Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIE
Les parents de la famille massacrée appellent à la remise du suspect
aux autorités arméniennes

Les parents de la famille massacrée à Gymri par un soldat russe pour
des raisons encore obscures ont déclaré qu’ils n’avaient pas participé
aux manifestations de jeudi, qui ont commencé quelques heures après
l’enterrement de Sérioja Avetisyan, sa femme, sa fille, son fils, sa
belle-fille et sa petite-fille de 2 ans. Ils ont en même temps soutenu
les appels des manifestants pour que le soldat russe inculpé, Valery
Permyakov, soit poursuivi par l’Arménie, a rapporté le service
arménien de RFE / RL (Azatutyun.am).

S’exprimant dans le cimetière de Gyumri au nom des parents, l’un des
cousins des Avetisyan, Samvel Hovannisian, a déclaré : “Nous exigeons
la justice. Nous exigeons que cette personne soit sévèrement
sanctionnée conformément aux lois de notre pays. Nous voulons
connaître les raisons de cette tragédie qui est pleuré non seulement
par nous mais aussi l’ensemble de la nation >>.

“Nous ne voulons pas non plus [qu’un tel crime] puisse être répétée
contre une autre famille”, a déclaré Hovannisian aux journalistes. “Si
Dieu le veut, ce sera le premier et le dernier crime de ce genre.”

Les autorités répressives arméniens ont été jusqu’ici réticents à
demander la garde de Permyakov, qui est gardé dans la base russe. le
Procureur général Gevorg Kostanian a seulement promis, sous la
pression des manifestants de Gyumri, de demander à son homologue russe
d’assurer que l’affaire sera transférée à la juridiction arménienne.

dimanche 18 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

TURKEY INVITES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GALLIPOLI WAR

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 16 2015

Deniz Zeyrek
ANKARA

As part of Ankara’s charm offensive ahead of the centennial anniversary
of the mass killings of Anatolian Armenians, President Recep Tayyip
Erdoðan has taken the unprecedented diplomatic step of extending an
invitation to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to ceremonies marking
the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli in Canakkale in late April,
which coincides with the Armenian remembrance day.

With plans to hold massive ceremonies to mark the centenary of
the Battle of Gallipoli on April 23 and 24, Erdoðan has sent out
invitations to the leaders of 102 countries, including Armenian
President Sargsyan and U.S. President Barack Obama.

The ANZAC Troops (Australia-New Zealand Army Corps) disembarked onto
the shores of Canakkkale on April 25, 1915 in a bid to destroy Turkish
artillery units, but were defeated in bloody combat that continued
until December 1915. Ever since, Australians and New Zealanders
have commemorated the Battle of Gallipoli on April 25, on the date
of the first landing, and on Aug 6 to Aug 10, the second landing of
the ANZAC troops.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the battle for Turkey, Australia and
New Zealand, the Turkish government is set to organize ceremonies with
the participation of 8,500 Australians and 2,000 New Zealanders. The
U.K.’s Prince Charles and his two sons, and the prime ministers of
Australia and New Zealand, are expected to take part in commemorations.

A day before the April 24 ceremonies in Canakkale, the government
is planning to host a reception and a “Summit of Peace” in Istanbul
on April 23, the day when Turkey marks the 95th anniversary of the
foundation of the Turkish Parliament.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoðlu has signed invitation letters
to his counterparts, while President Erdoðan has sent letters to the
heads of state, accompanied by the message, “We would be delighted
to have you with us on the 100th anniversary commemorations of the
Battle of Gallipoli.”

Speaking to daily Hurriyet, a government official recalled that along
with the many other ethnic groups who fought in the ranks of the
Ottoman military, the Armenians also fought at Gallipoli. “We fought
together in Gallipoli. That’s why we have extended the invitation to
Sargsyan as well,” the official added.

However, April 24, 1915 is also the date of the Ottoman government’s
signing the Deportation Law that led to the deaths of up to a million
Armenians in their long march south from eastern Anatolia. Armenia and
the Armenian diaspora mark the day as the “anniversary of genocide”
committed by the Ottoman Empire, and are planning to hold massive
ceremonies on the centenary of the mass killings of their ancestors.

Sargsyan has invited world leaders to Yerevan on the same day, and
neither Sargsyan nor Obama are expected to accept Turkey’s invitation
to attend the ceremonies in Turkey.

January/16/2015

PRESIDENT ERDOGAN WELCOMES ALIYEV WITH OTTOMAN ‘RESURRECTION ANTHEM’

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Jan 15 2015

SENA ALKAN

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday, in a press conference
with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Ankara, that the High
Level Strategic Cooperation Council between the two countries will
further relations in the fields of politics, economics, military,
education and culture.

Highlighting the strong ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Erdogan
said that the political relations between the countries are “flawless”
and added: “I believe that both countries have this determination
[to boost the relations in all fields].”

Aliyev arrived in Turkey on Wednesday to hold bilateral talks with
the president and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu over political,
economic and cultural cooperation as well as trade volume between
the two countries and to attend the fifth meeting of the High level
Strategic Cooperation Council.

Erdogan welcomed Aliyev with an official ceremony at the Presidential
Palace in Ankara. Turkic soldiers, dressed like soldiers from the
16 Turkic empires throughout history, appeared at the ceremony. The
soldiers at the ceremony were arrayed with historical clothes such
as ornate helmets, spears, swords used by Turkic states in the history.

The 16 soldiers representing Turkic states were used for the first
time in a welcoming ceremony when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
paid an official visit to Turkey on January 12.

Another unprecedented incident happened at the ceremony when the
presidency’s band played the “Resurrection Anthem” for the first
time, which is about the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. The
anthem was played in the style of Erdogan’s popular election song
“Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” adapted from Kazahk song “Dombra” and played
during the March 30 local elections.

Deputy Prime Minister Yalcın Akdogan, Foreign Minister Mevlut
CavuÃ…~_oglu, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Energy Minister Taner
Yıldız and Communication Minister Lutfu Elvan attended the ceremony.

Touching on the regional issues in the press conference, Erdogan
said that he was informed by Aliyev over the resolution process of
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Unfortunately, the OSCE Minsk Group has not taken concrete steps
[toward the issue] and has stalled the process. It is sad that despite
the international verdicts, they still try to stall the process. I
would like to express once again that Nagorno-Karabakh is part of
Azerbaijan and we [Turkey] will continue to support Azerbaijan
to resolve the issue by protecting the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. On this issue that we continuously express our sensitivity,
Turkey’s stance is crystal clear.”

The Turkish leader said that trade volume between the countries has
reached $5 billion and the target is to reach $15 billion by 2023. “I
believe that both countries have this determination, this political
stability and we will achieve this,” Erdogan said.

The two leaders signed several agreements as part of the council to
develop the relations between the countries.

Accepted as sister countries, Turkey and Azerbaijan share the same
history and culture and the leaders reiterated in all platforms
that both countries have the utmost determination to further these
exemplary relations.

Erdogan paid his first foreign visit to Azerbaijan after he took the
presidential office on August 10 to show the unity and brotherhood
between the countries. Similarly, when the Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) won the local elections on March 30, Erdogan paid
a visit to Azerbaijan to enjoy the victory as part of a Turkish
political tradition.

GYUMRI PROTEST ACTION: POLICE USED SPECIAL TOOLS (PHOTO)

21:39, 15.01.2015

GYUMRI. – The police used special weapons against demonstrators at the
Russian Consulate in Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri, where
a protest action continues. Information was confirmed for Armenian
News – NEWS.am by lrepresentatives of law enforcement agencies,
they but did not specify what kind of tools are applied.

The police formed a ring in front of the consulate, the demonstrators
are constantly trying to break it. Stones are thrown on the police,and
several people were injured in clashes.

Police confirmed that one person has been detained.

As reported earlier, six members of the Avetisyan family–including
a two-year-old girl–were shot dead, and a six-month-old baby boy
was wounded in their house in Gyumri on Monday. Valery Permyakov,
a serviceman of the 102nd Russian Military Base in the city, stands
accused in this crime. Permyakov was apprehended by the Russian
border guards near the Armenian-Turkish border, and he was arrested
on Wednesday. Valery Permyakov is held in custody at the Russian
military base.

MOSCOW’S DECISION ON PERMYAKOV

Lragir.am
Politics – 16 January 2015, 16:38

The Russian Expert Agency which expresses the Kremlin policy has
written about the crime in Gyumri: “Obviously, nobody will save Valery
Permyakov from justice. The crime is so outrageous and obvious that the
soldier’s guilt is not questioned. Yes, it is possible that Permyakov
will be ruled insane and sent to a psychiatric hospital but this
will not be an anti-Armenian plot either and humiliation all the more
so. Judging by the description of the murder, the soldier is mentally
healthy… The reality is that if by any chance the Kremlin decides to
save him from prosecution, it will make no difference which side will
be administering justice… Evidence is that the Armenian government
has itself refused to administer justice,” the Expert writes.

Everything seems to have been said, and developments confirm a
lot of things. The Russian side is not likely to hand Permyakov to
the Armenian side, and the Armenian law enforcement agencies have
obviously been told to justify this. This becomes obvious from the
posture and patchy statements.

Armenian law enforcement agencies are believed to have caught Permyakov
but then he appeared in the hands of the Russians. In order to make
this sound more or less substantial, it was announced that he had been
caught by Russian border guards at the Armenian-Turkish border. If
the Russian border guards caught him, it is logical that Permyakov
should be kept in the Russian base.

In fact, the Armenian law enforcement agencies have been deprived of
inquest by fresh traces, and time is a crucial factor in revealing
a crime.

It is suggested that Permyakov was not alone but was there to destruct,
but again there is nothing official and is again related to missing
the operative time.

The Russian press and public and political circles are cynical to
the extent of mocking the tragedy and shifting from the legal to the
political level, suggesting that there is an intention to provoke
anti-Russian sentiment.

This allows suggesting that this was a premeditated crime, and the
basis of the Armenian state and the living of the Armenian people.

At least, the developments that followed the tragedy and the
circumstances demonstrate this. The Russian side has a chance to dispel
doubts and hand Permyakov to the Armenian side through a transparent
investigation. The question is if Permyakov acted alone, and there
is no need to “save” him, why the Russian side refrains from this
simple and comprehensible move – handing him to the Armenian side.

Otherwise, questions occur. For example, will the Russians acknowledge
the sovereignty of Armenia in case they hand Permyakov to the Armenian
side, which is an insult to them?

Besides, judging by discussions on Russian social networks and forums
(and like in Armenia, in Russia they are mainly guided), is it a
shame to hand their criminal?

Does Permyakov know a lot and therefore they do not hand him to the
Armenian side?

Can anyone answer these questions?

In brief, as of today, the decision is not to hand Permyakov
to Armenian justice, he will be qualified as insane and sent
to a psychiatric hospital. Then they will let him go soon. “The
reality is that if by any chance the Kremlin decides to save him
from prosecution, it will make no difference which side will be
administering justice.” This is the political verdict.

GYUMRI TRAGEDY AFTERMATH: ACTIVISTS DENOUNCE HARSH POLICE RESPONSE TO PROTESTS, QUESTION MURDER INVESTIGATION

Society | 16.01.15 | 15:42

GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

Several days after the brutal murder of a six-member family in Gyumri
discussions over the crime do not stop and unanswered questions
continue to cause protests in Armenia.

On Thursday till late night thousands of protesters in Gyumri stayed
up demanding that the suspect of the January 12 murder case, Russian
102nd military base serviceman Valeri Permyakov should be handed over
to Armenian law-enforcement bodies.

Yesterday at a protest in Gyumri there were clashes between the police
and protesters, as a result 26 are reported to have been hospitalized
and 16 among them – police officers, 21 others were taken to the
police station.

Meanwhile, in the evening in Liberty Square in Yerevan a spontaneous
protest took place in support of Gyumri protesters, however, there
again there were clashes between citizens and the police, and 38
people were arrested.

Rule of Law NGO co-founder Artak Zeynalyan on Friday told reporters
that people are indignant and protest against injustice.

“The version that the suspect was thirsty, that the gate was open
and he entered, threatened and started shooting everyone is not
convincing, and this viewpoint was heard while he was under Russian
control. It is suspicious that this is the motive, that’s why it is
very important for us that the neutral side runs the investigation,”
the human rights activist said.

Armenian Helsinki Committee leader Avetik Ishkhanyan said that
arresting those protesting in Liberty Square was another manifestation
of arbitrariness.

“In the evening, when people gathered in Liberty Square, around a
hundred people, they were peacefully watching videos from Gyumri,
speaking, without any calls, but a manhunt took place, those who were
holding the national flag were arrested first, there is no other word
but arbitrariness to describe this,” the human rights activist said.

Heritage Party MP Tevan Poghosyan addressed the case saying that if the
case was a legal one in the beginning, it is completely political now.

“It is political, because it became a problem of international
relations; at least one international treaty was violated in Armenia,
upon which any boarder guard was supposed to hand over any trespasser,
especially the one in civilian clothes and with no documents to the
Armenian side. We spoke much about the 4th, 5th and 8th provisions
of the treaty, but in that same treaty there is another provision as
well, which says that in case of such occurrences, when both sides
have problems, a joint committee is formed and the place is Yerevan,
together it is discussed, however, nothing is said about this,” the
MP said, adding that it is not clear for him why no mourning days are
declared, because in that case it might have been a message for the
people of how Armenia treats its citizens, and maybe our population
would have regained the feeling of trust.

Poghosyan also said that there is an initiative in the National
Assembly to call a joint meeting of four committees to try to discuss
all events and understand what should be done.

ARMENIA’S POLITICO-MILITARY SECURITY TOP PRIORITY – GAGIK HARUTYUNYAN

15:42 * 16.01.15

Director of the Noravank research and education fund Gagik Harutyunyan
believes that Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)
was a necessity because Armenia cannot lose support by an important
strategic partner.

“Some people believed the former format could be preserved without
accession to the EEU. However, it was unacceptable to the EEU
member-states. It means that Armenia, as a member of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and of the EEU, would, first of
all, get a nuclear shield status, which would considerably raise our
security level,” Mr Harutyunyan said.

With respect to Turkey’s nuclear project, he said:

“Turkey is a genocidal country and has no any serious psychological
barriers in pressing the red button against a country.”

According to him, Armenia is at “semi-war” with Turkey, and such
threats must get an adequate response.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PROVOKED CLASHES IN GYUMRI

12:57 | January 16,2015 | Politics

Law enforcement officers yesterday provoked and angered protesters
who were holding solidarity rallies in Armenia, says Artak Zeynalyan,
Chairman of the Rule of Law NGO.

“The brutal murder of six people that occurred in Gyumri on January
12 has shocked people,” said Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of
Armenia Avetik Ishkanyan, who was detained on Thursday evening during
the clashes between the protesters and riot police in Gyumri.

“Residents of Gyumri doubt that Valery Permyakov, who is being kept at
the local Russian military base, will ever stand trial for the murder
of the Avetisyan family. The tragedy questionsArmenia’s sovereignty
and judicial system.” He said.

A series of protests took place in Gyumri and Yerevan on January 15,
with protesters demanding to hand over tRussian serviceman Valery
Permyakov, who is charged with murdering Avetisyan famil in Gyumri
to Armenian law-enforcement authorities. Many in Armenia think this
is a test for the sovereignty of Armenia, which has recently joined
the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Russian soldier Valery Permyakov, 19, who was serving at Russian
Military base N 102 in Gyumri, was detained by Russian border guards
on Monday after alleging killing six members of the Avetisyan
family in Gyumri and wounding a six-month-old infant on the same
day. The Avetisyans – two grandparents, their son and daughter,
a daughter-in-law, and young Hamsik – were found killed, when
a relative-neighbor came to the house for morning coffee. The
six-month-old infant, the only survivor of the brutal murder,
was hospitalized with severe stab wounds in his chest. Permyakov
reportedly confessed to the mass murder. He is now kept under arrest
at the Russian military base in Gyumri and has been charged with
murder and desertion.

ARMENIA’S SOCIETY MUST BE ON ALERT – AHOT MANUCHARYAN

14:34 * 16.01.15

Public and political figure Ashot Manucharyan told reporters on Friday
that “it is symbolic that such a tragedy has inaugurated the new year
in Armenia.”

He warns of the need to be “extremely cautious in this global situation
because, in a moment, someone may make use of the tragedy for other
purposes.”

“The Gyumri tragedy is an appalling thing, especially for our people.

But strong groups are launching their activities – both inside and
outside – to cash in on the tragedy. So we must be on the alert,”
Mr Manucharyan said.

He points out the importance of the church’s call for peace, which,
however, is not enough to resolve the situation.

“The church is trying to play its role, which can be welcomed. But
since gaining independence Armenian has had mechanisms of dealing
with such incidents. It would be perfect if the government played this
role. But it is not actually doing so, and an all-Armenian structure
needs to be formed immediately because the internal potential is
not sufficient. We have different serious figures outside Armenia,
who are greatly influential and willing to serve the homeland.”

According to Manucharyan, the Gyumri atrocity may escalate the
situation in two possible ways. First, the crime was committed by an
insane person. Second, it was a premeditated crime.

“In peaceful time we could have waited until the end, but now that
a global war is on, if we consider the worst version – it had been
a planned crime – the tragedy will be used for other purposes the
next moment.”

Mr Manucharyan points out a problem of lack of confidence. Each side
fears lest the tragedy be used against it. Confidence is of paramount
importance.

AFFRONTEMENTS DEVANT LES REPRESENTATIONS RUSSE A GUMRI

FAMILLE ASSASSINEE

Des centaines de personnes en colère ont affronte la police anti-emeute
a l’exterieur du consulat russe dans la ville armenienne de Gumri jeudi
soir lors de la deuxième journee de protestations contre l’assassinat
d’une famille locale qui auraient ete commis par un soldat russe. Les
manifestants se sont rassembles devant la mission diplomatique pour
continuer a exiger que le suspect garde dans la base militaire russe
de Gyumri soit remis aux autorites de justice armenienne.

Les forces de securite en tenue antiemeutes ont tire des gaz
lacrymogènes et des grenades assourdissantes et utilise des matraques
pour les empecher de s’approcher du consulat. Les manifestants ont
repondu avec une grele de pierres lancees sur plusieurs rangees
de policiers anti-emeute. Une deputee de l’opposition armenienne,
Zaruhi Postanjian, leur a demande de s’eloigner et d’eviter de
nouvelles violences.

Un correspondant de RFE / RL a vu plusieurs personnes blessees dans
la melee. Des ambulances ont emporte certaines d’entre elles. Les
medecins de l’hôpital local ont informe le service armenien de RFE
/ RL (Azatutyun.am) que huit manifestants et trois policiers ont
ete hospitalises pour des blessures graves subies au cours des
affrontements. Plus d’une douzaine d’autres residents de Gyumri
auraient ete arretes sur place.

La grande majorite des manifestants, pour la plupart des jeunes,
a decide de marcher vers le centre-ville après s’etre adressee a un
depute, Martun Grigorian, qui represente la circonscription Gyumri
au Parlement armenien. “Ce est une impasse, mon cher peuple,” leur
dit-il. “Calmez-vous, et passez votre chemin . >>

La foule en colère a defile vers le consulat pour exiger que Valery
Permyakov, le soldat detenu qui a avoue les meurtres, soit remis aux
autorites armeniennes ou au moins jugees par un tribunal armenien.

Le Procureur general de l’Armenie Gevorg Kostanian a tente de rassurer
les manifestants : “Comme procureur general et etre humain, je vous
dis que je lancerai un appel au procureur de la Russie en ce sens >>,
a-t-il declare.

Environ 100 personnes se sont rassemblees egalement a l’exterieur du
bâtiment de l’ambassade de Russie dans le centre d’Erevan jeudi. La
police a arrete deux militants dont l’un avait tente de brûler un
drapeau russe.

Un autre rassemblement spontane a eclate dans place de la Liberte
a Erevan tard dans la soiree, peu de temps après de nouveaux
affrontements Gyumri. Plus de deux douzaines de manifestants ont ete
arretees au hasard par des policiers en civil. Ces derniers ont refuse
d’expliquer clairement les raisons de ces arrestations.

vendredi 16 janvier 2015, Ara (c)armenews.com