Serj Tankian blasts Trump administration's last-minute deal with TurkeyJanuary 22, 2021 - 11:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian has posted a statement on Facebook criticizing the outgoing Donald Trump administration's last-minute deal with Turkey's Minister of Culture. The agreement was signed on January 19 and aims to "protect Turkey's cultural property." However, the Armenian National Committee of America criticizes the deal as granting Turkey "legal rights over the vast religious and cultural heritage of the region's indigenous peoples and other minority populations," including that of the Armenians killed in the Armenian Genocide. "Thanks Trump," Tankian wrote. "In your last minute you decided to grant Turkey my people's indigenous cultural heritage including ancient churches and stone crosses as a reward for them trying to exterminate us." Tankian and System of a Down have also been vocal against Turkey recently due to the country's involvement in assisting Azerbaijan in its war with Armenia last fall. The conflict led to System sharing two new songs, marking the first time the band released music in 15 years. Tankian recently joined his System of a Down bandmates in the studio to record their first new music in 15 years. The two new songs, “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz,” were recorded to help raise awareness about the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, an ethnically Armenian area within Azerbaijan that is under siege. The band later reported that, in the space of a week, the songs had helped them raise $600,000 for aid in the region. 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 | 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. 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.” |