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State Department Representative Echoes ALC’s Call for Return of Religious Minority Properties at First-Ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom

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State Department Representative Echoes ALC’s Call for Return of Religious Minority Properties

By KATE NAHAPETIAN

Washington, DC – Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC) Executive Director Kate Nahapetian emphasized the importance of property rights in the protection of religious freedom and genocide prevention during the State Department’s first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, which began in Washington, DC on July 24th.

“If we are able to work to return properties, we eliminate the profit motive for persecution and genocide,” stated Nahapetian during the meeting plenary session, where she applauded the State Department’s recent successful efforts to return properties to religious minorities in Iraq.

Pat Davis, Director of Office of Global Programming at the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor agreed that the return of properties to religious minorities needs to be a focus in addressing religious persecution and atrocity crime prevention.  “That is something we have started doing more and more of . . . as recognition of that exact same phenomenon that you talked about.”

Video of the discussion is available:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aenjSxU66_8&feature=youtu.be&t=2h33m35s

The Armenian Legal Center has been collecting information related to religious and personal properties stolen or confiscated during the Armenian Genocide as part of a process for their eventual return or compensation.  It is the only community organization to do so, understanding the importance of consolidating this information in one place as a means towards redress and accountability for the genocide.  To submit documentation concerning stolen or lost properties from the Armenian Genocide, please visit: https://armenianlegal.org/document-preservation-form/

Over 300 religious freedom leaders from 80 countries around the world — including Armenia – gathered in Washington DC for the Ministerial.  Individual testimonies from religious minorities across the globe punctuated the program.  In his opening remarks, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback highlighted the case of imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who has spent nearly two years in a Turkish jail on baseless charges.  Following White House and State Department pressure, and a Senate threat to block international financial corporation assistance for Turkey, the Erdogan regime moved Brunson from jail to house arrest earlier today.

Photo Caption State Dept Religious Freedom Conf 1:  Kate Nahapetian, Executive Director of the ALC, emphasizes the need to return properties as a means of preventing religious persecution and genocide at State Department’s first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom.

Photo Caption State Dept Religious Freedom Conf 2: Over 300 religious freedom leaders from around the world gathered in DC for the Ministerial, which included government officials from over 80 countries, including Armenia.

 

The American State Department issues its “deep concern” about the death of Karen Petrossian Azerbaijan and requests that all light be shed

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In a statement the State Department has indicated its concern about the events surrounding the death of the Armenian villagers Karen Petrossian. According to the Public arton102474-293x220Television of Armenia, the State Department of Foreign Affairs said he was “deeply worried” about the fate that befell Karen Petrossian. “The United States is deeply concerned about the information related to the death Keren Petrossian prisoner in Azerbaijan which showed that death did not occur naturally. The United States presents its deepest condolences to the relatives of Karen Petrossian “said the statement from Washington. The State Department calls Azerbaijan to shed light and conduct a transparent investigation to present to the public the results. It also calls on all warring parties to respect international conventions on humanitarian issues and allow the Red Cross to visit the citizens with captivity.

Recall that on August 7, the Armenian villagers from the village of Tchinari Karen Petrossian (32 years) was captured in Azerbaijan. Hours earlier this simple citizen of Armenia presented as an Armenian intelligence agent, was pronounced dead, the victim of a “sudden death from heart failure.” Relatives of Karen Petrossian yet say he was in good health. Karen Petrossian who had crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border without realizing it, was in discussions around a table with villagers Azeris when soldiers came to arrest him. Then … after the murder staged.

Krikor Amirzayan

Davutoğlu says measures taken against ‘initiatives bothering Turkey’

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April 11, 2014 – 12:49 AMT

Several hours before the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, journalists questioned State Department Press Spokesperson Jen Psaki 177887regarding the Obama Administration’s position on the resolution and pending Committee consideration.

“Well, our position has long been that we acknowledge – clearly acknowledge as historical fact and mourn the loss of 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. These horrific events resulted in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, and the United States recognizes that they remain a great source of pain for the people of Armenia and of Armenian descent, as they do for all of us who share basic universal values. Beyond that, I don’t have any other comment for you,” Psaki replied.

Despite repeated queries, she stopped short of the State Department’s traditional practice of openly arguing against the adoption of Armenian Genocide legislation.

Meanwhile, according to the Hurriyet Daily News, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry prior to the committee vote, to discuss the document.

The Turkish government is taking measures against “initiatives that will bother Turkey,” he said.

US will continue support to those affected by violence in Syria, including Syrian Armenians

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The United States will continue its  support to those affected by violence in Syria and throughout the region, including Syrian Armenians, State Department representative said during a briefing on Friday.

201560“We have long had concerns about the threat posed by violent extremists, and this latest threat to the Armenian community in Syria only underscores this further,” Marie Harf  said.

She said Washington  is following the situation for Armenians inside Syria for all minorities, including Christians, and knows that violent extremists such as ISIL have targeted them.

“We’re particularly concerned about these minority communities and want to make sure that their rights are protected,” she emphasized.

“We’ve seen reports, as I said – recent fighting, violence against the Syrian Armenian communities. We see the reports coming out of there. Obviously, we talk – we try to get as much information from the ground as possible, as we do in all places in Syria, but it’s hard to get. But clearly, there have been some very troubling trends lately” .

However, Marie Harf refused to comment on the reports saying Turkish Foreign Minister planned a provocative act inside Syria so Turkey has the excuse to invade Syria.

“I don’t have anything for you on alleged calls or conversations that are out there among Turkish officials,” she added.