Category: 2017

ANCA’s Aram Hamparian to testify at hearings on Erdogan-ordered beatings of US protesters

Emma Nadirian
news.am, Armenia
ANCA’s Aram Hamparian to testify at hearings on Erdogan-ordered beatings of US protesters
12:10, 25.05.2017

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian is set to offer testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe as part of a hearing investigating the May 16th brutal beatings of peaceful American protesters by Turkish President Recep Tayip Erodogan’s bodyguards.

Also testifying at the May 25 hearing are Ms. Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Ezidi Relief Fund and Mr. Murat Yusa, a local businessman and protest organizer. Usoyan and Yusa were victims of the brutal assault on May 16th by President Erdogan’s bodyguards.

On the eve of the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) commented that “The attack by members of President Erdogan’s security detail on peaceful protesters earlier this month was offensive and showed a deep disrespect for the United States and the value we cherish. Those responsible should be punished as the law allows and I call on our own authorities to make sure such a situation is never again allowed to occur.”

The Subcommittee hearing will follow the full Committee’s consideration of the resolution condemning the attacks and “calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

“The ANCA commends Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for introducing H.Res.354, condemning the May 16th beatings of peaceful American protesters by Turkish President Erdogan’s bodyguards,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Even more than a brutal attack on protesters, this is a fundamental attack on the very principles underlying our American democracy – free speech and freedom of assembly. Sadly, Erdogan is able to get away with this brutality in Turkey – but he should never be allowed to export this repression to America or anywhere else in the world.”

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16th attack, which took place in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence where President Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with representatives of The Atlantic Council, a leading think tank in Washington, DC which receives funding from Turkey. Hamparian’s video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a police line and beating peaceful protesters – elderly men and several women – who were on the ground bleeding during most of the attack.

David McAllister: Closing of OSCE Office in Yerevan is the issue of OSCE and not EU

Kajoyan Gevork
news.am, Armenia
David McAllister: Closing of OSCE Office in Yerevan is the issue of OSCE and not EU
20:45, 25.05.2017

YEREVAN. – The European Union fully supports the work of the OSCE field offices, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament, David McAllister, told journalists on Thursday.

To the question of Armenian News – NEWS.am reporter as to whether he considers destructive the police of Azerbaijan, which led to the closing of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, he noted that the closing of the OSCE Office in Yerevan is, of course, the issue of the OSCE and not EU. At the same time, he expressed regret over the impossibility to reach consensus on the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Office in Yerevan despite the efforts of Germany and then Austria.

According to him, the presence of the OSCE on the ground is an important tool for implementing the organization’s principles. EU fully supports the work of these offices, Mr McAllister said, adding that they presented their stance during the meeting with the representatives of international organizations Thursday morning.

According to the official statement of the OSCE, the Office in Yerevan will stop its activity on August 31. Armenia remained the only country in the South Caucasus region, where the OSCE office operated. In 2015, the OSCE Office was closed in Baku. The mandate of the OSCE Office in Georgia expired in December 2008.

The operation of the OSCE Office in Yerevan “hung in the air” due to the lack of consensus on extension of its mandate. Azerbaijan raised claims against the program related to demining trainings. 

Garo Paylan: Genocide is committed every day in Turkey

Zhanna Nahapetian
news.am, Armenia
Garo Paylan: Genocide is committed every day in Turkey

18:58, 25.05.2017

Non-democratic Turkey will never recognize the Armenian Genocide and apologize, Garo Paylan, Istanbul-Armenian MP of the opposition pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) of Turkey, said in an interview with Horizon weekly.

In his words, if crimes are still being committed now, the old ones cannot be recognized. “In Turkey Genocide is committed every day. Every day our co-chairmen and deputies are killed and imprisoned, just as it happened in 1915. We should first and foremost put an end to these crimes, and then return to democracy and peace. Only then can Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide,” Paylan said.

“That crime was committed in Turkey and we should face it in Turkey,” he added.

In the deputy’s words, two years ago Turkey was close to recognizing the Armenian Genocide but Erdoğan’s nationalist alliance undermined that process and will never recognize the Genocide. 

Brad Sherman: Erdogan’s security personnel should not be given visas

Varazdat Torgomian
news.am, Armenia
Brad Sherman: Erdogan’s security personnel should not be given visas

18:49, 25.05.2017

Rep. Brad Sherman called not to issue visas for security personnel of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“They should not be given visas,” he said during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearings on Thursday.

He warned U.S. against granting visas to the same security force that assaulted Americans and trampled on American freedoms.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher joined the voices condemning the brutal attack outside Turkish ambassador’s residence.

“He [Erdogan] is not welcome in the United States, if he thinks that he can attack Americans,” Dana Rohrabacher said.

US Congressmen: If protesters come back to Turkey embassy, we will be there

Garik Boshkezenian
news.am, Armenia
US Congressmen: If protesters come back to Turkey embassy, we will be there

18:25, 25.05.2017

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee is discussing the resolution condemning Turkey over the incident that happened outside Turkish embassy in Washington on May 16.

Several members of the committee condemned the acts of Turkish leader’s “bullies” who were attacking peaceful protesters.

Speaking during the Committee meeting, Rep. Ted Poe said Turkey is ruled by “dictator Erdogan” who undermined Turkish democratic institutions and now thinks he can bring it to Washington D.C. – the seat of democracy.

Erdogan gave tacit approval as he was watching how his bullies were beating unarmed protestors, the Congressman said.

“I would encourage protestors to go back to the embassy to protest again,” he said.

His remark was interrupted by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher who asked whether Congressman Poe would join him outside the Turkish embassy to protect the protesters if they do return.

“Yes, I will,” Poe added.

ANKARA: General Vicar of Armenian Patriarch Aram Ateşyan Resigns

John Hovhannisian
BiaNet, Turkey

General Vicar of Armenian Patriarch Aram Ateşyan Resigns

General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Aram Ateşyan has resigned.
İstanbul – BIA News Desk

Aram Ateşyan, the General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey has resigned, according to a report by Agos weekly.

Armenians in Turkey have been making efforts to initiate the election process for a new Patriarch for quite some time.

According to the traditions of the Armenian Church, the seat of the general vicar should be abolished in order to initiate the election process.

Thought Platform had launched a petition on change.org about the Armenians not being allowed to elect a patriarch for over eight years and requested that Aram Ateşyan resign to launch the election process.

Upon debates among the Armenian society, General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch, Archbishop Aram Ateşyan came together with executives of some foundations and benefactors today (May 24).

Executives of the foundations attending the meeting have reported that Ateşyan has resigned.

Armenians in Turkey cannot elect their patriarch for over eight years. When spiritual leader of the Armenians in Turkey Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan got sick in 2008, the patriarchate elections couldn't be held.

After the two years passing with the discussions "whether the elections will be held", Aram Ateşyan was assigned as General Vicar by the İstanbul Governorship.

It was decided that Patriarch Mesrop II be retired in October 2016, however, no progress was made as to the election.
A new phase started with Spiritual Leader Board Chair Sahak Maşelyan's resignation in February 2017. In the meeting held by the mediators in Armenia, it was decided that the election process be initiated and a sub-governor be elected.

In the elections held on March 15, Spiritual Leader of Armenians in Germany Archbishop Karekin Bekçiyan was elected sub-governor to manage the Patriarch election.

After the election, then General Vicar Aram Ateşyan shared a message from the İstanbul Governorship with the press members:

"Rules and practices concerning the patriarchate election are well known to you and within this scope, initiating an election process is evaluated to be legally impossible".(NV/DG)

BAKU: Armenians ask God to help them invade Baku

Tania Jagharian
News.az, Azerbaijan

Thu 12:20 GMT | 16:20 Local Time

    
Armenians suggest to capture Baku for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Oxu.Az referring to 1news.az.

To implement this "grandiose" plan, the representatives of the "most ancient" nation in the Caucasus pray for the God's help.

Arkadi Karapetyan, the first commander of the "self-defense forces" of the separatist regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, made a similar statement in an interview with the Armenian media.

"I propose that we invade Baku and finally close the question. And to capture Baku, we must bring our nation in order. And that's exactly how it will be – no matter what people say, even regardless of the desires of the world hosts. They think that they decide, but they do not decide: it will be decided by the people, we will ask God to help us solve this issue," he said.

BAKU: Azerbaijani FM: UN resolutions are basis for settlement of Karabakh conflict

John Hovhannisian
APA, Azerbaijan

The resolutions passed by the UN Security Council are basis for the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at his meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres, APA reported.

 

He regrettably added that these resolutions remain unfulfilled by Armenia.

 

Mammadyarov emphasized the importance of continuation of substantive negotiation for resolution of the conflict.

 

The Azerbaijani foreign minister also spoke about the UN role in the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is a threat to peace and security in the South Caucasus region. 

 

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict entered its modern phase when the Armenian SRR made territorial claims against the Azerbaijani SSR in 1988.

 

A fierce war broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. As a result of the war, Armenian armed forces occupied some 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory which includes Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent districts (Lachin, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Gubadli and Zangilan), and over a million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced people.

 

The military operations finally came to an end when Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in Bishkek in 1994.

 

Dealing with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the OSCE Minsk Group, which was created after the meeting of the CSCE (OSCE after the Budapest summit held in December 1994) Ministerial Council in Helsinki on 24 March 1992. The Group’s members include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Belarus, Finland and Sweden.

 

Besides, the OSCE Minsk Group has a co-chairmanship institution, comprised of Russian, the US and French co-chairs, which began operating in 1996.  

 

Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 of the UN Security Council, which were passed in short intervals in 1993, and other resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, PACE, OSCE, OIC, and other organizations require Armenia to unconditionally withdraw its troops from Nagorno-Karabakh.

 

BAKU: Armenia threatens to operate Khojaly airport in occupied lands of Azerbaijan

Vicken Chmshkian
Azernews, Azerbaijan
17:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The unresolved Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may aggravate even more as the Armenian side came up with another provocation against Azerbaijan.

Armenia has made attempts to organize flights from the Khojaly airport in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan under the guise of tourism.

This plan of Armenia to operate the airport in Khojaly is gross violation of international legal norms. This air space belongs to Azerbaijan, therefore, its use by Armenia is not possible.

The idea of Armenia to operate the Azerbaijani airport is not new – its roots were laid back in 2011. Besides Azerbaijan itself, many international organizations and foreign countries condemned Armenia's attempts to operate the airport in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Opening of the airport in Khojaly will be a blatant violation of legal norms that can damage peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry immediately responded to the Armenian provocation, calling the OSCE Minsk Group to address the issue as soon as possible.

“Azerbaijan calls on the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, responsible for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, to take measures to prevent another Armenian provocation,” Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend on May 25.

He noted that Armenia’s plans to organize flights from the Khojaly airport in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenian armed forces under the guise of tourism is another Armenian provocation. “Such actions seriously damage the negotiation process and deliberately serve to escalate the conflict,” said the spokesperson.

He added that the airspace of the occupied territories is the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan.

“The Khojaly airport is Azerbaijan’s property by the special code of the International Civil Aviation Organization,” said Hajiyev. “Azerbaijan banned flights in the airspace over the occupied territories, since it is impossible to ensure the safety of flights in this part of Azerbaijan’s airspace.”

The spokesman added that this position of Azerbaijan is supported by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the European Civil Aviation Conference.

Armenia’s attempts to use the Khojaly airport and organize illegal flights is a gross violation of the Law on Aviation of Azerbaijan, peremptory norms and principles of international law, the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, rules and regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Hajiyev stressed.

He assured that Azerbaijan, using international legal means in order to prevent another provocation by Armenia, will appeal to relevant international bodies.

The State Civil Aviation Administration of Azerbaijan has also responded to the Armenian provocation. The Administration told Trend that they will take measures to prevent illegal flights from the Khojaly airport, in accordance with the Law on Aviation and Rules of Use of Airspace of Azerbaijan.

“Taking into account that the Khojaly airport is located in the Armenia-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, and it is impossible to ensure full flight safety in these areas, the State Civil Aviation Administration of Azerbaijan declared this territory a forbidden zone for civil aviation in accordance with the Law on Aviation,” noted the administration.

It was also noted that official information about the prohibition of flights is also contained in the Aeronautical Information Publication of Azerbaijan.

To prevent any illegal flights in this area, measures will be taken in accordance with the Law on Aviation and the Rules of use of airspace of Azerbaijan, the administration noted.

International flights from the Khojaly airport, constructed in 1978, were prohibited after the occupation of territories by Armenia. Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on the country. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.

The town of Khojaly suffered the most mournful massacre of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. On February 26, 1992, as many as 613 civilians of the town were cruelly massacred by Armenian armed forces. Only Azerbaijan has the right to operate the Khojaly airport, after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is over, and more than a million of Azerbaijani refugees return to their homes in the region.