Erdogan ordered to pay $4,000 for insulting Armenia peace statue authorMarch 4, 2015 - 11:31 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A court has ordered Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to pay 10,000 Turkish Lira (US$ 4,000) in compensation to an artist for calling his sculpture — meant to promote reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia — a "monstrosity." Erdogan expressed his dislike in 2011 of Mehmet Aksoy's giant "Monument to Humanity," which was being erected in the eastern city of Kars, prompting local authorities there to dismantle it. Aksoy then sued Erdogan for "insult." Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said the court ordered Erdogan to compensate Aksoy for the mental anguish caused. Aksoy’s sculpture was built in the eastern province of Kars and dedicated to Turkish-Armenian friendship. Yet, during his visit to the area, then-Prime Minister Erdogan pointed to the 35-meter-tall monument, called it “freakish” and demanded its removal. Kars’ municipal assembly promptly passed a motion to tear down the monument, saying it had been illegally erected in a protected area. Photo: AP 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 | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |