Armeni: legge europea sul negazionismo turco?

La Stampa, Italia
12 gennaio 2012

Armeni: legge europea sul negazionismo turco?

Marco Tosatti

Genocidio armeno: la Francia non è la prima nazione a condannare il
`negazionismo’ verso ciò che è accaduto dal 1915 in poi in Medio
Oriente. Il capo della giustizia in Slovacchia, e già ministro della
Giustizia, Stefan Harabin, si dice sorpreso per il fatto che Anakara,
avendo già protestato a suo tempo contro la Slovacchia e la Svizzera,
che hanno approvato leggi che criminalizzano la negazione del
Genocidio, abbia sollevato con tanto clamore il problema nei riguardi
della Francia.

Genocidio armeno: la Francia non è la prima nazione a condannare il
`negazionismo’ verso ciò che è accaduto dal 1915 in poi in Medio
Oriente. Il capo della giustizia in Slovacchia, e già ministro della
Giustizia, Stefan Harabin, si dice sorpreso per il fatto che Anakara,
avendo già protestato a suo tempo contro la Slovacchia e la Svizzera,
che hanno approvato leggi che criminalizzano la negazione del
Genocidio, abbia sollevato con tanto clamore il problema nei riguardi
della Francia. Harabin ha fatto questa affermazione in una lettera
indirizzata al presidente del Forum delle associazioni armene
d’Europa, Ashot Grigoryan. `La Slovacchia ha approvato la legge che
criminalizza la negazione del genocidio armeno nel 2009. Così è il
primo Stato a penalizzare la negazione, e il secondo in Europa (a
passare una legge sull’argomento. N.d.r.) dopo la Svizzera. Sono
altamente sorpreso dal fatto che la Turchia abbia sollevato un clamore
senza precedenti contro la legge in discussione al Senato francese
dopo le loro futili proteste contro l’adozione della legge da parte di
Slovacchia e Svizzera in precedenza. Mi rivolgo al presidente del
Senato francese e ai suoi membri per affermare che l’adozione di
questa legge è una grande necessità. La Slovacchia si unirà alla
proposta del presidente Nicolas Sarkozy all’Unione Europea di passare
una legge del genere’ . Il presidente del Forum è stato informato che
il ministero degli Esteri turco, e l’ambasciatore in Slovacchia hanno
lanciato una campagna a Bratislava chiedendo che venga smantellato il
monumento dedicato al Genocidio armeno.

Lo stesso giorno in cui viene annunciato il ritorno a Parigi
dell’ambasciatore turco, il governo francese fa sapere di voler dare
un’accelerazione all’iter parlamentare della legge che sanziona la
negazione del genocidio degli armeni. Secondo quanto riferito dalla
radio pubblica France Info, l’esecutivo intende inserire entro la fine
di gennaio nell’agenda del Senato la discussione della legge, gia’
approvata dall’Assemblea Nazionale lo scorso 22 dicembre.
L’approvazione suscito’ la dura reazione della Turchia, che richiamo’
ad Ankara il proprio ambasciatore e sospese ogni cooperazione militare
con Parigi. Se approvata in via definitiva, la legge punira’ con pene
fino a un anno di carcere e sanzioni fino a 45mila euro chiunque neghi
che le uccisioni di massa degli armeni da parte dei turchi nel corso
della Prima Guerra Mondiale costituiscono un genocidio. E c’è la
possibilità che per la legge promulgata dalla Francia venga chiesta
l’applicabilità su tutto il territorio dell’Unione Europea.

http://www.lastampa.it/_web/CMSTP/tmplrubriche/giornalisti/grubrica.asp?ID_blog=196&ID_articolo=1526&ID_sezione=396

BAKU: ECHR released new judgments against Armenia, on JW complaints

APA, Azerbaijan
Jan 14 2012

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) released new judgments
against Armenia on basis of Jehovah’s Witnesses complaints

[ 14 Jan 2012 13:28 ]

Baku. Parvin Abbasov – APA. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
released new judgments in favor of two Armenian citizens both
involving Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jehovah’s Witnesses told `news.am’
website, APA reports.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) released two new judgments
against Armenia according to `Bukharatyan against Armenia’ and
`Tsaturyan against Armenia’ claims. The two applicants, Hayk
Bukharatyan and Ashot Tsaturyan, were sentenced in 2003 to two years
of imprisonment by Armenian authorities for refusal to participate in
military service.

According to the religious community, five members of Jehovah’s
Witnesses were arrested for refusal to participate in military
service.

Armenian law on alternative civilian service allows seeking
alternative service for those who refuse to join the army for
religious reasons. However, young people, members of religious
organizations, often refuse to enlist for alternative civilian service
saying it is controlled by the Defense Ministry.

PACE to get rid of Chavoushoghlu

PACE to get rid of Chavoushoghlu

yerkir.am
11:15 – 11.01.2012

During the winter session of PACE that is to take place on January
23-27, no question concerning Armenia will be discussed.

Member of PACE Armenian delegation Armen Rustamyan informed about this
to `Yerkir’ daily.

Issues concerning the sub-delegation of Karabakh issue remain undone,
which was Chavoushoghlu’s initiation.

`Our touch to that issues is clear and, in the tactical point of view,
it has to be recorded as success, as we reached to that stage were
Chavoushoghlu couldn’t use his position at PACE and affect on the NKR
issue regulation, creating a circle in PACE which had to be headed by
himself.

Fate of that issue must be solved and we have a mission to neutralize
the results of 14/16 resolution’, said Armen Rustamyan.

He also noted that a specific form is to be used for those countries
that are not so renowned and bring up important issues of discussion.

`So, there are precedents that are not used in NKR case, I don’t know
why. And our main aim has to be to include Karabakh in PACE’, said
Rustamyan.

Talking about the two-year rule of Chavoushoghlu, Armen Rustamyan
reminded that the Armenian side talked many times about his bias and
prejudice.

Those features were obvious from the first sight, when he visited the
territory and, breaking the rules and the tradition, refused to pay
tribute to the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide and did not
visit the monument, saying that he is, first of all, a Turkish MP.

`It became clear from the first minute that he had come to work as
Turkish MP and commit steps that would meet the interests of his party
and his country’, said Rustamyan and added that the next step followed
soon after, and it was the creation of sub-delegation of Karabakh
issue.

Rustamyan believes that Chavoushoghlu did not meet that standards PACE
president must have.

Iran exporting water, power industry equipments to 6 countries

Iran exporting water, power industry equipments to 6 countries
Economic Desk

On Line: 06 January 2012 15:41
In Print: Saturday 07 January 2012

Iran is currently exporting items and equipments related to water and
power industries to South Africa, Armenia, Oman, Nigeria, Syria and
Iraq, an Iranian energy official announced.

`Some 40 goods which are strategically important in the power industry
are domestically produced and 6 others have been technologically
indigenized,’ Mohsen Marjan-Mehr told the Mehr news agency.

Iran has reached self-sufficiency in producing equipments for the
domestic power electricity industry, Iran power generation
transmission and distribution management company (TAVANIR) managing
director said earlier this month.

`Iran is currently producing 64,000 megawatts of electricity per year.
The country stands in the 14th place worldwide in terms of electricity
generation,’ Homayoun Haeri added, the IRNA news agency reported.

The deputy energy minister announced in October 2011 that the value of
Iran’s electricity exports will reach 1 billion dollars in the current
Iranian calendar year which ends on March 19.

“Iran’s electricity exports and related technical and engineering
services exports will reach $4 billion this year, of which the
country’s net electricity exports will be $1 billion,’ Mohammad Behzad
explained.

“Iran currently exchanges electricity with Turkey, Armenia,
Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq,” he added.

http://tehrantimes.com/economy-and-business/94264-iran-exporting-water-power-industry-equipments-to-6-countries

BAKU: ‘Armenian president does not care about his people’

‘Armenian president does not care about his people’

14 January 2012 [13:26] – Today.Az

`The Armenian authorities are engaged in staff perturbations, and
they don’t care about the society,’ expert Ilgar Velizade said. He
commented on reports that about 350 Armenian schools were forced to
move classes due to the lack of social conditions.

He said the neighboring country has serious social problems. `It’s not
a surprise, as Armenia is not able to create the necessary conditions
for the functioning of social institutions because of the constantly
growing economic problems,’ he noted.

`The Armenian authorities do not pay enough attention to these issues.
Today, we observe reshuffles in the government, which shake political
sphere . The Armenian president does not care about his people. He
focused on the parliamentary elections to be held this year in
Armenia,’ Velizade stressed. The main task for him is to ensure a
political support.

/Day.Az/

Turkish schools not to include question on Armenians’ `cruelties’

Turkish schools not to include question on Armenians’ `cruelties’ in
exam questionnaires

January 14, 2012 | 21:44

ANKARA. – The question on Armenians’ `cruelties’ is not included in
the Turkish schools exam questionnaires due to numerous complaints.

The question offending Armenians, sent by National Education
department of Bakirkoy district in Istanbul, was not included in the
school exam questionnaires, Turkish Vatan reports.

Former head of the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK) Sami
Evren who was present at the exam opposed expressions containing
racism and discrimination and left the school. He stated it is not
right to hold exam containing such questions.

`It is not only wrong to speak about documents on `cruelties
perpetrated by the Armenians’ but also address schoolchildren with
such question. It is equal to the expression `you have perpetrated
cruelties’. What would a Turkish student feel if he was called `Turk
barbarian’ in German school?’ he wonders.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Tata Steel Chess: Levon Aronian vs. Sergey Karjakin

Tata Steel Chess: Levon Aronian vs. Sergey Karjakin

14:14 14/01/2012 » Sport

Armenian GM Levon Aronian will take part from Jan 14-29 in Tata Steel
Chess 2012 in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. Levon Aronian will play in
tournament A, while another Armenian chess player Elina Danielian will
play in tournament `C’.

Armenian chess federation informs that Levon Aronian will play in
blacks with Sergey Karjakin and Elina Danielian will play in whites
with Turov.

Tournament A includes the following chess players Carlsen, Rajabov,
Topalov, Karjakin, Ivanchuk, Hashimov, Nakamura, Gelfand, Caruana,
Kamsky, Giri, Navara and Van Wely.

Source: Panorama.am

BAKU: Bulgarian parl rejects to recognize so-called Armenian genocid

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
January 12, 2012 Thursday

Bulgarian parliament rejects to recognize so-called Armenian genocide

Baku 12 January

The Bulgarian parliament has refused by the majority of votes a draft
bill on recognition of so-called Armenian genocide.

According to the Anatoly Agency, the initiative presented by racist
and extreme nationalist party ATAKA was included in the agenda of the
first session of the parliament after New Year`s holiday.

Nineteen lawmakers voted for the draft law, while 30 voted against.

NASA Astronaut, Student Share Dreams Of Space

NASA ASTRONAUT, STUDENT SHARE DREAMS OF SPACE
By Tiffany Kelly

Glendale News Press
Jan 13 2012
CA

Astronaut encourages youngsters to study science, math at La Crescenta
school.

Schiff (D-Burbank) asking the congressman to invite an astronaut to
his school. Schiff often receives letters from students, but this
one was different, he said.

“Shant wrote me a wonderful, moving letter,” he said. “I get a lot
of letters from kids on a variety of things. It was clear that he had
deep, abiding interest in space and in science, which I can relate to,
because I share it.”

On Friday, Schiff granted the Altadena student his wish. He came to
Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School in La Crescenta with NASA
astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, a Caltech alum who gave a presentation
on his experience working at the International Space Station.

Armenian said that he felt lucky to have his request granted, and
that it was a great experience for the approximately 300 students
at the campus who attended the presentation. He became interested in
space at a young age, he said, and is regularly involved with Burbank
Sidewalk Astronomers, a group that sets up telescopes in the street
for passers-by.

Talking to a real astronaut was important to Armenian because he
aspires to become one.

“It’s always been my dream to go to Mars,” he said. “I want to be
the first person to go to Mars.”

After the presentation, Chamitoff fielded questions from students on
the damage the Space Station causes to the ozone layer, his plans to
return to space and what inspired him to become an astronaut. Like
Armenian, he said he aspired to go to space from a young age, but
getting there was a difficult journey.

“The hardest part is to hold on to your dreams,” Chamitoff said. “If
you really want to do this, you have to set your own standards
for yourself. If you think you’re going to get there, then I think
you will.”

Talking to students about space travel is the most important thing
astronauts can do to inspire the next generation, he said. “If
something like this can encourage kids to study science, math,
engineering and technology, it’s really valuable.”

Schiff, who works with NASA every year to bring an astronaut to one
of the schools in his district, agreed. “Nothing inspires kids, in my
experience, more than a visit from an astronaut. If you look at these
faces around the auditorium, they’re so enthralled, he said. This
kind of inspiration is so important, and you never know who you’re
going to touch.”

“I think we have some future astronauts here in the audience and a
lot of future scientists,” he added.

On his last mission in 2008, Chamitoff completed two space walks and
floated in space for a total of 13 hours.

“There were a few moments that I just stopped and stared at the Earth
with my whole eyes, and it will be with me forever,” he said. “It
was phenomenal.”

Ankara May Rename French Streets Over Genocide Row

ANKARA MAY RENAME FRENCH STREETS OVER GENOCIDE ROW

Agence France Presse
January 11, 2012 Wednesday 3:47 PM GMT

Officials in Turkey’s capital threatened Wednesday to rename any
streets with French names and erect a monument to Algerian victims
of French colonial violence because of the “genocide” row with Paris.

A Turkish minister threatened other unspecified reprisals if France
went ahead with plans to pass a bill that would outlaw denial that
the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces amounted to genocide.

French senators will debate the bill on January 23 and if passed,
it would go to President Nicolas Sarkozy for approval. France’s lower
house, the national assembly, approved the bill last month.

Avni Kavlak, a spokesman for the Ankara city council, said local
politicians were waiting for the Senate’s decision before acting.

“Municipal councillors will adopt the decision by a very large
majority,” Kavlak predicted.

Kavlak said Turkey’s reprisals were the idea of Ankara’s mayor,
Melih Gokcek.

If officials went ahead with the reprisals, it would mean renaming
streets named after De Gaulle, Paris and Strasbourg, he added.

Turkey accuses France of hypocrisy for its own hand in thousands of
killings committed in its former colony in 1945 and during Algeria’s
struggle for independence between 1954 and 1962.

The memorial to Algerians “massacred by the French”, would be erected
near the French embassy.

But Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia last week urged Turkey to
stop trying to make political capital from France’s colonial past.

He said Turkey had been a member of NATO during the war in Algeria
and as such had provided material support to France.

Turkey’s European affairs minister also warned Wednesday of further
sanctions if the French bill is passed into law.

“We have already introduced some sanctions in our relations with
France,” Egemen Bagis told AFP.

“In the case that this illogical bill becomes law, then there will
be further sanctions.”

As to what that would entail, he said only: “I would leave it to
imagination of the French decision-makers.”

Ankara has already hit back by freezing political and military ties
with Paris.

Armenians and their supporters say up to 1.5 million of their forebears
were killed in a coordinated campaign of genocide in 1915 and 1916
by what was then the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

Turkey disputes the figure, saying 500,000 died, and denies this was
genocide, ascribing the toll to wartime fighting and starvation and
accusing the Armenians of siding with Russian invaders.

France recognised the killings as a genocide in 2001, drawing the
ire of Turkey.