Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ISRAEL HELPED RUSSIA HACK GEORGIAN DRONES – WIKILEAKS

REUTERS

Publications by Wikileaks

Gary Hershorn 16:44 29/02/2012MOSCOW, February 29 (RIA Novosti,
Alexey Eremenko)

A swap deal between Russia and Israel in 2008 provided the Russian
military with secret codes for Georgian drones, while Jerusalem
obtained access to information on Iranian missile systems, according
to fresh publications by Wikileaks.

Georgia purchases its unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel, which
later gave Moscow the “data link” code in exchange for codes for
Tor-M1 missile complexes that Russia sold to Iran, said a leaked
letter attributed to Stratfor private intelligence company.

Whistleblowing site Wikileaks announced on Sunday that it started to
publish some five million emails by Stratfor, or Strategic Forecasting
Inc., a Texas-based intelligence company founded in 1996 and attested
by media as the “shadow CIA.”

Stratfor said that at least some emails could be authentic, but did
not elaborate. The company’s website was hacked in 2011 by a group
of politicized hackers known as the Anonymous.

Stratfor’s alleged email on the Russian-Israeli swap cited an unnamed
source described as a “former Mexican cop, Latam military analyst.”

Georgia tried to purchase new drones from a private defense contractor
in Mexico in hopes of replacing those compromised in July 2008, a
month before its five-day war with Russia over the breakaway province
of South Ossetia, in which Russia emerged victorious.

Georgian officials also sought to purchase additional ammunition and
helicopters, but the deal fell through because the supplier, Idra,
was “advised that it would raise a lot of political complications
between Mexico and Russia,” the source said.

“The Georgians were pretty much looking for anyone who would sell
to them and were willing to pay top dollar,” the letter said, adding
in parantheses: “(This shows how frantic the Georgians were in July
knowing that war is coming.)”

Tbilisi later tried to sell the compromised drones to neighboring
Azerbaijan, but it remains unclear whether the deal was completed,
the source said.

No governments implicated in the deal have commented on the leak as
of Wednesday afternoon.

Stratfor’s alleged emails disclosed earlier also named Russian
Prosecutor General Yury Chaika as an informant of the company, saying
he supplied it with data on turf wars in the Kremlin. Chaika’s office
dismissed the report as “provocation.”

ARMENIA MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF POGROMS IN AZERBAIJAN AMID GROWING RISK OF WAR
by: Lilit Gevorgyan

Global Insight
February 29, 2012

Vigils were held in Armenia, self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,
and in countries with large Armenian communities on 27-28 February
to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the pogroms of Armenians in
the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait in February 1988, and in January
1990 in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. The events were also marked
by United States House floor statements by a number of US Congress
Representatives. The anniversary of the twin tragedy that took place
under Soviet rule comes at a time when Armenia and Azerbaijan are
drifting further apart as a peace deal remains elusive.

Twenty-two years have passed since the outbreak of the conflict over
the decision by the mainly ethnic Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous
Region to leave the then Soviet Azerbaijan and join Armenia, another
Soviet republic. A war resulted in the deaths of 30,000 people and
the displacement over a 1.5 million people on both sides. Since the
1988-1994 war which ended with Azerbaijan’s defeat the latter has
been growing in its military confidence and is seeking a military
solution to the problem. The ongoing revamping of the Azerbaijani army
thanks to energy export-generated income has alarmed international and
local observers. Perhaps most worryingly the anti-Armenian rhetoric
continues to increase in Azerbaijan–a trend noted and criticised by
EU bodies–which in turn lessens the chances of the Caspian country
to convince the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to consider the option
of returning under Baku’s control. The recent arms deal between
Israel and Azerbaijan worth USD1.6 billion and open statements by
Azerbaijan’s president of potentially choosing the military solution
to the conflict add to growing concerns that the war could return to
the region in the near future.

Significance:Compared with the actual conflict the number of
Armenian victims of the pogroms in Sumgait and Baku are in the
hundreds. Yet these events stand out as the pogroms were carried
out by Azerbaijanis in the cities very far from the actual zone of
conflict and before the outbreak of the full-scale war in 1991 and
there is more evidence of collusion between the Kremlin and the local
Soviet authorities in the run up to the events. Lack of recognition
by current Azerbaijani authorities of the ethnic persecution is often
cited by the Nagorno-Karabakhi Armenians as a sign that not much has
changed in modern-day Azerbaijan in terms of ethnic tolerance, hence
return under Baku’s control is not realistic and bears the threat
of more ethnic cleansing. Part of a peaceful solution of the current
dangerous stand-off between the parties is addressing the grievances
on both sides caused by the conflict but there are no signs of any
truth and reconciliation processes starting anytime soon.

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: RELATIVES OF MARCH 1 TRAGEDY SEND LETTERS TO EUROPEAN OFFICIALS

Tert.am
01.03.12

The paper says it has learned from sources that the relatives of the
individuals who were killed during the March 1, 2008 post electoral
turmoil in capital Yerevan have sent letters to senior European
officials.

In seven letters addressed to the chiefs of different European
organizations, the parents of the March 1 victims call those people’s
attention to the attempts to mask their children’s murder and the
European organization’s role in such efforts, according to the paper.

“As a matter of fact, nothing is being done to resolve the March 1
murders, the case being actually suspended by the Special Investigative
Service. But no official statements are made in that connection for
fear of a public fuss,” the paper comments.

CONGRESSMAN SHERMAN EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE TO JAVAKH, COMMEMORATES SUMGAIT ANNIVERSARY

armradio.am
01.03.2012 12:23

During the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the
Administration’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2013, Congressman Brad Sherman
(D-CA) expressed support for U.S. assistance to the Javakh region of
Georgia, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

Congressman Sherman, noting the generous U.S. aid provided to
Georgia, requested that the Armenian community residing in the Javakh
region of Georgia benefit from such assistance targeted to that
area. Sherman relayed his understanding through the Georgian Embassy
that the Georgian government is supportive of assisting Javakh and
stressed that these efforts would help achieve U.S. strategic goals
in the Caucasus. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was
testifying before the Committee, indicated that she will respond to
the Congressman in writing.

Sherman told the Assembly that he also plans to ask the Secretary
additional questions for the record, including U.S. assistance to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, as well as Turkey’s ongoing blockade
of Armenia.

Also Congressman Sherman commemorated the 24th anniversary of the
1988 Sumgait pogrom, in which innocent Armenians were targeted in
Azerbaijan. In his House floor statement, Sherman stated: “We will
not forget the ethnic-cleansing of the Armenians from Azerbaijan…We
must urge Azerbaijan to cease all threats and acts of coercion against
the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.”

PHILIPPE KALTENBACH DEMANDE LA CREATION D’UNE MISSION D’INFORMATION PARLEMENTAIRE SUR LA PENALISATION DU NEGATIONNISME
Ara

armenews.com
jeudi 1er mars 2012

Philippe Kaltenbach, Senateur PS des Hauts-de-Seine et President du
groupe d’amitie France Armenie, qui avait exprime en seance publique le
lundi 23 janvier dernier la position du groupe socialiste en faveur
de la proposition de loi ” tendant a reprimer la contestation de
l’existence des genocides reconnus par la loi “, demande la creation
d’une mission d’information parlementaire sur la penalisation de la
negation des genocides.

Philippe Kaltenbach declare : ” Comme toutes celles et ceux qui se
sont mobilises depuis 10 ans pour que soit enfin sanctionnee la
penalisation de la negation du genocide armenien en France, j’ai
pris acte avec regret de la decision rendue hier par le Conseil
Constitutionnel. Je partage l’amertume de nos compatriotes d’origine
armenienne. Les sages ont dit le droit mais le legislateur doit
poursuivre son travail pour proteger nos concitoyens des assauts du
negationnisme. De tels agissements ne sont pas tolerables en France
et foulent aux pieds nos valeurs de respect et de tolerance. Nous ne
pouvons rester inactifs après cette censure. ”

Le President du groupe d’amitie France Armenie du Senat ajoute :
” Il convient donc de creer une mission d’information parlementaire
sur la question de la penalisation des genocides en France. J’ai ecrit
(lettre ci-jointe) au President du groupe d’amitie France Armenie de
l’Assemblee Nationale afin que nous initiions ensemble cette mission
d’information qui devra permettre, grâce a un travail approfondi, de
degager un consensus. Le negationnisme n’aura jamais sa place dans
la Republique. Il ne constitue en rien, a l’instar du racisme, une
opinion. Chaque citoyen doit pouvoir honorer sereinement la memoire de
ses ancetres. Le legislateur doit affirmer haut et fort ce principe. ”

Le Senateur des Hauts-de-Seine conclut : ” Ce nouveau debat au sein
de la representation nationale devra etre mene en dehors de toute
precipitation. En imposant au Parlement un calendrier très resserre,
le President candidat a desservi la cause qu’il entendait defendre. Il
faut du temps pour demontrer la coherence de la demarche dans laquelle
nous voulons inscrire une telle loi. Ce temps a fait defaut au Senat et
a l’Assemblee Nationale. L’empressement du Chef de l’Etat a fait peser
sur la demarche du legislateur de lourdes suspicions. En annoncant
hier qu’il demandait au garde des Sceaux de preparer un nouveau texte,
M. Sarkozy retombe dans les memes travers. Legiferer, c’est ecouter,
debattre et decider. Ce n’est que par le biais d’echanges riches et
nombreux que nous parviendrons a demontrer que le legislateur est bien
dans le rôle que lui confère la Constitution en voulant sanctionner
le negationnisme. ”

SCHIFF PRESSES CLINTON ON MISREPRESENTING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Clinton speaks at House sub-committee hearing on Wednesday

WASHINGTON-In response to a question by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
regarding her recent statements misrepresenting the Armenian Genocide
as a ‘historical debate,’ Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on
Wednesday avoided proper reference to the genocide, instead arguing
that the “terrible events” should be a matter of discussion between
Turkey and Armenia alone.

In his question at House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Foreign
Operations, Rep. Schiff referenced the U.S. record of affirming the
Armenian Genocide, citing a document submitted to the International
Court of Justice in 1951 clearly referencing the Armenian Genocide,
President Ronald Reagan’s affirmation of the Armenian Genocide in
1981 and Secretary Clinton’s own statements as Senator properly
characterizing those crimes.

“The Armenian Genocide is a crime against all humanity, requiring
international justice, not a bilateral conflict between nations
needing mediation,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“According to her morally and factually flawed logic, America and
the international community should have remained silent in the
face of the Holocaust and other genocides, in Rwanda and elsewhere,
leaving it to the perpetrators and victims of these crimes to come to
a common understanding of their past. It’s truly a sad spectacle to
see Secretary Clinton pressured by Turkey to dance around the truth
and play word games with genocide.”

Both Representatives Jesse Jackson (D-IL) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
associated themselves with Rep. Schiff’s statement and inquiry during
the hearing.

Earlier this week, more than 60 Members of the House of Representatives
sent a letter to Secretary Clinton, asking her to renounce her recent
public mischaracterization of the Armenian Genocide. In that letter,
Members stated that the “historically inaccurate description of the
Armenian Genocide as an open question, in addition to the offense
it represents to Armenian Americans and other victims of genocide,
provides American encouragement to the Republic of Turkey in its
shameful campaign of denial.”

Read the Congressional letter to Clinton.

Below are excerpts from the transcript of Schiff’s questions and
Secretary Clinton’s responses from the hearing:

SCHIFF: And I want to join my colleagues in thanking you for your
extraordinary service to the country at a time when the Middle East
is in turmoil, we have the succession going on in North Korea, new
challenges from Iran, rising leadership from China. Having your steady
hand at the tiller of the ship of state is a great comfort to all
of us. We were enormously proud of the very strong remarks you made
on the Syrian crisis, and the well-deserved criticism you leveled at
Russia and China for their complicity in the ongoing violence.

But set against this stellar record of achievement are some actions
that were taken by you and the administration with regard to the
Armenian genocide that are of great concern. I can’t begin to express
in mere words how much anguish has been caused in the Armenian-American
community and among human rights activists about recent statements
at a State Department Town Hall that you made.

In 1951, while the experience of the Holocaust was still tragically
fresh, the United States issued this statement at the International
Court of Justice. It was the statement of the United States government
on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, and
it said, ” … the Roman persecution of the Christians, the Turkish
massacres of Armenians, the extermination of millions of Jews and
Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of the crime of genocide.”

Again, in the 1980s President Reagan recognized the Armenian genocide,
as did the Congress. And as recently as just a few years ago, both
you as senator and our president as senator, spoke unequivocally of
the Armenian genocide.

Your comments were very powerful. ” … the horrible events perpetrated
by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of
genocide.” you said. “Our common morality and our nation’s credibility
as a voice for human rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian
genocide be recognized and remembered by the Congress and the president
of the United States.”

But last month you made some very different statements, and said, ” …

I think it’s fair to say that this has always been viewed, and I think
properly so, as a matter of historical debate and conclusions, rather
than political. And I think that this is the right posture for the
U.S. government to be in, because whatever the terrible event might
be, or the high emotions that it represents, to try to use government
power to resolve historical issues I think opens a door that is very
dangerous to go through.

This is, tragically, very much the line of the Turkish government. And
many in the Armenian community are wondering how we could go from such
a powerful position in the state senate, such a powerful position
that we took decades ago before the International Court of Justice,
the powerful voice that President Reagan brought to this issue,
to where we were last month.

And I want to ask you, is there any question that you have that the
facts of that tragic period between 1915 and 1923 constitute genocide?

Do you have any different view on the subject now than you did as a
state – as a U.S. senator?

CLINTON: Well, Congressman, you know, you quoted something that I said
in response to a question about France trying to criminalize speech
about this terrible event in history. And I do think criminalizing
speech is a dangerous path to go down. And in fact, as I understand
it, the French courts just declared that law unconstitutional under
the French constitution.

So let me be very clear. The United States recognizes the events of
1915 as one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. And every
April 24th the president honors the victims and expresses American
solidarity with the Armenian people.

And the president has said in his Remembrance Day statements that the
achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts
of what happened is in everyone’s interest.

He’s also said that the best way to advance that goal is for the
Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a
part of their effort to move forward.

And President Obama, like presidents before him, strongly supports the
efforts of Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations.

So we believe that this is a position that fully reflects the terrible
events of 1915 but also is aimed at trying to create a climate in
which these two peoples and nations can move forward together.

SCHIFF: I – I’m sorry to interrupt but I – I’m gonna run out of time.

And – and no one is quarreling with a position against criminalizing
speech in this country. No one is advocating that.

” LA RELANCE DE LA PROCEDURE PAR SARKOZY TRADUIT UNE OBSTINATION ” (BAYROU)
Ara

armenews.com
mercredi 29 fevrier 2012

PARIS, 28 fev 2012 (AFP) – Le candidat MoDem a la presidentielle
Francois Bayrou a estime mardi que la relance par Nicolas Sarkozy
de la procedure sur la loi punissant la contestation du genocide
armenien, censuree mardi par le Conseil constitutionnel, traduisait
“une obstination”.

“La relance de cette procedure par Nicolas Sarkozy traduit aujourd’hui
une obstination dangereuse dont on comprend bien l’inspiration en
periode electorale mais qu’un chef d’Etat dans sa responsabilite ne
devrait pas encourager”, a declare a l’AFP le depute et president
du MoDem.

Pour le leader centriste, “le Conseil constitutionnel a, comme
on pouvait s’y attendre, sagement censure un texte controverse et
dangereux” : “le legislateur ne peut pas soumettre a la loi penale
l’expression d’opinions qui font l’objet de debats a l’interieur de
pays etrangers”, fait-il valoir.

“L’UMP et le PS, soutenus par Nicolas Sarkozy, ont refuse d’entendre
les arguments qui avaient ete avances, notamment par Robert Badinder,
et que j’avais moi-meme soutenus a l’Assemblee nationale”, deplore
le president du MoDem qui avait refuse de voter ce texte.

Francois Bayrou avait en revanche vote la loi de 2001 sur la
reconnaissance du genocide armenien.

Le Conseil constitutionnel a censure mardi la loi punissant la
contestation du genocide armenien en 1915, a l’origine d’une brouille
entre Paris et Ankara, jugeant qu’elle etait contraire a la liberte
d’expression.

Nicolas Sarkozy a aussitôt charge le gouvernement de preparer un
nouveau texte prenant en compte la censure du Conseil constitutionnel.

GOASGUEN (UMP) : LA DECISION DES SAGES ” OUVRE LA PORTE ” A LA CONTESTATION DE LA LOI GAYSSOT
Ara

armenews.com
mercredi 29 fevrier 2012

PARIS, 28 fev 2012 (AFP) – Le depute UMP de Paris Claude Goasguen
a juge mardi “extremement critiquable” la censure du Conseil
constitutionnel sur la loi penalisant la negation du genocide armenien,
qui, selon lui, “ouvre la porte” a la contestation de la loi Gayssot.

“Je trouve la decision du Conseil constitutionnel extremement
critiquable. Le negationnisme n’est pas une atteinte a la liberte
d’expression. Le negationnisme actif, que le gouvernement turc n’a
cesse de propager en France (…), est quelque chose que je considère
comme tout a fait different de la liberte d’expression”, a declare
le depute de Paris, dans les couloirs de l’Assemblee.

“On ouvre la porte a un problème beaucoup plus grave que celui du
problème armenien : celui de la loi Gayssot sur le negationnisme (ndrl
: cette loi de 1990 qualifie de delit la contestation des crimes contre
l’humanite tels que definis par le tribunal de Nuremberg). A partir du
moment où le Conseil constitutionnel reconnaît que tout est permis,
qu’on peut dire n’importe quoi en matière de negationnisme, la loi
Gayssot risque d’etre attaquee devant le Conseil constitutionnel a
partir de la jurisprudence des Armeniens”, a-t-il considere.

“Les Faurisson et autres, a partir de cette decision, vont mettre
une question prealable de constitutionnalite (QPC) devant le Conseil
constitutionnel qui ne pourra pas la refuser”, a-t-il dit.

Le depute UMP Michel Diefenbacher, un des signataires du recours au
Conseil constitutionnel, lui a indirectement repondu en considerant
que la loi Gayssot est “de toute autre nature puisqu’elle relève
d’une decision de justice d’un tribunal penal international”.

“A l’origine de la loi Gayssot, a-t-il explique, il y a une decision
juridictionnelle rendue par la Cour internationale de Nuremberg. La loi
Gayssot n’a fait que transposer dans le droit francais cette decision
juridictionnelle. Dans le cas du genocide armenien, il n’y a aucune
decision juridictionnelle, c’etait une initiative du Parlement qui
n’a pas de competence pour intervenir dans ce domaine”.

L’UE SOUHAITE ACCEDER A LA REGION DU HAUT-KARABAGH SANS LA PERMISSION DE BAKOU
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 29 fevrier 2012

L’Union europeenne a indique son intention d’etablir des contacts
directs avec le Haut-Karabagh et de renforcer son implication dans les
efforts internationaux pour resoudre le conflit armeno-azerbaïdjanais.

Les responsables de la politique etrangère et de de la defense de l’UE
se sont reunis lundi 27 fevrier 2012 a Bruxelles et ont exprime leurs
preoccupations sur la lenteur des progrès concernant les pourparlers
armeno-azerbaïdjanaises par l’intermediaire du groupe de Minsk. L’UE
a exhorte Bakou et Erevan a intensifier leurs efforts pour s’entendre
sur les principes de base sur la question du Haut-Karabagh. La reunion
etait dirigee par Catherine Ashton, en charge des affaires etrangères
de l’UE et chef de la politique de securite. ” L’UE souligne la
necessite d’un accès inconditionnel aux representants de l’UE dans
la region du Haut-Karabakh et dans les regions environnantes. ” Les
fonctionnaires a Bruxelles ont declare a RFE / RL la semaine dernière
que l’UE souhaite specifiquement un accès a la region du Haut-Karabagh
sans l’autorisation prealable du gouvernement azerbaïdjanais.” Le
manque de contacts avec les Armeniens du Karabagh entravent une plus
grande implication de l’UE dans le processus de paix. ” L’UE souhaite
en complementarite avec le groupe de Minsk et ne cherche pas a le
remplacer.” L’UE continue a soutenir le Groupe de Minsk de l’OSCE et
reconnaît dans ce contexte les efforts deployes par le President russe
Dmitri Medvedev pour avoir accelere les pourparlers trilateraux [avec
l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan] “. La declaration contient des references
plus detaillees sur les conflits en Ossetie du Sud et en Abkhazie,
en reiterant le soutien de l’UE pour la souverainete de la Georgie.

LE MONT ARARAT SERA LA TOMBE DES ARMENIENS !
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
mercredi 29 fevrier 2012

La haine raciste anti-armenienne se repand dans plusieurs villes
de Turquie

Le pretexte des commemorations des tragiques evenements survenus
a Khodjalou en 1992, a donne l’occasion a des milliers d’
ultra-nationalistes turcs de laisser parler leur veritable nature
sans que les autorites n’y voient rien a redire, où si peu que c’en
est insignifiant, mais surtout inquietant.

Après le desormais odieux slogan “Vous etes tous des Armeniens,
vous etes tous des bâtards”, le racisme turc a atteint son paroxisme
a l’Universite Suleyman Demirel a Isaparta quand les etudiants ont
scande en choeur “Le mont Ararat deviendra votre tombe “.

Jamais où que ce soit dans le monde, aucun armenien n’a profere de
telles violences verbales a l’egard du peuple turc. Et cela s’est passe
sous les yeux d’un ministre de l’interieur qui lui-meme en remettra une
couche publiquement, incitant a la haine et accusant les armeniens :
“Vous les buveurs de sang ! Les meurtriers ! Les sans pitie ! Les sans
coeur ! Tant que le peuple Turc vivra vous paierez ce sang verse et
vous nous rendrez des comptes !”.

D’autres, comme le vice-President Mehmet Bekaroglu du parti HAS (La
voix du peuple) n’est pas reste très longtemps car la manifestation
devenait beaucoup trop rasciste et insultante.

“Les loup gris sont ici ou sont les Hrant ?!” criaient les
manifestants.

Mais ce n’est pas tout. D’autres slogans menacant ont ete prononces
contre la population armenienne, comme celui-ci : “” Aujourd’hui
Taksim, demain a Erevan : Nous descendrons sur vous subitement dans
la nuit.”, rapporte le journal Radikal.

Selon plusieurs temoignages, les journalistes presents lors de la
manifestation de Taksim ont eux-memes ete choques par tant de haine
deversee.

L’annulation de la loi Boyer devrait de nouveau exciter ces voyous dont
les polymorphismes sont plus proches du vautour que de l’Homo sapiens.