Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

State Department Summons Turkish Ambassador After Erdogan’s Bodyguards Beat Down Protesters on American Soil

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Daily Wire
State Department Summons Turkish Ambassador After Erdogan’s Bodyguards Beat Down Protesters on American Soil
The United States State Department has summoned Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic after video evidence emerged showing Islamist Turkish dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards punching, kicking, and head-locking anti-regime protesters on American soil. 

“We can confirm that Ambassador Kilic was summoned to the State Department and met with Under Secretary [Thomas] Shannon on Wednesday,” a State Department representative told NBC News Thursday.

State Department officials also confirmed that two members of Erdogan’s security detail were temporarily detained after Tuesday’s attack on Kurdish, Armenian, and Yazidi protesters. However, international law forbade D.C. Metropolitan police and federal law enforcement from arresting the Turkish attackers. Heads of state and their entire entourage are protected under the umbrella of diplomatic immunity. As members of Erdogan’s security detail, most of the attackers were able to safely retreat to the Turkish embassy compound after viciously beating down protesters and police. The other two attackers detained were released shortly after being taken in.  

As The Daily Wire reported Thursday, recently-released video evidence appears to show the Turkish president personally ordering the attack on the protesters clearly assembled on U.S. soil. In the video, Erdogan is shown stepping out of his tinted black Mercedes-Benz, parked at the residence of the Turkish ambassador, and calmly watching as his bodyguards step outside of the embassy compound and enter U.S. soil outside to choke women, shove police, and punch young men.

Watching the video, one would be forgiven for thinking that the scenes depicted are occurring in Istanbul or Ankara, where Erdogan’s regime has brutally cracked down on dissent in all-out purge campaign to turn the once semi-secular Republic of Turkey into a totalitarian Islamist state led by a neo-Ottoman sultan.

It’s important to note that President Erdogan met with President Trump on the same day as the attack against protesters on U.S. soil. During the meeting, Trump and Erdogan warmly exchanged compliments, smiling and flattering each other with relative ease.

“Turkish courage in war is legendary,” cheered Trump.

The 2016 U.S. election was a “legendary triumph,” Erdogan said, returning the favor.

But despite President Trump’s diplomatic posturing early Tuesday, the State Department responded strongly to the seemingly criminal behavior of Erdogan’s thugs following reports of the violent incident against protesters in D.C.

In a statement released Wednesday, the State Department relayed its concern to the Turkish government “in the strongest possible terms.”

“Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free _expression_ and peaceful protest,” the statement reads, highlighting Turkey’s gross violation of free speech rights in the United States and alluding to the Erdogan government’s purge campaign against political opposition members and dissidents in Turkey.   

In response to the State Department’s palpable concerns and the chorus of condemnation by both U.S. lawmakers calling for criminal charges to be brought against the members of Erdogan’s entourage involved in the attack, the Turkish embassy in D.C. released a defiant and unapologetic letter blaming the victims of the attack.

“The violence and the injuries were the result of this unpermitted, provocative demonstration,” said the Turkish embassy in a statement that directly contradicts all available video evidence.

Ultimately, nine people were hospitalized as a result of the thuggish behavior of Turkey’s security forces.

This diplomatic row between the two NATO allies may only got worse depending on the Turkish ambassador’s response to his summoning by the State Department.

Turkey Summons U.S. Ambassador; Blames U.S. Security Personnel for Turkish Attack in D.C.

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Armenian Weekly

By Weekly Staff on in Headline, New, News // 1 Comment // //

WASHINGTON (A.W.)—The Ambassador of the Unites States of America in Ankara John R. Bass was summoned to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 22, to protest the “aggressive and unprofessional action against Turkish security personnel” on May 16 in Washington, D.C.

A screenshot from a video of the attack by Turkish security forces, captured by Voice of America’s Turkish service (Photo: Voice of America)

According to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, written and verbal protest was delivered “due to the aggressive and unprofessional actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by U.S. security personnel towards the close protection team of H.E Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey.”

On May 16, a group of peaceful demonstrators protesting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to the United States, were attacked by pro-Erdogan groups—including members of Erdogan’s security team—at the Sheridan Circle near the residence of the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S.

There has been much congressional outrage over the Turkish security team’s brutal beat-down of peaceful protesters after several videos of the incident emerged, one of which suggests that Erdogan may have ordered the attack.

During the meeting with the Ambassador, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the “lapses of security” experienced during Erdogan’s stay in Washington, which were” caused by the inability of U.S. authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program.”

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian strongly condemned the decision to summon the Ambassador, in comments made to the Armenian Weekly. “Erdogan’s adding insult to injury. Having ordered this attack, he’s now accusing U.S. police of aggression.  This dictator is acting with absolute disdain for America—our values, our police, and our people,” said Hamparian.

The ANCA has also called for the expulsion of Turkey’s Ambassador to the U.S. Visit www.anca.org/Erdogan to take action.

Real Madrid win 33rd LaLiga title

Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Real Madrid won their first La Liga title since 2012 thanks to a final-day victory at Malaga, the BBC reports.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored early on to settle the nerves, latching onto Isco’s through ball to step around Carlos Kameni and tap into an empty net.

Karim Benzema added their second goal after the break after Kameni parried Sergio Ramos’ shot.

Real, who had only needed a point, now face Juventus in the Champions League final looking to complete a double.

The result means Zinedine Zidane, in his first full season as Real boss, is the first manager to lead Madrid to the Spanish league title since Jose Mourinho five years ago.

If Real beat Juventus in Cardiff, they will become the first team to successfully defend the Champions League – with Zidane having won the tournament six months into the job last summer.

Artin, 100 ans, toujours fringant sur le court

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
L’essentiel, Luxembourg
18 mai 2017
 
 

Le centenaire a débuté le tennis à seulement 39 ans. (photo: Capture d’écran)

«Je ne suis pas un phénomène», se défend Artin, tout en sortant sa raquette. C’est pourtant loin d’être vrai: à 100 ans, après avoir survécu au génocide arménien puis refait sa vie en Argentine, il joue au tennis trois fois par semaine. Sur un court de terre battue de Buenos Aires, le vieil homme affiche une santé de fer, assurant être arrivé à son grand âge «sans beaucoup d’efforts». «Je n’ai pas de secrets», dit Artin Elmayan. Il ne prend pas de médicaments, ne porte pas de lunettes et ne souffre que d’arthrose.

«Le moteur va bien, les câbles électriques ont quelques ratés mais le principal, ça va», confie-t-il, se rappelant ses débuts dans le tennis à seulement 39 ans. Dans la catégorie Seniors, son palmarès est impressionnant: 27 Coupes, dont la dernière il y a 10 ans, quand il a arrêté de faire des compétitions dans la catégorie des plus de 90 ans, faute d’adversaire. Son partenaire de jeu, c’est Luis, un «gamin de 79 ans».

L’an dernier, il a exaucé son rêve de rencontrer Guillermo Vilas, la gloire du tennis argentin des années 1970. «Il est venu à mon anniversaire, c’est mon préféré, je le suivais à fond», raconte Artin. Trois fois par semaine, il prend le train depuis San Isidro, où il vit, jusqu’au club River Plate, uniquement accompagné de sa raquette. «Oui, je viens seul, il y a seulement sept arrêts», dit-il en haussant distraitement les épaules. Quand on voit Artin, on lui donne facilement 20 ans de moins. Et quand on l’écoute, on lui en enlève 10 de plus.

Cet éternel jeune homme souriant dit lire «de la philosophie et des choses scientifiques, car c’est utile», parlant couramment les cinq langues qu’il a apprises au moment de son exil forcé d’Arménie, d’abord vers le Liban et la Syrie, avant d’atterrir à Buenos Aires à 21 ans. Il a fêté son siècle de vie en avril mais ne compte pas s’arrêter là. Son dernier coup dur a été le décès en 2016 de Luisa, son épouse pendant 74 ans et la mère de son unique fille, Elisa, avec qui il vit actuellement. «Est-ce que je suis heureux? Cela peut aller. Chacun a son destin. La vie, c’est comme le tennis: quand on entre sur le court, on ne sait pas si on va gagner».

  (pour video aussi)

Number of customers increases in Armenian banks, credit accounts decrease

Vorskanian Yeghisabet 
Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Saturday
Number of customers increases in Armenian banks, credit accounts decrease
YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. The number of Armenia’s banking system
customers in March 2017 amounted 2 million 421 thousand 181 people.
According to the Central Bank of Armenia, the number of customers has
increased by 44 thousand 16 people compared to the previous year’s
same period.
The number of natural persons among the total number of customers
increased nearly by 43 thousand – amounting 2 million 343 thousand
225, while legal persons increased by over one thousand – amounting 77
thousand 956.
At the same time, the number of credit accounts in Armenian banks
amounted to 857 thousand 530 – a decrease of 32 thousand 106.
The number of term deposit accounts in March of 2017 amounted to 194
thousand 216 – increasing by 4 thousand 573 in a year.

US National Intelligence warns of ‘large-scale hostilities’ in Karabakh

Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Armenian Weekly — The United States Director of National Intelligence Daniel R. Coats published on May 11 the U.S. Intelligence Community’s (IC) 2017 “Statement for the Record” entitled “Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community,” which includes a part on the increased tensions between Artsakh and Azerbaijan that took place in April 2016.

The IC is a federation of 16 separate U.S. government agencies that work separately and together to conduct intelligence activities considered necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and national security of the United States. The statement that assesses potential threats to U.S. national security reflects the collective insights of the Intelligence Community.

The statement, which is divided into global and regional threats, includes subcategories like cyber threats, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and counterintelligence.

Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are addressed in the “Russia and Eurasia,” section of the regional threats division, in a subsection entitled “The Caucasus and Central Asia.”

The statement provides particular attention to the escalation of tensions between Artsakh and Azerbaijan and concludes that the situation is likely to remain in 2017. It also makes a reference to Azerbaijan’s economic difficulties and the possibility of Azerbaijan’s regime being challenged as a result.

“We in the Intelligence Community are committed every day to provide the nuanced, multidisciplinary intelligence that policymakers, warfighters, and domestic law enforcement personnel need to protect American lives and America’s interests anywhere in the world,” read a part of the report.

Below is the section on Armenia and Azerbaijan in its entirety:

****
Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabagh flared in April 2016, and both sides’ unwillingness to compromise and mounting domestic pressures suggest that the potential for large-scale hostilities will remain in 2017. In Azerbaijan, ongoing economic difficulties are likely to challenge the regime and increase its tendency to repress dissent to maintain power while it continues to try to balance relations with Russia, Iran, and the West.

OSCE Office in Yerevan to close in coming months

Vorskanian Yeghisabet

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) and Special Representative on the South Caucasus Kristian Vigenin (MP, Bulgaria) expressed regret about today’s announcement that it has not been possible to reach agreement to extend the mandate of the OSCE’s Office in Yerevan. The Office is expected to close in the coming months.

“I regret the fact that despite lengthy and extensive efforts, the Permanent Council has been unable to reach consensus on the continuation of the OSCE Office in Yerevan’s important work,” President Muttonen said. “The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has repeatedly called for OSCE field operations to be given robust mandates and all the resources they need to allow them to perform their vital tasks, and yet, regrettably, another field operation is being closed.”

Vigenin noted how important the Office in Yerevan’s work is for Armenia and the OSCE, and stressed that the OSCE PA will remain actively engaged in the region.

“Following the closure of OSCE field operations in Georgia and Azerbaijan in past years, the Office in Yerevan has both a symbolic and practical importance that should not be overlooked. Personally, I have benefited from the Office’s expertise when carrying out diplomatic visits, and hope that the interim period before the final closure of the mission can be used to find a compromise solution so that the country can continue benefiting from its support,” Vigenin said.

In its Baku Declaration of 2014 the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly called for the OSCE to “adopt full, effective, and long-term mandates for OSCE field operations,” reiterating similar previous appeals.

Putin, Erdogan hold talks in Sochi

Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Gradual restoration of Turkey’s internal political situation will create conditions for the steady development of relations with Russia, President Vladimir Putin said as he opened talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday, TASS reports.

“We proceed from the understanding that the internal political situation will be eventually restored and this will create greater conditions for the steady development of Russian-Turkish relations,” Putin said.

“It is good that we have a chance to meet in due course and discuss key issues of bilateral cooperation and major international developments, including on such pressing issues as the Syrian crisis,” Putin said.

“The mere fact of this mode of our joint work shows that Russian-Turkish relations are taking on more significance and are being restored to its full format,” he said.
Putin heartily welcomed the Turkish delegation, thanking Erdogan for having accepted the invitation to come to Sochi. The Russian president stressed that bilateral relations are developing “as we had planned with you.”

In his turn, Erdogan noted that the two leaders will have a good opportunity on Wednesday to discuss both aspects of bilateral cooperation and regional issues. “I’m sure that those steps that we are taking together will change the fate of the whole region,” Erdogan said.

Concert in Livonia focuses on Armenian music

Vorskanian Yeghisabet 
Photo: Wayne State University

 

Ara Topouzian will be performing Friday at the Phoenix Theaters Laurel Park Place in Livonia before two showings of “The Promise,” a film set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire when more than one million Armenians were massacred,  reports.

The film showings and concerts by Topouzian are being hosted by the Armenian National Committee of Michigan. Both of the concert/film showings are sold out.

“We were displaced. It was an attempt to drive us to extinction. Music is history to me. It tells a story,” he said. “Anytime I perform or lecture on music, my part is to preserve Armenian culture and educate others on our history. And equally important, I love the music.”

A Farmington Hills resident, Topouzian works full time heading the Troy Chamber of Commerce and formerly worked for the Farmington Chamber of Commerce. Topouzian took up the kanun, which he describes as the grandfather to the piano, after he graduated from high school.

“The kanun dates to the fifth century — it’s still played today. I had always played music since I was a child, but not Armenian or Middle Eastern music,” Topouzian said. “I grew up in a very Armenian home — both my parents are Armenian. They never forced it on me. There was music in the house and records.”

So growing up, Topouzian said he was exposed to traditional Armenian music and would attend events in the Armenian community. “I loved the exotic sound of the music compared to western music,” he said. “In essence, you’re bending notes, sort of in-between the notes typically heard in western music. It’s a different rhythm and sounds.”

Along with preserving the culture of Armenians, Topouzian is hoping the mainstream film will reach more people.

“What they didn’t take was our musical history,” Topouzian said. “This film is very important to the Armenian people, but it is equally important for the non-Armenian community to watch and embrace it. Through this movie, audiences will have a chance to learn more about the Armenian genocide.”

It’s a tragedy that forced Armenians to flee their homes and many ended up in the Detroit area.

“We are all here due to the genocide. I’m in Michigan because of it. Parts of my family escaped. Many Armenians came to Detroit because Henry Ford was offering work at $5 a day,” Topouzian said.