Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Kurdish party holds an action in support of Armenians

by Tatevik Shahunyan
Monday, January 19, 16:15

Kurdish Democratic People’s Party of Turkey has organized an action in
Sisli on the occasion of the 8th year of the killing of Hrant Dink.

According to Agos, the demonstrators marched around the town with
posters saying “Come Face to Face with Hrant Dink and the Armenian
Genocide” and shouting “Kurd, Turk, Armenian – Long Live the
Brotherhood of Nations!” “You Are Our Brother, Hrant!” and “We Are All
Grants, We Are All Armenians!”

They said that the recently arrested chief of the Cizre police is
privy to Dink’s murder. They also said that the killings of Armenian
soldier Sevak Balikci and old Armenian woman Marissa Kucuk were
continuation of the Armenian Genocide.

The demonstrators also started collecting signatures for renaming
Ergenekon Street into Hrant Dink Street.

CSTO chief says all responsible for Gyumri killings will be punished

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19. / ARKA /. Secretary General of the Russia-led
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha
expressed his condolences to the relatives of the six-member family in
the Armenian Gyumri killed by a soldier from the local Russian
military base.

In a telephone conversation with Armenian Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan Bordyuzha said the investigation would be comprehensive and
objective and that all responsible would be punished appropriately.

The Russian soldier, Valery Permyakov, confessed to killing the
couple, their son and daughter-in-law, a 2-year-old granddaughter, and
an unmarried daughter. They all were found shot dead in their house on
January 12. T

he couple’s six-month-old grandson was hospitalized in a grave
condition. The victims were all shot with an AK-47. Valery Permyakov
was detained on January 13, shortly after midnight, while trying to
cross the border into Turkey dressed in civilian clothing.-0-

Head of Russia’s investigative committee arrives in Yerevan to look
into brutal killing of six-member family in Gyumri

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19. / ARKA /. Head of Russia’s Investigative
Committee Alexander Bastrykin is expected today in Yerevan to look
together with Armenian law-enforcement bodies into the brutal killing
of a six-member family in the Armenian city of Gyumri by a soldier
form the local Russian military base. Bastrykin was invited to visit
Armenia by his Armenian counterpart Aghvan Hovsepyan.

The Armenian Investigative Committee said the agreement was reached
during a telephone conversation the two men had earlier today. It said
they discussed a set of issues related to the investigation into the
killings.

On Sunday Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a swift
investigation and appropriate punishment for the massacre of the six
members of the single family during a phone conversation with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan.

Putin was quoted as saying in a statement that the investigation would
be carried out “in the swiftest period of time and the guilty will be
punished in accordance with the law.”

Putin also expressed condolences to the relatives of the victims and
told President Sargsyan that Russian doctors who arrived in Armenia
would help treat the 6-month-old boy who was the sole survivor of the
attack last week.

The massacre in the city of Gyumri sparked large protests last week by
Armenians who demanded that Private Valery Permyakov, who confessed to
killing the family, face trial in an Armenian court.-0-

400 ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan reported over the weekend

12:51, 19 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

About 400 ceasefire violations by the Azerbaijani side were registered
at the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan from January 17 to 19, the NKR Ministry of Defense
reports.

The rival fired more than 4,557 shots from weapons of different
caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions. Along with
artillery weapons the adversary used mine throwers, grenades, sniper
rifles and machine guns.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army kept the operational
tactical situation under permanent control and resorted to response
actions in case of necessity.

The ruling party keeps silence about Gyumri family massacre

11:00 / 17.01.2015

The MPs of the Republican party are not seen these days and as far as
Serzh Sargsyan has not addressed the people in connection with Gyumri
tragedy they are all unavailable currently.

Neither Manvel Grigoryan, Seyran Saroyan, Margarit Yesayan and many
others did not respond to Nyut.am phone calls.
The first to answer the call was Vardan Ayvazyan who said that he
would not answer our questions as he is dissatisfied with our website.
The other one was Karen Avagyan who asked to call a bit later but then
did not answer the phone while our question was why the Republican
party keeps silence about Gyumri family massacre.

Nyut.am

Aravot: Russian TV neutrality due to Gyumri case relation to army prestige

The correspondent of ‘Aravot’ paper talked with Aleksey Gorbachev of
‘Nezavisimaya Gazeta’ newspaper (Russia).

“I heard of the incident the following day. I read about it on the
Internet. Our newspaper published an article about it this week, and
the article was the most read one,’ he said.

The Russian journalist said that their paper covered that subject
based on information of open Russian-language sources which were
available to them. “The reports mainly described the incident and
experts opinions: what happened and who should investigate the case,”
Aleksey Gorbachev said.

According to him, almost all Russian media outlets, including TV
companies, covered the Gyumri incident. “What was presented by state
TV channels was very neutral. I think that almost everyone heard of
the incident. In my opinion, the neutrality of Russian TV companies is
due to the fact that it is related to the prestige of the Russian
army. The state TV channel presented it as an ordinary crime. Other
media outlets said that the soldier was drunk or in mentally
unbalanced condition. It was also mentioned that it was not the first
time – he wanted to run away previously, too”.

17.01.15, 12:05

Interfax, Russia
Jan 16 2015

Erdogan accuses Karabakh mediators of protracting conflict resolution

BAKU. Jan 15

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the
international mediators of the Karabakh crisis.

“Unfortunately, the Minsk troika of the OSCE (Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe), is employing a strategy of
protracting the conflict settlement process without making concrete
decisions,” he told a press conference held jointly with his Azeri
counterpart Ilham Aliyev after their meeting in Ankara on Thursday.

The Turkish president expressed a particular regret that this process
is being protracted despite international organizations having passed
documents on the conflict resolution.

“We will continue to support Baku in settling the Karabakh conflict
with due respect for Azerbaiajan’s territorial integrity,” he said.

Erdogan also mentioned his one on one meetings with Aliyev and
meetings at the delegation level.

“We focused on progress in the Azeri-Turkish relationship. We
discussed regional issues and future joint steps,” he said.

In politics, Azerbaijan and Turkey have no differences, the Turkish
president said.

“There has been a rise in our military cooperation,” he said.

As regards their economic cooperation, trade between the two countries
has reached $5 billion, Erdogan said.

“But our goal is to reach $15 billion before 2023. I am certain that
both Azerbaijan and Turkey have the resolve and the political will to
achieve this goal,” Erdogan said.

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
January 15, 2015 Thursday

Baku responds America by its “debate” on human rights

Baku / 15.01.15 / Turan: Azerbaijani authorities, always declaring
their commitment to the principle of non interference in the internal
affairs of other countries seem to be changing their policies.

In recent years, official Baku is concerned with the problems of human
rights and democracy in the world. Moreover, this “anxiety” is
selective. Thus, Baku “symmetrically” responds those states which
criticize Azerbaijan for human rights violations. Manifestation of
this became today’s hearing on the US-Azerbaijani relations, organized
by the Council for State Support to NGOs under the Azerbaijani
President.

The chairman of the Council, Azay Guliyev, said that relations between
the two countries have entered into a “hot phase”. He said that recent
statements by the US government institutions in relation to Azerbaijan
are “biased, far from the truth, do not serve the strategic
partnership.” “We also decided to hold a hearing and to assess the
human rights situation in the United States,” he said proudly.

According to him, the US does not have the right to criticize
Azerbaijan, because they themselves have racial and religious
discrimination, operates the prison at Guantanamo Bay, events occur in
Ferguson.

According to Guliyev, behind the critical statements of the former US
Ambassador Richard Kozlarich and ex-deputy of the State Department
official David Kramer stands official Washington. A member of
parliament, Zahid Oruj, is concerned about discrimination against
blacks in the United States who are facing “serious problems” in
education. Political scientist Elman Nasirov made a “sensational”
allegations of corruption in the United States. According to him, in
2012 to become the ambassador of America in France and Monaco, it was
necessary to invest into the election fund of US $550,000-$700,000.

The head of the United Popular Front Party, MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev, in
turn, tried to prove the absence of the US “free press.” According to
him, “Radio Azadlig” is not an independent radio and promotes American
ideology. Hasanguliyev considers that the cause of the deterioration
of bilateral relations was the refusal of President Ilham Aliyev to go
in 2009 in Istanbul at the invitation of Barack Obama and Hillary
Clinton. It was supposed to exert pressure on the head of Azerbaijan
to consent to the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia, he
said. However, he noted that because of the “4-5 prisoners it is not
right to make a confrontation with the great powers.”

The head of the Democratic Reforms Party, MP Asim Mollazade said about
the change in US policy toward Azerbaijan “in order to implement that
dictate the Armenians.”

The head of the Karabakh Liberation Organization Akif Nagi said that
the United States “remains the only imperialist and terrorist state in
the world, and use all means to subdue the states to their will.” The
US is guilty of unresolved Karabakh conflict, he said.

The MP Musa Gasimli condemned the US of double standards and support
of the Karabakh separatists.

The MP from the ruling party “Yeni Azerbaijan” Aydin Mirzazade also
accused the US of “unfair” approach to the Karabakh problem because of
what Washington can “lose” Azerbaijan.

The event was held at the International Press Center. Usually this
structure sends invitations to such events. However, there was not
information about this event , and many journalists were unable to
participate and ask uestions about the sources of this information.

All the participants are representatives of the pro-government sector. -05D-

Gospel Herald
Jan 16 2015

National Prayer Breakfast 2015 Preview: Remembering Armenian Genocide Of 1915

By Isaiah Narciso

The theme for this year’s National Prayer Breakfast, which is on Feb.
5 this year in Washington, will focus on the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.

The annual event, which takes place at the Washington Hilton in the
nation’s capital, is organized by the Fellowship Foundation, a
conservative Christian group, and hosted by the United States
Congress. According to Azbarez Newspaper, attorney Ben Smith spoke to
Public Radio of Armenia about the yearly event, which is held on the
first Thursday of February each year, focusing on the Armenian
Genocide of 1915.

“We’ve brought greetings and letters from our leaders in the U.S. to
encourage the leadership in Armenia to participate in the
commemorations set up Washington,” Smith said.

According to the official website of Fellowship Foundation, the
tradition started in 1953, when members of Congress invited President
Dwight D. Eisenhower to join them for a fellowship breakfast “in the
spirit of Jesus.”

“Because of the warm environment of that first gathering, the
breakfast has continued each year, hosted and directed by members of
the prayer groups in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of
Representatives,” the organization wrote. “Annually, the House and
Senate groups take turns inviting people from every state and many
nations to join with the President of the United States for this
special time of fellowship and prayer together.”

The organization added that the breakfast has a typical attendance of
“more than 3,000 people of all races, cultures and faith traditions.”

According to Smith, the National Prayer Breakfast was started “in an
effort to bring leaders from both parties together at least for one
day to focus on prayer and the principles of Jesus so that they could
dispel their different points of view and their arguments.”

“They actually focus one day on spiritual principles,” Smith said.

Smith told Public Radio of Armenia that the Fellowship Foundation is
working with various Armenian communities in the United States to
recognize and commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.

“Three years ago I was part of the commemoration in Aleppo, Syria, and
it was really powerful,” Smith said.

As for the politics behind the issue, Smith commented on that aspect,
noting he had no power to deal with it.

“I think most people in the U.S. recognize and want it recognized,”
Smith said. “I can’t say to what extend and when President Obama will
do that, but I’m confident most of the Americans are aware of the
Genocide.”

Christopher Atamian of the Huffington Post elaborated on the events
surrounding the Armenian Genocide, which happened back in 1915.

“Armenian intellectuals of the Ottoman Empire were rounded up in the
dead of night and sent to be executed in inland concentration camps in
Ayash and Chankari,” Atamian wrote. “This event followed on nearly two
decades of ethnic cleansing and pogroms against Armenians that
included the murder of some 300,000 Armenians by Sultan Abdul Hamid in
1896 and 30,000 killed during the Adana Massacre in 1909.”

Atamian noted that the Ottoman Empire, which is now the modern-day
country of Turkey, nearly wiped out its entire Christian population
through these crimes against humanity.

“Christians were rounded up and locked inside churches that were set
on fire and burned alive or thrown into caves with sulfur thrown on
top of them and cremated in primitive gas chambers,” Atamian wrote.
“The Turks, aided and abetted by their ally, the German Kaiser, seized
Christian properties and bank accounts, raped and enslaved women and
children and forced thousands to convert to Islam under pain of
death.”

Although Turkey’s government has refused to apologize to the Armenians
about the scale of human depravity exercised back in 1915 in the days
of the Ottoman Empire, Atamian noted that the “Jews of the Caucasus”
have managed to rebuild and thrive in both the former Soviet Union and
modern, independent Armenia. He tried to explain the reasons behind
the Armenian Genocide, which included “a surreal mix of ethnic and
financial jealousy.”

“The Armenian Amira class, for example, ran everything from the state
mint to the bread factories and most of the empire’s industry, while
the Greeks and Levantines were the most successful diplomats and
merchants as well,” Atamian wrote.

On a lighter note, Smith elaborated on his first visit to Armenia. He
told Public Radio of Armenia that he was impressed by the country’s
people, history and culture.

“I think Armenia is really a well-kept secret,” Smith said. “This
would be a great place for tourism. And if American people knew more
about it, and knew about the beauty of the country, they would be
interested.”

Smith’s trip, according to Public Radio of Armenia, included a visit
with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. They discussed the invitation to join President Barack
Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast.

“I’m very grateful to the leadership and the church, we were
graciously received,” Smith said. “We intend to come back as soon as
we can.”

The National Prayer Breakfast will be aired Feb. 5 on C-SPAN.

Interfax, Russia
Jan 16 2015

All people detained at clashes in Yerevan and Gyumri released – police

YEREVAN. Jan 16

Fifty-nine people were detained by Armenian police last night during
protests in the cities of Yerevan and Gyumri demanding the handover of
Russian military base serviceman Valery Permyakov, who is suspected of
murdering six members of one family in Gyumri, to the Armenian
authorities.

Pistols were confiscated from two persons detained in Freedom Square
in the center of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, a police spokesman
told Interfax.

Administrative protocols were compiled in all cases.

“All detained persons have already been released,” the spokesman.

Six members of a family, including a two-year-old child, were killed
in Gyumri on January 12. Permyakov was apprehended shortly afterwards
and is currently held at the Russian military base. On January 14 he
was formally charged under Armenian Criminal Code.

Permyakov faces murder and AWOL charges. He has already admitted to
the murder. Russia’s 5th garrison military court in Yerevan ordered
that Permyakov, who serves at Russia’s 102nd military base located in
Gyumri, northern Armenia, be remanded into custody.

Fourteen people, including five policemen, were injured in clashes
outside the Russian Consulate General in Gyumri, Armenia’s
second-largest city, on Thursday evening demanding the Russian
soldier’s handover to the Armenian authorities.

A rally was also staged in Freedom Square in the center of Yerevan in
support of the Gyumri protests. Clashes were reported between
demonstrators and police.