Author: Kajoyan Gevork

CIVILNET.209 Intellectuals, Artists, Politicians Express Support for Hrant Dink Foundation

Kajoyan Gevork
CIVILNET.AM

2 June, 2020 12:22

209 intellectuals, writers, artists, activists, journalists and politicians have released a joint statement regarding the threats against Rakel Dink, the wife of late journalist Hrant Dink, and the attorneys of Hrant Dink Foundation as well as the recently escalating attacks against churches in Turkey. Expressing their demand for an end to this attitude, the signatories have said, "All components that constitute our people are fundamental constituents; they are citizens of the state who hold equal rights."

The full joint statement is as follows:

We, the undersigned, deeply concerned about the recent situation into which our country is being dragged, would like to bring this statement to the attention of our people and all state officials.

We see the recent provocative attacks, occuring one after another, not as isolated incidents but as fostered by a discourse of bile and hatred, which has been emitted irresponsibly and spread among the masses.

Discriminatory language and behaviors are destructive and divisive. They divide people into camps, impede peaceful co-existence, and sow seeds of conflict. Othering will benefit no one. Those who embrace such language and behavior should realize that they also designate themselves as “the other side” and “the other.” This attitude should be abandoned.

All components that constitute our people are fundamental constituents; they are citizens of the state who hold equal rights. Ignoring the wide range of values we all share and discriminating among these constituents are contrary to the goal and will to live together. This [disposition] should be averted.

We never accept a mentality that “raises a murderer from a baby” or a system that is dominated by such a mentality.

We condemn the threats directed at the Hrant Dink Foundation and targeting Rakel Dink and the Foundation’s lawyers – the latest example of the mounting events that stir anxiety. 

Respectfully presented to the public.

Signatories:

Abdullah Demirbaş, Abdülbaki Erdoğmuş, Abdülhakim Daş, Adalet Dinamit, Ahmet Aykaç, Ahmet Dindar, Ahmet İnsel, Ahmet Telli, Ahmet Türk, Ahmet Ümit, Ahu Özyurt, Akın Atalay, Akın Birdal, Ali Bayramoğlu, Ali Bilge, Ali Uçansu, Ani Çelik Arevyan, Arus Yumul , Arzu Başaran, Ataol Behramoğlu, Ateş İlyas Başsoy, Atila Eralp, Aydın Engin, Aydın Selcen, Ayfer Bartu Candan, Ayhan Aktar, Ayşe Cemal, Ayşe Erzan, Ayşe Gözen, Ayşe Gül Altınay, Ayşe Hür, Ayşe Kadıoğlu, Ayşe Yüksel, Ayşegül Devecioğlu, Ayşen Candaş, Ayşenil Şamlıoğlu, Aytuna Tosunoğlu Çalık, Bahadır Kaleağası, Bahri Belen, Banu Tesal, Barbaros Şansal, Baskın Oran, Bekir Ağırdır, Belçim Bilgin, Betül Tanbay, Bingöl Erdumlu, Binnaz Toprak, Burhan Sönmez, Bülent Erkmen, Can Dündar, Canan Tolon, Celalettin Can, Cem Mansur, Cengiz Aktar, Cengiz Çandar, Çağatay Anadol, Çiğdem Mater, Dinçer Demirkent, Doğan Bermek, Doğan Özgüden, Edhem Eldem, Ekrem Baran, Emine Çaykara, Emine Uşaklıgil, Enes Atila Pay, Engin Özendes, Erdağ Aksel, Erdoğan Aydın, Erdoğan Kahyaoğlu, Esra Koç, Eşber Yağmurdereli, Etyen Mahçupyan, Fahri Aral, Fazıl Hüsnü Erdem, Ferhat Kentel, Ferhat Tunç, Fethiye Çetin, Fırat Güllü, Fikret Başkaya, Filiz Ali, Fuat Keyman, Füsun Eczacıbaşı, Gençay Gürsoy, Gila Benmayor, Gülseren Onanç, Gülsün Sağlamer, Gülten Kaya, Gündüz Vassaf, Gürhan Ertür, Hacer Ansal, Hakan Akçura, Hale Soygazi, Hale Tenger, Halil Ergün, Halil İbrahim Yenigün, Haluk Eyidoğan, Hasan Cemal, Hasip Kaplan, Hatice Aslan, Hülya Adak, Hülya Bankoğlu Ekşigil, Hüsamettin Onanç, İbrahim Betil, İlhan Tekeli, İnci Tuğsavul, İpek Çalışlar, İsmail Beşikçi, İştar Gözaydın, Jehan Barbur, Jülide Aral, Kevork Taşkıran, Kirkor Sahakoğlu, Lale Mansur, Latife Tekin, Levent Gültekin, Macit Koper, Mahir Polat, Mazlum Çimen, Mebuse Tekay, Mehmet Altan, Mehmet Bekaroğlu, Mehmet Betil, Mehmet Erbudak, Mehveş Evin, Melek Taylan, Melih Fereli, Melis Alphan, Mert Fırat, Meryem Koray, Mesut Yeğen, Mihail Vasilliadis, Murat Belge, Murat Ersoy, Murat Sabuncu, Mustafa Hoş, Mustafa Paçal, Mustafa Yeneroğlu, Müjde Ar, Müjgan Arpat, Nadire Mater, Nakiye Boran, Nazar Büyüm, Nesim Ovadya İzrail, Nesrin Nas, Nesteren Davutoğlu, Neşe Erdilek, Nevin Sungur, Nevzat Onaran, Nil Mutluer, Nilgün Arısan Eralp, Nimet Tanrıkulu, Nuran Terzioğlu, Nurcan Baysal, Nurdan Ökter, Nurten Ertuğrul, Oral Çalışlar, Orhan Alkaya, Orhan Pamuk, Oya Baydar, Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, Ömer Madra, Rıza Türmen, Sedef Kabaş , Sema Kaygusuz, Semra Somersan, Serhat Baysan, Serkan Altınorak, Serra Yılmaz, Sevil Gence, Seydi Fırat, Sezai Sarıoğlu, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Sırrı Sakık, Sibel Asna, Soli Özel, Süleyman Çelebi, Şah İsmail Bedirhanoğlu, Şanar Yurdatapan, Şebnem İşigüzel, Şengün Kılıç, Tarık Ziya Ekinci, Tatyos Bebek, Tayfun Mater, Tilbe Saran, Tuba Çandar, Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Tunca Öğreten, Turan Aydoğan, Turgay Gönensin, Turgut Öker, Türkan Elçi, Ufuk Uras, Uygar Özesmi, Ümit Aktaş, Ümit Kardaş, Ümit Ünal, Vahap Coşkun, Vecdi Sayar, Viktorya Çiprut, Volkan Aslan, Yasemin Bektaş, Yazgülü Aldoğan, Yıldıray Oğur, Zehra Arat, Zeynep Göğüş, Zeynep Oral, Zeynep Tanbay, Ziya Halis, Zülfü Livaneli.

***

On May 29, Hrant Dink Foundation released a written statement for the press and announced that Rakel Dink, the wife of late journalist Hrant Dink, and the attorneys of the foundation received death threats via email on May 27 and 28. The foundation indicated that it notified Şişli District Security Directorate and İstanbul Governor's Office of the threats.

Turkey state-sponsored radical groups target Yazidis in Afrin, alarms Armenian lawmaker

Kajoyan Gevork

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 15:59,

YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Member of Parliament from the ruling My Step faction Rustam Bakoyan is sounding the alarm about pro-Turkish radical groups targeting the Yazidi community in Afrin, Syria.

“Syrian radical groups, sponsored by the Turkish government, have taken control over the Afrin region, including the Yazidi villages in this area. These groups are committing various atrocities against the Yazidis, they are forcing them to convert, to forcefully migrate – at the same time creating conditions for demographic changes in the region,” Bakoyan, who is of Yazidi ethnicity, said on social media.

The lawmaker said that these radical Islamic groups have recently destroyed Yazidi holy sites, set fire and ruined Yazidi villages and settlements, all of which constitute war crimes.

“These groups are forcing the Yazidis of the region to attend Islamic mosques. Some Yazidi holy sites in Afrin have been turned into mosques. Cruel atrocities are being committed against Yazidi women and children”, he said.

The MP also posted a photo of a Yazidi young woman who was killed by the Turkish-sponsored groups.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

President of Artsakh presents changes in composition of government

Kajoyan Gevork

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 14:50,

STEPANAKERT, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan convened today an enlarged working consultation with the participation of the members of the current Cabinet of Ministers, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The President expressed his gratitude to the members of the executive branch for joint work highlighting that although only some of them will be included in the composition of the new Cabinet of Ministers, the experience and knowledge of each of them are very important for further state building process.

Arayik Harutyunyan presented to the attention of those present the changes in the composition of the government emphasizing that as a result the state budget will not have an additional burden.

According to the President, the following composition of the Cabinet of Ministers has been established:

  1. Minister of State;
    2. Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Housing;
    3. Ministry of Healthcare;
    4. Ministry of Justice;
    5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
    6. Ministry of Agriculture;
    7. Ministry of Economy and Industrial Infrastructures;
    8. Ministry of Education, Science and Culture;
    9. Ministry of Defense;
    10. Ministry of Military Patriotic Upbringing, Youth, Sports and Tourism;
    11. Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development;
    12. Ministry of Municipal Engineering;
    13. Ministry of Finance.

The following state administrative bodies have also been defined:

  1. National Security Service;
    2. State Service of Emergency Situations;
    3. Nature Protection Committee;
    4. Cadastre and State Property Management Committee;
    5. Committee on Integration with Armenia and the Diaspora.
    6. Police;
    7. State Revenue Committee;
    8. State Control Service.
  2. Harutyunyan informed as well that the Cabinet of Ministers has been assigned to adopt decisions arising from the decree within one-month period.

Fisk: The Good Turk: The true story of Armenia’s forgotten Schindler

Kajoyan Gevork
The Independent, UK
May 15 2020
t the height of the war, he was a loyal servant of his brutal government, producing equipment for his country’s army – but at great risk to his own life, he saved hundreds of men and women doomed for mass extermination by employing them in his military factories. And in 1915 – long before the bravery of a man whom every reader is already thinking of – Armenia’s Oskar Schindler proved that good could still exist amid hatred and terror.

He was a quarter of a century before his time. But Ottoman naval lieutenant Cemil Kunneh was worthy of Schindler’s title. He was a patriotic and decorated hero from Turkey’s Balkan wars. Yet as his Turkish masters proceeded with the Armenian Holocaust – the deliberate mass annihilation by Turkey of a million and a half Christian Armenians at the height of the First World War – Kunneh shelteredhundreds of these terrified civilians, men and women, some of them half-starved and en route to the death marches on which they were intended to perish.

Ottoman Turkish naval lieutenant Cemil Kunneh


Music: London Symphony Orchestra shares tribute to Armenian composer Edward Mirzoyan

Kajoyan Gevork
Public Radio of Armenia
May 15 2020

As a commemoration of the 99th anniversary of composer Edward Mirzoyan, the London Symphony Orchestra joined conductor Sergey Smbatyan to recorded Mirzoyan’s ‘Shushanik.” The orchestra shared the recording on its Facebook page.

“Together with the London Symphony Orchestra we have recorded one of the jewels of the poetic elegance of Mirzoyan’s music as a tribute to Maestro’s musical legacy,” said Sergey Smbatyan, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchetsra.

“Composed overnight, as confessed by the author, and charged with genuine intimacy, “Shushanik” permeates native and foreign hearts as instantly, washing them with its emotional grace,” Smbatyan said.

Armenian text below Today we are commemorating the 99th anniversary of the beloved Armenian composer and educator Edvard Mirzoyan. Together with the London Symphony Orchestra we have recorded one of the jewels of the poetic elegance of Mirzoyan’s music as a tribute to Maestro's musical legacy.Composed overnight, as confessed by the author, and charged with genuine intimacy, “Shushanik” permeates native and foreign hearts as instantly, washing them with its emotional grace.- – – – – – – – – – – – – – Այսօր նշվում է մեր թանկագին կոմպոզիտոր և մանկավարժ Էդվարդ Միրզոյանի ծննդյան 99-ամյակը: Ի հիշատակ Միրզոյանի երաժշտական ժառանգության՝ Լոնդոնի սիմֆոնիկ նվագախմբի հետ համատեղ ձայնագրել ենք նրա երաժշտական պոեզիայի գոհարներից մեկը՝ «Շուշանիկ» քնարական պատկերը։ «Շուշանիկ» քնարական պատկերը, որն, ըստ հեղինակի հուշերի, ծնվել է մեկ գիշերում, իր անխառն անկեղծությամբ նույնքան անմիջապես թափանցում է հայրենի ու օտար սրտերն ու ողողում իր սրտառուչ նրբագեղությամբ:#SergeySmbatyan #LSO

Gepostet von Sergey Smbatyan am Dienstag, 12. Mai 2020


Armenpress: Armenian Parliament ratifies CoE Convention on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation

Kajoyan Gevork

Armenian Parliament ratifies CoE Convention on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation

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 10:44,

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament today ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse with 79 votes in favor and 12 against.

Armenia had signed the convention in 2010.

The convention is a comprehensive international tool aimed at preventing sexual exploitation and abuse of children, protection of victims, implementing duly investigation, awareness and cooperation.

The Convention also establishes programmes to support victims, encourages people to report suspected sexual exploitation and abuse, and sets up telephone and internet helplines for children. It also ensures that certain types of conduct are classified as criminal offences, such as engaging in sexual activities with a child below the legal age and child prostitution and pornography. The Convention also criminalises the solicitation of children for sexual purposes ("grooming") and "sex tourism".

With the aim of combating child sex tourism, the Convention establishes that individuals can be prosecuted for some offences even when the act is committed abroad. The new legal tool also ensures that child victims are protected during judicial proceedings, for example with regard to their identity and privacy.

Deputy Minister of Justice Kristine Grigoryan, who presented to lawmakers the convention, also briefed the legislators on the statistics in Armenia for the past three years.

She said that in 2017 investigative bodies investigated 265 criminal cases concerning crimes committed against children, of which 101 were of sexual nature. In 2018 the number of investigations was 317, 76 being of sexual nature. In 2019, only in Q1 there were 209 criminal cases with 51 being of sexual nature, she said.

Opposition lawmaker Gevorg Petrosyan from the Prosperous Armenia (BHK) party said the convention includes clauses which in his words give hope that an attempt is made in Armenia to exercise human rights protection more comprehensively, however he said he believes the convention also includes clauses which “jeopardize the disciplinary interests of children”. According to him, some representatives of the Armenian Church have contacted him and expressed their disapproval of the convention.

Petrosyan was particularly concerned with the fact that the convention foresees educating children about the threats of sexual abuse and self-defense measures as early as from 1st to 4th grades. “Don’t they have anything else to teach children of this age?” he said. He proposed to solve the matter by more severe accountability in the criminal code.

Parliament Majority Leader (My Step bloc) Lilit Makunts reminded that all factions had voted in favor during a committee hearing earlier.

Addressing Petrosyan, she said: “I am sorry that some individuals are able to impact your stance. However, this convention is in the interest of children, it is a convention against pedophilia, which will prevent pedophilia in Armenia,” she said.

Vice Speaker Vahe Enfiajyan from the opposition BHK also spoke in favor of additional hearings on the matter.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan




Artsakh army’s retaliation has been ‘painful’ for official Baku – Defense Ministry

Kajoyan Gevork
Panorama, Armenia
May 5 2020

The Artsakh Republic Defense Ministry reacted to the statements of Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, revealing the reasons behind them.

A statement issued by the ministry's press service reads:

"In recent weeks, the response of the Artsakh army to the ceasefire violations initiated by the adversary along different parts of the line of contact between the Artsakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces seems to have been rather painful for the military-political leadership of official Baku.

Most likely, this is the reason why for several days already, the leadership of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, in particular, the defense minister, has been regularly visiting different sections of the frontline, trying to somehow encourage their demoralized soldiers.

The Azerbaijani defense minister paid a similar visit to the northeastern and eastern parts of the contact line on May 4, which was fully monitored by the relevant services of the Defense Army.

Adhering to the requirements stemming from the appeal of the UN secretary general to observe the ceasefire amid the pandemic, the Artsakh Armed Forces command staff informs that any movement of the adversary on the frontline, including at the top level, is under the control of the relevant Defense Army services, while the frontline troops are ready to take necessary measures based on the situation.”

Azerbaijan ex-FM calls for starting war against Armenia

Kajoyan Gevork
News.am, Armenia
May 6 2020

14:08, 06.05.2020
                  

Former Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugarov gave an interview, the main idea of which is a call for starting a war against Armenia.

"[Armenia FM Zohrab] Mnatsakanyan's last statement means one simple thing: The [OSCE] Minsk [Group] process, its logic has been ‘killed,"’ Zulfugarov said. "Armenia declares its position [on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict], and if we [Azerbaijan] continue the talks, we will actually adopt that 'agenda.'

But the issue is that the basis for the UN Security Council resolution needs to be clarified here as well. This structure is the only organization, the most important one, that makes an imperative decision for mandatory implementation. All other international organizations are under the auspices of the UN, roughly speaking. (…). One such regional organization is the OSCE. However, unlike the UN, the OSCE cannot force peace on the aggressor. (…). they cannot force Yerevan to liberate the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Based on the above, the [OSCE Minsk Group] Co-Chairs raised this issue, and now one of the parties—that is, Armenia—has stated its position in this way. And the co-chairs will seek a ‘middle ground.’ And if the Armenian side insists on this position, everyone will simply say (and the mediators have the right to do so) that, allegedly, ‘The situation is like that, and let's discuss what we can discuss.’ If Azerbaijan agrees to this agenda, it will mean that we are ready to discuss any issue."

According to the former foreign minister of Azerbaijan, the Karabakh peace talks have run out.

"From the point of view of the new situation, it is necessary to mention the Nakhichevan factor, from the border of which Yerevan is about 40 km away; it's within reach of the Grad-type volley fire systems," Zulfugarov said. "I see that even the Armenian side is preparing for war. And they want to use the prospects for that war differently. During that war, their political elite either wants to do something to harm us, and if that doesn't work and they lose the war, they will blame their ally, Russia, for passing to the side of the West. Therefore, in this case, the [Armenia PM Nikol] Pashinyan elite are fulfilling their minimum plan. It is very actual for everyone to spread the feeling in our society that war is inevitable. And all the components of the society—propaganda, economy, health care—must be ready for it, as there will be a war, not only in Karabakh; it will spread onto the whole territory of the two countries: Armenia and Azerbaijan."

"Bright Armenia" faction will decide how to continue to work in 7th National Assembly

Kajoyan Gevork
Arminfo, Armenia
May 8 2020

ArmInfo. The "Bright Armenia" faction which left the parliamentary chamber in full force after the incident with a fight between head of the "Bright Armenia" faction Edmon Marukyan and MP from the My Step faction, Sasun Mikayelyan, will  decide how to continue to work in the seventh convocation of National  Assembly. Head of the "Bright Armenia" faction Edmon  Marukyan This  stated to reporters.

<This incident must have its political consequences, as it is a  political incident. We demand political assessment from the political  forces of Armenia and civil society. All that happened is the problem  of the leader of the revolution, and our faction will draw  conclusions from what is happening>, the MP concluded.

To note, leader of the revolution, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol  Pashinyan, speaking after the incident in parliament, called the  incident a provocation. <We have enough reason to believe that he and  his faction are part of a certain plan. A plan to render moral,  psychological and physical violence against the ruling force>,  Pashinyan said. According to Pashinyan, it all started with the  adoption of the law "On Confiscation of Illegally Acquired Property".  "After all, if the property of number people is confiscated, how will  they pay for services to their accomplices," Pashinyan asked.