Author: Ekmekjian Janet

Cologne bows to Turkish racists, removes Armenian Genocide monument

Ekmekjian Janet
Dec 21 2023

The Armenian Genocide monument in Cologne was removed under pressure from racist organisations affiliated with the Turkish state.

Having been the target of constant attacks for years, the Armenian Genocide monument in Cologne, Germany, was finally removed. While a small number of Armenians live in Cologne, the city has turned into the headquarters of the National Vision organisation affiliated to the Turkish state.

French journalist Guillaume Perrier wrote on his X account: "The city of Cologne is finally dismantling a monument commemorating the Armenian genocide. Cologne has a small Armenian community, but above all a large Turkish community".

Journalist Perrier added: "This is above all the result of pressure from the Turkish government and concessions from the German right (the CDU used, encouraged and supported the Grey Wolves and Milli Görüs against the influence of the left on Turkish immigrants)."

French senator Valerie Boyer wrote on her X account that "Cologne has bowed to the Turkish National Visionists who impose the denial of the 1915 Armenian genocide". Boyer said, "This is a direct consequence of Turkish immigration to Germany… It is a harbinger of bitter days in Europe".

The monument in Cologne symbolising the Armenian genocide, which Turkey does not recognise, has been erected and dismantled several times over the years following protests by Turkish nationalists.

The city had the statue removed, sometimes on the grounds of the construction of a cycle path and sometimes out of fear of "social unrest".

After a march in late October by Turkish nationalists, including supporters of the racist, far-right “Ülkü Ocakları” and DITIB associations, the city's final decision was "the monument must be removed".

Armenpress: Newly appointed Ambassador of Japan handed over a copy of his credentials to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia

Ekmekjian Janet

 22:40,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. On December 18, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of Japan to Armenia, Yutaka Aoki, on the occasion of handing over a copy of his credentials, the foreign ministry said.

According to the source, Deputy Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan, congratulating Ambassador Aoki upon assuming his mission, noted that Armenia attaches great importance to the development of partnership relations with Japan. He expressed confidence that the Ambassador will contribute to further strengthening and deepening of relations between Armenia and Japan.

Both parties emphasized the significant unfulfilled potential of bilateral cooperation and expressed willingness to spare no efforts, particularly in the direction of developing partnership in trade, economy and business ties, tourism, education and science, cultural exchanges, etc. Mutual high-level visits, as well as the intensification of inter-parliamentary relations were also emphasized.

It is noted that Paruyr Hovhannisyan also briefed his interlocutor on the latest developments in the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, the Deputy Minister particularly drew the interlocutor's attention to the "Crossroad of Peace" initiative of the Government of Armenia.

The Deputy Foreign Minister also expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Aoki for the support of the Japanese Government allocated for addressing humanitarian needs of forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh.




Armenia and Azerbaijan exchange POWs in line with agreement announced last week

Ekmekjian Janet
Dec 13 2023
YEREVAN, ARMENIA – 

Armenia and Azerbaijan on Wednesday exchanged prisoners of war, in line with an agreement announced last week that also promised the two countries would work towards a peace treaty and was hailed by the European Union as a major step toward peace in the tumultuous region.

Azerbaijan brought back two servicemen, while 32 soldiers returned to Armenia, officials in both countries reported.

Azerbaijan waged a lightning military campaign in September in the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The offensive ended three decades of rule there by ethnic Armenians and resulted in the vast majority of the 120,000 residents fleeing the region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

In their joint statement last week, the two countries said they "share the view that there is a historical chance to achieve a long-awaited peace." They said they intend "to normalize relations and to reach the peace treaty on the basis of respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity."

They also promised to continue discussions "regarding the implementation of more confidence building measures" and called on the international community for support "that will contribute to building mutual trust between two countries."

The joint statement came after the two countries spent months bitterly arguing on the outline of a peace process amid mutual distrust.

As part of the deal, Armenia also agreed to lift its objections to Azerbaijan hosting next year's international conference on climate change.

European Council President Charles Michel praised the agreement as a major breakthrough, saying on X that he particularly welcomes the deal to release detainees and make an "unprecedented opening in political dialogue."

Michel called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize a peace deal as soon as possible.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/armenia-and-azerbaijan-exchange-pows-in-line-with-agreement-announced-last-week-1.6685747

Armenpress: Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf dead at 86

Ekmekjian Janet

 15:11,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, died on Saturday, the royal court said.

He was 86.

"With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn… the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait," said a statement aired on Kuwaiti state television, according to France24.

In November, Sheikh Nawaf was admitted to the hospital "due to an emergency health problem", according to the official KUNA news agency, which did not elaborate on his illness. He was later declared in stable condition.

Sheikh Nawaf was named crown prince in 2006 by his half-brother Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and took over as emir when Sheikh Sabah died in September 2020 at the age of 91. Kuwait’s crown prince and his half-brother, Sheikh Meshaal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, now 83, was subsequently named new emir, state media reported.




Turkish Press: Seven investigations, three lawsuits launched on Diyarbakır Bar for Armenian Genocide Remembrance in last six years

Ekmekjian Janet
 duvaR.english 
Turkey – Dec 15 2023
Friday 08:43 pm

Turkish prosecutors have launched seven investigations and filed three lawsuits against the Diyarbakır Bar Association administration since 2017 for Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), “Insulting the Turkish nation, state, government, Parliament, and its judicial bodiesi” for statements made during Armenian Genocide Remembrance Events.

The Media and Legal Studies Organization (MLSA) documented the Turkish state’s legal battle with the Bar Association of the southeastern Diyarbakır province over its stance on the Armenian genocide. 

A Diyarbakır prosecutor’s office most recently launched an investigation into chair Nahit Eren and ten executive board members of the Diyarbakır Bar Association regarding the statement “Confrontation and reconciliation must begin from 24 April 1915” published on the Bar Association website. 

The investigations for the TCK 301 require approval by the Justice Ministry. The ministry found that the remarks “Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were torn from their lands and were killed or left to die through the relocation supported and controlled by the Committee of Union and Progress,” warranted an investigation. 

The ministry however looked over the 2014 remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan included in the statement: “We wish that the Armenians who died due to conditions of the early 20th century rest in peace, and extend our condolences to their grandchildren.” 

The Bar Association interpreted the President’s remarks as “an important step to confront this dark history,” in their statement that is now subject to an investigation.

Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office called in the Bar Association executives for defense statements. The 11 bar officials rejected to give defenses and claimed that their statement fell under freedom of _expression_.

Deputy head of the Diyarbakır Bar Association Mehdi Özdemir said that the Justice Ministry allowed six investigations so far, four of which turned into lawsuits. The various Bar Association executives were acquitted in two of these cases. One case and two investigations are still ongoing. Özdemir stated another application to investigate the Bar Association’s 2023 Armenian Genocide statement had reached the Justice Ministry. 

Özdemir stated that the Penal Code Article 301 was infamously used to threaten everyone who voiced an opinion opposite to the official ideology of the government. He added, “We believe the enforced disappearances beginning with the 1915 Armenian Genocide and continuing with the 1937-38 Dersim Massacre are realities Turkey needs to face.”

“Unless we confront the truth, we cannot talk of real justice. We will continue defending this struggle for human rights as we honor our values and historical legacy,” said Özdemir.  

Greek Foreign Minister plans to visit Armenia

Ekmekjian Janet

 14:19,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Giorgos Gerapetritis, has said that he plans to visit Armenia in the near future.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels within the framework of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, the Greek FM said he will meet with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan today.

“We’ve come today to the foreign affairs council with a difficult and important agenda. We’ll start with the issue of the relations between Armenia and the European Union. Greece welcomes the ongoing peace process in the South Caucasus. Thanks to the efforts of Greece, today Armenia is invited to the Foreign Affairs Council to present positions aimed at sustainable peace in the broader region. I have personally spoken at length with the Armenian Foreign Minister, and I intend to visit Armenia in the near future, and today I will also have the chance to see the foreign ministers of both Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the Greek FM said.

Armenian Speaker of Parliament accuses Azerbaijan of delaying signing of peace treaty

Ekmekjian Janet

 11:53, 7 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan is attempting to introduce certain items into the agenda to artificially delay the signing of the peace treaty with Armenia and make the process difficult, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan has said.

“I think Azerbaijan is trying to introduce certain issues into the agenda to perhaps artificially make the signing of the peace treaty difficult,” Simonyan said when asked to comment on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that if Armenia wants to include the issue of the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians in the peace treaty, then the rights to return of Azerbaijanis who left Armenia must also be addressed.

“I assess this very negatively. We, and they, know very well what proposals we have conveyed and what we are negotiating about. Speaking about it all the time now creates artificial problems. It’s obvious that we are actually speaking about peace, and not just signing a paper or pretending,” Simonyan said.

The Speaker said that Azerbaijan must reduce its hate speech against Armenians.

“You can’t accuse Armenia of the same, because in Armenia, the opposition and the media are accusing us of being tolerant, of pouring water to their mill. It must be clear that, indeed, after some time, I don’t rule out that some Armenians will go and live in Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijanis will come and live in Armenia, and trade with one another. Yes, we are heading towards peace, peace doesn’t happen anyway else. And the claims that we fought against each other and it is an unsolvable issue for us are unacceptable, because history knows multiple cases. England and France were at war against each other for 116 years, and today they are allies,” Simonyan said.




IBA World Junior Championships. Armenia, India and Uzbekistan took three gold medals in the last day

Ekmekjian Janet
Inside the Games
Nov 5 2023

 

  • By Rafael Khalatyan Yerevan

    •  

  •  Monday, 4 December 2023

The last day of the 2023 IBA World Junior Championships in Mika sport complex in Yerevan started not the way the home crowd wanted. 

A boxer with a very famous boxing last name – Arno Darchinyan (men’s 46 kg) stepped to the ring to fight against Russia’s Islam Magomedov. The fight was very close but only one judge had a draw in his scoresheet. The other four gave the victory to Magomedov, who claimed Russia’s sixth gold of the tournament.

Right after that another home crowd favourite Heghine Petrosyan (women’s 48 kg) was outboxed by India’s Payal Payal in each round. Payal brought the first but not the last gold medal for India of the tournament.

After two losses, the Armenian crowd was a little bit disappointed, but then came European champion Tigran Ovsepyan’s turn to walk to the ring. And the main contender of the gold medal brought to the public the first joy of the day. He lost a round to Bulgarian Angel Dimtrov a round, but won the other two and at the end of the bout all the judges gave the victory to the Armenian athlete. Ovsepyan added the World champion’s title to his tally.

Then it was India’s turn to have 3 finalists in a row. And they managed to win only one of them. In women’s 52 kg weight category Nisha Nisha defeated Farinoz Abdulloeva from Tajikistan by unanimous decision. Jatin Jatin (men’s 54 kg) lost his bout to Kazakhstan’s Nurassyl Tulebek. It was Kazakhstan’s fourth gold medal in the tournament. They had only four finalists, but all of them managed to win their gold medal bouts. Right after that Vini Vini (women’s 57 kg) stepped to the ring against Sevara Mammatova (Uzbekistan).

Another gold medal for Uzbekistan claimed Firuzjon Sadullaev (men’s 60 kg). His opponent in the final bout was Andranik Martirosyan from Armenia. In the first two rounds Saduellaev’s advantage was big. Martirosyan returned strong in the third round, throwed some good punches, but it was not enough to close the gap, and the Uzbek athlete won by unanimous decision. 

Siofra Lawless (women’s 63 kg) brought a lot of joy to the Irish delegation winning her final bout against India’s Sachin Sathe. Lawless was dominant in all rounds and won the fight by unanimous decision.

Right after the home crowd exploded as Argishti Hakobyan stepped to the ring in the men's 66 kg weight category final bout against Belarus’s Ivan Siniak. He won each round confidently and became Armenia’s third world champion of the tournament. 

The last four bouts of the tournament featured four more Indian boxers. The first of them won her bout and became World champion, the other three lost the decisive fights. In the women's 70 kg weight category Akansha Phalaswal defeated Russia’s Elizaveta Taymazova by unanimous decision.

When it was Armenia’s Albert Harutyunyan’s turn to enter the ring against Indian opponent. Harutyunyan produced some electric fights in the previous rounds, several times storming back from the losses in the first rounds. He ended his great journey in IBA Junior World Championships with a confident win against Sahil Sahil by unanimous decision, and brought the fourth gold to the Armenian National team.

Anna Bazhaeva (women’s 80 kg) from Russia produced the only knockout of the final day. Her heavy punches against Megha Sheokand made the referee stop the bout in the third round.

The second day of the finals ended the same way as the final’s first day. Yesterday it was Uzbekistan’s representative who won the final bout against an Indian opponent in the women’s super heavyweight category. The last day of the tournament was also closed by the Uzbekistan – India rivalry in the men’s super heavyweight category. And again it was Uzbekistan to win the gold medal. Islam Salikhov defeated Hemant Sangwan by unanimous decision and brought the fourth gold medal to his national team.

Russia won the medal competition with 7 gold, 2 silver and 7 bronze medals. Armenia came the second with 4 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze medal. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also claimed four gold medals. Though India had the most number of the finalists – 12, only three of them became the World champion. Russia was the best also in women’s competition with four gold medals and left behind the Indian team (3 gold medals). Armenian boxers were strongest in the men’s competition with four gold medals, Russia was the second with 3 gold medals.

The 2023 was a good sporting year for Armenia, as they have previously hosted the Weightlifting European championship, 2023, EUBC Youth European Championship and the 2023 World Sambo Championship, and the IBA World Junior Championships were the best way to close the year.

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1142821/iba-world-junior-championships

Armenians prepare to defend themselves against Russia as relations sour

Ekmekjian Janet
Dagens.com
Nov 29 2023

In the southern Syunik province of Armenia, residents are preparing for the worst amid rising tensions and changing regional dynamics.

According to Moscow Times the community's response to this looming threat is embodied by VOMA, a paramilitary group that offers a three-month program in emergency first aid, weapons training, and mountaineering – skills crucial for survival in the rugged terrain near the Azerbaijani border.

VOMA, which operates 22 branches across Armenia, has seen a surge in attendees following Azerbaijan's offensive on Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region that was quickly overtaken, causing a mass exodus into Armenia.

This influx of people seeking training is not just a reaction to immediate threats but also a reflection of a broader geopolitical shift.

Many Armenians feel abandoned by the international community, particularly by Russia, Armenia’s historic ally. Despite promises to mediate conflicts and the presence of Russian peacekeepers, Moscow did little to intervene in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Russia's apparent inaction is perceived as a historic shift in its regional policy.

Armenia, which has long relied on Russia for arms supply and political support, is now grappling with the reality of a strained relationship. This situation is further complicated by Armenia’s recent overtures to the West, including joint military drills with the U.S. and aid to Ukraine.

Experts believe that Russia's cold shoulder towards Armenia is partly due to its increased isolation because of the Ukraine war.

This has made southern partners like Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran, which provide links to global markets, more valuable to Russia. Additionally, Armenia's move to join the International Criminal Court, which could obligate Yerevan to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he were to visit, has further strained relations.

With the West also unlikely to provide the level of support Armenia needs, the country finds itself in a precarious position.

The growing instability and the fear of further Azerbaijani aggression, possibly to create a land corridor to its exclave of Nakhichevan, have left residents like Mariam and the trainees at VOMA bracing for uncertain times.

Armenpress: Antisemitism and intolerance on national or religious grounds have no place in Armenia – Foreign Ministry

Ekmekjian Janet

 22:01,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Foreign Ministry has condemned the vandalism targeting a synagogue in Yerevan.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan, in response to a media query, said that antisemitism and intolerance on national or religious grounds have no place in Armenia.

“As we have already stressed before, the Republic of Armenia considers any attack on any religious institution and in particular any manifestation of vandalism, any disrespectful action towards the synagogue in Yerevan impermissible. Such cases of intolerance or its incitement are unacceptable, and criminal proceedings have already been initiated by the competent authorities of the Republic of Armenia. We categorically reject any manipulation of the incident, subject, be it for political, propaganda or other intentions. Anti-Semitism and intolerance on national or religious grounds have no place in Armenia,” Badalyan said in a statement.