Category: News

Sixteen Assyrian and Armenian organizations have issued a statement protesting Kurdish expropriation of private property in the Hasaka province of Syria, the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA) reports.

The statement accuses the Democratic Union Party (YPD), the Syrian wing of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), of human rights violations, expropriation of private property, illegal military conscription and interference in church school curricula.

YPD has gained some international attention in its fight against ISIS, a fight which Assyrian fighters have joined, but it has been accused by Human Rights Watch of massive violations of human rights, extending to forced evictions and the destruction of homes and property of non-Kurdish populations in regions under its control. Some of the violations which impact the Christian Assyrian population are:

• Enforcement of new curricula in private and public schools
• conducting forced recruitment of young people
• enforcing special taxes
• occupation of Assyrian owned public buildings

According to Assyrian leaders in Hasaka, the Kurds form about 30 percent of the population in Northern Syria’s Jazeera region (provincial capital Hasaka) but increasingly act as occupiers of the region. YPD militia killed David Jendo, the commander of the Assyrian Khabour village guards, in April this year.  The guards were established to defend the Khabur villages from ISIS.

Most recently the YPD has taken the decision to confiscate what it calls “abandoned emigrant property,” which is the property of internally displaced Syrians, driven away from their homes by the Syrian conflict.

Assyrian and Armenian churches, political and civic organizations issued the following letter to protest YPD’s actions:

For over four years our country, Syria, is struggling with tragic events. War devastation and terrorism have caused all ethnic groups much suffering. But we, inhabitants of Al-Jazeera, have kept so precious nowadays ideals of peaceful coexistence between various communities of our province. Due to extraordinary situation and having safety in mind Local Self-Administration was created, together with number of dependent institutions. Some of its regulations, however, are not properly prepared nor thoroughly measured. This causes valid concerns among various ethnic and national groups. While it is happening official authorities are still performing its fiscal, administrative, legal and military duties.

Law on Emigrant Property

After careful consideration representatives of Christian communities in Qamishli agreed on following:

1. Aforementioned Law on Emigrant Property is in violation of Human Rights Law, breaking fundamental Right to property
2. Under no circumstances, nobody can labelled as “traitor” just for leaving their home.
3. Efforts at creating “Institution for Emigrant Properties Redistribution and Management” is an attempt of expropriation real estate under a guise of helping those in need.
4. These regulations create a dangerous precedence in Proprietorship Law in whole province of Al-Jazeera. Additionally this will cause substantial demographic changes centered at local Christians who will lose their homes. It’s worth mentioning that nearly 35% of all real estate in the area is owned by Christians. Expropriation of this properties will cause valid concerns amongst both those who fled and stayed, preventing the latter from ever coming back.
5. It’s worth noting that stance, taken by many local Christians, of not selling nor appointing a proxy for their properties is fully supported by both state and international law. Any claims of this being illegal are false.

Taking all of the above into account we believe that such actions of “Local Administration” will cause ethnic cracks and turmoil. In order to avoid it and to convince authors to abandon these regulations we hereby announce ourselves as plaintiffs and prosecutors for any and all cases under both state and international tribunals and courts of law.

“Procedure on issuing permits and licenses, new permits and licenses fees and taxes” is redundant and illegal. Already existing permits and licenses are absolutely valid. They were issued in accordance with the law by official Syrian authorities and did not lose their legitimacy. Demand for their replacement and new fees, often exceeding their holders financial capabilities, is unacceptable.

“Conscription Law”. Demanding military service by organization without state legitimization is preposterous.

Any interference into church private schools in Al-Jazeera province in unacceptable. These institutions are sanctioned by administrative and education authorities. Pressure on this institutions is viewed as an interference in education and upbringing of Christian children and adolescents.

We appeal into everybody’s sense of responsibility and ask for restraint when handling matters that could limit rights of both individuals and communities. Fundamental Human Rights have to be upheld in order for peace and safety to once again grace all of Syria. We are hoping for continuous, peaceful coexistence of all Al-Jazeera inhabitants, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, nationality and culture.

Signatories:

• Syriac Orthodox Church
• Armenian Apostolic Church
• Al-Jazeera and Euphrates Armenian Diocese
• Chaldean Syrian Church in Qamishli
• Assyrian Church of the East
• Assyrian Ancient Church of the East
• Syriac Catholic Church
• Syriac Orthodox Civil Peace Committee
• National Evangelical Church
• Assyrian Democratic Organization
• Aramean Free Party
• Assyrian Committee on Rural Agricultural Land
• Christian Civic Union
• Mother Syria Youth Association
• Youth Institute for National Reconciliation
• Center for Syrian Christian Youth

 

 

 

Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of the Kaspersky Lab is the 6th recipient of the Armenian President’s annual IT Award. He will receive the prize on November 16 in Yerevan, the Head of Staff of Presidential Administration, Chairman of the Award Commission Vigen Sargsyan told reporters today.

Every year the prize is awarded to renowned persons for global contribution in the field of information technologies.

On a three-day visit to Armenia, Kaspersky will have meetings with the Armenian leadership, representatives of the IT sphere and students.

The President’s IT prize has previously been awarded to Mario Mazzola, Chief Development Officer at Cisco Systems Corporation, the former Executive Director  General of Intel Corporation, Chairman of the Board Craig R. Barrett, co-founder of the Apple Computer Corporation Steve Wozniak, Chairman Emeritus of Synaptics Company Federico Faggin and former CEO of Hitachi Company Tsugio Makimoto.

A commercial bus en route from Moscow to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, capsized in the small hours of Tuesday 221 km south of Moscow, TASS reports.

The accident took away the lives of seven people and left another 35 passengers injured, the press service of the Tula regional main department of the Interior said.

All the injured passengers have been admitted to district hospitals in the towns of Uzlovaya and Kireyevsk in the Tula region.

The accident occurred at the 221st kilometer of the M4 Don federal road at around 02:40 Moscow Standard Time on Tuesday. The bus was carrying 59 passengers aboard, Andrey Yartsev, a duty spokesman for Tula regional Interior Department told TASS.

“The bus was moving the in southward direction,” he said. “For the reason that’s yet to be established it began to waggle from one guardrail to another over a distance of about 200 meters and eventually tumbled on the right board.”

The regional division of the Ministry for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense dispatched a group of operatives to clear out and coordinate the situation.

Andrey Yartsev did not rule out, however, that the number of the injured might grow eventually.

The driver was not injured but was in a state of shock and unable to give any explanations for or details of the accident.

According to updated information, eight people were killed as a result of the crash of the Yerevan-bound bus in Russia’s Tula region early this morning. Seven victims of the accident have been identified, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations reports.

1. Spartak Tsolak Nalbandyan (born in 1947)
2. Gagik Gurgen Hakobyan (born in 1961)
3. Hrach Badalyan
4. Gagik Stepanyan
5. Vaghush Stepanyan
6. Hayk Zhora Hovhannisyan (boen in 1970)
7. Hakob Alikhanyan

Two of Hyderabad’s most famous Armenians, Albert Abid and Alexander Jacob, are not buried at the Armenian cemetery in Uppuguda. But the cemetery is preparing to enlighten people on the role of the two Armenians in the 16 and 17 century After lying in a state of neglect for decades, the Armenian cemetery, will be opened to public shortly, reports.

The Department of Archaeology and Museums, which is the custodian of the cemetery, renovated the premises some months ago.

“ A caretaker will be posted at the cemetery to look after its maintenance,” said Sunita M. Bhagwath, Director, Archaeology and Museums Department.

Armenians came to India between 16th and 17th centuries as traders travelling through Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet. “A large number of Armenians settled in Hyderabad during the 17th century. Though there are no written records of their activities, traditions and social conditions , the Armenian epitaphs acknowledge their presence,” M.A. Qayyum, former Deputy Director Archaeology and Museums said.

There are about 20 graves in the cemetery, 19 are of Armenians and one is of a Dutch trader.

The graves of two priests Rev Johannes, who died in 1680, and Rev. Margar, who died in 1724, are also here. A single dome on the premises representing the Qutb Shahi style of architecture and two mandapa-like structures, one square and the other octagonal, are distinct features of the cemetery.

The existence of the cemetery of Armenians was brought to light by Mohammed Ziauddin Ahmed Shakeb, a historian from the city in 1970.

“Dr. Shakeb chanced upon a letter written by British Resident W. Haig in Hyderabad to a government official in 1907 about the Armenian cemetery. Soon, officials were informed about it and the place was identified,” Qayyum explained.

The department spent around Rs. 25 lakh for renovating the place. Wild shrubs were cleared and the height of the compound wall has been increased. The authorities took care to see that the wall was renovated using granite, lime and mortar to keep in tune with the character of the precinct.

The tough task ahead for them is to see that the basalt stones with Armenian engravings on the graves are restored. “We will be seeking the help of experts for the job,” Ms. Bhagwath said. Historians suggest that the government seek the Armenian authorities’ help in establishing the identity of all those who are buried here.

The digital video recorder in one of the cars has caught the moment the bus en route to Yerevan capsized on the 221st kilometer of the M4 Don federal road in Tula region.

“By escalating the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the line of contact, Baku shows its intolerance towards the status quo established at the conflict zone, thus trying to exert pressure on international structures engaged in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict,” NKR Minister of Defense Levon Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with Moscow-based Noyan Tapan newspaper.

The Minister added that “from military point of view Azerbaijan is testing its combat readiness with a view of launching more large-scale actions. He said there are other derivative reasons, which are mainly meant for the internal audience and aim to exert psychological influence on the Armenian side.

Levon Mnatsakanyan said the talks about the might of the Azerbaijani army are more of propaganda rather than reality. The Defense Minister assured the NKR Defense Army has all technical means and moral-psychological capacities to show resistance to the Azerbaijani armed forces.

President Serzh Sargsyan has offered condolences over the crash of the bus on Don federal road en route from Moscow to Yerevan. The statement reads:

“Dear compatriots,
It was with great sorrow that I learnt about the crash of the bus en route from Moscow to Yerevan and the irreversible consequences of it. The whole Armenian nation, any of us incurred a great loss last night. On this moment of sorrow I express my condolences and support to the families and friends of the victims.  I also wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

The President has instructed the law-enforcement bodies to take all legal measures to investigate the causes of the crash in cooperation with the relevant bodies in Russia.

The President has also instructed the law-enforcement bodies to present a plan of raising the security level of the interstate bus transportations based on a broad and comprehensive study of the causes of the accident.

The Armenian government and the Armenian Embassy in Russia have been assigned to take measures to provide necessary assistance to the families of the victims and those injured, and to organize proper medical treatment.

The US Department of State has issued a statement, expressing regret over Azerbaijan’s prevention of OSCE ODHIR monitoring of its parliamentary elections. The statement reads:

We regret that the Government of Azerbaijan did not allow the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to field its necessary number of observers, and therefore ODIHR was not able to monitor the elections.  Without ODIHR participation, it is impossible for us to say that Azerbaijan has made progress on ODIHR’s previous election observation recommendations, which identified and sought to address limitations to fundamental freedoms.

We continue to have concerns about the restrictive political environment in Azerbaijan and urge the Government of Azerbaijan to respect the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and independent voices including the media as part of its international commitments, and to work with the OSCE, including ODIHR, to this end.  We remain committed to working with the government and people of Azerbaijan in their effort to ensure a strong, stable, democratic, and prosperous future.

Today, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) called on the Department of Justice to investigate potentially illegal activities of U.S. groups with ties to foreign entities in Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) and the House Committee on Ethics concluded that 9 members of Congress and more than two dozen staff members accepted a trip that was improperly paid for by foreign corporations in Azerbaijan and Turkey. In addition to attending a convention in Azerbaijan, several Members of Congress and their staff also traveled to Turkey free of cost. The OCE’s review found that the congressional travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey was “not funded exclusively by the entities disclosed on travel forms submitted to the Committee on Ethics.”

A investigation discovered that Gülen groups, Turkish organizations who follow the leadership of Fethullah Gülen, “secretly funded as many as 200 trips to Turkey for members of Congress and staff since 2008, repeatedly violating House rules and possibly federal law.” Over the course of its review, the OCE obtained evidence that a Turkish organization, named the Bosphorus Atlantic Cultural Association of Friendship and Cooperation (BAKIAD), funded and coordinated the congressional travel within Turkey dating back several years.  Four of the Gülen groups sponsoring the 2013 conference in Azerbaijan also “used BAKIAD to arrange and finance all in-country expenses for congressional travel in Turkey,” OCE found. “Importantly, however, BAKIAD’s role does not appear to have been disclosed to the Committee on Ethics in 2013 or in other years.” Congressional disclosures show the Gülen-backed trips totaled more than $800,000 in free travel for lawmakers and staff. Both the Turkish and Azerbaijani Congressional Caucuses have significantly increased their membership over the last several years.

According to the USA TODAY, “A dozen different Gülen groups have sponsored congressional travel since 2008 and have filed forms with the House certifying that they were paying for the trips. The House Ethics Committee approved all the trips in advance based on the forms the Gülen groups submitted. But a USA TODAY investigation found many of those disclosures were apparently false. Some of the Gülenist groups claimed to be certified nonprofits, but they do not appear in state or IRS databases of approved charities. Groups that did register with the IRS filed tax forms indicating that they did not pay for congressional travel. And five of the groups admitted to congressional investigators earlier this year that a Gülenist group in Turkey was secretly covering the costs of travel inside Turkey for lawmakers and staff.”

The OCE investigators received documentation that the lawmakers accepted donations by two Texas-based nonprofit corporations, the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians (TCAE) and the Assembly of the Friends of Azerbaijan (AFAZ). They found that TCAE and AFAZ concealed the true source of the funding for travel and other expenses for the U.S. officials. Instead, much of the cost of travel and funding for the convention was paid for by undisclosed entities including the Republic of Azerbaijan through its national oil company, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). Evidence revealed that SOCAR founded AFAZ in the month prior to the Convention, transferring $750,000 to an AFAZ bank account.

“The revelations by the USA TODAY investigation, in addition to the Office of Congressional Ethics investigation, are remarkable,” the Assembly said in its . “We respectfully request a full and thorough investigation by the Department of Justice into these groups and the full application of the law. The reported activities constitute plainly illegal behavior and strikes at the core of our Constitutional government through blatant foreign influence peddling.”