Author: Kajoyan Gevork

IIGHRS PUBLISHES STATEMENT REGARDING EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS RULING IN SWISS PAPERS

By MassisPost
Updated: March 7, 2014

BERN, SWITZERLAND — The International Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) produced a
full-page informational advertisement that appeared in Switzerland’s
leading German and French language newspapers Neue Zurcher Zeitung on
March 6 and Le Temps on March 7. The advertisements were the product
of collaboration between the Switzerland Armenia Association and the
IIGHRS. Links to these articles in English, French, and German follow
this article.

The purpose of these ads was to raise awareness with the Swiss public
that the December 17, 2013 ruling of the Perincek vs. Switzerland
case by the European Court of Human Rights, promotes racism and
violence against Armenians in Turkey and elsewhere. The statement
further argued that the Swiss government has a moral responsibility
to appeal this ruling and defend its laws against racism.

Seeing that to date the Swiss Government had not filed an appeal
against the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, the IIGHRS
felt that it is crucial to educate the public about this critical
legal and moral issue. Switzerland was not a bystander to the Armenian
Genocide in 1915, and it should not be a bystander and allow its denial
today. In this respect, the Institute endeavored to raise awareness
of the facts of the Armenian Genocide through the speeches of the
President of Switzerland in 1922 to the League of Nations, and in
the words of the current President about the action needed against
denial of the Holocaust or any other genocide. President Burkhalter
noted that it is the duty of the Swiss people to remind people, ‘of
the facts and the historical reality’, and stressed that Switzerland
does not want to just ‘pay lip service, but to take concrete action’
to fight denial. Through the juxtaposing of these two historical
speeches, the Institute explained that while it does not disagree
with the right to freedom of speech, it takes issue with the ECHR’s
highly debatable statements about the Armenian Genocide that went
far beyond the Court’s mandate or competence.

Read the full text of the statement here: English French German

Journal of Turkish Daily
March 9 2014

Crimea: From Ottoman era to Russia referendum

9 March 2014

Crimea’s status is one of the hottest topics on the international
agenda in the wake of the four month political crisis in Ukraine which
saw the flight of pro-Russian ex-President Viktor Yanukovych.

Crimea’s parliament voted last Thursday in favor of joining Russia,
and calls for a referendum on the region’s future with Ukraine on
March 16. Its decision comes as Russian armed forces continue to
maintain their presence on the peninsula.

Crimea has been under the control of many states during its history
including the Huns, Khazars and the Byzantine Empire during the early
and Middle Ages until it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1475.

Crimea was first given independence in 1774 with the Treaty of Kucuk
Kaynarca between the Ottoman Empire and Russia, and then occupied by
the Russians in 1783. Following Russia’s occupation, the Turkish
population in the city was forced to migrate and left for Turkey,
Romania and Bulgaria.

– Expulsion of Crimean Tatars under Stalin

The Crimean Soviet Socialist Republic was created in November 1921
following the 1917 Russian Revolution. Germany occupied Crimea in 1941
during the Second World War and Russian Soviet Republic took it back
in 1944, but not without deporting some 300,000 Crimean Tatars (a
Turkic ethnic group), in the territory upon collaborating with Germans
during the world war.

The Soviet administration under Stalin then eliminated the Crimean
Soviet Socialist Republic and gave provincial status to the region
under the name ‘Soviet Socialist Republic’.

– Integration with Ukraine in Khrushchev era

In 1954 Crimea was transferred to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic by the USSR as a “gift” by the then Soviet Russian leader,
Nikita Khrushchev.

In September 1967, Russia officially recognised the unfair treatment
of Crimean Tatars during the Stalin era, but the return of Crimean
Tatars to their homeland was not allowed at the time.

Only after a Supreme Soviet decree on the recognition of the
illegality of the indigenous population’s forced resettlement and in
recognition of their rights, Crimean Tatars began to return to their
homeland in large numbers. The Tatar population reached 150,000 by
1991, representing half the total Tatar population before Stalin
managed to return their homeland.

After a referendum in January 1991, the Crimean Soviet Socialist
Republic was re-declared and the Ukrainian Soviet Republic decided on
the establishment of Crimea Autonomous Region the same year to prevent
Crimea passing under Russian control once again.

The Mejlis (central executive body) of the Crimean Tatar People
gathered in June 1991 in Crimea’s capital and administrative center,
Simferopol, under the leadership of human rights activist Mustafa
Abdulcemil Kirimoglu.

The parliamentary seats in the Crimean Republic were raised from 80 to
98 in 1991. 14 seats were given to Crimean Tatars, while Greeks,
Armenians, Germans and Bulgarians were given one seat each.

Upon the decision to hold referendum to vote on the independence of
Crimea, Ukrainian authorities abolished the Crimean constitution and
presidency in March 1995. This was the first harsh reaction by Ukraine
over pro-Russians in Crimea after the dissolution of the Soviet
Republic.

The vast majority of the Crimean Autonomous Republic’s parliament, now
under de-facto Russian control, comprise of ethnic Russians and
Russian speakers, which make up 60 percent of the total Crimean
population. Armed groups which later turned out to be Russian soldiers
seized the parliamentary building on February 27, and after that,
parliamentary sessions began to discuss Crimea’s future. The Crimean
parliament also elected a pro-Russian parliamentary speaker and prime
minister unilaterally. However, referendum and elections in the region
requires the Ukrainian government’s approval. The Ukrainian government
emphasizes that all decisions taken after February 27 in the Crimean
parliament are unilateral and illegal.

9 March 2014
Anadolu Agency

SPORT
Super-moyens WBO – Abraham redevient King Arthur

L’Allemand d’origine arménienne Arthur Abraham a reconquis le titre
WBO des super-moyens en battant son compatriote Robert Stieglitz aux
points, à l’issue d’un combat en douze reprises disputé samedi 1er
mars à Magdebourg.

Au pointage, Abraham a eu la faveur de deux juges (115-110, 114-111),
le troisième accordant un mince avantage à Stieglitz (113-112). Il
s’agissait de la 3e confrontation entre les deux hommes : Abraham
avait détrôné Stieglitz aux points fin août 2012 avant de s’incliner
par arrêt de l’arbitre à la 4e reprise sept mois plus tard. A 34 ans,
Abraham, ancien champion IBF des moyens, a signé la 39e victoire d’une
carrière entachée de 4 défaites. Stieglitz, de deux ans son cadet, a
échoué la troisième défense de son titre pour concéder sa 4e défaite
d’un palmarès riche de 46 succès.

dimanche 9 mars 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

FRANCE
Valence a commémoré le 26e anniversaire de Soumgaït à l’appel de 7
associations – Photos

7 associations réunies, l’association culturelle >,
l’ACFOA-Drôme-Ardèche (Anciens Combattants Français d’Origine
Arménienne), l’UCFAF-Valence (Union Culturelle Française des Arméniens
de France), le Collectif Mémoire et Avenir, l’Amicale des Arméniens
d’Ourfa, les Dames d’Ourfa et Sheram ont invité le public à une messe
de requiem en souvenir du pogrom de Soumgaït (26 au 28 février 1988),
dimanche 2 Mars à l’église apostolique arménienne Saint-Sahag de
Valence.

La messe réalisée par le père Antranig Maldjian, fut suivie d’une
cérémonie de recueillement et de dépôt de gerbe à la mémoire des
victimes arménienne de ce pogrom exécuté en Azerbaïdjan à l’encontre
de la population civile arménienne.

Parmi le public et les personnalités présentes dans la cour de
l’église, face au khatchkar (croix de pierre arménienne), les
présidents des associations avec Krikor Amirzayan (président d’Arménie
et coordinateur du Collectif Mémoire et Avenir), Georges Erétzian
(ACFOA Drôme-Ardèche), Vartkés Vartanian (UCFAF Valence), Georges
Rastklan (Sheram et Amicale des Arméniens d’Ourfa) et Jacques
Abrahamian (Amicale des Arméniens d’Ourfa), Patrick Royannez (Adjoint
au Maire de Valence et Vice-Président du Conseil Général), Noubar
Kéchichian (conseille municipal à Valence) et Edouard Tchokaklian
(Adjoint au Maire de Soyons).

Krikor Amirzayan fit alors brièvement l’historique des pogromes
anti-arméniens de Soumgaït.

Il dit continua >. Mais du côté des autorités
soviétiques et la communauté internationale une indifférence générale
était ressentie.

Ce qui conduisit aux autres > dirigés contre
les Arméniens à Gandja (ex-Kirkovabad), Bakou et Chahoumian en 1990 au
cours desquels plusieurs centaines d’Arméniens trouveront la mort et
des milliers quitteront les villes et territoires. Fort heureusement,
l’autodéfense des Arméniens au Haut Karabagh et la victoire arménienne
avec la signature du cessez-le-feu en mai 1994 ont réussi à sauver
d’élimination physique le peuple arménien vivant en Azerbaïdjan et au
Haut Karabagh >>.

Après le discours, les responsables des associations déposèrent devant
le khatchkar, une gerbe de fleurs portant l’inscription >. Le père Antranig Maldjian prononça alors la prière >.

Krikor Amirzayan “les pogroms anti-arméniens de Soumgaït sont un crime
contre l’humanité”
Krikor Amirzayan “les auteurs des crimes de Soumgaït ne furent pas condamnés”
K. Amirzayan “Par Soumgaït l’Azerbaïdjan désirait briser la lutte de
libération du Haut Karabagh”
K. Amirzayan “La communauté internationale n’a pas condamné les crimes
de Soumgaït”
Dépôt de gerbe pour le 26e anniversaire des pogroms anti-arméniens de Soumgaït
Dépôt de gerbe pour le 26e anniversaire des pogroms anti-arméniens de Soumgaït
Dépôt de gerbe pour le 26e anniversaire des pogroms anti-arméniens de Soumgaït
Valence commémore le 26e anniversaire des pogroms anti-arméniens de Soumgaït
Krikor Amirzayan, Vartkés Vartanian, Georges Erétzian, Jacques
Abrahamian lors du dépôt de gerbe
Une partie du public à Valence pour le 26e anniversaire des crimes de Soumgaït
Une partie du public à Valence pour le 26e anniversaire des crimes de Soumgaït
Valence commémore le 26e anniversaires des crimes anti-arméniens de
Soumgaït organisés par les autorités azéries en février 1988
Au premier rang Vartanian, Zarmig Nourissian,Kevork Rastkélénian,
Jacques Abrahamian
Le khatchkar dans la cour de l’Eglise arménienne Saint Sahag de Valence (Drôme)
Recueillement pour les victimes arméniennes de Soumgaït devant le
khatchkar de l’Eglise Saint Sahag à Valence
Au premier rang le Père Antranig Maldjian et Bédros Ohanian
Recueillement pour les victimes arméniennes de Soumgaït devant le
khatchkar de l’Eglise Saint Sahag à Valence
Recueillement pour les victimes arméniennes de Soumgaït devant le
khatchkar de l’Eglise Saint Sahag à Valence
Une partie du piublic lors de la commémoration à Valence (Drôme) du
26e anniversaire des pogroms anti-arméniens de Soumgaït

samedi 8 mars 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com
– 829

TRADITION ARMENIENNE
Bako Sahakian à la fête de Tonrahats au village de Khantsk dans la
région d’Askéran (Haut Karabagh)

Bako Sahakian, le président de la République du Haut Karabagh s’est
rendu le samedi 8 mars au village de Khantsk dans la région d’Askéran
(Haut Karabagh) pour prendra part à la fête du Tonrahats (le pain
traditionnel arménien préparé dans des tonirs, sorte de four creusé
dans le sol). Le service de presse de la présidence de la République
du Haut Karabagh précise que Bako Sahakian a affirmé que la défense de
nos valeurs nationales est intimement liée à celle de notre identité
arménienne et précisé l’importance de ces manifestations liées à la
tradition. Bako Sahakian était accompagné à cette fête du tonir par
Ashot Ghoulian le président du Parlement et du Premier ministre Ara
Haroutiounian ainsi que de nombreuses autres personnalités de l’Etat.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 9 mars 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

Targeted News Service
March 7, 2014 Friday 1:34 AM EST

Southwestern Armenia Fellowship Reception Planned

LOS ANGELES

Southwestern Law School issued the following news release:

In 2012, Southwestern partnered with the Republic of Armenia’s
Ministry of Justice to create an opportunity for an American-trained
lawyer to work with the Ministry to cultivate Armenia’s legal system.
The inaugural Southwestern Armenia Fellow
(), Garen
Nazarian, began his term in Fall of 2012.

At a special reception on Tuesday, March 18, members of the
Southwestern community and supporters of this unprecedented and unique
endeavor will gather to celebrate the partnership and hear about
recent developments under the fellowship. The event will take place at
the Law Offices of Gerard Kassabian in Beverly Hills and will feature
an update from Mr. Nazarian from Armenia via Skype.

Now in his second year as the Southwestern Armenia Fellow, Mr.
Nazarian continues to use his expertise in criminal law to advise the
Ministry of Justice, work with various groups to educate and implement
concrete changes in Armenia’s legal system and help train the next
generation of legal professionals. A few examples of Mr. Nazarian’s
recent accomplishments and efforts include:

* Advising in several instrumental areas, including: key components of
the Criminal Procedure Code; selection of judges to reduce potential
bias or appearance of partiality and increase objectivity and
transparency in the selection process; and reforms in legal education
mandated by the 2012-16 Strategic Program for Legal and Judicial
Reforms in the Republic of Armenia, including introduction of clinical
education.

* Teaching Trial Advocacy at various locales, including Armenia’s
School of Advocates, the French University and the American Bar
Association office.

* Setting up a book reading project in the prisons.

The reception will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 9465 Wilshire
Boulevard, Suite 460 in Beverly Hills. Those interested in attending
are asked to RSVP by March 11 to [email protected]

Feasibility study for fourth phase of north -south transport corridor
in Armenia will be ready in late April

YEREVAN, March 7. / ARKA /. The feasibility study for a project
designed to build the fourth phase of North -South transport corridor
in Armenia will be ready in late April 2014, a representative of the
Armenian government said during a meeting of the Eurasian Development
Bank (EDB) , held yesterday.

The $100 million worth s project is being prepared by the EDB as the
Manager of EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund in collaboration with the Asian
Development Bank (ADB).

If the project is approved by Anti-Crisis Fund Board , which is
expected somewhere in June 2014, the financing would follow the same
year.

On 26 June 2013 the ACF Council approved the preliminary request and
Concept Note for the investment project in Armenia the Construction of
the North-South Road Transport Corridor (Phase 4) in the amount of US$
100 million. The project involves rehabilitation of a section of the
transport corridor as part of the investment project “Construction of
North-South Road Corridor”.

The “North-South” Road Corridor links Central Asia and India with
Iran, Georgia, Russian Federation and Europe. The corridor passes
across Armenia from South to North
(Meghri-Kapan-Goris-Yerevan-Ashtarak-Gumri-Bavra), links up with the
Georgian road leading to seaports Poti and Batumi (Black Sea) and on
toward Russia, CIS and EU. The “North-South” road is part of the
transnational motorway AH 82 interlinking such Central Asian countries
as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

As a result of the proposed comprehensive development project, the
road route Europe-Caucasus-Asia will be improved in the zone of
junction between West Europe and Eastern Europe. The quickest shortcut
route of the corridor, 449 km in length, in its final stretch on the
territory of Georgia runs along the road Akhaltsykhe-Batumi, which is
currently in need of rehabilitation.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed on a joint mission of the
EDB , ADB and Armenian Ministry of Transport in March- April this
year.

EDB was established by Russia and Kazakhstan in January 2006 with the
purpose of support to market economy of participant-states. Charter
capital of the bank exceeds $1.5 billion. Participant-states of the
bank are Russian Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, the Kyrgyz
Republic and Tajikistan.

The EURASEC Anti-crisis Fund is an international financial institution
established by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia
and Tajikistan with the goals to assist its member states in
overcoming the consequences of global financial crisis, to ensure
their long-run economic stability and to foster economic integration
of ACF member-countries.

The Fund assists member states with two instruments — financial
credits, available to governments only, and investment loans, provided
either to ACF member states or to companies implementing interstate
and national investment projects. -0-

– See more at:

ARMENIE
Les sociétés arméniennes capables de traiter 2 tonnes d’or par an

Les bijoutiers arméniens sont capables de traiter 2 tonnes d’or par
an, selon Emil Grigoryan, le chef de l’usine de bijoux Gnomon et
président de l’Association des bijoutiers et des producteurs de
diamants.

Selon lui, l’or produit en Arménie est envoyé dans plusieurs pays pour
le traitement et la purification et les bijoutiers arméniens
l’achetent à l’étranger.

> a-t-il dit.

Il dit que la production d’une tonne d’alliage d’or nécessite 150 kg
d’argent pur et 400 kg de cuivre pur que l’Arménie possède mais il
n’existe pas de technologie pour obtenir un produit pur.

samedi 8 mars 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

J.O. DE SOTCHI
L’Arménie dispose d’un représentant aux Jeux Paralympiques de Sotchi

L’Arménie dispose d’un sportif aux Jeux Paralympiques. La cérémonie
d’ouverture s’est déroulée vendredi 7 mars au stade olympique > de Sotchi (Russie). Jusqu’au 16 mars les représentants de 45 pays
lutteront pour des médailles dans 72 épreuves sportives des Jeux
d’hiver. Ces sportifs seront engagés dans cinq disciplines, le
biathlon, le ski de piste, le ski de fond, le curling et le hockey sur
glace. Le représentant de l’Arménie, Mhér Avanessian concourt en ski
de piste dans les épreuves de descente.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 8 mars 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com
– 931

MEDIA CENTER
30 Saryan str., Yerevan
Tel: +37460 505 898
+37499 755 898
Email: [email protected]
Web:

On March 10, 12:00 PM members of `’ Citizen Observer” initiative will
introduce their observations on local government bodies elections.

On March 10, 12:00 PM members of `’ Citizen Observer” initiative will
introduce their observations on local government bodies elections.

On March 9 elections of local self-government authorities will be held
in 53 communities of Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Lori, Kotayq,
Shirak, Syuniq, Vayots Dzor and Tavush regions.

===========================================================
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