By Garen Yegparian
******************************************
1 – Commentary
Turkey
is Most Frequent Violator of
European
Convention on Human Rights
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
Veteran Turkish journalist Sedat Ergin wrote in Hurriyet
newspaper that “Turkey
is the champion of rights violations at the European Court of Human Rights”
(ECHR). The European Court
rules on cases when signatories of the European Convention on Human Rights
violate its provisions.
Even though Turkey
joined the Court in 1986, 27 years after its founding, it had more violations
than all other member countries between 1959 and 2016.
The European
Court had a total of 3,270 judgments on Turkey. Only in
73 cases, Turkey
was found by the Court not to have made any violations. The remaining cases
were settled in other ways. Since more than one article was violated in most
cases, Turkey’s
violations total 4,514.
The 2016 Annual Report of the European Court of Human Rights
indicated that:
— The highest number of Turkish violations (832) was in the
area of “right to a fair trial.”
— The 2nd highest category (707 violations) was “the right
to freedom and security.” This latter category means that “Turkish citizens are
frequently arrested using unlawful methods and that those arrests can easily
turn into sentences,” according to Ergin.
— The 3rd highest category of violations (653) is the
“right to property protection,” which means that many Turkish citizens are
deprived of ownership of their properties.
— The 4th highest category (586) is the violation of
“length of proceedings.”
— “Lack of effective investigation” comes in 5th place with
412 violations.
— “Inhuman or degrading treatment” is in 6th place with 314
violations.
— In 7th place is the “right to an effective remedy” (268
violations).
— “Freedom of _expression_” comes in 8th place (265
violations).
— In 9th place are 133 violations of the “right to life —
deprivation of life.”
— In 10th place are 100 violations of the “right to respect
private and family life.”
Regarding Azerbaijan, from 2002 to 2016, the European Court
of Human Rights had 122 judgments, of which 118 were found to be violations of
the European Convention on Human Rights, far fewer than Turkey, since Baku
joined the ECHR much later, in 2002. The remaining 4 cases were settled in
other ways. Since some cases had more than one violation, Azerbaijan had
a total of 224 rights violations.
— The highest number of violations (44) was the “right to a
fair trial.”
— The 2nd highest violation (34) was the “right to liberty
and security.”
— The 3rd highest violation (30) was the “protection of
property.”
— The 4th highest violation (21) was the “right to free
elections.”
— “Lack of effective investigation” was the 5th highest
violation (17).
Armenia,
on the other hand, which joined the European Convention on Human Rights at the
same time as Azerbaijan
(2002), had fewer violations. There were 75 judgments by the ECHR against Armenia between
2002 and 2016, of which 68 were violations. The remaining 7 cases were settled
in other ways. Since some of cases had more than one violation, Armenia had a
total of 119 violations.
— The highest number of violations (32) was the “right to a
fair trial.”
— The 2nd highest number of violations (27) was the “right
to liberty and security.”
— The 3rd highest number of violations (16) was the
“protection of property.”
Neighboring Georgia
had a slightly fewer violations than Armenia. It joined the European
Convention on Human Rights in 1999. Between 1999 and 2016 the ECHR had 68
judgments on Georgia,
of which 52 were violations. The remaining 16 cases were settled in other ways.
Since some of the cases had more than one violation, Georgia had a total of 99
violations.
— The highest number of violations (20) was the “right to
liberty and security.”
— The 2nd highest number of violations (17) was “inhuman or
degrading treatment.”
— There was a tie for the 3rd highest violation (12 each)
for “lack of effective investigation” and “right to a fair trial.”
In addition to the
above-mentioned violations, Turkey
and Azerbaijan
have much more serious problems with the ECHR. Turkey decided to suspend the
European Convention on Human Rights following the attempted coup of July 2016.
However, some parts of the Convention cannot be suspended, such as the right to
life, and the ban on torture and the inhumane or degrading treatment or
punishment.
Azerbaijan
faces another serious problem with the ECHR which had ruled that prominent
Azeri opposition politician Ilgar Mammadov should be released from jail. Azerbaijan has
refused to comply with ECHR’s decision since 2014. The Committee of Ministers
and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have adopted several
resolutions urging Azerbaijan
to release Mammadov. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has
initiated an unprecedented judicial review of Azerbaijan’s lack of compliance
with the ECHR ruling. Further non-compliance by Azerbaijan could result in its
expulsion from the Council of Europe!
**************************************************************************************************
2- Landmine
explosion kills three HALO Trust deminers in Artsakh
YEREVAN—Three employees of the UK-based demining group The
HALO Trust were killed and two were injured in
what the organization is calling “the accidental detonation of an
anti-tank landmine” in the Ghazanchi area of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) on
Thursday, March 29, according to the organization and authorities.
Artsakh is one of the
most heavily mined regions in the former Soviet Union.
Mines were laid by Azerbaijani and Armenian forces during the conflict over the
region in the early 1990s.
Those killed were Pavel Akopov, Samson Avanessian and Marat
Petrossian—all local residents of Artsakh. Two other demining specialists, Aram
Mkrtchyan and Garik Gohiryan, were injured in the explosion Mkrtchyan, 44, had
internal bleeding and sustained a ruptured spleen, which was surgically removed
in the Republican Medical Center of Artsakh.
Ghahriyan, 31, is in a critical condition. Doctors were
forced to amputate the lower limbs of the de-miner. Additional examinations
revealed multiple fractures throughout his body.
The de-miners were in a vehicle conducting minefield survey
duties when their vehicle ran over a mine.
HALO is working closely with the local police and
authorities, and has called in external investigators to report on the full
facts of the incident.
HALO Trust is the world’s largest humanitarian mine
clearance organization. The demining agency says it has been clearing landmines
and cluster munitions in Artsakh since 2000 and has already cleared 90 percent
of the territory’s minefields.
Energy-rich Azerbaijan,
whose military spending exceeds Armenia’s
entire state budget, has repeatedly threatened to take back the region by
force.
James Cowan, HALO’s CEO said: “Every day around the world,
more than 8,000 HALO staff go to work in places where no one else can tread and
this tragic incident throws into stark relief the dangers that they face and
the importance of our work. Our colleagues were killed while working to make
the land safe for the people of Nagorno Karabakh.”
The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) extended its
condolences to The HALO Trust family upon learning the news of the tragic loss.
“The Assembly also expresses its deep gratitude for the important work and
service of The HALO Trust. Armenians will always remember Pavel, Samson, and
Marat, whose lives were lost while clearing landmines to keep the people of
Armenia and Artsakh safe, and will pray during this Easter Holy Week for the
full recovery of Garik and Aram,” said the Assembly in a statement.
Mine clearance in Karabakh has not only greatly decreased
the casualty rate but it has also allowed roads, schools, and housing to be
built, water pipes to be laid, fields to be cultivated, livestock to be safely
grazed, and people to go about their daily business without fear. The benefits
of the clearance are tangible and the cleared land can be safely used in
perpetuity.
Between 2000-2016, The HALO Trust in Artsakh has destroyed
180,858 small arms ammunition, 48,572 units of “other explosive items,” 12,423
cluster bombs, 8,733 anti-personnel landmines, and 2,584 anti-tank landmines.
HALO has cleared 88 percent of the territory’s minefields, with the goal to
clear all landmines in Artsakh by 2020. According to HALO, Artsakh has “the
highest per capita incidence of landmine accidents in the world—a third of the
victims are children.”
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Rep. Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), and Rep. David Valadao
(R-Calif.), House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member and Armenian Caucus
Co-Vice Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.)
issued statements and paid tribute after hearing the tragic news.
“While there is always a danger associated with removing
unexploded ordnances, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of this terrible
accident and offer my condolences to the families of these individuals. I hope
investigators in Artsakh are able to quickly get to the bottom of what
happened, and I hope these awful circumstances help to shed an international
light on the vital work organizations like HALO Trust do around the world. I
will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure demining
activities are able to continue unimpeded and as safely as possible,” said
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Pallone.
“I was deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of three HALO
Trust workers, and injuries to two of their colleagues, while working to clear
the Artsakh region of landmines. My heart goes out to the victims and their
families and colleagues, all of whom are in my prayers. The people of Artsakh
continue to suffer the devastating effects of war with the highest per capita
incidence of landmine accidents in the world – a third of which involve
children. The courage and sacrifice of these ultimate Samaritans should serve
as a reminder to us all that we have much more to do to make this region safe,
and I pledge to continue my support of the HALO Trust and the Artsakh region in
honor of their memory,” said Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Speier.
Last September, Rep. Valadao traveled to Artsakh as part of
a Congressional Delegation, where he met with The HALO Trust staff to learn
more about mine clearance along the borders. Earlier that month, Rep. Valadao
spearheaded a bipartisan amendment along with House Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Rep. Pallone, Rep. Speier, and Rep. Schiff, to
ensure continued funding for de-mining projects in Artsakh. This amendment was
adopted as part of consideration of H.R. 3354, which consolidated numerous
Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bills.
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Valadao stated: “My heart goes
out to those killed and injured by the explosion in Nagorno-Karabakh. These
individuals have dedicated their work to ensuring the safety of others and
their sacrifice will never be forgotten. This tragedy serves as a stark
reminder of the ever present danger in the region. We must continue our work to
restore these communities so they may live without fear of mine-related
accidents.”
Rep. Schiff stated: “I’m deeply saddened by the death of
three employees of the HALO Trust who were performing demining work in Nagorno
Karabakh. I am proud of the support the United States has provided in removing
minefields from civilian areas in Artsakh, and this tragedy shows once again
why that work is both so dangerous and yet such an important humanitarian undertaking.”
During the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe,
Eurasia, and Emerging Threats hearing on July 25, 2017 titled “Examining the
President’s FY 2018 Budget Proposal for Europe and Eurasia,” Rep. Brad Sherman
urged support for U.S. funding for demining efforts in Artsakh, referencing The
HALO Trust and the need for additional funding to continue its lifesaving work.
“I extend my deepest
condolences to the victims’ families and the entire HALO Trust community.
Today’s events highlight the need for robust support of demining efforts in
Artsakh, so that these deadly explosives do not take additional lives. We thank
the victims for their contributions to this important cause,” Rep. Sherman
said.
***************************************************************************************************
3 – AAF Shipped
$6.8M of Aid to Armenia,
Artsakh
GLENDALE, Calif.—The
Armenia Artsakh Fund (AAF) delivered over $6.8 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia
and Artsakh during the first quarter of 2018, between January and March.
The AAF itself collected $6.7 million of medicines and other
supplies donated by AmeriCares ($4 million) including special donations of
Canvas shoes from TOMS shoes; MAP International ($1.7 million); Direct Relief
($747,000) and Fawn
Grove Compassion
Center ($119,000).
Other organizations which contributed valuable goods during
this period were: Agape Project ($83,000) and Mr. Sergey Sarkisov
($15,500).
The medicines and medical supplies donated during this
period were sent to the Health Ministry of Armenia, Artsakh Health Ministry, AGBU Glaudia
Nazarian Medical
Center, Arabkir United Children’s
Foundation, Muratsan Children’s Endocrinology
Center, National Oncology
Center and St. Grigor
Lusavorich Medical Center. In the past 29 years, including its shipments under
its predecessor, the United Armenian Fund, the AAF has delivered to Armenia and
Artsakh a grand total of $783 million worth of relief supplies on board 158
airlifts and 2,392 sea containers.
“The Armenia Artsakh Fund is regularly offered free of
charge millions of dollars worth of life-saving medicines and medical supplies.
All we have to do is pay for the shipping expenses. We would welcome your
generous donations to be able to continue delivering this valuable assistance
to all medical centers in Armenia
and Artsakh,” said AAF President Harut Sassounian.
For more information, call the AAF office: (818) 241-8900;
*********************************************************************************************
4 – In Damascus,
Three Children Killed by Syrian Rebel Rockets
(Barnabas
Fund)—Three children at an Armenian Christian school in the Syrian capital of Damascus were killed on Tuesday, March 6, after rockets
fired from East Ghouta hit the school. Many
Christian families are now understood to have left Damascus to take shelter in villages after
weeks of rocket attacks from the rebel-held enclave, which is controlled by
multiple jihadist factions.
Humanitarian aid convoys entered East
Ghouta that same week, following the announcement of a ceasefire
brokered by the United Nations. The two largest rebel groups in East Ghouta
stated that they would adhere to the UN’s demand for a suspension of hostilities,
but this has not led to a cessation of rocket attacks on Christian areas in Damascus. The targeting
of Christian areas by rebels has been almost entirely ignored by Western media.
***************************************************************************************************
5 – Equality Armenia Leadership Award Recognizes
Commitment to LGBTQ Rights
LOS ANGELES—Equality Armenia (EqAr) announces the recipients
of its 2018 Leadership Award, West Hollywood Council Member and Mayor Pro
Tempore John Duran, Los Angeles Council Member Mitch O’Farrell and Glendale
Council Member Zareh Sinanyan.
Over 40 elected officials and dignitaries were among the
over 100 guests on March 29 to honor three outstanding public servants for
their exceptional leadership and commitment to LGBTQ rights. The red-carpet
event included a meet & greet cocktail reception, followed by the awards
presentation. Guests included
politicians, heads of organizations, community leaders, activists, members of
the press and stakeholders from the throughout greater Los Angeles area.
“For the first time, this unprecedented and historic event
assembled the crème de la crème of greater Los Angeles’ movers and shakers for
the next chapter in the fight for LGBTQ rights, human rights and equality for
all, not just in our own community but throughout the world,” said Vic Gerami,
an Equality Armenia board member.
The Mayor of Glendale, Vartan Gharpetian, was delivered a
heartfelt speech and honor his colleagues. Just a few elected officials and
dignitaries present were LA County Assessor, Jeffrey Prang, Glendale Council
Members Paula Devine and Ara Najarian and Armenian National Committee of
America, Chair, Glendale Chapter, Artin Manoukian.
Council Member John Duran said, “Equality Armenia’s work is
incredibly important given the cultural conservatism found in the Armenian
community. They will not only empower LGBT Armenians here in Los
Angeles but will also diminish homophobia back in Armenia.”
“Everyone, everywhere, deserves full equality and the
freedom to live their life authentically,” said Council Member Mitch O’Farrell,
of the 13th Council District in the City of Los Angeles. “I want to thank the Board of
Equality Armenia for raising awareness about the need to continue pushing for
LGBTQ rights here and in every community.”
Council Member Zareh Sinanyan said, “I am so humbled to
receive this recognition by a group that is working very hard to ensure that
LGBTQ individuals are treated with nothing but respect, dignity and equal
rights just like every other human being. Members of the LGBTQ community are
our brothers and sisters sons and daughters and their rights are human rights.
I stand with them and I’m honored to be recognized by Equality Armenia. Thank
you to all the organizers and all those who contributed to the event. It was
just a great honor to have it in Glendale.”
Leadership Council is a forum acknowledging the leadership
and achievements of local public officials in matters concerning the LGBTQ
community. The reception offers stakeholders, community leaders and activists
the opportunity to network with each other and meet cohorts from various
communities and organizations.
EqAr is a nonprofit organization with a mission to achieve
marriage equality in Armenia.
*****************************************************************************************************
6 – Development of Diaspora’s Armenian
Literature
Exclusive
Presentation by Renowned Krikor Beledian
On Thursday, April 19, at 7:30 pm, renowned author Krikor
Beledian will give an exclusive presentation on The Development of Diaspora’s
Armenian Literature.
The presentation will take place at the Downtown Glendale
Central Library Auditorium, 222
East Harvard Street.
Beledian is a renowned Armenian writer, poet and literary
critic. His extensive work revolves around identity, Armenian Genocide and
Armenian language. Beledian has played a significant role in the development of
the western Armenian literary language. His works have been translated in
English, German, French and Italian. He has published more than 20 books in Armenia, the United
States, France
and Lebanon.
He resides in Paris.
Admission is free. For more information please contact:
Elizabeth Grigorian, [email protected] or (818) 548-3288.
*************************************************************************************************
7- Armenian Genocide
Monument To Be Installed in Geneva
A monument to the Armenian Genocide victims will be
installed in Geneva’s Tremblay Park
next month. The monument called “Les réverbères de la mémoire” (The Lanterns of
Memory) was sculpted by Melik Ohanian, of France.
The Armenian community of Geneva has struggled for over a decade to
have the monument installed, and was in 2016 given a permit to implement the project.
The attorney, adviser and MP of Swiss People’s Party Yves Nidegger has applied
for cancelling the decision of the city’s administration. He said the park was
a green zone, and nothing can be built there except for the buildings in the
interests of the citizens and exclusively related to the park development.
The project was to be implemented in Geneva’s
Ariana park in 2014, but was turned down on the ground of “violation of Geneva’s neutrality on the
international platform,” although the decision was actually adopted under the
pressure of the Turkish authorities.
************************************************************************************************
8 – The Presence of an Absence:
The Role of
Photography in the Lives of Ottoman Armenians
On Thurs., April 12, at 7:30 pm, Armen T. Marsoobian will
give an exclusive presentation on The Presence of an Absence: The Role of
Photography in the Lives of Ottoman Armenians, at the Downtown Central Library
Auditorium, 222 East Harvard
Street. Admission will be free.
Marsoobian’s presentation will be illustrated with
photographs from a number of important Armenian photographers including those
from the Dildilian family. Marsoobian’s recent book, Reimagining a Lost
Armenian Home: The Dildilian Photography Collection, is based on extensive
research about his family, the Dildilians, who were accomplished photographers
in the late Ottoman period. Marsoobian will examine the social and cultural
function of photography for Ottoman Armenians.
His recent co-edited volume, Multidisciplinary Perspectives
on Genocide and Memory, was released this month. He has organized exhibitions
in Istanbul, Merzifon, Diyarbakir,
Ankara, Yerevan, London, New Haven, Watertown, Chicago, and Glendale.
His exhibition Continuity and Rupture: An Armenian Family
Odyssey, based upon his family archives, is on view at the Brand Library and Art Center
from March 24 through April 27. A companion exhibition, Prosperity, Loss, and
Survival: A Photographic Journey from the Dildilian Family Archive, is also on
view in the Glendale Downtown Central Library from March 17 to May 6.
Marsoobian is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Southern Connecticut State
University and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Metaphilosophy. He resides in Connecticut.
*****************************************************************************************************
9 – Commentary: Turkish Racism
By Garen
Yegparian
In case the ongoing, periodic, massacres of Armenians in
and/or by the Ottoman Empire and its willing and eager collaborators weren’t
enough proof of Turkish racism,
In case the 1905 massacres of Armenians by “Tatars” (which
were reciprocated), as Azerbaijanis were referred to back then, weren’t enough
proof of Turkish racism,
In case the Armenian Genocide weren’t enough proof of
Turkish racism,
In case the simultaneous genocide of Assyrians and Greeks
weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism,
In case the 1918 Baku
massacres by locals and Enver Pasha’s “Army of Islam” weren’t enough proof of
Turkish racism,
In case the 1920 sacking of Shooshi, a vibrant Armenian
cultural center, and its accompanying massacres weren’t enough proof of Turkish
racism,
In case the 1937 massacres of Alevi Kurds, (or the Zazas, a
term that no longer seems to be in use) weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism,
In case the depopulation/expulsion of Armenians from
Nakhichevan during the Soviet era by Azerbaijani authorities wasn’t enough
proof of Turkish racism,
In case discriminatory practices in Azerbaijani controlled
Artzakh during the Soviet era wasn’t enough proof of Turkish racism,
In case the discriminatory Varlik Vergisi (a tax invented by
Ankara in 1942
to impoverish and drive out Armenians, Greeks, and Jews) wasn’t enough proof of
Turkish racism,
In case the 1955 (premeditated and “fake-news” instigated)
pogroms of Greeks (with some spillover on to Armenians) in Constantinople
weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism,
In case the mutilation of Greeks during Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus wasn’t
enough proof of Turkish racism,
In case the 1989 February and later pogroms in Baku, Cantsag/Gandsak (Ganja as Turkified), Sumgait, and elsewhere
weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism,
Then let’s look to this century for… more of the same!
How about Victor Bedoian’s septennial sojourn in Van as he
tried to open “Hotel Vartan” and was blocked at every turn from the vali
(governor) who boasted that no Armenian would start a business in Van on his
watch to the Turkish Supreme court that shut down his final appeal?
How about Hrant Dink’s 2007 murder?
How about Turkey’s
sealing of its border with Syria
at Kobane, blocking assistance and escape for the Kurds of that area in their
life-and-death struggle against Daesh/ISIS?
How about the mutilation of civilians and beheadings by Azerbaijan’s forces
during the April 2016 Four Day War??
How about Erdoğan feigning outrage at being called an
Armenian (which is a really bad slur in Turkey, it turns out)?
How about the hatred spewed against Jews from all corners of
Turkey’s
polity?
How about the episodic appearance of hate graffiti on
Armenian institutions in Turkey?
How about the ongoing desecration of Armenian cemeteries and
churches in Turkey?
How about the recent video from Azerbaijan with children expressing
their hatred of Armenians?
How about the comment that “Raping Kurdish women is a moral
obligation. No one should abstain” by a leader of a Turkish group in Holland?
How about the Estonian citizen who was Armenian being denied
entry into Azerbaijan, just
days ago, because of her ancestry, despite having travelled to Baku with a properly issued visa?
It’s not only unfortunate, but utterly tragic, that current
Turkish identity (including Azerbaijan,
less its persecuted minority populations- Avars, Jews, Lesghis, Tats, Talysh)
is unimaginable without this all-encompassing racism.
The only glimmer of light in that darkness is the small
portion of the population which constitutes civil society and its efforts to
defend human rights, in the broadest sense of the term.
This reality must permeate the halls of (at least) Western
governments so their foreign policy for Azerbaijan
and Turkey
is more rational and effective.
The above can serve as talking points during any encounter
with our elected representatives. Use
them.
And just in case anyone you’re speaking with has doubt as to
whether there exists a significant difference between Ankara’s and Baku’s
ethos, ideals, and morals, here’s a joke to help convey this reality:
“What’s the difference between an Azeri and a Turk?”
“Nothing.”
***************************************************************************************************
California Courier Online provides viewers of the Armenian News
News Service with a few of the articles in this week’s issue of The California
Courier. Letters to the editor are
encouraged through our e-mail address,
However, authors are requested to provide their names, addresses, and/or
telephone numbers to verify identity, if any question arises. California
Courier subscribers are requested not to use this service to change, or modify
mailing addresses. Those changes can be made through our e-mail, ,
or by phone, (818) 409-0949.