1 - Turkey Ignores its Highest Court’s
Verdict on Armenian Patriarch’s Election
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- In Nationwide Lockdown, Armenia Continues to Counter Coronavirus
3 - French-Armenian politician Patrick Devedjian dies after
contracting COVID-19
4- Jabagchourian Finds Creative Way to Donate Supplies to Hospitals
5- Armenian painter Edman Ayvazian passes away
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1 - Turkey Ignores its Highest Court’s
Verdict on Armenian Patriarch’s Election
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
Forum 18 News Service of Oslo, Norway, published a lengthy article by
Dr. Mine Yildirim on March 25, 2020, explaining the Turkish
government’s interference in the election of the Armenian Patriarch of
Turkey, despite the ruling of the Constitutional Court that the
government’s interference “was not prescribed by law and not necessary
in a democratic society.”
Two Armenians of Istanbul, Levon Berj Kuzukoglu and Ohannes Garbis
Balmumciyan, had initially filed a lawsuit with the Administrative
Court on March 27, 2012. The Court rejected the lawsuit, stating that
the Patriarchal election can only take place after the death or
resignation of the Patriarch who was in a coma, even though the 1863
Ottoman-era regulations stated that the Armenian Patriarch’s election
can take place in the case of “the death of the Patriarch, resignation
and other.” The applicants appealed this decision, but the Court of
Cassation rejected it on November 23, 2015.
The two Armenians then appealed to the Constitutional Court claiming
that the state’s refusal of their request for the election of a new
Patriarch violated their right to freedom of religion. The Court made
its judgment in favor of the Armenians five years later in May 2019.
However, the Turkish leaders ignored the Court’s decision. “While the
judgment includes important findings related to the state’s
unjustified interference in the internal affairs of the Armenian
community, it also raises questions about whether the Constitutional
Court is an effective domestic remedy or an actor that conveniently
blocks applications to the European Court of Human Rights in
Strasbourg, thus closing the door to international supervision,” Dr.
Yildirim wrote. “The state had prevented the Armenian community from
electing its religious leader between 2009, when the then Patriarch
Mesrob Mutafyan could no longer perform his duties due to illness, and
2019, when the community finally elected Bishop Sahak Mashalyan as the
new Patriarch.”
It is more than a coincidence that the Constitutional Court gave its
verdict on May 22, 2019, following the state’s approval of the
Patriarchal election after the March 8, 2019, passing away of
Patriarch Mutafyan. The timing of the decision was intended to give
the impression that the state was not interfering in the election of a
new Patriarch and the Court was not telling the government what to do.
In its ruling, the Constitutional Court referred “to the 1863
Regulation for the Armenian Millet (ethno-religious community) and
international legal provisions, including the European Court on Human
Rights (ECHR) and the 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty’s provisions on the
protection of non-Muslims in Turkey,” according to Dr. Yildirim.
Throughout the existence of the Republic of Turkey, the government
made some arbitrary changes during the 1950, 1961, 1990, 1998 and 2019
Patriarchal elections. “The election Directives were based on the
Cabinet Decree of 18 September 1961 which had been issued only for
that year’s Patriarchal election and which included no provisions for
future elections. Despite this, the Interior Ministry has continued to
use this Decree,” Dr. Yildirim wrote. The Interior Ministry’s
submission to the Constitutional Court stated that the measures taken
by the authorities derive from “the state’s positive obligation to
organize the religious field.”
The Constitutional Court countered that argument by ruling that its
verdict is based on Article 24 of the Turkish Constitution which
protected religious freedom, Article 38 of the Lausanne Treaty which
referred to the practice of religion, as well as the various rulings
of the European Court of Human Rights. Furthermore, the Constitutional
Court ruled that “the appointment of a Patriarchal Vicar-General (in
2010) occurred not as a result of a process that took place within the
competing civilian and spiritual initiatives in the Armenian
community, but as a result of ‘state pressure that was
unconstitutional,’” according to Dr. Yildirim. “In conclusion, the
Constitutional Court found that the state has not been able to
demonstrate a pressing social need that overrides the ‘spirit of
Armenian traditions’ and the ‘Armenian community’s will.’ Therefore
the interference in the applicants’ right to freedom of religion or
belief by way of refusing the request to hold Patriarchal elections
cannot be considered compatible with the requirements of a democratic
society, and Article 24 of the Constitution had thus been violated.”
However, even after the ruling of the Constitutional court, the state
continued to interfere in the Patriarchal election. The Turkish
Interior Ministry came up with a new restriction, ruling that only
those Turkish Armenian bishops who were serving in Turkey at the time
could be candidates for the Patriarchal election, thus reducing the
number of eligible candidates to two. “This is 100 percent in
contradiction to the Constitutional Court’s judgment,” said Sebu
Aslangil, the lawyer in the case. Nevertheless, the Armenian Steering
Committee for the Patriarchal election decided not to contest the
Interior Ministry’s ruling in order not to further delay the election
of a new Patriarch.
Dr. Yildirim concluded: “The judgment raised the profile of the
Constitutional Court as a high court delivering a judgment in line
with ECHR jurisprudence. Yet, due to its timing, the judgment had no
impact on rectifying the injustice that the Armenian community
experienced. It also closed the door for an application to be made to
the ECHR in Strasbourg, thus blocking international supervision of the
implementation of the judgment.”
In effect, as the legal axiom states, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
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2- In Nationwide Lockdown, Armenia Continues to Counter Coronavirus
According to the Ministry of Health, there were 482 confirmed cases of
COVID-19 in Armenia (as of the publication of The California Courier
on March 30) with three deaths and 30 recoveries.
On March 29, Armenia’s Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan confirmed
that Armenia had registered three COVID-19 related deaths. A 55
year-old-woman and a 73 year-old-man both died on March 29; both had
secondary health issues.
On March 26, a 72-year-old patient died after developing pneumonia,
and multiple organ failure.
A two-month-old baby was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in
Armenia, Torosyan confirmed on Friday, March 27.
The baby’s mother has contracted COVID-19 as well, the minister said
in a Facebook live. The mother had a fever for two days and was
otherwise without symptoms. The child has no symptoms, Torosyan said,
expressing hope they will be discharged as soon as possible.
Also, the minister said 40 people were released from quarantine on
Thursday after their final tests produced negative results. In
Torosyan’s words, one of the patients remains in critical condition.
“One citizen is in grave condition, while the lives of the other
patients are not in danger at the moment,” Torosyan said, adding that
many coronavirus patients have no symptoms at all and are simply
confined to hospitals or hotels.
On March 24, Armenia announced a nationwide lockdown. Police in
Armenia began patrolling streets to enforce the national lockdown,
which requires all citizen to carry a valid identification card, as
well as complete a form—a permission slip of sorts—before leaving
their homes.
On March 28, in a Facebook live, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said
that the Russian Federation closed all its borders and that decision
had raised certain concerns in Armenia, especially for businesses that
believe this will have an effect on crago transits between Armenia and
Russia.
About cargo transports in general, Pashinyan said that food is being
imported to Armenia regularly as it always has and that he receives
daily reports not only about the import of food, but also the reserves
in the country.
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan in a phone conversation
with this Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on Wednesday, March 25
discussed Yerevan’s initiatives to combat the Coronavirus pandemic and
called for coordinating efforts with neighboring countries.
During the talk, Mnatsakanyan highlighted the UN Secretary General’s
call for maintaining ceasefires in conflict zones and revision of
sanctions. The foreign minister emphasized that the fight against the
pandemic must become a chance for nations’ reconciliation and global
solidarity.
The Armenian and Iranian foreign ministers underscored readiness to
take measures to maintain the dynamics of the bilateral agenda,
boosting trade turnover in the existing conditions, as well as in the
direction of addressing the issues concerning the repatriation of
citizens of both countries.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government has
authorized $1.1 million in emergency health and humanitarian
assistance for Armenia.
This support will be implemented through the World Health Organization
(WHO) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC), and will focus on the following areas:
national laboratories; surveillance, case detection and rapid
response; infection prevention and control; points of entry; case
management; preparedness planning, risk communication, community
engagement; and health and hygiene promotion.
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3 - French-Armenian politician Patrick Devedjian dies after
contracting COVID-19
(PanArmenian)—On March 27, French-Armenian politician Patrick
Devedjian said on Twitter that he had contracted the novel
coronavirus, COVID-19.
Devedjian said he was feeling fatigued but that his condition was
stable. His condition, however, rapidly deteriorated and he passed
away from complications due to the virus on March 28.
High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan extended his
deepest condolences to the relatives, friends and colleagues of the
great Armenian, and to the French-Armenian Diaspora.
In his letter of condolences, the Commissioner noted that Patrick
Devedjian was a symbol of the French-Armenian friendship and the
fraternal relations of the two countries; a man who dedicate his life
to upholding the interests of the Armenian nation.
“As a lawyer with a distinctive professionalism, a Mayor, a Minister,
and President of the Hauts-de-Seine General Council, his mission was
one: to advocate for the Armenian Cause and the development of both
Armenia and France. Colleagues often described him as a unique
combination of two ancient high civilizations. Patrick Devedjian’s
contribution to the fight for human rights and Armenian Genocide
recognation, and agaisnt genocide denial in generall is unparalleled,”
wrote Zareh Sinanyan.
The Commissioner also expressed confidence that his image will serve
as an example and guide for future generations to keep the homeland in
their heart and soul no matter where they are in the world.
Fellow French politicians immediately paid tribute to Devedjian on Twitter.
Former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls praised Devedjian’s “local
roots.” “I liked Patrick Devedjian: his frank works, his humor, his
local roots. He was affectionate and cultured,” he wrote on Twitter.
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo tweeted her “great sadness.” “I extend my
condolences to his wife and family. I think of our Armenian friends
who have lost a brother today.”
“Great emotion at the announcement of the death of Patrick Devedjian,
former minister, President of the Haut-de-Seine, committed republican,
free spirit,” President of the National Assembly Richard Ferrand
wrote. “My sincere condolences to his relatives and his family.”
“Great sadness at the death of Patrick Devedjian,” French Senate
President Gerard Larcher wrote on Twitter. “Brave man and totally
devoted to his city of Antony and to Haut-de-Seine. Condolences to his
family and those close to him.”
Devedjian was a close adviser to the French president Nicolas Sarkozy
in the 1990s.
He was also Minister in charge of the Implementation of the Recovery
Plan, a special ministerial post created for two years after the
global financial crisis of 2008.
In 1983, Devedjian was elected Mayor of Antony, a position he would
hold until 2002.
Devedjian also served as Minister of Industry from 2004 to 2005 and
Minister of Local Liberties, 2002 to 2004.
Known for embracing his twin cultural backgrounds, Devedjian had been
one of the lawyers of the Armenian activist Max Hraïr Kilndjian in
1982.
Married in 1969 to Sophie Vanbremeersch, he had four sons, Thomas,
François, Arthur and Basil, and ten grandchildren.
Devedjian was born in ontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne. He is the grandson
of the Armenian zoologist and bureaucrat Karekin Deveciyan. His father
was born in Sivas, Ottoman Empire and arrived in France after escaping
the Armenian Genocide. Devedjian received his early education in an
Armenian school in Sèvres.
He dedicated his entire life to the defense of the Armenian Cause and
made a tremendous contribution to France’s recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
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4- Jabagchourian Finds Creative Way to Donate Supplies to Hospitals
SAN MATEO—With an extreme shortage of masks and hand sanitizer, health
care workers around the U.S. are being exposed to the coronavirus as
they race to treat a rising number of patients.
Knowing that hair and nail salons were closed under the state’s
recently implemented restrictions, Lori Jabagchourian (pictured,
inset) reached out to her friends who own such businesses to see if
they could provide her with supplies she could give to a hospital in
San Francisco.
In one weekend, Jabagchourian, from San Mateo, Calif., secured 42,000
pairs of gloves, more than 1,300 surgical and N95 masks, 25 bottles of
16-ounce hand sanitizer, and 3 gallons of all-purpose antiseptic.
By Thursday, March 26, they had collected almost 90,000 gloves; 3,000
masks, and hundreds of sanitizers, said Jabagchourian noting that this
was just from a few warehouses.
“The ultimate objective is to help these hospitals,” Jabagchourian
said. “They are the ones serving us so now it’s time for us to serve
them.”
She hopes that more people and businesses will join in and help.
“We can really help hospitals fulfill an immediate need until their
real orders come in. We need our doctors and nurses to stay healthy.
The beauty industry—hair, nail, tattoo salons—are all closed. So are
their wholesalers who have a lot of products sitting in stock. We’re
paying these salon owners (and some donated themselves) to go to their
wholesalers and buy masks, gloves and sanitizers. It’s possible to
make a difference,” said Jabagchourian.
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5- Armenian painter Edman Ayvazian passes away
London-based Armenian-Iranian painter, architect and designer Edman
Ayvazian passed away on March 25 from complications due to
coronavirus.
Aivazian was admitted to the hospital in London a month ago for dizzy
spells related to blood pressure, and tested positive for coronavirus
on March 22.
Aivazian, who attained his professional education in Europe, had a
wide scope of interests in painting, graphic art, architecture and
design. He had made the interior designs for some Armenian churches
and public and sacral buildings in Europe, the Near East and Iran.
His works are preserved at the House-Museum of Aram Khachaturian in
Yerevan, Armenia, and several other museums around the world.
In 2015, Ayvazyan was awarded the prestigious Arshile Gorky of the
Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia. Former Minister of Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan said of the artist, “Edman Ayvazian is one of the most
remarkable Armenian painters in the Diaspora." She also expressed
confidence that his paintings will always be one of the treasures of
Armenian arts.
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