Tuesday, Police General Risks Criminal Charges • Naira Bulghadarian Armenia - General Levon Yeranosian, the commander of Armenian interior troops, 21 June 2014. General Levon Yeranosian, the controversial former commander of Armenian interior troops, could be prosecuted over the use of force against anti-government protests in Yerevan last spring, it emerged on Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the Special Investigative Service (SIS), Marina Ohanjanian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) that the law-enforcement agency has summoned Yeranosian for questioning. She gave no details. Yeranosian’s lawyer, Tigran Safarian, said his client is suspected of ordering riot police to use excessive force against the protesters led by Nikol Pashinian on April 16 and April 22. He has signed a formal pledge not to leave Armenia pending investigation, said Safarian. In the April 16 incident, Pashinian and hundreds of his supporters tried to get through a police cordon and approach the parliament building in Yerevan in a bid to prevent the country’s longtime leader, Serzh Sarkisian, from holding on to power. Security forces used stun grenades and batons to stop the crowd. Pashinian and several other individuals were injured in the clash. Armenia - Opposition supporters clash with riot police near the parliament building in Yerevan, 16 April 2018. Pashinian and his top associates were detained on April 22 as they led an anti-government demonstration elsewhere in Yerevan. The nationwide protests only intensified in the following hours, leading Sarkisian to resign on April 23. His resignation was announced shortly before the release of the detained oppositionists. Pashinian fired Yeranosian just days after being elected prime minister on May 8. Armenian human rights groups and media had for years accused the general of serious human rights violations. Democracy Key To Regional Peace, Says Pashinian • Sargis Harutyunyan U.S. - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talks to his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinian at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit in New York, 24 September 2018. Democratization is essential for peace and stability in the South Caucasus, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said during the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit held at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday. “I come from a region where unfortunately bloody conflicts, corrupt system of governance, animosity between people overshadow wisdom and the need for peaceful coexistence,” Pashinian told the summit attended by dozens of world leaders. “Democracies are not supposed to wage wars against each other,” he said. “I hope that one day our region’s democratic development will rule out the risks of hostilities, wars and hatred. Armenia has firmly embarked on this path and strongly stands for regional peace, stability and reconciliation.” Pashinian swept to power in May after weeks of massive anti-government protests organized by him. He has repeatedly described the protest movement as a “velvet revolution” that will turn Armenia into a democratic state. Addressing the UN summit dedicated to Nelson Mandela, the 43-year-old former journalist described the late South African president as a role model who inspired his own political activities. “Having been a political prisoner myself, I closely followed the political path and life story of this most famous political prisoner who would change his own country and indeed the aspirations of millions worldwide,” said Pashinian. “Mandela’s walk, the long walk to freedom was with me during my imprisonment, and to a great extent influenced my conscience and motivated me to embark on my own ‘long walk to freedom’ through prison and persecution, through struggle against injustice across the towns and villages of my country,” he declared. “In the true spirit of Mandela’s ideas, our movement became known to the world as Armenian non-violent velvet revolution of love and solidarity and now, months after my people’s success, I stand here at the high rostrum of this summit as the head of modern Armenian government to celebrate the legacy of this great person whose courage and determination served as an example for others around the globe,” added the Armenian premier. Pashinian met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres earlier on Monday. In a live Facebook interview aired over the weekend, Guterres described the Pashinian-led movement as a “fantastic example” of democratic change effected by young people. Press Review “Zhoghovurd” says that the margin of victory of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s My Step alliance in the September 23 municipal elections in Yerevan was unexpectedly huge. “Hardly anyone believed that it will get over 81 percent of the vote,” writes the paper. “By the same token, nobody believed early this year that Nikol Pashinian will succeed in carrying out a velvet revolution in Armenia by forcing Serzh Sarkisian to step down and ousting his HHK from power. My Step won as a result of absolutely free and fair elections. There were no incidents, no fraud, no vote bribes, no use of administrative resources in the September 23 elections and all election contenders accepted their official results.” “The people thus voiced support for Pashinian’s government,” continues “Zhoghovurd.” “At the same time they gave him the carte blanche to dissolve the parliament and hold fresh elections of the National Assembly.” The paper says that the incoming Yerevan mayor, Hayk Marutian, should use this massive popular support with “great care.” “He must work very hard in order not to disappoint people.” “Zhamanak” reports that former President Robert Kocharian has filed a libel suit against Pashinian. The paper says that it is not yet clear which statement made by Pashinian is considered slanderous by Pashinian. It notes that news of the libel suit was announced immediately after the municipal elections in Yerevan and Pashinian’s decision to start discussions with political forces on snap general elections.The paper says that Kocharian may be trying to cheer up the HHK and possibly other parliamentary parties opposed to the elections. (Lilit Harutiunian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Author: Lara Antonian
Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora holds meetings in Damascus
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of a working visit to Syria, Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora Mkhitar Hayrapetyan had a meeting on September 20 at the Damascus national primacy with Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Diocese of Damascus of the Armenian Apostolich Church, Bishop Hovsep Arnautyan, Primate of the Armenian Catholic Diocese of Damascus, Ambassador of Armenia to Syria Arshak Poladyan and Syrian Member of Parliament Nora Arisyan.
Afterwards the minister had a meeting with representatives of the local Armenian community at the Armenian Church of Damascus, the Ministry of Diaspora said.
The meeting proceeded in a Q&A format, and the community had the chance to ask their questions of concern to the Armenian minister.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
F18News: Azerbaijan – Second 2018 conscientious objector conviction
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=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=CFNkW8nC1ho4KY0g7x18EMJFO0B4NlnQP40-oBjNpks&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 ================================================= Tuesday AZERBAIJAN: SECOND 2018 CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR CONVICTION On 6 September, a court in western Azerbaijan handed a criminal conviction to a second Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector. Vahid Abilov received a one-year suspended prison term and will be under probation for one year. He is planning to appeal. Three more similar cases might follow. AZERBAIJAN: SECOND 2018 CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR CONVICTION https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2415&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=bCCfqbaIoQMoYLhLj4zQaIMVsRPV1417-Zrzdar1uQ8&e= By Felix Corley, Forum 18 For the second time in 2018, an Azerbaijani court has given a young conscientious objector a criminal conviction for refusing to perform compulsory military service. Agdam District Court handed 19-year-old Vahid Abilov a one-year suspended prison term on 6 September, and he will be under probation for one year. He is planning to appeal against his conviction. "This is the second decision during the last two months according to which Jehovah's Witnesses in Azerbaijan are criminally prosecuted as conscientious objectors," Jehovah's Witnesses complained to Forum 18. "Even though we are happy that Vahid Abilov was not arrested, however, with the verdict of Agdam District Court he was still found guilty because of his religious convictions." Abilov's conviction came exactly two months after another court in western Azerbaijan convicted another conscientious objector Emil Mehdiyev. He too was given a one-year suspended prison term and will have to live under probation for one year. His appeal against his conviction is due to be heard at Ganca Appeal Court on 24 September (see below). The cases of three other Jehovah's Witness young men who similarly refused military service on grounds of conscience have been handed to prosecutors or are being considered. A Prosecutor's Office in Qakh insisted that it will not launch a criminal case against the conscientious objector there (see below). The Office of the government's Human Rights Ombudsperson claimed to Forum 18 that she has urged the "speeding up" of the adoption of an alternative to military service. However, she does not appear to have taken up the cases of Abilov or Mehdiyev (see below). In May, Jehovah's Witnesses discussed with a senior official of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations in Baku the plight of their young men who cannot perform military service on grounds of conscience. However, the discussion did not resolve the problem (see below). International obligation ignored Ahead of its accession in January 2001 to the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan formally promised "to adopt, within two years of accession, a law on alternative service in compliance with European standards and, in the meantime, to pardon all conscientious objectors presently serving prison terms or serving in disciplinary battalions, allowing them instead to choose (when the law on alternative service has come into force) to perform non-armed military service or alternative civilian service". Azerbaijan has never adopted such a law or introduced any civilian alternative to military service, despite calls by the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Five Jehovah's Witnesses punished through the courts between 2007 and 2013 for refusing compulsory military service are awaiting decisions in their appeals to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg. Azerbaijan is subject to the ECtHR's decisions as a member of the Council of Europe (see F18News 29 August 2018 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2408&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=Bg8IFYHPTW20O5-5gQHI6OocuW3JEr7aTfrQD5hkeFk&e=>). With no alternative to compulsory military service for young men, conscientious objectors face prosecution under Criminal Code Article 321.1. This states: "Evasion without lawful grounds of call-up to military service or of mobilisation, with the purpose of evading serving in the military, is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years [in peacetime]" (see Forum 18's Azerbaijan religious freedom survey <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2081&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=monxYxE52bfHKVVlcgpXsWEjY-X2COpw3eYF32NDNi4&e=>). Government's Human Rights Ombudsperson "proposed speeding up" of alternative service? The Office of the government's Human Rights Ombudsperson claimed to Forum 18 on 5 September that in her annual reports, Elmira Suleymanova had "proposed speeding up the adoption of the relevant law" to allow for an alternative to military service. Asked what Ombudsperson Suleymanova had done to defend the rights of those prosecuted for refusing military service on grounds of conscience, such as Emil Mehdiyev, the Ombudsperson's Office responded that it was unable to take up cases which were still pending before a court. It stressed that Mehdiyev had been given a suspended sentence and had not been jailed. The response did not explain why Mehdiyev should have faced prosecution at all for exercising his internationally-recognised right to opt out of military service on grounds of conscience. On 12 September, Forum 18 mentioned to the Ombudsperson's Office the criminal conviction of Vahid Abilov. It received no response. In 2018 the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions downgraded the Azerbaijani Ombudsperson's Office to B status because it "has not adequately spoken out in a manner that effectively promotes protection for all human rights, including in response to credible allegations of human rights violations having been committed by government authorities" (see F18News 29 August 2018 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2408&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=Bg8IFYHPTW20O5-5gQHI6OocuW3JEr7aTfrQD5hkeFk&e=>). A local and two visiting foreign Jehovah's Witnesses raised the lack of an alternative civilian service and the prosecution of conscientious objectors at a meeting in Baku on 3 May with Sayavush Heydarov, one of the Deputy Heads of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations. The State Committee account of the meeting on its website the same day made no mention of the Jehovah's Witness concerns over the lack of alternative civilian service and the prosecutions. Another conscientious objector's criminal conviction Jehovah's Witness Vahid Gunduz oglu Abilov (born 2 May 1999) was called up for compulsory military service in 2017, when he reached the age of 18. On 31 May 2017, Abilov reported to Agdam District Conscription Office and presented a written statement explaining his conscientious objection to military service. On 10 January 2018, he was called again to the Conscription Office and wrote another statement. As requested, on 12 March, Abilov reported to Investigator Rashad Gulmammadli from the Prosecutor's Office and explained his reasons for refusing military service based on his religious beliefs. Abilov was later notified that a criminal case had been initiated against him. On 9 July, he was indicted under the charge of evading military service under Criminal Code Article 321.1. His case was handed to Agdam District Court. The court is in the town of Quzanli, as the town of Agdam itself is controlled by the unrecognised region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This is a frontline area which sees intermittent fighting. At his trial on 6 September, Abilov's lawyer filed a motion to terminate the criminal proceedings. However, Judge Mahir Niftaliyev rejected the motion. That same day, the Judge convicted Abilov under Criminal Code Article 321.1 and handed him a one-year suspended prison term, and required that he live under probation for one year. "During the whole time Abilov repeatedly verbally and in written form explained his religious position," Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. "Vahid Abilov is going to file an appeal against the unlawful verdict of Agdam District Court." Any appeal would be heard at Ganca Appeal Court. Telephones at Agdam District Court went unanswered each time Forum 18 called on 18 September. Ganca Appeal Court told Forum 18 on 18 September that it has received no appeal from Abilov. Forum 18 tried to reach Investigator Gulmammadli at Agdam Prosecutor's Office or its head, Rafayil Zeynalov. However, officials said on 17 September that both were out of the office, Gulmammadli on a work trip and Zeynalov at a meeting. 24 September appeal against criminal conviction The first conscientious objector given a criminal conviction in 2018 is awaiting his appeal against his conviction. Judge Alizamin Abdullayev of Ganca Appeal Court is due to hear the appeal by 18-year-old Emil Mehdiyev on the morning of 24 September, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. At the final hearing on 6 July, Barda District Court convicted Jehovah's Witness Emil Vilayat oglu Mehdiyev (born 12 December 1999) under Criminal Code Article 321.1. The Judge handed him a one-year suspended prison term, and required that he live under probation for one year (see F18News 29 August 2018 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2408&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=Bg8IFYHPTW20O5-5gQHI6OocuW3JEr7aTfrQD5hkeFk&e=>). After his call-up for military service in December 2017, Mehdiyev repeatedly told the Conscription Office he could not perform military service on grounds of conscience and was willing to perform an alternative civilian service. Will other prosecutions reach court? On 7 January 2015, Baku-based Jehovah's Witness Emin Tahmazov sent his statement to Baku's Khatai District Conscription Office explaining his conscientious objection to military service. He provided another statement on 10 January 2018 that explained his beliefs in more detail. In response to a summons, he met Chief Mehman Qurbanov on 14 June, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Qurbanov told Tahmazov that his statement had been considered, that the judgments of the ECtHR in Strasbourg did not apply to him and that he must perform military service. On 21 June, Tahmazov filed his statement to the Conscription Office again. On 25 June, officials told him he had been assigned to a military unit. Tahmazov provided his written statement for the fourth time on 9 July and again requested alternative civilian service. Officials told him that his case would be sent to the Prosecutor's Office. The official who answered the phone at Khatai District Conscription Office on 18 September said Qurbanov was not in the office. He refused to put Forum 18 through to anyone else. On 29 June, Qakh-based Jehovah's Witness Levani Otarashvili hand-delivered to officials at Qakh District Conscription Office a statement explaining his conscientious objection to military service. On 2 July, Otarashvili reported to the Conscription Office, as required by the call-up notice he had received. The Deputy Chief told him that reports from his medical examination were not complete and that he would be contacted later. On 9 July, the Conscription Office called Otarashvili and asked him to report the following morning, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. On 10 July, he duly reported to the Conscription Office, where officials gave him an official letter stating that alternative civilian service was not available. On 24 July, Otarashvili returned to the Conscription Office and met the Deputy Chief. He confirmed that his religious position had not changed and wrote another statement. On 25 July, Otarashvili again went to the Conscription Office, reaffirmed that his position had not changed and repeated his request for alternative service. The chief said he had no choice but to refer the case to the Prosecutor's Office. An inspector of Qakh District Conscription Office - who did not give his name - confirmed to Forum 18 on 18 September that Otarashvili's case had been handed to Qakh District Prosecutor's Office. Asked why, given that Otarashvili had repeatedly declared his readiness to do alternative civilian service, the inspector responded: "Because he doesn't want to serve [in the army]. We don't have alternative service." An official of Qakh District Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Forum 18 on 18 September that it had received materials about Otarashvili from the Conscription Office. However, the official - who did not give his name - stressed that no investigation was underway. "Don't worry, we'll deal with this objectively," the official told Forum 18. "There won't be a criminal case." On 5 June, Khachmaz-based Jehovah's Witness Fuad Hasanaliyev reported to Khachmaz District Conscription Office for a medical examination. He returned to the Conscription Office on 28 June and was given a Draft Notice for 23 July. He refused to sign the document. The Conscription Office Chief shouted at him and threatened to send his case to the Prosecutor's Office. On 10 July, Hasanaliyev sent the Conscription Office a statement explaining his religious beliefs and requesting alternative civilian service. On 23 July, he returned to the Conscription Office and met the Chief and the Deputy Chief. Both officials stated that they would contact headquarters and asked him to return the next day. On 24 July, Hasanaliyev returned to the Conscription Office and met the Chief, who offered him non-combat duties in the military. Hasanaliyev refused and requested alternative civilian service instead. The Chief replied that there is no provision for this in Azerbaijan and that he would transfer Hasanaliyev's case to higher officials for consideration. (END) For background information see Forum 18's Azerbaijan religious freedom survey at <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2081&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=monxYxE52bfHKVVlcgpXsWEjY-X2COpw3eYF32NDNi4&e=>. More coverage of freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Azerbaijan is at <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_Archive.php-3Fquery-3D-26religion-3Dall-26country-3D23&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=_5h_9JJr7dAvl9Xi96RS1s1dnSC-UwbuYasvQ927LI4&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=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=cq0wDNRevG8wMn-_OvWdxvI0SqkNeYAQVpo6mryyrKc&e=>. For a personal commentary, by an Azeri Protestant, on how the international community can help establish religious freedom in Azerbaijan, see <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_Archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D482&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=sq9U586HOQpVZ9LqubyCeP0krhzCKUoQG4XooJKhZ3E&e=>. A printer-friendly map of Azerbaijan is available at <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__nationalgeographic.org_education_mapping_outline-2Dmap_-3Fmap-3DAzerbaijan&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=zWp2RCLNBI2FSMcDFR3vFHXLJ-IOIZtjbMAU8CI7E0s&e=>. Twitter @Forum_18 Follow us on Facebook @Forum18NewsService All Forum 18 News Service material may be referred to, quoted from, or republished in full, if Forum 18 <www.forum18.org> is credited as the source. © Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855. ================================================= SUBSCRIBE here: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_subscribe.php&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=lJxrz0zbG8_f7hCYsbI6a_ao459jCEYvJ2YLoqXw840&e= and enter your e-mail address for either the full or the weekly edition. - Or send an empty e-mail to (for the full edition): [email protected] (for the weekly edition): [email protected] UNSUBSCRIBE here: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_subscribe.php&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Y41Xf2kVKMy0x5ztfFUIk88rTbheYRo1OSXpeQr-xVI&s=lJxrz0zbG8_f7hCYsbI6a_ao459jCEYvJ2YLoqXw840&e= and enter your e-mail address for either the full or the weekly edition. - Or send an empty e-mail to (for the full edition): [email protected] (for the weekly edition): [email protected] ================================================= If you need to contact F18News, please email us at: f18news @ editor.forum18.org Forum 18 Postboks 6603 Rodeløkka N-0502 Oslo NORWAY =================================================
Erdogan: Turkey will not improve relations with Armenia
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said solution to the Upper Karabakh resident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Saturday a solution in Azerbaijan's occupied Karabakh region is the absolute precondition for Turkey to improve ties with Armenia, Daily Sabah reported.
Addressing top Azerbaijani officials including his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev and other attendees of a ceremony held for the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku in Azatliq Square, Erdoğan said: "We want good relations with our neighbors but solving the Karabakh problem is the absolute precondition for Turkey to improve ties with Armenia."
Top military official says army wasn’t ordered to open fire during March 1 events
The army wasn’t ordered to open gunfire in the March 1 events, claims Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Artak Davtyan.
Davtyan served as head of the tactical department of the defense ministry during the events in 2008.
“The army wasn’t given an order to shoot on March 1. The army did not shoot, if shots were fired then it was fired by individual servicemen. They haven’t been ordered to shoot,” he said.
He also said that the border activities of the armed forces during those days proceeded normally.
“The frontline wasn’t depleted. Combat work was ordinary. The border wasn’t weakened during the March 1 days,” he said.
Earlier the head of the Special Investigative Service Sasun Khachatryan said that the probe into the case has revealed that not only has the army taken part in the March 1 events, but it has also opened fire in the direction of civilians.
Հանդիպման կոչ Երեւանի քաղաքապետի բոլոր թեկնածուներին
New free economic zone to be established in Armenia’s Hrazdan
Armenia will establish a new free economic zone in the city of Hrazdan in Kotayk Province, with ECOS company named as its organizer, according to a decision adopted at today’s Cabinet meeting.
The move confirms Armenia’s policy toward basing its economy on high technological innovations, Minister of Economic Development and Investments Artsvik Minasyan said at the meeting.
He detailed the investment program presented by the company eyes involvement of some 50 operators by 2021 and 200 by 2043 in the zone. ECOS will open 22 new jobs, with some 200 new jobs set to be opened by the operators, the minister added.
Moreover, according to Minasyan, the company plans to invest up to $4 million in the program, while the operators are expected to make $15 million investment by 2021 and another $30 million in the future.
The minister says that the free economic zone will have two main territories – the production area (4,3 ha) in Hrazdan and its office in Yerevan.
This will be Armenia’s fourth free economic zone, he added.
Alashkert and Artsakh miss their opportunity
The first two games of the 6th round of the championship of Armenian national football team ended in a draw.
Gyumri’s Shirak team measured competed with the country’s champion Yerevan’s Alashkert. The game ended in a draw without a goal (0:0). It is worth mentioning that the Alashkert residents were nearer to success.
Thus, Shirak ended the game in a drew for the fifth time and occupy the 7th place with 5 points. Alashkert is now on the 4th place with 7 points.
The newcomer of the championship, Artsakh national football team , drew levels with Gandzasar-Kapan with the score of 2:2. Artsakh have scored 5 points in 5 games and now occupy the 5th place. Gandzasar-Kapan team have ended in a drew for the third time and occupy the last place in the tournament table with 3 points.
168: Investigative Committee releases details over armed assault on house of former president of Court of Cassation
The Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case over the armed assault on the house of former president of the Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumyan, the Investigative Committee reported
On August 28, at 22:00, three masked gunmen entered into the house of Arman Mkrtumyan: one of the gunmen has been arrested, the others managed to escape. Arman Mkrtumyan and his family members were in the house at the time of the incident.
All necessary actions are being taken to clarify all details of the incident.
Investigation continues.