Author: Jalatian Sonya

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com

PRESS RELEASE

April 20, 2009
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

The Canadian-Armenian Community Commemorating
the death of 1.5 million Armenians

Ottawa – The Canadian-Armenian community and Armenians around the world
are commemorating the death of 1.5 million Armenians exterminated during
the first genocide of the 20th century by Ottoman Turkey.

The various 94th Armenian Genocide commemoration events, which started
on April 19, will culminate on Parliament Hill on April 24.

This significant memorial ceremony will recall this horrendous crime
against humanity and to thank the Canadian people for their support.
Various members of the House of Commons will accompany the survivors to
place flowers around the Eternal Flame.

The solidarity and support of Canadians to commemorate the 94th
anniversary is not only for the victims of the Armenian Genocide, but to
all victim nations of genocide, Holocaust, war crimes and human rights
abuses across the world. We, as Canadians, should send a clear message
to the international community and to our follow human begins that such
crimes will not be tolerated, forgotten, denied, and repeated. We owe it
to the millions of martyrs who paid the ultimate price for intolerance,
xenophobia, and hatred.

The sombre commemoration will begin at 12:30 p.m. on April 24, in front
of Parliament Hill, and come to an end at 1:30 p.m.

This year, the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide has particularly
significant meaning because it coincides with the 5th anniversary of the
adoption of Motion 380 by the House of Commons, recognizing the historic
reality of the Armenian Genocide.

The courageous and moral decision of Canadian Parliamentarians not only
helped preserve the memory of a tragic historical event, but also helped
us uphold the truth and pay respect to the innocent victims.
The House of Commons’ recognition is a landmark acknowledgment and an
important chapter in our nation’s history, which pays tribute to
hundreds of Canadians whose generosity and activism during the Armenian
Genocide helped save thousands of Armenians from certain death. In fact,
Canada was one of the leading countries to launch a relief effort to
help Armenian refugees and orphans.

It is this attribute of compassionate and humanitarian vision that has
helped establish Canada’s reputation as a caring, tolerant, civilized
and welcoming country. As such, in addition to the House of Commons and
Senate recognition, the Right Hon. Stephen Harper’s statement that "we
have made it very clear that our recognition of the Armenian genocide
represents the official position of the government of Canada" were in
line with our forefathers’ reputation and tradition of championing truth
and justice.

To celebrate this momentous event, the ANCC is organizing a reception to
pay tribute to our federal legislative and executive members. Religious
leaders, representatives of other community organizations, political
representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of
other genocide victim nations will attend the reception.

The reception starts at 6:00 p.m. on April 28 at Room 200 of the West
Block.

Please see below list of the Armenian Genocide commemoration events in
various cities

Ottawa

What: Commemoration in front of the House of Commons
When: Friday, April 24th, 2009 – 12:30 pm
Where: Centre Block, Parliament Hill
Keynote Speaker:
Contact: Mr. Aris Babikian
Tel: 613-235-2622

Who: House of Commons’ 5th anniversary recognition
When: Tuesday April 28th, 2009 – 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Room 200, West Block, House of Commons
Contact: Aris Babikian
Tel: 613-235-2622

Toronto

What: Inter-communal Requiem
When: Thursday April 24th, 2009 – 9:00 PM
Where: Holy Trinity Church, 920 Progress Avenue, Scarborough, ON
Keynote speaker:
Contact: Mr. Hagop Janbazian
Tel: 416 – 885-1430

What: Toronto Armenian Youth Candle light vigil
When: Thursday, April 27th, 2009 – 7:00 pm
Where: Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Araz Hasserjian
Tel: 416. 697-7272

What: Toronto Armenian Community Commemoration
When: Sunday, April 26th, 2009 – 2:00 pm
Where: Armenian Community Centre, 45 Hallcrown Place
Key Note Speaker: Non
Contact: Liz Balian
Tel: (416) 587 3319

Montreal

What: Walk for Remembrance Montreal and Laval
When: Thursday, April 23th, 2009 – 7:30 pm
Where: Armenian Community Centre, 3401 Olivar-Asselin
To: The Genocide Museum on Henri Bourassa
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian / Hrayr Kargozian
Tel: (514) 334-1299

What: Montreal and Laval Communities Commemoration
When: Sunday, April 26th, 2009 – 7:00 pm
Where: Armenian Community Centre, 3401 Olivar-Asselin
Keynote Speaker:
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian / Hrayr Kargozian
Tel: (514) 334-1299

Vancouver
What: Genocide Commemoration
When: Sunday, April 26th 2009 – 3:00 PM
Where: Vancouver Jewish Community Centre, WOSK Auditorium
950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.
Keynote Speaker: Adam Jones, Associate Professor, UBC Okanagan and
author of "Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction"
Special Guest: Michele Wegner, son of Armin T. Wegner
Contact: Jack Der Hagopian -Tel: (604)
[email protected]
Vahe Andonian – Tel: (604) 240 5490
[email protected]
Arthur Tachdjian – [email protected]

Hamilton

What: Genocide Commemoration
When: Sunday April 26th 2009 – 2:30 PM
Where: ACC Hamilton, 191 Barton St, Stoney Creek, ON
Keynote Speaker:
Contact: Mr. Hagop Apkarian
Tel: 905-304-4908

Cambridge

What: Genocide Commemoration
When: Sunday April 26th 2009 – 4:00 PM
Where: ACC Cambridge, 15 International Village Drive, Cambridge, ON
Keynote Speaker:
Contact: Kevork Garabedian
Tel. (519) 897-5900

St. Catharines

What: Genocide Commemoration
When: Sunday April 19th 2009 – 4:00 PM
Where: ACC St. Catharines, 156 Martindale Road, St. Catharines, ON
Keynote Speaker:
Contact:
Tel.

**********

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.

Regional Chapters/Sections régionales
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St.
Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

MIKAYEL DANIELYAN – "IT’S A DIRECT ASSAULT ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH"
Ararat Davtyan

Feature Stories court society
hetq.am/en/society/gagik-shamshyan-5/
2009/04/20 | 19:11

On April 17, Gagik Shamshyan was found guilty by the Kentron
and Nork-Marash Court of First Instance for verbally assaulting
and ignoring the directives of Judge Gagik Avetisyan on August 5,
2008, during the court case of Smbat Ayvazyan. Gagik Shamshyan is a
photo-journalist who works for the "Aravot" and "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun"
newspapers.

The court found that the specific charge of showing "disrespect
towards the court" on August 5, 2008, when Mr. Shamshyan failed to
heed the directive of the judge to stop photographing the proceedings,
had been proven.

"At the beginning of the trial session Judge Gagik Avetisyan allowed
the assembled reporters to tape record and photograph for five
minutes. But Gagik Shamshyan failed to heed the directive. Moreover,
he verbally abused the court and called presiding Judge Gagik Avetisyan
a "cow" and a "dolt", his conduct disrupted court proceedings, and
thus he removed from the courtroom on the orders of the judge,"
noted Kentron and Nork-Marash Chief Court Officer Artur Pilosyan
during his testimony during the preliminary investigation. The other
court officers, Rafael Stepanyan, Shahen Ohanyan, and court secretary
Hasmik Jalalyan, literally noted the same in their testimony as well.

During the six month preliminary investigation of the case it was
the testimony of these four individuals that lead to an indictment
and the case going to a court trial.

"Both the European Council and other authoritative bodies have urged
our country on many occasions not to solely use the testimony of
police officials. Now, the same has happened in this case. They’ve
only taken the testimony of court officers and have created a criminal
case," says attorney Hovik Arsenyan. Mr. Arsenyan was present when
the incident took place, as an eye witness, and recounts what happened.

"That day, upon entering the courtroom, Judge Gagik Avetisyan
immediately told Gagik Shamshyan – don’t photograph me. Shamshyan
answered that he wasn’t photographing but rather tape recording the
judge. Perhaps not knowing that the equipment could also record and
thinking that he was being ridiculed, the judge slapped a sanction
on the reporter and ordered him to be removed.

"They can check my video camera and see that I was only tape
recording," adds Gagik Shamshyan and notes that a few days before the
incident, also during the Smbad Ayvazyan trial, Judge Gagik Avetisyan
also ordered him to be removed from the courtroom.

"Judge Avetisyan really has it in for me because I have shots of him
sleeping or picking his nose," says Shamshyan and says, "On that day
I left the court voluntarily. But the second time, on the day of the
incident in question, I refused to follow the judge’s illegal directive
and demanded a copy of the court sanction. But this only further
enraged Avetisyan and the court officers fell on me and removed me by
force. They illegally held me for about one to one and a half hours
under the first floor stairs. Then Deputy Chief Arayik Petrosyan of
the Kentron police department came and took me to the station by taxi."

"This was a direct assault on freedom of speech. I can offer no other
interpretation," states Mikayel Danielyan, President of Armenia’s
Helsinki Association. He was also in the courtroom on the day of the
incident and stresses that he didn’t hear Shamshyan utter any verbal
abuse towards the court.

Investigator Gayaneh Yeritsyan, the case investigator, took testimony
from Mikayel Danielyan and a few other eye witness reporters during
her preliminary examination. However, the only witnesses called during
the trial were the court officers and the secretary.

Mikayel Danielyan notes, "This was done so they could only record
testimony conducive to the court. Those individuals who gave factual
testimony during the pre-trial hearings or testimony that ran counter
to their aims were never subpoenaed to testify."

Prosecutor Levon Charkhifalakyan, who defended the indictment in
court, refused to answer questions posed by "Hetq". Hovik Arsenyan,
who defended the interests of Gagik Shamshyan, notes that in theory he
can present a motion to have a criminal proceedings filed against Levon
Charkhifalakyan since, "From a legal point of view there is no such
right, to take a selective approach when it comes to witnesses. But
my possibility to make a motion is theoretical because I’m realistic
and will thus not present such a motion because such a situation in
the Prosecutor General’s Office is endemic, when, in the absence of
the corpus delicti, the case is taken to trial. The objective of all
this already falls outside the legal field."

What’s noteworthy is that in addition to the testimony of the court
officer eye witnesses, the preliminary examining body sustained
the charges against Shamshyan also based on the trial session tape
recordings. These recordings are in the possession of the case but
the insulting words "cow" and "dolt" to be heard in the tapes.

During the trial Prosecutor Levon Charkhifalakyan presented a document
according to which Gagik Shamshyan was, up until August 8, 2008, under
the charge of the court and that his probation hadn’t terminated;
in other words up until the time he manifested "disrespect towards
the court" (August 5, 2008).

Let us remind readers that on July 16, 2007, the verdict against
Shamshyan went into legal force, according to which he was found guilty
of injuring one’s dignity and blackmail. The sentence of imprisonment
was conditionally never executed and one month’s probation was
substituted instead.

"Prosecutor Charkhifalakyan was convinced during the trial that they
weren’t going to be able to prove that I called the judge a "cow" or
"dolt". Furthermore, the tape recording of the court sessions also
failed to prove this. Thus he resorted to other measures," stated
Mr. Shamshyan in court. His defense lawyer called the "premeditated
appearance" of this document to be a threat and pressure tactic.

"Shamshyan, shut up and accept your guilt, otherwise we’ll treat you
more harshly because your punishment hadn’t been served and that will
be viewed as a punitive factor. This was their whole aim and it’s a
complete shame," commented Hovik Arsenyan.

He filed a court motion and requested that the court call in other
witnesses "that were present at the August 5th trial of Smbad Ayvazyan
and who, by their testimony, would give the court the opportunity to
conduct a well-rounded examination and arrive at the actual truth of
the matter."

However, Judge Armen Khachatryan overturned the motion, arguing that
the defense never supplied the court with the addresses of these
individuals and thus deprived the court of the possibility of sending
them subpoenas to appear.

Gagik Shamshyan motioned the court to call Judge Gagik Avetisyan in
as a witness "since he is at the center of this case and that I’m
supposed to have insulted him."

Judge Khachatryan stated, "You should have also included the name of
Gagik Avetisyan in your motion. Since you failed to do so, the court
will not review the matter, as an untimely intervention."

Defense lawyer Hovik Arsenyan commented, "The judges are in a tag-team
race to see who will break more laws and violate justice. This is a
huge tragedy when there are eye witnesses and we motion for them to
be questioned but they illegally refuse to do so even when we state
that we are able to call them in."

During the prosecution’s statement Prosecutor Levon Charkhifalakyan
motioned the court to fine Shamshyan no less than five hundred times
his salary

Gagik Shamshyan comments that, ""This was the greatest surprise of
the entire trial for me. I really believed that before the elections
they’d send me on extended vacation for at least three months. The
regime would have gotten rid of me and I from them."

"It is not enough that fabricated charges are being used to carry
out a criminal prosecution but that they also have the nerve to
file a motion regarding imprisonment as a penalty," said defense
attorney Hovik Arsenyan, adding that, "The incident took place in my
presence. It now comes down to the fact that I shouldn’t believe in
what I saw. In the name of the Republic of Armenia are convincing me
that the kettle is black."

"Prosecutor Charkhifalakyan believes that the preliminary investigative
body gave an accurate assessment and that it has been proven that
I called Judge Gagik Avetisyan a "cow" and a "dolt". I find it
incomprehensible that the prosecutor doesn’t view the conclusion given
by the panel of experts (regarding the playback of the court tapes
of that day) which disprove these ridiculous charges. Is the panel
lying? If so, why do taxpayer monies continue to fund the operation
of such an institution?" asks Mr. Shamshyan

In his statement for the defense, Hovik Arsenyan noted that it was
necessary to halt "the false and illegal criminal persecution of
the reporter". Shamshyan joined the motion and refused to make any
closing statement in his own defense.

In a statement to the court Mr. Shamshyan noted, "All I wish to
say is that I carried out my professional duties and that Judge
Gagik Avetisyan not only hindered my work but the work of all the
assembled reporters at the trial." He went on to state that due to
the machinations of Judge Avetisyan many other similar incidents have
taken place and that as a result of these intrigues those in charge
of the courts give false testimony."

"I would like to quote from the great philosopher Chesterfield who
stated that the last refuge of fools and cowards rests in falsehood
and perfidy."

On April 17, Judge Armen Khachatryan handed down his sentence in the
case, "Gagik Shamshyan is found guilty of the charges and fined for an
amount 350 times his minimum salary". Mr. Shamshyan said, "I’d rather
see the money go to fund child orphanages. I am not ready to pay a
fine for something I didn’t to, even if it’s just one dram. Thus,
we’ll appeal the verdict."

The reporter stated that if the Court of Appeals doesn’t overrule
the verdict he will definitely take the case to the European Court
of Human Rights.

CHARLES AZNAVOUR JOINS THE LETTER OF THE EUROPEAN ARMENIANS TO BARACK OBAMA

AZG Armenian Daily
April 17 2009
Armenia

Noyan Tapan has received from Mr Ashot Grigorian, the President
of Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe, the following letter
addressed to the U.S. President Barack Obama. Many famous Armenians
living in Europe, including, Singer Charles Aznavour (France), Sergey
Khachatryan – Violinist (Germany), Arthur Abraham – World Champion
in Boxing (Germany), Levon Aronyan – Chess Grandmaster (Germany),
Hilda Tchoboian, President of Federation Euro-Armenien (France),
and Mr Ashot Grigorian (Slovakia), joined the letter.

"We, representatives of the Armenian communities in Europe, express
our deepest and utmost gratitude to you for your stance during your
pre-election campaign on the issue of the Armenian Genocide. We feel
confident that your continuous efforts will contribute to the adoption
of a respective Resolution on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by the U.S. Congress.

Honorable President, European Armenian communities have hitherto
contributed to the adoption of similar resolutions by the Parliaments
of a number of European countries with belief that this will benefit to
the development of Turkish-Armenian relations and friendy cooperation
between these neighbor countries. By helping Turkey reconcile with
its past and enhance working relations with its neighboring country,
we contribute to the development of democracy in this country which
will pave the way for it to join the European Union as a full member
in the future.

Adoption of a Resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian
Genocide by the United States will greatly contribute to this
historical process and will help the Turkish authorities to ‘cross
Rubicon’ and rid themselves of the heavy burden inherited from
the past.

We eagerly await your speech on April 24 in faith and hope and we
express our admiration and deepest gratitude for your newly initiated
efforts".

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TAKE MEASURES TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS WITH MINIMAL LOSS

ArmInfo
2009-04-15 14:09:00

ArmInfo. The key task of Armenia in conditions of the global financial
and economic crisis is to bring the negative aftermaths of the crisis
to naught in order the Armenian people overcome these difficulties
with minimal loss.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan made this statement at the meeting
with the Armenian community of Iran.

The presidential press-service told ArmInfo Serzh Sargsyan in
particular said: ‘We have already taken the necessary measures and
developed plans to meet this testing without serious shocks’. The
president thanked Armenians residing in Iran for warm reception and
said: ‘There are Armenians and Armenian communities across the world,
but some Armenian communities are distinguished from others’.

TURKEY’S FOREIGN MINISTER DUE TO ARMENIA

Anadolu Agency
April 15 2009
Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) – 15.04.2009 – Turkish foreign minister will pay a
one-day visit to Armenia on Thursday.

A statement released by the ministry said on Wednesday Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan will attend the 20th meeting of the Council of
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC) in Yerevan, Armenia on Thursday.

On 25 June 1992, the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries,
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed in Istanbul the Summit
Declaration and the Bosphorus Statement establishing the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC).

It came into existence as a unique and promising model of multilateral
political and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction
and harmony among the Member States, as well as to ensure peace,
stability and prosperity encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly
relations in the Black Sea region.

The organization has 12 members today, including Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia,
Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. (EO-UK)

IRAN, ARMENIA SET TO EXPAND TIES IN ENERGY/TRADE SECTORS

Moj News Agency
April 14 2009
Iran

Tehran regards expansion of ties with Yerevan as a priority, President
Ahmadinejad said adding that the two countries should further expand
joint ventures in energy, transportation and trade. Given the regional
and international developments, cooperation between Iran and Armenia
is a matter of importance, the two presidents stressed. President
Ahmadinejad said that Iran supports development, stability and economic
bloom in Armenia. Armenian President, for his part, appreciated
Iran`s help so far offered for development of his country, adding
that Yerevan looks for expansion of ties and cooperation with Tehran
in all political, economic, cultural and other fields.

"THE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDES AS A MEANS OF PREVENTION"

LRAGIR.AM
17:44:57 – 14/04/2009

Yerevan, 14 April, 2009 – "Areg" Scientific-Cultural Youth Association
with the support of the UN Department of Public Information organized
a round-table discussion entitled "The International Recognition of
Genocides as a Means of Prevention".

The massacre of Armenians carried out by the Ottoman Turks became
a signal for the international community to prevent people from
such crimes; the term "genocide" was coined and circulated within
historical, political and legal framework, while on 9 December,
1948 the United Nations Organization adopted the "Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide" being convinced
that international cooperation for liberating humanity from that
terrible tragedy is an utmost necessity.

A little after the 60th anniversary of the Convention, throwing a
glance on the series of genocides we get persuaded that unpunished
crimes have the habit of being repeated. Thus, the Armenian Genocide
became a precedent for the Jewish Holocaust, the Rwanda Genocide and
other similar crimes, while its international recognition would have
probably put an end to this hideous crime against humanity.

The round-table speakers were the Head of the International
Organizations Department of MFA, Dziunik Aghajanyan, the Deputy
Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Suren Manukyan,
and the Officer-in-Charge of UN Department of Public Information
Armine Halajyan. They referred to the efforts of the Republic of
Armenia to get international recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
touched upon the struggle against denial, and the role of the UN
in preventing genocide. During the discussion that followed the
participants – representatives of NGOs, mass media and students
among them, expressed their righteous resentment towards crimes
against humanity and expressed their solidarity with the victims of
genocide. Indifference and unwillingness to prevent give way to new
crimes culminating in genocides. Events should be named accordingly and
the perpetrators should be punished. The participants also mentioned
that to accomplish the above-mentioned cooperation of all nations is
required. That is the means to get away with genocide.

In these days the 15th Anniversary of Genocide in Rwanda is being
commemorated all around the world. On this occasion the UN Secretary
General said in his message: "… The United Nations continues
its vital work to avert future tragedies. We have intensified
our focus on conflict prevention, and built up our mediation
capacity. … Preventing genocide is a collective responsibility. Only
by meeting this challenge can we match the resolve of the survivors
and truly honour the memory of those who died in Rwanda 15 years ago."

Having in mind the above mentioned, and on the threshold of the
upcoming Armenian Genocide anniversary it is quite appropriate to once
again bring the attention of the international community and especially
of youth on the inhuman phenomenon of genocide to UNDERSTAND, RECOGNIZE
and PREVENT it.

KERINCSIZ: 1982 CONSTITUTION KEEPS NATION TOGETHER

Today’s Zaman
April 14 2009
Turkey

Nationalist lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz, standing trial in the case of
Ergenekon, a clandestine terrorist organization hidden within the state
hierarchy and charged with plotting to overthrow the government, said
the 1982 Constitution is the "cement" of the nation and that calling
it a "coup constitution" is tantamount to psychological warfare.

Defending the 1982 Constitution, which is often criticized for being
anti-democratic and a byproduct of the 1980 military coup, Kerincsiz
said: "This constitution is the cement of the nation. If you change the
first four articles of the Constitution, you will divide the nation."

He also said work to change the Constitution began after the local
elections, which were held on March 29.

"The public has been confused by statements that there will be a
civilian constitution. We are on trial here [in the Ergenekon case]
because we claim ownership of the 1982 Constitution."

In his defense, Kerincsiz also tried to discredit Zekeriya Oz, the
chief prosecutor of the Ergenekon investigation. He said Ataturkists,
secularists, those for a unified state and anti-imperialists are
being targeted by the Ergenekon case.

"It is natural for these people to know each other, to come
together at panel discussions, press conferences and television
programs because they show sensitivity toward a cause. However,
their ties have been handled to portray them as being involved in an
illegal organization." Kerincsiz is known for filing lawsuits against
intellectuals who question or criticize the state line on issues such
as Armenian allegations of genocide.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS OPENS ACCOUNT AT CENTRAL BANK OF ARMENIA TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO ELDER’S COUNCIL OF YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2009-04-14 13:07:00

ArmInfo. Armenian National Congress has opened an account at the
Central Bank of Armenia to collect funds for election campaign to
the Elder’s Council of Yerevan. The elections are scheduled for May 31.

The ANC press-service reported the number of the account is
103008000848.

‘Any private or legal account can make a transfer to this account
via any bank. The maximal amount a private can transfer is 50,000
drams. The limit for legal entities is 150,000 drams’, the source
reported.

AZERI PROTESTERS OUTSIDE TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAKU URGE AGAINST OPENING BORDERS

Turan News Agency
April 13 2009
Azerbaijan

About 30 activists of the Iravan [Yerevan] Liberation Organization
picketed the Turkish embassy in Baku at 1500 local time [1000 gmt]
today. The picket protested against plans to open the borders between
Turkey and Armenia.

The picket proceeded under a slogan "Turkey, do not open borders",
"Turkey, do not forget about Azerbaijan and Karabakh!" and others.

The co-chairwoman of the organization, Ceyran Ansar, handed over
a resolution of the picket to a representative of the Turkish
embassy. The picket went on without incidents, the police did not
interfere. The Iravan Liberation Organization has been established
by ethnic Azerbaijanis from Armenia.