Category: 2019

Turkish Press: France should face crimes in Africa: Turkish spokesman

Raffi Khondkarian
Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey
Tuesday
France should face crimes in Africa: Turkish spokesman
 
– Macron in 'political turmoil,' says Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman
 
French authorities should face the human rights violations and murders they were involved in from Cameroon to Algeria, Turkey's ruling party spokesman said Monday.
 
"Facing history is essential for France," Omer Celik told reporters following a central executive committee meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.
 
"What France should judicially face, from Cameroon to Algeria, are the acts of human rights violations and killings by the French authorities.
 
"What is tragic is [French President Emmanuel Macron's] talks about facing history. Facing history must be a term that should be used in another meaning for France," he said.
 
"While the crimes committed by the French authorities are obvious, hiding behind a term like 'facing history' is a result of a lobby support approach of Macron, who is in political turmoil," he said, referring to Macron's tweet about the 1915 Armenian events.
 
Recalling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call in 2005 to open the archives on both sides and let scientists conduct the necessary research, Celik said the studies were prevented by the decisions taken by Armenia's Constitutional Court back then.
 
He also warned that Turkey would not just condemn the move, but it will also have effects on bilateral relations.
 
He said Macron, cornered by months of protests by the Yellow Vest movement, is trying to rescue himself through baseless allegations instead of producing "shrewd policies" to tackle the issue.
 
Last week, Macron announced April 24 as a day to commemorate the so-called Armenian genocide.
 
Turkey objects to the presentation of the incidents as "genocide" but describes the 1915 events as a tragedy for both sides.
 
Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia plus international experts to tackle the issue.
 
– Safe zone in northern Syria
 
On a safe zone in northern Syria, Celik said: "It is not possible to say that fruitful talks with U.S. President Donald Trump were disseminated to the grassroots."
 
He said Turkey's concerns about its security were not matters of negotiation which could be extended over time.
 
Noting that the Turkish Armed Forces has the capacity to realize any kind of operation for the country's safety, he added: "The right thing here is putting an end to these places being a safe haven for the terrorists."
 
The safe zone issue was first brought to the global stage when Erdogan visited the U.S. nearly six years ago in May 2013.
 
In a surprising move last December, Trump announced he was withdrawing all American forces from Syria. He made the decision during a phone call with Erdogan in which the two leaders agreed on the need for more effective coordination over the civil war-torn country.
 
– Chinese policy on Uighur Turks
 
On the issue of Chinese authorities' systematic assimilation policy towards Uighur Turks, Celik said Turkey respects China's integrity and security, "but holding more than 1 million Uighur Turks in concentration camps and prisons is unlawful."
 
Stating that the policy carried out by the country was open to assimilation in many ways, Celik noted that many opinion leaders, artists and intellectuals of East Turkestan were missing.
 
"If a transparent approach is adopted on this issue, it will create an opportunity to defuse tensions and allow everyone to understand what is happening," he said.
 
China's Xinjiang region is home to around 10 million Uighurs. The Turkic Muslim group, which makes up around 45 percent of Xinjiang's population, has long accused China's authorities of cultural, religious and economic discrimination.
 
China stepped up its restrictions on the region in the past two years, banning men from growing beards and women from wearing veils and introducing what many experts see as the world's most extensive electronic surveillance program, according to The Wall Street Journal.
 
As many as 1 million Muslims in Xinjiang have been incarcerated in an expanding network of "political re-education" camps, according to U.S. officials and UN experts.
 
By Sibel Ugurlu
 
Anadolu Agency

Sports: First winners of the Armenian weightlifting championship named

Hovik Karapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 13 2019

Armenian weightlifting championship is under way in Yerevan, National Olympic Committee reported. In the 67 kg weight class Sevak Nikoghosyan lifted 115 kg at the snatch and 143 kg
in the clean and jerk and was declared champion with a total weight of 258 kg.

Meanwhile Armen Grigoryan, competing in the 73 kg weight class won the tournament title with combined weight of 292 kg (132 + 160).

Athletes qualified for the 81kg and 89 kg weight category will compete on February 13.

Armenian MFA comments on reaction of US over deployment of Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria

Paul Hambardsumian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 13 2019
Armenian MFA comments on reaction of US over deployment of Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria Armenian MFA comments on reaction of US over deployment of Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria

22:33, 13.02.2019
                  

YEREVAN.- Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan has commented on the reaction of the U.S. Department of State over deployment of Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria.

"We have acknowledged the US State Department's statement on the deployment of the Armenian Humanitarian Mission in Syria. It’s a long time Armenia and the USA make joint efforts to respond to the humanitarian disaster in Syria that is accompanied by a major crisis of refugees and deported people.

We reiterate that during the entire process of the Syrian conflict the world-spread Armenian people followed the fates of the civilian people, minorities, including the Armenian community in Syria with great concern. The Armenian public opinion displayed deep concern and compassion towards the sufferings of the civilian people and the demolition of the country. This is a country that had a key contribution to the survival of the Armenian people who escaped the genocide. General Consul of Armenia in Aleppo worked non-stop during the entire Syrian crisis.  Armenia has granted asylum to over 22 thousand Syrian refugees and has provided 4 air cargos of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. Following the establishment of relative tranquility and security Armenia plans to continue its hummanitarian mission, including by providing doctors and specialists for humanitarian demining aimed at supporting the improvment of the living conditions of the war-suffered civilian population of Aleppo. The Armenian mission has exclusively hummanitarian nature, is guided by the international humanitarian law and will coordinate its activities with the institutions and international partners offering humanitarian aid on site.

We share the concerns of the international community about the situation of the ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East and highlight the continuity of humanitarian aid provided to Syria,'' Naghdalyan noted.

Lebanon’s Burj Hammoud Remembers Armenian Genocide Published February 11th, 2019

Lara Antonian
Al Bawaba
Feb 11 2019

Lebanon's Burj Hammoud Remembers Armenian Genocide

Published February 11th, 2019


On the western edge of Burj Hammoud lies the Marash neighborhood – named after the former Ottoman city where Turkish forces massacred Armenian refugees in 1920, amid Turkey’s war of independence near the end of the Armenian genocide. The small neighborhood was one of the first to be established in Burj Hammoud, which became Lebanon’s aptly named “Little Armenia.”

Those who settled in Marash were largely craftsmen originating from the eponymous Ottoman city.

“When the buildings were first constructed, most houses and apartments incorporated ateliers where people would work,” said Farah Makki, the lead researcher at Nahnoo, a youth-led NGO advocating for cultural preservation.

“Much of the architecture today reflects the old architecture [from the Ottoman Marash],” she said.

But the culture of craftsmanship in Burj Hammoud is not what it used to be. Artisans who have been working for generations in a range of sectors, including textiles, jewelry and woodworking, have started turning to other trades, Makki said, due to a lack of state support for small business.

The Abroyan factory – just a short walk from the Marash neighborhood – is something of a symbol of the changes that are underway in Burj Hammoud.

Once a flourishing Armenian-owned textile factory, it has since been shut down and repurposed into an event space, commonly rented out for parties and art exhibitions, mainly by people from outside the community.

To preserve Burj Hammoud’s heritage, particularly that of craftspeople, Nahnoo has embarked on an initiative with aid from the United States Embassy, working for over a year with local artisans and gathering data on obstacles they face in keeping their traditions alive.

“We’ve identified challenges in Burj Hammoud regarding craftsmanship, to try and understand how to intervene and change policy to save this culture and promote its innovation,” Makki said.

“This could be in the form of economic measures to protect local businesses from foreign imported items, educational initiatives or increased targeted tourism.”

The main outcome of the project, expected to near completion in the next few months, will be a map detailing the locations of the area’s artisans and their trade.

A series of reports will also be issued, elaborating on the challenges in the community and including policy recommendations.

To come up with the recommendations, Nahnoo will consult a variety of stakeholders, including the municipality, the Economy Ministry and the Labor Ministry.

To conduct some of the research, Nahnoo assembled a group of young volunteers at the end of January from a range backgrounds to attend a three-day workshop, to help interview local craftspeople, like Peter Keshian.

The Burj Hammoud resident works part-time creating artisanal briar wood and vulcanite tobacco pipes. However, most of the materials and tools he needs are either low quality in the local market or not available in Lebanon at all.

“The materials I use are from countries around the Mediterranean such as Greece, Algeria, Italy and Corsica. I can get them abroad, but shipments take too much time, as Customs in Lebanon is not fast. Other things I work with, including stains, shellac and bamboo root, are also not good quality here,” he told The Daily Star.

The workshop also provided an opportunity for cultural exchange between locals and the volunteers from other areas in Lebanon.

“There are a lot of perceptions about Burj Hammoud,” said Pia Chaib, one of the volunteers.

The densely populated area has a reputation for being a low-income neighborhood where many of Beirut’s migrant workers and refugees reside. Residents also have to cope with the stench emanating from the notorious Burj Hammoud landfill on the coastal edge of the town.

“As much as you learn about [the area’s] history in a classroom, actually meeting people who have been here for generations is much different,” Chaib said.

Nahnoo’s executive director, Jessica Chemali, underscored that the success of such projects depends on the participation of a diverse cross section of society.

“We should be encouraging everyone to participate in their way, creating spaces for people whether they be craftsmen or in other trades.

“By supporting one another, we’re also fostering toward a greater goal of an inclusive society,” Chemali said. “Part of being in an inclusive society is to allow a diverse group of people to function and contribute to the economy.”

This article has been adapted from its original source.


Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 12-02-19

Edgar Tavakalian

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 12-02-19

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17:20,

YEREVAN, 12 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 12 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.23 drams to 489.62 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.68 drams to 552.00 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 7.46 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.99 drams to 629.01 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 142.74 drams to 20564.89 drams. Silver price down by 1.30 drams to 247.22 drams. Platinum price down by 131.84 drams to 12451.64 drams.

Systematic corruption in Armenia brought to its knees – Pashinyan

Antranik Varosian

Systematic corruption in Armenia brought to its knees – Pashinyan

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17:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Fight against corruption is of key importance for the Government of Armenia and Nikol Pashinyan considers it as one of the most important achievements of the Government, Nikol Pashinyan talked about this during the presentation of the Government’s Action Plan at the parliament.

“In fact, systematic corruption in Armenia is brought to its knees, but fight against corruption and anti-corruption policy need some institutional foundations. And I think one of the key points of the Government’s Action Plan in terms of fight against corruption is the following – we have to strengthen all the levers by which the citizens of the Republic of Armenia should have the opportunity to oversee the property and possession of not only the state officials of Armenia, but also of those with great opportunities to assume state offices”, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan as saying.

He explained the idea bringing an example, that if someone wants to become Prime Minister or MP, he should authorize a relevant state body to seek information about his or his relatives’ properties worldwide, where the state body will act as the representative of the person trying to assume office. Pashinyan clarified that it’s very important for the state body to be authorized to act as the representative of the owner, since it will give an opportunity to avoid some obstacles which could rise if the state body acted as an investigator. “Moreover, all the officials or candidates who will refuse to grant the relevant state body with the power of attorney, they should be deprived of the right to assume any state position in the Republic of Armenia”, the PM added, emphasizing that it’s not a violation of human rights, since they do not force everyone to behave that way, but only those who have the ambitions to become a state official and serve the Republic of Armenia and its people.

“Therefore, the people hiring those individuals to serve them should have guarantees of 100% transparency, and to be able to record what the individual possessed when assuming the post, where and how much he had, and what he has now and how his property changed after he left the office” In fact, this is a tool the guarantees the end of corruption in Armenia”, Nikol Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Pashinyan highlights reduction of mining industry output in the total volume of exports

Jirair Kafian

Pashinyan highlights reduction of mining industry output in the total volume of exports

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18:08,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sees a necessity to reduce the output of mining industry in the total volume of exports. At the same time he emphasizes the necessity for mining industries to meet the strictest environmental standards, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said at the National Assembly.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that today agriculture and mining industry are the leading branches of the Armenian economy. “Our vision is the following – the volume of mining industry output should significantly decline in the total volume of the Armenian exports. The export of high-tech output should increase”, he said.

Pashinyan also noted that there is no country in the world that has no mining industry, but they are brought to the highest standards not to jeopardize the health of the public. He noted that reasonable use of minerals is beneficial for the country.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Parliament to continue discussion of Government’s Action Plan on February 13

George Mamian

Parliament to continue discussion of Government’s Action Plan on February 13

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18:20,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The National Assembly of Armenia will continue the discussion of the Government’s Action Plan on February 13, ARMENPRESS reports Vice Speaker of the parliament Alen Simonyan said.

During the February 12 session of the parliament Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented the Government’s Action Plan approved on February 8. 53 MPs enrolled to ask questions to the Prime Minister.

According to the Constitution of Armenia, the Parliament approves the government’s Action Plan within seven days by the majority of votes of the total number of MPs.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Pashinyan speaks about prospects of developing economic and political relations with Iran

Ophelia Vardapetian

Pashinyan speaks about prospects of developing economic and political relations with Iran

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18:27,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will continue the active cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the economic, energy and political spheres, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said at the parliament on February 12.

“The Eurasian Economic Union and Iran have signed FTA which is now in the ratification procedure and study shows that when this tool is put into operation significant changes will occur also in the economic relations between Armenia and Iran. We cooperate in the sphere of energy very actively and plan to deepen that cooperation”, Pashinyan said.

“We are confident that we will preserve the relations with Iran based on a high level of mutual trust and the aim of those relations will not be harming a 3rd party, or Armenia will not be part of the efforts aimed at harming someone in its relations with Iran”, the PM said.

Nikol Pashinyan is scheduled to pay an official visit to Iran on February 27.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Armenia can create a new touristic brand as 1st country to adopt Christianity and implementer of velvet revolution – PM Pashinyan

Adrine Hakobian

Armenia can create a new touristic brand as 1st country to adopt Christianity and implementer of velvet revolution – PM Pashinyan

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18:33,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. By merging the reputation of Armenia as the 1st country to adopt Christianity as a state religion and the implementer of an unprecedented velvet revolution, it will be possible to create a new touristic brand for Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said at the parliament on February 12.

“In 2018 the number of tourists visiting Armenia increased by 10.5%. The growth rate further increased in the last quarter. The merger of the reputation of Armenia as the 1st country to adopt Christianity as a state religion and the implementer of an unprecedented velvet revolution will create a new brand that will also have a significant impact on the development of tourism in Armenia”, Pashinyan said.

According to the PM, the sphere of tourism is very important for overcoming poverty, fostering SMEs, and environment.

“We have already launched the project in the sidelines of which we give grants to the residents of forest areas, in order they create some businesses offering touristic services”, the PM noted,

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan