 Over 1000 rally to commemorate Armenian Genocide in Istanbul  April 24, 2012 - 23:01 AMTPanARMENIAN.Net - Over 1000 people gathered in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide on April 24 evening. The rally began at 19.15 pm and lasted about half an hour under the motto “No to racism”. As a source in Istanbul told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the participants, Armenians among them, were sitting on the ground as a sign of protest. Some of the demonstrators were holding photos of Hrant Dink, the slain editor of Agos Armenian-Turkish newspaper. Meanwhile, representatives of Turkish opposition party Halk Kurtulush Partisi, or HKP (People’s Liberation Party), occupied the center of the square with posters reading “Armenian Genocide is a lie”. Police officers with batons made up a chain between the two groups to prevent clashes.   Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says.   Partner news |  Topic Latest news Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says  David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan.Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment.CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.”Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |
