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Azerbaijan Threatens Fresno County

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FRESNO—The Fresno County Board of  Supervisors became the newest target of Azerbaijan’s wrath after the local body passed a resolution recognizing the self-determination of the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its independence last month.

WelcometoFresnoRenderingThe Fresno Bee reported Tuesday that Azerbaijan has officially written to the Board of Supervisors urging the body to rescind the April 23 resolution.

Fresno County became the first County in California to officially recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh). On April 23, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution sponsored by Supervisor Andreas Borgeas that officially recognizes the Nagorno Karabakh Republic – a region historically and ethnically Armenian situated between Armenia and Azerbaijan – and also calls upon the California Legislature to grant official recognition.

The Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States, Robert Avetisyan, commented at the time that “[w]e are grateful for [this] initiative, and hope that the adoption of this Resolution will set a deeper cooperation towards stability, as well as democratic and economic prosperity in our region.”  The Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, Grigor Hovhannisian, commented that “[e]very step toward the recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is a step toward peace and friendly relations in the South Caucasus. I whole-heartedly welcome recognition efforts by community and elected officials, as a continuation of friendly relations and solidarity between the people of the Republic of Artsakh, the Republic of Armenia and Fresno, California.”

“This fuels fighting between the communities,” Azerbaijani Deputy Consul General Ramil Gurbanov, who is based in Los Angeles, told The Fresno Bee on Monday. It doesn’t help achieve “a diplomatic and peaceful solution in the region.”

“We stand with our Armenian friends, both in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh … We will not be muscled by a well-funded lobbying effort by the Azerbaijanis,” said Borgeas told the Fresno Bee, indicating that the Board of Supervisors will not budge from its earlier decision.

Following the passage of the resolution on April 23 Borgeas said, “I am thrilled to stand beside our Armenian friends – here, in Armenia and Artsakh – and hope Sacramento will also officially recognize the independence of NKR. While Fresno County is the first County in California to pass such a resolution, my goal is for this initiative to help inspire more recognition efforts throughout the state, country and eventually Washington, D.C.”

“[T]his resolution by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors is timely, appropriate and significant,” William Bairamian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee – Western Region commented at the time. State legislatures in Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts have already passed similar resolutions.

NSW parliament’s lower house adopts motion recognizing genocides

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May 8, 2013 – 11:21 AMT

The New South Wales Parliament’s Legislative Assembly (Lower House) adopted a unanimous motion recognizing the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek 157556genocides. This follows a similar motion passed by the NSW Parliament Legislative Council (Upper House) last week.

This motion, introduced by the Premier of New South Wales, Barry O’Farrell, formally recognised the Assyrian and Greek genocides, while at the same time reaffirming the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide.

Last week’s Legislative Council motion was introduced by the Hon. Rev Fred Nile. That motion was also passed unanimously.

The Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia), Vache Kahramanian remarked: “Today is a historic day for the great state of New South Wales. Once again it has stood as a shining beacon in ensuring that the historical reality of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides are never forgotten.”

152641“We thank the New South Wales Parliament, and in particularly the Honourable Barry O’Farrell MP – the Premier of New South Wales – for introducing the motion to the house and to all Members for standing on the side of truth on this important issue.”

The passing is the result of the combined advocacy efforts of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, the Assyrian Universal Alliance, and the Australian Hellenic Council.

NSW is Australia’s largest state, and the first state in Australia to have recognised the Armenian Genocide in 1997.

Tsvetana Paskaleva presents Karabakh’s Wounds film premiere in Australia

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14:41, 7 May, 2013

YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS: The Acclaimed Bulgarian journalist and filmmaker Tsvetana Paskaleva will visit Australia to showcase her award-winning documentary “Karabakh’s Wounds” in May 2013. As reported to Armenpress by the Armenian National Committee of Australia, Paskaleva was an eyewitness journalist, who covered the 7180341991 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. The conflict erupted after the Azeri government quashed the democratic right to self-determination of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Karabakh’s Wounds” chronicles the struggles of the Armenian people during the brutal onslaught by the Azeri armed forces, which indiscriminately murdered innocent Armenian civilians. This acclaimed documentary has been showcased at numerous international film festivals and Paskaleva has been the recipient of numerous awards including from the President of the Republic of Armenia.

Tsvetana Paskaleva has travelled the world extensively, promoting the plight of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. She has had audiences in the Parliaments of France, Spain, the Czech Republic and various governmental and non-governmental organizations throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. She will be showcasing her documentary in London after her visit to Australia.

The New South Wales State Parliament will host the Australian premiere screening of “Karabakh’s Wounds” on May 7.

There will be a second community screening of “Karabakh’s Wounds” on Sunday 12 May, at Galstaun College.

This event has been organized by the office of the Representative of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh in Australia.

Tsvetana Paskaleva is a Bulgarian director, cinematographer and reporter. She was born in Bulgaria and graduated from National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia. The most famous films by Tsvetana Paskaleva are “Heights, hopes”, 1991, “Will there be a morning over Karabakh”, 1992, “My dear, alive and dead”, 1993, “Wounds of Karabakh”, 1994, “The soldiers of their land”, 1994, “Calm”, 1995, “Faith and spirit”, 2001.

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Chairman of Control Chamber of UAE pays tribute to memory of Armenian Genocide victims

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17:26, 7 May, 2013

YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by the Chairman of the Control Chamber of the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Harib al Amim visited Tzitzernakaberd and 718081placed wreaths at the monument dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. As reports “Armenpress” Dr. Harib al Amim also paid a visit to the Genocide Museum, where he got acquainted with details of the Armenian genocide of 1915 via relevant photos, documents, and literature. He left the following note in the memorial book: “I condemn what happened. No religion or nation can accept such phenomena.”

The delegation was accompanied by the Chairman of the Control Chamber of the Republic of Armenia Ishkhan Zakaryan. On the invitation of the Chairman of the Control Chamber of the Republic of Armenia, the Delegation of the Control Chamber of the United Arab Emirates paid an official visit to Yerevan on May 7. The UAE has not yet joined over two dozens countries, which recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide.

Fresno County maintains stance on Karabakh despite Azeri lobby pressure

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May 7, 2013 – 18:04 AMT

Fresno County‘s pledge of support for the territory of Nagorno Karabakh has sparked a little-known but certain international standoff, The Fresno Bee reported.

157473Azerbaijan is asking Fresno County supervisors to rescind their April resolution supporting Nagorno Karabakh’s independence. The supervisors, however, have refused to budge on their position.

“We stand with our Armenian friends, both in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh … We will not be muscled by a well-funded lobbying effort by the Azerbaijanis,” said Supervisor Andreas Borgeas, who wrote the county’s statement of support for Nagorno Karabakh.

The Fresno County resolution, passed April 23, maintains that residents of Nagorno Karabakh have elected to govern themselves and that their wishes should be respected.

Bones of Dersim massacre victims found 76 years later (Another Turkish government crime against Humanity and ethnic cleansing Exposed)

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Another Turkish government crime against Humanity and ethnic cleansing Exposed (Turkey the truth has no shelf life)
6 May 2013 /ALİ HAYDAR GÖZLÜ, TUNCELİ
A group of jkemikournalists and relatives of the victims of a 1937 massacre in the predominantly Alevi region of Dersim have found some bones probably belonging to the victims after carrying out a search in a cave in which many killings took place.

The notorious massacre occurred in 1937 in Dersim, which was historically a semi-autonomous region, as a brutal response to rebellious events. The alleged rebellion was led by Seyyid Rıza, the head of a Zaza tribe in the region. The Turkish government at the time, led by then-Republican People’s Party (CHP) head İsmet İnönü, responded with air strikes and other violent methods of suppression, killing thousands of people.

It is estimated that as many as 70,000 Kurdish Alevis were killed in Dersim between 1937 and 1938. The bodies of many of the victims are still missing.

In a bid to find some remains, a group of relatives of the victims and journalists searched the Laç Cave, where the killing of hundreds of people took place. After searching for about 11 hours, the group found bones most probably belonging to the Dersim massacre victims.

Entry to the area the group searched is prohibited to the public for security reasons; however, the group violated the prohibition.

One of the victims’ relatives, Hıdır Çiçek, said his uncle, cousins and many other family members died in the incident and that his father barely survived. Çiçek said he could not hold back his tears when he saw the bones.

Shell casings produced in 1935 were also discovered in the cave.

Çiçek said many of the people hiding in that cave were his relatives. “I remember everything my father told me about this cave and everything seems so familiar to me. Although it is the first time I have come here, I feel like I have stayed in this cave. What more can I say after I have seen these [bones]? There is another cave somewhere in this area, too, and most of the people who survived back then survived thanks to this cave,” he said.

His father told Çiçek that there were 500 to 1,000 people hiding in the Laç Cave. He demanded that the cave be turned into a monument honoring the victims of the massacre.

Laç Cave is one of the largest caves in the area. When many people were killed in Dersim at the time, about 500 people fled and hid in the cave, where they spent many days with little food and water. The majority of those hiding in the cave were women and children. It is believed that when one woman left the cave to get some water from a stream, soldiers found out about the people hiding in the cave and air strikes were carried out.

Turkey hopes nuclear partner France will review ‘genocide’ stance (Another Turkish government Genocide denial tactic by using Economic leverage)

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Another Turkish government Genocide denial tactic by using Economic leverage to corrupt business leaders and government officials around the world. Sorry Turkey the truth has no shelf life sooner or later you will. Stop camouflaging your crime against Humanity and ethnic cleansing with $$$$.

6 May 2013 /TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
Ankara is expectnukleering to see Paris weigh its stance on Armenian genocide claims rather more carefully amid improving trade ties, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız told reporters Monday in Ankara.

France’s GDF Suez will partner with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd and Itochu Corporation to build Turkey’s second nuclear power plant at an estimated cost of $22 billion under an agreement signed last week. The consortium will use French nuclear group Areva’s Atmea reactors.

Yıldız’s remarks on Monday come on the heels of speculation in French and Turkish media that the nuclear deal will benefit the political relations between Paris and Ankara, which have been strained by the former’s recognition of killings of Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War I as genocide. Ankara last year rejected requests by two French firms to be involved in Turkish nuclear power projects amid Turkish anger at a French bill making it illegal to deny that the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago was genocide.

Observers argued the French stance on the issue would continue to test Turkey’s patience as the 100th anniversary of 1915 events approaches. It is known that the Armenian diaspora is pushing for a worldwide initiative in 2015.

Recalling that the French government is aware of the need to break the ice in ties with Turkey, Yıldız said he expected the latest energy deal to serve this end. “We unfortunately failed to bring about a rapprochement during the [former President Nicolas] Sarkozy term. …last week’s deal is a positive step to see this happen,” Yıldız remarked. The minister said although it is too early to expect concrete steps from France in this regard, he believed energy matters in political relations today more than ever before.

Apart from the genocide claims, Turkey also hopes to see France soften its stance on the Ankara’s bid to join the EU. Yıldız had earlier said Turkey would expect gestures from Paris on its EU bid. Prior to the nuclear deal, the French government agreed in February to the opening of talks on one of the five negotiating chapters that it has been blocking since former President Sarkozy’s term in office.

Turkey to decide IPOs for nuke plant by October

Ankara is weighing a possible move to make public certain shares in a company that is going to be established as part of a project to build Turkey’s second nuclear power plant, Minister Yıldız said Monday in Ankara.

In line with the deal signed between Turkey and Japan, the parties will establish a separate company to undertake the construction and operation of the nuclear plant in Sinop province. A 51 percent share in this company will belong to Japan, with the rest in Turkey’s hands. Yıldız said the government mulled two alternative plans: “One is we give the entire 49 percent to the Electricity Generation Company [EÜAŞ], and the second plan is to keep EÜAŞ’s share at around 30 percent and either give the rest to local private firms or trade them on the stock exchange.” Yıldız said his ministry consulted with the Treasury for a possible IPO and will reach a final decision after deliberations with the participation of the Prime Minister’s Office.

An Energy Ministry official told Today’s Zaman on Monday that the government would make clear the initial public offering (IPO) issue in the planned nuclear company by October. “We will ink the final contracts on the nuclear plant in October, and this is when the government should decide on the IPO,” he said.

In an earlier deal, Russia’s Rosatom will start construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power station in mid-2015 in Mersin’s Akkuyu district.

Turkey guarantees the procurement of electric power from the two nuclear plants during the 20 years following their completion. Ankara will pay $12.35 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to Russia and $11.8 to Japan.

The elections to the 65-member Council of Elders of Yerevan are over.

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Accordiyerevan mayorng to the preliminary information, three political forces – the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and Barev, Yerevan (Hello, Yerevan) bloc – crossed the threshold by polling 55.89%, 23.07% and 8.48%.

The other four political parties failed to poll the necessary 6%. Therefore, their votes will be distributed among the winner parties.

Thus the votes will be divided as follows: the RPA 62.91%, the PAP 25.97% and Barev, Yerevan bloc 11.12%.

According to the preliminary data, the three political forces will be represented by 41 members, 17 members and seven members respectively.

Five-storied buildings to be built in 3 Armenian cities for Syrian-Armenians

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11:59, 6 May, 2013

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Special sites have been chosen in the cities of Ashtarak, Ejmiadzin and Masis for the construction of buildings and detached houses for the Syrian-Armenians settled in the Republic of Armenia. In a conversation with “Armenpress” the Head of Staff of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Firdus 717843Zakaryan stated that in case of successful implementation of the program, other sites will also be allocated in future.

Among other things Firdus Zakaryan underlined: “Buildings must be built in the site. There are three elements in the programs. The Government of the Republic of Armenia will also contribute to the program. The Government will take care about the issue of allocation of the sites. The Syrian-Armenian family will pay for certain part of the cost, and the rest will be paid by the sponsor. The first sponsor has already been found.  Upon the wish of the Syrian Armenians detached houses will be built as well. Notwithstanding in this case only the person, who wants to have a detached house must take care of the whole costs.” Firdus Zakaryan did not want to name the sponsor yet. The Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction will introduce the construction project free of charge. The Union of Architects of Armenia has also put forward certain suggestions. The sites were allocated on the order of the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.