Author: Kanayan Tamar

MEVLUT CAVUSOGLU : LA TURQUIE ET L’AZERBAIDJAN ONT REUSSI A DETRUIRE LA FORTERESSE DE L’INTERIEUR
Stephane

mardi 7 fevrier 2012
armenews.com

L’ancien president de l’APCE Mevlut Cavusoglu, a commente la
situation en ce qui concerne l’appel des senateurs francais au
Conseil constitutionnel afin d’obtenir l’invalidation du projet de
loi criminalisant la negation du genocide armenien.

Cavusoglu a salue les mesures prises par les legislateurs francais et a
note que “la Turquie a reussi a detruire la forteresse de l’interieur.”

“Cette question a eu un soutien substantiel egalement de la part de
l’Azerbaïdjan. Nous avons mene une campagne de lobbying très forte
parmi les parlementaires francais et nous avons reussi a realiser
beaucoup de choses. Nous avons pu expliquer aux senateurs francais que
ce projet de loi n’apportera aucun avantage a la France. En outre,
de nombreuses ONG et les medias ont egalement critique Sarkozy pour
sa position sur cette question. Le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip
Erdogan a suivi de près la situation, nous ne pouvons pas ne pas
noter le rôle de l’Azerbaïdjan qui a egalement essaye de persuader
les senateurs et les deputes francais d’aider a ce sujet, “a-t-il dit.

Source:1news d’Azerbaïdjan

SWISS PROSECUTOR PROBES BAGÄS OVER GENOCIDE REMARKS, SPARKS DIPLOMATIC ROW

Today’s Zaman

Feb 7 2012
Turkey

A Zurich prosecutor on Monday launched an investigation into remarks by
Egemen BagıÅ~_, Turkey’s EU affairs minister and chief EU negotiator,
after he said in Zurich that there was no Armenian genocide and that
Swiss authorities could arrest him if they wanted to.

Turkey swiftly responded to the news of investigation, with the
Swiss ambassador in Ankara being summoned to the Foreign Ministry on
Monday afternoon. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Feridun Sinirlioglu, who met Swiss Ambassador Raimund Kunz, demanded
an official explanation and informed Kunz that the investigation was
“unacceptable,” sources said.

News about the prosecution’s move was published in the Swiss daily Neue
Zurcher Zeitung. The Zurich Chief Prosecutor’s Office launched the
investigation into BagıÅ~_’s remarks — which he made last month in
Zurich on his way back from the World Economic Forum at Davos — based
on a complaint filed by members of Switzerland’s Armenian community.

Zurich State Prosecutor Christine Braunschweig was quoted by the daily
as having said: “Last week we received a petition about this issue,
informing us that Mr. BagıÅ~_ violated the anti-racism Article 261 of
the Swiss Penal Code. Our prosecutor’s office has taken this allegation
seriously and launched an investigation. We will investigate whether
Egemen BagıÅ~_ uttered words denying the Armenian genocide as asserted
in the petition. We will also see if he has diplomatic immunity. At
the end of this, we will press charges against him if there indeed
is a violation and if he cannot benefit from diplomatic immunity.”

Cihangir Å~^ahin, BagıÅ~_’s press secretary, said the minister
will not comment on the issue until the prosecutor’s preliminary
investigation is completed.

The Zurich prosecutor was “out of line” according to at least one
deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK
Party). The AK Party’s Omer Celik said, “The Zurich prosecutor was
out of line launching an inquiry into a minister of the Republic of
Turkey who voiced an opinion while exercising freedom of speech.”

Last week, in response to a question from a French journalist on what
he thought of a bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide
adopted by the French Senate in January, BagıÅ~_ said: “Our prime
minister has said what needs to be said about this. This resolution
is null and void for us. We believe that there are more people with
common sense than those without it in France. Switzerland is another
country where it is a crime to deny the so-called genocide. Here I
am in Switzerland today, and I’m saying the 1915 incidents did not
amount to genocide. Let them come arrest me.”

In 2008, Workers’ Party (Ä°P) Chairman Dogu Perincek, who was
convicted by a Swiss court for rejecting Armenian claims of genocide
at a conference he attended in Switzerland, appealed the ruling at the
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), arguing his conviction was a
violation of the free speech articles of the European Convention on
Human Rights (ECHR). He also complained of violations of his right
to a fair trial, after his lawyer was denied a visa to Switzerland.

The European court is currently waiting on the Swiss government to
submit its defense. It is expected to deliver a verdict this year. The
Republic of Turkey is listed as a co-plaintiff in the case.

OFFICIALS PROMISE ARMENIANS DEMOLISHED PLACES WILL BE REBUILT

Today’s Zaman
Feb 6 2012
Turkey

Officials from the Malatya Municipality and governor’s office have
promised the Armenian community that they will rebuild recently
demolished buildings, including a place of worship that was under
renovation, located inside an Armenian cemetery.

Garo Paylan, a member of the board of directors of HAYDER, an
Ä°stanbul-based foundation of Malatyan Armenian philanthropists, said
after having talks with the Malatya Municipality and governor’s offices
in the city over the weekend and on Monday, they are convinced that the
demolished buildings will be rebuilt by the municipality. “We found
out that the prime minister had called the city officials and asked
them to do whatever necessary to compensate for the action,” he said.

A residence for the watchman, a room to bathe the bodies of the dead
and a place of worship were pulled down when nobody in charge of the
cemetery was around on Thursday. Municipality officials said at first
that the place of worship was being built without official permission,
and argued that there was nothing illegal about the demolition, but
later claimed there had been a mistake. Malatya Mayor Ahmet Cakır was
quoted on the website of the Turkish-Armenian Agos weekly as saying
he is sorry for what happened and that the demolition occurred due to
miscommunication among officials and that they will compensate for it.

Citing intolerance towards Armenians as the reason behind the
municipality’s move, Turkish media outlets reported on Friday that
the municipality had the facilities pulled down because of hundreds
of petitions submitted by locals who opposed the construction of a
place of worship for Armenians, thinking that a church was being built.

Mayor Cakır gave verbal permission for the place of worship to
be built on orders by Malatya Governor Ulvi Saran. The cost of the
building was met by HAYDER. The blueprint of the place of worship
was drawn up by renowned Turkish-Armenian architect Kevork Ozkaragöz.

Paylan said in a written statement on Friday that both the governor
and the municipality were fairly warm to the idea of renovating the
demolished buildings at the cemetery four months ago. “Now the Malatya
Municipality has told us they will pay for the cost of the rebuilding,”
Paylan told Today’s Zaman on Monday. “And we will provide technical
support,” he said.

TURKEY SUMMONS SWISS ENVOY OVER INVESTIGATION INTO MINISTER

Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 6 2012
Turkey

Swiss Ambassador Raimund Kunz was summoned by the Turkish foreign
ministry in Ankara after a Swiss prosecutor launched a probe into
Turkey’s EU minister for saying “the Armenian genocide doesn’t exist.”

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu summoned Kunz to
his office, asking for an explanation. Sinirlioglu reportedly told
Kunz that the incident was “unacceptable.”

“There is no Armenian genocide. Let them arrest me,” BagıÅ~_ had
said last week following a question from a French reporter on the
1915 killings.

Zurich public prosecutor Christine Braunschweig confirmed the probe
and told Dogan news agency that they were looking into whether or
not BagıÅ~_ had said the words.

“We will look into Minister Egemen BagıÅ~_’ immunity,” Braunschweig
further said. “If there is anything illegal and if he does not have
the diplomatic immunity, then we will file the lawsuit.”

BagıÅ~_ has refused to speak on the matter until the initial probe
ends, daily Hurriyet reported.

ON FIRST HEARING, ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES BILL ON “PROCEDURE FOR CALCULATION OF TIME”

news.am
February 07, 2012 | 13:29

YEREVAN. – Armenian National Assembly (NA) approved in its first
hearing, on Monday, the bill on “The Procedure for Calculation of
Time in the Republic of Armenia.” Pursuant to this law proposal,
Armenia will no longer switch the clocks and use Daylight Saving Time.

Opposition Heritage Party MP Stepan Safaryan noted, however, that
if this bill is adopted with this text, the night will fall one hour
early in Armenia, and the people’s electricity costs will increase.

The proposals for this draft law will be considered until the time
of NA’s second hearing.

FATE OF ARMENIA GENOCIDE BILL DEPENDS ON FRANCE-TURKEY RELATIONS

news.am
February 07, 2012 | 13:51

YEREVAN.- France’s moves on Armenian Genocide bill are conditioned
by country’s interests, said political analyst Arayik Sargsyan.

In this context, Sargsayn who is deputy head of Russia’s Geopolitics
Problems Academy, stressed that French-Turkish relations are not
disrupted. On the contrary, the countries intend to jointly adopt
sanctions against Syria.

According to the political analyst, the matter concerns possible
France’s intervention into Syria through the territory of Turkey. The
fate of Armenian bill depends on development of relations between
Paris and Ankara, he said.

“I am a descendant of Armenian Genocide survivor. My grand-father
lost his parents during the 1915 events. But let us leave the dead
alone and face the situation – France is making moves meeting its
own interests,” he added.

In January the French Senate adopted a bill criminalizing denial of
the genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. However, a group of
senators appealed the decision in the Constitutional Council.

EAST OF BYZANTIUM – COMICS ABOUT ARMENIAN HISTORY
Marina Harutiunyan

Noyan Tapan – News from Armenia
2012-02-06

Comics depicting one of the most famous chapters of the Armenian
history have become popular among comics fans in the U.S. The idea of
comics showing the Armenian history belongs to Roger Kupelian, famous
Hollywood producer, writer and matte artist. He was making visual
effects for such films as “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”,
“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”, “Constantine”, “Terminator
Salvation” and others. Roger agreed to answer questions of the Armenian
News-NEWS.am reporter and told about his East of Byzantium project.

Are you currently working on any film projects or you are mainly
engaged in the East of Byzantium?

I have developed other projects but put them on hold as the impetus
is to put East of Byzantium onto the fast track. People also forget I
am a very busy participant in the Hollywood Visual Effects industry. I
have to pay bills too.

How did the idea of East of Byzantium come into your head? When did
you launch the project and do you have any ideas how to present the
Armenian history through comics or other means?

The Vartan Mamigonian and Armenian Wars Mythology has always played
a part in my upbringing. You can thank my parents for that. Once the
tools presented themselves, the imagery began to flow. The point of
the Graphic Novels (online comics etc) were to serve as a foundation
for televised or cinematic projects, a kind of ‘Bible’ if you will.

But at the very least the goal is to provide an exciting and sublime
experience for young (and young at heart) readers. The secondary goal
was to reach beyond the Armenian world and make this an internationally
appreciated story (which is why I simplified the approach and focused
more on the visuals). My goal is to reinvent and reinforce a mythology
for our modern age we can draw strength from.

You have recently cooperated with Serj Tankian and prepared
illustrations for his “Glaring Through Oblivion” collection of poems.

Do you plan to launch other joint projects with Tankian or other
Armenian celebrities?

Serj and I have discussed other projects but we are both quite busy
with our current roster of upcoming releases. Who knows. There are
always ideas. Both of us serve on the advisory board for TUMO, for
example. As far as other Armenian celebrities, I am sure the future
holds the answer to that.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS SHOULD REMAIN ON ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT’S AGENDA – SPEAKER

news.am
February 06, 2012 | 12:47

YEREVAN. – The Armenian-Turkish protocols’ withdrawal from the Armenian
National Assembly’s (NA) agenda is within the President’s powers,
NA Speaker Samvel Nikoyan stated during NA’s session on Monday, in
response to opposition Heritage Party Parliamentary Faction leader
Stepan Safaryan’s question.

Safaryan had noted that Turkish Minister of State Egemen Bagis had
promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide if it is academically
proven. According to Safaryan, such statements are unacceptable,
and the Armenian parliament must ultimately withdraw these protocols.

“The Armenian-Turkish protocols’ withdrawal from the National
Assembly’s agenda is within the Armenian President’s powers. But I
believe the Armenian-Turkish protocols should remain on the agenda.

The Armenian Genocide’s international recognition is not dependant
on those protocols. On the contrary, the international community
respects Armenia’s position,” Samvel Nikoyan said.

And Stepan Safaryan responded by noting that Heritage will vote against
NA’s agenda as long as “the infamous protocols, which do not promise
anything good, are included there.

ARMENIAN JOURNALIST HAYK GEVORGYAN RELEASED

news.am
February 06, 2012 | 12:55

YEREVAN. – Minutes ago journalist of Haykakan Zhamanak daily Hayk
Gevorgyan was released.

Hayk Gevorgyan was taken into custody on February 3 and transferred to
prison. He is accused of hitting a citizen with his car. But Haykakan
Zhamanak’s editorial staff stated that this was untrue.

On Monday morning Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash General
Jurisdiction Court held a hearing deciding to commute Gevorgyan’s
restraint order from imprisonment to a signature bond.

UNE HONTE !
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
lundi 6 fevrier 2012

Que celles et ceux qui n’ont pas encore lu “Vidures” de Denis Donikian
aillent l’ecouter mercredi 8 fevrier a 20h a la Maison des Etudiants
Armeniens de la Cite Universitaire. Ce roman d’une criante actualite
est une metaphore en partie illustree ici par ces photos intolerables,
inacceptables.

Cela se passe dans la region de Tavush. La rivière Aghstev est un
veritable depotoir qui sert de decharge, frontière entre l’Armenie
et l’Azerbaïdjan.