Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

OBSERVATIONS ON SYRIA FROM HATAY’S VAKıFLı VILLAGE

Today’s Zaman
Sept 10 2012
Turkey

HASAN KANBOLAT

I was in the village of Vakıflı in the Samandagı district of Hatay,
the only predominantly Armenian village in Turkey. It is situated
along the edges of Musa Mountain.

Over time, it has become part of Samandagı. We had to travel a few
kilometers along the road from the city center to Vakıflı village.

Traveling to Musa Mountain, we are amazed by the glorious trees around.

Orange, lemon and tangerine syrups and beverages are served in a
coffeehouse owned by Garbis in Vakıflı village. The summer breeze
coming from the Mediterranean Sea adds a different flavor to our chat.

Bogos Silahlı, who worked as a philosophy teacher in İstanbul,
is getting ready to organize the fourth of the philosophy days event
in May 2013. He has already identified the major theme: “Ethics and
human rights in food and nutrition.” I asked him whether he considered
focusing on the Middle East or Syria in the philosophy days; he replied
calmly, saying that he did not want to get involved in politics.

Despite its declining population, Vakıflı is becoming extremely
important because it is the only predominantly Armenian village in
Turkey. The village is being restored according to its original look
and architecture. The population of the village is still declining.

The young people of the village are leaving to study or work
elsewhere. The average age of the people in the village is around
60-70. The school is shut down because there are no children of school
age. You see old people in the streets of the village. But you can
also see luxury cars with plates indicating that the drivers have come
from elsewhere. People who have settled in other countries and cities
spend their vacations in Vakıflı. The population of the village rises
from 135 to 2,000 in summertime. The parents of Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
the first president of Armenia, are from Vakıflı. They moved from
Vakıflı to Syria and then to Armenia.

The recently constructed airport in Hatay, the transformation of
Antioch into a tourist destination, the improvement in Turkey’s
relations with Mideast countries and the lifting of visa requirements
between Turkey and Syria and Lebanon have attracted tourist attention
to Vakıflı. For this reason, a number of social facilities and
pensions have been built for accommodation purposes. However, the
village has been negatively affected by the deteriorating relations
with Syria and the domestic war in this country. The number of tourists
in Vakıflı has declined significantly. The villagers are worried
because of the situation in Syria and the recent Armenian migration
from Syria to Armenia. They do not want to talk about what is going
on in Syria. In general, they hold that the imperialist powers want
to make things worse in the country. They believe that there will be
no peace in Syria regardless of what Bashar al-Assad does.

The church plays a crucial role in Vakıflı. The building was
constructed in 1890. It was transformed into a church in 1924; in
1996, it was completely demolished and reconstructed based on its
original. The church is a good example of stone labor. The two parallel
towers make the church different from others. Surp Asdvadzadzin is
celebrated every second Sunday in August. Local food is cooked in
the yard of the church during the event. In particular, keshkek is
cooked in seven huge cauldrons. Seven has a symbolic meaning. Each
cauldron represents one of the seven Armenian villages: Yogunoluk,
Bityas, Kebusiye, Hıdırbey, Hacıhabipli, Azir and Vakıflı.

Vakıflı hosts a huge number of guests from Armenia, Syria, Lebanon,
the US and other countries during the event.

Despite the clashes in Syria, the event was held peacefully this year.

From: Baghdasarian

Agence France Presse
5 septembre 2012 mercredi 11:56 AM GMT

Ankara interpelle Paris sur le génocide arménien dans les manuels d’histoire

ISTANBUL 05 sept 2012

La Turquie a interpellé les autorités françaises sur l’insertion dans
certains manuels scolaires d’histoire français de détails sur le
génocide arménien, dénonçant des “allégations qui ne reflètent pas la
réalité”, a rapporté mercredi l’agence de presse turque Anatolie.

L’ambassade de Turquie à Paris a transmis une note diplomatique au
ministère français des Affaires étrangères et une lettre au ministère
de l’Education pour se plaindre de la place plus grande accordée cette
rentrée dans les manuels de collège et de lycée au génocide arménien
de 1915-1917, selon Anatolie.

Dans ces courriers cités par l’agence, la Turquie exprime “sa réaction
face à des allégation qui ne reflètent pas la réalité et sont
enseignées de manière partisane dans les manuels d’histoire”.

Les affirmations de ces ouvrages “ne sont pas fondées sur des données
impartiales” et “accordent de la place à des faux documents”, ajoutent
ces messages signés par l’ambassadeur turc en France Tahsin Burcuoglu.

Les courriers évoquent également un malaise provoqué par ces manuels
chez les familles d’origine turque vivant en France et qui ont des
enfants scolarisés dans les écoles françaises.

Sollicité par l’AFP, le ministère turc des Affaires étrangères n’était
pas immédiatement disponible pour commenter ces messages.

La Turquie reconnaît des massacres d’Arméniens en 1915-1917 –elle
parle de 500.000 tués– dans les territoires alors administrés par
l’empire ottoman, dont elle est l’héritière, mais récuse le terme de
génocide. Les Arméniens avancent le chiffre de 1,5 million de morts
dans un génocide.

Selon l’édition anglaise du quotidien pro-gouvernemental Zaman, Ankara
déplore notamment des références dans les manuels français à des
télégrammes attribués à un des dirigeants ottomans de l’époque, Talat
Pacha, qu’elle considère comme des faux.

Les relations franco-turques sont émaillées de crises à répétition
depuis l’adoption en 2001 par le Parlement français d’une loi
reconnaissant le génocide arménien, suivie de tentatives législatives
avortées pour en réprimer la négation.

La dernière en date, adoptée en décembre 2011 par le Parlement avec le
soutien du précédent président français Nicolas Sarkozy a été
invalidée en février par le Conseil constitutionnel.

Son successeur François Hollande a cependant confirmé en juillet son
engagement à pénaliser la négation du génocide arménien. Selon une
association arménienne de France, un projet de loi serait présenté à
l’automne par le gouvernement français.

From: Baghdasarian

Articolotre
3 settembre 2012

Hitler il Turco

di Urbano Tozzi

Probabilmente Adolf Hitler fu uno dei carnefici più convinti della
nostra storia moderna.

Tuttavia chi pensa che sia l’inventore delle deportazioni o degli
eccidi di massa forse non è bene informato.

Precedentemente furono i Turchi che nel 1915 condussero alla morte un
numero imprecisato di Armeni. Chi dice 800 mila, chi un milione.
Insomma al di la del numero, che costituisce un fatto agghiacciante
per se stesso, la furia turca si abbattè sull’etnia Armena.

Ricordiamo i 30 mila morti del 1909 e prima ancora i 50 mila del 1896.

Storiograficamente tale eccidio si inserisce nella logica di lotta
religiosa e di potere tra Turchi ottomani e Armeni Ortodossi. Tra i
Turchi e la minoranza Armena sostenuta dal vicino sovietico.

Insomma la storia ci ricorda spesso che gli eccidi sono una soluzione
sommaria ad un problema etnico, che è sempre un problema di religione
e di potere.

Gli eccidi di Hitler furono dedicati agli ebrei, centro economico
sovranazionale da contrastare, i Turchi verso la minoranza Armena rea
di avere altra religione ed altri appoggi.

Tale scempio avvenne nelle logiche degli innocenti.

Abbiamo negli occhi, da fotografie scattate all’epoca, tanti volti di
bambini, ebrei, armeni o in tempi più recenti Iugoslavi di diverse
etnie. Guardare fa male, ma non ricordare è peggio.

Pensare che da una recente indagine, solo un tedesco su cinque sotto i
trent’anni ha notizie dell’olocausto ad Auschwitz. Per gli altri 4
tutto ciò non è mai successo.

Per questo ha senso il giorno della memoria. Senza memoria il passato
è passato invano. Noi ne stiamo parlando proprio perché nessuno mai ne
perda la memoria.

Nemmeno quelle frange di estremismo filonazista che stanno agitando i
propri vessilli nella moderna Europa e che, fidatevi, prima o poi lo
faranno anche da noi.

From: Baghdasarian

Monte Carlo News
7 settembre 2012

L’arcivescovo della Chiesa apostolica armena, Karekin II, a Nizza

Venerdì sarà ricevuto a Villa Massena. Domenica 9 settembre alle 11h30
l’Arcivescovo Karekin II, celebrerà una messa nella Basilica di Notre
Dame

Si svolge oggi a Nizza un ricevimento per l’arcivescovo della Chiesa
apostolica Chiesa Apostolica Armena, il Catholicos Karekin II. Si
tratta della sua seconda visita (un’altra avvenne nel 2001) ed
riceverlo a Villa Massena ci sarà il sindaco Christian Estrosi, Viguen
Tchitechian ambasciatore d’Arménia in Francia e molte personalità
armene e nizzarde.

Così continuano i legami di amicizia tra Nizza ed Armenia, la regione
azzurra conta circa 6.000 francesi di origini armene, principalemente
concentrati nella “petite cité arménienne” in cima a boulevard de la
Madeleine. Ma a legare Armenia e Nizza c’ anche il gemellaggio dal
2007 con Erevan, capitale dell’Armenia, sviluppando cooperazione degl
ambiti dell’educazione, della fracofonia, dell’insegnamento, del
turismo e della valorizzazione del patrimonio. Da citare anche la
stele « Roupen Sevag », che Nizza ha eretto nello scorso settembre in
ricordo delle vittime del genocidio del 1915.

Domenica 9 settembre 2012 alle 11h30 l’Arcivescovo Karekin II,
celebrerà una messa nella Basilica di Notre Dame di Nizza (avenue Jean
Médecin).

From: Baghdasarian

BIAnet.org, Turkey
Sept 6 2012

Demonstrators Protest Release of Turkish-Armenian Soldier’s Killer

Human rights activists spearheaded by the Nor Zartonk Initiative
gathered in Istanbul’s Taksim Square to protest the release of Kıvanç
AÄ?aoÄ?lu pending trial, prior to the deliverance of the final verdict.
AÄ?aoÄ?lu had shot Sevag Balıkçı, a Turkish citizen of Armenian origin,
to death while they were performing their mandatory military service.

Ekin KARACA

Human rights activists spearheaded by the Nor Zartonk Initiative
gathered in Istanbul’s Taksim Square to protest the release of Kıvanç
AÄ?aoÄ?lu pending trial, with only days left before the deliverance of
the final verdict in the Martial Court of the Diyarbakır Second Air
Force Command on Sept. 7.

The demonstrators commemorated the death of Sevag Balıkçı who died
after private Kıvanç AÄ?aoÄ?lu fired his rifle while they were both
performing their mandatory military service on April 24, 2011.

Around 500 demonstrators began marching toward Galatasaray Square at
19:00 behind a banner that read “Militarism kills.”

Sevag Balıkçı’s family also attended the demonstration along with
anti-war and human rights activists.

The protesters chanted slogans in Turkish, Armenian and Kurdish
throughout the entire march.

“We are all Sevag, we are all Armenians,” “The murderous state will be
called to account,” “Do not enlist in the military, do no spill a
brother’s blood,” “Sevag, we will not forget you,” “Never to kill or
die, never to become anyone’s soldier,” “Long live the brotherhood of
peoples,” the demonstrators shouted.

The attendants also highlighted the fact that Balıkçı’s death
coincided with the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and
rebuffed claims that the incident was merely an accident caused by a
stray bullet.

“Being an Armenian proved costly”

The Nor Zartok Initiative then read a press statement before the
Galatasaray High School, adding that they were also going to make
another press declaration before the courtroom on Sept. 7:

“It was said that Balıkçı had died accidentally due to a bullet fired
from AÄ?aoÄ?lu’s weapon while he was performing his mandatory military
service on April 24, 2011, the 96th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Being an Armenian once more proved to be costly, and racism
snatched him away from us.”

“[Authorities] released Balıkçı’s murder suspect after the first
hearing of the case, even though press workers, students, Kurdish
politicians, revolutionaries and academics are incarcerated solely
because they think, question and criticize.”

“We were tested in this trial through a variety of ruses. The
murderers have been debunked, however. Witness Halil EkÅ?i changed his
testimony and said AÄ?aoÄ?lu had cocked his gun before firing and that
AÄ?aoÄ?lu’s relatives had told him to testify in his favor.”

“The murder suspect and the mindset he represents is yet to be
convicted. It is still legitimate to kill an Armenian, just like back
in 1915, and the murderers go unpunished.”

“Officials are trying to cover up murders committed in barracks as
‘jokes’ or ‘suicide.’ Those who refuse to partake in the state’s dirty
and bloody system receive heavy prison sentences and are subjected to
torture in disciplinary wards.”

“The dominant mindset is thirsty for more victims that it failed to
homogenize. Thousands died, including many children, due to gunfire
coming from barracks, mortar shells and mines in this war that has
been going on for 30 years. Hundreds are killed inside of barracks,
too, in consequence of acts of ‘suicide’ and ‘accidents’ called
‘dubious deaths’ but leave no doubt as to their true nature.”

“It is not just humans, but humanity itself that is dying in the
barracks. We defend life and call on everyone to show the sensitivity
to fight against militarism that is causing the deaths of children
outside of the barracks, the deaths of youngsters inside the barracks
and which has permeated every aspect of life. As for concrete steps,
we are also calling upon youngsters to reject to perform their
mandatory military service and refrain from spilling the blood of a
brother. (EKN)

From: Baghdasarian

“Armenian Prisons are Full of Scapegoats”

hetq
12:09, September 8, 2012

I was going to begin my article completely differently ‘ I was going
to write about the fact that my case won’t be reopened. But the
priority today is different. Safarov’s return to his homeland [recall,
Hungary extradited convicted murderer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan]
shocked us all from top to bottom or the opposite ‘ as you wish. Now
everyone’s thinking, writing, and talking about this. And this issue
is completely incomparable; I don’t even want to find common ground.
What was carried out was not justice but politics.

This is just but one view, I agree. I would like our people
[Armenians] to carry out politics at least once in a while, when we’re
talking about a citizen of ours. Our prisons are full of scapegoats,
those bearing excessive and wrong sentences, soldiers, and freedom
fighters.

I want to tell you about Soghomon Kocharyan, who was a spy in the
Shurnukh battles, was injured twice on the battlefield, who again
returned and fought against the Azeris. In 1995, he was accused of
murdering an Iranian citizen, an ethnic Azeri named Mirzabek. He was
sentenced to death (now life imprisonment).

I’m trying to write concisely and soundly, but behind these dry facts
lies a real human tragedy. I’m convinced he was sentenced to death
purely with the aim of placating Iran. Well, imagine, 1995, the
humanitarian assistance received from Iran¦ an Azeri disguised as an
Iranian citizen was continuing the war with us Armenians on the
Yerevan-Meghri road.

It’s been 18 years that Soghomon is behind bars; he has a daughter,
who’s already 18 years old. I wrote about what happened to Soghomon in
my book. You know, as well, that twice we escaped from prison
together; I was escaping with him because I felt that he’s not a
criminal by nature. Like me, he too didn’t and doesn’t accept the deed
attributed to him.

We’re coming out into the living world as stock, not engaging in any
misdemeanor outside; we’re escaping for our voices to be heard, and
the system to address these cases. But¦ stone indifference. Isn’t the
Hungarian-Azerbaijani slap enough for this stone indifference to now
give way?

Indifference is the Mother of All Evil

In this I am convinced just as I know that the Earth on which we live
is round. And the inhumane-humane indifference has become owner and
master of our lives. Recently, I read in the news that on the occasion
of Ramadan, Iran’s spiritual leader declared a “revolutionary” pardon.
Islamist Iran for the first time pardoned lifers and those accused of
serious crimes, excluding some cases when the matter relates to
national security.

That which Armenia, the first to adopt Christianity as a state
religion, in its 20 years of independence has never paid any attention
to lifers and those sentenced to death¦ If one of you know recall
[former Armenian] president [Robert] Kocharian’s “amnesty” (by which
he replaced the death sentence with life sentences) and say that we
have a precedent for amnesty, I will point to the lawsuit already sent
by my lawyers to the European Court of Human Rights in which the
legality of Kocharian’s “amnesty” decree is being disputed. It wasn’t
an amnesty, but assigning punishment ‘ this is the opinion of many
experts. In any case, let’s leave this case to experienced attorneys
and wait for the European Court’s decision.

My Criminal Case Not Being ReOpened

My article titled “Everyone Knows the Real Motive of the Tragedy” was
published on July 20. The circumstances raised in the article were
presented by my attorney to the RA Prosecutor General. In addition,
the representative of my interests 16 years after the tragic incident
of 1996 had uncovered obvious evidence of inaccuracies in the
investigation. In particular, when the testimonies were recorded,
fabricated witnesses’ signatures were on the documents. These newly
acquired facts with proof were presented to the Court of Appeals, then
also to the General Prosecutor’s office.

And can you imagine, they weren’t considered sufficient grounds for
reopening the case. Meanwhile, I won’t stop repeating that 17 years
ago, it was the last of the other accused in the case Aram
Harutyunyan’s testimony (which he changed four times) that served as
grounds for sentencing me to death. One testimony and no heavy,
undeniable proof. Meanwhile, all of my and my family’s appeals to
review the case were derived from answers from the prosecutor’s
office, that new uncovered circumstances are needed.

These were offered but the case was not reopened. The judicial system,
both feet in one shoe, rules out the possibility of a judicial error.
And accepting this is not a legal issue but a question of will and
thought.

The other day I heard on the radio about a guy who spent 27 years in a
US prison fighting for the reopening of his case, and who was released
in the US with a justice ruling. A DNA test revealed that the US
justice system had made a mistake 27 years ago. And you say that can’t
be so.

I also heard on the radio Chamber of Advocates Honorary Member Ruben
Rshtuni, who said that one-third of those sitting in Armenian prisons
are incorrectly sentenced ‘ or they’re serving an excessive sentence
or they’re innocent. This from a professional’s point of view. I see
the same from inside. But inside we still have to fight¦

Not Misbehaving in Prison is Itself an Achievement

My relatives always try to keep me abreast of the modern world; they
send magazines, pieces from the press. In one of these publications I
read about a rehabilitation program in a British prison. My first
impression: admiration plus astonishment. Those accused of serious
crimes had computers; they were working, studying, acquiring funds on
their accounts, so that if released early on parole, they would have
financial independence. They even have a system of long-term vacation
a well-designed program for changing behavior.

And now Armenia. Days ago, I wrote a letter to RA Minister of Justice
Hrayr Tovmasyan, asking him to allow a computer without an Internet
connection, since I’m editing and working on my second book. But I
received a response that read: “Sentenced and imprisoned people are
not permitted to use computers.” Meanwhile, the media is full of news
that say in some penitentiary a computer room was opened. So is all
this [just] scenery?

As for studyinh, I wrote that since my adolescence I’ve been dreaming
about a legal profession. It’s never too late to learn, but how can a
person sentenced to life who doesn’t have paid work study at a
higher-level institution? Again I wrote to the Ministry of Justice,
suggesting a program be developed with a donor organization so that
someone bearing a 15-year sentence, consequently, lifers who have the
option of parole after serving 5 years of their sentence, have the
opportunity to study at reduced tuition rates. But the answer [I
received] was the following: “The Ministry of Justice doesn’t have
sufficient funds to carry out such a program.”

One day not yet passed, I heard that the EU had allocated $60 million
for judicial reforms. It’s interesting ‘ would funds be found from
that 60 million for implementing a prison rehab program?

Mher Yenokyan from the Nubarashen prison

P.S. Now I see that I’m not alone, that civil society, people saying
no to indifference, are gathering around the issues concerning our
society. There’s a demand for justice. And together, I’m sure, there’s
much to do until man no longer remains indifferent to his fellow man.

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From: Baghdasarian

Bomb attack in Aleppo’s Armenian district

tert.am
14:44 – 09.09.12

The Syrian government forces have launched massive bomb attacks in
Aleppo’s Meydan district which is populated by Armenians, the Russian
newspaper Vzglyad reported.

The district is home to the Sahakyan College and the St. Grigor church.

Heated clashes had earlier broken out in the Hanano district where the
forces wanted to take control of military units. After military
operations, which lasted 20 hours, the Syrian army managed to repel
the enemy. On Saturday alone, ninety people were reported dead and
hundreds of others injured in Aleppo, with the total death toll 180
across the country.

The Syrian news agency Sana said the government forces had killed a
great number of terrorists in one of the districts of capital Damascus
and arrested their leaders.

According to the official sources, 227 former rebels had been released
after it was proven `that their hands were not stained with the Syrian
nation’s blood’.

Earlier 27,000 people had been set free Damascus.

From: Baghdasarian

A. Martirosyan: `Recognition process of the NKR could give opportunity
to Armenia to protect its national interest’

Vice President of the `Heritage’ party, Armenian former deputy Armen
Martirosyan considers that Ramil Safarov’s extradition is ugly
phenomenon both from political and international point of view and it
is beyond human elementary norms. Mr. Martirosyan announced about this
during the press conference today.

According to A. Martirosyan Armenia is under damage because of the
Azerbaijani political attitude. According to him Armenia must
cooperate with other countries in frame of the international security
must not take the internationals security but must provide it.

`Armenia must not believe in any word and must realize that its
physical existence is only its problem and the further steps must be
followed by this principle’, the speaker said.

NA former deputy said that he agreed with Armenian President to cut
off the diplomatic relations with Hungary but according to Martirosyan
Armenian NA should do the same as well.

`Unfortunately, Parliament did not have enough courage to do it’,
Martirosyan said.

The speaker considers that the recognition process of the NKR could
give opportunity to Armenia to protect its national interest.

`NKR recognition or its discussion is the way which would give an
opportunity to Armenia to protect its national interest. It is obvious
that Azerbaijan will never refuse its hostile attitude. So NKR must be
recognized as an independent state and then a military deal must be
signed with it’, he noted.

Martirosyan also underlined that he is asked very often that if
Armenia does not recognize the NKR independence so why the others must
recognize it.

07.09.12, 16:35

From: Baghdasarian

Something else couldn’t be expected from a punk representative of a
punk government: Pashinyan on Hayrapetyan

2012-09-09 13:08:31

The famous person Nemets Rubo spread his next proportion of
blah-blahs. In an interview with `Les Nouvelles d’Armenie’ he touched
upon my personality, insisting he gave me money.
This person is an utter masochist with flagrant manifestations of
immorality. Every time he says something stupid, then is disgraced all
around Armenia in political, human and moral sense, then the story
repeats.
At the presence of reporters he boasted that he is a guy that beats,
but after having attacked human rights defender Arman Veziryan, the
next day he called and begged to forgive him, just for the purpose
that the court didn’t fine him with 200 thousand AMD or not arrest for
3 months. Maybe he was afraid that bad things would occur in jail
during those three months.
He announced that he’s not going to be nominated for an MP, then ran
and nominated. Then said, he’s ready to debate with an ANC
representative in any format, then escaped from the dispute.
Then announced on putting down his deputy mandate, and now announces
that he’s going to take back his application on refusing parliamentary
mandate for the purpose of writing an application to put down his
mandate afterwards.

In an interview with `Les Nouvelles d’Armenie’ reporter he said (by
the way I don’t suspect in Seda Mavyan’s professionalism) Dodi Gago,
and now he says he didn’t say this.
As for claims about me, I want to remind the public that at a press
conference in February, 2009 he announced that I, Nikol Pashinyan
possess a house cost $2 million. I publicly claimed, if he doesn’t
show that house, or something close to what he said, he gives the
right to the others think awful things of him. And the next brainless
statement, with no ground, appears with such an intrigue. By this,
Nemets confirms all the statements addressed to me.
The nonsense, not having even a remote connection presented as a
reality can only be said by a punk. Something else couldn’t be
expected from a punk representative of a punk government.

NIKOL PASHINYAN
Krakow, Poland

From: Baghdasarian

“Armavia’ to restore flights to Aleppo

16:56, 7 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: National air carrier “Armavia”
company is to restore regular flights to Aleppo on September 10. Nana
Avetisova, the press secretary of the company, noted in her interview
with Armenpress that Syrian Armenain children who have been on
holidays in Armenia will return to Aleppo on additional flight on
September 9. Flights to Aleppo have been temporarily suspended
beginning from September 2. : National air carrier “Armavia” company
did several additional flights to Aleppo, due to the critical
situation in Syria.

Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Diaspora, the head of the working
group dealing with Syrian problems Firdus Zakaryan informed Armenpress
that more than hundred children will leave Armenia on additional
flights.

From: Baghdasarian