Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Armenia’s Human Rights Activists Join Forces to Launch Human Rights House

01.25.2014 16:10 epress.am

This year marks the launch of Human Rights House Yerevan, which unites
11 NGOs in Armenia working in the area of human rights protection. A
Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the member organizations on Jan.
24 at the Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO (PINK Armenia)
office in Yerevan. Their goal is to unite the efforts of member
organizations and promote cooperation among not only member NGOs, but
also other NGOs in Armenia working to protect human rights and
fundamental freedoms.

Human Rights House Yerevan is preparing to open its physical office
space in April. Anyone whose rights have been violated can contact
Human Rights House Yerevan for information or legal assistance.

Members of Human Rights House Yerevan are as follows:
Asparez Journalists’ Club
Democracy Today
Ensuring Equal Rights
Helsinki Association for Human Rights
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor Office
Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK Armenia)
Real World, Real People
Rule of Law
Shahkhatun (Wives of Political Prisoners in Armenia)
Socioscope Social Studies Research and Counselling Center
Women’s Resource Center Armenia

SPORTS
300 sportifs venus de 18 pays prendront part au 1er Jeux Panarméniens
d’hiver du 24 février au 2 mars à Dzargatsor et Erévan

Du 24 février au 2 mars, 300 sportifs venus de 18 pays participeront à
Dzargatsor au 1er Jeux Panarméniens d’hiver. Le Comité d’organisation
de ces jeux Panarméniens d’hiver présidé par Ichkhan Zakarian s’est
réuni hier à Hrazdan pour finaliser les derniers éléments de
l’organisation de cette grande manifestation sportive liant la
diaspora et l’Arménie. Les épreuves de ski alpin, ski de fond, de
snowboarding se dérouleront à Dzargatsor, celle de hockey sur glace se
tiendra à complexe sportif « Garen Démirdjian » à Erévan.

Krikor Amirzayan
dimanche 26 janvier 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

FRANCE
Rodez : la famille Petrosyan toujours sous la menace d’une expulsion

Installés en Aveyron depuis quatre ans, cette famille d’Arméniens,
avec ses deux enfants, est sous le coup d ‘une obligation de quitter
le territoire français. Alors que Lida, la mère, est enceinte de sept
mois. Le jugement sur le fond du dossier ne devrait intervenir qu’en
juin…

Le 10 janvier dernier, les personnes invitées en préfecture, à
l’occasion des traditionnels v`ux de la représentante de l’État ont
été accueillies par une cinquantaine de militants et autres parents
d’élèves venus exprimer leur soutien à deux familles arméniennes, dont
la famille Petrosyan, qui sont menacées d’expulsion.

Pour mémoire, cette famille est arrivée en Aveyron, il y a de cela
quatre ans. Menacé de mort dans son pays d’origine, le père, Armab a
travaillé aux abattoirs de Rodez avec, même, une promesse d’embauche.
Son épouse, Lida, enceinte de sept mois, doit accoucher au mois de
mars. Sa grossesse à risques (certificats médicaux à l’appui) ne lui
permet pas de se déplacer. Les enfants, Hélèn et Alen, aujourd’hui
gés de 8 ans et 12 ans suivaient une scolarité tout à fait normale, à
Onet-le-Chteau. Jusqu’à ce que les Petrosyan, sur les conseils de
leur avocat toulousain, ne choisissent de se réfugier dans la
clandestinité, pour échapper à l’obligation de quitter le territoire
français, dont ils font l’objet.

La préfecture n’a `plus de contact`

Les deux référés engagés par le couple Petrosyan ont été examinés,
mercredi, par la cour administrative d’Appel de Bordeaux. Les deux
requêtes de suspension de l’arrêté préfectoral ayant été rejetées, la
menace d’expulsion reste effective. Un autre jugement sur le fond du
dossier devrait toutefois intervenir, vraisemblablement en… juin.

C’est dire toute la complexité de l’affaire. Et ses répercussions d’un
point de vue humain, quand on sait, qu’en raison de la situation, les
deux enfants ont été déscolarisés, et que la maman va accoucher d’ici
quelques semaines. Que va-t-il advenir d’ici là ? `À l’heure actuelle,
l’obligation de quitter le territoire reste valide, confirme-t-on à la
préfecture de l’Aveyron, où l’on croit deviner un certain embarras. On
est attente, nous n’avons plus de contact avec la famille. Le dossier
sera réétuidé quand on aura des nouvelles.`

L’avocat des Petrosyan, maître Rivière, n’a malheureusement pas
répondu à nos sollicitations répétées. De son côté, le collectif des
réfugiés, se réunissait à nouveau, hier soir, à Rodez, pour décider
des suites à donner.

La pétition de soutien lancée sur le Net, et relayée, entre autres,
par le site Médiapart, a déjà recueilli plus de 850 signatures.

Cet élan de solidarité suffira-t-il à infléchir la position des
services de l’État, afin de permettre à la famille Petrosyan de
s’installer durablement en France. Sans avoir peur du lendemain ?

,812841.php

dimanche 26 janvier 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
La police donne des précisions sur la vidéo présumé du fils de
l’ex-maire de Gyumri

La police arménienne a publié une clarification dans le cadre des
publications des médias alléguant que le fils de l’ancien maire de
Gyumri Vardan Ghukasyan, Spartak, et ses amis dans des voitures se
sont approchés de la maison de l’actuel maire Samvel Balasanyan, ont
juré et proféré des menaces contre lui

Une vidéo qui aurait été faite par les caméras de surveillance à
proximité de la maison de Balasanyan le 21 Janvier a été diffusée par
un certain nombre de médias, montrant deux voitures avec Ghukasyan et
ses amis à l’intérieur passant près de la maison de Balasanyan.
Certains ont même suggéré qu’un coup de feu a été tiré à partir de
l’une des voitures.

Dans sa clarification la police a confirmé que l’incident a été filmé
par les caméras installées dans la région et a ajouté que le
département d’enquête régionale de Shirak réunit tous les matériaux.

« Des instructions ont été données à la police afin de procéder à des
mesures opérationnelles pour établir les faits réels ainsi que la
véracité des informations publiées par les médias. Un examen de la
scène du crime a été menée. La présence de caméras a été établie. La
chambre avec des dispositifs de vidéo-tournage et de stockage a été
scellée », a déclaré la police. « Des explications ont été prises
auprès des personnes qui vivent et travaillent dans le voisinage de la
zone. La préparation des matériaux se poursuit ».

Le fils de l’ancien maire de Gyumri Spartak Ghukasyan est connu pour
son comportement violent et l’implication dans sa famille dans des
combats de gangs. Il était visé par une enquête criminelle en 2012 peu
de temps après son père, un membre du Parti républicain au pouvoir, a
démissionné en tant que maire et a été remplacé par Balasanyan, qui a
joui de l’appui des républicains aux élections municipales suivantes.

dimanche 26 janvier 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

TURQUIE
François Hollande va rencontrer Rakel Dink

Selon le journal turc Hurriyet le président français François Hollande
qui effectuera une visite historique en Turquie la semaine prochaine
va rencontrer Rakel Dink, la veuve du journaliste turco-arménien Hrant
Dink, assassiné il y a sept ans.

Le journal qui ajoute que la question du génocide arménien ` a
longtemps empoisonné les relations entre la Turquie et la France` mais
que François Hollande va `tenter d’éviter la question du génocide en
mettant tous ses efforts pour améliorer les relations avec Ankara. A
cet égard, il est prévu qu’il lance des messages de réconciliation
comme la réouverture de la frontière avec l’Arménie avec qui la
Turquie n’entretient pas de relations diplomatiques`.

La rencontre de François Hollande avec la veuve de Hrant Dink, une
figure qui a travaillé pour la réconciliation turco-arménienne, aura
lieu dans ce cadre. Rakel Dink est actuellement la directrice de la
Fondation Hrant Dink.

Hollande deviendra le premier président français à effectuer une
visite d’Etat en Turquie depuis 22 ans.

dimanche 26 janvier 2014,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

SHERMAN CONDEMNS SOLDIER’S DEATH

Friday, January 24th, 2014

U.S. Representative Brad Sherman

WASHINGTON-Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) released the following
statement on Friday regarding the unprovoked killing of an Armenian
soldier, Armen Hovannisyan, by Azeri forces along the border of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Just four days before a meeting scheduled between Azerbaijan’s and
Armenia’s Foreign Ministers to discuss a peaceful resolution to the
conflict between Azerbaijan and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh,
Azeri forces have tragically killed yet another Armenian soldier in an
unprovoked attack on the Artsakh and Azerbaijan border. As I stated
last December when an Armenian soldier was killed, Azerbaijan
continues to show that it is not serious about establishing peaceful
relations with Artsakh and repeatedly creates obstacles to the peace
process.

“Azerbaijan and its forces must be held accountable for these ruthless
displays of violence. I have been a longtime advocate for a peaceful
resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Karabakh and the
recognition of the independent Republic of Karabakh.”

On Wednesday, during an interview with Asbarez Editor Ara
Khachatourian for Horizon Television, Rep. Adam Schiff condemned
Hovhannisyan’s death and said that this latest Azeri attack is
“unfortunately one in a series of provocative and murderous acts along
the line of control, which if not explicitly sanctioned by Aliyev’s
administration, certainly is supported implicitly, and this is the
real problem.”

“There was recently a meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azeri Foreign Minister
expressed support for a peaceful, negotiated resolution. But you can’t
say that if you are condoning and permitting the kind of murder and
violence along the line of control that they are. When you make a hero
out of an ax-murderer like [Ramil] Safarov you are sending a message
to your troops that the murder of Armenians, the murder of citizens of
Karabakh, is not only acceptable but laudable,” added Schiff.

“If they are serious about a peaceful resolution, they have to prepare
their people for peace, and they’re not doing it at all. And if they
are going to be this malevolent an actor, the international community
really has to speak out strongly. I think we have to stop supporting
them and drive home the message that this kind of dangerous,
provocative, and fatal conduct is just not going to persist,” said
Schiff.

The Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) Aram Hamparian commented saying, “On behalf of Armenians from
California and across the country, we would like to express our
gratitude to Congressmen Sherman and Schiff.”

“The State Department’s policy of “pretend parity” represents, in
actuality, a pronounced pro-Baku bias. The failure of the U.S. or the
OSCE to meaningfully confront or materially constrain Azerbaijan’s
aggression risks allowing President Ilham Aliyev to redefine his
escalating pattern of constant, frequently fatal, cross-border attacks
as the “new normal. The American answer – and the international
response – must be as clear as it is decisive in standing up to Baku’s
belligerence. Our Congress can start by zeroing out US military aid to
Azerbaijan,” concluded Hamparian

AMBASSADOR: “TURKEY MAY COOPERATE WITH ARMENIAN OR OTHER DIASPORA ORGANIZATIONS, BUT IT WILL NEVER BE DIRECTED AGAINST AZERBAIJAN’S INTERESTS”

Azeri-Press Agency (APA)
January 23, 2014 Thursday

Gulnar Bashirova; Our relationship with Armenia, or any country and
Diaspora contrary to the interests of Azerbaijan is out of question,”
Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ismayil Alper Coskun told APA
while commenting on the fact that Armenians and Armenian Diaspora
organizations are often invited to the events in Turkey. The ambassador
said that Turkey is the only state that Azerbaijan can rely on without
hesitation and doubt.

The ambassador said he is aware of media reports on this issue and
noted that he realizes Azerbaijan’s sensitivity well: “But you should
know it very well that none in Turkey can take steps contradicting
Azerbaijan’s interests. Turkey may cooperate with Armenian or
other Diaspora organizations, but it will never be directed against
Azerbaijan’s interests. We have common interests with Azerbaijan. All
activities regarding this issue can not be covered in media, but it
doesn’t mean that we are in different position with Azerbaijan. I
want you to know that we share the same position with Azerbaijan.”

Commenting on Armenian Science and Education Minister’s proposal
to rename the Republic of Armenia as Eastern Armenia thus raising
territorial claims against Turkey, Ambassador said it is useless to be
dreamer, issue statements contradicting the norms of the international
law, statements contradicting the intentions to establish long-sighted
relations in the region.

“Turkey supports establishment of territorial integrity in the region,
existence in sovereign conditions, establishment of future in line
with normal, common interests. I am sure that Azerbaijan also shares
this position. If Armenia wants to assist, it should understand
that occupation must be ended, Armenian youth should not be given
wrong messages.”

KARABAKH LINE OF CONTACT SEES SHARP ESCALATION IN VIOLENCE

EurasiaNet.org
Jan 24 2014

January 24, 2014 – 10:55am, by Joshua Kucera

Conflict along the front line between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces
has escalated dramatically over the last two days, with Azerbaijani
air forces crossing into the air space of the self-declared Nagorno
Karabakh republic. Azerbaijan also claims to have destroyed an
Armenian vehicle and to have repelled an atempted Armenian incursion
across the line of contact. And the Azerbaijani defense ministry
has claimed that they overheard commands being given to Armenian
forces in a language other than Armenian, suggesting a foreign hand
(though what the language was was not specified.) Meanwhile, there
are reported civilian casualties on both sides.

All of this has occurred as the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan prepare to meet in Paris, the latest such meeting in a
recent renewal of diplomatic efforts between the two sides.

Most of the news from this recent escalation has been coming from
Azerbaijani sources, and Armenia has been quiet about the Azerbaijani
claims. And Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan on Friday played down
the threat of war between the two sides, “I find it less likely as
the Azerbaijani leadership has once again got convinced of Armenian
soldier’s invincibility and clearly understands that Armenian Armed
Forces are always ready to overcome the challenges they face,”
Ohanyan said.

The upsurge in violence is most likely connected with the Paris talks,
said Alex Jackson, an expert on Caspian regional issues and editor of
the Caucasian Review of International Affairs. “If so, it’s unclear
who is responsible and why they would want to disrupt the talks.

Armenia could be trying to prevent progress towards a peace settlement
and thus a withdrawal; Azerbaijan might be trying to destabilize the
situation and draw more attention to it,” he told The Bug Pit.

It could also be related to the recent personnel turnovers in the
Azerbaijani military leadership, Jackson said: “Another scenario is
that it’s the actions, or lack of, by new Azerbaijani Defence Minister
Zakir Hasanov. Hasanov is not a military man, he’s an internal affairs
apparatchik. Perhaps demonstrating the armed forces’ combat readiness
is a good to way to prove his credentials to Aliyev. Alternatively,
it could be that he doesn’t have sufficient control yet, and frontline
commanders are escalating things beyond their authorisation.”

And it could also be a result of tactical decisions made by low-level
commanders spiraling out of control, Jackson added:

A skirmish on one sector of the line is often followed by gunfire
along a very wide area. If a commando group did attempt to penetrate
or test the line (of either side), this will be met with a comparable
retaliation, which will invite its own response.

So earlier in January (11-13th) we saw some heavy skirmishing. The
alleged Azeri commando raid could have been a response to that;
in retaliation the Armenians respond in kind, and in response the
Azeris blow up a vehicle and deploy fighter jets. I don’t think
either side is going to take a political decision to go to war;
but I do think that on the local level, both sides have an interest
in a punitive response to each individual incident. Taken together,
that can add up to a serious destabilization.

Vladimir Gasparyan’s Sensational Confession

While introducing the new chief of police of Shirak Marz, Chief of
Police Gasparyan made a sensational statement: `I don’t think that Mr.
Ghukasyan [ex-mayor of Gyumri] or his son could be the persons because
of whom I would have to change the chief of police. Isn’t it too
much?’

In fact, this means that the ex-chief of police Karen Babakekhyan was
dismissed because of the ex-mayor of Gyumri and his son though during
the meeting Vladimir Gasparyan referred to this replacement as part of
reforms. At the same time, he noted that the Shirak police did not
support their chief.

This replacement followed an incident between the ex and present
mayors of Gyumri. The ex-mayor and his son went to the house of the
present mayor and threatened him and shouted abuse. The Police of
Shirak first refuted the press reports but after a video was
disseminated, the police appeared in an awkward situation.

This is not the first scandal involving the ex-mayor and his
relatives. They have featured vociferous crimes but they were only
invited to the police for a few hours after which their cases were
covered up.

There are several options. The policemen of Shirak who did not support
their chief or are in the pocket of the ex-mayor of Gyumri or are
afraid of him. Or they saw his impunity and are trying to avoid
trouble. The police can see that the ex-mayor and his clan enjoy
privileges. Or, apparently, all together.

Vladimir Gasparyan’s statement is an attempt to hide the helplessness
of the law enforcement bodies against the clan. And what other reason
was there for changing the chief of police of the region? Who will the
policemen believe, their chief who is helpless before criminals or
criminals who prove their might and abilities at every step?

Yesterday it became known that the Chief of Police has dismissed the
case brought against the son of the notorious head of Department of
Transport of the City Hall Henrik Navasardyan, covering up the part of
the case regarding drugs though the police had first announced about
drugs.

During the meeting in Gyumri Vladimir Gasparyan underlined the role of
the civil society in the police reform. Henrik Navasaryan’s son became
known for his actions against the civil society which the police
observed from afar, without interfering, while he went away with it
every time. Why would the civil society believe the chief of police?

12:20 25/01/2014
Story from Lragir.am News:

Trend, Azerbaijan
Jan 25 2014

U.S. co-chair: Status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be unacceptable

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 25

Trend:

A greater political commitment is needed from all parties to find a
peaceful settlement for Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick
wrote on his Twitter page on Jan. 25.

“Status quo should be unacceptable,” Warlick noted.

The situation on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops
has been escalating in recent days. Armenian armed forces violated the
ceasefire 380 times, Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said earlier.

The situation on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops
remains tense. Armenian armed forces violated ceasefire 201 times, the
Defence Ministry said on Saturday.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have expressed a deep concern over
continued violence on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian
troops, according to the organization’s statement on results of the
meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Paris.

The co-chairs stressed that the recent incidents undermine
negotiations and diminish the prospects for peace.

U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said on Friday
that the use of force will not resolve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We have seen the reports and regret any loss of life anywhere, but
certainly here as well. And our position remains that the use of force
will not resolve this conflict. We call on all parties to refrain from
the use or threat of force,” Harf said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

Translated by E.A.