Author: Jhanna Virabian

Turkish press: Exhibit on diplomats killed by Armenian groups opens in Washington

Jhanna Virabian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
MAY 18, 2021 11:53 AM GMT+3
Turkey’s Directorate of Communications has opened an exhibition in the United States’ capital Washington, D.C. in memory of Turkish diplomats killed by Armenian terrorists, Washington, D.C., U.S., . (AA Photo)

Turkey’s Directorate of Communications has opened an exhibition in the United States’ capital Washington, D.C. in memory of Turkish diplomats killed by Armenian terrorists between 1973 and 1984.

The exhibition in Washington has become the second venue after opening its doors last month in Los Angeles, where Turkish diplomats were first targeted by Armenian terrorists.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) D.C. research director Kılıç Buğra Kanat said that the aim of the exhibition is to commemorate the Turkish diplomats killed by Armenian terrorists in the 1970s and 1980s.

It is the first time that this exhibition presents detailed stories of the diplomats, Kanat said and added: “Especially at a point when the Armenian issue came to the agenda in the United States and in a period when the 1915 events are frequently politicized, it is very important to commemorate diplomats killed by Armenian terrorist groups 30-40 years before.”

The diplomats were killed in countries where they were supposed to be protected and had diplomatic immunity, Kanat underlined, adding: “This is once again a reminder that everyone is responsible for the killing of diplomats despite the threats they received in the countries they resided in. Such incidents should not happen from now on.”

The exhibition reveals all the details about the terrorist attacks and assassinations that systematically targeted Turkey’s diplomatic representatives.

In the exhibition, which includes panels showing the terrorist attacks and assassinations carried out by Armenian terrorists by country and city-based graphics and a date strip, there are special images featuring the stories of the murdered diplomats, along with high-resolution photographs made with artificial intelligence technology.

The next stop of the exhibition will be New York City, Kılıç said.

Turkey’s Directorate of Communications has opened an exhibition in the United States’ capital Washington, D.C. in memory of Turkish diplomats killed by Armenian terrorists, Washington, D.C., U.S., . (AA Photo)
Turkey’s Directorate of Communications has opened an exhibition in the United States’ capital Washington, D.C. in memory of Turkish diplomats killed by Armenian terrorists, Washington, D.C., U.S., . (AA Photo)

In a statement for the “Martyr Diplomats Exhibition” released by the Directorate of Communications last month, it was stated that the attacks in the 1970s and 1980s carried out by Armenian terrorist groups – the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) and the Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) – killed 58 Turkish citizens, including 31 diplomats. A total of 77 people were killed in these attacks, and many were injured.

The statement added that the exhibition is dedicated to Turkish diplomats who continued their duties despite the threats and attacks by Armenian terrorist groups between 1973 and 1984 and lost their lives for this purpose.

Los Angeles was the place where Consul General Mehmet Baydar and Consul Bahadır Demir were killed by an Armenian terrorist on Jan. 27, 1973. Baydar and Demir were the first Turkish diplomats to be killed by Armenian terrorists.

In another terrorist attack on Jan. 28, 1982, Kemal Arıkan, Turkey’s consul general in Los Angeles, was killed by Armenian terrorists affiliated with the JCAG terrorist group.

These attacks were just two of the many assassinations of Turkish diplomats and family members around the world by Armenian terrorist groups that acted to avenge what they call the “genocide” of Armenians during the last years of the Ottoman Empire.

Between 1973 and 1993, a total of 33 Turkish diplomats, employees and families on Turkish diplomatic missions abroad were murdered by these Armenian terrorist groups.

Founded in 1975 in Beirut, Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War, ASALA is responsible for hundreds of bloody terrorist acts.

According to the 2006 study “Armenian Terror” by Ömer Engin Lütem, a former Turkish diplomat, the killings spanned continents, taking place in the U.S., Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, Iran and the United Kingdom.

While the Marxist-Leninist ASALA not only targeted Turkey but also other countries and became infamous for a 1975 bombing on the Beirut office of the World Council of Churches, the nationalistic JCAG only targeted Turkey because it believed that attacking other countries would damage the so-called “Armenian struggle.”

Armenian terrorist attacks intensified from 1980 to 1983, when 580 of the 699 attacks – over 80% – occurred.

In a period when allegations of the so-called “Armenian genocide” are being ignited by Armenian lobbies and some countries for political goals, the exhibition also focuses on Turkey’s efforts to reveal the truth and facts about the 1915 events. Last month, U.S. President Joe Biden recognized the events of 1915 as “genocide.”

Turkey objects to presenting the 1915 events as “genocide,” rather calling them a tragedy in which both Turks and Armenians suffered casualties in the heat of World War I. Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia under the supervision of international experts to examine the issue.

The mass arrests of prominent Ottoman Armenian politicians, intellectuals and other community members suspected of links with separatist groups, harboring nationalist sentiments and being hostile to the Ottoman rule were made in then-capital Istanbul on April 24, 1915. The date is commemorated as the beginning of later atrocities.

Public TV hardly covers Armenian ombudsman’s statements, Tatoyan reaffirms

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama,  Armenia
     

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan reaffirmed his position on Public TV Company that the TV station hardly covers the defender’s statements regarding the situation in Syunik Province and the rights of border residents.

“These statements are important because they contain specific messages; they are needed in the context of more effective protection of human rights in the future,” the ombudsman’s office said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

“The human rights defender referred to the coverage of the Public Television, as H1 is a publicly funded organization,” it added.

ARF Bureau Welcomes Biden’s Armenian Genocide Recognition

Jhanna Virabian

April 26, 2021



Armenian Revolutionary Federation

April 24, 2021 is a historic day for Armenians. It is a historic day because on the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the executive branch of the United States, led by President Joseph Biden, officially reaffirmed the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

As such, the United States effectively joined the ranks of several countries, which have not only recognized the Armenian Genocide in the legislative branch, but also the executive branch.

The use of the term “genocide” by the President of the United States is extremely important today because it provides the factual assessment of the genocidal acts committed by Turkey—which overtly engaged in the 44-day Artsakh war—106 years ago and its more than a century-long genocidal policies.

This achievement is the result of the decades-long unwavering, unrelenting and dedicated efforts of the ARF bodies in the United States, the Armenian National Committee of America and its branches as well as thousands of dedicated individuals. It is also reflection of the Armenian-American community’s belief in our bodies, committees and offices, as well as the continued commitment of Armenians, and the American allies, friends, supporters and political officials.

ARF The Bureau expresses its gratitude to all those who fought tirelessly for this success. Job well done!

The U.S. statement makes it clear that we must continue our struggle unequivocally until Turkey accepts its historic responsibility and makes just reparations. The Armenian Cause does not take a break. The violated rights of the Armenians will be restored. Armenia and Armenians will have their rightful place in the world family of nations. Armenians will have the opportunity to live and flourish safely in their homeland.

Onward we march toward new achievements and victories.

ARF Bureau
April 24, 2021
Yerevan





Turkish press: Turkey, others should avoid Russian weapons: Blinken

Jhanna Virabian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
APR 28, 2021 9:55 PM GMT+3
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken participates in a virtual bilateral meeting with Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta during a videoconference at the State Department in Washington, D.C., the U.S., April 27, 2021. (Reuters Photo)


U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Turkey and all other U.S. allies should refrain from making further purchases of Russian weaponry, saying this could trigger more sanctions.

Ties between NATO allies Turkey and the U.S. were badly strained in 2019 over Ankara’s acquisition of the advanced S-400 air defense system, prompting Washington to remove Turkey from its F-35 Lightning II jet program. The U.S. argued that the system was incompatible with NATO systems and could be used by Russia to covertly obtain classified information on the F-35 jets. Turkey, however, insists that the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not pose a threat to the alliance.

Back in December, the U.S. decided to impose sanctions on Turkey over the purchase of Russian-made missile defense systems.

“It’s also very important going forward that Turkey, and for that matter all U.S. allies and partners, avoid future purchases of Russian weaponry, including additional S-400s,” Blinken said at a virtual event at Washington’s Foreign Press Center.

“Any significant transactions with Russian defense entities, again, could be subject to the law, to CAATSA, and that’s separate from and in addition to the sanctions that have already been imposed,” he said, referring to the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act, which is designed to dissuade countries from buying military equipment from the NATO foe.

Blinken also said that given President Joe Biden’s widely-known views, his recent declaration on 1915 events should not have come as a surprise.

Last Saturday, Biden called the events of 1915 a “genocide,” breaking with American presidents’ long tradition of refraining from using the term.

Biden’s remarks came in a customary statement on the anniversary, a day after speaking with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Biden is said to have acknowledged during the conversation that he planned to go ahead with the statement and was seeking to placate the expected uproar from NATO ally Turkey.

After the remarks, the Turkish nation stood united against the misrepresentation of history, as citizens from all political views flocked to social media platforms to express their anger. The Turkish government and opposition parties have also stood united against Biden’s move.

Erdoğan on Monday following a Cabinet meeting, called upon U.S. authorities to come to Turkey and “inspect the evidence with regards to 1915.”

“I am speaking based on evidence, unlike Biden. We have over 1 million documents related to the 1915 events in our archives. I am wondering how many documents the United States has,” he said.

“Armenian gangs, who numbered at least 150,000 to 300,000 people, carried out massacres in Turkish territory. Furthermore, they partnered with Russian forces to fight against us. The Ottoman authorities took precautions,” he said, underlining the crimes perpetrated by Armenian gangs at the time.

Erdoğan once again voiced Turkey’s proposal to set up a joint history commission.

Turkey’s position on the 1915 events is that the death of Armenians in eastern Anatolia took place when some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties, added to by massacres committed by militaries and militia groups on both sides.

Armenia changes vaccination regulations for COVID-19

Jhanna Virabian

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 15:18,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. So far only 2641 vaccinations against COVID-19 were carried out in Armenia, the Deputy Director General of the National Center of Disease Control and Prevention Gayane Sahakyan told a news conference. However, she noted that a daily 4-5% growth in vaccinations is observed.

None of the persons who received vaccinations experienced any serious adverse reactions, she said.

“We’ve only had expected reactions, such as mild fever, general weakness, flu-like symptoms, which subside quickly,” she said.

The vaccination regulations have been changed across the country, and now all persons above the age of 18 are eligible to get the AstraZeneca shot, unlike the previous regulation allowing a certain age group and at-risk people to receive it.

In addition, the polyclinics where the vaccinations are carried out are now working on weekends also.

The Sputnik V vaccine is available for at-risk persons below the age of 54.

Citizens willing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus can now apply to any polyclinic across the country, whereas previously they could get the shot only in the polyclinic of their registration.

Also, foreign citizens with residence permits can get the vaccine.

Armenia now uses the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines.

Sahakyan says they are expecting the supplies of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine soon.

“We’ll have other vaccines in the future also,” she said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenian Apostolic Church condemns Azerbaijani ban on previously agreed priest ordination in Dadivank Monastery

Jhanna Virabian

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 12:52,

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. Head of the information department at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Vahram Melikyan commented on the reports according to which Azerbaijani servicemen banned pilgrims to enter into the Dadivank Monastery on April 25.

In an interview to Armenpress, Mr. Melikyan confirmed the reports, condemning Azerbaijan’s behavior.

-There has been a report that on April 25 Azerbaijani servicemen didn’t allow the pilgrims to visit the Dadivank Monastery. Is this report true?

-Yes, the report is true. On April 25, the Azerbaijani servicemen banned Primate of the Artsakh Diocese, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan and a group of pilgrims to enter into the Monastery, mentioning the pandemic as a reason. However, an ordination of a priest was scheduled in the Monastery on that day, which has been notified earlier and agreed upon with the Russian peacekeeping command.

However, it was impossible to approach the Monastery despite the agreements.

It’s obvious that the Azerbaijani side wished to fail the priest ordination, but the ceremony was held in the Gandzasar Monastery on the same day in the evening.

-How would you comment on Azerbaijan’s such behavior, which, in fact, violates the agreements reached by Russia’s mediation over the visits of pilgrims to Dadivank?

-Such rejectionist behavior of Azerbaijan must be condemned as it creates artificial barriers for the Armenian historical monastery and its spiritual congregation mission, violates the agreements reached by the mediation of the Russian authorities.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenpress: Organizations representing various nationalities issue statement on Armenian Genocide anniversary

Jhanna Virabian

Organizations representing various nationalities issue statement on Armenian Genocide anniversary

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 20:24,

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. Organizations representing Armenians, Assyrians, Syriacs, Yazidis, Chaldeans, and Greeks in different countries have issued a joint statement on the occasion of the remembrance day of the Armenian Genocide victims. ARMENPRESS reports the statement issues in yazda.org website runs as follows,

”On the eve of the first official United States presidential recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as community organizations representing Armenians, Assyrians, Yazidis, and other organizations who are advocating for victims, we wish to share a recognition of our own.

April 24, 1915, marked the day intellectuals and leaders of the Armenian community were killed, initiating a program against the Armenian people. On this day, we must remember the lives lost to genocide. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed.

We must also remember that genocide creates a culture of impunity setting a fertile ground for future atrocities and crimes against humanity. Precedence is legitimized when justice is not promptly and fully realized. This is true in the case of the Armenians, as it is true in the cases of other genocides, including the Da’esh genocide against the Yazidis, Christians, and others.

As genocide by Da’esh continues in Sinjar, safety and security are also under severe threat as military airstrikes by the Turkish Air Forces continue to bomb villages inhabited by the Assyrians and Yazidis. Insecurity is now a chronic ailment, giving no capacity to initiate policies to rebuild Sinjar and return the more than 300,000 people displaced since the start of the genocide. The Yazidis, Christians, and other religious minorities continue to face the threats of further atrocities and even community extermination. Our communities are evidence of how humanity pays the most severe of consequences when justice is not served.

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the President of the United States Joseph Biden, following that of U.S. Congress, is a critical milestone. On the occasion of this commemoration, we call for the full, all-inclusive recognition of all acts of genocide that deserve equal honor. However, it cannot stop at words. It is indispensable that policies and actions preventing and responding to genocide be grounded in comprehensive approaches that ensure accountability and justice for all survivors, families of victims, and communities”.

List of co-signatories:

Yazda- Yazidi Global Organization (USA)

The Zovighian Partnership (Lebanon)

Shams Humanitarian NGO (Armenia)

Coalition for Genocide Response (U.K)

Emma Organization for Human Development

Assyrian Policy Institute (USA)

Masarat MCMD (Iraq)

German Minister of State for Europe expresses support for OSCE MG Co-chair’s format

Jhanna Virabian

German Minister of State for Europe expresses support for OSCE MG Co-chair’s format

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 18:14,

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. German Federal Government’s Special Representative for the Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth expressed support for the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in their mediation efforts for Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, ARMENPRESS reports Roth said, answering the question of Azerbaijani MP Rafael Hüseynov.

‘’As the Committee of Ministers has mentioned several times, implementing a mediation mission in the settlement process of the conflict is the responsibility of the OSCE Minsk Group. I fully support the continuous efforts under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, particularly, in the direction f elimination of the numerous dramatic consequences of the conflict. Here I would like to note that the Co-chairs recently reminded the sides that extra efforts are necessary for solving the existing problems and creating an atmosphere of mutual confidence that will contribute to reaching sustainable peace’’, Roth said.

On April 13 the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs recorded with satisfaction the ceasefire regime in Nagorno Karabakh reinforced and noted that they follow the implementation process of the November 9, 2020 declaration.