Armenian News... A Topalian...Turkey Military Song...Such mentality still lives on
armenews.com
TURKEY
Turkish military song: let's kill all the Kurds as we killed the Armenians
In this video filmed by soldiers of the Turkish army in the occupied
town of Silopi Kurdish in Turkey, this group of soldiers called JOH
and POH, are the Turkish death squads that killed hundreds of
civilians while operating in Kurdish cities under curfew. A rough
translation of what they sing is "Everything, every time, everywhere
always the Turks on land and in the sky That we Turks -... We will
never allow the Kurds to survive Silopi We will fight until at the end
..... we swear every place will remain a Turkish land.the ISIS
(Islamic State) did is nothing compared to what we will do, we will
kill all Kurds as we have slaughtered all the Armenians. Amen. "
CONFLICT IN 2015 - DEFENSE MINISTRY
Interfax-Russia & CIS Military Newswire
January 21, 2016 Thursday
The Armed Forces of Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic had 57 fatalities in 2015, the Armenian defense minister's
press secretary Artsrun Hovannisian said.
"The cause of death of 38 servicemen is the hostile actions [which
were] conducted on the frontline [sniper fire, acts of sabotage,
etc.]. Two servicemen were killed in a road accident, two died from
disease, and one was murdered," Hovannisian wrote on Facebook on
Wednesday.
The Armed Forces of Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic reported six suicides, and driving to suicide, cases last
year, he said.
"Four servicemen died in accidents, and three because of violations
of the service regulations. One serviceman was killed in a mine
explosion," Hovannisian said.
ARMENIA'S BIGGEST BANK PLANS LONDON MARKET LISTING
Reuters
Jan 21 2016
Ameriabank, Armenia's biggest bank by assets, is making
plans for a potential stock market listing in London as it pursues
a domestic expansion drive after a $40 million investment by the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The EBRD is taking a 20 percent stake in Ameriabank to help to
support its growth by providing funds for lending to small business,
big local companies and retail customers.
"Our aspiration is an IPO (initial public offering) and to try to
triple our balance sheet in the next three years," Ameriabank Chairman
Andrew Mkrtchyan said, adding that it has begun negotiations with
investment banks to appoint an adviser with a view to listing in the
next two to three years. The bank did not provide an estimate of a
potential valuation.
Mkrtchyan said the bank, which has total capital of 182 million
dollars and about $1 billion in total assets, is looking to further
its expansion with acquisitions in its home market in the first half
of the year, with the focus on profitable smaller players.
The Armenian banking sector comprises 21 lenders, serving a population
of about 3.2 million people.
In addition to the EBRD investment, the World Bank's International
Finance Corporation is providing a $50 million loan to help Ameriabank
to boost lending to local businesses and bolster economic growth in
the former Soviet republic.
Like other former Soviet states, Armenia has been hit by the economic
downturn in Russia, though the International Monetary Fund said in
September that it expects increased growth this year.
The IFC's Director for Europe and Central Asia, Tomasz Telma, said
its loan is part of a $100 million investment programme to increase
stability in a sector that is critical for Armenia's broader economic
development.
(Reporting by Jane Merriman; Editing by David Goodman)
RFE/RL Report
U.S., Russia, France Again Warn PACE Over Karabakh
22.01.2016
Diplomats from the United States, Russia and France on Friday again
warned the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) against
undermining their efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
with pro-Azerbaijani resolutions that will be debated in Strasbourg
next week.
In a joint statement, James Warlick, Igor Popov and Pierre Andrieu
stressed that that the OSCE Minsk Group co-headed by them "remains the
only accepted format for negotiations."
"We appreciate the interest paid by PACE members, but urge that steps
not be taken which could undermine the Minsk Group's mandate from the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe or complicate
ongoing negotiations," they said.
The two draft resolutions on Karabakh were approved by the PACE's
standing committees on political and social affairs in November. One
of them was drawn up by Robert Walter, a pro-Azerbaijani British
parliamentarian. It demands Karabakh's unconditional return to
Azerbaijani rule and says that the three mediating powers should
"consider reviewing" their peace efforts accordingly.
The other document drafted by Bosnian lawmaker Milica Markovic accuses
Armenia of "deliberately depriving" Azerbaijani farmers of water
flowing from the Sarsang reservoir in northern Karabakh. It too calls
for "the immediate withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the region
concerned."
Armenia and Karabakh's leadership have strongly rejected the proposed
resolutions, saying that their authors have close ties with the
Azerbaijani government and therefore cannot be impartial. Armenian
criticism of Walter, who reportedly received Turkish citizenship and
relocated to Turkey last year, has been particularly harsh.
The Minsk Group co-chairs also criticized Walter's resolution and
warned the PACE not to "disrupt the negotiation process and impede
progress towards a settlement" in a statement issued in November.
By contrast, Azerbaijan welcomed the proposed text. It also lambasted
the U.S., Russian and French mediators, saying that their long-running
peace efforts have produced "zero results."
Peace proposals made by the mediating powers over the past decade
markedly differ from the Karabakh settlement advocated by the PACE
committees. Their Basic Principles envisage an internationally
recognized referendum in which Karabakh's predominantly Armenian
population would apparently be able to reaffirm the territory's de
facto secession from Azerbaijan.
The referendum would take place years after the liberation of
virtually all seven districts in Azerbaijan proper that were fully or
partly occupied by Karabakh Armenian forces during the 1991-1994 war.
RFE/RL Report
Gyumri Massacre Defendant Pleads Guilty
Satenik Kaghzvantsian
22.01.2016
The Russian soldier charged with killing an Armenian family of seven
in Gyumri pleaded guilty to all grave accusations levelled against him
as his main trial continued there on Friday.
Valery Permyakov will face a life sentence if a court in Armenia's
second largest city convicts him of murdering a local couple, their
daughter, son, daughter-in-law and two small grandchildren in January
2015. The 20-year-old conscript also stands accused of armed robbery
and an attempt to illegally cross the Armenian-Turkish border.
Permyakov did not testify about the reasons why he deserted his unit
with an assault rifle, broke into the Avetisian family's modest house
and went on a killing spree there early in the morning. He told
Russian military prosecutors last year that he had grown homesick and
wanted to reunite with his family living in a small town in Siberia.
A Russian military court sentenced Permyakov to 10 years in prison for
desertion in August. That trial began shortly after Russian
authorities reluctantly agreed to place the separate murder case under
Armenian jurisdiction.
Permyakov's Armenian trial is taking place, ostensibly for security
considerations, at the Gyumri headquarters of the Russian military
base in Armenia. The defendant has been kept there ever since his
arrest.
Permyakov's guilty plea was followed by the cross-examination of two
relatives of the murdered Avetisian family. It started from Rita
Petrosian, whose sister Hasmik was among the victims and who was the
first to enter the Avetisians' house after the massacre.
In a distraught voice, Petrosian gave a harrowing account of the crime
scene discovered by her. "There was blood all over Aida's face, and I
mechanically ran to another room where my sister and her husband lay #
[Their son] Armen lay on the floor, [his wife] Araksya was in bed with
[their 2-year-old daughter] Hasmik."
"I was so shocked that I didn't look for Seryozha," she added,
referring to the 6-month-old boy who died of his stab injuries a week
later.
Araksya's father, Andranik Poghosian, was the next to take the stand,
urging the court to ensure a fair trial. His testimony was accompanied
by angry cries from other relatives present in the makeshift
courtroom.
The trial was adjourned until January 29 after the surviving daughters
of the murdered couple, Anahit and Lusine, told the court that they
are too distressed to give testimony now.
Interfax-Russia & CIS Military Newswire
January 21, 2016 Thursday
The Armed Forces of Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic had 57 fatalities in 2015, the Armenian defense minister's
press secretary Artsrun Hovannisian said.
"The cause of death of 38 servicemen is the hostile actions [which
were] conducted on the frontline [sniper fire, acts of sabotage,
etc.]. Two servicemen were killed in a road accident, two died from
disease, and one was murdered," Hovannisian wrote on Facebook on
Wednesday.
The Armed Forces of Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic reported six suicides, and driving to suicide, cases last
year, he said.
"Four servicemen died in accidents, and three because of violations
of the service regulations. One serviceman was killed in a mine
explosion," Hovannisian said.
ARMENIA'S BIGGEST BANK PLANS LONDON MARKET LISTING
Reuters
Jan 21 2016
Ameriabank, Armenia's biggest bank by assets, is making
plans for a potential stock market listing in London as it pursues
a domestic expansion drive after a $40 million investment by the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The EBRD is taking a 20 percent stake in Ameriabank to help to
support its growth by providing funds for lending to small business,
big local companies and retail customers.
"Our aspiration is an IPO (initial public offering) and to try to
triple our balance sheet in the next three years," Ameriabank Chairman
Andrew Mkrtchyan said, adding that it has begun negotiations with
investment banks to appoint an adviser with a view to listing in the
next two to three years. The bank did not provide an estimate of a
potential valuation.
Mkrtchyan said the bank, which has total capital of 182 million
dollars and about $1 billion in total assets, is looking to further
its expansion with acquisitions in its home market in the first half
of the year, with the focus on profitable smaller players.
The Armenian banking sector comprises 21 lenders, serving a population
of about 3.2 million people.
In addition to the EBRD investment, the World Bank's International
Finance Corporation is providing a $50 million loan to help Ameriabank
to boost lending to local businesses and bolster economic growth in
the former Soviet republic.
Like other former Soviet states, Armenia has been hit by the economic
downturn in Russia, though the International Monetary Fund said in
September that it expects increased growth this year.
The IFC's Director for Europe and Central Asia, Tomasz Telma, said
its loan is part of a $100 million investment programme to increase
stability in a sector that is critical for Armenia's broader economic
development.
(Reporting by Jane Merriman; Editing by David Goodman)
RFE/RL Report
U.S., Russia, France Again Warn PACE Over Karabakh
22.01.2016
Diplomats from the United States, Russia and France on Friday again
warned the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) against
undermining their efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
with pro-Azerbaijani resolutions that will be debated in Strasbourg
next week.
In a joint statement, James Warlick, Igor Popov and Pierre Andrieu
stressed that that the OSCE Minsk Group co-headed by them "remains the
only accepted format for negotiations."
"We appreciate the interest paid by PACE members, but urge that steps
not be taken which could undermine the Minsk Group's mandate from the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe or complicate
ongoing negotiations," they said.
The two draft resolutions on Karabakh were approved by the PACE's
standing committees on political and social affairs in November. One
of them was drawn up by Robert Walter, a pro-Azerbaijani British
parliamentarian. It demands Karabakh's unconditional return to
Azerbaijani rule and says that the three mediating powers should
"consider reviewing" their peace efforts accordingly.
The other document drafted by Bosnian lawmaker Milica Markovic accuses
Armenia of "deliberately depriving" Azerbaijani farmers of water
flowing from the Sarsang reservoir in northern Karabakh. It too calls
for "the immediate withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the region
concerned."
Armenia and Karabakh's leadership have strongly rejected the proposed
resolutions, saying that their authors have close ties with the
Azerbaijani government and therefore cannot be impartial. Armenian
criticism of Walter, who reportedly received Turkish citizenship and
relocated to Turkey last year, has been particularly harsh.
The Minsk Group co-chairs also criticized Walter's resolution and
warned the PACE not to "disrupt the negotiation process and impede
progress towards a settlement" in a statement issued in November.
By contrast, Azerbaijan welcomed the proposed text. It also lambasted
the U.S., Russian and French mediators, saying that their long-running
peace efforts have produced "zero results."
Peace proposals made by the mediating powers over the past decade
markedly differ from the Karabakh settlement advocated by the PACE
committees. Their Basic Principles envisage an internationally
recognized referendum in which Karabakh's predominantly Armenian
population would apparently be able to reaffirm the territory's de
facto secession from Azerbaijan.
The referendum would take place years after the liberation of
virtually all seven districts in Azerbaijan proper that were fully or
partly occupied by Karabakh Armenian forces during the 1991-1994 war.
RFE/RL Report
Gyumri Massacre Defendant Pleads Guilty
Satenik Kaghzvantsian
22.01.2016
The Russian soldier charged with killing an Armenian family of seven
in Gyumri pleaded guilty to all grave accusations levelled against him
as his main trial continued there on Friday.
Valery Permyakov will face a life sentence if a court in Armenia's
second largest city convicts him of murdering a local couple, their
daughter, son, daughter-in-law and two small grandchildren in January
2015. The 20-year-old conscript also stands accused of armed robbery
and an attempt to illegally cross the Armenian-Turkish border.
Permyakov did not testify about the reasons why he deserted his unit
with an assault rifle, broke into the Avetisian family's modest house
and went on a killing spree there early in the morning. He told
Russian military prosecutors last year that he had grown homesick and
wanted to reunite with his family living in a small town in Siberia.
A Russian military court sentenced Permyakov to 10 years in prison for
desertion in August. That trial began shortly after Russian
authorities reluctantly agreed to place the separate murder case under
Armenian jurisdiction.
Permyakov's Armenian trial is taking place, ostensibly for security
considerations, at the Gyumri headquarters of the Russian military
base in Armenia. The defendant has been kept there ever since his
arrest.
Permyakov's guilty plea was followed by the cross-examination of two
relatives of the murdered Avetisian family. It started from Rita
Petrosian, whose sister Hasmik was among the victims and who was the
first to enter the Avetisians' house after the massacre.
In a distraught voice, Petrosian gave a harrowing account of the crime
scene discovered by her. "There was blood all over Aida's face, and I
mechanically ran to another room where my sister and her husband lay #
[Their son] Armen lay on the floor, [his wife] Araksya was in bed with
[their 2-year-old daughter] Hasmik."
"I was so shocked that I didn't look for Seryozha," she added,
referring to the 6-month-old boy who died of his stab injuries a week
later.
Araksya's father, Andranik Poghosian, was the next to take the stand,
urging the court to ensure a fair trial. His testimony was accompanied
by angry cries from other relatives present in the makeshift
courtroom.
The trial was adjourned until January 29 after the surviving daughters
of the murdered couple, Anahit and Lusine, told the court that they
are too distressed to give testimony now.
'world's saddest zoo'
Anna Ryder Richardson has offered her support in finding better homes
for the animals abandoned at a zoo in Armenia, including lions and
bears
By Rachael Misstear
Manor Wildlife Park owner Anna Ryder Richardson has stepped in to
offer homes to animals living in what has been described as 'the
world's saddest zoo'.
It comes after shocking images of hungry and abandoned lions and bears
living in cramped rusty cages were released by Sussex-based animal
welfare group International Animal Rescue.
Once owned by a billionaire Armenian oligarch in the Armenian town of
Gyumri, the zoo is now a scene of despair with animals relying on the
kindness of two poor pensioners to feed them.
Three lions, two bears and two guinea pigs display all the signs of
creatures slowly being driven mad by their unnatural existence.
The heartbreaking images have prompted the Pembrokeshire zoo owner to
offer the creatures assistance or a new sanctuary in Wales.
"The images are profoundly saddening and highlight the unspeakable
lives which some animals are forced to endure," said Anna.
"As the owner of Manor Wildlife Park and as the chief executive of The
Nature Foundation I extend my full support in finding better homes for
these beautiful animals."
The creatures, whose billionaire owner has apparently disappeared
survive only on a meagre diet of scraps and scavenged woodland plants
brought to them by an elderly couple fighting hard to keep them alive.
Anna said she is lucky enough to be the owner of Manor Wildlife Park ,
which, combined with its sister zoo Peak Wildlife Park, has ample room
to hold all of the animals.
[have a good laugh!!]
AZERBAIJAN'S MULTICULTURALISM CAN BE EXAMPLE
AzerNews, Azerbaijan\
Jan 22 2016
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan, located on the junction of two continents- Europe and Asia,
created all necessary conditions for representatives of different
nationalities, religions and cultures to exist freely. The state
is committed to its strategy on developing and strengthening the
traditions of multiculturalism.
An Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism can be exemplary for the
countries keeping away from this tradition, believes Kamal Abdulla, the
state adviser on international issues, multiculturalism and religion.
"The Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism is viable. The interest
in this model in the world is the result of recognizing Azerbaijan
as a country having these traditions throughout the history,"
Anna Ryder Richardson has offered her support in finding better homes
for the animals abandoned at a zoo in Armenia, including lions and
bears
By Rachael Misstear
Manor Wildlife Park owner Anna Ryder Richardson has stepped in to
offer homes to animals living in what has been described as 'the
world's saddest zoo'.
It comes after shocking images of hungry and abandoned lions and bears
living in cramped rusty cages were released by Sussex-based animal
welfare group International Animal Rescue.
Once owned by a billionaire Armenian oligarch in the Armenian town of
Gyumri, the zoo is now a scene of despair with animals relying on the
kindness of two poor pensioners to feed them.
Three lions, two bears and two guinea pigs display all the signs of
creatures slowly being driven mad by their unnatural existence.
The heartbreaking images have prompted the Pembrokeshire zoo owner to
offer the creatures assistance or a new sanctuary in Wales.
"The images are profoundly saddening and highlight the unspeakable
lives which some animals are forced to endure," said Anna.
"As the owner of Manor Wildlife Park and as the chief executive of The
Nature Foundation I extend my full support in finding better homes for
these beautiful animals."
The creatures, whose billionaire owner has apparently disappeared
survive only on a meagre diet of scraps and scavenged woodland plants
brought to them by an elderly couple fighting hard to keep them alive.
Anna said she is lucky enough to be the owner of Manor Wildlife Park ,
which, combined with its sister zoo Peak Wildlife Park, has ample room
to hold all of the animals.
[have a good laugh!!]
AZERBAIJAN'S MULTICULTURALISM CAN BE EXAMPLE
AzerNews, Azerbaijan\
Jan 22 2016
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan, located on the junction of two continents- Europe and Asia,
created all necessary conditions for representatives of different
nationalities, religions and cultures to exist freely. The state
is committed to its strategy on developing and strengthening the
traditions of multiculturalism.
An Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism can be exemplary for the
countries keeping away from this tradition, believes Kamal Abdulla, the
state adviser on international issues, multiculturalism and religion.
"The Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism is viable. The interest
in this model in the world is the result of recognizing Azerbaijan
as a country having these traditions throughout the history,"
he told journalists on January 22.
The International Centre for Multiculturalism was established
in Baku in 2014, as a concrete effort to promote the values of
multiculturalism. Moreover, earlier in 2008, Azerbaijan launched the
so-called "Baku process," a dialogue between culture ministers,
individuals and groups with different cultural and religious
backgrounds, promoted as an "antidote to violence."
Asked about the Baku International Multiculturalism Center's activity,
Abdulla said it will also work outside Azerbaijan as well, adding
that its branch has already been working in Dresden.
"Azerbaijan will continue this policy," the adviser said. "The
multiculturalism centers will be established in the regions of the
country, as well as in Russia, Portugal and other countries in 2016."
Abdulla also said that teaching multiculturalism would continue at
the world universities.
Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between
The International Centre for Multiculturalism was established
in Baku in 2014, as a concrete effort to promote the values of
multiculturalism. Moreover, earlier in 2008, Azerbaijan launched the
so-called "Baku process," a dialogue between culture ministers,
individuals and groups with different cultural and religious
backgrounds, promoted as an "antidote to violence."
Asked about the Baku International Multiculturalism Center's activity,
Abdulla said it will also work outside Azerbaijan as well, adding
that its branch has already been working in Dresden.
"Azerbaijan will continue this policy," the adviser said. "The
multiculturalism centers will be established in the regions of the
country, as well as in Russia, Portugal and other countries in 2016."
Abdulla also said that teaching multiculturalism would continue at
the world universities.
Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, the advisor said that there is no
Armenia-phobia in Azerbaijan.
"Armenians, who arrived in Baku within the framework of public
diplomacy, were surprised by how neatly items and books in
"Armenians, who arrived in Baku within the framework of public
diplomacy, were surprised by how neatly items and books in
Armenian stored in the Armenian Church. We should show the
world the lack of Armenia-phobia with specific examples. We even
have Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian nationality," Abdulla said,
noting the potential for coexistence of Azerbaijanis and Armenians.
Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from
Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than
20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced
as a result of the war.
Azerbaijan seeks the peaceful settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and work in this direction continues,
Abdulla added.
Throughout the history Azerbaijan, where the first secular democracy
in the Muslim world created and women were granted the right to vote,
has always been distinguished for its traditions of tolerance. Today,
the country is a model for many countries in the world for peaceful
coexistence of members of different nations and religions. (the F18
Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from
Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than
20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced
as a result of the war.
Azerbaijan seeks the peaceful settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and work in this direction continues,
Abdulla added.
Throughout the history Azerbaijan, where the first secular democracy
in the Muslim world created and women were granted the right to vote,
has always been distinguished for its traditions of tolerance. Today,
the country is a model for many countries in the world for peaceful
coexistence of members of different nations and religions. (the F18
monitor based in Norway regularly documents the persecution of
those who practise the wrong kind Islam in Azerbaijan)
This year, Azerbaijan will host the 7th Global Forum of the United
Nations Alliance of Civilizations on April 25-27. By using the
UN tribune, Azerbaijan will once again show its multiculturalism
traditions, and urge the world countries to respect to tolerance,
intercultural and inter-civilization dialogue. Furthermore, Azerbaijan
named 2016 the year of multiculturalism.
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