  Erdogan ordered to pay $4,000 for insulting Armenia peace statue author March 4, 2015 - 11:31 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A court has ordered Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to pay 10,000 Turkish Lira (US$ 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 |  Topic Latest news European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan  The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE.Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed.Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |
