Author: nina hovnanian

AI: AZERI GOVERNMENT PROSECUTES MORE ACTIVISTS ON TRUMPED-UP CHARGES

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 17, 2011 – 12:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Despite a systematic campaign of harassment by the
authorities, young Azerbaijani activists are determined to find a
way to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and assembly,
Amnesty International said.

In the face of a government crackdown on dissent, the internet has
become the last refuge for free expression in Azerbaijan. A small but
determined group of young activists are video blogging, posting and
tweeting their calls for democratic reforms and an end to pervasive
government corruption. In response, the government is prosecuting more
and more activists on trumped-up charges. The overwhelming majority
of these individuals are convicted after unfair trials and sentenced
to long prison terms. The Azerbaijani authorities are doing everything
in their power to discredit and intimidate them. State television has
broadcasted a series of interviews and documentaries which portrayed
Facebook users as “mentally ill”. Universities, controlled by the
state, routinely warn students to steer clear of criticizing the
status quo or face expulsion, AI said.

It added: at the moment, it appears that oil rich Azerbaijan can rely
on trade partners, many of them from the European Union, turning
a blind eye to their human rights violations. Consequently, the
Azerbaijani government continues to pay little heed to the criticism
of human rights organizations and human rights institutions such as
the European Court of Human Rights. The authorities use their powerful
state machinery, paid for by oil and gas profits, to silence dissenting
voices. They are likely to continue doing so with ease and impunity
as long as foreign governments are reluctant to support these voices.

As the European Commission oversees bilateral trade relations between
European Union member states, Amnesty International is calling on
Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission:

To ensure that the European Union gives priority to significant
improvements in respecting and protecting human rights of the people
of Azerbaijan while co-operating with Azerbaijan in trade negotiations;

To raise cases where individuals’ rights have been violated when it
is necessary; in accordance with the European Union guidelines on
Human Rights Defenders;

To call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jabbar Savalan,
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Tural Abbasli and Rufat Hajibaili in all dialogues
with the Azerbaijani authorities.

RUSSIA TO ASSIST ARMENIA IN REVIVING SPORT OF LUGE

epress.am
11.17.2011

The Russian Luge Federation will soon provide the necessary assistance
to its colleagues from Armenia in reviving this sport, Russian Luge
Federation President Sergey Shvidenko told R-Sport agency.

“Soon we will have another representative in the international luge
family – the National Armenian Federation is being revived,” Shvidenko
said. “Our colleagues sent an official letter with the request for
assistance and support in developing our sport. In the near future,
we intend to meet with representatives from Armenia and discuss
possible cooperation.”

The agency’s representative added that the Federation is “very
interested in seeing a representative of another country in the world
community,” reports RIA Novosti.

ANCA SEEKS TO BLOCK SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR TURKEY IN TRIBAL TRADE DEALS

asbarez
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

WASHINGTON-Armenian and Hellenic Americans from across the United
States are calling on members of the House Natural Resources Committee
to vote against legislation that would, if adopted as introduced,
create special trade advantages for Turkey in its dealings with Indian
Tribes, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

This trade measure is set to be “marked-up” along with a series
of other bills on Thursday. An ANCA action alert calls on Members
of this panel to oppose H.R.2362 based on a number of criteria,
including the following three points:

– The U.S. Congress should not extend special economic benefits
particularly in relation to Indian Tribes – to a country that remains
an unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against millions of its
own indigenous minorities, including Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians,
and others.

– The U.S. Congress should not reward Turkey when it is blockading
Armenia, threatening Cyprus, antagonizing Israel, attacking its
own Kurdish population, and increasingly undermining U.S. regional
priorities.

– The U.S. Congress should not risk violating our nation’s other
trade agreements by putting Turkey at the head of the line, ahead of
other countries that have been reliable and friendly allies of the
United States.

Armenian and Hellenic Groups Register Concerns in Statements to
Committee Leadership A number of Armenian and Hellenic organizations,
including the ANCA and American Hellenic Educational Progressive
Association (AHEPA), have outlined a broad range of concerns – from
moral to economic to political – regarding H.R.2362.

In a statement issued Wednesday, ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate
Nahapetian urges Committee members “to keep in mind our serious moral
and practical reservations, as well as the clear inequities and even
potential violations of trade agreements that would be involved in its
adoption.” She explained that “the U.S. Congress should not extend
special economic benefits to a country that remains an unrepentant
perpetrator of genocide against millions of its own indigenous
minorities, including Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and others.”

Nahapetian went on to cite a recent Congressional Research
Service (CRS) report, which notes that H.R.2362 “could violate our
obligations under NAFTA and the WTO General Agreement on Trade in
Services (GATS).” The ANCA statement argued “It remains an open
and unanswered question as to why Congress should give Turkey an
advantage over other countries, such as Canada, that have not only
shown a material interest, but have actually already entered into
agreements with tribes.”

AHEPA Chairman Dr. John Grossomanides explained, “AHEPA wishes to
raise areas of concern that shed light on 1. Turkish threats to
U.S. commercial interests; 2. Turkey’s mistreatment of minority
communities; and 3. Turkish entities already in the United States.

AHEPA strongly contended that these three areas of concern are
quite germane to the legislation because they demonstrate Turkish
attitude toward U.S. commercial interests and behavior toward minority
communities and reflect the existing track record of Turkish entities
in the United States.”

The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), PSEKA (International
Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus), Cyprus Federation of
America, Pancyprian Association of America, and the American Hellenic
Council are also opposing the measure.

Reps. Pallone and Sarbanes Offer Early Opposition to H.R.2362 In
a detailed letter sent to the House Natural Resources Committee
leadership prior to a subcommittee hearing on H.R.2362, Representatives
John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) expressed serious
reservations regarding the measure, noting that this type of
arrangement would be unusual and potentially problematic,” and
citing a broad range of concerns, including: Turkey’s threats
against American business enterprises; Turkey’s mistreatment of
religious and ethnic minorities; Turkey’s blockade of Armenia; and,
Turkey’s illegal occupation of Cyprus, among other issues. “The fact
that it is being specifically catered to Turkish interests makes it
indefensible given Turkey’s recent, as well as historic, conduct,”
contended the legislators.

The Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act
of 2011 (H.R.2362) was introduced by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) in June,
and has only 13 cosponsors. The House Natural Resources Committee is
scheduled to vote on the measure on November 17 at 10 a.m. and will
be webcast live.

ALAIN JUPPE, MINISTRE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGÈRES, EN TURQUIE

Source/Lien : Ministere des affaires etrangeres et europeennes
Publie le : 17-11-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette information sur le deplacement d’Alain Juppe,
ministre des Affaires etrangères, ministre d’Etat en Turquie publiee
sur le site du Ministère des affaires etrangères et europeennes le
16 novembre 2011.

Ministère des affaires etrangères et europeennes

Deplacement d’Alain Juppe, ministre des Affaires etrangères, ministre
d’Etat en Turquie (17 et 18 novembre 2011)

Le ministre d’Etat se rend en Turquie, a Istanbul et a Ankara, les
17 et 18 novembre. A cette occasion, il sera recu par le president
de la Republique turque et par le Premier ministre. Il rencontrera le
ministre des Affaires etrangères, ainsi que le ministre des Affaires
europeennes. Il s’entretiendra egalement avec des membres de la
commission des affaires etrangères de la Grande assemblee nationale
de Turquie a Ankara. Enfin, une rencontre est prevue a Istanbul avec
Sa Saintete Bartholomee 1er, Patriarche ~cumenique.

Cette visite permettra d’aborder les enjeux de la relation bilaterale
et de faire un point notamment sur nos relations politiques, notre
volonte commune de lutter contre le terrorisme et le developpement
de notre cooperation culturelle. Elle permettra egalement d’evoquer
la relation UE-Turquie. Par ailleurs, alors que les evenements se
sont precipites ces derniers mois dans le monde arabe et au Moyen
orient, cette visite sera l’occasion de faire un tour d’horizon des
questions regionales et internationales, notamment la question du
nucleaire iranien.

S’agissant de la grave situation en Syrie, le ministre d’Etat saluera
auprès de ses interlocuteurs la decision forte de sanctionner le
regime de Damas que viennent de prendre les autorites turques. Le
ministre d’Etat rappellera la volonte de la France de continuer a
travailler etroitement avec la Turquie pour accroître la pression
sur le regime de Bachar El-Assad.

En tant que president du haut comite de parrainage de l’universite
Galatasaray, le ministre d’Etat inaugurera au Palais de France a
Istanbul le ” club d’entreprises Galatasaray “, qui ~uvre a associer
plus etroitement le monde economique au developpement de l’universite
franco-turque.

Retour a la rubrique

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST ACT ON AZERBAIJAN CRACKDOWN

Noyan Tapan
16.11.2011

The international community must not turn a blind eye to human rights
violations in Azerbaijan, Amnesty International said today in a new
report cataloguing a clampdown on dissent since protests erupted
in March.

The spring that never blossomed: Freedoms suppressed in Azerbaijan,
details a wave of intimidation and arrests around protests against
corruption and the increasing suppression of independent media,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and opposition parties.

Since then, youth activists and opposition figures have been jailed
on arbitrary or trumped up charges while journalists and human rights
defenders have been threatened and harassed.

Amnesty International considers 17 people convicted around the time
of the protests to be prisoners of conscience and asks for their
immediate release.

“The clampdown has sent out a clear and calculated message – that
public expression of dissent will not be tolerated, and nor will
any attempt to galvanise public opinion against the current regime,”
said Natalia Nozadze, Amnesty International’s Azerbaijan researcher.

“The European Union and other international partners of Azerbaijan must
take every opportunity to press for the release of the prisoners of
conscience and to put an end to the suppression of peaceful protest,
critical opinion and political opposition.”

Hundreds of people gathered in the streets of the capital Baku in
March and April this year demanding democratic reforms and greater
respect for human rights. Inspired by mass protests in the Middle East
and North Africa, opposition activists used social media to organize
and disseminate information.

The Azerbaijani authorities responded by banning the protests and
harassing and arresting bloggers and activists.

Following the protests 14 activists and members of opposition
political parties were convicted of “organising and participating in
public disorder” and sentenced to up to 3 years in prison. Amnesty
International believes that there is no evidence that any of the
imprisoned opposition supporters were engaged in anything more than
the legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression and
association in seeking to organise peaceful protests in central Baku.

The crackdown intensified the already heavy-handed approach of the
authorities.

Criminal and civil defamation charges continue to be used to silence
critical media, while foreign media outlets were banned from national
airwaves in 2009.

Ganimat Zahid, the editor of pro-opposition newspaper Azadlig told
Amnesty International: “The government is tightening the noose on
any form of communication by restricting access to information,
printing paper and distribution outlets for independent media thus
leaving the public in informational black-out. Increasingly, we rely
on social media to fill the vacuum for informed debate.”

The government is also currently considering laws that could
potentially restrict web users’ access to information and criminalizing
“misinformation”, further restricting online freedom of expression.

“The cumulative effect of these practices, together with the
long-standing impunity of the authorities for such actions, has
instilled a climate of fear and self-censorship in Azerbaijani society,
which is stalling, indeed reversing, the country’s transition to a
stable democracy,” said Natalia Nozadze.

“In oil-rich Azerbaijan, 20 years of independence, economic
prosperity and relative stability have failed to translate into
greater fundamental freedoms for its citizens while the consolidation
of authoritarian rule over the last decade has been largely ignored
by the outside world.”

“The Azerbaijan authorities must reverse this trend and their
international partners must make it clear that they will not do deals
with those who carry out human rights violations.”

Cases

In February 2011, history student and opposition activist Jabbar
Savalan was arrested after re-posting critical of the government
articles on Facebook and using the social media to call for protests
inspired by those in the Middle East and North Africa. He was beaten
while in police custody to force him to sign a false confession and
was sentenced to over two years in prison for the alleged possession
of marijuana. Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner
of conscience.

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, an opposition activist and co-founder of the
Facebook group calling for the 11 March virtual protest against
government corruption and oppression, was arrested three times
starting in November 2010 for evading conscription and failing to
register with the police. While in police custody he was punched,
strangled and threatened with rape, allegations which have not been
investigated. On 18 May 2011, Bakhtiyar was convicted of evading
military service and convicted to three years in prison. Amnesty
International considers him to be a prisoner of conscience.

PARLIAMENT REJECTS BILL ON MINIMAL SALARIES

Tert.am
14:02 16.11.11

The bill proposing amendments to the Law on Minimal Salaries did not
receive the parliament’s approval.

The representatives of the majority parties in National Assembly
abstained in the vote of the draft law proposed by the opposition
Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnakstutyun (ARF-D).

Addressing the opposition partners’ proposal on amending the Laws
on Minimal Salaries, and the Income Tax, the leader of the ruling
Republican Party faction in parliament, Galust Sahakyan, asked ARF-D
to withdraw the bill from the agenda.

“Our approach is positive, but we will not vote in favor of the bill,”
he said.

Artyusha Shahbazyan of the ARF-D faction asked his colleagues to
approve the amendments in the first reading, promising to revise the
bill by the next reading.

But the bill eventually failed, receiving only 14 votes in favor.

The amendments envisaged increasing the minimal salaries to 63,000
Drams ($165), proposing no less than 75,800 Drams (about $200)
monthly payment for civil servants.

QUIT WITH ONE CONDITION

yerkir.am
22:42 – 15.11.2011

Another conflict of recent months is coming to an end. This time it’s
about State Revenue Committee Chairman Gagik Khachatryan.

During the discussion of 2012 state budget Gagik Khachatryan expressed
his disagreement concerning the documents and considered the tax
collection rate unrealistic.

After this retort Gagik Khachatryan had presented his resignation
which was not accepted.

He was forced to continue his duties. However, according to our
sources, Gagik Khachatryan’s second try to quit will be acceptable
with one condition: he must take up some work in the Republican
party headquarter and do something good for the coming Parliamentary
elections.

Probably this was the reason of the highest mood our PM had had
recently. His second opponent, after Hovik Abrahamyan, is leaving
the horizon.

L’ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE ET LA NEGATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Collectif VAN

16-11-2011

Une proposition de loi a ete enregistree a la Presidence de
l’Assemblee nationale le 18 octobre 2011, portant transposition du
droit communautaire sur la lutte contre le racisme et reprimant
la contestation de l’existence du genocide armenien, presentee
par Mesdames et Messieurs Valerie Boyer, Alfred Almont, Brigitte
Barèges, Marc Bernier, Jean-Marie Binetruy, Roland Blum, Marcel
Bonnot, Patrice Calmejane, Jean-Louis Christ, Dino Cinieri, Eric
Ciotti, Georges Colombier, Charles de Courson, Jean-Michel Couve,
Gilles d’Ettore, Olivier Dassault, Marc-Philippe Daubresse, Bernard
Depierre, Jean-Pierre Dupont, Michel Grall, Jean-Pierre Grand, Jacques
Grosperrin, Laurent Henart, Michel Herbillon, Maryse Joissains-Masini,
Patrick Labaune, Charles de La Verpillière, Michel Lejeune, Geneviève
Levy, Lionnel Luca, Muriel Marland-Militello, Patrice Martin-Lalande,
Gerard Menuel, Etienne Mourrut, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Yanick Paternotte,
Josette Pons, Eric Raoult, Jacques Remiller, Jean-Marc Roubaud,
Jean-Marie Sermier, Fernand Sire, Daniel Spagnou, Guy Teissier,
Michel Terrot, Dominique Tian et Rene-Paul Victoria. Le Collectif
VAN vous invite a prendre connaissance de ce texte en ligne sur le
site de l’Assemblee Nationale : il vise a etendre a la negation du
genocide armenien, la Decision-cadre 2008/913/JAI sur la lutte contre
certaines formes et manifestations de racisme et de xenophobie au
moyen du droit penal, adoptee par le Conseil de l’Union europeenne
le 28 novembre 2008.

Assemblee Nationale

N° 3842

_____

ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE

CONSTITUTION DU 4 OCTOBRE 1958

TREIZIÈME LEGISLATURE

Enregistre a la Presidence de l’Assemblee nationale le 18 octobre 2011.

PROPOSITION DE LOI

portant transposition du droit communautaire sur la lutte contre
le racisme et reprimant la contestation de l’existence du genocide
armenien,

(Renvoyee a la commission des lois constitutionnelles, de la
legislation et de l’administration generale de la Republique, a defaut
de constitution d’une commission speciale dans les delais prevus par
les articles 30 et 31 du Règlement.)

presentee par Mesdames et Messieurs

Valerie BOYER, Alfred ALMONT, Brigitte BARÈGES, Marc BERNIER,
Jean-Marie BINETRUY, Roland BLUM, Marcel BONNOT, Patrice CALMEJANE,
Jean-Louis CHRIST, Dino CINIERI, Eric CIOTTI, Georges COLOMBIER,
Charles de COURSON, Jean-Michel COUVE, Gilles D’ETTORE, Olivier
DASSAULT, Marc-Philippe DAUBRESSE, Bernard DEPIERRE, Jean-Pierre
DUPONT, Michel GRALL, Jean-Pierre GRAND, Jacques GROSPERRIN, Laurent
HENART, Michel HERBILLON, Maryse JOISSAINS-MASINI, Patrick LABAUNE,
Charles de la VERPILLIÈRE, Michel LEJEUNE, Geneviève LEVY, Lionnel
LUCA, Muriel MARLAND-MILITELLO, Patrice MARTIN-LALANDE, Gerard MENUEL,
Etienne MOURRUT, Jean-Pierre NICOLAS, Yanick PATERNOTTE, Josette PONS,
Eric RAOULT, Jacques REMILLER, Jean-Marc ROUBAUD, Jean-Marie SERMIER,
Fernand SIRE, Daniel SPAGNOU, Guy TEISSIER, Michel TERROT, Dominique
TIAN et Rene-Paul VICTORIA,

deputes.

EXPOSE DES MOTIFS

Mesdames, Messieurs,

La construction europeenne a deja necessite plusieurs modifications de
la legislation en vigueur afin que la transposition en droit interne
des engagements internationaux souscrits par la France s’inscrive
dans notre hierarchie des normes. L’adaptation du droit interne,
afin d’assurer la construction d’un espace de liberte, de securite
et de justice, tel qu’il est prevu par le Traite signe a Amsterdam
le 2 octobre 1997, appelle une nouvelle modification de cette nature.

Sur le fondement, de l’article 34 du Traite sur l’Union europeenne,
dans la redaction qui lui a ete donnee par le Traite d’Amsterdam,
et de l’action commune 968/443/JAI, une Decision-cadre 2008/913/JAI
sur la lutte contre certaines formes et manifestations de racisme et
de xenophobie au moyen du droit penal a ete adoptee par le Conseil de
l’Union europeenne le 28 novembre 2008. Le but de cette decision-cadre
est de faire en sorte que la xenophobie et le racisme soient passibles
de sanctions penales effectives, proportionnees et dissuasives au sein
de l’Union europeenne. Elle vise aussi a encourager et a ameliorer
la cooperation judiciaire dans ce domaine.

En effet, elle prevoit le rapprochement des dispositions legislatives
et reglementaires des Etats membres en ce qui concerne les infractions
racistes et xenophobes, sur la base du principe de reconnaissance
mutuelle. Les comportements racistes et xenophobes doivent constituer
une infraction dans tous les Etats membres et etre passibles de
sanctions penales effectives, proportionnees et dissuasives d’au
moins un a trois ans d’emprisonnement au maximum, et s’applique a
toute infraction commise sur le territoire de l’Union europeenne,
y compris par un système d’information, par un ressortissant d’un
Etat membre ou pour le compte d’une personne morale ayant son siège
dans un Etat membre.

Ainsi, l’article 1 de la decision-cadre prevoit que sont punissables en
tant qu’infractions penales certains actes commis dans un but raciste
ou xenophobe, tels que : l’apologie, la negation ou la banalisation
grossière publiques des crimes de genocide, des crimes contre
l’humanite ou des crimes de guerre tels que definis dans le Statut
de la Cour penale internationale (articles 6, 7 et 8) et des crimes
definis a l’article 6 de la charte du tribunal militaire international,
lorsque le comportement est exerce de manière a inciter a la violence
ou a la haine a l’egard d’un groupe de personnes ou d’un membre d’un
tel groupe. En complement, l’article 3 de la decision-cadre prevoit
que, pour les actes enonces a l’article 1 precedemment cite, les
Etats membres etablissent des sanctions effectives, proportionnees
et dissuasives et une peine maximale d’au moins un a trois ans
d’emprisonnement.

Deja en France, plusieurs textes nationaux definissent et sanctionnent
les genocides, crimes de guerre et crimes contre l’humanite.

Recemment, la loi n° 2001-70 du 29 janvier 2001 a instaure la
reconnaissance officielle de la France du genocide armenien de 1915
et la loi n° 2001-434 du 21 mai 2001, la reconnaissance de la traite
et de l’esclavage en tant que crime contre l’humanite.

Toutefois, si cette reconnaissance a une portee symbolique evidente,
actuellement seule la contestation du genocide juif perpetre durant
la seconde guerre mondiale constitue un delit, de sorte que les
victimes rescapees de crimes contre l’humanite se trouvent inegalement
protegees. En effet, l’article 24 bis de la loi sur la liberte de la
presse du 29 juillet 1881, introduit par la loi Gayssot du 13 juillet
1990, incrimine et reprime d’un an d’emprisonnement et de 45 000
euros d’amende la contestation de l’existence des seuls crimes nazis,
a l’exclusion des autres crimes contre l’humanite, et notamment ceux
reconnus par les lois precedemment citees.

Dans ce contexte, une proposition de loi tendant a reprimer la
contestation de l’existence du genocide armenien avait ete adoptee
par l’Assemblee nationale le 12 octobre 2006. Cependant, le Senat l’a
rejetee le 4 mai 2011 par l’adoption d’une exception d’irrecevabilite.

Pourtant la transposition de la Decision-cadre 2008/913/JAI prevoyant,
notamment, que sont punissables l’apologie, la negation ou la
banalisation grossière publiques des crimes de genocide, s’impose
a la France comme le precise la Circulaire du Premier ministre du
27 septembre 2004 relative a la procedure de transposition en droit
interne des directives et decisions-cadres negociees dans le cadre
des institutions europeennes.

C’est la raison pour laquelle, le present texte propose de transposer
la Decision-cadre 2008/913/JAI en punissant d’un an d’emprisonnement
et de 45 000 euros d’amende ou de l’une de ces deux peines seulement
ceux qui auront publiquement fait l’apologie, conteste ou banalise
les crimes de genocide, les crimes contre l’humanite et crimes de
guerre, tels que definis aux articles 6, 7 et 8 du Statut de la
Cour penale internationale, a l’article 6 de la charte du Tribunal
militaire international annexee a l’accord de Londres du 8 août 1945,
ou reconnus par la France.

Afin de garantir l’efficacite de la repression, la presente proposition
de loi a donc pour objet de modifier la loi sur la liberte de la
presse, afin que les infractions a caractère raciste visees constituent
desormais un delit de droit commun inscrit dans la loi sur la liberte
de la presse. En outre, elle permet a toute association regulièrement
declaree depuis au moins cinq ans a la date des faits, qui se propose,
par ses statuts, de defendre les interets moraux et l’honneur des
victimes de crimes de genocide, crimes contre l’humanite et crimes
de guerre d’exercer les droits reconnus a la partie civile en ce qui
concerne l’apologie, la negation ou la banalisation des crimes de
genocide, crimes de guerre ou des crimes contre l’humanite.

PROPOSITION DE LOI

Article 1er

Le premier alinea de l’article 24 bis de la loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur
la liberte de la presse est remplace par cinq alineas ainsi rediges :

” Seront punis des peines prevues par le sixième alinea de l’article
24 ceux qui auront fait l’apologie, la negation ou la banalisation
grossière publiques des crimes de genocide, crimes contre l’humanite
et crimes de guerre, tels qu’ils sont definis de facon non exclusive :

” 1°) par les articles 6, 7 et 8 du statut de la Cour penale
internationale creee a Rome le 17 juillet 1998 ;

” 2°) par les articles 211-1 et 212-1 du code penal ;

” 3°) par l’article 6 du statut du tribunal militaire international
annexe a l’accord de Londres du 8 août 1945 ;

” et qui auront fait l’objet d’une reconnaissance par la loi,
une convention internationale signee et ratifiee par la France ou
a laquelle celle-ci aura adhere, par une decision prise par une
institution communautaire ou internationale, ou qualifies comme tels
par une juridiction francaise, rendue executoire en France. ”

Article 2

L’article 48-2 de la loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur la liberte de la
presse est ainsi modifie :

1° Après le mot : ” deportes “, sont inseres les mots : ” , ou de toute
autre victime de crimes de genocide, crimes de guerre, crimes contre
l’humanite ou des crimes ou delits de collaboration avec l’ennemi “.

2° Après le mot : ” apologie “, sont inseres les mots : ” des
genocides, “.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : Assemblee Nationale

ROME PRESENTS THE TREASURES OF DVIN, THE MEDIEVAL CAPITAL OF ARMENIA

Rome Reports, Italy
Nov 15 2011

November 15, 2011. (Romereports.com) Twenty years ago, Armenia
gained independence from the Soviet Union. To remember this event,
Rome has opened its doors to an elaborate exhibition on the city of
Dvin, the capital of Armenia between the fifth and ninth centuries.

Rouben Karapetian, Ambassador of Armenia to Italy “It was we used
to say the capital linking West and East, and it was the capital of
the silk road. The Armenian historian Shirakavan, as I mentioned in
my speech, there were six commercial roads going out from the city
linking to the silk road and to different parts of the world.”

Dvin had 150,000 inhabitants and was an important trade center during
medieval times. But in the year 893 an earthquake destroyed the city.

The only thing to survive were different works of art and a memory
of the city.

These works of art gives a sense of greatness the society held,
displayed by these glass plates and ceramics, crucifixes and pots
made of silver and bronze, as well as old coins from the time period
and tapestries that tell the life of Christ.

One in particular shows two chapters of the crucifixion and a model
of a church sculpted in stone. A bible from the fifth century is
also presented, which was the first book written using the Armenian
alphabet.

Rouben Karapetian, Ambassador of Armenia to Italy

“We wanted to present a small part of the heritage and the high level
of the culture that existed. An art in ceremonies, in a manuscript,
in the frescoes and in carpet as you have seen the one ‘govelen’
of the 8th century of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Armenia is
the first Christian nation in the world, we adopted Christianity in
301. We are also proud to have our small part of some artifacts of
the Armenian Church.”

During the inauguration, traditional music was played with an Armenian
flute called a ‘duduk’. The exhibition is open to the public until
January 29, 2012 and is expected to host the President of Armenia in
a few weeks.

ARMENIA TAKES CHESS OBSESSION INTO CLASSROOM

CBS News
Nov 15 2011

(AP) YEREVAN, Armenia – Tiny Armenia is a big player in world chess,
and a new gambit could make it even bigger: mandatory chess in school.

The click-clack of chess pieces is being heard around the former
Soviet nation’s primary schools this fall, as the game becomes part
of the curriculum along with such standards as math and history for
children between the ages of 7 and 9.

Chess is a national obsession in this nation of 3 million people tucked
away in a corner between Turkey and Iran. The passion was fostered
in modern times by the exploits of chess champion Tigran Petrosian,
who won the world championship in 1963 and then successfully defended
his title three years later.

In July, a six-person national squad came first at the World Team Chess
Championship in Ningbo, China. The returning players and their coach
were greeted as heroes and collectively awarded $20,000. That group
included up-and-coming player Levon Aronian, 28, who is currently
rated third in the World Chess Federation’s rankings.

Armenian authorities say teaching chess in school is about building
character, not breeding chess champs.

The education minister says taking the pastime into classrooms
will help nurture a sense of responsibility and organization among
schoolchildren, as well as serving as an example to the rest of
the world.

“We hope that the Armenian teaching model might become among the best
in the world,” Armen Ashotyan told The Associated Press.

Half a million dollars were allocated to the national chess academy
to draw up a course, create textbooks, train instructors and buy
equipment. Another $1 million went toward buying furniture for chess
classrooms.

The only thing 8-year-old David Ayrapetyan is hoping for from the
program: an opponent worthy of his skills.

The chess whiz finds the retirees and children who hang out in the
yard outside his apartment block to be pushovers. Only classmate Aren
Sedrakyan can give Ayrapetyan a run for his money.

Ayrapetyan’s father, Arman, is happy to put up with the boy’s incessant
pleas for him to find better opponents. He thinks chess is good for
him no matter what the future holds.

“Even if he doesn’t become a grandmaster, chess will teach him to
think logically and improvise, as those are indispensable qualities
in life,” he said.

Wendi Fischer, executive director of the United States’ Foundation for
Chess, has campaigned for the game to be taken up in U.S. classrooms
and says Armenia’s program has big potential.

“By incorporating chess as part of the curriculum, you are including a
game, and that’s how kids see it,” Fischer said. “They think they’re
focused on fun. So I think it is a great way to cross over between
a true hardcore curriculum that’s mandatory and the young children
being able to play and explore and have fun.”