Author: Chilingarian Babken

MAZLUMDER ISSUES TURKEY HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

Feb 25 2009
Turkey

The biggest part of human rights report was attributed to the problems
regarding freedom of religion and conscience.

Mazlumder issued its annual human rights report on Turkey.

According to the annual report published by Mazlumder (Foundation
for the Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People) showed that
Turkey’s human rights record had worsened last year.

In 2008, 29 people had been the victim of extrajudicial execution
and 343 people’s murderers were not found. 25 people, also, has
become the victim of honour killing. Moreover, in 2008, 207 people
were tortured and 10 people died in prison. The foundation described
Ergenekon probe as a historcial chance in order to shed light on the
extrajudicial executions.

According to Mazlumder, the worst case of 2008 was the annuling of the
law concerning the free entrance of students, who wear headscarves,
to the universities. Mazlumder criticized the annuling in terms of
reasons, saying it is "not lawful and an excess of power."

Resistance against freedom of expression

Mazlumder said that the judiciary resisted to the application of
freedom of expression in Turkey. It is expressed in the report that
"Republic of Turkey guaranteed to the national and international
community, by signing the European Convention of Human Rights, that
it will obey the rules concerning human rights. Turkey also accepted
the jurisdiction of European Court of Human Rights."

The ban on youtube was also criticized in the report. "Accreditation"
ban against journalists by Turkish Army had been another problem
that conflicts with the freedom of press, the report cited. Turkish
Army was criticized for applying pressure to Taraf, a daily, which
harshly challenged the passiveness of Turkish army on a Daglica case,
where 12 soldiers were killed by PKK.

Beside bureaucratic and governmental problems, Turkish media itself
also caused numerous human rights breaches, according to the report. "

"As examples, daily newspapers of Hurriyet, Vatan and Milliyet degraded
the women who wear their local and traditional clothes at a ceremony
as ‘reactionary’." The report listed 18 breaches of human rights in
Turkish media.

Mazlumder, in addition, touched upon the right of sanctuary and
refugees. The report said "Turkey refused to accept the refugees,
most of whom came from non-European territories since Turkey signed
1951 Geneva Convention on Refugee Law with reservation. Turkish
refugee law includes articles, which violates the right of asylum,
should be renewed in the manner that it would protect the rights

Understanding of strict secularism

The biggest part of the report was attributed to the problems
regarding freedom of religion and conscience. Mazlumder concluded
the report, saying "the understanding of strict secularism that is
being implemented in Turkey. Due to this kind of secularist opinion,
state controls the religion in Turkey."

The headscarf ban continued to exist. The law which amended the
constitution in favor of students who wear headscarves, was annuled
by the Constitutional Court unlawfully and by excess of power. The
demonstartions for the freedom of headscarf lasted in Turkish cities
of Kocaeli, Sakarya, Ankara, Van and Akyazi. But, all efforts to lift
the ban was halted by the Constitutional Court, military bureaucracy
and the main opposition party CHP (Republican People’s Party).

Nearly 35 universities, including prestigious Bogazici and
Middle Eastern Technical University did not accept students with
headscarves. The report said "the Rector of Istanbul University,
which is 555 years old, Mesut Parlak told that they would not give
the deserved grade to headscarved students if they insisted the demand
for entering to the university as headscarved".

Not only Sunni Muslims, but also Christian minorities became victims
of violent attacks against them, according to thr report. "The cases
of Malatya Zirve Publishing House and Hrant Dink, a famous Armenian
journalist, continued without reaching out a final resolution. Some
state official’s cooperation was proven, but it was not possible to
birng them in front of the court", the report said.

The report stated, "Christian minorities, except Greeks, Armenians
and Jews, are not officially recognized as minorities. Those groups
are Suryanis, Yezidis, Bahais, Jehova’s witnesses and other small
communities. Orthodox Christians has faced some problems as well. The
long enduring indifference to Heybeliada Cleric School and Orthodox
Patriarch’s ecumenical claims are not recognized by Turkish state."

"Alevis also witnessed the breach of their rights. State has not
officially recognized Alevi identity and continued its pressure upon
them. The problems continued regarding the construction of cemevi,
a place for gathering and pray for Alevis. State institutions do
not help, and even, in some cases, do not permit the construction of
cemevi," said the report.

GENOCIDE RECOGNITION CAN’T PREVENT TURKISH-ARMENIAN RECONCILIATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.02.2009 16:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Draft resolution on the Armenian Genocide recognition
will soon be submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives, ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Director
Kiro Manoyan said.

"A purposeful work is being carried out among the congressmen to
bring resolution to the House floor. There is a strong probability
that Barack Obama will use the term ‘genocide’ in his Apr. 24
statement. All depends on the U.S. interests while Turkish media is
engaged in guesswork," Manoyan told a news conference on Tuesday.

He also denied suppositions that U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide will prevent normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

"Turkey should assume responsibility for the crime against humanity
committed by the Ottoman Empire," Manoyan said.

"Still, I believe, no steps will be undertaken till Apr. 24, as local
administration election is due in Turkey in Mar. 29 and the ruling
AKP has to win majority of votes. Some changes are possible after
the election," he said.

Armenian Union in Bulgaria
Varna, 76 General Kolev St., office 1
tel: +35952/ 919 927 / +359878105555

GEN. ANDRANIK’S HOUSE IN GALATA IN VARNA SLATED FOR DEMOLITION

A great misfortune has befallen our common reminiscence and the
reminiscence of our long-suffering people! Only in a few months the
only material memory of the life of the Armenian national hero
General Andranik Ter Ozanyan will disappear forever. Because people,
who consider money as more important than the reminiscence of our
people will demolish the house which General Andranik had built
himself in Galata quarter in the city of Varna. The home where he
lived will disappear forever, the home where he met Armenian
revolutionists from all over Europe, from where he supplied with arms
Bulgarian, Armenian, Macedonian and Russian revolutionists. The
memory of him will go away together with his home. That is why we,
brothers Hovsepyan from Varna, are begging for your help, we are
asking for your united efforts in the battle to save this common
relic of ours. We ourselves have been living in Varna since 1995, we
have established the Armenian Union in Bulgaria (2007) and you can
learn more about us on

We were tremendously worried by the real threat for General Andranik’s
home and we did our best to prevent this injustice. First of all we
wrote letters to the mayor of Varna, to the regional governor, to the
Bulgarian prime minister, to the Minister of Bulgarian Armed Forces
and to the Minister of Bulgarian Culture, asking them one and the same
question – are you really going to allow the destruction of this
Armenian sanctuary? Before that, of course, we contacted the owners of
the house who live in the USA and who have decided to demolish it and
build on its place a block of flats. He is Grigor Tigranyan, tel.
0013146475728. We offered them to choose whatever they wish and leave
the house for the future generations. We offered them to buy out the
house so that we can transform it into General Andranik museum. We
also offered to buy for them another site where they could build their
building and we are ready to listen to any offers which would give a
chance to save General Andranik’s home. We had urgent conversations
with the developing company, too, and we are ready to pay them for the
project, as well as for all costs incurred in the preparation for the
construction works. Unfortunately, the developing company doesn’t want
to listen to us and it is not interested in the memory of our national
hero.

That is why we are addressing all of you, our compatriots, for help,
because we know that for you the memory of the great General Andranik
is far too much dearer than any money. Your common efforts will be
recorded in golden letters in the history of long-suffering Armenia if
you manage to convince Mr. Grigor Tigranyan that the house must stay,
that he can always obtain money for it and it will be profitable for
him, but if this inmost part of our memory vanishes nobody will ever
be able to restore it and that will be a loss for millions of
people. And we, the Armenians from Varna, will be left with the
impossible task to explain to our children why we allowed the
disappearance of this sacred house, where each year we lay flowers in
memory of General Andranik.

PROSELYTISM WILL BE CRIMINALLY PERSECUTED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.02.2009 16:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian parliament has discussed a draft bill
on introduction of amendments into the Law on Freedom of Conscience
and Religious Organizations.

According to Armen Ashotyan, the draft bill co-author and head of
RA parliamentary permanent committee on education, science, culture,
youth and sports, the bill is awaiting vote in the parliament.

"The Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations was
adopted in 1991. It prohibits proselytism, yet doesn’t offer a clear
definition of the phenomenon," Armen Ashotyan told a news conference.

Proselytism is the term employed by the International Council of
Churches. It is the practice of attempting to convert people to
another opinion and, particularly, another religion. It is also
used to refer to other religions’ attempts to convert people to their
beliefs or even any attempt to convert people to another point of view,
religious or not.

"In such cases, citizens can turn to relevant state bodies to protect
their rights," Ashotyan said.

"Besides, amendments to the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious
Organizations will include sanctions for proselytism, to be punished
with a penalty of 500 minimal salaries or 2-year imprisonment,"
he added.

To develop the draft bill, co-authors used the experience of European
states, specifically France, Austria and Switzerland.

"We want to make it clear that the draft bill is not aimed at any
religious organization. Besides, it does not extend upon religious
organizations of Armenia’s national minorities. Unfortunately we
witnessed many religion -based tragedies. The bill envisages protection
of rights, life and health of Armenian citizens," Ashotyan said.

AUCTION ON BJNI FACTORY SALE ENDS

ArmInfo
2009-02-16 18:33:00

ArmInfo. The repeated e-auction on sale of property and brands of
CJSC "Mineral water factory Bjni", that had started on 5 February,
has ended.

Judicial Acts Compulsory Enforcement Service under Armenian Justice
Ministry reported, that as a result of the auction they received only
one application to buy "Bjni". The starting price during the repeated
auction was 4,441 bln drams ($14,5 mln) instead of the initial 4,9
bln drams ($16 mln). The name of the applicant is not informed. The
ministry refers to some points of the law not to mention the name. The
sum 4,441 bln drams should be paid over 3 banking days.

To recall, Bjni Plant of Mineral Waters is part of "Sil-Concern"
belonging to the Sukiasyans family of businessmen. Observers in
Armenia connect the fact of the unprecedented pressure on the Concern’s
structures with the political activity of the Armenian parliamentarian
Khachatur Sukiasyan, who openly supported the first president at the
previous presidential election.

Sukiasyan has been deprived of his mandate and is currently
wanted. After starting of the auction, Armenian businessman, leader
of Prosperous Armenia Party, Gagik Tsarukyan, recommended businessmen
not to take part in the auction.

The former owner of the plant has disseminated a statement which
says that the auction process was held with numerous violation of
law. Moreover, at present there are 8 lawsuits in Administrative Court
of Armenia from Bjni plant and CJSC ‘Sil-concern’ in connection with
the campaign. They require to recognize decisions on holding the
auction invalid.

The statement says about illegal holding of the auction, particularly,
because the starting price turned out to be lower than required and
because the Judicial Acts Compulsory Enforcement Service failed to
take into account the value-added tax to be paid. "Even if the buyer
of the property is legal (but we have all grounds to suppose quite
the opposite), we can demand the property back as its alienation
took pace involuntarily. The buyer of the property will also have
problems with the use of relevant trademarks. In this connection,
we call on the possible buyer to abstain from paying the specified
amount as the property will be returned to our company in a judicial
proceeding in the future", the statement says.

AZERBAIJAN DISSATISFIED WITH NAGORNO-KARABAKH TALKS: VICE SPEAKER

Trend News Agency
Feb 13 2009
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani parliamentary vice speaker said Azerbaijan is
dissatisfied with negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

"European and OSCE nations must work to resolve the conflict – their
interests in our energy aside," Vice Speaker and Azerbaijani OSCE
delegation head Bahar Muradova said at a meeting with OSCE Special
Envoy to Nagorno-Karabakh Goran Lenmarker on Feb. 13.

Lenmarker visited Azerbaijan as part of his trip to the South Caucasus.

The vice speaker said Azerbaijan wants peace in the region.

"Several countries can assist us in this process by making our position
clear at the OSCE winter session in Vienna," Muradova said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Azerbaijan is currently arranging a referendum which is vital for
national politics, Muradova said.

"The amendments to the Constitution include expanding the parliament’s
supervisory mechanism. The Constitution will be improved and human
rights protection will be guaranteed at the highest level after the
people support the referendum," Muradova said.

Azerbaijan will hold a referendum on March 18 to amend the
Constitution.

N. YERITSIAN SAYS THE STABILIZATION CREDITS FROM RUSSIA TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS FORMATION OF INFRASTRUCTURES AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS

ARMENPRESS
Feb 12, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, : The stabilization credits which will be
received from Russia will be directed towards the main programs of
Armenian government in the direction of which the executive body is
already conducting works. They are mainly programs of formation of
infrastructures and development of programs.

Armenian Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsian told Armenpress that new
programs and directions will also be worked out which will be known
later, and that the whole process of expenditure of the credit means
will be transparent.

The minister avoided answering the question on the time of providing
the credit means and noted that the circumstance of providing credit
means must not be related to passing to "ruble joint zone" as it is
circulated in the press during the latest periods.

SINGER AZNAVOUR SWAPS STAGE FOR DIPLOMATIC CAREER

Reuters
Feb 12 2009
UK

YEREVAN (Reuters) – French singer Charles Aznavour said Thursday
he had agreed to become ambassador to Switzerland for his ancestral
homeland Armenia.

Aznavour, aged 84, was born in France of Armenian parents and
established an international singing career that still takes him
around the globe.

"At first I hesitated, because I thought that this is no easy
matter. But then I thought that in the end, what is important for
Armenia must be important for all of us," Aznavour said in comments
broadcast on Armenian television.

"I accepted this proposal with pleasure, joy and a deep feeling
of honour," said Aznavour, who was granted Armenian citizenship in
December, 2008.

(Reporting by Hasmik Lazarian; Writing by Conor Sweeney; Editing by
Elizabeth Piper)

ACCORDING TO DAVID HARUTYUNIAN, IT IS NOT ALWAYS THAT OVERTHROWING OF CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER REPRESENTS USURPATION OF POWER

Noyan Tapan

Feb 10, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The second sitting of the working
group, which was set up for developing a bill on amendments and
additions to Articles 225 and 300 of the RA Criminal Code, was held
on February 10.

The group’s head, chairman of the National Assembly Standing
Committee on State and Legal Issues David Harutyunian presented his
own proposals and those made by NA deputy Artsvik Minasian regarding
amendments and additions to Articles 225 and 300. In particular, it is
proposed separating the notion "usurpation of power" from the notion
"overthrowing of constitutional order". According to D. Harutyunian,
it is not always that the overthrowing of constitutional order
represents usurpation of power. He proposed separating the notions
"to seize power" and "to keep power" in the article "Usurpation of
Power". It was also proposed that a person who voluntarily informed law
enforcement bodies about the seizure of power shall not be subjected
to criminal responsibility.

A. Minasian proposed that the expression "usurpation of state power"
should not be used. He also discussed the articles on keeping power
by violence and an attempt to seize power.

As NT was informed by the National Assembly PR Department, the members
of the working group and the parliamentary ad hoc committee on inquiry
into the March 1-2 events in Yerevan and their reasons, as well as the
experts present at the sitting presented their opinions and proposals
on the envisaged amendments to the indicated articles.

DARCHINYAN TARGETS WORLD TITLE IN ANOTHER DIVISION

USA Today
Feb 10 2009

SYDNEY (AP) — Undisputed super flyweight world champion Vic Darchinyan
plans to move up a division to chase a boxing world title at a third
different weight.

The Australian-based Armenian boxer retained his IBF, WBA and WBC
super flyweight titles with an 11th-round technical knockout of
Mexico’s Jorge Arce in California on the weekend and returned to
Sydney on Tuesday morning.

Darchinyan (32-1-1, 26 knockouts), who won IBF and IBO world titles
as a flyweight, said he believed he could win world titles in as many
as five divisions.

"I want to be (champion in) three weight divisions, four, five,"
Darchinyan said. "I don’t want to go to bantamweight and stop."

His manager Elias Nassar told the Australian Associated Press that
he wanted to arrange bantamweight world title fights for Darchinyan
against either Japan’s WBC champion Hozumi Hasagawa or Ghana’s IBF
title holder Joseph Agbeko.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: California | Japan | Mexico | Anaheim | Sydney |
Ghana | Australian Associated Press | Vic Darchinyan | Jorge Arce |
Cristian Mijares The win over Arce was Darchinyan’s second defense of
his IBF title won with a knockout of Dmitri Kirillov in August last
year, and the first defense of the WBA and WBC titles added with his
knockout of Cristian Mijares in November.

Darchinyan had a small cut near his right eye and doctors had told
him the injury would prevent him fighting for at least 60 days.

He said the win over Arce confirmed his place among the leading
pound-for-pound boxers in the world.

"I’ve got to be in the top 10, but I don’t want to be (just) top 10,"
Darchinyan said. "I want to be closer to No. 1."