yol,
Ekho 1.10.2014

Azadlig rend compte de la fermeture > entre Bourg -Les -Valence et
Shusha, ville azerbaïdjanaise sous occupation arménienne. Selon le
porte-parole du MAE azerbaïdjanais, M. Hikmet Hajiyev l’action de
l’élue est une violation de la loi azerbaïdjanaise, et toute signature
d’un accord avec ce régime illégal créé par les Arméniens est de fait
une négation de l’activité du groupe de Minsk et de la loi française.
Ekho, Ekspress, 525-ci gazet.

Les journaux reprennent l’information diffusée par APA, agence de
presse sur la rencontre des présidents azerbaïdjanais et arménien à
l’initiative du président François Hollande prévue le 27 octobre à
Paris. >, a déclaré
l’ambassadeur de France en Arménie, M. Henri Reynaud. Ekspress,
Azadlig, 525-ci qazet du 10 octobre.

Ekspress rend compte de la signature d’un accord de partenariat dans
le domaine de la production des vins entre les villes de Chablis et de
Göygöl, en présence du maire de Chablis Patrick Gendraud, et de celui
de Goygol, Arif Seyidov. Le journal mentionne les propos du président
du Conseil général de l’Yonne selon lesquels cette coopération est
très prometteuse.

Ekspress, titre : >. Enagas,
opérateur gazier espagnole a récemment rejoint le projet de gazoduc
Transadriatique (TAP). 1.10.2014

Le prix Nobel de littérature a été attribué au romancier français
Patrick Modiano. Ekspress 10.10.2014

Ambassade de France à Bakou

dimanche 9 novembre 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

FORMER ISTANBUL POLICE CHIEF SUMMONED TO TESTIFY IN DINK MURDER TRIAL

Cihan News Agency (CNA), Turkey
November 6, 2014 Thursday

Ä°STANBUL (CÄ°HAN)- Former Ä°stanbul Police Chief Celalettin
Cerrah has been summoned to testify in the trial into the murder
of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, a Dink family lawyer
has stated.

Dink was assassinated in broad daylight outside the office of his
Agos newspaper on Jan. 17, 2007.

Hakan Bakırcıoglu, one of the family’s lawyers, told the Cihan
news agency that Cerrah and several other public officials have been
summoned to testify in the trial.

Nine public officials, including former Ä°stanbul Deputy Governor
Ergun Gungör and Cerrah, are facing an investigation on charges of
negligence in Dink’s murder.

The lawyers of Dink’s family filed a complaint in 2011 with the
Ä°stanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Gungör; Cerrah; the
former chief of the Ä°stanbul Police Department’s intelligence unit,
Ahmet İlhan Gungör; and six other police officers on the grounds
that those public officials were negligent because they failed to
prevent Dink’s murder.

After the complaint, the chief public prosecutor’s office applied to
the Ä°stanbul Governor’s Office to ask for permission to investigate
those listed public officials. However, the governor’s office did not
give this permission to the prosecutor’s office. After the governor’s
office’s decision, the prosecutors decided not to prosecute.

However, the Dink family filed an appeal with the Bakırköy 8th High
Criminal Court to annul the decision not to prosecute. On May 21 of
this year, the Bakırköy court decided to cancel the prosecutor’s
office’s decision not to prosecute.

After the decision of the high criminal court, the Ä°stanbul Chief
Public Prosecutor’s Office applied to the Justice Ministry, requesting
that the Supreme Court of Appeals’ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office
appeal the verdict of the Bakırköy 8th High Criminal Court’s.

The Justice Ministry rejected this request, opening the way for an
investigation into the public officials against whom the Dink family
originally filed the criminal complaint.

Dink was shot and killed by an ultra-nationalist teenager seven years
ago. The hit man, Ogun Samast, and 18 others were brought to trial.

During this time, the lawyers for the Dink family and the co-plaintiffs
in the case presented evidence indicating that Samast did not act
alone. Another suspect, Yasin Hayal, was given life in prison for
inciting Samast to murder. However, Erhan Tuncel, who worked as an
informant for the Trabzon Police Department and was the man accused
of initiating the effort to have Dink murdered, was found not guilty
of the murder.

From: Baghdasarian