European Archives

Turkey is Most Frequent Violator of European Convention on Human Rights

April 3, 2018 by administrator

Harut Sassounian

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Veteran Turkish journalist Sedat Ergin wrote in Hurriyet newspaper that “Turkey is the champion of rights violations at the European Court of Human Rights” (ECHR). The European Court rules on cases when signatories of the European Convention on Human Rights violate its provisions.

Even though Turkey joined the Court in 1986, 27 years after its founding, it had more violations than all other member countries between 1959 and 2016.

The European Court had a total of 3,270 judgments on Turkey. Only in 73 cases, Turkey was found by the Court not to have made any violations. The remaining cases were settled in other ways. Since more than one article was violated in most cases, Turkey’s violations total 4,514.

The 2016 Annual Report of the European Court of Human Rights indicated that:

— The highest number of Turkish violations (832) was in the area of “right to a fair trial.”

— The 2nd highest category (707 violations) was “the right to freedom and security.” This latter category means that “Turkish citizens are frequently arrested using unlawful methods and that those arrests can easily turn into sentences,” according to Ergin.

— The 3rd highest category of violations (653) is the “right to property protection,” which means that many Turkish citizens are deprived of ownership of their properties.

— The 4th highest category (586) is the violation of “length of proceedings.”

— “Lack of effective investigation” comes in 5th place with 412 violations.

— “Inhuman or degrading treatment” is in 6th place with 314 violations.

— In 7th place is the “right to an effective remedy” (268 violations).

— “Freedom of Expression” comes in 8th place (265 violations).

— In 9th place are 133 violations of the “right to life — deprivation of life.”

— In 10th place are 100 violations of the “right to respect private and family life.”

Regarding Azerbaijan, from 2002 to 2016, the European Court of Human Rights had 122 judgments, of which 118 were found to be violations of the European Convention on Human Rights, far fewer than Turkey, since Baku joined the ECHR much later, in 2002. The remaining 4 cases were settled in other ways. Since some cases had more than one violation, Azerbaijan had a total of 224 rights violations.

— The highest number of violations (44) was the “right to a fair trial.”

— The 2nd highest violation (34) was the “right to liberty and security.”

— The 3rd highest violation (30) was the “protection of property.”

— The 4th highest violation (21) was the “right to free elections.”

— “Lack of effective investigation” was the 5th highest violation (17).

Armenia, on the other hand, which joined the European Convention on Human Rights at the same time as Azerbaijan (2002), had fewer violations. There were 75 judgments by the ECHR against Armenia between 2002 and 2016, of which 68 were violations. The remaining 7 cases were settled in other ways. Since some of cases had more than one violation, Armenia had a total of 119 violations.

— The highest number of violations (32) was the “right to a fair trial.”

— The 2nd highest number of violations (27) was the “right to liberty and security.”

— The 3rd highest number of violations (16) was the “protection of property.”

Neighboring Georgia had a slightly fewer violations than Armenia. It joined the European Convention on Human Rights in 1999. Between 1999 and 2016 the ECHR had 68 judgments on Georgia, of which 52 were violations. The remaining 16 cases were settled in other ways. Since some of the cases had more than one violation, Georgia had a total of 99 violations.

— The highest number of violations (20) was the “right to liberty and security.”

— The 2nd highest number of violations (17) was “inhuman or degrading treatment.”

— There was a tie for the 3rd highest violation (12 each) for “lack of effective investigation” and “right to a fair trial.”

In addition to the above-mentioned violations, Turkey and Azerbaijan have much more serious problems with the ECHR. Turkey decided to suspend the European Convention on Human Rights following the attempted coup of July 2016. However, some parts of the Convention cannot be suspended, such as the right to life, and the ban on torture and the inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.

Azerbaijan faces another serious problem with the ECHR which had ruled that prominent Azeri opposition politician Ilgar Mammadov should be released from jail. Azerbaijan has refused to comply with ECHR’s decision since 2014. The Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have adopted several resolutions urging Azerbaijan to release Mammadov. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has initiated an unprecedented judicial review of Azerbaijan’s lack of compliance with the ECHR ruling. Further non-compliance by Azerbaijan could result in its expulsion from the Council of Europe!

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European gun-makers flood the US with firearms but tightly regulated at home

March 14, 2018 by administrator

European gun-makers flood the US

While Europeans decry America’s gun obsession, European gun-makers have no qualms about selling firearms to the US that are tightly regulated at home. It comes as no surprise to discover where those guns pop up.

What links some of the deadliest massacres in US history?

That they were carried out with guns imported from Europe or produced by European-owned companies in the US with firearms that are either heavily regulated or banned in Europe.

The gun used in the June 2016 mass shooting in a gay night club in Orlando that left 49 people dead — at the time the worst massacre in US history — was a Sig Sauer MCX rifle. SigSauer is owned by Germany’s Lüke and Ortmeier Holding Gruppe.

Assault-type weapons like these are either banned or heavily regulated in Germany where they can only be purchased with a special license.

Guns by Austrian arms maker Glock and Germany’s Sig Sauer were used in the December 2012 massacre in a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school that left 28 people dead — until the recent shooting in Parkland, Florida, the worst high school shooting in US history.

A Glock gun was also used in the shooting spree inside a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado in July 2012 in which 11 people were killed.

A semiautomatic weapon by the Austrian gun producer again featured in the January 2011 massacre in Tucson, Arizona in which six people were killed and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was seriously injured.

Guns by Italian manufacturer Beretta were used in the April 2009 shooting in an immigration services center that left 14 people dead in Binghamton, New York.

A German Walther and an Austrian Glock gun were used in the June 2007 rampage at Virginia Tech University that left 33 people dead — at the time the worst mass shooting in US history.

European guns swamp US market

All guns used in these mass shootings were bought legally in the US.

This list of European guns featuring in US massacres is not exhaustive, just exemplary.

European gun-makers have doubled their exports into the US civilian market between 2010 and 2016, according to US government data compiled for DW by small arms trade expert Nicholas Marsh of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).

In 2010, European-origin guns accounted for two million of the estimated eight million US civilian gun market.

In 2016, European-origin guns accounted for four million of an estimated 16 million US civilian gun market.

It shows that European gun-makers have kept pace with the market and ratcheted up their sales to Americans accordingly.

While European gun-makers have doubled their exports into the US firearms market in less than a decade in part by marketing guns to Americans that are banned or regulated in their home countries, there has been little public knowledge or discussion about the role of European firearms in America’s gun violence epidemic. “There is no debate about this in Europe really,” said Marsh. Similarly, the significant role of European guns has also not featured in the US debate about gun violence.

European Parliament condemns Turkey’s crackdown on Afrin critics

February 9, 2018 by administrator

European Parliament condemns Turkey’s

The European Parliament has passed a resolution denouncing the arrests of people who criticized Turkey’s military intervention in Afrin. One MEP told DW that there’s “no respect for human rights” in Turkey.

Turkey’s detention of hundreds of journalists, doctors and regular citizens who have been critical of Ankara’s operation in Syria’s Kurdish-controlled region of Afrin, was condemned by the European Parliament on Thursday.

The European Parliament described the arrests as “an attempt to censor criticism” in their resolution.

“We want to show our solidarity with Turkey’s population that is going through a difficult period, and at the same time remind EU leaders that human rights must remain on the top of EU-Turkey relations,” Kati Piri, a Dutch MEP and the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, told DW.

Rebecca Harms, a German MEP with the Green party, told DW that the human rights situation is of great concern for Brussels and that EU funds to Turkey must be contingent upon change.

“The rule of law in Turkey, as we knew it, doesn’t actually exist anymore,” Harms said. “The level of violence has been raised and there is no more respect for human rights.”

She added that if the EU’s customs union is to be expanded, “it must be made clear that this can only happen if Turkey returns to the rule of law.”

Thursday’s resolution states that the EU’s aid funds to Turkey “should be conditional on improving its record on human rights.” The resolution also urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government to lift the state of emergency that enables authorities to crack down on critics.

Warning about Afrin

The European Parliament also criticized Turkey’s actions in Afrin, saying Ankara’s military intervention raises serious humanitarian concerns.

“[MEPs] are seriously concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the Turkish assault and warn against continuing with these disproportionate actions,” the parliament’s statement said.

With regards to Turkey’s military operations in Afrin, Piri said the EU parliament “recognizes Turkey’s right to protect its borders,” but warned of the consequences of military action in the region.

The Turkish army has been fighting against the Kurdish militia YPG in its “Olive Branch” offensive since January 20.

European Court Finds Catholicosate’s Suit Inadmissible; And Could Not Be Appealed

October 25, 2017 by administrator

Photo www.gagrule.net during ANCA-WR Conference

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon) filed a lawsuit on April 25, 2015, against the government of Turkey seeking the return of its historic seat in Sis (present-day Kozan district of the Adana Province) which was confiscated in 1921.

The first of its kind lawsuit was filed in the Constitutional Court of the Turkish Republic because the claim raised issues of property rights that lower courts would not have jurisdiction to overturn the maze of laws adopted by Turkey in 1915 and succeeding years. At the recommendation of the Justice Ministry of Turkey, the Constitutional Court referred the Armenian Church lawsuit to the lower courts. The lawyers for the Catholicosate of Cilicia, however, decided to appeal the case directly to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France, on December 8, 2016.

The issue of sidestepping submission of the Catholicosate’s lawsuit to a lower court in Turkey is critical in view of the requirements of the European Court of Human Rights that before any case is brought to the ECHR, all local legal remedies must first be exhausted, starting with the lowest court and ending with the highest court of the country being sued.

On October 19, 2017, addressing the conference of the Armenian Cause in the European Parliament in Brussels, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia criticized the single judge from ECHR who had rejected the Armenian Church’s lawsuit finding it inadmissible. Until this announcement, there was no news about the status of the lawsuit. I contacted the ECHR headquarters in Strasbourg inquiring about the Armenian Church’s claim. I was informed that a single judge indeed has the authority to reject any lawsuit, which in this case was not first submitted to a lower court in Turkey in order to exhaust all local remedies, and that the letter of rejection was sent to the Catholicosate in March 2017. More ominously, I was told by ECHR that the judge’s decision could not be appealed!

I then contacted Payam Akhavan, a member of the Catholicosate’s legal team and Professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, inquiring why no announcement was made earlier by the Catholicosate regarding the rejection of the lawsuit six months ago. Prof. Akhavan explained that the ECHR judge had sent the letter to the wrong address! The Catholicosate then wrote to that judge “expressing serious concern on miscarriage of justice; that a single judge could throw out what was clearly a well-argued case, and waited until recently for a standard response that there is no appeal, and the decision is final.”

In his Brussels speech on Oct. 19, 2017, Catholicos Aram the First harshly condemned the ECHR for rejecting the Church’s lawsuit: “Why would the European Court of Human Rights so easily reject our case knowing that no lawyer would dare to bring such a case before the Turkish courts? How could a single judge throw out a 900-page Application, historically and legally well substantiated by some of the best international lawyers? Why was our legal team not given a chance for a hearing? Is everybody now afraid to confront Turkey’s appalling record of human rights violations? We are astonished and, in fact, deeply disappointed at this miscarriage of justice, particularly at this crucial juncture of modern history when Europe is expected, in faithfulness to its values and principles, to consider justice above geopolitical interests…. Europe is essentially a community of values, not merely political and economic interests. Therefore, I still hope that the European Court of Human Rights will reconsider the admissibility of the case on the basis of justice and human rights. In spite of the denial of justice, the Armenian people will continue to struggle for justice.”

Prof. Akhavan called the ECHR judge’s decision “scandalous.” He then added in his email to me: “By the measure of several highly experienced ECHR lawyers, this decision is totally unacceptable. It shouldn’t be forgotten that our counsel was Tim Eicke QC [Queen’s Counsel], who is now the British judge on the ECHR. He of course is conflicted from involvement in the case, but there is a sense among many that the Court is too afraid of confronting post-coup Turkey with such controversial cases.”

Prof. Akhavan also stated that the next steps for this lawsuit “are either to re-submit the case with some new facts such as the impossibility of going back to the Turkish courts under current circumstances, or to go back to the Turkish courts, waste a lot of resources, and come back to the ECHR once again. It is a ludicrous decision because everybody knows that is exactly what will happen. It is a hot potato the ECHR doesn’t want to handle….”

In conclusion, I would suggest that the Catholicosate of Cilicia make public the complete files of its lawsuit, including the 600-page submission to the Turkish Constitutional Court and its response, and the 900-page filing to the European Court of Human Rights and its response. After all, this is not a private lawsuit, but one dealing with the Armenian nation’s property demands from Turkey!

Armenian athletes set world records at European Powerlifting Championships

May 25, 2017 by administrator

The Armenian Men and Women National Powerlifting Teams have taken part in the European Powerlifting Championships hosted by Ukrainian city of Lutsk on May 17-22. The Armenian athletes set new world records, winning gold and silver medals. The Armenian teams have competed in three disciplines – Squat, Bench press and Deadlift, Panorama.am reports citing the Armenian National Olympic Committee.

In Men’s Championship, Armenian athletes Hovhannes Antonyan (world record), Kamo Baghdasaryan (world record), Andranik Asatryan (world record), Hovhannes Yazichyan, Gor Khachatryan, Sargis Stambultsyan, Erik Levonyan, Hakob Hakobyan, William Saroyan, Yuri Mayilyan Karen Arakelyan, Never Gharibyan, Karen Hovhannisyan, David Asoyan and Hayk Barsamyan became champions of Europe. Ararat Loretsyan and Gagik Saroyan won silver medals.

In the Deadlift Discipline of the Women’s Championship, Armenia’s Alvard Manukyan won the gold medal.

In the team competition, the Armenian powerlifting team took the second position, coming after the Ukrainian team.

Azerbaijan: serious suspicions of corruption on European politicians

December 28, 2016 by administrator

In its edition of 22 December the Spanish site Valencia Plaza reported suspicions of corruption by Azerbaijan on Senator Pedro Agramunt, which is nothing less than the president under the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. This article is based on the second report of the ESI (European Stability Initiative) dedicated to the diplomacy of caviar. This document, published on December 17, 2016, is extremely detailed. He places this elected member in a list of 5 European parliamentarians suspected of corruption. One of them has already admitted to illegally receiving more than two million Euros to “give advice on agricultural matters” to the Aliyev regime. Questioned by Valencia Plaza, Pedro Agramunt for his part denied any involvement.

The system of corruption, which uses all sorts of means (cash, silk mats, smartphones, MacBooks, prostitutes, etc.) aims, according to the ESI report, to improve the image of Azerbaijan in Within the Council of Europe. The work of this NGO benefits from the collaboration of prosecutors from different countries who are working on the possible relationship of a number of politicians with this alleged plot. The Italian MEP Luca Volonté (Christian Democratic Party) was denounced as being at the center of a network supporting the Baku regime in PACE, whose puppeteers are according to the report of the ESI Two Azerbaijani parliamentarians: Elkhan Suleymanov (lobbyist in the European Union, before being elected to the PACE) and Muslum Mamadov, who later joined the latter. Their actions were allegedly financed by the Eydar Aliyev Foundation, named after the former Azerbaijani president.

During his investigation, the Italian police were able to establish that Luca Volonté perceived through two structures, including the association Novae Terrae (an ultra-religious and homophobic association) founded and the company LVG (Luca Giuseppe Volonte) registered In milan under the name of his wife, a hidden salary of 30,000 euros per month, in addition to an initial payment of 100,000 euros. The investigation carried out by the Italian courts has proved that between 2012 and 2014 more than 2.4 million Euros were passed through his hands. The money came from Baku. It transited through Estonia and Latvia, and was distributed through a network of companies based in Bimingham and the Marshall Islands.

According to elements exploited by the Italian police, it appears that Pedro Agramunt is one of the main accomplices of Will, without sufficient evidence to make these suspicions lead to an indictment.

But in a report published in 2013 and titled “Senator Valencia guardian of Azerbaijan or why Pedro Agramun should resign”, ESI listed the different trips of the Spanish politician in Azerbaijan and his various efforts to present an image Favor of that State. A task facilitated by his responsibilities. He was between 2013 and 2016 president of the group “European People’s Party” (now a majority party) and since January 2016 is the fourth Spanish president of the Council of Europe … He was also four times observer of the ” EU in Azerbaijan and was the rapporteur for the monitoring of the country.

The ESI report quotes, besides the name of Agramunt, that of the following parliamentarians: the Spanish Jordi Xuclà the British Michael Hancock and Robert Walker, the Polish Tadeusz Iwinski and the Italian Luigi Vitali. But none is directly accused. The ESI calls on prosecutors’ offices in France, Spain, Germany and other countries to speak with their Italian colleagues and to cooperate on the investigation of suspicious behavior during this period. Also that the transaction between Suleymanov and Volonte be placed on the agenda of the next PACE plenary session at the end of January 2017.

Armenia intends to join European Common Aviation Area “soon”

November 17, 2016 by administrator

Armenia is expecting to join the European Common Aviation Area “in the near future,” Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told reporters on Thursday, November 17 after the eighth unofficial meeting of Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers.

“Today’s meeting is of special importance for Armenia,” Nalbandian said, adding that the country has participated in a number of projects throughout the year.

“And now, we are expecting to launch negotiations for joining the Common Aviation Area soon,” Nalbandian said, according to Aysor.am.

Also participating in the meeting were EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs – Political Director for the EEAS (European External Action Service ) Jean-Christophe Belliard, as well as top diplomats from the Eastern Partnership countries.

European Heritage Days in Armenia

September 24, 2016 by administrator

On September 24-25 2016, under the motto “Heritage and Communities”, “European Heritage Days” will be held in the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

According to information and public relations department of the Armenian Ministry of Culture, as part of the program numerous exhibitions and diverse events, concerts, meetings, discussions, lectures, watching movies, literary and musical matinees, educational and interactive programs will be organized.

This year’s program is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia.

Greece Seeks to Create South-European Alliance to Protest ‘Austerity Policy’

August 9, 2016 by administrator

The Greek government invited leaders of five South-European countries in order to accelerate cooperation in the economic field. German newspaper DWN writes that the main goal of the alliance would be to counter the austerity policy of the German government.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is said to have invited the leaders of five South-European countries to a conference which will take place on September 9, in Athens, the newspaper wrote citing Greece-based news agency ANA-MPA.

The meeting is aimed at discussing “common” economic, political and institutional challenges, particularly focusing on the EU’s austerity policies and migration.

“Athens consciously seeks closer cooperation between the southern EU member states,” DWN wrote.

According to the media source, with this move the Greek Prime Minister hopes to ease austerity measures and come out of the current financial crisis.

France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta are expected to attend the conference.

Greece is currently negotiating its way through its third bailout agreement with its creditors. Having had to be rescued a third time, Greece is being given financial support in a series of tranches of money after meeting strict conditions on changes to its fiscal policy.

Greece to Inject About $3Bln Into Banking System by Easing Capital Controls

In short, Greece is being called on to make severe cuts to public services, while widening and increasing tax collection and making major reforms to its state pension system. The austerity measures are deeply unpopular and have led to demonstrations and strikes for years.

Earlier in April, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa signed a joint declaration in which both classified the EU’s austerity policies as “wrong”.

“This austerity policy weakens economies and divides society,” the two politicians stressed and expressed their dissatisfaction with the EU.

Andre Speight Mkrtchyan named best player FIBA European Championship

July 4, 2016 by administrator

Armenian basketball player Andre Speight Mkrtchyan was named the best player of 2016 FIBA European Championship For Small Countries, the country’s Basketball Federation said in a Facebook post.

Armenia’s national basketball team on Sunday, July 3 won the championship. With a score of 79:71, the men’s team defeated current champion Andorra in all the four quarters.

Armenians were participating in the tournament for the first time, with Mkrtchyan claiming the title of the best player of the match.

The country thus won the opportunity to participate in the qualifying campaign of the European Championship finals.