Armenians, Kurds to protest Erdoğan visit to GermanyOctober 30, 2012 - 15:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A large group of Kurds, Ezidis, Armenians, Alawites and Syriacs from Europe are planning to hold a protest against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Germany, Hurriyet Daily News reported. Around 10,000 people from almost 50 organizations are expected to attend the rally in Berlin. Ezidis in particular are angry with Erdoğan’s recent remarks in which he used the term “Yezidi” instead of “Ezidi.” They believe that the word “Yezidi” holds negative connotation in Turkey. Aziz Alkış, head of the Ezidi Associations Federation in Berlin said the “Prime Minister looked down on Ezidi citizens” with his remarks. He said they would call on Erdoğan to end his policy in Syria, as well as end pressure on minorities and ethnic groups in Turkey. Noting that the Ezidi religion is not recognized on national ID cards and signified by an “X,” Alkış said it made their faith seem anti-Islamic. Azad Ordughanyan, head of the Germany Armenians Center, said they would call on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide. “Turkey is still denying the genocide. We will renew our call for its recognition.” The head of the Alawite Unions Federation in Cologne, Hüseyin Mat, said the Turkish government pursues a policy of assimilation rather than accepting all differences. “Erdoğan will tell Europe that Turkey is a democratic country here. We will tell that this is not true.” Top stories 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. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. Partner news | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. |