Archives for June 2016

Coming Close to Raqqa: This is How Daesh May Lose Battle for its ‘Capital’

June 6, 2016 By administrator

Clashes are underway in northern Syria over the strategic town of Manbij where Daesh terrorists come to via Turkey. The liberation of Manbij, located on the way to Raqqa, would cut off supply lines for the terrorists.

The Syrian Army backed by allied militia forces for the first time in two years entered the province of Raqqa. As the regional capital, the city of Raqqa is considered the de-facto capital of Daesh.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) mainly composing Kurdish militia fighters are carrying out an operation to liberate Tabaqah, Manbij and Raqqa. At the same time, from the south the Syrian Army is advancing on Raqqa.

Manbij is located between Raqqa and the Turkish-Syrian border. Arms supplies to the Daesh capital reportedly come via Manbij.

Local residents told RT about the rules the terrorists have imposed in Manjib.

SDF fighters rescued thousands of refugees from the Daesh-seized surroundings of Manbij and Mascana. They are hiding in the village of Tal-Arsh.

“We were rescued by the Syrian Democratic Forces. I hope we will never meet terrorists again. They did not let us leave the town, they killed people. Smoking was prohibited. The terrorists forced us to grow beards,” a refugee said.

Among the refugees in Tal-Arsh are women, children and the elderly. Their goal is to save their lives from the terrorists.

“Civilians are suffering from Daesh’s atrocities. Look what’s happening out there! Daesh is to blame for this! Its ideology has nothing to do with Islam. People are suffering. They left their homes and have to live without water. The terrorists did this. But we’ll liberate Syria from them,” a fighter from the Manbij military committee said.

Within a few days, the Syrian Democratic Forces backed by a US-led coalition’s airstrikes liberated a number of villages near Manbij.

“Our goal is to liberate Manbij from Islamists. Now we’re pursuing the rest of the enemy near the village of Mubalgam. Then we’ll continue our offensive on Manbij,” a militia fighter said.

Manbij is a strategic town where Daesh militants come to from Turkey. The restoration of control over the town would also facilitate the liberation of Aleppo Province.

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source::sputniknews.com

German MPs of Turkish origin face death threats as Erdogan says their blood is ‘tainted’

June 6, 2016 By administrator

German MPs of Turkish origin who voted to recognize Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire are facing death threats, after the Turkish president said their blood is tainted and should be tested in a lab for ‘Turkishness.’

Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued his vocal criticism of last week’s German resolution in a speech at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, which was televised in Turkey on Sunday.

“Turkish?” he exclaimed as he was speaking about the German MPs. “Their blood should be tested in a lab!”

“Their blood is impure and we know whose spokespeople they are,” Erdogan told a cheering audience. “They are the long arm of the separatist terrorists placed in Germany.”

Eleven MPs of Turkish origin voted for the resolution last week, sparking a barrage of accusations from Ankara. German Green Party leader Ozcan Mutlu is at the forefront of the verbal assault and was granted police protection due to the large number of death threats he has received from Turkish nationalists.

I am seriously worried,” he told public broadcaster ARD on Sunday. “I’ve never experienced this amount [of abuse]. Some manic, crazy person might hear that and think ‘the leader has given his orders.’”

Mutlu is a long-time critic of Erdogan and campaigned for the Armenian genocide resolution. Turkish officials and media branded him “a German idiot,” “a traitor” and “a so-called Turk” for his role in the vote.

The German MPs are not the first targets of the kind of racist rhetoric used by Erdogan on Sunday. The Turkish president used the same kind of language when describing members of the Turkish parliament from the opposition pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party.

During 1915, between 800,000 and 1.5 million ethnic Armenians were killed by Ottoman forces. Turkey disputes the scale of the tragedy. It also insists that the deaths were not the result of an intentional government policy, saying that the Armenians sided with Russia against their own government during World War I.

History-genocide-Armenia-Turkey-Germany-EU The recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the world (AFP)

June 6, 2016 By administrator

history recognition of genocide An increasing number of parliaments, mainly in Europe, like the Bundestag on Thursday passed laws or resolutions explicitly recognizing the Armenian Genocide, unlike other countries failing to pronounce the word that puts Turkey in fury.

According to the Armenian National Institute, 26 other parliaments have recognized the genocide: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Paraguay , Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican, Venezuela. But these votes may take forms and have many different legal litters.

– Recognition and denial –

France was in January 2001, the first major country to recognize the Armenian genocide. The denial of the genocide is not however penalized, the Constitutional Council censored in February 2012 a law in this sense, judging contrary to freedom of expression.

In contrast to France, some countries criminalize denial of Armenian genocide like Switzerland where a revisionist was sentenced in federal court in 2007, and Cyprus by a law adopted in April 2015.

Cypriot law establishes April 24, when the first massacres in 1915, as a National Day of Remembrance in this country, where members of the Armenian minority are mostly descendants of the survivors of the “genocide”.

– Other European parliaments –

Among parliaments that have recently adopted a resolution recognizing the genocide include the Luxembourg Parliament in May 2015, and Belgium, in July of the same year. The resolution adopted by the Belgian Parliament, however, not explicitly recognizes the genocide character of the massacres and deportations of Armenians.

The European Parliament recognized the genocide in 1987.

The genocidal massacres and deportations occurred between 1915 and 1917 was recognized by the parliaments of several countries such as Russia (1994), Greece (1996), Italy (2000), the Netherlands (2004) Sweden (2010).

April 24, 2015, in full commemoration by Armenia of the 100th anniversary of the genocide, Pope Francis speaks of “first genocide of the twentieth century” about the massacre of Armenians in the most solemn part of the St. Peter’s Basilica. A first in the Vatican.

More symbolically, the Austrian MEPs observed in April 2015, a minute of silence in memory of the Armenian genocide, a first in this country formerly allied with the Ottoman Empire and that term has never been officially endorsed.

– US Hesitation –

April 20, 1965, Uruguay was the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Other Latin American countries have followed such as Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.

The Canadian House of Commons has recognized the Armenian genocide in 2004.

In the US, Congress recognized the genocide with the adoption of resolutions by the House in 1975 and 1984. When he was campaigning for the White House in 2008, Barack Obama pledged to recognize the genocide, a term however, he never employed as president.

AFP

Monday, June 6, 2016,
Stéphane © armenews.com

Turkish dictator Erdogan: Germany should be the last country in the world to talk about genocide

June 6, 2016 By administrator

erdogan migration In a speech Sunday to the Turkish Exporters Assembly, Erdogan again denounced the Bundestag vote recognizing the Armenian genocide. Lambasting the resolution, he attacked Germany and landed in victim of a conspiracy, while resuming his account quibbles conventional deniers to cast doubt on the historical facts, the guilt of the Young Turk government, and plead good faith nickname of its State. The gist of his words that proceed from the arrogance and cynicism of traditional Turkish authorities on this issue and their complicity in relation to genocide they continue to deny reality, despite the fact that the Germany, their main ally during the First World War not only just to recognize but also to accept its share of responsibility in the crime: “It is contrary to the natural course of life that the last country that can speak of genocide carries such accusation against us, said Erdogan. They must first redefine the Holocaust. They should consider the genocide in Namibia. I know in my heart that the main point is not Armenians. They are simply manipulated. “

Referring to the resolution adopted by the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, President Erdogan has developed the false argument of the archives, as if it was a problem of this nature, knowing in any case that those of his state are either inaccessible (military archives) be redacted and that the German archives contain all ways all the evidence of the extermination company: “Our position on the Armenian issue was clear from the start. I appeal to German politicians. We opened our archives. If you are sincere and honest, open your relevant archives. Compare the archives. Then make your decision based on these records. However, you do not have the courage to do it, because you know that these archives will bring shame on you. Currently, we have millions of documents. Most of these documents have already been examined. We are confident and open about this. If you have documents, open them. But they can not, because such a question is out of the question. Who killed who? Who attacked whom? Who moved that? Who was behind that? These documents will provide answers to these questions. “

“This issue has nothing to do with defending the rights of the Armenians”

Erdogan then dare talk about sincerity: “Here we see a sincere problem. You wear the same accusation against Turkey again and again, while turning our backs on our proposal to shed light on the issue. I say again that we know very well that this issue has nothing to do with defending the rights of the Armenians. This is just a manipulation tool. I hope that Armenians have also noticed this fact and will stop being misled “the president said Erdogan.

Turkey left alone with burden of its gravest crime, Hayk Demoyan says

June 6, 2016 By administrator

“After the German Bundestag recognized the Armenian Genocide, in fact Turkey was left alone with the burden of its gravest crime, because Germany also admitted its complicity in the Genocide,” director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Hayk Demoyan said during a press conference.

According to him, Germany made this decision, after 3-4 years of discussions, hearings, expertise. “Germany has been delaying the discussion of this resolution for various reasons. The German-Turkish portal coming from the second half of the 19th century has been very strong. A step-by-step work has been carried out by both Armenian-German and German intellectuals”.

As Demoyan noted, by admitting its complicity, Germany faced its history, for which Turkey isn’t yet ready, as always adopting the same position, making defiant statements, calling back its ambassador.
According to him, in case of thorough thinking, Ankara won’t resort to drastic measures, as it can lead to negative outcome, considering the Turkish working migrants in Germany, besides, any drastic move can ruin not only Turkish-German, but also Turkish-European relationships.

Demoyan also noted that he doesn’t think Turkey will prey on the Armenians living in Turkey, because there’s already tension with the Kurdish people.

Concerning Turkish President Erdogan’s statements on deporting Armenians who don’t have Turkish citizenship, Demoyan said that such statements are always voiced every time a country officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide.

“I think these statements must be responded on a state level, because silence isn’t an answer, they are our citizens,” he said adding that the Armenian side should also mention the hate speech against Armenians, which Turkey and Azerbaijan carry out on state level.

According to Hayk Demoyan, the adoption of such resolution had a very psychological significance, especially after the escalation of tension on the Line of Contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan in April.

He also noted that this kind of resolutions don’t have any legal outcome, yet they are important for undertaking the future steps. According to Demoyan, after this recognition, a logical question arises where the belongings of the Armenian victims are, which Turkey has kept in German banks.

Agreement on abolition of visas between Armenia, Iran signed in Tehran

June 6, 2016 By administrator

g-f57553f69870c6_57553f6987104.thumb Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian signed an agreement on abolishing the visa between the two states, RA Foreign Ministry reports.

To remind, the agreement, previously endorsed by the Armenian government, aims to regulate the two countries citizens’’ mutual visits. According to the draft justification the agreement stems from the necessity of fostering bilateral relations, strengthening mutually beneficial trade as well as economic ties between Armenia and Iran.

Citizens with ordinary or diplomatic passports of Armenia and Iran can stay maximum of 90 days in a given 180-day period in the territory of the other country without requirement of obtaining a visa.

Armenian president appoints new Security Council chief

June 6, 2016 By administrator

President Serzh Sargsyan has signed a decree to appoint a secretary of the National Security Council.
Introducing Armen Gevorkian, a former vice prime minister of Armenia, to the Council’s members on Monday, the president congratulated him on the appointment and wished him success in the new office.
“Armen Gevorkian possesses adequate experience to properly carry out complex duties of the Secretary of Armenia’s National Security Council. I have known him for almost twenty years, we worked together, and throughout these years I don’t recall a single instance when he would have a problem in the execution of his duties. In the process, he also contributed to the works of the NSC and was involved in the issues that had a direct relation to the NSC area of responsibility. I have no doubt that in a short period of time with your assistance he will be able to demonstrate to our society and our state that the National Security Council is an important link in our state governance structure. You are all well aware that the RA NSC is a consultative body, however every important issue is discussed in the Council and later decisions are adopted based on these discussions,” Mr Sargsyan said, according to a press release by the presidential office.
Mr Gevorkian thanked the president for the trust, describing his appointment as a good opportunity to demonstrate his best abilities and skills in the state administration system.

Bundestag’s decision must be respected, Berlin tells Ankara

June 6, 2016 By administrator

blood test Resolution on the Armenian Genocide was a political initiative that emerged from the midst of the Bundestag, spokesman for Angela Merkel said on Monday in response to criticism by Turkish President Erdogan.

Steffen Seibert recalled that Bundestag is a democratically elected and independent body, AFP reported.

“The Bundestag reached a sovereign decision. That must be respected,” Seibert said, adding that this was the message Merkel had given to the Turkish president.

Earlier Erdogan said the German MPs of Turkish origin who supported the resolution also backed terrorism of the Kurdish Workers’ Party. He demanded “blood tests” to see “what kind of Turks they are”.

In response, Seibert said although Berlin considers PKK a terrorist group, “to associate individual members of parliament with terrorism is utterly incomprehensible to us”.

First Armenian smartphones to be on sale in Yerevan

June 6, 2016 By administrator

YEREVAN. – The first Armenian smartphones ArmPhone will be on sale in Yerevan since Monday. These phones were developed by Technology & Science Dynamics company (TSD), which also released the first Armenian tablet.

Five various models of smartphones will go on sale, some of them have 32 GB internal memory, 4G communication system, run on Android 5.1 or Android 6.0 operating system and distinguish fingerprints.

Gayane Chiloyan: Great honor to be the youngest Armenian Olympian at Rio 16

June 5, 2016 By administrator

Gayane Chiloyan

Rio 2016 Summer Olympics will be unique both in terms of the number of participants and the sets of medals.

Gayane Chiloyan, 15, will represent Armenia at Rio 16 for the first time in the history of independent Armenia being the youngest participant from the country ever participated in the Olympic games.

To remind, Chiloyan gained an Olympic qualification at the Armenian Athletics Championship held at Artashat town overcoming the 200m distance in 23.16. In this sport the Olympic norm is 23.20.

Specialists designate great perspectives to the racer. Chiloyan herself is realist and has no much expectation over Rio games, yet vows to struggle for the highest places in Tokyo 2020 Olympics. 15-year-old racer shared her recent achievements and perspectives about the upcoming Olympic games in an interview with the press service of the Armenian National Olympic Committee.

– I used to go to ballet at 9 for couple of months, and then I quitted. Ballet appears to be a more complex world. Actually, I was not fond of ballet and went at the urging of my parents. Athletics and ballet are two opposite polars. I went to athletics at 10. Since I was quite proactive and used to run in the yard, I was engaged in racing at the initiative of my aunt. Now the trainings occupy the most part of my day. I am tied to my coaches and other team members. I think I enjoy athletics mostly due to my coaches, as their influence is rather high.

– Can we say 200m sprint race is your main distance?
– Yes, 200m and 100m are the main dashes. I hate the 300m, the 400m races.

– Gayane, you are 15 years old and are going to represent Armenia in the most important international sport event. Do you feel that sense of responsibility may disrupt you?
– It is great honor to be the youngest Olympian. The responsibility in itself does not disrupt. Every athlete dreams of participating in the Olympics.

– What was your parents’ reaction?
– To tell the truth, my family members are not e well aware what gaining Olympic qualification is worth for. My aunt was happy.

– What are your expectations form the Summer Olympic games?
– I, people around me realize that the result I registered in the Armenian Championship will not guarantee serious achievements during the Olympics, yet I am decisive to struggle for serious results in the 2020 Olympics. I will exert every effort to improve the registered result. Furthermore, my participation in the games will be a serious experience for the future. I also have a desire to participate in the Rio Carnival.

– After gaining the Olympic qualification, what has changed in your routine?
– The trainings were added. I train with higher motivation and longer. Apart from that, I am under the spotlight of the reporters that hinders my training schedule.