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Armenia to appeal to international courts over Safarov case

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February 7, 2013 – 17:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The government of Armenia will appeal to international courts over the case of Azeri criminal Ramil Safarov, who axe-killed Lt. Gurgen Margaryan.

As Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan stated, the Ministry is currently preparing the appeal, with international experts among those involved in the work.

The Minister, however, refused to provide details on the process launched.

Safarov, the Azerbaijani army officer who was serving a life sentence in Hungary for axing to death Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan, was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Official Yerevan reacted by suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary. Hungary, however, stated that it had sent Safarov back to Azerbaijan after receiving assurances from the Azerbaijani Justice Ministry that Safarov’s sentence, which included the possibility of parole after 25 years, would be enforced.

According to some reports, Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan in exchange for Azeri purchase of Hungarian securities worth Euro 2-3 billion, an information official Budapest denies.

“Hungarian prime minister is “morally bankrupt” and should resign after admitting that he personally approved the transfer of the Azeri axe murderer while knowing the likely consequences,” the leader of the opposition Socialists said earlier.

Attila Mesterhazy said it was clear from Orban’s comments at a news conference on September 11 that he had been aware that Azerbaijan would release the life-sentenced Ramil Safarov after his repatriation.

Kurdish Leader Apologizes for Role in Genocide

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ISTANBUL (Marmara)—An influential Kurdish leader in Turkey, in an interview published on Sunday, acknowledged the Kurds’ role in the Armenian Genocide and apologized to the Armenians on behalf of the Kurdish people.

Turkish parliament member and the vice-president of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Congress Ahmet Turk said that in 1915 the Kurdish people had a large role in the torture and massacre of Armenians, Assyrians and Yezidis and, he as a Kurd, apologized to the Armenian people on behalf of all Kurds.

In the interview, Turk, who is also a mediator of talks between the Turkish government and Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan, urged Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to follow suit and recognize the Gencoide.

He explained that the Kurdish population was used to commit the crimes against Armenians in 1915.

“Our grandfathers and fathers were used in the injustices perpetrated against Armenians, Assyrians and Yezidis. There’s blood on their hands. With the blood of these peoples they bloodied their own hands. Thus, as their children and grandchildren, we apologize,” said Turk.

“We, as Kurds, say that we did commit these crimes, but we committed them against our will,” added Turk.

“The Turkish government, instead of denying it, must also apologize… There is a need for fundamental change here,” said Turk.

On a related note, the owner of one of the largest corporations in Turkey Itzak Alaton urged the Turkish Socio-Economic Research Center to pursue the Turkish recognition of the Armenian Gencoide.

“April 24, 1915 is around the corner. Let’s change our denialist policies. I am tired of the fear to face our past. Let’s raise our voices to our deputies in Ankara and those deputies should raise their voices to their political parties and leader in order for us to open our skeleton-filled closets,” said Alaton, who runs the Alarco Corporation in Turkey.

France bombs Islamist targets in Mali after Hollande visit

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TIMBUKTU, Mali – Agence France-Presse

Rafale fighter jets took off from France, as part of operation Serval, to strike targets in the Northern part of Mali, aiming Islamist rebels’ base of operations – contributing to the joint Franco-Malian military effort to push back islamist rebels’ advance. EPA/EPA/LA.Maucorps/Armée de l’air

France said it carried out major air strikes Sunday near Kidal, the last bastion of armed extremists chased from Mali’s desert north in a lightning French-led offensive, after a whirlwind visit by President Francois Hollande, AFP has reported.

An army spokesman said 30 warplanes had bombed training and logistics centres run by Islamist extremists overnight in the Tessalit area north of Kidal, where French troops took the airport Wednesday and have been working to secure the town itself.

Residents said French and Chadian soldiers had patrolled the town for the first time Saturday as the rest of the country feted Hollande on his tour, a victory lap that came three weeks into a so far successful intervention to oust the Islamists who occupied northern Mali for 10 months.

Hollande, who called the trip the “most important day of my political life”, was greeted by ecstatic crowds in the capital, Bamako, and the fabled city of Timbuktu with cheers of “Vive la France! Long live Hollande!”, and given a young camel draped in a French flag.

The French-led forces have met little resistance in their campaign, with officials saying many Islamists have likely fled to the mountainous terrain around Kidal.

After taking Kidal’s airport, French troops were delayed by a sandstorm and a delicate situation on the ground, as officials said seven French hostages were believed to be in the area and the rebels splintered, with the breakaway Islamic Movement of Azawad (MIA) extending an olive branch by renouncing “extremism and terrorism”.

Body likely belonging to missing US woman found in Istanbul

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10:39, 3 February, 2013

The body of a missing American woman in her thirties was discovered near the city walls in the Sarayburnu district of Istanbul earlier today as security forces detained at least 10 people as part of an investigation into the disappearance of Sarai Sierra, who has been missing since Jan. 21. As reports Armenpress citing Hürriyet Daily News , senior police sources said Sierra might have been stabbed to death in her abdomen and sent her body to the forensics department for an autopsy.

The victim’s clothing, an extra pair of shoes she was carrying with her, bottles of alcohol and a broken piece of glass found at the crime scene were all sent to the Istanbul police department for further examination. Sierra’s family last made contact with her on Jan. 21, the day before she was supposed to fly back to the United States. The 33-year-old mother of two had been on vacation alone in Turkey since Jan. 7. Daily Sabah reported earlier that police believed there might have been a good chance Sierra was still alive after discovering her U.S. phone had been activated twice since she was reported missing. A call was reportedly made using a Skype application on Sierra’s American phone on Jan. 30, nine days after she was reported missing. The woman’s phone was turned on once again yesterday, daily Sabah reported.

LA Consular Corps Annual General Meeting at the House of Armenia

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16:23, 3 February, 2013

Following the tradition established in 2010, Armenia hosted the annual general meeting and the luncheon of the Los Angeles Consular Corps on January 31. Third largest in the world (after New York and Hong Cong), the Los Angeles Consular corps includes almost 100 Consulates General, Consulates and Honorary Consulates. On the last day of January 2013, the House of Armenia in Glendale opened its doors to host the most representative consular event of the year followed by a luncheon and a cultural program.At the invitation of the Consul General of Armenia, the Los Angeles County Supervisor Mr. Michael Antonovich appeared before the consular community as a key-note speaker. CG’s past guest speakers included the 35th Governor of California Mr. George Duekmejian and the US Secretary of Navy, Mr. Paul Ignatius.

Suicide bomber kills at least 33 in Iraq’s Kirkuk

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February 3, 2013 – 14:27 AMT

A suicide bomber driving a car and gunmen disguised in police uniforms killed at least 33 people in the Iraqi city Kirkuk on Sunday, Feb 3, when they tried to storm the police headquarters, Reuters reported.

It was the third major attack in several weeks in or near the northern city, an ethnically mixed area of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens at the heart of a dispute over oil and land between Baghdad’s central government and the autonomous Kurdistan region.

“A suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives hit the entrance of the headquarters and after the blast gunmen in explosive vests attacked with AK47s and grenades, but the guards killed them,” a police official said.

The huge car bomb blast tore into the police directorate’s concrete facade, destroyed cars outside, and left bodies under rubble at nearby government offices. Police said there were at least two gunmen.

Several armed groups are active in Kirkuk, and Sunni Islamist insurgents tied to al Qaeda often attack security forces in an attempt to undermine Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government and stoke sectarian tensions.

Last month a suicide bomber disguised as a mourner killed at least 26 at a funeral at a Shi’ite mosque in the nearby city of Tuz Khurmato, and days earlier a suicide bomber driving a truck killed 25 in an attack on a political party headquarters in Kirkuk, 170 km (105 miles) north of the capital Baghdad.

Armenian Americans protest against hate crimes in Turkey

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February 02, 2013 | 13:36

Armenian American youth – their mouths symbolically covered with red tape – held a silent protest Friday, calling on Congress to reject Turkey’s gag-rule on U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, citing the recent ethnically-motivated attacks against elderly Armenian women in Istanbul as the latest example of the dangerous atmosphere created by Ankara’s denials and ongoing demonization of Armenians, Asbarez reported.

The demonstration, held in front of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, was organized by Armenian Student Association (ASA) members from the across the U.S. along with the Washington, DC “Ani” chapter of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Ani chapter and other local youth, to coincide with the nationwide “Stain of Denial” campus protests organized by the All-ASA and supported by the AYF and ARF Shant Student organizations.

UCLA ASA Public Relations Director Knarik Gasparyan, who co-organized the event, explained that the effort attracted Armenian and non-Armenian youth alike, many in WashingtonDC for Capitol Hill internships or semester programs through their colleges and universities. “I want to highlight the fact that many non-Armenian students participated in today’s protest, standing in solidarity with us and supporting our efforts to shed light on the horrific hate crimes and human rights violations in Turkey,” explained Gasparyan. “This once again comes to prove that the cause we fight for and the recognition of the Genocide is not simply an Armenian issue, but of concern to all humanity.”

Protesters carried photos and spotlighted four widely publicized attacks against elderly Armenian women, one fatal, which have taken place over the past two months, in the historically Armenian-inhabited neighborhood of Samatya, in central Istanbul.

Hundreds Protest Horizon’s Proposed Closure

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It’s a David and Goliath Story

GLENDALE—Hundreds of community members gathered in front of Charter Communications offices on Friday to protest the corporate decision to arbitrarily yank Horizon Armenian Television off the air on February 19.

The community members were heeding the call of a citizens’ group, “Save Horizon TV Task Force” and took to the streets to protest this decision, which has rocked the community.

Earlier this month, the management of Horizon Armenian Television was notified by Charter Communications that the channel that has been serving the Armenian community for more than two decades would be yanked off the Charter lineup effective February 19, despite the fact that Horizon signed and delivered a contract for 2013.

The task force is planning a large demonstration Friday, February 8 at 11 p.m. at Charter’s regional headquarters, 4781 Irwindale Avenue, Irwindale, CA 91706. Follow asbarez.com for complete details of this event.

“It is a David and Goliath story,” said Avedik Izmirlian, chairman of the Armenian Media Network board of directors. He explained that Charter Communications, the fourth largest cable operator in the country, wants to stifle Horizon Television, a channel that has been serving the Armenian-American community for almost 25 years.

Izmirlian thanked the protesters for their support for Horizon and urged the community to come together right this wrong and ensure that the community’s voice is not silenced.

Charter officials are wrongfully telling customers that Horizon Television did not sign its contract and are misleading them by absolving Charter of any responsibility, explained Tro Krikorian, a member of the “Save Horizon Television Task Force.”

Krikorian and another task force members entered the Charter offices to demand explanations for the corporation’s actions against this community television channel. Inside, they were by a Charter representative who failed to adequately answer the concern of community representatives.

Deeming this action by Charter as nothing short of bullying a non-profit organization, which is dedicated to service and betterment of the community, the Save Horizon TV Task Force has also initiated an online and print petition drive that has been met with overwhelming support by the community.

In a matter of days there are thousands of responses to the online petition (http://signon.org/sign/save-horizon-nonprofit), which is directed to Charter Communications regional management and the Federal Communications Commission. The paper petition, which was circulated at various community events since Saturday, has also received thousands of signatures.

“Charter is acting in bad faith and violating the principles of a good corporate citizen by ignoring the needs of the community and being insensitive to the customers they serve,” said Zanku Armenian a spokesperson for the Save Horizon TV Task Force. “As a franchisee in Glendale, Burbank and La Crescenta, Charter serves at the pleasure of the citizens of these cities and with their callous actions they are demonstrating they don’t care about their customers.”

Armenian-Americans comprise more than 40 percent of the population in Glendale and La Crescenta and 35 percent of the total population in Burbank—the area covered by Charter Communications that carries Horizon Armenian Television.

Horizon Television was the first Armenian-language channel to become part of the Charter lineup with a 24-hour channel in 1999 and was chosen by the corporation because of its deep roots and its demonstrated service to the community. Horizon Television debuted in May of 1989 with a mission to inform and serve the Armenian-American community. In a short time, Horizon became a broadcast outlet for news and information and evolved into a true voice for the ever-expanding Armenian community. In 1999, Horizon expanded its programming to become the first 24-hour television channel in the Armenian community and since then, by partnering with organizations and businesses alike, it has provided groundbreaking coverage of all things Armenian for its viewers. Horizon is the Armenian language equivalent of the non-profit PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) network on mainstream television.

At least two dead in US Embassy suicide bombing in Ankara

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By Jonathon Burch

ANKARA | Fri Feb 1, 2013 9:09am EST

(Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed a Turkish security guard at the U.S. embassy in Ankara on Friday, blowing the door off a side entrance and sending smoke and debris flying into the street.

Ankara Governor Alaaddin Yuksel said the attacker was inside U.S. property when the explosives were detonated. The blast sent masonry spewing out of the wall of the side entrance, but there did not appear to be any more significant structural damage.

The bomber was also killed.

U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone emerged through the main gate of the building, which is surrounded by high walls, shortly after the explosion to address reporters, flanked by a security detail as a Turkish police helicopter hovered overhead.

“We are very sad of course that we lost one of our Turkish guards at the gate,” Ricciardone he said, thanking the Turkish authorities for a prompt response.

A Reuters witness saw one wounded person being lifted into an ambulance as police armed with assault rifles cordoned off the area.

“It was a huge explosion. I was sitting in my shop when it happened. I saw what looked like a body part on the ground,” said travel agent Kamiyar Barnos whose shop window was shattered around 100 meters away from the blast.

One witness said the blast was audible a mile away.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The British Consulate-General to Turkey said the blast a “suspected terrorist attack”.

Islamist radicals, far-left groups, far-right groups and Kurdish separatist militants have all carried out attacks in Turkey in the past.

The main domestic security threat comes from the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), deemed a terrorist group by the United States, European Union and Turkey, but the PKK has focused its campaign largely on domestic targets.

Turkey has led calls for international intervention in neighboring Syria and is hosting hundreds of NATO soldiers from the United States, Germany and the Netherlands who are operating a Patriot missile defense system along its border with Syria, hundreds of kilometers away from the capital.

The U.S. Patriots were expected to go active in the coming days.

The most serious attacks of this kind in Turkey occurred in November 2003, when car bombs shattered two synagogues, killing 30 people and wounding 146. Authorities said the attack bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda.

Part of the HSBC Bank headquarters was destroyed and the British consulate was damaged in two more explosions that killed a further 32 people a week later.

(Writing by Nick Tattersall and Daren Butler; Editing by Jon Hemming)

Armenia Presidential Hopeful Shot and Wounded

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By AVET DEMOURIAN Associated Press
YEREVAN, Armenia February 1, 2013 (AP)

A fringe candidate for the Armenian presidency was recovering from surgery Friday after being shot in the chest by an unidentified gunman, officials said. Paruir Airikian was reported in stable condition as police searched for the shooter, while the speaker of Parliament suggested the election could be delayed.

Airikian, an also-ran in three previous presidential elections, was shot outside his house in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, just before midnight. A neighbor who heard gunshots and cries for help called the police.

Another presidential candidate who visited Airikian in hospital told Armenian TV that that the assailant first shot him in the back. Airikian then started struggling with the attacker, who fled.

Airikian, a former dissident who spent 17 years in Soviet prisons, is one of eight candidates in the Feb. 18 presidential vote, which incumbent Serge Sarkisian is expected to easily win despite the nation’s economic problems. Recent opinion surveys show Airikian getting just over 1 percent of the vote.

Yerevan Clinical Hospital’s chief doctor, Ara Minasian, said that the 63-year-old Airikian was being treated for a single gunshot wound and remained in stable condition. Doctors later performed a surgery to remove a bullet that got stuck in his shoulder.

Eduard Sharmazanov, a deputy speaker of Parliament, said the attack on Airikian was a “provocation against democratic, free and transparent elections.” Education Minister Armen Ashotian, who is deputy chief of the ruling Republican Party, described it as an “attempt to destabilize the situation in the country and compromise the vote.”

Armenian parliament speaker Ovik Abramian, who visited Airikian at the hospital, said the assault could be an attempt to thwart the election. He said the vote could be postponed if Airikian’s condition prevents him from taking part, but the nation’s election chief refused to comment on the possibility.

Armenia’s constitution requires the vote to be postponed for two weeks if one of the candidates is unable to take part due to circumstances beyond his control. It envisages a further 40-day delay if the problem isn’t solved.

The Armenian president has broad executive powers, and the campaign for the job has been marked by much tension. Airikian, a Soviet-era dissident, briefly joined a hunger strike by another candidate over procedural issues related to the vote.

This landlocked, overwhelmingly Christian nation of 3 million has faced severe economic challenges caused by the closing of its borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan because of a territorial conflict.

The Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and some adjacent territory has been under the control of Armenian troops and local ethnic Armenian forces since a six-year war ended with a truce in 1994. But international efforts to mediate a settlement have brought no result.

Armenia’s politics have been tense and often mired in violence. In 1999, six gunmen burst into Parliament and killed the prime minister, speaker and six other officials and lawmakers. Nine people were wounded. The attackers said they were driven by a desire to save the country from economic collapse and official corruption. They were sentenced to life in prison and one later committed suicide.

Airikian was a dissident during Soviet times. He was first arrested when he was 20, and spent 17 years in prison, according to his party. In 1987 after Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev launched his liberal reforms, Airikian created the National Self-Determination Party. When the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan erupted next year, he accused the Soviet authorities of stirring up violence and was evicted from the country.

Airikian soon returned to his homeland and took senior positions in Armenia’s parliament and government in the 1990s.