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UCSC Student Government Passes Armenian Genocide Recognition Resolution

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UC Santa Cruz Armenian Students’ Association

UC Santa Cruz Armenian Students’ Association

UCSC SANTA CRUZ—On Tuesday, May 24th, the student government at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz), the Student Union Assembly (SUA), unanimously voted to pass the “Armenian Genocide Commemoration Resolution.” The effort was led by the Armenian Students’ Association (ASA) at UC Santa Cruz. Approximately thirty students attended the SUA meeting at the school’s campus.

The resolution sheds light on the massacres of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and the Ottoman Empire’s attempt to systematically annihilate the Armenian people. Furthermore, it brings awareness to the Republic of Turkey’s continuous genocide denial campaign and efforts to hide its crimes against humanity.

Four Armenian students at UC Santa Cruz, Maral Tatoian, Nara Avakian, Daniel Sarkissian, and Haik Adamian, worked on finalizing the language of the resolution. At last Tuesday’s SUA meeting, Tatoian presented about the resolution, speaking on the history of the Armenian Genocide, the cycle of genocide that continues today, as well as what the passing of the resolution would mean for genocide education and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on a national level.

“Being one of the co-founders that re-established ASA [at UC Santa Cruz], I have seen this organization grow over the past four years and partake in movements like this. It is very touching for me and truly shows the impact we are making on campus in order to make our voices heard. After all, they tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds and we will continue to grow!” said Tatoian, a fourth-year linguistics major and education minor undergraduate at UC Santa Cruz.

The resolution calls on SUA to not only commemorate the Armenian Genocide, but also “condemn those attempts made by governments as well as other entities, both public and private, to distort the historical reality and legal relevance of the Armenian Genocide to the descendants of its survivors and humanity as a whole.”

Through this resolution, the students hope to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide and the ongoing denial by the Republic of Turkey and the United States. Moreover, they hope to work with SUA to educate students on campus about the cycle of genocide that continues with denial.

“For me, the passing of this resolution means a lot. Having a prominent student association recognize our cause as Armenians is a big step. But this is only the first step of many toward the recognition of the Armenian Genocide” said Nara Avakian, a first-year sociology major and global information and social enterprise studies minor undergraduate student.

Furthermore, through the passing of this resolution, SUA “supports the efforts of the Armenian-American community at UC Santa Cruz to establish April 24th as the official Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide.”

“For me, this means the progress of the marginalized Armenian Diaspora. As I am a descendent of genocide survivors, it is an honor to have represented my nation in a monumental step on our campus. With Turkey launching a major anti-genocide [recognition] campaign, every step we take as Armenians towards recognition is valuable to our community” said Daniel Sarkissian, a second-year neuroscience undergraduate student.

The ASA at UC Santa Cruz will be meeting with the school’s Executive Vice Chancellor to discuss the next steps that need to be taken to ensure that April 24th will become Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day at UC Santa Cruz

“Passing the resolution marks the beginning of the battle for getting UC Regents, and other authorities to give up their strategic ties to bodies and companies who are active participants in Turkey’s genocide denial and normalization campaigns. At the very least, we can help to expose the role of the education industry in the widespread denial of the Armenian genocide” said Haik Adamian, a second-year anthropology major at UC Santa Cruz.

Armenian students at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) ensured the adoption of similar genocide recognition resolutions last year on their respective campuses.

Last June, the UC Santa Cruz ASA introduced and ensured the unanimous adoption of “A Resolution to Divest from the Republic of Turkey to End the Perpetuation of the Armenian Genocide”, which calls for UC Santa Cruz, the UC Santa Cruz Foundation, and the University of California to divest $72.6 million dollars worth of University of California bonds and investments in the Republic of Turkey for its crimes in, and continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution was a part of the greater #DivestTurkey campaign led by the Armenian Youth Federation – Western United States (AYF-WUS) and campus-based ASAs.

Greece and Russia: cooperation for peace and prosperity

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Putin greeceCOMMENT

(ekathimerini) Ahead of my visit to Athens, I would like to share with the readers of Kathimerini, one of the most popular and respected Greek newspapers, some ideas regarding the further development of the partnership between Greece and Russia, as well as about the situation on the European continent in general.

We value the centuries-old traditions of friendship between our peoples. Our cooperation rests on a rock-solid base of common civilizational values, the Orthodox culture and a genuine mutual affection. A vivid example of how closely our people’s lives are intertwined is the story of Ioannis Kapodistrias, who was a Russian minister of foreign affairs in the 19th century and later became a head of the Greek state.

The celebrations of the Millennium of Russian Monasticism on the Holy Mount Athos will be a landmark event this year. Throughout completely different periods of history, their moral courage, faith and patriotism helped our peoples to overcome severe ordeals and preserve their identity.

Hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists visit your country every year. They relax on the beautiful beaches, get acquainted with the rich heritage of ancient Hellas and its legendary architectural monuments. Tourism makes a significant contribution to the economic development of Greece, as well as to broader direct people-to-people contacts and greater trust and friendship between our citizens.

I know that Greece remembers its achievement of independence was due in no small measure to Russia’s efforts. Russia’s support for the Greek national liberation struggle largely determined the further development of bilateral relations.

These days, Greece is Russia’s important partner in Europe. We are conducting a dynamic political dialogue, including at the top level. During a meeting with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in January, we announced the opening of the cross years of Greece and Russia. The programs cover activities in the scientific, educational and humanitarian spheres, as well as tourism. I am confident they will help our peoples to get even more closely acquainted with each other’s history, traditions and customs.

Last year, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made two visits to our country. We had informative and very useful discussions. Contacts between ministries and agencies, parliaments and civil society organizations are growing stronger.

Unfortunately, the decline in relations between Russia and the European Union stands in the way of a further strengthening of our cooperation, with an adverse effect on the dynamics of bilateral trade that fell by a third to $2.75 billion as compared to last year. Particularly affected were Greek agricultural producers.

Russia proceeds from the need to establish dialogue with the EU in the spirit of equality and genuine partnership on a variety of issues ranging from visa liberalization to the formation of an energy alliance. However, we do not yet see our European colleagues’ willingness to follow such a mutually beneficial and promising path.

Nevertheless, we believe that our relations with the EU do not face any problems that we cannot solve. To get back to a multifaceted partnership, the deficient approach of one-sided relationships should be abandoned. There should be true respect for each other’s opinions and interests.

Today, Russia and the EU have come to a crossroads where we need to answer the following question: How do we see the future of our relations and which way are we going to head? I am convinced we should draw appropriate conclusions from the events in Ukraine and proceed to establishing, in the vast space stretching between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, a zone of economic and humanitarian cooperation based on the architecture of equal and indivisible security. Harmonizing European and Eurasian integration processes would be an important step in this direction.

This work is all the more relevant, insofar as today Europe is facing increased competition from other power centers of the contemporary world. For instance, at the recent ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Sochi we had meaningful discussions with our partners on pressing international issues, the prospects for integration projects and enhanced cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Apparently, a rightful position of the Old Continent in the new international realities can only be secured by combining capacities of all European countries, including Russia.

Multidimensional contacts between Greece and Russia are an important element of this system. I would like to single out the energy sector. We have been consistently advocating the diversification of energy transportation modes that would improve the reliability of supplies and, therefore, European energy security as a whole.

Russia has ensured regular and reliable natural gas supplies to Greece for two decades. The existing contract with Greece was extended up to 2026 on favorable terms for your country. Being aware of Greek leaders’ intention to make the country a powerful energy hub in the Balkans, we have always included Greece in our plans to enhance hydrocarbons supply to Central and Western Europe.

Since 2006, Gazprom has been actively promoting the South Stream project. However, at a certain point, its implementation became impossible due to the unconstructive stance adopted by the European Commission. Despite the fact that we had to suspend the project, issues relating to southern routes of energy shipment to the EU states are still on the agenda. In February, the heads of Gazprom, Edison (Italy) and DEPA (Greece) signed in Rome a memorandum of understanding on the supply of Russian natural gas to Greece and Italy along the bottom of the Black Sea through third countries.

Russia could also help to streamline the Greek transport infrastructure. We are referring to the participation of Russian business entities in the forthcoming Greek tenders for the purchase of assets of railway companies and the Thessaloniki port facilities. Also on the agenda are a number of other projects that can considerably enhance the potential of bilateral cooperation.

I am confident that friendly relations between Greece and Russia are our common heritage and a solid foundation for a promising and future-oriented partnership. I hope that we will further intensify our dialogue in various fields and jointly implement our plans.

Cyprus: President cancels a meeting on reunification of the island

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Cyprus cancelNicosia – Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday canceled a meeting scheduled in the framework of peace talks, denouncing what he sees as an attempt to recognize the northern part of the island, occupied by Turkey.

The decision comes after Mr Anastasiades, a Greek Cypriot, had given up attending a dinner in Istanbul for heads of state which was also invited at the last minute the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who has no rank of president.

This is the first serious snag in the peace negotiations launched one year ago between Mr. Anastasiades and Akinci and to reunify the Mediterranean island divided since 1974.

With regret, President Anastasiades has established that the land was not suitable to hold a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader on May 27, said in a statement the government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides.

While he was on Monday in Istanbul to attend the World Humanitarian Summit, Mr. Anastasiades has decided not to attend the dinner when he learned that Mr. Akinci there would also be present, calling it unacceptable invitation.

Mustafa Akinci heads the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, proclaimed and recognized only by Turkey.

The invitation to Mr Akinci by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been seen, the Greek Cypriot side as an attempt to undermine the authority of the President of Cyprus and to give more credit to the Turkish Cypriot leader.

In New York, the deputy spokesman Farhan Haq UN stressed that it was an invitation from the Turkish authorities and that the UN was not involved.

The UN has not been formally informed of the decision of the Greek party not to participate in the next round of negotiations, he said.

At this important stage of the process, the secretary general (Ban) wishes to emphasize that the two leaders have shown great courage and great perseverance in the process and have made much progress, so it encourages them to redouble efforts, added the spokesman.

Mr. Anastasiades said he was determined to continue the peace talks provided there is mutual respect (…) and not unilateral decisions to raise the status of a pseudo-state.

Such decisions (…) not only does not help the ongoing process but harm it, the statement said.

After several failures the past 40 years of peace talks under the auspices of the UN were relaunched in May 2015 and are seen as the last chance to reunify the island.

Many feel that the good relations between the two leaders, who meet on a regular basis, can create a climate of confidence in the conclusion of a peace agreement but this latest incident may burden the atmosphere of the negotiations.

Cyprus has been divided in two since the invasion in 1974 of its northern part by Turkey in response to a coup aimed at connecting the country with Greece.

The authorities of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise authority on the Greek Cypriot side of the island, or two-thirds the south.

Thursday, May 26, 2016,
Stéphane © armenews.com

Wonderful gala dinner in London to help the Armenians in Syria

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AGUB fund325 thousand dollars raised for humanitarian emergency funds to the Armenians of Syria.

May 21, AGBU was attended by hundreds of supporters and friends for a dinner gala at the Landmark Hotel in London. The evening was dedicated to the AGBU achievements of humanitarian emergency relief funds to the Armenians of Syria and sought to instill ongoing support to mitigate the terrible conditions in the region.

AGBU held expressed gratitude to the generosity of its members and its central office and the Amber Capital CEO Joseph Oughourlian and his wife Jenny, who allowed all proceeds from fundraising this evening are directed to the emergency relief Fund humanitarian AGBU Syrian Armenians.

The speech by the Right Honourable Professor Lord Darzi of Denham was the evening’s highlight. Referring few episodes highlight of his life with wit and charm, Lord Darzi captivated the audience. Born in Baghdad to Armenian parents, Lord Darzi is one of the leading surgeons in the world, pioneer of endoscopic surgery that saved the lives of countless patients worldwide. He was also Minister of Health and the British government became the first Armenian to be a member of the House of Lords.

Speeches were also made by Camilo Azzouz office of AGBU Europe and AGBU London; Mr. Oughourlian; Mr. César Alierta, chairman of Telefónica Spanish telecommunications provider; and the President of the AGBU Berge Setrakian. All speakers stressed the importance had to respond quickly to global crises and to alleviate the suffering in Syria. In particular, Mr. Alierta – a friend and supporter of the Armenian community, which encouraged members of AGBU to remain aware of the crisis in Syria and described the Armenians as a best people in the world: “I ‘ saw the resilience and strength of the Armenian community. They are part of your DNA. Your community is the largest in the world because it is the only one to know how to have lived in the Middle East, Europe, Canada, the United States and Latin America, while also serving Christian values. “

There were among the distinguished guests of the members of the AGBU London, AGBU Europe, Central Board of AGBU and clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and members of the Young Professionals Network (YP) of AGBU.

A special tribute was paid to a member of the Central Board of AGBU, Vasken Yacoubian, who played a key role in the organization of emergency in Syria and for Syrian Armenians came to live in Armenia. “From the bottom of our hearts, you are truly a hero for us and a great inspiration. If my generation spends so much time at what she does, it’s because of people like you who put everything they had in our community. We thank you deeply for that, “said Camilo Azzouz in honor M.Yacoubian.

The gala concluded with the remarks of Mr. Setrakian, who outlined the tremendous history of the Middle East Armenians in the last century and highlighted the perseverance of the Armenian people. “These are difficult times, but we will prevail, I remain optimistic. Our vision, since 1906, has faced many challenges, but we thank the Armenians worldwide who have trusted this organization and we will continue the legacy of our founders and continue to reach out to all Armenians the need. “

To donate to the AGBU Fund of humanitarian emergency relief for Syrian Armenians, you can visit: https://donate.agbu.org/agbu-urgent-appeal.

Founded in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the largest non-profit Armenian organization in the world. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian life touching each year of some 500,000 Armenians around the world.

Turkey’s Islamists, nationalists both silent on Israeli weapons flow to Azerbaijan – Al Monitor

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f5746c88b59bcd_5746c88b59c04.thumbBy Pinar Tremblay
In early April, as renewed fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region made headlines in Turkey, there was little talk of the crucial role of Israeli weapons in the clashes. Only the daily Hurriyet reported on Azerbaijan’s use of the Israeli Harop armed drone, which generated Armenian protests.

Turkey’s Islamist and ultra-nationalists are curbing their opposition — at least outwardly — to Israel, which is supplying Azerbaijan with weapons to fight Armenia.

Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Omer Celik summarized why the issue should be important to the press: “Azerbaijan’s battle is our battle; their martyrs are our martyrs.” Indeed, Azerbaijan consistently scores as Turkey’s closest friend in Turkish public opinion polls, while Israel maintains its status as a serious threat in the same polls.
Intriguingly, Israel is Azerbaijan’s main arms supplier, a situation that poses a puzzle: Why have Turks remained silent as Azerbaijan, their closest friend, and Israel, their greatest rival — if not necessarily enemy — have grown closer? The silence of two sections of Turkish society is particularly noteworthy: One is Turkish ultra-nationalists, whose commitment to Azerbaijan is near-absolute; the other is Islamists, who miss no opportunity to bash Israel. Why are these two groups, whose protests are rarely if ever curtailed by the police in Turkey, ignoring this development?
The Israeli-Azeri cooperation has expanded as Israeli-Turkish relations have soured since the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident. Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an independent think tank in Yerevan, Armenia, told Al-Monitor, “Israel has replaced Turkey as an essential military patron of Azerbaijan, as seen in the 2012 deal involving the Azerbaijani procurement of drones and anti-aircraft missile defense systems from the state-run Israel Aerospace Industries for $1.6 billion.”
Giragosian explained that the bilateral relations are not limited to the weapons trade. The countries’ interests converge in three main areas — “security and military, including intelligence cooperation; energy and trade; and geopolitical strategy,” he said.
So why are Turkish Islamists and ultra-nationalists remaining silent as their rival Israel expands its presence in Azerbaijan? There are at least two intertwined explanations for this rational ignorance: the media’s silence and political pragmatism.
There is an undeclared media gag order in Turkey on publishing, and not just on anti-AKP stories considered unpleasant for the government. The Israeli-Azerbaijani relationship is diligently ignored in mainstream media. Hence, several leading figures of grass-roots Islamist and nationalist movements told Al-Monitor they are not aware of the extent of the strategic friendship between Turkey’s best friend and its most outspoken rival in the region. It was particularly noteworthy that none of the ultra-nationalists and only one of the Islamists was willing to go on the record with their views on the subject.

A middle-aged, self-described bozkurt (a nickname for a member of the Gray Wolves, the Turkish ultra-nationalist group) who worked in organizing youth told Al-Monitor, “Our youth are happy to see Azerbaijan triumph. We all wish it was mostly Turkish-made weapons being used, but we are not there yet. In the meantime, we cannot fuss about the identity of the manufacturer.”Turkey sells arms to Azerbaijan as well.
When reminded of the increasing presence of Israeli intelligence in Azerbaijan, as well as in the oil and gas trade, realpolitik came to the fore. Approaching the question in a frivolous manner, the Gray Wolf said, “Our [Turkish] relations are much better with Israel now, so are the Azerbaijanis’. Who is going to call the kettle black? Times have changed.”
More on the story is available here

Turkey is accused of sending ‘seriously sick’ Syrian migrants to Greece while ‘cherry-picking’ doctors and engineers for its own workforce

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Volunteers walk on a pile of lifejackets left behind by refugees and migrants who arrived to the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey last year Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3606168/Turkey-deliberately-selecting-uneducated-sick-Syrians-Europe-cherry-picking-wants-keep.html#ixzz49l6Udxnw Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Imagine the billions Turkey made from making these lifejeckets Volunteers walk on a pile of lifejackets left behind by refugees and migrants who arrived to the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey last year

BY Josie Ensor, istanbul Justin Huggler, berlin

The EU’s controversial migrant deal with Turkey looked in renewed doubt on Monday amid accusations that Turkey is “cherry-picking” skilled Syrian refugees while sending the “sick and illiterate” to Europe.

A Turkish government official told the Daily Telegraph they had the ‘right’ to choose who stays in Turkey.

Angela Merkel held talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, in Istanbul today in a bid to shore up the deal, which she personally negotiated.

But she was unable to quell growing concern across the EU at Mr Erdogan’s handling of the deal.

Mrs Merkel admitted agreement on visa-free travel to Europe for Turkish citizens, a key part of the deal, was in jeopardy.

And she expressed “deep concern” over moves by Mr Erdogan’s government to strip MPs of immunity from prosecution in a crackdown on the opposition.

The talks took place amid accusations by EU officials that Turkey is using the deal to send ill and unqualified Syrian refugees to Europe while blocking the exit applications of skilled professionals.

Under the deal agreed in March, the EU will resettle one Syrian refugee from Turkey in exchange for each Syrian deported from Greece.

At an internal EU meeting in Brussels last week, a representative of Luxembourg claimed Turkey was sending “serious medical cases” and blocking those more likely to integrate into European societies.

The UN refugee agency usually decides who is eligible for resettlement, but the Turkish authorities have reportedly excluded Syrian doctors, engineers and academics from the scheme.

A Turkish government official told the Telegraph it was the country’s “right” to choose who remains, as it is hosting more than three million Syrian refugees.

So far some 400 asylum-seekers have been returned to Turkey and 177 refugees resettled in Europe, but 8,500 asylum-seekers still in Greece are believed to be covered by the deal.

The latest row will only make it harder for Mrs Merkel to defend the deal, under which Turkey is supposed to get visa-free travel and billions in aid in return for stopping the migrants.

The German chancellor has come under fire for putting the security of Europe’s borders in the hands of Mr Erdogan’s repressive regime.

“I’ve made clear in the conversation today that I think we need an independent judicial system, we need independent media and we need a strong parliament in Turkey,” Mrs Merkel said after her talks with Mr Erdogan on Monday.

“And of course, the decision to withdraw immunity from every fourth lawmaker in the Turkish parliament is something that causes deep concern. I’ve made this clear to the Turkish president.”

She admitted agreement on visa-free travel by the original deadline of July 1 was unlikely, and insisted Turkey will have to meet all of the EU’s criteria, including reform of anti-terror laws.

“We must do everything that we can to continue discussions, as it is unlikely that by July 1 certain things will be in place,” she said.

“In other words, there will be no visa exemption if the criteria are not fulfilled.”

Other EU leaders have gone much further in their criticism. Martin Schulz, the president of the European parliament, described the decision to strip opposition MPs of immunity as a “stunning rejection of the values of Europe”.

Mr Erdogan’s policies “don’t just make negotiations on Turkish EU membership difficult, they make it virtually impossible,” Mr Schulz said.

Mrs Merkel is also facing political pressure at home, with her coalition government deeply divided over the deal.

Horst Seehofer, the state prime minister of Bavaria and chief critic of her “open-door” refugee policy, spoke out against the deal, saying “The ends don’t justify the means”.

But Turkey is refusing to back down. Yigit Bulut, an adviser to Mr Erdogan, warned that if the EU failed to live up to its promises Turkey would suspend the deal. 

“Let them continue to apply double standards, let them continue not to keep their promises for Turkish citizens,” Mr Bulut said.

“But they should know that if they maintain this attitude Turkey will take some very radical decisions very soon.”

Mr Erdogan said yesterday Turkey has not received enough support from the international community in tackling the Syrian refugee crisis.

“The current system falls short… the burden is shouldered only by certain countries, everyone should assume responsibility from now on,” he said.

Istanbul is currently hosting the world’s first-ever global humanitarian summit, where politicians from 175 countries have gathered to come up with a way to deal with what is the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War.

 

Meet Turkish Journalist Who Lost Custody Of Kids Over Critical Reporting

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Photo: Arzu Yildiz’s Twitter account.

Photo: Arzu Yildiz’s Twitter account.

By Mahir Zeynalov

Journalist/Columnist, Today’s Zaman/Al Arabiya

Relentless crackdown on journalists and media outlets in Turkey is not news. But the censorship has taken a whole new level last week when a Turkish court stripped a prominent journalist of legal rights over her two children for publishing a video about the Syria arms delivery.

Arzu Yildiz, an unwavering journalist mostly reporting about court battles and a fierce critic of the government, was also given a 20-month prison sentence for publishing the video on YouTube last year. The video is a two-hour long court defense of a prosecutor who intercepted a truck in southern Turkey full of arms heading toward a Syrian territory held by Ahrar al-Sham, an Islamist extremist group.

From Supporter To Critic

Yildiz, a mother of two, was actually a staunch supporter of the government back when tens of thousands of people thronged streets across Turkey to protest against then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s increasingly authoritarian rule in the summer of 2013. She later joined Turkiye, a government mouthpiece paper.

In Turkiye, she broke a story about two senior female administrators within the ruling AKP suspected of spying for Iran. The story led to an investigation and several arrests. But the authorities later sued the newspaper over the story. Yildiz wrote a number of high-profile stories during her time in Turkiye, but her editors refused to publish most of them for being too critical of the authorities. A growing discord over the newspaper’s editorial line forced her to resign.

Her departure from Turkiye coincided with a corruption scandal involving Erdogan and his inner circle as well as a raucous election campaign viewed as the one of the most heated and divisive political wrangling.


Stepping Into Minefield

In a Wednesday night in January 2014, Yildiz published a bombshell story on T24, a news portal she joined after quitting Turkiye. Initially it was several paragraphs long, but it was enough to cause an uproar in the public. She reported that prosecutors from Adana, a southern Turkish city, intercepted trucks carrying arms into Syria. She knew that she was stepping into a minefield, because publicly debating or questioning this issue was off-limits.

That story sparked such an outrage from the country’s top leadership that Erdogan made it his life’s mission to cover up the scandal. The arms-filled trucks, allegedly administered by the Turkish spy agency, justified rumors that Turkey helped fostered radical groups in Syria and ultimately the ISIS. Erdogan publicly derided prosecutors and law enforcement who participated in an operation to halt the trucks, calling them “traitors” and accusing them of “spying.”

The prosecutors were later locked up. They still languish in jails, without any prospect of being released anytime soon.

Erdogan and then-President Abdullah Gul repeatedly asserted that the trucks were carrying humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians, but the content of the trucks were “state secrets.” The government, however, could not keep its narrative consistent. Senior AKP official Yasin Aktay acknowledged that the trucks were heading to Syrian rebels. I asked Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin during his visit to Washington last year if this was true. He said he had no idea why that official made such a remark and that the trucks were only carrying humanitarian relief.

But Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu brought into the surface another narrative, claiming that it was carrying arms to Turkmen rebels who were besieged by forces loyal to the Syrian regime. Turkmens fired back: We did not receive any weapons.

While the story slowly ebbed away over the time, the Cumhuriyet daily published photos and footage of medical supplies and arms in the Syria-bound trucks. The revelations infuriated Erdogan. He vowed that Can Dundar, the newspaper’s top editor, “will pay a heavy price” over the story. Journalist Dundar was locked up for three months, survived an assassination attempt and sentenced to five years in prison. Erdogan displayed little flexibility in tolerating stories linked to the Syrian arms delivery.

Reporting At a Price

Joining efforts with other journalists who had recently lost their jobs due to the government pressure, Arzu Yildiz co-founded a web-site called grihat, where she continued her critical and exclusive reporting. One of these reporting included the publication of a video of Prosecutor Ozcan Sisman‘s court defense. The video ricocheted across the social media, revealing details of how Turkish public officials aided radical groups in Syria as well as helped terrorists in bombing attacks such as in Reyhanli and Cilvegozu.

He made clear in his defense that he acted out of fear that these arms could end up in the hands of terrorists and that he did not know that the trucks were administrated by the spy agency, whose agents have an immunity to a prosecution.

Obtaining or spreading the footage of the court defense is illegal in Turkey, but the court preferred to punish the journalist who published it, not the one who leaked it. Turkey recently made it a crime to publish any classified document linked to the spy agency, a law that was widely criticized by global rights groups.

As Arzu Yildiz pleaded not guilty in the court, she told the judge that her publication of the video was a pure journalistic activity and that people deserve to know details of such a high-profile case.

At a time when even veteran Turkish journalists are cowed into submission, Yildiz’s brave reporting came with a price. She lost her freedom, but also her children. It is a chilling reminder to other journalists of what they may expect if they go down a similar path. Erdogan did not only threaten Can Dundar, but also other reporters who may choose to report on this sensitive matter.

Through Camera Lens: Obama photographer helps Karabakh teenagers with photo display

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Courtesy Photo: TUMO Center for Creative Technologies

Courtesy Photo: TUMO Center for Creative Technologies

By SARA KHOJOYAN,

A New York-based photojournalist well known for her photographs of American President Barack Obama during his campaign leading up to his presidency has conducted a workshop for students in Nagorno Karabakh, helping them organize a photo exhibition of their own works.

Photographs by 16 teenagers attending a free-of-charge after-school program in Stepanakert went on display in the capital of the unrecognized republic earlier this week as a vivid proof that despite continuing tensions at the frontlines following April’s brief war with Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh has an urge for peaceful life with opportunities for creation.

The boys and girls from Stepanakert’s TUMO Center for Creative Technologies depicted life in Karabakh during nine days of their training on May 12-21, with their work including pictures of nature, images of children at schools and education centers, etc. The project also included two journeys – towards the Gandzasar Monastery and the workplace of HALO Trust, a British charity involved in mine clearance in Karabakh.

It was through cooperation between HALO Trust and the Stepanakert-based TUMO Center that it became possible to organize a workshop conducted by Scout Tufankjian, an Armenian-American photojournalist, who covered in 2006-2008 Senator Obama’s campaign for President of the United States and, in fact, was the only independent journalist to follow him from the run up to his announcing his candidacy through his victory on election night.

Tufankjian has been visiting Karabakh for the seventh time, but it was her first experience with teenagers. She began cooperation with HALO Trust in March of this year – shortly before the April 2-5 outbreak of violence in the Karabakh conflict zone – and it was at that time that she was offered to continue to tell through photography how the organization is demining territories in Karabakh to make living safe for civilians.

“I taught in Tumo Yerevan and I was really excited when they opened Tumo Stepanakert since these are really my two favorite things – Karabakh and Tumo. HALO mentioned once about willingness partnering to Tumo, so it happened,” Tufankjian told ArmeniaNow.

“Karabakh is the most beautiful place in the world. Everything is amazing. I have been in more than 20 communities where Armenians live, but Karabakh is really a special place. Also, my family background is Musalertsi [ed: Musaler in Turkey], so I feel the most comfortable when I am in the mountains. I feel really at home here, which is important to me.”

At the exhibition each of the young boys and girls presented their own works, presenting as to what they wanted to tell through their pictures, why and how they did that through the language of photography.

Ani Avanesyan worked at Stepanakert’s Children’s and Youth Center, photographing what children attending it were doing.

Aspram Mayilyan’s works tell that despite war, life goes on in Karabakh. According Tufankjian, although the children photographed almost the same things or chose similar subjects, each of them had seen and reproduced the reality their own way.

“It was interesting to participate and get answers to all our questions,” said Levon Asmarian, one of the participants of the workshop, whose family fled the war in Syria and settled down in Karabakh a few years ago.

Stepanakert’s TUMO, which is operating also with assistance from the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), officially opened its doors last September. Within a month the center had 600 applications from children aged 12-18 willing to study there. Now the number of TUMO students is over 1,000. They are mainly from Stepanakert, but there are also children coming from Shushi, Askeran and even from the Martakert and Martuni districts.

This free-of-charge after-school study center teaches animation, filmmaking, game development, web development. It develops programming skills, painting, music, robotics, photography, etc., which gives children an opportunity to choose directions in which they want to get specialized in particular. Children at Tumo can do exercises by themselves and then with a coach’s help or guidance. The courses that have three levels are conducted by trainers from Yerevan. Workshops are another format and these workshops are conducted by experts from abroad. Stepanakert’s TUMO has so far conducted 20 courses and 3 workshops, the latest being Tufankjian’s.

“I think Stepanakert’s Tumo is extremely important. I come from Paris. I have a lot of work, but I delayed everything and came here. Especially in this region we try to teach children a number of principles – self-teaching, group work. We try to open up their horizons,” Stepanakert TUMO head Korioun Khatchadourian told ArmeniaNow.

“Seeing Artsakh [Karabakh] as a bit isolated place, I think it is very important for children to know what is going on in the world, know what professions there are, pursue what they like or dream about. This is what I tell those who come to register for our courses – you come here to chase your dream and not to follow standard, predetermined, prejudiced patterns,” he added.

The children who have worked with Tufankjian say the experience is rewarding by itself, but the first major achievement in photography for some of them would be having their works selected for display as part of the renowned photojournalist’s exhibitions to be held in the United States and Europe.

 

Turkish nationalist politician jailed over ‘hunting for Armenians’ remarks

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artk.thumbA Turkish nationalist politician has been jailed over controversial remarks suggesting “hunting for Armenians” after a concert last year by a renowned Armenian pianist in the ancient city of Ani in the eastern province of Kars, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Garo Paylan had filed a lawsuit against Tolga Adıgüzel, the Kars provincial head of the “Idealist Hearths” (Ülkü Ocakları), which has organic ties to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), after Adıgüzel suggested “going out to hunt Armenians in the streets of Kars” as a counter-move after the concert.

The Kars third criminal court of first instance initially sentenced Adıgüzel to six months in prison, along with a pecuniary punishment of 11,240 Turkish Liras on May 25 on charges of “overtly insulting some segments of the public based on difference of social class, race, religion, sect, sexuality or region.” The court then increased the sentence to seven months and fifteen days as the crime was committed via the media, which carries a heavier sentence.

Paylan described the court ruling as “hopeful” both for Armenians and for all parts of society in Turkey that believe in social peace and justice, vowing to fight against “all kinds of racist remarks and hate speech.”

World-renowned Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan and the Yereven State Chamber Choir gave a concert at Ani, on the Turkish border with Armenia, on June 21, 2015.

After the concert, Adıgüzel issued a press statement “strongly” condemning the performance, questioning its “aims,” and accusing its supporters of “treason.”

“Should we go out for hunting for Armenians in the streets of Kars? Can we give a concert at a place that they consider holy, or march our janissary band?” he had said.

Armenia Calls Out ‘Azeri Barbarism’ During Istanbul Summit

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Armenia call on AzeriISTANBUL (ArmRadio)—The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, Ashot Hovakimian, represented Armenia at the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in Istanbul on May 23-24. The United Nations organized summit, aimed to set a forward-looking agenda for humanitarian action to address current humanitarian challenges, was the first of its kind.

The Deputy Foreign Minister delivered a speech at the plenary session of the summit, addressing Azeri aggression and violations of the ceasefire agreement between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

“The abhorrent barbarity committed recently by the armed forces of Azerbaijan, including intentional and indiscriminate targeting of the peaceful population, especially children, women, and the elderly, as well as civilian objects, including schools and kindergartens, killings, beheadings, torture and mutilation of bodies is incompatible with the elementary norms of a civilized world. It is a product of a long standing policy of racism, intolerance and incitement to hatred against Armenians, condoned and directly executed by the authorities of Azerbaijan. The grave and systematic violations of international humanitarian law committed by Azerbaijan and the glorification at the highest political level of persons directly involved in the atrocities constitute a crime against humanity and a war crime.”

Touching upon the remarks of the president of Azerbaijan, made during the summit the day before, Hovakimian emphasized that the “Azerbaijani president, who bears personal responsibility in initiating the aggression and glorifying the terrorists and ISIL-style brutalities’ perpetrators, yesterday used this august body to disseminate fabricated allegations against Armenians. None of those lies have any connection with reality. Armenia certainly has no plans of creating a nuclear bomb, and Armenian forces have never used chemical weapons. Since the President of Azerbaijan enjoys quoting former Armenian officials, he could have surely referred to one of his predecessors, who claimed the responsibility of the then Azerbaijani political leadership for killing of their own people in Khojalu.”

Hovakimian also touched upon the issue of Syrian refugees, who arrived to Armenia and the government’s efforts in providing them shelter. He also attached importance to the assistance provided to refugees and displaced people by the international community, emphasizing that the values of dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms, must be guaranteed and must not be dependent on the status of the territory where peoples live.

The Armenian delegation participated in the parallel round-table discussions, dedicated to the issues of conflict prevention, assistance to refugees and displaced persons. He also took part in the event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lichtenstein dedicated to the genocide prevention.