Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Amal Clooney accuses Turkey of hypocrisy on freedom of speech in
Armenian genocide trial

17:14, 28 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The human rights lawyer, representing Armenia, criticised Turkey’s
double standards on freedom of expression.

Amal Clooney, the human rights lawyer, has accused Turkey of double
standards on freedom of expression for defending a Turkish Leftist who
called the Armenian genocide an `international lie,’ The Daily
Telegraph.

The barrister, who is representing Armenia on behalf of Doughty Street
Chambers along with Geoffrey Robertson QC, said Turkey’s stance was
hypocritical `because of [its] record on freedom of expression’.

Mrs Clooney took on the case against DoÄ?u Perinçek, chairman of the
Turkish Workers’ Party, who was found guilty of racial discrimination
in Switzerland in 2007, but had his conviction overturned by the
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Switzerland has laws against the denial of the genocide as part of its
anti-racism laws but the ECHR ruled that Mr Perinçek’s Article 10
right to freedom of speech was violated when Mr Perinçek made his
claims.

Three countries ban the denial of freedom of speech including Greece,
Slovakia and Switzerland. A French law was overturned on free speech
grounds in the country’s constitutional court.

During the ECHR case, the Turkish government also submitted written
comments as a third party questioning the veracity of the genocide.
Now Armenia is a third-party in the case and is appealing the ECHR
decision.

Mrs Clooney told the Strasbourg court’s 17-member Grand Chamber on
Wednesday she wanted to correct the record on the Armenian genocide
because the previous ruling `cast doubt on the reality of genocide
that the Armenian people suffered a century ago’.

`Armenia must have its day in court. The stakes could not be higher
for the Armenian people,’ she added.

Mr Perinçek had said in 2005 that calling the 1915 massacres and
deportations of Armenian a genocide was an `international lie’, but
did not dispute that the killings had taken place on a smaller scale.

The ECHR upheld his right to question in a `debate of clear public
interest’ without ruling on whether massacres were a genocide, a
policy of deliberate extermination by Turks, or not in December 2013.

The European judges concluded that there was not a `general consensus’
on whether what happened was a genocide.

Four and half minutes into her evidence of the historical record
concerning events in 1915, including Ottoman Empire admissions of war
crimes, the barrister was asked to conclude by the judges.

`Mrs Clooney may I draw your attention to the fact that the Armenian
government has gone over the time allocated, so I ask you to
conclude,’ said Dean Spielmann, the president of the court.

She insisted that Armenia did not want to limit free speech or
historical debate and accused Turkey of having double standards
because it’s own poor record on freedom of expression.

`Armenia is not here to argue against freedom of expression anymore
than Turkey is here to defend it. This court knows very well how
disgraceful Turkey’s record on freedom of expression is. You have
found against the Turkish government in 224 separate cases on freedom
of expression grounds,’

The Lebanese lawyer made a reference to Hrant Dink, the
Turkish-Armenian newspaper editor, who was prosecuted by Turkey for
inviting that the 1915 massacres were genocide.

Mr Dink was then assassinated by a Turkish nationalist in 2007 for his
views and ethnicity as an Armenian.

`Armenia has every interest in ensuring that its win citizens do not
get caught in a net that criminalises speech too broadly. As the
family of Hrant Dink know about all too well,’ she said.

Asked about the feverish speculation about what she would be wearing,
Mrs Clooney laughed and pointed to her barrister’s robes.

`I’m wearing Ede and Ravenscroft,’ she told the Telegraph, in a
reference to famous English company of legal robe makers and tailors
since 1689.

Mr Robertson QC, was surprised at the rows of paparazzi when they
arrived in court after she was mobbed in Greece after being involved
in the Elgin marbles case.

`It is not about white gloves or yachts. It puts the record straight,
she is a human rights lawyer,’ he said.

Genocide Education Project establishes course at University of Rhode Island

12:43, 28 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The University of Rhode Island is offering “The Armenian Experience:
History and Culture,” a course on Armenian history, at its Kingston
campus for the spring 2015 semester, beginning Jan. 26, Asbarez
reports.

As part of its “GenEd-HigherEd” initiative, The Genocide Education
Project Rhode Island branch co-chairs, Pauline Getzoyan and Esther
Kalajian, developed and proposed the honors seminar course, which went
through a rigorous approval process by the university during the fall
semester. Getzoyan and Kalajian will teach the course, which will
focus on diasporan studies as they relate to the Armenian experience.
Topics will include an understanding of genocide and the implications
of genocide on culture, identity, and religion.

The course will include a robust offering of guest speakers, including
author Chris Bohjalian and filmmaker Talin Avakian, who will speak
about “Literature and Film: An Author’s and Filmmaker’s Responsibility
to Truth – Exploring history, fiction, and non-fiction;” Tom
Zorabedian, Assistant Dean of the URI College of Arts and Sciences and
the Harrington School of Communication and Media; Dr. Catherine Sama,
professor of Italian at URI, who will speak about Armenians in the
diaspora with a focus on Italy and about the subject of genocide in
Italian literature and film; George Aghjayan and author/professor
Marian MacCurdy, who will be part of a panel discussing “The Aftermath
of Genocide: the Issue of Denial and Justice Specific to the Armenian
Genocide;” Berge Zobian, owner of Gallery/Studio Z in Providence, RI,
who will introduce the students to Armenian art and architecture, pre-
and post-Genocide; and Charles Kalajian, who will introduce the
students to Armenian musical instruments and the aural tradition of
learning music, with assistance from Ken Kalajian and Leon Janikian.

“This course, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, is the realization of a ten-year-long dream for us,
as genocide education advocates in the state of Rhode Island,” said
Pauline Getzoyan. “Through this course, we intend to convey to
students the many layers of history and social experience surrounding
the Armenian Genocide and its aftermath. In doing so, we not only
honor the memory of the victims, but we seek to help students make
more informed choices as they become global citizens confronted with
related issues.”

Teghout and Hazard Jeopardizing Environment

16:45 January 26, 2015

Hrachya Avagyan, Dr.in Geological and Mining Sciences, the “Gitutyun” newspaper

Teghout copper and molybdenum mine is located in Tumanyan area, Lori
Region, 3.5 km south-east from Teghut village.

The geological prospecting of Teghut mine has been carried out not
thoroughly with drawbacks and not multilaterally.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 27 2015

Armenia has received a “green corridor” from the EEU

27 January 2015 – 10:36am

Armenian citizens are exempt from customs clearance procedures at the
airport of Sochi.

A “Green Corridor” for people with Armenian passports was opened due
to the country’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. Customs
control at the post of “Sochi Airport” is not being carried out on
passengers and baggage arriving from Armenia. At the same time,
Armenian citizens must still pass through border and immigration
control, the Sochi customs service reported.

“In 2014, the proportion of aircraft to and from the Republic of
Armenia was 18% of the total number of aircraft and passengers and the
proportion of passengers to and from the Republic of Armenia from all
the passengers was 13%. During 2014, 260 cases of administrative
offenses were opened, 28 of them regarded citizens traveling to and
from the Republic of Armenia,” Epress.am cited the statement of the
Sochi customs service.

The treaty of accession of Armenia to the EEU was signed at the CIS
summit in Minsk on October 10th 2014. Armenia joined EEU on a common
basis in the fields of services and trade in goods provided for a
gradual transition to the Common Customs Tariff Union until 2022.

Business Recorder
Jan 27 2015

OSCE calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to cease hostilities

Wednesday, 28 January 2015 00:02
by Shoaib-ur-Rehman Siddiqui

VIENNA: The OSCE called Tuesday on Armenia and Azerbaijan to end
deadly fighting in the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh where four
Armenian soldiers were reportedly killed this month.

“I would like to urge the sides to ensure a full ceasefire and
cessation of hostilities,” said Ivica Dacic, foreign minister of
Serbia, the security body’s current chair.

“I deplore the upsurge in acts of violence resulting in loss of lives,
and I call on the sides to demonstrate responsibility and avoid steps
that would lead to further escalation,” Dacic said in a statement.

Ethnic Armenian separatists backed by Yerevan seized control of
Nagorny Karabakh, a mountainous largely ethnic Armenian enclave in
Azerbaijan, during a 1990s war that left some 30,000 dead.

Despite years of negotiations brokered by the OSCE’s Minsk Group, the
two sides have never signed a final peace deal, with Karabakh still
internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.

Violence increased last year with firing across the Armenia-Azeri
border and along the Karabakh frontline.

Last August more than 20 troops from both sides were killed and four
Armenian troops have reportedly died this month.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian on Monday warned Azerbaijan his
country could conduct a “preventative strike” if there is a “major and
menacing (military) concentration” by the other side.

The OSCE said in a separate statement that the co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group — Russia, the United States and France — met in Krakow,
Poland on Tuesday with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov.

The group expressed its “serious concern” and called on Azerbaijan to
“observe its commitments to a peaceful resolution of the conflict” and
on Armenia “to take all measures to reduce tensions”.

It said it plans to meet Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
in the near future and then travel to the region.

Iran Daily
Jan 26 2015

Blasphemous cartoon, insult to divine prophets: Younesi

President’s Special Advisor for Religious Affairs Ali Younesi said
Iran’s religious and cultural teachings stress respect for all divine
religions, adding that the Islamic Republic is committed to support
the rights of all religious minorities.

In a meeting with the Archbishop of the Armenian Church Neses Bedros
XIX here on Sunday, Younesi said Iranian Armenians are part of the old
history of the country and all Iranian ethnic groups have lived
together peacefully throughout history, IRNA reported.

He thanked the Pope Francis 1st for his firm position on the abusive
cartoon in the French magazine, saying it was not only an insult to
Islam but to all divine prophets.

Stressing that all such sacriledges are masterminded by Zionists,
Younesi said, ‘Certain sophisticated and secret activities are pushing
the world toward atheism and insecurity. While the Middle East needs
security, the Zionists are creating insecurity, hatred, and enmity in
different ways.’

Referring to President Rouhani’s proposal at the United Nations to
make a world without extremism and violence, he said the Islamic
Republic is fighting against terrorist groups.

The Archbishop of the Armenian Church, for his part, expressed
pleasure over his trip to Iran and meeting with high-ranking officials
and minority members of the Parliament, saying it is obvious that the
minorities in Iran are living in peace having no special problem which
is resulted from the government’s efforts.

Referring to the insulting cartoon in the French magazine, the
archbishop said freedom of speech does not let anyone insult other
religions.

Interfax, Russia
Jan 26 2015

Three Azeri soldiers killed, two wounded in a day – Nagorno-Karabakh
defense ministry

YEREVAN. Jan 26

The defense ministry of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
said on Monday that the Azeri armed forces violated the ceasefire
about 800 times on January 24 and 25.

The Azeri forces used weapons of various caliber, including mortars
and grenade launchers, firing over 14,000 shots at Armenian positions
on these days, the defense ministry’s press service told Interfax.

“The forward combat units of the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh
retaliated, inflicting losses on the enemy: three servicemen were
killed and two others wounded. The Armenian side did not sustain
losses,” the defense ministry said.

No comments on this report from the Azeri side are available to Interfax.

Interfax, Russia
Jan 26 2015

Russian military man charged with mass killing in Armenia could have
had accomplices – police official

YEREVAN. Jan 26

Valery Permyakov, a soldier from the Russian military base in Gyumri
in northern Armenia, who is charged with mass murder, could have had
accomplices, Lieutenant-General Unan Pogosyan, first deputy head of
the Armenian police, said.

“The investigators believe Russian military man Valery Pogosyan could
have accomplices. They are studying all theories, but clarity will
come after the preliminary investigation is completed,” Pogosyan told
a press conference on Monday.

According to earlier reports, a family of six people, including a
two-year old child, were killed in Gyumri on January 12. Sergei
Avetisyan, who was only six months old, survived the attack and was
hospitalized with a stab wound. He died on January 19.

Permyakov has admitted his guilt.

Expert: Armenian law-enforcers are not involved in Permyakov case
investigation to full extent

by Karina Manukyan
Tuesday, January 27, 21:51

“I am not sure that Armenian law enforcers are involved in the
Permyakov case investigation to the full extent”, Stepan Grigoryan,
Head of the Council of the Analytical Centre on Globalization and
Regional Cooperation, said at today’s press conference.

He said that some questions about the murder of the Avetisyans’ family
in Gyumri remain without answers. It remains unclear how Permyakov
was able to shoot 6 people dead all by himself given that those people
were in different rooms. In this light, Grigoryan does not rule out
that other people may be behind the crime.

In addition, it is not clear yet who exactly caught Permyakov on the
Armenian-Turkish border. “If he was caught by the Armenian
law-enforcers, why did they give him to the Russian 102nd military
base in Gyumri? If Permyakov was caught by the Russian frontier
guards, why didn’t they transfer him to the relevant bodies?” said
Grigoryan. He added that the given issue is not even being discussed
officially.

The expert recalled that the Russian 102nd base in Gyumri is not the
territory of the Russian Federation de jure. So, the talks about the
need to transfer Permyakov to the Armenian side sound at least
strange, because he is all the same in the territory of Armenia. “I do
not see that Armenia’s relevant bodies display a serious approach to
the full investigation of the crime committed in Gyumri”, he said.

On Jan 12, 6 members of the Avetisyans’ family were murdered in
Gyumri. Though 2 weeks have passed since the day of the murder, the
investigation has not yet reasonably explained the reasons why Valery
Permyakov could commit that horrible crime. At the moment, the
criminal is staying in the territory of the Russian 102nd military
base and the residents of Gyumri still demand transferring Permyakov
to Armenian law-enforcers. The only survivor of the Jan 12 tragedy,
6-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan, died of stab wounds on Jan 19.

Henry Theriault to Discuss Issue of Genocide Reparations at NAASR

By Contributor on January 26, 2015

BELMONT, Mass.–Prof. Henry Theriault of Worcester State University
will present a talk entitled, “‘Resolution with Justice’: Reparations
for the Armenian Genocide Considered,” on Thurs., Feb. 12, at the
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center
in Belmont.

Henry Theriault

In recent years, the issue of reparations for the Armenian Genocide
has gone from being a marginal concern to a central focus in popular
and academic circles. Most of the efforts to date have been in the
form of piecemeal individual reparation cases. But what are the
possibilities and limitations of pursuing broader reparations?

Theriault chaired the Armenian Genocide Reparations Study Group that
in fall 2014 published its report, “Resolution with Justice:
Reparations for the Armenian Genocide.” The report attempts to provide
an analysis and recommendations that would lead to a larger process of
reparations for the extensive outstanding damages of the genocide than
has previously been undertaken. At the Centenary of the Armenian
Genocide, with a gradual increase in genuine, non-denialist engagement
with the genocide in Turkey, and with the emergence of a global
reparations movement involving numerous human rights violations and
victim groups, it is an appropriate time to take a serious look at a
long-neglected topic.

Henry Theriault is professor in and chair of the Philosophy Department
at Worcester State. His research focuses on reparations,
victim-perpetrator relations, genocide denial, genocide prevention,
and mass violence against women and girls. He has published numerous
journal articles and chapters in the area of genocide studies, and was
recently named co-editor of Transaction Publishers’ Genocide: A
Critical Bibliographic Review book series. From 2007-12, he served as
co-editor of Genocide Studies and Prevention, and was guest editor of
the International Criminal Law Review special issue on “Armenian
Genocide Reparations” (2014), and the Armenian Reviewspecial issue on
the “New Global Reparations Movement” (2012). His autobiographical
article, “Out of the Shadow of War and Genocide,” is one of 15
featured in the forthcoming Scholars of Genocide Studies: New
Generations.

The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. at NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., in
Belmont. Copies of the report”Resolution with Justice: Reparations for
the Armenian Genocide” will be available. For more information about
Theriault’s talk, contact NAASR by calling (617) 489-1610 or e-mailing
[email protected].