Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

NATIONALIST DEPUTY TARGETS ARMENIAN MEMBER OF WISE MEN WITH RACIST REMARKS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 5 2013

A Turkish nationalist deputy has ferociously criticized the inclusion
of a Today’s Zaman columnist of Armenian descent in the group of
“wise men” tasked with explaining to the public the necessity to
move forward with the settlement process in the hope of ending the
decades-old conflict between the Turkish military and the terrorist
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Balıkesir deputy of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
Ahmet Duran Bulut on Friday criticized the inclusion of Armenians on
the list. It was not immediately clear which people he was referring
to but there is only one person on the list, Etyen Mahcupyan, who
openly identifies himself as Armenian. Bulut ridiculed Mahcupyan,
belittling him and mocking the description of him as “wise.”

“I don’t need the brain of an Armenian. What could an Armenian think
for the Turkish nation? We have Armenian citizens in Turkey. I respect
and love them. But they [the government] appointed those people who
want to take revenge on the Turkish state as wise men,” Bulut said.

The deputy also said he was saddened to see prominent Turkish movie
actor Hulya Kocyigit listed among people he described as “dirty.” He
claimed that the people on the wise men list are “tools” to divide
Turkey and that they are disturbed by the notion of “Turkishness.” He
also labeled most of them as “disabled in their race.”

Members of the wise men group, made up of 62 public opinion leaders,
academics and artists, were announced on Wednesday. The formation of
the “wise men” list sparked debates in the media and among the public.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the common
aim of all people within the commission is the solution of the
Kurdish conflict.

The commission is made up of groups organized on a regional basis and
will be active in seven regions across the country, but its duties
are not yet clear. There will be a chairman, a deputy chairman and
a secretary for each region’s group of wise people.

From: Baghdasarian

ZOHRAB ZOHRABYAN’S CAR ACCIDENT CONNECTED WITH HIS MEMBERSHIP TO PAP? – PRESS SERVICE NEITHER CONFIRMS NOR REFUTES IT

Press service of former MP, Prosperous Armenia party member Zohrab
Zohrabyan released a statement what it said ‘to put an end to the
media outlets forwarding different hypothesis about Zohrabyan’s
health condition.’

Head of Zohrabyan’s press service Naira Harutyunyan says in
the statement that Zohrabyan is in Armenia medical center with
craniocerebral trauma. His condition is stable grave.

“As to the media outlets about the accident being a political order
relating to Zohrabyan’s recent membership to the PAP, we neither
refute nor confirm this information,” the statement runs.

Zohrab Zohrabyan’s car and an Opel Vectra model-car collided with
each other yesterday at 23.50 pm near H. Kochar-Papazyan roads’
crossroad. As a result of the accident three people were transported
to Armenia medical center.

Police are preparing necessary materials.

From: Baghdasarian

THE KOCHARYAN CASE ON PUTIN’S DESK

April 4 2013

The Activities of Anticrime and the Russian Federation Anticorruption
Council Yield Results “We have documents on misappropriation and abuse
of your country’s former and current high-ranking officials. By the
way, we have an agreement that those facts will be submitted to the
high ranking officials of the Russian Federation in the next few days.

It will be done only officially. We will not hide that, particularly
given the fact that this is also about the high-ranking officials of
the Russian Federation who ‘sponsored’ the outflow of dirty money from
Armenia. The Russian Federation is interested in those revelations
and in the return of the money stolen from Armenia, in order that this
money ‘operates’ in your country for solution of the populace’s social
problems,” Marina Galyuchenko, the public relations coordinator of the
Russian Federation Anticorruption Council, said during a conversation
with Aravot. It is also about Robert Kocharyan, a former president
of the Republic of Armenia who was able to accumulate millions in
a short period of time with the “sponsorship” of Russian President
Vladimir Putin and at the expense of the Republic of Armenia. Let us
remind that on December 6, the Motherland and Dignity Party founded
Anticrime, a movement whose goal is to put an end to corruption
in Armenia thanks to revelations. The organization has already been
engaged in certain activities with similar organizations in the Russian
Federation and Europe. “When a former official comes to the Russian
Federation from a small country and immediately opens a huge trade
center and places of entertainment, it means that he invests in the
economy of the Russian Federation the money he has stolen from his
country,” Ms. Galyuchenko says, abstaining for now from naming names,
since she thinks that it will be better, if the investigation reveals
that. By the way, Arbak Khachatryan, a human rights advocate not
unknown in Armenia and the Russian Federation, also dealt with those
issues rather seriously in the past, cooperating with the Russian
Federation Anticorruption Council. “Armenia is a strategic partner
of the Russian Federation, and Russia is concerned about stability,
preventing emigration, and improving the socio-economic situation
in Armenia,” Ms. Galyuchenko says, answering Aravot’s question why
their organization decided to solve the issue of returning money
stolen from the state of Armenia. It is interesting that it is
about the money “misappropriated” by Robert Kocharyan, the second
President of the Republic of Armenia, which he did, by the way, with
the “sponsorship” of the then President of the Russian Federation,
Vladimir Putin. Now the Russian Federation Anticorruption Council is
going to put those documents on the desk of the current President of
the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. We inquired of Ms. Glayuchenko
what logic there was and why Vladimir Putin would decide to confide
and tell about how he sponsored Robert Kocharyan, the President of
the Republic of Armenia, in misappropriating his country’s money in
the past. In any case, our interlocutor thinks that it is the right
path. “We pin hopes on the honesty of the President of the Russian
Federation, since he is elected by the people, and the people expect
an honest answer.

Besides, he has currently started a fight against corruption in the
Russian Federation.” By the way, those facts will also be submitted
to members of an international anticorruption organization, the UN
Secretary General, and if necessary, official petitions will be filed
in the European Court of Human Rights. Ms. Galyuchenko didn’t rule out
that as a result of this process, a list of Armenian functionaries
whose entry into the Russian Federation will be restricted due to
being enmeshed in corruption. “Unfortunately, corruption has become
a lifestyle. Whereas all officials should clearly understand that
they can undergo real punishments in such a case. Such lists are
necessary.” In response to Aravot’s question what steps they would
take, if it came to the current presidents of the countries, if the
arrows of corruption pointed to them, so to speak, Vladimir Mamaev,
the chairman of the Russian Federation Anticorruption Council, said
that there would be a painful conflict with the reality, since there
was the rule of personality in Russia, in particular, not the rule
of law. In this regard, our interlocutor gives the example of France;
as it is known, charges have been laid against Nicolas Sarkozy. Mr.

Mamaev also reminds that Vladimir Putin issued an executive order on
the immunity of the Yeltsin family. It is not ruled out that the next
president will issue an executive order on the immunity of the Putin
family too. “But an executive order is not a law, and everyone is equal
before the law. Unfortunately, we still live in such Russia, where
the law is not dominant. I think that it is the same in Armenia too,”
our interlocutor says. Soon an affiliate of the Russian Federation
Anticorruption Council will be established in Armenia and will try
to expose our former and current government officials, cooperating
with Anticrime. NELLY GRIGORYAN Aravot Daily

Read more at:

© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

From: Baghdasarian

ABDULLAH GUL’S “WARNING” APPEAL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BALTIC COUNTRIES

14:07, 5 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS: At the press conference held at end of
his visit to two Baltic countries Lithuania and Latvia, the President
of Turkey Abdullah Gul made a “warning” appeal to the Baltic countries
concerning the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

As reported by Armenpress, citing the Turkish Cihan News Agency,
Abdullah Gul stated that in the agenda of his visit to Lithuania and
Latvia he brought “some” issues damaging the friendly and cooperative
relations between these three countries. “Some parliaments adopt
decisions on the events of 1915 against Turkey. The governments
of these parliaments have always been against their parliaments’
decisions, announcing that they considered important the friendly
and federative relations with Turkey”, – said the Turkish President.

Abdullah Gul expressed his hope that being European Union member
countries, Lithuania and Latvia would assist Turkey to become a member
of the European Union.

The President of Turkey stated that during the visit to the Baltic
countries he signed an agreement on organization of freight trains
journeys by the Black Sea.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN VILLAGE HEAD’S MURDER MUST HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONAL’S DOING – KARABAKH WAR VETERAN

April 05, 2013 | 12:50

YEREVAN. – We all witnessed the next victim of Armenia’s working
system, the death of our friend in battle. Karabakh war veteran,
Armenia’s opposition Sardarapat movement coordinator Jirair Sefilian
stated this during a press conference on Friday, reflecting on the
murder of Hrach Muradyan, who was the prefect of Proshyan village and
a member of the opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party.

“Being informed about the developments that unrolled during the local
self-government elections of the years past, when Hrach was elected
for a third time, we knew that all elections were held under tension.

In such cases there appear rare people that have the courage to enter
into this system and to maintain their independence; this is the
important reason why Hrach is no longer [with us],” Sefilian said.

But he expressed a hope that the organizers of this murder will be
found in the shortest time, and noted that Muradyan’s murder must have
been the doing of a professional.

“I do not rule out that what happened with Hrach is an attempt to
influence, direct our current situation. The working system is losing
control,” Jirair Sefilian maintained, and did not rule out the
possibility of the factor of external forces-specifically, of the
countries that have interests in the region-in the murder of the
village prefect.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the body of Hrach Muradyan,
with a fatal gunshot wound, was found on Monday near the
administration building of Proshyan village, in Kotayk Region of
Armenia. The regional investigation department instituted criminal
proceedings, and an investigation is underway.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH PRESIDENT WARNS LATVIA AND LITHUANIA AGAINST DECISIONS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

April 05, 2013 | 13:18

Turkish president Abdullah Gul warned Latvia and Lithuania against
making decisions on recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

During his trips to Latvia and Lithuania, Gul told Turkish reporters
that sometimes parliaments make decisions on the 1915 events, Cihan
agency reported.

“Such a decision was made by the parliament [Lithuanian] back in
2005 but the government was against it,” Gul said, noting that the
governments are attaching importance to friendly relations with Turkey.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN’S TACTIC TOWARD ARMENIA’S RULING REGIME IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR OPPOSITION MOVEMENT REPRESENTATIVE

April 05, 2013 | 13:40

YEREVAN. – The key objective of the proposals to Armenia’s authorities
by opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian-who
was declared runner-up to the winner, incumbent President Serzh
Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential election that was conducted
on February 18, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote-is
to carry out the handing over and the assuming of power as softly
as possible. Karabakh war veteran, Armenia’s opposition Sardarapat
movement coordinator Jirair Sefilian noted this during a press
conference on Friday.

But as per Sefilian, Hovannisian’s talks with Sargsyan are meaningless,
“because they do not speak with dictators in that manner; they force
them that they must leave.”

Sefilian also considers this discourse to be detrimental for the
people’s movement.

“The concept of power is extremely negative among a significant part of
the people. I see no meaning in cherishing hopes with this discourse. I
do not accept this tactic of Raffi, but it must be respected because
his intention is very good,” the Karabakh war veteran said.

But he stressed that the current situation cannot continue for too
long and that an end should be put to this on April 9-that is, the day
when President Sargsyan is scheduled to formally swear in for a second
term in office, and also when Hovannisian likewise plans to swear in,
at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square, as Armenia’s new president.

The Sardarapat movement coordinator is confident that Armenia’s
working system is in the process of self-collapse.

“Our task is to think about how we will set up a parallel system
to this collapsing system. If we cannot set up a parallel system,
we will remain under the debris,” Jirair Sefilian concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY DROPS SLANDER SUIT AGAINST HETQ
Kristine Aghalaryan

11:23, April 5, 2013

Shinforum LLC, a company engaged in road and bridge construction,
has dropped its slander suit against Hetq according to a statement
just released by Kentron and Nork-Marash Court Judge Samvel Tadevosyan.

The trial was scheduled to start today but none of the litigants
appeared in court.

Judge Tadevosyan decided to continue the trial in their absence and
announced that Shinforum had informed the court on March 5 that it
wanted to drop the charges against Hetq.

The court will issue its decision on April 15.

Shinforum Director Tigran Gasbaryan had claimed that articles written
by Hetq columnist Daniel Ioannisyan (Fatal Fraud: Tsitsernakaberd
Highway Constructed with Kickbacks), tarnished the reputation of
his company

Gasbaryan had requested that the court obligate Hetq to refute all
“slanderous” information contained in the articles and to pay 2
million AMD in compensation, in addition to 44,000 AMD for state fees.

The articles discuss whether the Tsitsernakaberd Highway, commissioned
by the Yerevan community corresponds to building standards.

From: Baghdasarian

PEOPLE READY FOR EVERYTHING IF SEEING PROSPECT OF FIGHT – ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN

TERT.AM
05.04.13

Coordinator of Sardarapat movement initiative group, commander of
Shushi battalion Zhirayr Sefilyan said at a news conference today
that in case of seeing clear prospect of fight the majority of the
people are ready for everything.

He said April 9 the inauguration day of the president in parallel
with it must also be the day of formation of the authority – not the
day of directing people’s energy to presidential residence, otherwise
the people’s energy will fade away.

“We urge everyone not to sit at home that day. The fight that
started from February 18 is the fight of all of us, we describe it as
liberation fight this time for the creation of Armenian state. You
should not watch how many people gather in the Liberty square. The
majority are ready for everything if seeing a clear prospect of fight,”
Zhirayr Sefilyan said.

Sefilyan considered negotiations with incumbent president Serzh
Sargsyan useless.

“I consider the dialogue with Serzh Sargsyan senseless and harmful for
the movement as people’s attitude toward authorities is very negative.

Raffi has his political culture for fight which I should respect and
at the same time hint,” he said.

Sefilyan noted that he often does not accept Raffi Hovannisian’s
strategy but accepts his caring.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH BANKS NOT IMMUNE FROM SUIT IN U.S. COURTS FOR TAKING OF PROPERTY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

12:21 05.04.2013

On March 26, 2013, a U.S. federal district court in Los Angeles sided
with Armenian plaintiffs in a hard-fought case involving reparations
for land seized from Armenians in Turkey during the Armenian Genocide.

Nearly 15 months after the Turkish Central Bank and T.C. Ziraat
Bankasi, a state-owned agricultural bank, asserted sovereign immunity
and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, the court in a landmark
decision determined that the Banks can be held to answer for the
alleged expropriation of property of Ottoman and Turkish nationals when
the taking is incident to mass human rights abuses, including genocide.

The lawsuit, filed by three descendants of Armenian Genocide
victims in December 2010 under named plaintiff Alex Bakalian, Case
Number 2:10-cv-09596, names as defendants the Republic of Turkey,
the Central Bank of Turkey, and T.C. Ziraat Bankasi. The complaint
accuses the defendants of stealing and then profiting from land that
was illegally seized during the Armenian Genocide, when the Ottoman
Turks drove Armenians from the Adana region of southern Turkey. The
Republic of Turkey never appeared in the case despite being validly
served with the complaint.

The recent decision also applies to a related case, styled as
a purported class action under named class representative Garbis
Davoyan, Case Number 2:10-cv-05636. The Banks filed similar motions
to dismiss in both cases and the court issued a joint opinion focused
on the facts alleged in Davoyan and the separate arguments developed
by the two sets of plaintiffs.

Following long-established rules of immunity recognized by all
nations, U.S. law abrogates the immunity from suit in U.S. courts
that is traditionally afforded to foreign states and their agencies
and instrumentalities in a few limited situations. The court was
not persuaded by arguments that the Banks were not immune from
suit because the allegations concerned commercial activity with a
connection to the United States. The court also rejected an argument
pursued by the Davoyan plaintiffs that the expropriation exception
to the immunity rule applied because the plaintiffs’ ancestors had
effectively been stripped of their Ottoman nationality at the time
of the taking. Rather, the court adopted the Bakalian plaintiffs’
argument that focused on the well-developed body of human rights law
that! has emerged in recent decades and argued successfully that
international law is violated even when a state expropriates the
property of its own nationals, if the taking occurs in the context
of massive human rights abuses. This decision is in line with those
of other federal courts around the country, as well as human rights
treaties that Turkey has signed and ratified.

Although the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case is now established,
the court ultimately determined that both cases should be dismissed
because they presented political questions. That issue is now subject
to appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Center for
Armenian Remembrance informs.

From: Baghdasarian