Author: Kanayan Tamar

Azerbaijani official’s announcement on captives is vulgar
disinformation: Armenia’s MOD

13:37, 22 August, 2014

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. The announcement of the Chairman of
the State Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs
Ali Hasanov on refusing Azerbaijani authorities’ suggestion of
exchanging captives is a vulgar disinformation. The Press Secretary of
Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan
posted about this in his facebook page.”We are not yet in Baku’s
market and we are not engaged in trade. We strictly remain loyal to
the humanitarian principles and do not present and accept
preconditions. Just out of respect to the ICRC’s efforts in that
direction, we periodically apply to them for support to organize the
return of citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic. The announcement of Azerbaijani official is a vulgar
disinformation,” Hovhannisyan stressed.

Yezidi human rights defender: “Armenia can save more Yezidis in this
dire situation”.

Friday 22 August 2014 14:22
Mirza Ismail

On 3 August 2014, Islamic State (IS) militants attacked and took over
Sinjar, a Kurdish-controlled town that was home to Yezidis.

As a result, there were over 800 killed, thousands of captives and
missing people and dozens of thousand migrants.

Mirza Ismail is the Chairman of the Yezidi Human Rights Organization
based in Canada. Nowadays he is in Washington DC, meeting with
different US officials, therefore trying to find solutions to save
Yezidi population of Iraq.

Mediamax presents its exclusive interview with the Yezidi human rights defender.

-Was the IS attack on Yezidi population of Iraq a surprise for
Yezidis or was it an expected act?

-This is not the first time the Yezidis have faced genocide. There
have been 74 genocides against the Yezidis, just because we Yezidis
practice ancient faith that is different from Islam. The IS attack was
expected, when they took control over Iraqi-Syrian border, Baaj town
(34 km south of Sinjar) and Talafar city (about 37 km east of Sinjar).

Prior to the IS attack against the Yezidis in Sinjar region on July
17, we (a Yezidi Delegation) came to Washington, DC, had meetings with
three House of Representatives and U.S. State Department Office of
Religious Freedom. At the meetings, we explained the situation of
Iraqi Yezidis and the fact that they were surrounded by IS who had
already killed many of them.

For the Yezidis themselves the attack happened suddenly, but the
Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) officials were aware of it, and
their militias did not fight against IS. The KRG also withdrew its
militias from the Sinjar region just prior to the attack and they also
refused to give Yezidis any weapons to defend themselves against the
IS.

-KRG has called on the international society to deliver military aid
for fighting against IS. Should KRG expect positive answer from the
West?

– That is true, the KRG has asked the U.S., UK and EU as well for
support with high technology weapons. I think EU has already agreed,
but U.S. is still thinking about it. However, this was a plan by the
KRG to leave the Yezidis and Christians’ areas of Sinjar region and
Nineveh Plain in order to get support with good weapons, by convincing
the West that if they had good weapons they would be able to protect
the minorities. But it is not true at all, because KRG has been able
to defend Erbil and take the Mosul Dam back from the ISIS with same
weapons. So here is a question: why did the KRG not fight against ISIS
in Sinjar and Nineveh Plain regions?

-According to a well-spread view IS is sponsored by Turkish state.
What goal is Turkey trying to achieve by these kind of actions?

– Turkey has a very good relationship with the KRG. I think Turkey has
sponsored the ISIS because they are Sunnis and that they are against
the Regime of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria. This is not something new, the
conflict between the Sunnis and Shiites has been there for centuries.
>From my own perspective the Sunnis are scared of the Abbasi State
(including Iran, Iraq and Syria) to come back. If these three
countries unite under the Shiite Islamic State, it could become very
powerful and later could destroy the Sunni countries such as Saudi
Arabia. That’s why these Sunni countries created the IS or Islamic
Khalifat that would fight against Iran, Iraq and Syria not to become a
strong Shiite State.

– Are Yezidis happy with reaction of international community or do
they think that international society could do more?

– No, the Yezidis are not happy with the International community’s
reaction. Of course, they could do more. They have not stopped the IS
from killing the Yezidis. The situation gets worse day by day.
Presently, there are hundreds of thousands of displaced Yezidis in the
KRG regions, who sleep in streets, parks, schools, open fields, etc.
The International aid has not reached 50% of those displaced Yezidis.
Young babies die every day of starvations and lack of medical care.

-Armenia is the 5th country with biggest Yezidi population (35
thousand). How can Armenia help Iraqi Yezidis?

– We think that Armenia should be the first country to send
humanitarian aid to Iraqi Yezidis, because the Armenians and the
Yezidis, Chaldo-Assyrians in past have gone together through many
difficult times and Armenians know how does it look like to face a
total genocide. Any humanitarian aid is greatly appreciated. The
Yezidis and Armenians have saved each other in the past and I think
Armenia can save more Yezidis in this difficult and dire situation.

– What is happening nowadays with Yezidi population of Iraq, is often
compared with the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Does the history repeat
100 years later?

– Well, at the same time with the Armenian Genocide in 1915, there was
a genocide against Yezidis, during which 350 thousands Yezidis were
killed.

My grandfather was from Urfa and he escaped the genocide and fled to
Syria and then to Iraq. Though at that time (1915), the Turkish and
Kurdish did not have that high technology weapons, there is no much
difference between the past and current situation. That time’s
killings and beheadings are being repeated by the IS today. But in
1915 we did not have UN and NATO, who are nowadays responsible for the
World Affairs and they are still failing to protect the Yezidis.

-While raising awareness about the recent tragedy of Iraqi Yezidis,
what would you like to address the international society at this
moment?

– The whole world is aware that total genocide against the most
peaceful nation is taking place nowadays. We can’t force the
international societies to do more. As Yezidis maybe we deserve this
74th genocide in the 21 century or maybe God created us (Yezidis) by
mistake, so that Islam is trying to correct God’s mistake… maybe that
is why the world is not taking our issue seriously.

By the way, Yezidis who were able to escape the IS and have reached
the KRG controlled area, are facing assimilations into Kurdish
culture…

Narine Daneghyan talked to Mirza Ismail.

LE PREMIER MINISTRE GEORGIEN IRAKLI GHARIBACHVILI S’EST RENDU AU MEMORIAL DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN A EREVAN

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

En visite officielle de deux jours en Armenie, le Premier ministre
georgien Irakli Gharibachvili s’est rendu aujourd’hui 21 août au
memorial du genocide armenien a Dzidzernagapert (Erevan). Le chef
du gouvernement georgien etait accompagne de son homologue armenien
Hovig Abrahamian. Irakli Gharibachvili a depose devant le memorial
du genocide armenien une gerbe de fleurs avant de planter un arbre
dans le parc de la Memoire a Dzidzernagapert. Il rencontrera dans
les prochaines heures le president armenien Serge Sarkissian.

Krikor Amirzayan

jeudi 21 août 2014, Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

ARMENIA HAS NO INTEREST IN WAR BUT A WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT FOR PEACE, ZOHRAB MNATSAKANYAN STATES AT UN

Friday 22 August 2014 11:28
Photo: Mediamax.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Permanent Representative of Armenia to UN,
Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said that Armenia fully supports the
agreement reached in Kazan in 2011.

He said this during the discussions of “Use of System-Wide Approach
to Conflict Prevention” resolution at UN Security Council.

The Ambassador stressed the importance of prevention of a resumption
of conflict in situations when the final resolution remained pending.

“In the past weeks, an alarming escalation of tension and considerable
increase of ceasefire violations across the Armenian-Azerbaijani
border, as well as attempted incursions and subversive operations of
Azerbaijan army units had occurred”, said Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.

He stressed that lessons had to be taken from those developments on
the conflict zone.

“Armenia had no interest in war, but a willingness to fight for peace”,
said Armenia’s Permanent Representative to UN.

He also noted that confidence-building measures were necessary,
meaning “strict adherence to the 1994 and 1995 ceasefire agreements,
as well as other credible measures, which must be implemented as soon
as possible”.

VAZASHEN-PARAVAKAR BYPASS TO BE READY AT END SEPTEMBER

YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. The construction of Vazashen-Paravakar
bypass road in Armenia will be completed on September 30, Armenian
deputy minister of transport and communication Artur Arakelyan said
after the government meeting on Thursday.

The cabinet meeting approved appropriation of an additional of 55
million drams for construction of the road. The decision to build the
road was made for security purposes, bearing in mind regular Azeri
shelling on the border.

The contractor, Ijevan road construction company, failed to cope with
the deadlines, hence the agreement was cancelled, Arakelyan said. A
contact will be signed with another company, but the commissioning
deadlines will be maintained due to importance of the road section,
he said. Blasting works have led to additional expenditures, the
deputy minister said.

At the meeting Armenian premier Hovik Abrahamyan suggested the ministry
proposed to the ministry to carefully consider funding for similar
projects so that no additional funds are required afterwards in future.

The total length of the road is 3,188 kilometers. A 250-meter-long and
5-meter-high protective wall is to be built as part of the construction
to ensure security on the most dangerous section of the road. The
cost of the project is 519.8 million drams. ($1 – 407.74 drams). -0–

ARMENIA AND GEORGIA PLEDGE TO COOPERATE DESPITE MEMBERSHIP OF DIFFERENT INTEGRATION BODIES

FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE
* Friday, 22 August, 2014

Armenia’s forthcoming membership of the Eurasian Economic Union is
unlikely to affect its current relations with Georgia.

“Armenia and Georgia can benefit from membership of different
integration bodies,” Armenian Prime Minister Ovik Abramyan said at
talks with his Georgian counterpart Irakly Garibashvili on Thursday.

“Armenia is making steps to join the Eurasian Economic Union. At the
same time, our country continues active cooperation with the European
Union with an aim to give new impetus to reforms in various spheres,”
Abramyan went on to say.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili, in turn, expressed the
hope that Armenia and Georgia would be able to preserve economic,
political and cultural cooperation despite the fact that they would
be members of different integration bodies.

“That would be a good example for the world community,” Garibashvili
stressed.

— ITAR-TASS

PORTRAIT OF A MATHEMATICIAN AND HIS THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHESSBOARD

TIME Magazine
Aug 21 2014

An Army combat photographer during World War II, Yale Joel joined the
staff at LIFE in 1947, where he made a name for himself as the guy
whose great strength was the impossible or tricky shot using unusual
(and often self-invented) equipment. In a 1993 interview with John
Loengard, the Bronx-born technical wizard explained how the memorable
portrait above came about:

I found a small item in the New York Times about a Hungarian, Dr.

Ervand Kogbetliantz. He had designed a three-dimensional chessboard
and was looking for someone to play with him. I called him up and
invited him to come down to the LIFE studio. . . . I spent the morning
shooting pictures of him, using heavy-duty strobes to get enough light
so that I could get a close-up of the chessmen in the foreground and
the doctor in the rear.

[In a 1973 article on chess innovations, TIME magazine referred to Dr.

Kogbetliantz as “Russian-born,” while Wikipedia locates his birthplace
in Armenia.–Ed.]

Asked if Kogbetliantz’s game, played on an eight-tiered board with
64 pieces to a side, really worked, Joel replied:

It only worked for Dr. Kogbetliantz because he could never find anyone
to play with him. He had a very astute mind mathematically. He looked
at these strobe units as I kept drawing them closer to his ears, and
he finally came up with a mathematical computation. He announced as
I made the last adjustments, “If you bring those lights any closer
than they are now, you’re going to blow my brains out.”

IRAK : LE FILS DU CHEF DES YAZIDIS APPELLE A FAIRE DAVANTAGE POUR STOPPER LE GENOCIDE

IRAK

(AFP) – La communaute internationale n’en fait pas assez pour mettre
fin au “genocide” des Yazidis d’Irak par les jihadistes, a estime
mardi le fils du chef de cette minorite kurdophone non-musulmane.

“Nous appelons le monde libre a agir immediatement”, a declare Breen
Tahseen, diplomate irakien en poste au Royaume-Uni et fils du Prince
Tahseen Saeed Bek, le leader de la communaute des Yazidis.

S’exprimant devant les medias a Genève en tant que representant de son
père, M. Tahseen a affirme que les jihadistes de l’Etat islamique (EI)
avaient tue plus de 3.000 Yazidis et enleve 5.000 autres depuis qu’ils
sont entres dans la region de Sinjar (nord-ouest de l’Irak) debut août.

Des dizaines de milliers de Yazidis ont par ailleurs fui leur bastion
de Sinjar pris le 3 août par l’EI, se refugiant dans les montagnes
environnantes ou au Kurdistan.

La communaute des Yazidis comptait quelque 600.000 membres avant
l’attaque de l’EI, selon M. Tahseen.

L’Irak est plonge dans le chaos depuis le debut le 9 juin d’une
offensive d’insurges sunnites menes par l’EI au nord de Bagdad, qui
s’est etendue debut août dans le nord de l’Irak, poussant quelque
200.000 personnes a fuir, en majorite des Yazidis et des chretiens.

A la suite des raids americains, le president Barack Obama a annonce
le 14 août que le “siège de l’EI” avait ete “brise” dans les monts
Sinjar. Il n’y a plus que 4.000 a 5.000 Yazidis dans cette zone,
estime le Pentagone.

Selon M. Tahseen, environ 20.000 Yazidis se trouvent toujours dans
les monts Sinjar. En outre, 4.000 familles de Yazidis sont toujours
bloquees dans les differents villages de la region, dont celui de
Kocho, où les jihadistes ont tue la semaine dernière “environ 80
personnes”, en majorite des Yazidis, ont dit les autorites irakiennes.

Mais, affirme M. Tahseen, au moins 300 personnes ont ete tuees a
Kocho et 700 autres, essentiellement des femmes et des enfants,
ont ete enlevees dans ce village.

Ce diplomate a par ailleurs appele Washington a armer les Yazidis
pour qu’ils puissent se defendre.

De son côte, l’organisation non-gouvernementale UN Watch a appele le
Haut-Commissaire de l’ONU aux droits de l’Homme et les gouvernements
a convoquer d’urgence une session extraordinaire du Conseil des droits
de l’Homme.

Pour cela, le soutien d’un tiers des membres du Conseil (16 membres
ou plus) est necessaire.

Des diplomates considèrent toutefois que la question pourrait etre
soulevee pendant la prochaine session regulière du Conseil, qui
commence le 8 septembre a Genève.

mercredi 20 août 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

168 HOURS: NEW LAWSUIT ON PENSION LAW BEING PREPARED

11:31 21/08/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Armenian MP, member of ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction Artsvik Minasyan has
told 168 Hours that a new lawsuit is being prepared to challenge the
constitutionality of several provisions of the law on accumulative
pension system adopted in May.

He noted that the lawsuit has to be discussed and agreed on by members
of the non-government parliamentary factions. “The document is likely
to be submitted to the Constitutional Court by late September,” Mr
Minasyan added.

Source: Panorama.am

JOIN THE PETITION TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND HELP RETURN KAREN PETROSYAN’S BODY HOME

18:34 20/08/2014 >> SOCIETY

On the occasion of death of 31-year-old resident of RA Tavush region
Karen Petrosyan, the first Ombudsman of Armenia, the representative
of Against the Violation of Law non-governmental organization
Larisa Alaverdyan and the head of the Ordinary Genocide project
Marina Grigoryan have launched a campaign for signing a petition
to international organizations with a call to conduct a thorough
investigation on the reasons of the death of the hostage.

The letter namely expresses concern over the death of Karen Petrosyan
under Azerbaijani captivity. From the outset, his detention was marred
by violations of basic humanitarian norms.

The letter highlights that this tragic case is not an isolated
incident. Several innocent civilians taken captive by Azerbaijan
over recent years have suffered a similar pattern of abuse, public
humiliation, and even death. The cases of captives Manvel Saribekyan
and Mamikon Khojoyan are brought as an example.

“We turn to you to ensure that a proper autopsy and investigation into
credible allegations of violations is carried out. The autopsy should
be witnessed and verified by international experts and the subsequent
information and documentation of the investigation should be made
available in a timely manner to the authorities of the Republic of
Armenia,” reads the letter.

The authors of the letter also urge the international organizations
to use their good offices to ensure that Petrosyan’s remains are
immediately returned to Armenia in compliance with international law.

You can join the campaign by sending an e-mail from your mailbox
using the letter form posted on this website.

On August 8, the Azerbaijani media reported, referring to the
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, about the death of 31-year-old resident
of Chinari village of Tavush region Karen Petrosyan who was found
in Azerbaijan. He allegedly died in Baku from “heart failure.” It
was noted that “the causes of death are being investigated in Ganja
regional center of forensic and pathological anatomy.”

Related: State Department comments on killing of Karen Petrosyan MFA:
Evidence of Karen Petrosyan’s murder to be presented to international
organizations