Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

TURKEY IS WORLD’S TOP JAILER OF JOURNALISTS FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW – CPJ

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), NY
Dec 18 2013

For the second year in a row, our prison census shows, Turkey jailed
more journalists than any other country. The number of journalists
behind bars is 40; down from the 61 reporters in October 2012, and
less than the 49 we recorded on December 1, 2012. Still, Turkey holds
more journalists in custody than Iran, China, or Eritrea.

As a NATO member and a regional leader, Turkey should not belong in
the list of top press jailers. But from the failure to reform its
legislation in a meaningful way to the crackdown on its journalists in
the aftermath of the Gezi Park protests, Turkey has grown increasingly
repressive despite the modest decline in the number of media workers
behind bars.

Many of the journalists released in the months since October 2012 are
still on trial. Among them is Nedim ªener, the Turkish recipient of
our 2013 International Press Freedom Award, who faces up to 15 years
in prison if convicted on charges of supporting an alleged terrorist
plot, Ergenekon.

CPJ has had the opportunity to discuss our concerns with Turkish
officials. In September, the Justice Ministry received a CPJ
delegation; CPJ chairman Sandra Mims Rowe, board member John Carroll,
and executive director Joel Simon met with Justice Ministry official
Kenan Ozdemir and delivered a detailed letter on press freedom issues.

The two parties agreed to exchange information on jailed journalists.

At CPJ’s request, in November, the ministry sent CPJ a tabulated
document – posted for public reference here – detailing the
whereabouts, imprisonment dates, and charges levied against 54 jailed
journalists. Among them were several recent cases of journalists
jailed under the anti-terror legislation. Out of the 54 people listed,
CPJ independently confirmed – through careful perusal of indictments,
press reports, publicly available legal documents, and testimony by
lawyers, colleagues, and the defendants – that 40 of the journalists
were imprisoned for their work. In the 14 remaining cases, CPJ
concluded there was not sufficient information to determine that
the imprisonments were work-related. In those cases, CPJ continues
to investigate.

In his International Press Freedom Award acceptance speech before a
large media audience at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel in November,
Nedim Sener spoke critically of Turkey’s judicial system. Sener is the
author of several books, including an investigation into the unresolved
2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, in which Sener
alleged official involvement. He detailed his own experience – of being
jailed without a verdict for an entire year, then released after an
intense international outcry, but only temporarily. “I am still on
trial and can be imprisoned for 15 more years,” he said. “This is
how Turkish justice works – instead of bringing journalist killers
to trial, journalists are tried as terrorists.”

In the past few years Turkey went from a country considered a regional
hope to one of regional concern, characterized by an increasingly
shrinking space for free expression. Turkey stands at a crossroads,
and it is not yet too late for it to choose a path of democracy
and tolerance over authoritarianism and censorship. It can start by
releasing the 40 journalists in Turkish prisons as of December 1.

From: Baghdasarian

CHARITY EXHIBITION WILL ORGANIZE FOR SYRIAN-ARMENIAN CHILDREN

20:57, 18 December, 2013

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS The Armenian-American Charity
Foundation of “Christmas of Orphans and Disabled Children” of America
will organize a charity exhibition for the Syrian-Armenian children
residing in Armenia and their families in “Aram Khachatryan” concert
hall on January 3. The director of “Philharmonic Center of Armenia”
Laert Movsisyan informed “Armenpress” that the charity fund led by
Hovhannes Balayan carries out such a measure for disabled and orphaned
children already for the 14th time.

“As always, children from orphanages, of disabled and poor families,
as well as needy babies will participate in the festival.

Besides the official greetings, the kids will see the Christmas
performance made by Ashot Ghazaryan School, they will receive gifts
from Santa Claus, will sing, dance and rejoice,” Movsisyan stated.

From: Baghdasarian

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
(former C.D.C.A. Europe)
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 BRUXELLES
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :

European Court of Human Rights ruling a disgrace to Armenian Genocide
victims’ memories; strengthens Turkish extremism and negationism
)

Brussels, 18 December 2013.- The European Court of Human Rights in its
ruling of December 17, 2013 has confirmed that the Armenian Genocide
denial does not constitute a delinquent act. According to it, the
decision adopted by the Court of Lausanne in 2007 condemning Dogu
Perincek, the president of Worker’s Party of Turkey for his
negationist statements violates the principles of freedom of
expression.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy condemns
this statement to its very dangerous extent that preaches impunity in
Europe and clears the way for the denial orchestrated by Ankara and
Baku. Once again, referring to the principles of freedom of
expression, the European Court, by its statement, has made void the
rights for honor and dignity, the protection of Genocide victims and
their descendants.

In the result of such a decision, if it is finalized, Armenians,
trampled and impinged upon their rights will not find a protection and
legal defense in Europe any more. Without an effective justice no one
can confirm what kind of steps will be undertaken by the European
citizens of Armenian origin in search of legal protection. This
statement will enforce Turkish extremism that sees itself encouraged
by this act ` and silence the voices of truth being raised in Turkey.

Moreover, the European Court of Human Rights stating that `the term
genocide does not constitute a consensus’, it equates to Pernicek’s
denialist statement of `Armenian Genocide is an international
lie’. Furthermore, how the ECHR can state that `this issue shall be
distinguished clearly from that of Holocaust denial’? How is it
possible to accept such a differentiation from the highest European
court on Human Rights? The court obviously has misinterpreted its
role, commenting historically and politically proven facts, on
unfounded and extremely oversimplified arguments, without even
consulting the International Genocide Scholars Association, which
unanimously accepted the Armenian Genocide as such. The European
Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, in collaboration with
the French Office of the Armenian Cause and the Armenian National
Committees all over Europe, will enact by all means to object to this
ruling. At present, Switzerland has a period of three months to appeal
against this ruling and ask for an appeal on this. Our efforts now
shall be directed to following the execution of such appeal by Swiss
authorities. For this purpose, the French Office of the Armenian
Cause, has asked for a meeting with the Ambassador of Switzerland in
France. Similar actions will be organized by different Committees of
the Armenian Cause all over the world, in an agreed manner.

#####

From: Baghdasarian

Russian expert says Moscow to have direct border with Armenia
December 18, 2013

YEREVAN, December 18. / ARKA /. A Russian political expert told an
international conference in Yerevan today that Russia and Armenia
would have soon a ‘direct’ border.

According to Mikhail Chernov, deputy director of the Center of
Strategic Situations, when Armenia announced its decision to join the
Customs Union, many people questioned its ability to function as a
full member of the trade bloc because of absence of common border with
any of its members.

However, according to Chernov, this should not worry Armenians because
the current situation would change soon.

“There will be direct border between Russia and Armenia and it is a
matter of the near future. Russia will be linked directly to Armenia
by means of transport and infrastructure facilities,’ he said,
elaborating, that this would be achieved through development of
Trans-Caucasus transport corridors, which were started back by the
Russian Empire and improved by the Soviet Union.

“The main highway that will link the North Caucasus and West
Kazakhstan with the South Caucasus is the Trans-Caucasian Highway.
Now there is a motor road connecting Russian Vladikavkaz with South
Ossetia’s Tskhinvali and stretching further to Armenia. This road
should be upgraded for all types of cargo, including heavy combat
military machines,” he said, according to Novosti Armenia news agency.

He went on to say that a just solution to the South Ossetian issue
would enable Russia a direct access to the South Caucasus, including
Armenia. Chernov added that although South Ossetia is recognized by
Russia as an independent state, there are big questions regarding its
borders.

He said the rights of 30,000 South Ossetians driven out from Trialeti,
a region bordering the predominantly Armenian-populated Javakheti
province in South Georgia, should be restored. According to him, this
applies also to Kazbegi region of Georgia, through which the Georgian
Military Road runs. The changing of Ossetia’s border is related to
development of transport infrastructure, he added.

Thus, he said, Russia would have a direct access to South Caucasus
countries, including Armenia. Chernov underlined that neither of
Russian transport projects involve military scenarios.

From: Baghdasarian

OPPOSITION TO MANDATORY DEDUCTIONS: LAW ON PENSIONS TO TAKE EFFECT NEXT MONTH

Pensions | 17.12.13 | 16:37

Photolure

By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

While trade centers and supermarkets of Armenia enjoy the growing
holiday whirl, several hundred, mostly young, residents of Yerevan
are out ignoring the bitter cold of mid-December, demanding that
authorities listen to them.

The four non-pro-establishment parliament factions filed a motion
to the Constitutional Court (CC) Tuesday demanding to declare
anti-constitutional and to suspend the application the new law on
Mandatory Pension Savings Fund to come into effect January 1, 2014.

Prior to submitting the motion, those citizens of Armenia protesting
against the law marched from Liberty Square to the CC building chanting
‘No to mandatory’, ‘No, No’, ‘Suspension’. The young protestors (the
mandatory pension reform applies to residents under 40 years of age)
delivered speeches urging the CC to resist the country leader’s,
the parliament speaker’s and the prime minister’s pressure, reminding
that all three have publicly spoken for the reform.

Protestors say they cannot trust five percent of their salaries to
the pension funds since January, as they have no hope that the savings
made over years would be returned to them after retirement. They insist
that the reform has to be on voluntary basis, rather than mandatory,
and demand to make the respective change.

Meanwhile pro-establishment forces, adamant in their determination to
not allow postponing the application of the law, claim that the reform
would secure a dignified retirement to the citizens of Armenia. The
President has recently spoken in favor of the controversial reform.

“We want to avoid in the future the poor state of things we have
today, related to the social welfare of elderly people. I see the
reforms as something quite positive, and all those who support it
should show very active involvement,” Serzh Sargsyan stated at the
economy ministry last week.

The CC representative, who accepted the motion filed by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyunn (ARF), Heritage, Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP) and the Armenian National Congress (ANC), said
nothing definite on when the court would consider the motion, since
it had to be studied first.

ARF leader Armen Rustamyan said that the fight would be limited to
the CC, and that if the Court does not satisfy the citizens’ motion
they would resort to other legal means of struggle – protests, rallies.

Heritage faction leader Zaruhi Postanjyan, for example, is suggesting
that a pan-national strike be declared. PAP faction secretary Naira
Zohrabyan expressed a hope that “in this case the usual order from
the top would not be effective and a fair decision will be made”.

From: Baghdasarian

VIDEO COVERAGE & ANALYSES: TURKISH FM DAVUTOGLU’S FAILED DIPLOMATIC SHOW IN YEREVAN & PROTESTS AGAINST TURKEY’S GENOCIDAL POLICIES, CONTINUED

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

Armenian Public Television:

RFE Armenian Service:

A1Plus:

Slaq.am:

Civilnet.am:

Yerkir Media:

Gala TV:

1in.am:

ArmNews:

From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY’S DAVUTOGLU GIVES PARLIAMENT EXPLANATIONS ON HIS STATEMENTS IN ARMENIA

December 16, 2013 | 10:01

Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu stated at his parliament that the problems
with Armenia cannot be solved by making propaganda against one another
behind closed doors.

At the Turkish parliament, Davutoglu responded to the opposition MPs
that criticized him for his statements made during his recent trip to
Armenia and with respect to the events that occurred in 1915, reports.

Haberx website of Turkey.

“I, also as a scholar, believe that history can be built solely within
a fair recollection. We cannot solve [the problems] by continuing to
recite by heart what has become routine.

“Turkey accepts the Azerbaijan-Armenia relations and the situation
in the Caucasus in three points:

“1) Turkey and Armenia, as two neighbors, shall live side-by-side
and respect one another.

“2) The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia shall be settled and
Azerbaijan’ occupied territories shall be liberated.

“3) The Turks and the Armenians, two people that have lived together
for 900 years, shall revive the 900 years of shared recollections
and live as nations that are friendly to each other.

“Our meeting [in Armenia] along the lines of a shared fair recollection
with Armenia and the Armenians is not a crime; it was something that
was needed,” Davutoglu said, in particular.

From: Baghdasarian

OPPOSITION APPEALS HIGH COURT ON PENSION REFORM

Monday, December 16th, 2013

People demonstrated against the controversial pension reform bill
outside the Armenian parliament in Yerevan last week. Dec. 5, 2013.

(Photo: Photolur)

YEREVAN (Yerkir Media)-Calling a government-backed bill on pension
reform unconstitutional the parliamentary blocs of four parties not
represented in the ruling coalition on Monday announced that they
will send an appeal to the Constitutional Court.

A petition to the country’s high court signed by the parliament members
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian National Congress,
Prosperous Armenia Party and Heritage Party was delivered to Speaker
of National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan, who is mandated by law to
transfer it to the Constitutional Court.

A bill to reform Armenia’s pension system, to go into effect on January
1, was passed by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and mandates
that individuals under 40 pay more social security taxes.

Armenia’s efforts to transition to a new system whereby the amount
of pensions will depend on workers’ lifelong contributions to pension
funds has created controversy.

The appeal calls on the Constitutional Court to deem the section of
the bill mandating high taxes as unconstitutional. The authors of
the appeal say the provision is a violation of basic human rights.

The four parties had asked to table the high tax component of the
bill for one year. However, members of the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia did not show up to Parliament to discuss and vote on the
matter. The four parties called the measure unconstitutional.

ARF Parliamentary bloc member Artsvik Minasian announced a protest
march on Tuesday. Protesters will march from Liberty Square to the
Constitutional Court building in support of the appeal to the high
court.

From: Baghdasarian

Hraparak: Civilitas Foundation to open office in Georgia

11:27 – 13.12.13

The Civilitas Foundation, whose name is largely associated with former
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan’s name, is said to have lost part of
its energy after last year’s `money laundering case’.

Citing its sources, the paper claims that the energy has been
transferred to a bigger office founded recently in Istanbul, Turkey.
Another office, the paper says, is going to open in Georgia’s capital
Tbilisi.

Oskanyan, now a lawmaker of Prosperous Armenia, was in Brussels these
days to negotiate the party’s membership in the European Conservatives
and Reformists Group, adds the paper.

It notes further that the Turkish prime minister-led Justice and
Development party has recently joined the group, having suspended its
membership in the European People’s Party.

From: Baghdasarian

Mass & Density

Garen Yeghparian

BY GAREN YEGHPARIAN

Mass is how much stuff there is. Density is how tightly packed the
stuff is. It’s the old `Which weighs more? A pound of feathers or a
pound of lead?’ query. Which, in turn, begs the question, `which one
can have more impact?’

It seems to me there’s a human analogy to this that applies to our
Diaspora’s communities.

We have large and small communities (mass/stuff). Some are compact,
even ghettoized, while others are sparsely populated
(density/tight-packing). But in this analogy, density doesn’t always
measure just the concentration of Armenians living in an area, but how
well organized they are to pursue collective needs.

We need `density’ in the sense of organization. However, we can
probably make do, for brief periods (maximum one generation), with
large `mass’ in our communities. Ideally, we would have mass and
density, but that’s not always possible, nor always desirable.

An example of `mass’ is the Los Angeles area multi-community. Some of
its component areas’ Armenian settlements are both massive and dense
(though not in the organizational sense, just geographically) –
Glendale, Hollywood, North Hollywood. This kind of density is useful
in that identity maintenance is somewhat easier because everyone and
everything – community structures, family, friends, organizations – are
all physically very close, so everyone goes their merry way `being’
Armenian, never having to think about it. But take any one person
familiar with this kind of community and drop them in Nebraska instead
of NoHo, and they’re lost to the Diaspora. That’s because s/he is not
integrated organizationally and awareness-wise into our community,
s/he is just `there’ living, not doing things that are helpful,
participatory, engaged.

Conversely, in places like Houston, where we’ve developed a reasonable
level of organization, despite small numbers, the community does good
work. And that’s in a state like Texas where the political deck is
stacked against us because of oil-based chumminess with Azerbaijan
(among other reasons).

When organized, we can nurture one another and pursue resolution of
our issues and concerns. But one thing we often fail to do, even when
we are `dense’ organizationally, is to develop the AWARENESS it takes
to maintain that very same `density’ so that the next generation can
do the same. How many people do you know who counsel their family
member or friends who are chasing work in the Montanas and Mexicos of
the world, that s/he who is moving should immediately contact the new
locale’s Armenian groups and plug in; or, absent existing groups, to
quickly organize one, and start to educate the political leadership of
the area and establish strong bonds of community with any other
earlier Armenian arrivals in the area.

Look at what non-`massive’ but `dense’ communities such as those in
Racine (Wisconsin), New Orleans, Cyprus, Australia, etc. have achieved
recently or ongoingly either in the political realm or in building and
maintaining community/identity.

Please get involved, that’s the first step to solving any of our
problems. Maybe `involvement’ can be your New Year’s resolution two
weeks from now.

From: Baghdasarian