Weightlifter Nazik Avdalyan ends career

Category
Sport

World and Europe Weightlifting champion Nazik Avdalyan has completed her career, Pashik Alaverdyan – general secretary of the Weightlifting Federation of Armenia.

“She no longer trains. She personally announced this, and we removed her from the lists. She said that she will no longer train and will dedicate her time to her family”, Pashik Alaverdyan said.

Nazik Avdalyan is a 6-time weightlifting champion of Armenia. She is a gold medal winner at the 2009 world championship. She is winner of the 2008 and 2016 Europe Championship. She captured the 5th place at the 31st Summer Olympic Games.

Sports: Armenian boxer Gurgen Hovhannisyan grabs silver at Strandja 2018

Panorama, Armenia
Feb 26 2018

The 69th International Boxing Tournament Strandja 2018 has come to an end in Sofia, Bulgaria, with Armenia's heavyweight boxer Gurgen Hovhannisyan winning a silver medal.

Hovhannisyan lost his bout against Petar Belberov of Bulgaria in the finals to win the silver medal, the National Olympic Committee told Panorama.am.

A total of seven boxers headed by assistant coach Vahan Adilkhanyan represented Armenia at Strandja 2018. Of them, four athletes made it through to the quarter-finals of the boxing tournament.

F18News: Turkey – Why can’t Armenians elect a Patriarch?

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=O2ahsjstv5_YVcGjJkwhAw9-4YZXOUBF43rUoCS5gF4&e=

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
The right to join together and express one's belief

=================================================

Thursday 
TURKEY: WHY CAN'T ARMENIANS ELECT A PATRIARCH?

The state has again blocked the long-delayed election of a new Armenian
Apostolic Patriarch, arguing that such an election would be contrary to the
community's traditions. Yet, freedom of religion or belief protects the
right of religious communities to elect leaders in accordance with their
traditions as they interpret them.

TURKEY: WHY CAN'T ARMENIANS ELECT A PATRIARCH?
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2352&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=zcph7_IF2SFFhdH1aYGWp79_GQeYJQ4tLVC3uIP_VcE&e=
By Dr. Mine Yildirim

The state has, again, blocked the process for the election of a new
Patriarch for Turkey's Armenian Apostolic community. The Istanbul
Governorship intervened again in early February as the community appeared
to be on the point of initiating the long-delayed election. In light of the
interference, the Armenian Patriarchate's Clerical Council felt compelled
to back down, annul its 2017 election of a Locum Tenens (temporary leader)
and acknowledge the authority of the Patriarchal Vicar-General, Archbishop
Aram Ateshian.

The Istanbul Governorship - a state institution under the Interior Ministry
responsible for state administration in Istanbul province, where the
Armenian Patriarchate is based - argued that the Armenian community cannot
elect a new leader as the previous Patriarch - unable to fulfil his
functions since 2008 because of illness - is still living (see below).

Despite Turkey's international human rights obligations protecting the
right of religious communities to elect their leaders, it is "established
practice" that the state interferes in how some religious communities elect
their leaders, particularly the Armenian, Greek Orthodox and Jewish
communities. The state also appoints the head of the Presidency of
Religious Affairs which is the state institution providing Islamic
religious services including the administration of mosques and teaching
(see below).

The state blocking of the election of a new Patriarch leaves the Armenian
Apostolic Church community - the largest Christian community in Turkey -
facing uncertainties and controversy. Within the community many views have
been expressed in the past 10 years about how to elect a new leader in
accordance with the community's traditions. But state interference has been
a crucial factor obstructing progress being made in electing a new
Patriarch (see F18News 11 August 2010
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1477&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=ZJPEZDLo5JmHjC8QdTTDYbcMQ8STGxK_bk6ZcSsHbnI&e=>).

Momentum for new election blocked

Momentum to initiate patriarchal elections gained pace in 2017 within the
Armenian community, despite state reluctance to give the "go ahead" since
2008. The state's response did not show cooperation and facilitation of the
right of religious or belief communities to elect their own religious
leaders. On the contrary, the state obstruction which followed illustrates
well the challenges faced in this process.

The head of the Surp Pirgic Armenian Hospital Foundation - the largest
Armenian community foundation - Bedros Sirinoglu raised the election issue,
among other community matters, when he met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
in January 2017. The President responded that the state would tackle the
issues of the elections of the Armenian Patriarch and of the boards of
directors of non-Muslim community foundations. He said this would happen
after the April 2017 referendum on wide-ranging changes to the Constitution
to increase the President's powers.

Yet since the referendum, the state has taken no steps to resolve the
problem either of electing a new Armenian Patriarch or the community
foundations' boards of directors.

Non-Muslim community foundations are not religious communities but are
associated with them (see F18News 6 October 2011
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1621&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=-lsSbk6KGRxP6Hjb4D8yNGC7TK1OSlEwdyO6wlAD_iw&e=>).

While the authorities need to adopt a new regulation for non-Muslim
community foundations to hold elections for their board members, legally
this is not required for the election of the Armenian Patriarch. Therefore
while on the one hand it is difficult to understand the need for President
Erdogan's involvement in the process, on the other, the lack of legal
certainty resulting from a lack of legal framework explains the Armenian
Church's need to ensure state cooperation.

The crucial impetus was the resignation in February 2017 of Bishop Sahak
Mashalyan as head of the Clerical Council. His resignation caused much
reaction from the Armenian community pressing for the election. His
subsequent withdrawal of his resignation led the Clerical Council the same
month to declare the seat of the Patriarch vacant and start the election
process by electing a Locum Tenens (Deghabah), who would oversee the
election of a new Patriarch.

After the Clerical Council's decision to hold patriarchal elections, four
prospective candidates for election were mentioned: Patriarchal
Vicar-General Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Bishop Sahak Mashalyan, Archbishop
Karekin Bekdjian (the spiritual leader of Germany's Armenian community),
and Archbishop Sebouh Chouljian (spiritual leader of the Gugark region of
Armenia). All four have Turkish citizenship, which is a prerequisite for
being eligible to become the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul.

On 15 March 2017, the election of the Locum Tenens (temporary leader,
Deghabah, Turkish: Patrik Kaymakamı) took place. The spiritual leader of
Germany's Armenians Archbishop Bekdjian was elected at 15:00. Immediately
following the announcement of the election results, Archbishop Ateshian
shared with the press an official letter the Istanbul Governorship had sent
that same day to the Patriarchate of Turkey's Armenians stating that
"legally it is not possible to start the election process".

The letter, sent at 13:47 that day, states that "it is understood that
there is a desire to de facto start the Patriarchal Election procedure".
The letter said the election was not legally possible, claiming the process
could cause splits in the community by giving way to restlessness, and that
the Patriarchal Vicar-General is on duty. It added that the community knows
full well the procedural principles and jurisprudence applicable to
patriarchal elections. This letter obstructed the election process.

In spite of these developments, Archbishop Ateshian did not resign from his
position as Patriarchal Vicar-General. This led the Clerical Council to
remove him from his position on 28 June 2017, with 22 members in favour and
2 against this decision.

Since then, the Armenian community has repeatedly appealed both for
dialogue with the state authorities and available judicial remedies to be
able to hold elections.

In February 2018, the Election Steering Committee in charge of holding the
elections for Patriarch filed a complaint against the Interior Ministry for
failure to respond in time to its application to proceed with the election.

On 6 February 2018, the Istanbul Governorship wrote to the Armenian
Patriarchate stating that, as Patriarch Mesrop is still alive, the
conditions for the election of a new Patriarch have not materialised. The
letter argued that health reasons do not justify considering the position
of the patriarch vacant and that Archbishop Ateshian continues to hold his
position as Patriarchal Vicar-General.

After sending the letter, the Istanbul Governorship invited the heads of
the Armenian community foundations for a meeting on 7 February, where
Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu met and "listened to them". At the
meeting, a prominent lawyer in the Armenian community Sebu Aslangil
outlined the legal objections to the Governorship letter, the local
Armenian weekly newspaper "Agos" reported the following day.

Aslangil reiterated that the state's decision not to allow the Armenian
community to proceed with elections amounted to compelling the Clerical
Council to elect someone whom they had already removed (a reference to
Ateshian). He added that the letter's reference to the "so-called locum
tenens" (Archbishop Bekdjian) was not an appropriate way to refer to a
person elected by the Clerical Council.

Interior Minister Soylu replied that the state has a responsibility to
uphold the law and accordingly to protect the Patriarchal Vicar-General,
"Agos" added. However, Soylu said he was aware of the problems and will
take them into account. It was agreed to meet again in a month.

After receiving the Istanbul Governorship's letter, Bishop Mashalyan
convened the Clerical Council on 9 February, with Archbishop Ateshian
presiding.

"The election of a patriarch is initiated and concluded with acting
together with the state, this fact has always been evident in Patriarchal
history," declared the Clerical Council's statement issued after the
meeting. "Therefore the official letter is taken into account in this
context. Since the state's will is that the conditions for the 85th
patriarchal elections have not materialised, it is stated in the letter
that the election of a Locum Tenens has no basis. Therefore the decision to
retire Patriarch Mesrop II and declare his seat vacant does not comply with
the rules."

Notably, the Clerical Council also remarks that when the conditions are
conducive the necessity of a new Patriarch Election remains.

Archbishop Bekdjian did not participate in the meeting due to his expressed
intention to resign from the Locum Tenens position. In his farewell
message, published on 13 February, he stated that even though the state's
obstruction appears to target him, in reality it aims to "sabotage the 85th
Patriarchal Election and is the product of a long and planned campaign".

Why was patriarchal vicar elected in 2010?

Patriarch Mesrop became unable to carry out his duties for health reasons
in July 2008 and is still incapacitated. He was elected against the wishes
of Turkey's government and became incapacitated under much pressure from
the government, media and the public, as well as the Armenian diaspora (see
F18News 21 October 2008
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_Archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1206&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=X4E_R-W2nwEm8pPaYeTJzj_vL-1VMU95SnXck237yF4&e=>).

It is believed that according to Armenian Apostolic Church tradition, a
Patriarch must either die or resign from his position before the election
of a successor can be held. For two years following 2008, discussions took
place within the community on whether elections would be held or not. Two
competing views emerged: one wanting to elect a new Patriarch and the other
a Co-Patriarch.

However, in 2010 with a decision of the Istanbul Governorship Archbishop
Ateshian became Patriarchal Vicar-General, a post the state invented as
opposed to the election of a Co-Patriarch which, the state argued was not
found in the Armenian tradition. (see F18News 11 August 2010
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1477&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=ZJPEZDLo5JmHjC8QdTTDYbcMQ8STGxK_bk6ZcSsHbnI&e=>).

In October 2016, the Clerical Council decided to retire Patriarch Mesrop on
the grounds that he had been unable to perform his duty for 7 years. The
election process for a new Patriarch was initiated following this decision.

Impact on the community

The inability to elect a Patriarch has harmed Turkey's Armenian community
in many ways. "Not having a head [leader] for ten years deepens existing
problems, leads our people to hopelessness and our youth to a search for
new horizons," Bishop Mashalyan, whose resignation as head of the Clerical
Council in 2017 played an important role in triggering the new election
process, told Forum 18 in February 2018. "On top of this, the election
atmosphere - always on the agenda, but never resolved - provides the ground
for church divisions and conflict."

Bishop Mashalyan added that although the Church is able to continue its
routine work, making decisions on issues "important for our community" and
developing new projects are impossible. "The representation of our
Patriarchate weakens and crucial contact with the state cannot be made," he
told Forum 18. "The uncertainty of these extraordinary circumstances can no
longer be tolerated."

Is state permission needed to elect Patriarch?

Views differ on whether the state needs to give permission for the
community to proceed with the election of the Patriarch. During the Ottoman
Empire, the 1863 Armenian Nation [Millet] Regulation formed the legal basis
for the election of a new Patriarch. Whether this Regulation applies in the
modern Turkish Republic is far from clear.

The Regulation enshrines extensive rules on the internal management of the
Armenian community, including the election of a new Patriarch. The
non-religious autonomous administrative organs that are referred to in the
Regulation were, however, annulled during the Republic. Hence, whether and
to what extent the Regulation is legally binding remains unclear.

On the other hand, practice in the Turkish Republic demonstrates that the
state has interfered in every election process. Throughout the Republic,
five elections for a new Armenian Patriarch have taken place. Each time the
state authorities have interfered regarding the timing of the election or
the election rules.

Views also differ within the Armenian community, it appears. Archbishop
Ateshian argues that in order to proceed with the election, the first step
is to obtain permission from the state. According to Bishop Mashalyan, such
permission is not needed, and notifying the state and obtaining a date for
the election is enough.

Bishop Mashalyan sees the lack of legal personality and the lack of a legal
framework that regards the Armenian community as a collective whole as the
main obstacles. For example, without legal personality judicial
applications become meaningless. He considers, "the good will of Ankara" as
"the only contingent". He maintains hope saying, "the state's reply is
delayed, but there is no refusal".

As on previous occasions, according to Bishop Mashalyan, the election is to
be held in accordance with the Ordinance and date given by the Interior
Ministry with the signature of the Cabinet approving the application by the
elected Deghabah (Locum Tenens) and the Election Steering Committee.

Another way of moving forward might be the resignation of Archbishop
Ateshian as Patriarchal Vicar-General. However, in a lengthy public
statement published on Facebook on 3 January 2017, he reiterated that the
state does not recognise the Locum Tenens. "Since the Locum Tenens is not
officially recognised, isn't it better that someone [himself] who is
recognised is in this position?" he asked.

If and when the Locum Tenens were to be approved by the state, Archbishop
Ateshian promised to leave his position. Since the Governorship's letter
does not recognise the election of the Locum Tenens, Archbishop Ateshian
believed that he should remain in his position as Patriarchal
Vicar-General.

According to the "Agos" newspaper, his statement signalled that Ateshian
regards the dynamics of bureaucratic relationships as more important than
the will of the General Assembly of Clergy and the people's demands. It
appears that this approach has prevailed at this time.

No uniform legal framework for election of religious leaders

No uniform legal framework applies to the election of religious leaders in
Turkey, which leaves some communities vulnerable. The state interferes the
most in the elections for leaders of the non-Muslim communities as viewed
by the state as being protected under the 1923 Lausanne Treaty (Armenians,
Jews and Greeks and to some extent and more recently Syriacs).

The Prime Minister appoints the head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs
(Diyanet), a government agency which is the largest provider of Sunni
Islamic religious services (see F18News 4 May 2011
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1567&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=Q0Ja-hbyUnyMuUbCPx271tCDE5yi9q4_IyaIYlJVk6U&e=>).

The state has not interfered in the selection of leaders of other religious
communities - including Alevi Muslims, Protestants, and the Baha'is. But
their leaders do not enjoy state recognition (see F18News 11 August 2010
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1477&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=ZJPEZDLo5JmHjC8QdTTDYbcMQ8STGxK_bk6ZcSsHbnI&e=>).

In contrast to the state obstruction of the election of the Armenian
Patriarch, Turkey's Jews re-elected their Rabbi Rav Ishak Haleva on 14 May
2017. Yet even this process, which from the outside appeared to run
smoothly, still included state involvement.

The Jewish community previously changed its rules about electing the Chief
Rabbi, requiring election every seven years. When the seven-year term came
to an end, the community applied to the Istanbul Governorship on 4 April
2017. The Election Steering Committee met and announced the election rules
on 28 April. Accordingly, candidates could announce their candidacy by 5
May. In the absence of any other candidates, Rav Ishak Haleva, who has been
the Chief Rabbi of Turkey's Jews since 2002, was elected again.

Interference incompatible with international human rights law

The situation of the Armenian community illustrates clearly the
vulnerability of religious communities. First, the lack of an effective
legal framework enforces dependency on political will, which can often
change. Such an arrangement is not compatible with the norms enshrined in
the European Convention on Human Rights.

Since in Turkey no religious or belief community has legal personality as
such, religious or belief communities cannot form legal entities with their
internal governing processes. As a result, they are dependent on the
approval of the state authorities. The right to acquire legal personality
is indispensable for numerous aspects of the exercise of freedom of
religion or belief in its collective dimension.

In a case originally launched by Hungary's Mennonite Church, the European
Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held in April 2014 that "there is a positive
obligation incumbent on the State to put in place a system of recognition
which facilitates the acquisition of legal personality by religious
communities" (Application No. 70945/11 et al,
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__hudoc.echr.coe.int_eng-3Fi-3D001-2D142196&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=WH9eIaGDpBMCi6sWVbuESnuFcwVX0t3qYPhhdiTpsdg&e=>).

Similarly, the then United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of
Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, drew attention to legal obligations
flowing from the provisions protecting freedom of religion or belief. "Such
an administrative decision [on legal personality] should not be
misconceived as an act of mercy, however," he noted in his December 2011
report (A/HRC/19/60, 
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__undocs.org_A_HRC_19_60&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=rwMj2-YfQ0b9jLDSdZgCN72Ya1lyYpSPuJu5h7JlU7I&e=>).

"Under international law, States are obliged to take an active role in
facilitating the full enjoyment of human rights, including freedom of
religion or belief," Bielefeldt noted. "By not providing appropriate legal
options that, de jure and de facto, are accessible to all religious or
belief groups interested in obtaining a legal personality status, States
would fail to honour their obligations under the human right to freedom of
religion or belief."

Secondly, the right of religious or belief communities to chose or elect
their leaders and teachers is an integral part of the right to freedom of
religion or belief in its collective dimension, as noted in General Comment
22 of the UN Human Rights Committee. If states take steps to interfere in
this right, it is the obligation of the state to demonstrate, among others,
that this restriction is prescribed by law, pursues a legitimate aim to
protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights
and freedoms of others and is proportionate to the aim pursued.

It is hard to see that the steps taken by Turkish state authorities in the
case of the election of the Armenian Patriarch could pass a rigorous
scrutiny of the restrictions test.

Thirdly, if and when differing views exist within a religious or belief
community on, for example, when and how elections of their leaders should
be carried out, it is not the role of the state to impose a certain way. On
the contrary, the ECtHR holds that "the internal structure of a religious
organization and the regulations governing its membership must be seen as a
means by which such organizations are able to express their beliefs and
maintain their religious traditions" (Hasan and Chaush v. Bulgaria, 30
October 2000, Application No. 30985/96,
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__hudoc.echr.coe.int_eng-3Fi-3D001-2D58921&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=TPfw89yBXznbYwaRV8q6pd75eH6W_9qdQNTw_SM9yNQ&e=>).

In light of this, the role of the Turkish authorities should be to respect
the will of the Armenian Apostolic community and cooperate with it to
ensure that the elections run smoothly. This would provide conditions
conducive for the internal mechanisms of the community to manage tensions
and conflicts without state interference.

In addition, the Turkish authorities need to ensure that the collective
dimension of freedom of religion or belief is effectively protected,
including by creating a legal framework for religious communities to
acquire legal personality and ensuring that non-Muslim community
foundations can elect their board members. (END)

For more background, see Forum 18's Turkey religious freedom survey
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1916&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=-aFxGL9eEDr6MksA8wKkj3XxqmQXZ3CWnRbEbxTGmbA&e=>,
 and the Norwegian
Helsinki Committee: Turkey Freedom of Belief Initiative (NHC:IÖG)
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.inancozgurlugugirisimi.org&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=VbflmdSvZUk7ifqBysCdBepL7MiZ9vv4WrL19_BfECs&e=>.

More analyses and commentaries on freedom of thought, conscience and belief
in Turkey can be found at
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_Archive.php-3Fquery-3D-26religion-3Dall-26country-3D68&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=EiT6TNm20fA5sLMY8AgOihQT-kMOTG8uWtGN0bC9__E&e=>.

A compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments can be found at
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_Archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1351&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=nAf0Q4betPIy1oDBxRLghfTno2xRiFwUDKY3gfO1p8c&s=sL5B-XCB5wVaZEKwR-FZccX_cc59EeYGAIKowbVOohU&e=>.

A printer-friendly map of Turkey is available at
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Chess: 33 Armenian chess players to participate at the European Individual Championship in Batumi

Panorama, Armenia
Feb 13 2018

The European Individual Chess Championship for 2018 will take place in Batumi, Georgia on March 16-29. The championship will be played in 11 rounds according to Swiss system in accordance with ECU and FIDE Tournament Rules and Rules of Chess, with time control 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from the move one.

As the National Olympic Committee reported, Armenia will be represented at the tournament by 33 chess players, including members of the national team Gabriel Sargsyan, Hrant Melkumyan, Hayk Martirosyan, GMs Sergey Movsesyan, Robert Hovhannisyan, Arman Pashinyan, Manuel Petrosyan and others.

The leader of the Armenian women's team Elina Danielyan and Anna Sargsyan are set to participate in the tournament as well.

To note, the championship is a qualification event for the next World Cup.

Sports: Arsene Wenger hails Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan following Arsenal’s victory over Everton

Metro, UK
Feb 3 2018

Arsene Wenger hails Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan following Arsenal’s victory over Everton

     Metro Sport ReporterSaturday 3 Feb 2018 8:01 pm

Arsene Wenger heaped praise on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan after their impressive performances in Arsenal‘s 5-1 thumping of Everton. Aaron Ramsey grabbed the headlines with an outstanding hat-trick versus the Toffees but Wenger will perhaps be most delighted with the displays of his two January signings. Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan were both handed their first Premier League starts for Arsenal and the duo were among the Gunners’ standout performers at the Emirates. Mkhitaryan grabbed a hat-trick of assists for his new club and Aubamayang got off the mark for the north London giants with an exquisite finish just before the break.

Asked about Aubameyang’s display, Wenger responded: ‘The quality of his movement was excellent, the quality of his finishing was excellent. ‘He still has some work to do physically. ‘He looks always to give a problem to the defender with his movement. Once he’s in front of you it’s difficult to catch him.’

Asked about his first goal in Arsenal colours, Aubameyang told BT Sport: ‘I was really happy. ‘We won the game in the first-half. The second-half was a little bit different but were all happy.’

Asked about the performance of Mkhitaryan, Wenger replied: ‘He’s a good link player, he works very hard. ‘He looked well accepted by the rest of the team.

Ramsey believes Arsenal have found themselves a top-class centre-forward in Aubameyang after the forward impressed despite suffering with an illness. He said: ‘If that’s not him at 100 per cent the we’ve got a player on our hands here.

United goal ‘Well done to him and Mkhi. ‘Hopefully they can help us finish the season strongly.’




Turkish Press: Special event honors legendary photographer Ara Güler in Istanbul

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Jan 13 2018
Special event honors legendary photographer Ara Güler in Istanbul

DAILY SABAH
ISTANBUL

Source: The Üsküdar Municipality

An event to honor famous Turkish-Armenian photojournalist Ara Güler was held Friday in Istanbul as senior media figures paid their respect personally to the legendary photographer.

Speaking at the Culture and Congress Center in Üsküdar's Bağlarbaşı, Güler emphasized the importance of history as a science, saying it was the only way to truly learn one's past.

Commonly referred to as "the Eye of Istanbul", Güler made his name mainly with his black-and-white nostalgic pictures of Istanbul, depicting the city's wide range of emotions.

The 90-year-old artist interviewed and took the pictures of famous people such as Winston Churchill, Salvador Dali, Picasso, Alfred Hitchcock and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. After his photographs, Turkey's landmark mount Ararat and mount Nemrut gained worldwide recognition.

"Güler has told us about the story of Istanbul, Aphrodisias, Dali and Picasso. We are a nation with great stories, legends and tales," Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said while describing Güler's prints that has captured the lives of people and the most important events since the 50s.

Güler's career as a photographer kicked off at the age of 22 when he received his first camera – a Rolleicord II – and joined a local newspaper called Yeni Istanbul in 1950.

By the end of the 1950s, he worked for world-renowned magazines such as Time Life in the U.S., the French weekly Paris Match or Der Stern in Germany, traveling around the world – from Pakistan to Kenya and from New Guinea to Borneo.

He was in Sudan in 1978 just before the second Eritrean civil war to report on clashes between rebel groups. Just before the 1980 military coup in Turkey, Güler went to Mongolia, the Turks' homeland, to photograph 8th century inscriptions. In 1990, he headed to Indonesia with his wife for a report on cannibal tribes.

He is currently spending most of his time in his Ara Cafe in Istanbul's teeming Beyoğlu district, where he has been living since he was born.

Armenian kids delight Hebrew Home audience

The Riverdale Press, NY
Dec 22 2017


Posted Friday, December 22, 2017 12:04 am

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With a set of pipes that could easily be mistaken for someone three times her age, Ani Margaryan belts out the first lines of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” 

The 9-year-old’s stage was the carpeted floor of the library in the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, and its residents were her audience.

Margaryan’s backup band was an audio file of the hit single without Franklin’s vocals, and 14-year-old Aleksandr Avetisyan on saxophone, who picked up with silky smooth stylings during a vocal break for Margaryan.

Both Margaryan and Avetisyan are from Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, a landlocked country in Asia that was once part of the former Soviet Union. The young musicians were in town with the Children of Armenia Fund, a non-governmental organization focused on education and economic development in rural Armenian villages.

Their performance at the Hebrew Home was part of a citywide series of performances over several days leading up to their annual fundraiser at the Manhattan restaurant Cipriani on Dec. 16. For Hebrew Home president Daniel Reingold, the decision to invite the Armenian children was a personal one.

“What struck me was the connection between the Armenian and the Jewish people,” he said. “Both are populations that have suffered a genocide.”

The Armenian genocide in 1915, a systematic killing of ethnic Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, is widely accepted as the first genocide of the 20th century. This is something Turkey — the successor state to the Ottoman Empire — vehemently denies by saying people on both sides suffered terrible fates.

Rather than focus on the past, however, the Armenian fund — which was founded in 2004 — focuses on the future and development of villages in far-flung areas of Armenia. 

“Rather than bringing these people to the cities and centralizing all of the opportunities in big cities, we make it happen in rural areas,” said Ashot Margaryan — no relation to the young singer — who leads strategy for the fund. That means providing for villages with something more commonly found in cities: state-of-the-art technology in classrooms.

The fund is building up to a 2018 launch of what it calls a Smart Center in the village of Debet in the Lori region of northern Armenia. The Smart Center is a sprawling complex built into the verdant, hilly landscape that will provide Debet and neighboring villages with the latest technology for learning like digital libraries, computer labs and virtual classrooms.

Between the musical performances by Avetisyan and Margaryan, Hebrew Home residents met Nareh Galstyan, a 16-year-old high school student, who spoke at length about her experiences with the organization, and how she landed a spot in the Future Leaders Exchange Program, a U.S. government-sponsored program that brings European and Eurasian students to the United States for an academic year.

“In my school here, there are about 2,000 students, and back home in my town there are 2,000 people,” said Galstyan, who lives in Lernagog, a village in western Armenia where the fund has a heavy presence. That village, like others throughout the country, suffered heavily after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.

“We were part of a system that used to function throughout (the) Soviet Union,” said Hasmik Sargsyan, the fund’s marketing coordinator. “Once it collapsed, the factories closed down. People were left without any job opportunities. They couldn’t support their families, and most of them migrated to Russia or Europe or America.”

Villages where the Armenian fund has a presence have drastically improved, according to the fund, although there is still work to be done in villages where the organization hasn’t made inroads.

“You go from COAF village to non-COAF village, the difference is stark,” said Johannes Michaelian, an Australian medical student of Armenian descent, who volunteered with the fund teaching first aid throughout Armenian villages.

When Michaelian saw the difference fresh approaches to education made in places far removed from city life, he quickly understood the value in fostering young minds and building communities in his ancestral homeland.

As far as Avetisyan, the young saxophonist, is concerned, questions of policy and economic development are simply beyond him. It’s all about the music.

“I like the freedom in jazz,” Avetisyan said through a translator, just before taking the stage in a room full of Americans.

Turkish Press: Greece says Erdogan’s visit freed up frozen relations

Anadolu Agency (AA) Turkey
 Wednesday


Greece says Erdogan's visit freed up frozen relations


Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias says talks between Turkish president,
Greek prime minister were 'sincere'


By Furkan Naci Top
 ATHENS

Greece's foreign minister on Wednesday said the Turkish president's
visit last week was successful as it had freed up communication
channels between the countries which had been frozen.

Nikos Kotzias was speaking to journalists in a briefing after meeting
Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan in Athens.

"The visit was successful because we restored the necessary
communication channels that were frozen. It was successful because a
series of new negotiations are being prepared," Kotzias said.

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
talked "sincerely," he added.

Kotzias also said Greek Migration Minister Ioannis Mouzalas would
visit Turkey soon, adding that a High-Level Cooperation Council
meeting between Turkey and Greece would be held in February.

Erdogan paid a historic two-day visit to Greece on Dec. 7-8, the first
by a Turkish president in 65 years.

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories
offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and
in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.

The Armenian national team M-17 takes part in the draw and M-19 does not

UEFA headquarters hosted a draw for the 2019 UEFA Champions League qualifying round.

Armenia’s M-17 team was included in the 13th qualifying group, where the rivals will be Croatia, Italy and Andorra. Our group tournament will take place in Croatia from October 27 to November 2, 2018.

The draw for the qualifying round of the UEFA European Under-19 Championships 2019 was also held. Our team did not take part in it, as the final tournament of this age-old European championship will be held in Armenia in July 2019. Our opponents will be known only in 2019 after the elite round.

ARPA Institute Presentation & Panel Discussion on "Հայապահպանում եւ Հայկական դպրոցներու Անհրաժեշտութիւնը Սփիւռքի մէջ", on December 14, Thursday at 7:30 pm

Բարեկամներ,

ARPA Institute Presentation & Panel Discussion on Հայապահպանում եւ Հայկական դպրոցներու Անհրաժեշտութիւնը Սփիւռքի մէջ, on December 14, Thursday at 7:30 pm, 
In the Aram and Anahis D. Boolghoorjian Hall of the Merdinian School: 13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Please view the ARPA Institute 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference on “Armenia in the 21st Century: Strategy for Long-term Development”. You will enjoy it. Here are the Youtube links: 1. Part I: https://youtu.be/5cEpNtiW1os ; 2. Part II: https://youtu.be/mUyPSHnn7Jg
Also view the presentation on: “ Railway Politics: The Effect of Recently Inaugurated Baku-Tibilisi-Kars Railway“:    https://youtu.be/LIxEn6P-_Ts