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Australia’s New Prime Minister a Strong and Vocal Supporter of #ArmenianGenocide Recognition

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Newly elected Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull

Newly elected Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull

CANBERRA—The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) has welcomed the election of Malcolm Turnbull as the new Prime Minister of Australia.

Turnbull challenged sitting Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, for their party’s (LIB) leadership in a spill that took place on Monday night in Parliament House. By winning the Liberal Party leadership, Turnbull immediately became Prime Minister-elect, and will be sworn in on Tuesday.

Turnbull, a longtime friend of the Armenian-Australian community, has been a strong and vocal supporter of Armenian Genocide recognition by the Parliament of Australia. On November 23, 2013, in his capacity as Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband, Turnbull addressed the House of Representatives in an impassioned speech calling for the formal recognition of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian genocides.

“They [ANC Australia Advocacy Week delegation] are assembled here, as we are, to lament what was one of the great crimes against humanity, not simply a crime against the Greeks, the Assyrians and the Armenians but a crime against humanity—the elimination, the execution, the murder of hundreds of thousands of millions of people for no reason other than that they were different. This type of crime, this sort of genocidal crime, is something that sadly is not unique in our experience,” Turnbull said.

He added: “We must own up to it. We must recognize it for what it is.”

He also called on the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge the genocidal crimes of their predecessors, the Ottoman Empire, to pave the way for reconciliation into the future, and live up to their multicultural past.

Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, Vache Kahramanian, wrote to the Prime Minister-elect congratulating him on his election as Australia’s 29th Prime Minister.

“We welcome the election of Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister of Australia. His strong track record on Armenian related issues has been formidable and we look forward to continuing this strong relationship,” Kahramanian said.

“We also congratulate Tony Abbott on his service as Prime Minister Australia.”

ANC Australia has sought a meeting with the newly elected Prime Minister to discuss a wide range of issues important to the Armenian-Australian community.

Arpine Hovhannisyan Appointed Justice Minister of Armenia

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Newly appointed Minister of Justice Arpine Hovhannisyan (Source: Armenpress)

Newly appointed Minister of Justice Arpine Hovhannisyan (Source: Armenpress)

YEREVAN—National Assembly member Arpine Hovhannisyan of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) has been appointed Minister of Justice of Armenia. Speaker Galust Sahakyan confirmed her appointment during a briefing at the National Assembly today.

Hovhannisyan’s appointment was discussed during a meeting held on September 3 by the Executive Body of the ruling RPA, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly and spokesman for the RPA Edward Sharmazanov told reporters on Friday.

President Serzh Sarkisian accepted Hovhannisyan’s appointment, issuing a presidential decree on Friday.

“The RPA is well disposed towards Arpine Hovhannisyan and positively assesses her activities. President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian discussed [the matter] with RPA Executive Body members. He will make a decision,” Sharmazanov said following the meeting on September 3, adding that Hovhannisyan was also present at the meeting.

Former Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan was relieved of his position on July 14 by a presidential decree and in accordance to Armenia’s constitution.

Armenia initiative presents new demands #ElectricYerevan

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Electric-Yerevan-day 4

Armenian Youth using cell phone fore light

YEREVAN. – The “No to Plunder” initiative of Armenia has presented its new demands, which are as follows:

“1) To review and cancel the PSRC’s [i.e. the Public Services Regulatory Commission] unlawful decision on the electricity tariff. 2) To review last year’s tariff for the purpose of reduction. 3) To punish all law-breaking police officers that unlawfully beat the peaceful demonstrators on [Monday,] June 22 at Baghramian Avenue, as well as to punish those that give them an unlawful order.”

On early Tuesday morning, the capital city Yerevan police dispersed the activists—that were led by members of the “No to Plunder” initiative—protesting against electricity price hike by using water cannon, and they detained many activists and journalists, who were later released.

On Tuesday evening, however, the sit-in participants marched toward the Office of the President—on Baghramian Avenue—yet again and with a larger crowd, but the police blocked their way again.

However, the sit-in still continues at the starting point of Baghramian Avenue, which is closed off, and traffic towards this boulevard is suspended.

Despite numerous protests, the Public Services Regulatory Commission recently increased the price of electricity in Armenia, and this decision will take effect on August 1. The decision, however, is expected to be followed by an increase in the prices of numerous products and services in the country.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

Karabakh has new defense minister and army commander

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new-defance-STEPANAKERT. – President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR; Artsakh), Bako Sahakyan, on Monday signed a decree on relieving Lieutenant General Movses Hakobyan from the position of the NKR Minister of Defense and Commander of the NKR Defense Army.

With another presidential decree, Lieutenant General Levon Mnatsakanyan has been appointed to the aforesaid positions.

Sahakyan also signed a decree on awarding Hakobyan with the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Order for his exclusive services rendered to Artsakh.

The President on Wednesday visited the NKR Ministry of Defense, and introduced the new defense minister to the command staff of the army.

President Sahakyan also extended his appreciation to the now former defense minister for the extensive work he carried out. Sahakyan stressed that combat-readiness of the NKR Defense Army reached a new level, and numerous matters were resolved under Hakobyan’s command.

Sahakyan noted with certainty that Movses Hakobyan will continue using his rich track-record and knowledge in his new and accountable position as Deputy Chief of Armenia’s General Staff of the Armed Forces.

The NKR President, speaking about Levon Mnatsakanyan, qualified him as one of the most experienced generals with a profound knowledge, with authority and respect in the army, and who has shown his worth in all positions he has assumed.

Commander-in-Chief of the NKR armed forces expressed confidence that Mnatsakanyan will work with the same zeal as Artsakh’s Defense Minister and Defense Army commander, directing all his skills and abilities toward strengthening the army and steadily raising its efficiency.

The Minister of Defense of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, and several other officials also attended this meeting.

Armenia has new political party

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new-partyYEREVAN. – The Civil Accord union of Armenia on Saturday announced about founding a political party in the country.

Civil Accord Governing Board member, opposition Armenian National Congress bloc MP Nikol Pashinyan stated about the aforementioned at the founding congress of the Civil Accord.

“First and foremost, an institutional opposition needs to be created to make changes in the country,” Pashinyan said. “And this is exactly what we will do.”

He noted that the new party will run in the state authority and local government elections in Armenia.

“We will receive a majority of votes in elections and become the country’s president not for the seat, but to make substantial changes to the country,” the opposition MP stated, in particular.

Pashinyan stressed that the implementation of their strategic plan requires an unprecedented consolidation. Hence, the MP called on all Armenians to join them and fight together.

“One-person-centered decisions are not made in our organizations,” Nikol Pashinyan added. “The ruling out of the factor of a super leader is one of the key features here; it shall be governed by the principle of collegiality.”

Syrian man claims Turkey is building new tomb on his property

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205569_newsdetailA Syrian man from Syria’s Kurdish town of Kobani has claimed that the land on which Turkey has chosen to move the recently exhumed remains of Süleyman Şah actually belongs to him and that no one informed him that the tomb would be built on his private property, a Turkish daily has reported.

According to a report published by the Vatan daily on Tuesday, the plot of land Turkey chose to rebuild the tomb, which is about 200 meters away from the Turkish-Syrian border in Şanlıurfa in an area being called Syrian Eşme, belongs to a 45-year-old Syrian man named Bozan Osman

Speaking to the daily, Osman, who took shelter in Şanlıurfa’s Birecik district near his relatives when clashes between Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants and Kurdish fighters broke out last autumn, said the land where the new tomb will reportedly be built belongs to him. He added that he didn’t sell the land or make any agreement with anyone regarding it.

“I saw Turkish soldiers going toward our village on [Saturday] night. I mean, the distance is [so close], around 200 meters. When we looked there [his land] in the morning, we saw the troops. I went to our mukhtar, Suphi Yavuz, and asked if the Turkish troops were on our land. The mukhtar told me: ‘Nothing bad will happen. The Turkish Republic is a big state and it won’t cause you grievance.’ The area is around 1,000 square meters. The whole of it belongs to me. No one came to me beforehand to inform me [that the tomb would be placed there],” Osman said.

The Syrian man also claimed that he went to speak with the Turkish soldiers and they also told him that “nothing bad will happen.”

He spoke about how the conditions of war in the area have affected him and the 12 members of his family, and he asked the Turkish government for help: “We are already in a difficult situation. While we were in Syria, we were earning our living by farming the land where the tomb will be built. We had planted wheat and barley. We are asking for help from the Turkish government. Land in Syria is too expensive. We don’t know what will happen.”

 

Richard Mills confirmed as next US Ambassador to Armenia

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new-us-ambassador-armeniaThe U.S. Senate confirmed Richard Mills as a next Ambassador to Armenia, Ambassador John Heffern tweeted.

The Senate also confirmed Robert Cekuta as a next ambassador to Azerbaijan.

Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick also congratulated the confirmation of new ambassadors.

“Both are career diplomats and our very best. #Nkpeace,” he tweeted.

Mills worked in Beirut, Malta, Paris, Dublin, Islamabad, Riyadh and London. In early 90s he also worked as a desk officer for the newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan, followed by a tour as a political officer at the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia.

His foreign languages are French and Russian.

New Medical Facilities in Artsakh’s (Karabakh) Martakert, Martuni Regions Inaugurated

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MartunihospitalMARTAKERT, MARTUNI, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic—Artsakh President Bako Sahakian on Saturday attended the opening ceremonies of a medical clinic in Martakert and a regional hospital in Martuni, reported the presidential press service. Report Asbarez

Sahakian stressed that the medical institutions, equipped with state-of-the-arts facilities and I in line with current healthcare standards would substantially contribute to the development of healthcare system both in their regions and in the entire republic, adding that increasing the quality of medical services in the regions would remain a priority for the Artsakh government.

Sahakian expressed gratitude to the “Karabakh-Telecom” company for assisting in the realization of these projects.

Primate of the Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, prime-minister Ara Haroutyunyan and other officials partook in the events.

In September, 2013 a large hospital was also opened in Stepanaker, the capital of Artsakh.

Turkey launches new arrests of top officers for eavesdropping

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195161_newsdetailTurkish authorities have launched a new operation to arrest top police officers on suspicion of involvement in illegal eavesdropping on senior officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The new wave of arrests targeted 18 police figures, including the former head of national police intelligence, Omer Altiparmak, and the former deputy head of the Ankara police, Lokman Kircili.

The operation is the fifth swoop in a sequence of coordinated raids against police since July. So far, dozens of former senior officers have been arrested.

It was not immediately clear if all those targeted figures had been arrested, but Turkish media said that the operation was still underway.

The swoops were part of a crackdown on what the Turkish president has described as a “parallel state” within the security forces loyal to his former ally-turned-foe, Fethullah Gulen.

The probe is linked to corruption allegations against the president and cabinet ministers.

More than 100 serving and former police officers were arrested in July as part of a wiretapping investigation.

The officers have been accused of fabricating a probe as cover for spying on top figures since 2010, including Erdogan, cabinet members and the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, Hakan Fidan.

Many of the police officers arrested were involved in an anti-government corruption probe and were removed from their posts earlier this year.

Turkey plunged into political crisis after dozens of government officials and prominent businessmen close to the Turkish premier were arrested for inquiry on graft charges on December 17, 2013.

Erdogan denounced the corruption scandal as well as a string of damaging leaks in the media, saying they were engineered by Gulen’s supporters to undermine his government. Gulen has repeatedly denied any involvement.