11:18, 4 January 2024
YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Urban Development Committee Armen Ghularyan has been fired.
His dismissal was approved by the Cabinet during its January 4 meeting.
Ghularyan was serving as Chairman of the Urban Development Committee since January 2021.
The Erebuni Archeological Museum in Yerevan, Armenia
BY CATHERINE YESAYAN
Since 2001, I have traveled to Armenia numerous times. However, I never had the chance to visit the Blue Mosque in Yerevan, which is right across the street from the main market, called the “Pak-Shuka,” where I have shopped several times.
I always wanted to visit the mosque for two reasons: first, because of its historic value, and second, because it’s an Iranian mosque, and I was born in Iran. Finally, one day my friend Katya Aghabegian, a French language professor, told me that on May 11, 2023 a group of students from the university would be visiting the Blue Mosque, and that I could join them.
I arrived at the mosque a bit early. There were a few students already waiting outside. At 11:30 a.m., the group was ushered inside the mosque. Right next to the entrance of the mosque was the library, where our group of 40 to 50 students entered.
Some of us sat around the long table, and the others stood alongside the library shelves. A docent, an Armenian woman, gave us a brief history of the mosque.
The Blue Mosque in Yerevan, Armenia
The Blue Mosque is one of the oldest structures in central Yerevan and the most significant from the Persian occupation of Armenia. It was the largest of the eight mosques in Yerevan in the 19th century and is the only active mosque in Armenia today.
This modest mosque was originally constructed in the 18th century. It is called the Blue Mosque because blue is the dominant color found in the design of the tiles of the dome.
The Blue Mosque occupies a little over 1.6 acres of land. Apart from the mosque and the prayer hall, the building encompasses a theological school, meeting halls, and sleeping facilities all around the courtyard. Those structures still exist on the sides of the courtyard.
The construction was ordered by the governor of the region at the time, Hussein Ali Khan, who represented the sitting Persian Shah. During those days, the region of Yerevan was under the rule of Persia.
A docent at the Blue Mosque offering a brief history of the mosque to visitors
The construction of the Blue Mosque began in 1760. Finally, sometime between 1764 and 1768, the mosque was opened to the public. Around that time, the population of Yerevan was about 20,000.
Following the Russo-Persian War of 1826 to 1828, Yerevan and Eastern Armenia fell under the rule of the Russian Empire.
After the peace treaty was signed between Persia and Russia, the Arax river became the natural border where the Russian influence ended. To this very day, the river separates the borders of Iran and Armenia.
Under Russian rule, throughout the years Yerevan saw some gradual growth and several buildings were constructed. At that time, there were other mosques in the region, but because of Communist beliefs, they were destroyed. Only the Blue Mosque has remained standing.
The mosque ceased to operate as a religious institution in the mid-1920s. However, its courtyard became a creative space for Armenian artists, writers, poets, and academics, facilitating the production of a new cultural and aesthetic order for socialist Armenia.
The Blue Mosque’s courtyard The Blue Mosque’s courtyard
In the courtyard there was a large Elm tree which gave a shady refuge from the hot and dusty city of Yerevan. There was also a teahouse, which became a hub for intellectual gatherings.
Seyed Hossein Tabatabai, who is the adviser of the Cultural Center of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia, has noted that the mosque was preserved and not demolished by the efforts of a number of Armenian intellectuals, especially Yeghiché Charents, the iconic Armenian poet.
During my visit, I also learned that when the Mulberry tree in the courtyard is in bloom each year, the mosque conducts a service in memory of Charents. They honor his memory because of his efforts to save the Mosque from demolition.
After the independence of the Republic of Armenia from the Soviet Union in September 1991, a negotiation began between Iran and Armenia to refurbish the mosque.
In October 1995, via a contract signed between the states of Iran and Armenia, the restoration job began under the supervision of Iranian and Armenian specialists in the field of cultural heritage, and with the financial support and capital from the Islamic Revolution Fund of Iran.
Today the Blue Mosque, with its fine looking structure, is a jewel in the center of Yerevan, on the very busy street of Mashtots — in full view. The historical monument is a vestige of the old Yerevan.
Right across from the Blue Mosque is the iconic “Pak Shuka,” or Yerevan’s “Indoor Market.” This cultural and historical monument was built during the Soviet era in 1952.
Pak Shuka in Yerevan, Armenia
The building was designed by famed architect Grigor Aghababyan, whose 100th birthday was commemorated in 2011. The market was listed on the State List of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments of Yerevan as an officially recognized architectural structure.
When I visited Armenia for the first time in 2001, the Pak Shuka was one of the sites that we were ushered to. The façade is made from red-pinkish Tuff volcanic stone, with a metallic ornate half-moon gate.
At that time, there were stalls inside of the Pak Shuka that were occupied by local farmers that brought their wear, from Armenia’s sun-kissed fruit and vegetables to preserves and dried fruits, nuts, spices and herbs. The market also offers an assortment of meats, seafood, and poultry, along fresh lavash bread, and, of course, the ever-present sujukh — shelled walnuts threaded on a string, dipped in grape molasses, then hung to dry until a thick and tender coat covers it in the form of a sausage.
In its heyday, tourists experienced the true definition of Armenian culture and hospitality in the market, and were greeted by a myriads of friendly vendors offering samples. It gave us a special feeling.
During the last decade, the building was bought out by a wealthy Armenian businessman who evicted all the tenants and gutted the inside of the market and the building’s internal arches, decorative molds, and ornamentations. However, the façade was kept intact. A group of activists were against the renovation of the market, but the Pak Shuka was eventually turned into a supermarket by “Yerevan City.”
I decided to go across the street and do a little shopping at the supermarket. At the entrance, right before the “Yerevan City” supermarket, I noticed an independent stall where they were offering dried fruit, sujukh, fruit-rolls, nuts, and other condiments from fruit and vegetables. I was happy to see that, in that corner, the old taste of the market was somehow preserved.
At the main enclosed space of the market, there were a great number of shoppers. Merchandise were on display and the shelves were well stocked.
There were several cashiers working, but the lines were long. It took me more time than I had expected to stay in the line to finally pay for the few items that I had picked up, and then exited from the side door.
On my way home, I decided to take the bus instead of a taxi, like the locals. During the last two months that I’ve been in Yerevan, I’ve noticed that new busses have hit the streets. I crossed the street by using the underground pedestrian passage and stood in line at the bus station.
It was a great experience. While inside the bus, I definitely felt the newness of it. I even noticed that there were plugs to charge the cell phones. I arrived at my destination in no time and walked the short distance to my home, where I rejoiced about the things that I had experienced that day.
A few years ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic, I received an email from a friend informing me about an underground structure that a man named Levon had excavated under his home in Yerevan.
So, after few years of delay, I finally had the opportunity to visit “Levon’s Divine Underground” on a very rainy Sunday in May. My husband, daughter, and granddaughter decided to visit that extraordinary site, as well.
“Levon’s Divine Underground” tourist attraction in Yerevan, Armenia “Levon’s Divine Underground” tourist attraction in Yerevan, Armenia
The underground structure is called “Divine,” because Levon claimed that he was not working alone when uncovering it. According to him, there must have been a divine presence that helped him dig continuously. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to dig all that he dug with just a hammer and a chisel.
The underground cave is in Arinj, a well-known village that is about half an hour away from the center of Yerevan. It was an easy drive by taxi to the village, but when we arrived we had trouble finding Levon’s home, which is unknown to many taxi drivers.
When we arrived at the site, there were a few cars parked in front of the house. We thought that a few other groups might be visiting, but by the time we got out of the taxi, they had all left.
After knocking on the door, we were greeted by Levon’s daughter who invited us inside. She gave us a brief history of how her father dug the 72 foot structure deep down under their home.
She said the undertaking started with a simple request by her mother for an underground cellar in which she could store potatoes for winter. Levon built a small storage space for his wife in 1985, and then continued to dig for the next 23 years until his death in 2008.
As I mentioned he did the digging with only a hammer and a chisel. I should add that the bed-rock under his home was made of basalt, which is a kind of stone that is very tough to dig.
Levon not only dug stairs and little chambers, he also created some sculptures to give the space an ambiance. His daughter led us from one set of stairs to an open space and then up and down through more steps, nooks, and crannies.
We entered the grotto from the street. However, after crossing succession of steps up and down, we finally exited the labyrinth and ended up in their kitchen. I was stunned.
We couldn’t figure out how, in such a compact space, Levon was able to create an entrance from the street and an exit from the other side. It took us about 30 minutes to move through the underground space and home. We never felt the slightest hint of mustiness as we went up and down the stairs.
In 2008, I had the opportunity to visit another subterranean construction in Fresno, California. Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant who in the early 1900s had bought land to grow citrus. Soon after purchasing the property, Forestiere realized that his land was useless because it was sitting on a bed-rock. So he decided to dig, using shovels and other hand tools, to create a subterranean escape from the sweltering summer heat. He excavated for the next 40 years.
Forestiere’s underground space is horizontal and spans over 10 acres, with sky-lights and numerous grotto-like rooms and trees that he planted underground. His vision was to make the space into a resort, but of course it never materialized.
A miniature architectural model of the Erebuni Fortress
The fourth site I’d like to tell you about is the Erebuni Archaeological Museum, which is located in the outskirts of Yerevan. The museum was established in 1968. The opening of the museum was timed with the 2,750th anniversary of the city of Yerevan. The Museum stands at the foot of a hill, on top of which the ruins of Erebuni Fortress stands.
In 1940, a local man on the slopes of the hill found a chunk of basalt stone with a cuneiform inscription explaining that the city was built by Argishti the King of Urartu in 782 BC.
That piece of basalt stone lead to more excavations and the Erebuni Fortress was uncovered from under the dirt that had covered the whole area. The majority of the fortress was built from raw bricks. Some parts of the structure were reinforced and restored, and the fortress was turned into an outdoor museum. The citadel was encircled by strong walls, in some places built in three rows.
The docent shows the basalt piece that was discovered A rendered image of Erebuni Fortress
During excavations, archeologists have unearthed huge collections of jars, pitchers, bronze bracelets, glass, agate beads, and many other artifacts that tell us about the life of the citadel.
The most interesting fact, that the docent explained, was that water was supplied to the citadel by underground stone pipelines that were joined together. These types of pipelines had set a model to transport water in the centuries to come.
We didn’t get to see the ruins of the fortress, because there was confusion about how exactly to get there. The docent told us it would be better to reach the fortress by car, instead of climbing the stairs. However, the taxi driver couldn’t find a way to get to the ruins. But the information about the history of it all was priceless.
Catherine Yesayan is a regular contributor to Asbarez, with her columns appearing under the “Community Links” heading. She can be reached at [email protected].
By Dr. Taras Kuzio
After over three decades of conflict, a joint communique on December 7 between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated they were close to signing a peace treaty. This is good news for both countries, especially smaller and less economically developed Armenia, but also good news for the South Caucasian region. The peace treaty would recognise the territorial integrity of both countries and open regional communication routes hitherto blocked.
The irony is that outside powers had nothing to do with Armenia and Azerbaijan being close to concluding a peace treaty. The OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Minsk Group failed to achieve any success whatsoever since it was founded over three decades ago in 1992. The OSCE’s failure in the South Caucasus added to its long record of failures elsewhere, such as in eastern Ukraine from 2014-2021.
OSCE Minsk Group members were never fully committed to resolving the conflict. France and Russia were biased and supported. Meanwhile, Washington did not view, until recently, the South Caucasus as an area of strategic importance to US national security interests. From 2010, the US and France became passive allowing Russia to fill the vacuum in claiming for itself the primary place for pursuing peace talks, obviously duplicitously with no intention of bringing the conflict to a close. The EU only became interested in the South Caucasus 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when it sought to broker a peace treaty, but ultimately failing because of Azerbaijan’s long held distrust of pro-Armenian France.
Azerbaijan’s retaking of Karabakh closed the separatist quasi regime and disbanded its self-defence forces. Armenia had denied it was supplying these armed forces and yet they were illegal under the terms of the November 2020 ceasefire agreement. Some Armenian leaders were detained and put on trial for crimes against humanity committed against Azerbaijani civilians and soldiers in the First Karabakh War from 1988-1992. Although granted minority rights if they continued to live in Azerbaijan, most of the Armenians living in Karabakh moved (but were never ethnically cleansed) to Armenia.
Russia has a similarly poor record of resolving conflicts on the territory of the former USSR. After manufacturing ethnic conflict directly in Moldova and Georgia and indirectly in Azerbaijan, the Kremlin preferred to freeze conflicts rather than seek to bring about a negotiated settlement. Russian security interests, whether under ‘democratic’ Borys Yeltsyn, or imperial nationalist Vladimir Putin, remained the same; namely, to use frozen conflicts to establish military bases as spheres of influence over Eurasia. From the early 1990s, the Kremlin has demanded the West recognise Eurasia as its exclusive sphere of influence. The resolution of frozen conflicts would lead to the closure of Russian military bases and Russia’s so-called ‘peacekeeping’ forces returning home.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been critical of Russian policies since his country was defeated in the Second Karabakh War in 2020. Armenia, he has repeatedly said, feels betrayed by Russia which did not come to its military assistance in 2020 or this year when Azerbaijan retook back the last part of its occupied territory in Karabakh.
The loathing is mutual. Pashinyan accused the Kremlin of attempting to stage a coup against him after he condemned Russia for passivity when Azerbaijan retook Karabakh. Putin views colour revolutions through his KGB lenses as a manufactured coup organised by Western intelligence agencies aimed at reducing Russia’s sphere of influence in Eurasia. Pashinyan came to power in 2018 in a popular uprising against corrupt rulers who had led Armenia since it became an independent country in 1991.
Progress is being helped by a high 79% of Azerbaijani’s supporting the signing of a peace treaty with Armenia and the marginalisation of the pro-Russian ‘Karabakh clan’ (led by former Presidents and Prime Ministers Serzh A. Sargsyan and Robert S. Kocharyan) who ran Armenia as a corrupt fiefdom until the 2018 revolution. The loss of Karabakh removed the home base of the ‘Karabakh clan,’ the main domestic opposition to Pashinyan.
Armenia, long Russia’s main military ally in the South Caucasus, is seeking to at least pursue a more balanced, multi-vector foreign policy by reaching out to the West. In France and the US there are powerful and influential Armenian lobbies.
Russia geopolitical loss in Armenia is matched by the decline of its influence throughout Eurasia. Belarus defends Russia at the UN where it alone votes against UN resolutions condemning the invasion of Ukraine. Other ostensibly pro-Russian states in Eurasia, such as Kazakhstan, abstain in UN votes.
Russia’s decline leaves a regional vacuum that is being filled by Turkey and Iran. While much focus has been on Turkey, Ankara is a younger ally of Azerbaijan’s than Israel with whom there has been a security relationship since the mid 2000s. The signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will open the door for the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey whose border has been closed since 1993.
Iran views Azerbaijan in the same manner as Russia views Ukraine, a lost province that should be returned, by force, if need be, to the motherland. The Persian nationalists who run Iran’s theocracy deny Azerbaijani’s are a separate people in the same way Russian imperial nationalists claim Ukrainians are a branch of the pan-Russian people.
Following two relatively short wars in 2020 and 2023, the ground is set for the normalisation of relations Armenia and Azerbaijan. Pashinyan is optimistic that a peace treaty will be signed with Azerbaijan in the near future. Azerbaijan’s insistence that the treaty recognise the former Soviet republican boundary as their international border is in keeping with the December 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration signed by former Soviet republics. Delimitation and demarcation of their border would follow the signing of a peace treaty.
There is likely to be a breakthrough in peace in the South Caucasus in 2024 between Armenia and its Azerbaijani and Turkish neighbours. Although the West will have not contributed to this breakthrough, the normalisation of relations between these three countries will contribute to reducing Russian-Iranian influence and enhancing that of the West at a time when it is at war with the anti-Western axis of evil in Ukraine and Israel.
https://www.eurasiareview.com/01012024-peace-in-south-caucasus-is-good-for-ukraine-and-the-west-and-bad-for-russia-oped/
14:23,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The order books of the world’s biggest defense companies are near record highs after growing by more than 10 per cent in just two years because of rising geopolitical tension, including the conflict in Ukraine, the Financial Times reports.
An analysis by the Financial Times of 15 defense groups, including the largest US contractors, Britain’s BAE Systems and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, found that at the end of 2022 — the latest for which full-year data is available — their combined order backlogs were $777.6bn, up from $701.2bn two years earlier.
The trend’s momentum continued into 2023. In the first six months of this year — the latest comprehensive quarterly data available — combined backlogs at these companies stood at $764bn, swelling their future pipeline of work as governments kept placing orders.
The sustained spending has spurred investors’ interest in the sector. MSCI’s global benchmark for the industry’s stocks is up 25 per cent over the past 12 months. Europe’s Stoxx aerospace and defense stocks index has risen by more than 50 per cent over the same period.
Total global military expenditure increased by 3.7 per cent in real terms in 2022 to a new high of $2,240bn, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Military expenditure in Europe had its steepest year-on-year increase in at least 30 years as governments in the region announced new orders for ammunition and tanks to replenish national stockpiles depleted by donations sent to Ukraine.
In a landscape fraught with geopolitical tension, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has affirmed that the alliance between Russia and Armenia faces a stern test, as Western powers attempt to destabilize their relationship. This public declaration underscores the significance of the bond between the two nations, and the perceived attempts by the West to fracture this alliance, potentially destabilizing regional stability and upsetting the balance of power.
In an open critique of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian expressed his dissatisfaction over the lack of support from the CSTO during Armenia’s confrontation with Azerbaijan. Despite pleas for military assistance following deadly skirmishes, the CSTO only dispatched its secretary general to the disputed area and proposed a working group to evaluate the situation. Pashinian also raised the issue of honoring agreements reached through Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mediation during a meeting with the Russian leader.
At the same time, the Armenian Television and Radio Commission suspended the license of Tospa, the company broadcasting Russian radio station Sputnik Armenia’s propaganda programs, for 30 days. A fine of 500 thousand drams was levied against the company. The Russian Embassy in Armenia expressed its dismay over the decision, stating it infringed upon the Armenian listener’s right to access information from their chosen source. This action further highlights the escalating tension between Russia and Western powers within Armenia.
Amidst this geopolitical tug of war, Russian peacekeepers are being dispatched to Nagorno Karabakh in accordance with an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia to halt the six-week military conflict. The announcement has been met with jubilation in Azerbaijan and political upheaval in Armenia, where furious protesters have targeted government buildings and parliament. The agreement stipulates the deployment of Russian troops, the handover of territories to Azerbaijan, and Russian border services monitoring transport corridors. These developments illustrate the intricate dynamics at play in this deeply complex region.
https://bnnbreaking.com/world/russia/geopolitical-tensions-rise-as-russia-armenia-alliance-faces-western-interference/
21:32,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The eighth Russian-Armenian healthcare forum will be held in Moscow in the coming days.
The Armenian Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan will visit the Russian Federation (Moscow) on December 20-22 to participate in the Russian-Armenian healthcare forum.
The decision has been signed by PM Pashinyan on December 19.
ESPY Nominee and draft pick Gary Chivchyan spent his rookie year with the Los Angeles Clippers G League team for the 2021-2022 season. Chivichyan's second year marked another central turning point to his professional career. Chivichyan transitioned into The Basketball League (TBL), a rising professional showcase league, where he captivated audiences with his play, averaging 20 points per game while maintaining an outstanding 45% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Captivating audiences across the globe came with global interest, with prestigious opportunities knocking on his door from teams for the NBA Summer League. Additionally, the allure of international prospects came in with exciting possibilities from prominent basketball hubs such as Italy, Lebanon, China and neighboring cities. A team of experienced and influential figures guides Chivichyan's journey. These professionals provide support, ensuring the Armenian Sniper navigates his career precisely and carefully. When deciding the best route for Chivichyan's future in basketball, they identified a tremendous opportunity abroad that promised both financial prosperity and significant exposure overseas.
The groundbreaking 1-year deal that Chivichyan has secured in the Lebanese Basketball League with club Homenetmen B.C encompasses a lucrative 6-figure playing contract.
The Lebanese Basketball League has reached new heights, emerging as a cash cow league with numerous players signing million-dollar contracts. The league showcases its prowess within the country and on a grand international stage. These teams actively participate in prestigious tournaments, including the highly regarded FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the Arab Club Basketball Championship in Dubai, and the thrilling West Asia Super League.
Chivichyan was greeted in Lebanon with a roaring applause by a largely Armenian-Lebanese crowd in a gym at capacity. Furthermore, the potential for Chivichyan's brand to flourish knows no bounds, extending beyond any particular league. When inquired about Chivichyan's recent contract signing in Lebanon and his potential trajectory in professional basketball, his agent, Ara Vartanian, expressed immense confidence. He stated, "Chivichyan possesses an intriguing backstory and a remarkable ability to shoot the ball at par with the world's best. As he garners more professional experience and continues to showcase his value, we're certain he will thrive in the overseas markets. Additionally, we foresee his continued presence in the NBA's G-league or the NBA Summer League in the coming years."
https://www.ibtimes.com/drafted-impressive-overseas-deal-armenian-snipers-journey-continues-3720739
11:17, 8 December 2023
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. The EU welcomes the joint statement by Armenia and Azerbaijan announcing the mutual release of detainees and other confidence building measures, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrel has said.
In a post on X, Borrel described the Armenia-Azerbaijan joint statement as “an important political step.”
“EU welcomes the joint statement by Armenia & Azerbaijan announcing the mutual release of detainees & other confidence building measures – an important political step. We concur – there is a historic chance to achieve peace in the region & are committed to supporting these efforts,” Borrel said.
“Cologne gives in to Islamists: monument to the Armenian genocide is finally being removed,” translated from “Köln knickt vor Islamisten ein: Denkmal für Genozid an Armeniern kommt endgültig weg,” by Jerome Wnuk, Apollo News, December 2, 2023 (thanks to Medforth):
urkish extremists rejoice: the Cologne monument to the Armenian genocide, which Turkey does not recognise, has been repeatedly erected and dismantled over the years. Sometimes the city had the statue removed on the grounds that a cycle path was to be built and sometimes for fear of “social upheaval”. After a march by Turkish nationalists, including supporters of the far-right Grey Wolves and DITIB associations, at the end of October, the city finally decided that the memorial should be removed.
The memorial was erected in Cologne in 2018 to commemorate the victims of the Armenian genocide between 1915 and 1918. At that time, between 300,000 and more than 1.5 million people were murdered in massacres and death marches under the responsibility of the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire, which was formed by the Committee for Unity and Progress. For international historians, the genocide is indisputable, but Turkey does not recognise the crime.
Since its inauguration next to the Kaiser Wilhelm equestrian statue, the memorial of the “Remember Genocide” initiative has repeatedly caused disputes with Turkish nationalists, who have successfully put pressure on the city. Following protests, the memorial was repeatedly removed by the city and rebuilt by activists from the initiative – although the city’s reasons for not granting the memorial permission and removing it often varied from time to time. Sometimes it was said that a cycle path was to be built and sometimes they were a little more frank – speaking of fear of “social upheaval”.For example, Cologne’s mayor Reker recently justified herself with the “diverse interests of our pluralistic urban society”, which had to be taken into account. However, this did not stop the “Remember Genocide” initiative from putting the sculpture back up in the city centre on April 24 this year, Remembrance Day. The city then issued a special use permit until May 24. However, this was not sufficient for the campaign and they filed a legal complaint.
In addition to denying the genocide against the Armenians, the participants in the demonstration did not distance themselves from the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel and even denied them. The chairman of the youth organisation “Fatherland Party” spoke to public broadcaster WDR about the right of Palestinians to defend themselves, explicitly including Hamas terror.
Just weeks later, the city council decided to finally abolish the “This pain affects us all” memorial at the end of 2023. Instead, a new memorial is to be erected to “commemorate the victims of oppression, racism, violence and human rights violations”. At its meeting on December 7, the city council will decide on the funding for a dialogue process in which a new memorial is to be developed. This process is expected to take two years and cost up to 350,000 euros, according to the Kölner Stadtanzeiger.
For the Turkish right-wing extremists, who have been fighting against the memorial for years, the Cologne city government’s caving in is a complete success. On Facebook, nationalists euphorically wrote: “The defamation monument will now be removed. We congratulate the Cologne city council on their decision in favour of justice!”
This is not the first time that political pressure from Turkish nationalists or diplomats in Germany has led to success: in 2005, Brandenburg removed the topic of the Armenian genocide from the curriculum due to the intervention of Turkish diplomats. In 2011, the University of Stuttgart refused to allow a lecture on the genocide due to Turkish “protests from Berlin” – the university stated that it wanted to “remain neutral”.
In 2014, due to protests against a play by Edgar Hilsenrath, “Das Märchen vom letzten Gedanken”, which deals with the genocide, the event poster at the theatre in Constance was taken down and a statement from the Turkish consul was read out before each performance. The premiere had to take place under police protection.
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2023/12/germany-cologne-gives-in-to-muslims-monument-to-the-armenian-genocide-is-finally-being-removed