Author: Jane Topchian

Members of the Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (AYF-AU) and the Armenian Students Association (ASA) staged a silent protest on Friday 27th January, at the Embassy of Belarus in Canberra, Armenia Online reports.

They demanded that Belarus uphold the rights of freedom of speech by accepting Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin’s appeal against the summons issued by Azerbaijan.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia earlier condemned the government of Belarus for accepting to extradite a blogger to Azerbaijan.
“The Armenian National Committee of Australia calls on the Australian government, as well as all human rights and civil liberty organisations in Australia and internationally, to join us in condemning this blatant act of the Azerbaijani dictatorship in attempting to ‘export’ its repression of freedom of speech,” stated ANC-AU Managing Director, Vache Kahramanian.

Kahramanian added: “It must not be allowed to succeed nor encouraged.”
“Azerbaijan’s record as a persecutor of press freedom is renowned, and the acceptance of this extradition request by the government of Belarus makes it complicit in Lapshin’s inevitable fate,” said AYF-AU’s Aram Tufenkjian.

“We are staging a silent protest at the Embassy of Belarus in Canberra against the silence that the Belarus government is allowing Aliyev to impose. The world needs the likes of Alexander Lapshin to expose dictatorships like Aliyev, who rules his citizens with an iron fist, while butchering Armenian soldiers every day despite an internationally negotiated ceasefire.”

Alex Galitsky of the ASA, who represented the Office of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) in Australia at the Protest, highlighted the inequitable charges being pursued against Lapshin by Azerbaijan.
“The specific clauses in the Azeri criminal code Lapshin supposedly violated – clause 281.2, forbidding the public call or support for harming the ‘territorial integrity’ of Azerbaijan; and clause 318.2, which forbids crossing Azerbaijan’s political borders without express permission – demonstrate how violations of the right to freedom of speech and freedom of movement are legally enshrined in Azeri penal code,” Galitsky explained.

“The sentences for each violation are 5-8 years for the first clause, and up to 5 years for the second. This potentially means a total of 13 years imprisonment for doing nothing more than calling for self-determination and security for the people of Artsakh, and the provision of basic human rights to the people of Azerbaijan.”

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received today Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Armenia Tian Erlong.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to intensification of economic cooperation between the two countries. The sides expressed satisfaction with the joint projects implemented in different sectors and discussed cooperation in promising areas.

Thankful for the assistance provided to our country by the Chinese government, Karen Karapetyan stressed the need to overhaul bilateral relations. “I want Chinese businessmen to feel comfortable in Armenia. We also want to establish air communication with China,” the Head of Government noted.

The Premier said his government interested in attracting foreign direct investment in the economy and ready to assist Chinese entrepreneurs with their possible involvement in Armenia. He suggested developing specific programs, noting that they would be discussed in all detail by the Government of Armenia.

The Chinese Ambassador said the Chinese side attaches great importance to the deepening of economic cooperation with Armenia and is going to organize a series of events that might contribute to the implementation of investment projects.

On the second day of his official visit to Russia, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan laid a wreath at the Monument to Unknown Soldier, The Premier next called at the Holy Transfiguration Church of the New Nakhijevan and Russia Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

After the prayer of praise, Primate of the New Nakhijevan and Russia Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Reverend Father Yezras Archbishop Nersisyan addressed words of greeting and blessing to Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan and his delegation, wishing them fruitful work.

Describing  the Prime Minister’s visit as historic, Yezras Archbishop Nersisyan stressed that Karen Karapetyan has an important role to play not only as a politician and senior official, but also as a benefactor.

At the end of the visit, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan toured the Prelacy headquarters.

Photo: AFP

 

The Iraqi army says it has recaptured all of eastern Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, the BBC reports.

Counter-terror chief Talib Shaghati told reporters the army had taken control of the eastern bank of the Tigris river, which divides the city.

Government forces have made swift advances through eastern Mosul since launching their latest offensive there last month.

Some IS fighters are reportedly still holed up in north-eastern districts.

Mosul is Iraq’s second-largest city and the last urban stronghold IS has in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Bartalla, a town east of Mosul, Mr Shaghati announced the “liberation” of the city’s east.

The Georgian Government has given nod to a deal with Gazprom on the terms of gas transit to Armenia, Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze has declared, Gruzia Online reports.

The Minister said the parties would shift to partial monetization of payments for the transit of Russian gas to Armenia.

Kaladze noted that “the changes will not increase Georgia’s dependence on Russia.”

Previously, Russia paid Georgia for gas transportation by supplying natural gas in the amount of 10% of the transported gas volume, but the agreement expired on December 31.

“As a result of multi-round talks we managed to reach an optimal proposal with the exiting circumstances taken into account,” Kakha Kaladze told reporters after the government sitting. “The government discussed and decided to sign the deal,” he added.

The Minister said the rates will be among the highest in Europe.

Last year Georgia transported 2.1 cubic meters of natural gas through its pipeline from Russian to Armenia, of which 0.3 cubic meters stayed in Georgia.

Armenian Weekly —Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia announced on Monday that the Cilician Catholicosate will be submitting the legal case for the return of the Sis Catholicosate to the European Court of Human Rights on December 6.

“Tomorrow, the sixth of December will be an important day for the Armenian people in general and the Armenian church in particular,” Catholicos Aram I announced in a live video address from the current seat of the Catholicosate in Antelias, Lebanon.

The Catholicos said that the decision was made after Turkey’s constitutional court denied the request of the Catholicosate.

“This is the first legal action taken against Turkey after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. This legal action is the result of a long and serious reflection, consultation, and study, and is based on the provisions of international law, including the decisions of the Lausanne Conference of 1932 pertaining to the minorities living within the boundaries of the Republic of Turkey,” Catholicos Aram said in his December 5 address.

The Catholicos first announced that the Cilician See was preparing to initiate legal claims against Turkey to regain ownership of the historic headquarters of the Catholicosate of Sis back in September 2014.

On April 28, 2015, the Catholicosate of Cilicia submitted a brief to the Constitutional Court in Turkey requesting the return of its historic spiritual center in Sis.

The Catholicosate’s St. Sophia church and monastery, and their surrounding lands, are located in the city of Kozan, in the Adana Province of the present-day Republic of Turkey. The headquarters, a center of Armenian religious life for more than seven centuries, was confiscated by the Turkish Government during the Armenian Genocide.

Below is the Aram I’s English address as transcribed by the Armenian Weekly.

***

Tomorrow, the sixth of December, will be an important day for the Armenian people in general and the Armenian church in particular.

The lawsuit demanding the return of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Sis will be formally submitted to the European Court of Human Rights. In fact, this is the first legal action taken against Turkey after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. This legal action is the result of a long and serious reflection, consultation, and study, and is based on the provisions of international law, including the decisions of the Lausanne Conference of 1932 pertaining to the minorities living within the boundaries of the Republic of Turkey.

This is a very important action—legal action—taken by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. In fact, for a hundred years, we laid the emphasis in our continuous efforts, within the framework of the Armenian cause, on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I believe that this is the time that we move from the stage of recognition to reparation, of course, without undermining the pivotal importance of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

I do believe that this is the high time, and, in fact, our legitimate right and sacred obligation, to claim the restoration of the ownership of the centuries old seat of the Catholicoasate in Sis. We should not forget and the international community should know that besides the one and a half million victims of the Armenian Genocide, thousands of Armenian churches, monasteries, community and church properties, including the individual properties, were confiscated by the Turkish authorities. Furthermore, 48 hours were given to the Catholicos Sahak of Cilicia to leave the premises of the Catholicosate with his parishes.

These are not fictions; they are facts of history. And we never forget these painful experiences of our people a hundred years ago. And it goes without saying, that forceful confiscation of properties is against international law.

Tomorrow, in Brussels, a press conference will take place with the participation of four members of our legal team. And through this press conference, our representatives will explain the various stages and dimensions, and expectations pertaining to this lawsuit.

Dear fellow Armenians,

The Armenian cause is the case of justice. It is the cause of violations of human rights. It is the cause of our people. We never forget the Armenian Genocide.

Recognition and reparation: this is our clear and firm position as a people and a church.

Therefore, it is my firm expectation that our people will continue to support all actions, initiatives, and programs that are aimed at the restoration of justice.

Justice—we want justice from the international community. That is the clear and firm position of our people.

May God bless you all.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed what they describe as a city that dates back more than 5,000 years, containing houses, tools, pottery and huge graves, the BBC reports.

It lies by the river Nile, close to the Temple of Seti the First in Abydos.

Experts say the size of the 15 newly discovered graves indicates the high social standing of those buried.

It is believed the city was home to important officials and tomb builders and would have flourished during early-era ancient Egyptian times.

Experts say the find could be a boost for Egypt’s struggling tourism industry which has been in the doldrums since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011.

Archaeologists have made a range of finds in the newly-discovered city including buildings, shards of pottery and tools.

Giuseppe Galati (Italy, EPP/CD) and Alan Meale (United Kingdom, SOC), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of obligations and commitments by Armenia visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today.

The guests laid flowers at the Eternal Fire and paid tribute to the memory of the victims with a minute of silence.

The co-rapporteurs visited the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute and familiarized with documents proving the Armenian Genocide.

Alan Meale noted that the atrocities and genocide committed against Armenians by Turks should be condemned by everyone. “Governments should recognize what has happened in reality. People must be informed, genocide should be taught at schools and everything should be done to prevent their reoccurrence,” he said.

According to Giuseppe Galati, the Council of Europe has been doing a huge work towards clarification and stabilization of relations between countries of different beliefs to avoid such tragedies.

More than 100 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were reported at the line of contact with the Karabakh forces last night.

The rival used firearms of different calibers as it fired over 2,400 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The Azeri forces also used an automatic grenade launcher in the northeastern (Yarimja) direction.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army confidently continued with their military duty and resorted to response actions only in case of extreme necessity.

On behalf of the European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA), I express my deepest concern regarding the current tensions along the Line of Contact between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, and condemn the grave violations of the cease-fire agreements perpetrated by the Azerbaijani forces since the early hours of Friday, November 11.

The shelling of the military posts near Talish and Yarmja with 60mm and 82mm mortars is the most severe escalation of the fragile situation since the April Four-Day War and the agreements reached at the summits held in Vienna and in St Petersburg earlier this year.

Running in parallel with Azerbaijan’s largest-scale military exercises ever, with 60,000 soldiers, heavy weaponry and all sorts of military material near the border with Nagorno-Karabakh, these grave violations of the cease-fire indicate  the real intentions of Azerbaijan, already revealed by its recurrent war rhetoric: to impede, at any costs, the implementation of the agreed measures for more effective monitoring of the cease-fire, the investigation of incidents in the Line of Contact and, ultimately, the resumption of the peace negotiations.

Unfortunately, the otherwise positive news of the adoption by the Council of a mandate for the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to negotiate, on behalf of the EU and its member states, a comprehensive agreement with the Republic of Azerbaijan, could not have come at a less opportune time. What is being announced by the EU as an opportunity for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation will be portrayed by the regime in Baku as an endorsement of its domestic repression of political opponents, civil society and free media, as well as of its dangerous warmongering.

We urge the European Union and its member states not to look the other way, and use all means available to prevent Azerbaijan from launching yet another offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, which would further jeopardise the peace efforts and could carry a heavy cost in human lives and infrastructure on both sides.