Category: News

Amnesty International has been blocked from entering Azerbaijan before the inaugural European Games, amid a clampdown on free speech designed to quell critics, reports.

The human rights organisation had been planning to launch a new report highlighting the crackdown on free speech, independent media and government critics. However, just as Amnesty officials prepared to travel, they received a message from the Azerbaijan Embassy in London on Tuesday afternoon stating it was “not in a position to welcome the Amnesty mission to Baku at the present time” and suggesting any visit should be postponed until after the games.

The decision to bar Amnesty came as Emma Hughes, a human rights campaigner with Platform who has previously been critical of BP’s role in cooperating with Azerbaijan, was stopped from entering the country. After arriving on Tuesday Hughes, who had been given press accreditation to cover the games, was told she was on a “red list” and held in the terminal before being put on a flight out of Baku.

The European Games, featuring 6,000 athletes begin on Friday in Baku’s new 68,000-capacity national stadium.

The Guardian has said in an it expects an apology from the Turkish President. According to the paper, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan likes to dish it out to the press. Last week he personally threatened an editor with espionage and “crimes against the government” that could mean a life sentence for Cumhuriyet’s Can Dündar. Also last week, journalist Mehmet Baransu went on trial accused of publishing classified documents, with prosecutors demanding a 52-year sentence.

Last week, as the election campaign neared its climax, Turkey’s president decided to attack the international media as well as the Turkish. He singled out Germany’s Die Zeit, which was accused of going berserk over the plan to build a third Istanbul airport. Then he turned on the New York Times, which he said was run by “Jewish capital” and was “raging against me”. The attack on the Times came at the end of a week in which Mr Erdoğan had personally intervened to prevent the award of an honour that was due to be presented by the mayor of Gaziantep to the paper’s former Istanbul bureau chief.

The president then attacked the Guardian. “Do you know what an English newspaper is saying?” Mr Erdoğan told an AKP rally in Ardahan. “It says ‘poor Muslims who are not entirely westernised cannot be allowed to rule their countries on their own’.” It was shameless, Turkey’s leader said. He then warned the Guardian: “Know your place.”

The Guardian says Mr Erdoğan’s charge is without any foundation. The Guardian did not say or print the words that Mr Erdoğan claimed. Nor did it say anything like them.

“The allegation that the Guardian said poorer Muslim Turks cannot be allowed to rule their own country is a mischievous lie. It appears to have been concocted by a newspaper columnist favourable to the president, was then picked up by others, before spreading quickly on social media in Turkey. Before long it found its way – wholly unchecked – into Mr Erdoğan’s speech in Ardahan, which gave the lie a fresh turbo-charge of publicity,” the editorial reads.

“Journalists have to be careful with their choice of words. When they get something wrong, as they sometimes do, they must correct it as soon and prominently as possible. In a serious case, they must also apologise. As the Guardian’s longest-serving editor, CP Scott, put it, facts are sacred. Politicians too must be careful with their words. They also must get their facts right. Mr Erdoğan got his words and facts badly wrong. Perhaps an apology is in order as well.”

HDP Istanbul Member of Parliament Garo Palyan spoke to after the results of Sunday parliamentary elections in Turkey were announced.

Paylan said that they had expected to win 11-13% of the votes, and that the results were not a surprise.

Paylan stated that the HDP’s victory had come as a result of four-year hard work, and said: “We founded the HDP in 2011. During the 2-year foundation period, all identities and all democratic groups came together. Our party includes all identities, and we stand for equality. We are also aware that this has not been tried in politics in Turkey before. Ours is a discourse of radical democracy with no ifs and buts.”

One of the three new Armenian MPs in Parliament, Paylan explained his goals as follows: “It’s not having three Armenian MPs in Parliament matters, it’s what they will say and do. My party will stand out with its policy based on equality. The AKP also has Kurdish MPs but we have not witnessed an egalitarian approach from them. All other parties need to show more effort on this matter. It was this discourse that brought us success, I wish other parties can see that politics in Turkey can change.”

A delegation led by the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) was invited by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP, Halklarin Demokratik Partisi) for a short term observation mission to the Parliamentary Elections of Turkey on 7 June, 2015.

The delegation was comprised of Kaspar Karampetian (President, EAFJD), Bedo Kurkjian – Demirdjian (PR & Communication, EAFJD), Vera Yacoubian (Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of the Middle East), Peter Petrossian (Chairman, Armenian National Committee of Belgium), and George Aghjayan (Member, Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region).

In a statement issued in May, the EAFJD supported the HDP and called on the Turkish citizens of Europe to vote in favour of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, taking into consideration the Party’s inclusiveness of minorities and their rights, promotion of open democracy, and challenge to Erdogan’s autocratic aspirations.

Prior to the elections of June 7, the EAFJD delegation was briefed by HDP on the attacks, intimidation, fear, smear campaign and terror, and all other legal and illegal difficulties the Party faced. HDP co-president Selahettin Demirtas was personally targeted by the ruling AK Party for ‘collaborating’ with the Armenian Diaspora.

On Election day, the EAFJD-led delegation visited a number of electoral districts and centres, noted all the irregularities and difficulties which the opposition parties in general and the HDP in particular faced. The findings of the delegation will be published in a report in the coming days.

After the ballots were cast, the EAFJD delegation followed the election results at the HDP Istanbul Central Office, where many voters were assembled to celebrate the victory. The delegation was also present at the press conference given by HDP co-presidents Figen Yuksekdag and Selahettin Demirtas.

Three Armenians – Garo Paylan (HDP), Markar Esayan (AKP) and Selina Ozuzun Dogan (CHP) were elected, and became the first Armenians to enter the parliament since 1961.

Kaspar Karampetian, President of EAFJD, welcomed the results of the elections, and said ‘we are happy that three Armenians are elected to the Parliament, and at the same time we are pleased that HDP could exceed the threshold of 10% that would allow them to enter the Parliament with an unprecedented representation.’ Karampetian added ‘we have already stated, that a HDP parliamentary group in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey would mean the presence of a party that will struggle for freedom, equality, peace and justice’.

Xi’an city, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province established on Monday a friendly-city relationship with Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia, with an eye to more in-depth cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Xinhua reports.

Dong Jun, mayor of Xi’an, attended the ceremony in Gyumri Monday marking the signing the friendly city agreement as well as that on trade and economic cooperation, along with the Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan, and the Governor of Shirak region, Felix Tzolakyan.

The two sides expressed the wish to expand bilateral cooperation in all possible spheres, including trade and economy, tourism, culture, and high-tech.

Xi’an and Gyumri are both located along the ancient Silk Road. Xi’an, as the starting point of the Silk Road, is not just a major transport hub linking China’s east with its west, but also the biggest city in the China section of the new Eurasian Continental Bridge. In his keynote speech at the Xi’an-Gyumri Economic and Trade Forum Monday evening, the mayor of Xi’an called for the establishment of various cooperation platforms between the two cities, to promote the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia in September and October of 2013.

The Initiative refers to creating the modern Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road to boost international trade and expand global economic ties. The Belt and Road routes run through the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting vibrant East Asia economic circle at one end and developed European economic circle at the other.

Recalling Gyumri’s role along the ancient Silk Road, Balasanyan said he would like to see a revival of Armenia in the modern Silk Road Economic Belt.

The Xi’an delegation also visited Monday Gyumri’s Technological Park.

Gyumri, with a population of 146,000, is also a cultural capital of Armenia.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West reportedly want to give their second baby a “traditional” name.

The couple, who already have a 23-month-old daughter named North West, are expecting their second child. Insiders have dismissed speculation that the new arrival will also have a directional moniker, such as South, East or Easton, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

A source explained to that the couple opted for North because of a power element; that it is always on top or pointing up, and other points can’t match that.

Instead, the insider claims the 34-year-old reality star and her 37-year-old husband would prefer something more traditional, with a family-related influence, likely connected to Kim’s late father Robert or Kanye’s deceased mother Donda.

Though the couple don’t yet know the gender of their unborn child, which is due in December, it was recently claimed the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star and the rapper are hoping for a little boy and are planning a blue nursery for the youngster.

“They want a son,” said a source.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$8.55 million grant for the Geothermal Exploratory Drilling Project (GEDP) for Armenia. The new project is to confirm whether the geothermal resource at the Karkar field is suitable for power generation and, if confirmed, to involve the private sector in the development of a geothermal power plant.

The objective of the Government is to construct a geothermal power plant at the Karkar site in Sjunik region upon the confirmation of the availability of the resource. Unlike other renewable energy technologies, such as wind, solar, and hydro, it is not possible to validate the geothermal resource with sufficient confidence for commercial development without performing exploratory drillings at depth to assess specific parameters of the geothermal field.

The selection of the Karkar site for exploratory drilling is based on field investigation works completed for two prospective sites, which were deemed the most promising by the local and international geothermal experts. The field investigation works at the prospective sites were supported under the Armenia Geothermal Project, financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and completed in 2012.

“By investing in exploration that can lead to the first commercial project, we can help build domestic capacity for the development of additional geothermal resources at other prospective sites. The total potential for geothermal power in Armenia is currently estimated at around 150 megawatt,” said Laura E. Bailey, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia. “A successful project of this type will also strengthen the investor confidence that geothermal is a viable and profitable investment opportunity in the country.”

The Government will use Scaling-up Renewable Energy Program (SREP) resources for Stage 1 of the Karkar geothermal project to carry out the exploratory drilling and, if the resource is confirmed, to assess the feasibility of a geothermal power plant at Karkar and support involvement of the private sector for the full development of the geothermal power project.

Stage 2 of the Karkar project would be the construction of a geothermal power plant. The early-stage analyses suggested that a 28 MW geothermal power plant with a total estimated cost of US$90-100 million could potentially be constructed at the site. The potential geothermal power plant could be developed with a mix of public and private capital. In addition. The development of geothermal power would contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

“If adequate geothermal resources are confirmed, then future construction of a geothermal power plant would help the Government to meet the forecasted electricity demand and improve the energy security and independence of the country,” said Arthur Kochnakyan, World Bank Task Team Leader of the Project.  “Low-cost electricity from a potential geothermal plant can help keep the electricity affordable for the poor.”

The R2E2 Fund will implement the project since it has the required capacity and experience in implementing Bank financed projects. The Fund is a non-profit organization established by the Government in 2005 with the mandate to promote the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency markets in Armenia and to facilitate investments in these sectors.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Expatriates’ Affairs Hassan Qashqavi and the head of the Armenian foreign ministry’s consular department called for further efforts to promote consular relations between the two neighbors, Tasnim agency reports.

 

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday it had recalled its ambassador to Brazil for consultation, after the Latin American country’s recognizing the massacre of Armenians during World War One in Turkey as genocide, Reuters reports. 

The ministry also summoned Brazil’s ambassador to Ankara on June 3 over the matter, it said in an emailed statement.

Muslim Turkey accepts that Christian Armenians died during the upheaval of World War One but rejects declarations or legislation by foreign governments that classify the deaths as genocide.

“We view the decision by the Brazilian Senate that distorts reality and overlooks the law as irresponsible and we condemn it,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Armenians, two dozen countries and most Western scholars consider the killings genocide.

 

Kodzo Alabo (residence in Moscow), the newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ghana to the Republic of Armenia, today handed over his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan.

The president congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and wished him success, noting that Armenia attaches importance to promoting political dialogue and contact with African countries, including Ghana.

At the outset, Ambassador Alabo conveyed the Ghanaian president’s gratitude to the RA president for the condolence letter on the recent terrific explosion in Accra which took multiple lives and for symphonizing and being with the Ghanaian people during these tragic times.

The ambassador noted that during all of his tenure, he will work, with sincere devotion, towards strengthening the relationship between Armenia and Ghana and revealing the full potential for multifaceted collaboration.

The interlocutors agreed that by maintaining close contacts, conducting consultations between the foreign ministries and developing a legal framework, the two countries will provide a firm foundation for cooperation in the areas of, inter alia, education, culture and economy.

Serzh Sargsyan and Ambassador Alabo expressed their satisfaction with the level of mutual cooperation within the frames of international organizations.