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Turkey: Paylan Calls for Research into Armenian Deportation Law of 1915

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ISTANBUL/ANKARA (ArmRadio)—Armenian member of the Turkish parliament Garo Paylan presented a research proposal to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for the examination of the results of the Provisional Relocation Act enacted on May 27, 1915, Istanbul-based Agos news reported on Friday.

The Member of Parliament proposed to investigate the responsibilities of the government and public officials during that time, as well as the daily effects of the deportations.

“Following the Temporary Relocation Act, the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire was subjected to deportation, leading to devastation in the Syriac, Keldani, Ezidi and Greek peoples,” a part of Paylan’s proposal read. “Although the results of this law have not been investigated by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) for more than 102 years, it has been known that a large number of casualties have been experienced due to the Deportation Law.

“A lot of cultural assets and property have been seized or confiscated. The exploitation of the responsibilities of the government and civil servants of the period, the day-to-day effects of the consequences of the deportation, the benefits of confronting the past and the truth in ensuring social peace as a whole in our country, in accordance with Article 98 of the Constitution, Articles 104 and 105 of the Constitution in order to contribute to the uncovering of ‘truth’ in order to prevent abuse and to provide more opportunities for future generations to live together in Turkey freely and peacefully I would like to offer and propose to open the survey.”

Paylan noted during the parliamentary meeting that Talat Pasha, the Ottoman Empire’s Interior Minister and one of the three main organizers of the Armenian Genocide, personally documented the 1915 deportations.

“The destruction of the forded population, the investigation of the responsibilities of the government of the period and the public officials, the day-to-day effects of the consequences of the deportation, the benefits of confronting and confronting the truth and truthfulness of social peace in our country, I would like to open a Parliamentary Survey in order to make contributions, to give future generations more opportunities to live in Turkey together freely and in peace. “

Rep. Loretta Sanchez Calls for Leahy Law Investigation of Azerbaijani Abuses

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Sanchez_NDAA_hearing_042816Urges Administration to Conduct Thorough Review of U.S. Military Aid to Baku

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, called for a “Leahy Law” investigation into reports that the Azerbaijan armed forces, which annually receive millions of dollars in U.S. military aid, committed gross violations of human rights during Baku’s April 2 offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

In remarks during an Armed Services hearing Thursday on the National Defense Authorization Act, Rep. Sanchez noted that she has reviewed credible allegations that units of the Azerbaijani military have committed gross violations of human rights. “I believe that these blatant human rights violations warrant action on our part to direct our Secretary of Defense to work with our Secretary of State on an investigation on possible human rights violations. And I believe the U.S. should conduct an investigation on whether the ‘Leahy Law’ is being violated by the Azerbaijani military,” stated Rep. Sanchez. “We, the United States, we are a leader on human rights and we cannot afford to support militaries that commit human rights violations.”

In her remarks, Rep. Sanchez cited sharp criticism of Azerbaijan’s human rights record and called attention to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev’s pardon and praise for Ramil Safarov, who axe-murdered an Armenian officer while he slept during a NATO peace-keeping training program in Hungary. Rep. Sanchez’s statement accompanied an amendment that she submitted, but later withdrew for procedural purposes.

Godfather of Islamic State: Davutoglu calls the Islamic world to “liberate” Palestine, Karabakh and Crimea

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f5710f2a874c4b_5710f2a874c89.thumb“The most important indicator which would show the effectiveness of the OIC is protecting Muslim minorities and liberating occupied lands such as Palestine, Karabakh and Crimea,” said Davutoglu delivering an opening speech at the 13th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul on April 14, reports Hurriyet Daily News.

According to the source, Turkish Prime Minister particularly stressed to “liberate all Islamic lands under occupation”.

“We need a common stance for the liberation of all the Islamic lands that are under occupation, especially Palestine,” said Davutoglu.

He also added that common stance should be adopted for occupied territories, where the Islamic identity is under threat of being demolished.

 

Source Panorama.am

The German ambassador in Yerevan calls for recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey

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arton104842-307x210Ambassadors of Great Britain and Germany in Armenia, Catherine Leach and Reiner Morell, held a press conference Wednesday, October 29 in Yerevan in particular to expose their preparations for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the First World War. Entitled “100 years after the First World War,” the program of events organized jointly sign of reconciliation includes visits to schools, the symbolic planting

Catalonia leader calls referendum on independence from Spain

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referendumThe president of Spain’s north-eastern region of Catalonia has called an independence referendum in the latest secession push in Europe, and one of the most serious challenges to the state government in recent years, the Guardian reported.

The conservative Madrid -administration insists the referendum, planned for 9 November, is illegal and will not take place.

The Catalan leader, Artur Mas, called the referendum on Saturday. An emergency cabinet meeting is to be held on Saturday to address the issue.

It plans to challenge a recently-passed Catalan law permitting the referendum before the constitutional court, which it hopes will suspend the motion and halt the vote.

The announcement comes a week after Scotland voted against breaking away from the UK.

A long-standing pro-independence movement in Catalonia has gathered momentum during recent years of economic hardship.

Spain’s constitution doesn’t allow referendums on sovereignty that don’t include all Spaniards, and experts say the constitutional court would rule the vote illegal.

Mas has said he will not do anything illegal but insists the vote will be held.

 

European Parliament Calls for Sanctions on Azerbaijan

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FlagsBRUSSELS, STRASBOURG—On Thursday, the European Parliament with an overwhelming majority adopted a resolution condemning the persecution of human rights activists in Azerbaijan, affirming its previous resolutions on human rights in Azerbaijan, and calling for targeted sanctions against Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s regime, as well as visa bans against those in the regime who are directly responsible for the repression of civil society.

Azerbaijan was harshly criticized by members of the European Parliament, who stressed the absurdity of Azerbaijan currently holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of Europe — an institution upholding values of human rights and freedom – whereas “in the last few years the general Human Rights climate in Azerbaijan has been deteriorating, with a major escalation of government repression, pressure and intimidation directed at NGOs, civil society activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.”

Member of the European Parliament Marie-Christine Vergiat (Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left, France) said that the impunity of Azerbaijan and the Aliyev regime should stop, that the EU should not be focused on oil and gas only, and that the Association Agreement with Azerbaijan should not go on. Member of the European Parliament Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Germany) stressed the gruesome state of civil society in Azerbaijan, after the continuous and brutal authoritarian regime’s crackdown on fabricated and politically motivated charges. During speeches by the lawmakers, it was mentioned that a few months ago Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev from the podium of the Council of Europe had called his critics liars, and had denied any sort of criticism, while in reality, the situation in Azerbaijan has all the more deteriorated.

The European Parliament resolution “deplores the actions taken by the Azerbaijani Government to curb contacts between civil society and youth activists and intellectuals from Armenia and Azerbaijan, since these contacts are of major importance for bridging the long-standing hostility between the two countries.”

The resolution stresses that the European Parliament’s consent to the signature of a partnership agreement with Azerbaijan will be conditional on the satisfactory reflection of the above-mentioned requirements, the release of human rights defenders, the withdrawal of legislation restricting the operations of independent civil society, and the cessation of repression and intimidation of NGOs, independent media, opposition forces, human rights defenders and youth and social network activists. Members of the European Parliament stressed that Azerbaijan should be held accountable for its actions at home, and that human rights should be an inseparable part of the foreign policy of the EU.

The resolution laments the fact that the EU-Azerbaijan human rights dialogue has made no substantial progress regarding the human rights situation in the country, calls on the European External Action Service to step up this dialogue with a view to making it effective and result-oriented and to report regularly to Parliament, and calls on the EU Council and the member states to urge the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to call on the Azerbaijani authorities to stop the oppression and make it clear that it expects them, as hosts of the European Olympic Games to be held next year, to uphold the Olympic Charter’s requirement to respect press freedoms.

Most importantly, the European Parliament recalls its position of May 24, 2012, and calls on the EU Council to consider the possibility of targeted sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations, should these persist.

Kaspar Karampetian, President of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (ANC of Europe) said that finally the European Union is speaking up against the oppressive regime in Baku, and that Commissioner Neven Mimica’s intervention is in the right direction. “We welcome this resolution of the European Parliament. A resolution that upholds the real values of the European Union, while stressing the necessity of sanctions against the regime in Baku. Human Rights shall be considered in all aspects of Foreign Policy; and energy flow to Europe shall not make the EU go blind on breaches of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms,” said Karampetian. “Real democracy in Azerbaijan, respect to the right of self-determination of peoples is the only key to solving the long standing conflict with Nagorno Karabakh, and a peaceful co-habitation in the South Caucasus,” Karampetian concluded.