Russian President has agreed that all flights over Sinai Peninsula should be suspended during the A321 crash investigation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees with Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov’s recommendation to suspend passenger flights to Egypt while the investigation of the Sinai plane crash is underway, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
“The head of state agreed with these recommendations. Putin instructed the government to work out mechanisms for the implementation of these FSB recommendations, and to ensure the return of Russian citizens,” Peskov told reporters.
Kremlin also says that Putin gave instructions to establish cooperation with Egypt to ensure flight safety.
The Russian Airbus A321 passenger plane crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on October 31 en route from Egypt’s resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh to St. Petersburg. All 224 people on board were killed. The crash is the biggest tragedy in the history of Russian and Soviet civil aviation.
Russians outraged after Charlie Hebdo cartoons ‘ridicule’ Sinai plane crash
(RT) Russians have reacted with anger after the French satirical magazine published caricatures of the Russian passenger aircraft crashing in Egypt. Social media in Russia has erupted in fury at the portrayal, with users condemning its publication by Charlie Hebdo.
One Twitter user questioned why the staff at Charlie Hebdo had not printed a cartoon of the members of their team had been shot by jihadists in Paris in January. The user added sarcastically, “That would have been really funny for them.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the cartoons published by Charlie Hebdo “blasphemy.”
“In our country, this would be called ‘blasphemy.’ It has nothing to do with democracy or with self-expression. It is just blasphemy,” Peskov said.
“My colleagues and I tried to find caricatures of the Charlie Hebdo journalists in the magazine, who were shot by terrorists. We were unable to find them. But if they were published, then it would also be blasphemy, well at least in our country,” he added.
A Russian lawmaker called the cartoon, which shows the plane falling near a jihadist fighter, “blasphemy” and an “insult.”
“I believe it is blasphemy and ridicules the memory of those who lost their lives as a result of this catastrophe. This should not be used by any media organizations in any form whatsoever or in any particular genre in which they may specialize,” said Igor Morozov, a member of the Federation Council.
The first cartoon shows parts of the aircraft and a passenger falling toward the ground, while an Islamic State militant, armed with a gun, ducks for cover to avoid the falling debris. Underneath the caricature is the caption: “Daesh: Russia’s aviation intensifies its bombardments.”
Morozov said that the Sinai plane crash “should not be ridiculed.”
He added: “In trying to be original, Charlie Hebdo have plunged everything into shock. Remember the tragedy which happened in January 2015 concerning the publisher. I think that the journalists are provoking acts of violence.”
The second showed a skull and a burned-out plane on the ground, with the caption: “The dangers of low-cost Russia. I should have taken Air Cocaine.” The authors were referring to two French pilots who fled the Dominican Republic to escape arrest for allegedly trying to transport 680 kilograms of the drug.
Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, wrote on her Facebook page: “Is anyone still Charlie?” in a reference to the catchphrase “JeSuisCharlie” used by many people to express sympathy with the victims of a brutal terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo’s headquarters in Paris in January after it published satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
Serbian film director Emir Kusturica told the Russian television station REN-TV that Charlie Hebdo’s latest publication was a “clear provocation.”
“I have not seen these caricatures yet, but this is really scary, if the journalists from this publication have published these sorts of things in a satirical way. I think that this is really a clear provocation.”
First International Conference on the Armenian Genocide in Israel
On November 2, the first international conference on the subject of the Armenian Genocide opened in Israel, in Tel Aviv. The conference titled hundred years the Armenian Genocide, was organized for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was organized and hosted by the Department of Sociology, Political Science and Communication from the Open University of Israel.
The organizers of the conference are Yair Auron Dr. (Chairman), Dr. Isaac Lubelsky and Dr. Charbit – teachers who teach the Study of Genocide at the Free University of Israel (the only course on genocide in Israel).
During the conference’s opening ceremony, President of the Open University, Professor Jacob (Kobi) Metzer, Dr. Yair Auron and Dr. Isaac Lubelsky made the introductory speech.
They said the hundredth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was an important date for them, they talked about the fact that Israel does not recognize the Armenian Genocide, and stressed the fact that this recognition is imperative for Israel.
“The Israeli recognition of the Armenian Genocide is my dream. She is not coming soon but … I will fight for almost 30 years for this event to take place, and because it takes place today, part of my dream come true. We expect that such a conference be held annually from now on, “said Yair Auron to Panorama.am.
“The aim of the conference was to discuss the Armenian Genocide among academics in an open … Above all, the Open University deals with the subject of the genocide seriously, and that is why this conference is important for us, “said Dr. Lubelsky to Panorama.am.
The conference also includes an exhibition Jewish Voice over the Armenian Genocide, which has loaned by the Institute-Museum of Armenian Genocide.
The opening ceremony was also notable because a choir led by Israeli Tomer Heiseg (piano Noam Ziggon) performed three songs for the audience with the famous song Erebuni Yerevan interpreted in Armenian.
At the end of the first day, the famous film Ararat about the Armenian Genocide by Atom Egoyan (with Charles Aznavour) was screened.
The conference will continue for two more days. Jewish participants from abroad are invited (including Turkish academics too).
On Wednesday, a meeting of participants in the conference with the President of Israel Reuben Rivlin is expected.
Nvard Chalikyan
Authorities’ pressures force former MP candidate renounce Azerbaijani citizenship and seek asylum
Former MP candidate, human rights defender and former convict Vidadi Iskenderli renounced Azerbaijani citizenship, Azerbaijani service of RFE/RL reports.
He sent a letter about his decision to President Ilham Aliyev and several local media outlets. He said the pressures he has faced over the recent years, as well as the arbitrariness reigning in the country forced him to make the decision. Moreover, pressure was exerted on him and his family members, which further backed his determination.
According to RFE/RL, Vidadi Iskenderli’s candidature was nominated in 89th Geychay-Agdash electoral district. Before the polling day, he complained at the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) that obstacles were made against his pre-election campaign. The Commission, however, found his appeal groundless. He sent further complaints after the polls were over; still the CEC returned the appeal to him on 5 November. Now Iskenderli intends to seek an asylum in a foreign country.
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, the head of the Public Policy Institute and former political prisoner, told Turan news agency that the November 1 parliamentary elections were very dull and worse than the previous, 2010, campaign. He said the public interest for the elections was extremely low, and the new parliament is not very different from the previous one – the same figures, the same political forces and parties – with three fourth of the previous MPs remaining in the parliament.
Hajiyev divided the 27 new MPs into three groups. First, the “invisibles,” who come into sight only during the election campaign period, while no one sees or hears form them for five years. The second group is used by the authorities to sharply criticise the opposition, Europe and the US. The third group consists of young people, including graduates of Western universities. “They can carry out a useful work even within limited power. Nevertheless, they will not take up cardinal steps, like legislative initiatives, or control the government,” Bakhtiyar Hajiyev pointed out.
Trend agency reports that the CEC discussed 18 Musavat party members’ appeals during its regular meeting. In the appeals, the party members, MPs candidates, said the CEC’s disregard of their refusal of the candidacy was a violation of the voters’ will and pressure on them. The CEC, however, found the appeals groundless noting that Musavat party candidates had received less votes during the polls than the leading candidates, which means that the claims about the violation of the voters’ will are unjustified.
According to Trend, Tural Abbasli, from Musavat, said that talks about his dismissal from the party stated once he spoke about his intention to run for an MP. He added that he does not think his steps somehow violated the party regulations. However, in case the party chairman Arif Hajili makes the decision, he will be dismissed from the party like his opponents Gubad Ibadoglu, Sakhavat Alisoy and others were. “Sadly, this has become a reality in the party,” Abbasli said.
He highlighted that if dismissed from Musavat, he will struggle for his rights because he has been a member of the party for 15 years and has done a lot for it during that period.
Haqqin.az reports that the CEC of Azerbaijan rejected singer Elza Seidjahan’s appeal to declare null the results of the 54th Shabran-Siyazan electoral district. The CEC experts came to the conclusion that the singer’s complaints were not justified and there are no results to declare null the polls results. The website reminds that earlier Elza Seidjahan had reported falsifications during the polls in her district, as well as pressure on her representatives.
The CEC meeting also discussed Umid Party chairman Igbal Agazade’s complaint. He nominated his candidacy in Khatain 3rd electoral district 35. He, too, asked to declare null the poll results at the 17, 18 and 26 polling stations of his district. An expert group investigation found that the appeal had arrived at the CEC in violation of the current rules, and that is why the CEC redirected it to be considered at the District Electoral Commission.
Haqqin.az reminds that according to the preliminary calculations, at the 35th Khatain electoral district, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Araz Alizade, won Igbal Agazade, who had more than once been elected an MP from that district.
On 1 November, Azerbaijan held elections, where 767 candidates were struggling for the 125 seats in the Parliament. According to preliminary data issued by the CEC, the ruling Yeni Azerbiajan party won, receiving 70 seats in the legislative body of the country. The voter turnout was 55.7 percent: 2.89 million voters out of 5.2 million took part in the elections.
The elections were observed by 503 international monitors from 40 organisations, including PACE, Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS and the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries. There were reports about numerous irregularities in the polling stations. In particular, there were cases of ballot stuffing, voting carousels, and so on.
International agencies took up rather stern stance over the upcoming parliamentary elections. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) announced that, due to restrictions imposed by the Azerbaijani authorities, ODIHR had no choice but to cancel its mission to observe the country’s parliamentary elections. The European Parliament followed the suit.
Source: Panorama.am
AUA’s Turpanjian Rural Development Program Opens Its Doors in Vayots Dzor
YEGHEGNADZOR, Armenia—Despite heavy rains, the official celebrations on the occasion of the much-anticipated opening of the American University of Armenia (AUA) Turpanjian Rural Development Program (TRDP) office in Vayots Dzor went ahead as planned.
The well-attended event, complete with a red ribbon-cutting ceremony, took place in Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor on October 29. About 40 people were present at the event, including the very first TRDP beneficiaries of Vayots Dzor who had come from the region’s different villages and towns, community leaders, representatives from the regional government’s office, religious leaders, as well as TRDP Chair Dr. Haroutune Armenian, AUA Vice President Ashot Ghazaryan, and TRDP staff members.
During the event reception, food products produced by successful TRDP-supported businesses from other regions of Armenia were made available to the guests: high-quality honey produced by Mr. Seyran Gevorgyan from the village of Kamo, Shirak; lavash produced by Mr. Harutyun Khachatryan from the village of Anushavan, Shirak; and “floss” cheese produced by Mr. Gurgen Abovyan in the border village of Koti, Tavush. The high quality and taste of the food impressed the guests, and the success of the older TRDP-supported businesses further encouraged the 13 new beneficiaries from Vayots Dzor, who plan to establish their own ventures in their communities soon.
Since the creation of AUA-TRDP in 2006 through a generous donation by Gerald Turpanjian, the program has expanded to include Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the regions of Shirak and Tavush in Armenia. A representation was also set up in Javakhk, a largely Armenian-populated region of Georgia. The program is aimed at promoting sustainable development in the rural communities of the Republic of Armenia, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Javakhk by offering continuous training and advisory services for business plans, developing skills necessary for entrepreneurial activity, as well as providing financial assistance.
Since its inception, TRDP has conducted trainings in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills for residents of more than 900 communities, contributing to the launch of over 250 businesses and the creation of over 400 jobs in rural communities. TRDP also encourages beneficiaries to give back to their communities, once they become successful entrepreneurs.
In his speech, Dr. Armenian highlighted the key to the program’s success. “One of the key points of program’s success is Gerald Turpanjian’s readiness to finance the program to whom we are very grateful. The second determinant of success is that, at TRDP, there is no director: we are all partners and work in direct collaboration with each other to achieve the economic development of rural areas of Armenia, Artsakh & Javakhk. And finally, the program manages to deliver the expected outcomes because it doesn’t blindly impose itself on every region. The specifics of each region is taken into account,” Dr. Armenian stated.
Dr. Armenian also mentioned that entrepreneurship is an important aspect of Armenian culture, which served as one of the foundations of TRDP’s mission. Encouraging entrepreneurship and personal initiative among the villagers would lead to the people themselves developing their communities, rather than waiting for others to do so. “This is the way of thinking the program encourages. It’s a new way of thinking among the people–that you yourself should take the initiative, earn your living, and contribute to the development of your community. We want to bring this culture, this way of thinking to Vayots Dzor, but we need to learn a lot from you as well,” Armenian appealed to the gathered guests.
In his own appeal, Mr. Ghazaryan drew attention to the fact that AUA aims to create equal opportunities for all regions in Armenia, and emphasized the importance of the program’s offerings in entrepreneurial training and adult education.
Representatives from the regional government expressed their deep appreciation for the excellent job that TRDP is carrying out in their region and for the new jobs that would result from the establishment of TRDP-supported businesses, which would help keep families from leaving their homeland and contribute to the improvement of socio-economic conditions in rural areas.
His Holiness Abraham Mkrtchyan, Primate of the Vayots Dzor region, blessed the organizers of the program and their positive contribution to Armenia, “God bless the program and all of its participants,” he said in a prayer.
Pablo Kendikian Explores the Structure and Actions of the Turkish Imam Gulen Movement in New Book
BUENOS AIRES (Agencia Prensa Armenia)—In an interview with Diario Armenia, the newspaper of the Armenian community in Argentina, Pablo Kendikian, Director of Agencia Prensa Armenia, speaks about his book, “Fethullah Gulen.”
“Basically, what I wanted was to clarify the reasons of this movement,” said Kendikian.
“Clearly, the Gulen Movement is a project of power and has a different strategy in each of the regions in which it operates. What characterizes them is the long-term planning of their projects. The motor that moves them is the utopia of the realization of a neo-Ottomanism inside and outside of what was the Empire. I dare say that it is the idea of a modern, globalized pan-Turkism.”
Kendikian says that, “they create a Turkish diaspora where they do not have [one], they ‘evangelize’ in Africa, and are betting on future political cadres and leaders in the countries of Central Asia and the Balkans. They create empathy in countries with Armenian communities, and they do this with more than 900 schools outside Turkey, distributed in over 130 countries.”
“In many parts of the world, particularly in Argentina, the project was cut short as a result of the fight between the former partners Fethullah Gulen and President Erdogan. Because of this, the followers of the Gulen Movement were unable to advance in their project designed to work against everything that could damage Turkey’s image in the world.”
Quoting Professor Khatchik DerGhougassian, who wrote the foreword to the book, Kendikian called the Gulen Movement “one of the main tools for the denial of the Armenian Genocide.”
“The Movement gives away trips to Istanbul to officials of different levels, as well as qualified journalists. There, they show the impressive institutional structure they have in Turkey or in the country of origin and the economic power that supports them. They address each guest individually on the issue of [the] Armenian Genocide,” added Kendikian.
In addition, shortly after the Criminal Court of Istanbul condemned Fethullah Gulen for conspiracy against the State, Pablo Kendikian questioned the privileged place that the Gulen Movement has in Argentina. “I think the Argentinean Foreign Ministry, through the Register of Religions, should review its registration as a religious organization because, clearly, the main objective of the Gulen Movement is political, despite being a brotherhood with a clear religious identity.”
“Strategically, the Movement presents itself as an advocate of interfaith dialogue, away from politics. But that is contradicted when they violently interfere in the affairs of the Turkish political structure.”
Russia bus crash survivors return to Armenia
YEREVAN. – (news.am) The 32 passengers, who had received minor injuries or none at all in the Armenian bus crash in Russia, arrived in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan on Thursday evening, with a special flight by an aircraft of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations .
They were met at the Zvartnots International Airport by their relatives as well as psychologists and medical workers.
The bus crash survivors generally refused to talk about what had happened.
Around ten of them, however, immediately went to hospitals from the airport.
Some of the passengers, who returned to Armenia on Thursday, had lost either friends or relatives in the tragic road accident.
Bodies of the eight passengers, who were killed in the crash, also were brought to Armenia with the aforementioned special flight.
Several dozen people were affected as a passenger bus, which was traveling from Moscow to Yerevan, crashed on Tuesday at around 2:10am local time, in Tula Oblast (province) in Russia.
Seven people were killed on the spot while another passenger died in hospital. Nine of the injured are in serious condition.
There were 59 passengers on the bus, but no children were among them.
The injured were taken to the three nearby hospitals.
Russia has opened a criminal case into this bus crash, and on charges of “breaking the road traffic and vehicle operation rules.” A similar case has been filed in Armenia, too.
According to preliminary data, the bus driver, Garnik Harutyunyan, had fallen asleep at the steering wheel.
The Tula provincial court on Wednesday handed down a two-month arrest for Harutyunyan.
Syrian Army Takes Control of Huge Area in Aleppo Province
With the support of Russian airstrikes, the Syrian Army has taken control of approximately 250 square kilometers in Aleppo province.
“Operation Army ATS continues in the south-eastern province of Aleppo,” said Latakia representative of the Syrian Army, Brigadier General Ali Mayhoub, according to RIA Novosti. “In cooperation with civil defense groups we control more than 250 square kilometers, and returned stability in dozens of villages and towns in the region.”
“The army in collaboration with the civil defense forces managed to open the way to Aleppo…to ensure the safe passage of this important route,” Mayhoub added.
The general also said that terrorists sustained a large number of casualties and loss of equipment.
“The survivors fled toward Raqqa,” Mayhoub said, referring to the self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic State terrorist group.
“Also, our army has strengthened control over the strategic height of Mraga and working to expand its control of the area. In addition, the air force is delivering pinpoint strikes against concentrates of IS and al-Nusra terrorist groups in the vicinity of the airport and near Kueres military air school in the village of Umm Arkile,” Mayhoub said.
Also on Thursday, Syrian government forces gained a key hill in a northern suburb of the capital of Damascus. The Syrian Army has captured al-Mashtal Heights, as well as a number of buildings in the suburb of Harast.
“Many terrorists have been killed and their weaponry and fortifications destroyed,” Mayhoub said.
A large number of foreign fighters have also been killed in Damascus’ southwestern suburb of Darayya.
The Syrian Army is now making a “serious advance” toward the ancient city of Palmyra.
“Our armed forces have taken control over two heights in the Homs Province. We have also made serious advance toward the city of Pal myra near al-Barayat,” Mayhoub added. “Islamic State terrirst sustained heavy losses. Six vehicles and over 25 terrorists have been killed in the western outskirts of the Mheen village.”
Source: sputniknews.com
Anonymous-inspired activists 2015 Million Mask March
Anonymous-inspired activists are taking to the streets across the globe as the Million Mask March circles the world. Hiding behind symbolic Anonymous masks, the demonstrators are protesting censorship, government corruption, and police brutality.
London crowd tonight, truly amazing. #MillionMaskMarch #BonfireNight pic.twitter.com/dcD74kOpiE
— Anonymous (@LatestAnonNews) November 5, 2015
Yemeni forces down Saudi warplane, capture pilot
Presstv Reports from Yemen say a Saudi warplane has been downed by Yemeni forces in the province of Sana’a.
According to the reports, the Saudi warplane, an F-16, was shot down by Yemeni air defense in the city of Bilad al-Rus, in the western part of the province, on Thursday.
Reports also said that the pilot of the Saudi jet has been taken into custody.
Spy drone shot down
Also on Thursday, Yemeni forces downed a Saudi spy drone in Sa’ada Province. Unconfirmed video footage appeared online showing the wreckage of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
Yemeni forces have shot down several Saudi warplanes and drones over the past few months in various parts of the country.
Yemen’s official Saba news agency said earlier this month that Yemeni army forces shot down a Saudi fighter jet in the Ghamar district of Sa’ada Province.
The fighter jet had reportedly conducted a number of airstrikes against Yemeni forces in the region.
On October 9, Yemeni soldiers supported by popular committees’ fighters downed a Saudi spy drone in the Kitaf district of Sa’ada. The drone was later identified as a long-endurance Boeing Insitu ScanEagle.
In late May, Yemeni air defense forces took down a Saudi F-16 fighter jet in the Bayt Khayran area of the district of Bani Harith in the northern part of Sana’a.
On May 11 also, Ansarullah fighters brought down a Moroccan fighter jet violating the country’s airspace in the Noshour Valley of Sa’ada.
Yemen has been witnessing ceaseless attacks by Saudi Arabia since March 26. The military strikes are supposedly meant to undermine the Ansarullah movement and bring fugitive former Yemeni president, Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, back to power.
The Saudi aggression has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 7,100 people and injured nearly 14,000 others. The strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country’s facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.