- Turkish President Urging Armenian Diaspora
- Sen. Menendez Calls Protocols “Insult” to Armenian Nation
- ARF-ER Issues Statement After Meeting with Sarkisian in New York
- If AR & Turkey Border Is Opened, Armenians Can / Or Hope To Walk From Syria To Armenia Without A Visa
- Hambik Sarafian: “Armenian Authorities Are Not Entitled To Hold Negotiations On Behalf Of The Diaspora”
- Dear President Sargsyan, From: Zoryan Institute Of Canada, Inc.
- Hearings On Armenian-Turkish Relations In Parliament Of Armenia
- Opposition Leader Warns Sarkisian On Turkey
- Violent Protests In Paris Greet Armenian President
- Armenia: Railway Prepares To Go To Turkey
- 3 Strategic Principles Recommended By President Are Met
- Diaspora Does Not Have Lobby In Armenia
- Serge Sargsyan Is Laughing
- Serge Sargsyan Revealed
- New World Order by Erdogan
- Armenia And Turkey Understood They Need Each Other: Nobel Prize Winner
- Armenian President: In The Last Year I Have Said For At Least 200 Times That Establishing Relations With Turks Does Not Mean Questioning Armenian Genocide
- Ministry Of Diaspora Is One-Year-Old Sona Hakobyan
- Army Of Crime (2009), Time Out Movie Review
- "Truth Allegedly Not Recognized By Turks", Book By Hovhannes Chilinkaryan
- Diaspora Won't Abandon Pursuit For Armenian Genocide Recognition, Says Sdhp
- Scholar Ara Sarafian to Lecture
- Capitol Hill: Sex & Drugs & Turkish `Soap'
- Obama - Erdogan Discussion
- ANCA Calls On Hillary Clinton To Lift U.S. Pressure On Armenia
- Turks, Azeris Want Lachin to Become ‘Shared Corridor’
- Ohio Commission Issues Convoluted Split-Decision on Schmidt v. Krikorian Case
- 50,000 Signatures Gathered in Turkey Calling on Sarkisian Not to Visit
- Gala For The Protocols
- Ohio Panel Rules Against Congressional Challenger, By Stephen Majors
- David Krikorian Loses Genocide “Hush Money” Case in Ohio
- Scientific Article Or Scientific Denial Of Genocide?: Political Analysts Argue Over Content Of Book
- ANCA Calls On Hillary Clinton To Lift U.S. Pressure On Armenia
- Turkish Armenian Protocols Unanimously Rejected
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Turkish President Urging Armenian Diaspora 03.10.2009
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish President Abdullah Gul urged Saturday Armenian Diaspora not to block settlement of problems between Turkey and its neighbor Armenia.
"They should support all efforts for peace in the Caucasus, if they care about the future of Armenia," Gul told reporters in Azerbaijan's Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic where he attended the summit meeting of leaders of Turkic-speaking countries, World Bulletin reports.
Gul said the Armenian Diaspora was pursuing such a policy in order to preserve their identity in some countries.
"But this is not right," Gul said. "It is easy to speak from a distance."
Asked if tension between Turkey and Azerbaijan --after the protocol that Turkey and Armenia agreed on to normalize relations-- was overcome, Gul said, "fraternity between Turkey and Azerbaijan has always been tested. In this respect, Turkey and Azerbaijan have full confidence in each other."
Gul's remarks came after protests on Friday at the start of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's tour of Armenian Diaspora in the world.
Sen. Menendez Calls Protocols “Insult” to Armenian Nation
NEW YORK – Senate Foreign Relations Committee member and outspoken advocate of international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), called provisions in the Turkey Armenia protocols which would create a historical commission “frankly absurd.” The New Jersey legislator went on to state that “I do not think that Armenia should be pressured into anything that is not in their national interests or in the long-term national interests of the United States.”
Expanding on his concerns of the Protocol’s historical commission provision, Sen. Menendez called such an action “an insult to the Armenian people. It is an insult to the memory of the victims. It is an insult to the top scholars who have clearly spoken on this issue and issued their unequivocal conclusions.”
Sen. Menendez went on to restate the importance of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. “The Armenian Genocide is an irrefutable fact of history,” explained the Senator. “It is time that Turkey recognizes it and accepts it. It is time that the world acknowledges this fact of history and moves on towards a viable peace that honors the true history of the Armenian people.”
Senator Menendez offered his remarks during the Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA) banquet in support of the efforts of the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern United States. For his decades of outspoken leadership and advocacy for Armenian American concerns and, most recently, his efforts to ensure a U.S. foreign policy which properly recognizes the Armenian Genocide, Sen. Menendez was awarded the 2009 Freedom Award. Previous Freedom Award recipients were former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power.
More information about the ACAA banquet and other 2009 community honorees will follow.
Asbarez/
ARF-ER Issues Statement After Meeting with Sarkisian in New York
The ARF Central Committee Eastern Region released the following statement after Armenian President Serge Sarkisian met with Armenian American organizations in New York City on Oct. 3.
* * *
Today, representatives of the ARF Central Committee Eastern Region were present at a meeting between Armenia President Serge Sarkisian and various eastern United States Armenian American organizations at the Palace Hotel in New York City.
We attended to tell President Sarkisian why the ARF opposes the Armenia-Turkey protocols in their current state. We urged President Sarkisian to stop the dangerous protocols signing and ratification process and recommit himself and his government to establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey that don’t endanger the inalienable rights of the entire Armenian Nation.
We pointed to those parts of the protocols that are especially adverse to the Armenian Nation’s interests, including the sections that:
1. Promise that Armenia will formally recognize Turkey’s current border, thus validating the dispossession of Western Armenia and waiving the right of the Armenian Nation to negotiate fully over Armenian Genocide reparations.
2. Promise that Armenia will permit the Armenian Genocide to be assessed “impartially” and “scientifically” using historic documents, as if the fact of the genocide has not been already researched in that manner exhaustively. Such a formulation opens the path toward rendering the genocide debatable.
3. Promise that Armenia will defend the integrity of its neighboring nations’ territorial claims, thereby jeopardizing the self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabagh.
We sounded these alarms and emphasized our serious concerns to President Sarkisian face-to-face on behalf of our members and supporters in the eastern United States. However, during the course of the meeting, it became clear to us that our appeals were falling on deaf ears.
The Armenian government’s defense of the protocols baffles us when their content clearly evinces Armenia’s abdication to Turkey and her long-standing and openly held anti-Armenia and anti-Nagorno-Karabagh agenda. President Sarkisian apparently has not heeded our and others’ warnings about Turkey’s open anti-Armenian political ambitions, choosing instead to repeat unconvincing claims that the protocols contain no preconditions and represent a great step forward for Armenia-Turkey diplomatic relations.
We attended the meeting, conveyed our message, and received President Sarkisian’s unbending response. At this point, we can only hope that President Sarkisian seriously entertains our concerns and those he has already heard—and will continue to hear—from the Armenian Diaspora and back home in Armenia.
President Sarkisian’s failure to take heed and recess the protocol signing and ratification process will lead the Armenian Nation into a dangerous political thicket from which she and her people will not emerge unscathed.
ARF Central Committee
Eastern Region
Oct. 3, 2009
Asbarez
If AR & Turkey Border Is Opened, Armenians Can / Or Hope To Walk From Syria To Armenia Without A Visa, October 1 2009
..Walk Or Drive..
Just over a fortnight ago, the two neighbours [Syria and Turkey] signed accords allowing for visa-free passage between the two states. Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, now describes Turkey as Syria's best friend, while Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, publicly calls Syrians his brothers.
A better explanation for this developing friendship comes from new diplomatic strategies adopted by both states in recent years. In light of the slow EU accession process and disappointment at the US invasion of Iraq, Turkey has adopted the arch-realist position of its influential foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu. He argues for "zero problems with neighbours", whatever their past or current misdeeds. This has allowed the regime to put aside its ideological differences and historical disagreements with Syria, as it has with Greece, Iran and, increasingly, Iraq and Armenia. At the same time Davutoglu advocates increased Turkish "strategic depth" with its neighbours promoting its cultural, economic and political influence further than in the past. Its stable yet economically under-developed neighbour Syria proves a good test case.
www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/01/turkey-syria-friendship
Turkey, Syria's new best friend, GUARDIAN UK, Chris Phillips, October 1, 2009
Hambik Sarafian: “Armenian Authorities Are Not Entitled To Hold Negotiations On Behalf Of The Diaspora”
YEREVAN -- On Monday in Yerevan, Hambik Sarafian, Chairman of the SDHP US Western Region, expressed a viewpoint that the Armenia and Turkey protocols “will alienate Armenia from the Diaspora, creating a great wall of distrust.”
President Serzh Sargsyan announced that in the upcoming weeks he is planning to organize meetings in Diaspora communities, however the response from the Diaspora increase day by day, and they become more criticizing.
Sarafian believes that it is not acceptable that “the authorities, without discussing and consulting with the Diaspora, decide to make the issue of the Armenian Genocide a subject of discussions or speculations.” “The Armenian authorities are not entitled to hold negotiations on behalf of the Diaspora, with Turkey, over the issue of the Armenian Genocide recognition of the Armenian Cause,” Sarafian says.
Stressing the fact that the Diaspora in its turn does not have the right to interfere in the policy held by Armenia, he noted that “however, the issue of the Armenian Genocide is quite different, as far as the Diaspora is created just as a result of the very Genocide, and the right to the ‘Armenian demand’ mainly belongs to Diaspora Armenians.”
Sarafian expresses a concern that the meetings with President Sargsyan would be unproductive in the Diaspora.
“We are concerned that they may find and meet with some people in the Diaspora, who express a positive attitude, and then they show it on H1 channel (Armenian Public Television), and say that the Diaspora mainly agrees. And it will, in fact, disappoint us seriously,” Sarafian concludes.
From: Zoryan Institute Of Canada, Inc.
Toronto, ON, Canada
zoryan@zoryaninstitute.org
www.zoryaninstitute.org
September 30, 2009
President Serge Sargsyan
Republic of Armenia
26 Marshal Baghramian Avenue
Yerevan
Republic of Armenia, 0077
E-mail: hasmik at president.am, press at president.am
Dear President Sargsyan:
The Protocols for establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey, although intended to help normalize relations between the two countries, raise serious questions about the process, and contain pitfalls, which I have set out below for your kind consideration.
My interest in the Protocols arises from being a scholar of genocide studies for most of my career, a founder of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Chairman of the Academic Board of Directors of the Zoryan Institute, and a recipient of the Movses Khorenatsi Medal last year, awarded by you, Mr. President, for my “considerable contribution to the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.”
I and other scholars, who have no personal, ethnic or political motive for affirming the Armenian Genocide, feel we must point out one significant aspect of the Protocols, the clauses that call for a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations and the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral commission which shall comprise sub-commissions for the prompt implementation of the commitments mentioned in operations paragraph 2 above in this Protocol.
Does “the historical dimension” article refer to the Armenian Genocide, and does the “intergovernmental bilateral commission” article refer to a historical commission? If not, then how can Armenia hope to have normal relations with Turkey while ignoring a major cause of the tension between the two countries? If so, then they are a source of grave concern, because there is a broad scholarly consensus that genocide unquestionably occurred in the case of the Armenians.
You are well aware, Mr. President, that numerous distinguished historians, political scientists, sociologists, legal scholars, and authoritative institutions around the world have investigated the Genocide many times over, issued academic publications, and even made public declarations. These scholars have devoted their professional lives to conducting scientific research with the highest levels of academic integrity. As a result of their work, scholars have identified the Armenian Genocide as the archetypal case of modern genocide, whose pattern has many similarities with subsequent cases. Therefore, any commission that purports now to conduct “an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives” in effect dismisses all of the extensive research that has already been conducted for decades and implies that none of it was impartial or scientific. This is offensive to all genocide scholars, but particularly non-Armenian scholars, who feel their work is now being truly politicized.
I am sure you can appreciate that they have no confidence that a politically organized commission would not compromise historical truth, especially considering the imbalanced power relations between Armenia and Turkey. This assessment is particularly exacerbated when one considers the following:
1. The national archives of France, Great Britain, and the United States, as well as Turkey and its wartime allies Germany and Austria, to name only a few, are full of incontestable documentation of the genocidal intent and nature of the annihilation of the Armenians.
2. The historical records of the official investigation by a Turkish military Tribunal in post-war Turkey, recently published, based on authenticated, official Turkish documents, found irrefutable evidence of centrally organized mass murder against the bulk of the Ottoman Empire’s own Armenian citizens. The prosecutors were Turks, the judges were Turks, and most of the witnesses were Turks, including high ranking military officers.
3. The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), reviewing the Armenian case for the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC), concluded that “the Events, viewed collectively, can thus be said to include all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians, journalists and other people would be justified in continuing to so describe them.”
4. Prime Minister Erdogan has stated repeatedly that Turkey would never accept there was an Armenian Genocide, and even if a historical commission found that the Armenian case is genocide, it is argued, Turkey would just ignore the decision, as it did the report of the ICTJ, which led to the resignation of all the Turkish members of TARC.
But most importantly, Mr. President, the scholars are concerned that a historical commission would embolden those who would consider perpetrating genocide in future years by showing how easily genocide can be relativized, especially by the powerful.
In 2001, the Zoryan Institute issued a rare public commentary about Turkish-Armenian relations, in which it stated Normally, dialogue is the first step towards the possible resolution of any conflict, and therefore reconciliation. The participants in a dialogue generally need to define the key issues which divide the parties and establish a process by which the dialogue will be conducted. There must be a sincere desire for mutual understanding and willingness to accept the factual issues in contention, even if emotionally highly charged….
Turkey does not have the capacity to enter into a process of dialogue to define the key issue of the Genocide. Even if genocide were to be affirmed by “an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives,” Turkey would not be able to accept this, as it is currently bound by a strict penal code that makes it illegal for anyone from Turkey to even mention the Armenian Genocide. Therefore, was the negotiation of the protocols, so long in the making, done all this time in bad faith?
If not, then perhaps what is required is a modification of the wording in the Protocol referring to the “historical dimension,” or a modification of the Turkish penal code, which currently criminalizes discussion of this subject, to make the Protocols viable.
If such modifications are not possible due to diplomatic pressures at this time, then perhaps it would be prudent to stage the process so that discussion of the “historical dimension” is deferred. This would allow the people of both countries, but especially Turkey, the opportunity to demonstrate “a sincere desire for mutual understanding and willingness to accept the factual issues in contention, even if emotionally highly charged.” In the meantime, Turkey and Armenia could proceed with the establishment of a diplomatic exchange, which, in itself, would be a major step towards reconciliation.
Yours respectfully,
[signed]
Roger W. Smith, Chair, Academic Board of Directors
Hearings On Armenian-Turkish Relations In Parliament Of Armenia, ArmInfo 2009-10-01
ArmInfo. Hearings on a topic "Initialed Armenian-Turkish Protocols and Settlement of Armenian-Turkish Relations" have started in the Parliament of Armenia.
Representatives of parliamentary factions and non-parliamentary political forces, as well as historians, political experts and representatives of diplomatic missions take part in hearings.
As Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan said in his speech, since gaining of independence, Armenia has always claimed of its readiness to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions. According to him, today Armenia carries out its aspiration: 'Armenian- Turkish relations are outside the framework of bilateral interstate relations and include moral, psychological, historical and other aspects'. The minister recalled that Turkey has always shown a pro-Azerbaijani stance, however, there is no mention of the Karabakh settlement as a precondition in the Protocols. Along with it, E. Nalbandyan specially emphasized that no preconditions exist in the process of settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations. 'The fact of the Armenian Genocide is not prejudiced in this process, and the Karabakh conflict is in no way connected with the Armenian-Turkish process', Armenian FM emphasized. The minister added that the president of Armenia has multiply officially claimed that Armenia does not discuss the fact of the Armenian Genocide and does not endanger its international recognition.
According to E. Nalbandyan, the Genocide issue is considered not in the context of the Armenian-Turkish relations but from the viewpoint of universal values. Nalbandyan also said that the viewpoint, saying the Genocide becomes just an issue of bilateral relations and looses its panhuman meaning, is artificial.
In his turn, parliament Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan said the current stage of the Armenian- Turkish relations is a critical. He hailed the active foreign policy of Armenia. 'This is important for both parties and requires a political will both by Armenia and Turkey. We must understand the tricks of the Turkish party for the Armenian-Turkish relations issue not to be discussed in the context of the Armenian Genocide and Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement', H. Abrahamyan said.
Turkey Pressures Armenia Through The Minsk Group And The United States, Saban Kardas, Jamestown Foundation September 30, 2009
International diplomatic pressure on Turkey and Armenia to boost their efforts toward the normalization of their bilateral relations has continued on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of both countries, urging them to take concrete steps toward implementing their commitment to end decades of hostility (Anadolu Ajansi, September 29). During her meeting with the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Clinton said that normalization "should take place without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe." She also communicated a similar message to the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (Today's Zaman, September 30).
Prior to her meeting with Davutoglu, Clinton praised the Turkish government's resolution to resolve its problems with Armenia. Davutoglu also recalled President Barack Obama's description of Turkish-American relations as a "model partnership" and noted that the two countries would continue to cooperate in a myriad of areas (ANKA, September 29). In addition to Turkish-Armenian relations, Clinton and Davutoglu discussed the progress over the Cyprus dispute, joint efforts against international terrorism, developments in the Balkans, energy security and the Iranian nuclear issue (Anadolu Ajansi, September 29).
Speaking to reporters about Clinton's meetings, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Philip Gordon said that Washington was eager to see the conclusion of a deal between the two countries soon. "This is a challenging process that faces some political opposition in both countries and it is difficul ent...It should not wait for other things to be implemented, or be linked to other issues. It should go ahead," Gordon added (Hurriyet Daily News, September 30).
Despite international attention on the issue and raised expectations of an imminent breakthrough, major obstacles remain. This development comes against the background of the recent steps toward Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, facilitated by Switzerland. Following the roadmap they announced in April, Turkey and Armenia recently initialed protocols to take steps toward the resolution of their differences, including the future re-opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. They committed to signing agreements on finalizing these issues. However, the implementation of any deal will be subject to parliamentary ratification in both countries. Since Turkish public opinion is becoming increasingly nationalist, and the opposition parties have declared their skepticism toward the protocols, obtaining domestic support for the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) "Armenian opening" is likely to prove problematic. Moreover, Turkey's ethnically close and strategic ally in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan, was troubled by the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation given the ongoing Azeri-Armenian dispute. The Turkish government announced that Ankara will take into account Baku's concerns and avoid proceeding with its Armenian opening without the resolution of the Karabakh dispute. As a result, Baku emerged as a significant player in Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, rendering the resolution of the bilateral problems extremely difficult (EDM, September 8, 16).
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Ankara and Yerevan will sign a deal to establish diplomatic ties around October 10-11, and the issue would be brought before parliament. Earlier, anonymous Turkish diplomatic sources also said that the agreement would be signed on October 10, although reporters could not confirm this date through Armenian diplomats (Anadolu Ajansi, September 27).
Speaking to the Azeri press, Erdogan, however, reiterated Turkish support for Azerbaijan. "The interests of Azerbaijan are always important for Turkey. We will not betray Azerbaijan... The normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia... has reached a very delicate point. We will not sign an agreement that will contradict Azerbaijan's interests. This process will contribute to the resolution of the Karabakh dispute" (Cihan, September 28).
Erdogan also voiced his expectation for broader international involvement in Azeri-Armenian problems. He called on the United States and other members of the OSCE's Minsk group to play a more pro-active role in addressing the Karabakh issue, arguing that the resolution of this problem will facilitate the resolution of other problems in the region (Cihan, September 28). Indeed, Erdogan had spoken to Obama on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, where he conveyed similar messages. In response to Erdogan's invitation to mobilize the Minsk Group's involvement, Obama told Erdogan that he was aware of the critical role that the Karabakh dispute played in the region (Hurriyet, Sep r in the Turkish parliament will begin on October 1, which will increase pressure on the government to address the Armenian opening and other controversial domestic and foreign policy initiatives. The government realizes that it has put itself in a delicate position over Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. Both to allay Baku's concerns and to reduce the domestic opposition, it acknowledged the linkage between Turkey's own normalization and the resolution of the Karabakh issue. For the Turks, the resolution of the Karabakh conflict depends on Armenia ending its occupation of Azeri territories and its withdrawal from Karabakh.
However, despite Ankara's optimism that Yerevan might act in a more reconciliatory manner vis-a-vis Baku, no progress has been achieved. As the deadline for signing the protocols and eventually obtaining parliamentary ratification approaches, the government is desperately seeking to find some "evidence" that it can offer to allay domestic fears that Armenia is conceding to Azerbaijan in the Karabakh dispute. In that context, the role Turkey attaches to the Minsk group has come to the fore. Although Ankara earlier supported Baku in its criticism of the Minsk group for failing to develop any solution (Anadolu Ajansi, May 25), it has recently proven more cautious on whether the Minsk group might persuade Yerevan to at least partially withdraw from the occupied Azeri territories, without which the government will have difficulties in securing the ratification of the agreement from parliament (Radikal, September 2; Hurriyet, September 21).
Opposition Leader Warns Sarkisian On Turkey
02.10.2009 Ruzanna Stepanian Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian on Friday warned President Serzh Sarkisian against signing controversial agreements with Turkey but spoke out against further opposition attempts to topple the government at this point.
Hovannisian's Zharangutyun (Heritage) party has been at the forefront of opposition criticism of the two draft protocols envisaging diplomatic relations and an open border between the two neighboring countries. It considers several key provisions of the deal a sellout of Armenian national interests.
`It is evident that he who signs those documents will resign not only from his presidential post but our homeland,' Hovannisian told a news conference. But he made clear at the same time that Zharangutyun will not immediately campaign for Sarkisian's resignation if the Turkish-Armenian protocols are signed and implemented after all.
Hovannisian argued that demands for regime change will ring hollow as long as Armenia's leading opposition forces, including Zharangutyun, remain divided. `I have always been against making demonstrative demands,' he said. `I have my principles. I have been in opposition to all presidents of Armenia.'
`But resignation is something that has to ripen objectively. Demanding is not enough. We need actions, public unity,' added the Zharangutyun leader. He claimed to have tried hard to form a broad-based opposition coalition that would comprise his party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and the Armenian National Congress (HAK).
Attempts to bring the three forces together have failed not least because of Dashnaktsutyun's reluctance to cooperate with the HAK and its top leader, Levon Ter-Petrosian. Sarkisian's exit remains the HAK's chief priority. Dashnaktsutyun, on the other hand, is making no such demands yet despite its harsh criticism of Sarkisian's policy on Turkey.
There is also a lack of unity within Zharangutyun itself. Several members of the party's governing board were recently expelled from Zharangutyun in a bitter dispute that flared up after Hovannisian's surprise decision about a month ago to resign his parliament seat. Hovannisian, who formally holds no leadership positions within the party, withdrew the resignation just as unexpectedly on Wednesday.
He on Friday again refrained from siding with any of the feuding factions. He said he will initiate early next year an emergency congress of Zharangutyun that will discuss the party discord.
`The issue of my responsibility and confidence in me will also be raised there, and I will address everybody's behavior,' he said. `I am fed up with resigning and apologizing on behalf of others, be it a president, supporters or party comrades.'
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
Violent Protests In Paris Greet Armenian President
02.10.2009 (AP) - Violent protests broke out Friday at the start of Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian's tour of Armenian communities worldwide, with demonstrators in Paris shouting "traitor!" at him and decrying his plans to establish ties with Turkey.
Sarkisian embarked on the tour - which will also take him to the United States, Russia and Lebanon - to seek support for his landmark bid for diplomatic ties with Turkey after a century of enmity. But at least 200 protesters from the Armenian Diaspora in France showed up at a public appearance in Paris.
Riot police fought back belligerent demonstrators, a few dozen of whom shouted "No!" and punched riot shields. Police dragged several protesters away kicking and screaming. Sarkisian later put in a brief appearance, walking past protesters shouting through bullhorns.
The killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire has been the main barrier to reconciliation with Turkey. Armenians have long fought to persuade other governments to consider it a genocide. Turkey rejects the label and says the death toll is inflated.
The scuffles Friday erupted at a memorial event at a monument to an Armenian priest and composer targeted in the massacres. Earlier in the day, Sarkisian had lunch in Paris with crooner Charles Aznavour, one of France's most famous Armenians, before meeting with members of the vocal Armenian community here, Sarkisian's spokesman Samvel Farmanian said.
After Paris, Sarkisian is set to continue what is dubbed a "pan-Armenian tour" with visits to New York, Los Angeles, Beirut and Rostov-on-Don in Russia to discuss a planned meeting Oct. 10 when the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers are expected to sign the deal to establish ties.
Armenians abroad - estimated at 5.7 million - outnumber the 3.2 million living in Armenia itself, the smallest of the ex-Soviet republics. The largest communities are in Russia (2 million), the United States (1.4 million), Georgia (460,000) and France (450,000), according to government data.
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc
Armenia: Railway Prepares To Go To Turkey, Eurasianet 9/29/09
Amid serious domestic opposition in Armenia to plans for reconciliation with Turkey, the Russian-run Armenian railway company, South Caucasus Railway, has started work on providing a rail link between the two countries.
A subsidiary of Russian Railway, South Caucasus Railway has announced plans to invest roughly $1.5 million to set up a gauge conversion facility. Such a facility would be necessary to facilitate rail service between Armenia and Turkey, the Kavkazsky Uzel news service reported on September 28.
South Caucasus Railway CEO Marat Khakov said he was in negotiations with the Armenian government about the technical aspects of establishing the railway link. Khakov estimated that initial export cargo volumes would reach 6 million tons per year and would lead to a significant reduction in Armenian exports to and through Georgia.
3 Strategic Principles Recommended By President Are Met, Panorama 30/09/2009
When founding Diaspora Ministry, Armenian President has put three strategic principles, which have been implemented by the ministry, Minister Hranush Hakobian told at news conference.
The very first matter was to support protection of Armenians in Diaspora, the second one was discovering Diaspora potential and finally the third one is drafting projects to motivate return to homeland.
"We should acknowledge that Armenian schools are being cut in Diaspora. Hence we support founding Sunday Schools in Russia, Poland and Spain, we have met the challenges of teachers, books and projects," minister said.
Diaspora Does Not Have Lobby In Armenia, Lragir 30/09/2009
Active relations between Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora began immediately after independence. Almost all the country's leaders publicly acknowledged the right of the Diaspora to participate in the construction of the Armenian state in its domestic and foreign policy. However, in Armenia, no one thought about how to create mechanisms and institutions for the realization of this right. Actually, someone probably thought, but only in order to prevent the creation of such institutions.
In principle, the Armenian Diaspora is devoid of any opportunity to participate in politics in Armenia. This was clearly evident when it became clear that there are fundamental differences in positions of the Diaspora and the Armenian authorities on the Armenian-Turkish relations. But it is obvious that, in spite of the Pan-Armenian tour of Serge Sargsyan, Diaspora is unlikely to influence the decisions of the Armenian authorities, tuned to reconciliation with Turkey by the huge concessions.
There are only a few planes where the participation of the Diaspora in Armenian politics is possible. It is the All-Armenian Fund "Armenia", through which the Diaspora can participate in economic and social projects, is the Lins Fund - also is not engaged in political projects, large lobbying organizations that are engaged in Armenian interests in other countries, particularly in the United States. These are a series of traditional Armenian parties represented in Armenia, but funded from abroad. And it is the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, established a year ago. There are a couple of organizations and institutions, through which communication takes place between the Armenian authorities and the Diaspora.
However, none of them ensures the impact of the Diaspora in the policy of the Armenian authorities, and not only in matters relating to the state, but also the interests of most of the Diaspora. In fact, the Diaspora has a lobby in many countries, but no lobby in Armenia. There is no institution that could defend the interests of the Diaspora in Armenia. This interest is entirely dependent on the whims of government, on their likes and relations with certain personalities. And not to repeat the well-known definition of "milk cow", we can say that the Armenian authorities need the Diaspora only for economic purposes.
In Armenia, there is not even television, funded by the Diaspora. However, this is understandable - Diaspora has always tried to bypass the internal political problems in Armenia, even if they are related to fundamental democratic values. Images of Armenia and, in particular, Artsakh Diaspora kept as an icon. Every day, wiping the dust from it, it was perceived as something sacred. I never thought about the fact that specific levers will be needed to defend their interests.
And now, Serge Sargsyan decided to hear the opinion of the Diaspora. Why? It is unlikely to change his decision. Moreover, the Armenians throughout the world simply cannot influence the policy of Armenia. Yes, Serge Sargsyan knows their opinions, they may even be allowed to express negative opinions. But they cannot do anything, if Serge Sargsyan does not change his position. This should be thought about in right time. However, the Armenian society does not have levers of influence on decision-making either. They can listen very carefully, but will make their own way, and no one can do anything. And they will show Hrant Vardanyan on TV, who says that his staff is praying day and night for the border to be open.
Serge Sargsyan Is Laughing, Lragir 30/09/2009
"When I am alone, sometimes I am laughing because in many cases the situation seems absurd", stated Serge Sargsyan on September 30 during his meeting with the members of the Public Council when they discussed the Armenian and Turkish relations. Serge Sargsyan touched upon his laughing in the contest of the Karabakh issue dwelling on the question whether the Karabakh issue is a precondition in the process of the normalization of the Armenian and Turkish relations.
"When I am alone, sometimes I am laughing because in many cases the situation seems absurd. People who have never been to Karabakh, neither in Armenia, they did not go out because maybe someone from the military commissariat could come and ask them what they were doing there, accuse me of making compromises in Karabakh issue. Isn't it absurd? Do they want to defend Karabakh from me?" wonders Serge Sargsyan and continues, "So what? Do I have go on compromises in this question? To have what? To become the king of Armenia? What else may excite me?" asks Serge Sargsyan rhetorically.
He notes that if we assume that there are some hints in connection with the Kars agreement and historical questions, so there is no hint relating to the Karabakh issue. He also notes that the Armenian society is inclined to believing foreigners, when Erdoghan says Karabakh is a precondition and when they say it is not, people believe Erdoghan.
Serge Sargsyan says that even the international society states about the lack of preconditions and no link to the Karabakh issue. According to Serge Sargsyan, the Minsk group co-chairs are likely to underline this circumstance in the nearly future. According to him, the Karabakh issue of course has to be settled when they reach a variant expressing all the aims and approaches of Armenians, so separate discussions will be held in this connection.
Serge Sargsyan Revealed, Lragir 30/09/2009
On September 30, in the frameworks of the Armenian and Turkish discussions Serge Sargsyan met with the members of the Public Council. In total, there were nearly hundred people. The chair of the council Vazgen Manukyan thanked Serge Sargsyan for the meeting and presented those worries which were shaped after discussions in the Public Council on the Armenian and Turkish protocols. Worries were linked to the economy, demographic issues, genocide issue and the Karabakh issue as a precondition.
Hearing the speeches, which though expressing concern, were for the current Armenian and Turkish process, Serge Sargsyan dwelt on all the questions and answered. "If someone thinks that those documents have to contain only our wishes, to tell the truth we have to be realists it cannot be so because we are nor trying to normalize our relations and go to become friends with Turkey but only we are trying to shape a more or less stable atmosphere where the dialogue maybe started. And there are people who say that this word is not written well in the protocols and the Turks may comment on it otherwise I am saying that we may comment on many points otherwise. Let someone show me an international document composed of 4-5 point which cannot be commented otherwise. We do not have the same thinking we have to understand this", says Serge Sargsyan.
According to him, they are trying to say with the help of this step that we cannot continue having such relations with Turkey and we have to establish normal relations with it. "In order to establish normal relations we have to start speaking. That is what I am saying. If someone is against speaking, I will only respect that person if they were against it 5, 10 or 15 years ago. But when you see that the aim of those speaking is to collect point, this is already to be judged.
Serge Sargsyan says he does not understand the question on economy and demographic issues. According to him, his communication with enterprisers proves that enterprisers more highly assess the Armenian economic interests than the border opening. "After, all this questions are settled are settled by the law", notices Serge Sargsyan. As to the demographic question so Serge Sargsyan thinks that in order to solve this question we do not have to avoid relations with Turkey but we have to build a just country where if "no ethnographic boom happens, there will at least be wish".
Serge Sargsyan said the Armenian and Turkish relations are established without preconditions. "Where did you see preconditions in the released protocols? If it was so, it would be written in the protocols that relations are established on preconditions. Yes, there are several provisions in the protocols which are the result of compromises. Is there not anything good for us in the protocols? There are opinions which say that if these two points of the document were this way, we would not have any problem. I assure everyone that there would always be questions, even if these protocols were like the Turkish capitulation. And second I do not rule out that we could get the maximum. I do not exclude we could have a better document. But I am sure that this is the maximum of our forces in this stage.
He also assured that Armenia is not going to stop the process on the international recognition of the Armenian genocide. At the same time, Serge Sargsyan did not exclude that the Armenian and Turkish process will slow down the international recognition. But Armenia will not be guilty but only those who being humanitarians accepting that the genocide happened nevertheless will make the Armenian and Turkish process an opportunity to justify the non-recognition of genocide. Serge Sargsyan nevertheless thinks that arousing this issue they enhanced the attention of the Turkish people towards the genocide.
"What is important for us? That other countries recognize the genocide or serious processes take place in Turkey", says Serge Sargsyan. Serge Sargsyan also said that he acknowledges very well that the normalization of the Armenian and Turkish relations needs a price and he is ready to pay that price, and after we will see what is more what Armenia got or lost.
After Serge Sargsyan's speech, Vazgen Manukyan thanked him for the meeting, wished success for the pan-Armenian trip, and said sorry that Serge Sargsyan is not a public council member because in this case he would be able to raise his question and give full answers.
September 30, 2009
New World Order by Erdogan
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey elaborated upon his foreign policy, urging nations to come together under a "new global order" based on trust and peace, during a Woodrow Wilson School address in Richardson Auditorium last week.
"The global problems of our age require solutions on a global scale," he said, suggesting that "we must move from the understanding of a world solely based on a perception of risk and threat, to a global order which is based on solidarity and trust." Differences should be embraced as a "source of enrichment," he explained.
War, economic crises, hunger, poverty, energy security, terrorism, and climate change were listed as the major problems facing the world today by Mr. Erdogan, who delivered the talk in Turkish. Event attendees heard a simultaneous translation into English via wireless transmitters.
Addressing such problems effectively would entail an equitable and participatory global political order, Mr. Erdogan said, adding that Turkey strives for a policy of "zero problems with all of our neighbors," something particularly important as Turkey is uniquely positioned as a bridge "between East and West," and "between Europe and the Islamic world."
In her introductory remarks, Princeton University President Shirley Tilghman said that "Turkey occupies a critical place in the world" and has an important role to play vis a vis global security, in a "region beset by ethnic, religious, and political tensions."
As a key player and U.S. ally in the region, Turkey has a long relationship with neighboring countries like Greece, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Syria, and Iraq, Mr. Erdogan explained, while also mentioning Turkey's relationship with Armenia, noting that the two countries are currently engaged in diplomatic talks mediated by Switzerland.
Mr. Erdogan disapproved of the long delay regarding Turkey's member European Economic Community. "No other country has had to wait so long," he said of the process, which began in 1959.
Praising President Barack Obama's April visit to Turkey as one that "once again reaffirmed the mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries," Mr. Erdogan called the relationship a "model partnership."
The prime minister, along with a number of other Turkish officials, visited Princeton between meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, which preceded the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh.
Characterizing the 21st century as "the century of peace, not war; of trust, not fear; of justice, not injustice; of order, not terror; of prosperity, not poverty," Mr. Erdogan said, "It is our responsibility to establish this kind of world."
Armenia And Turkey Understood They Need Each Other: Nobel Prize Winner, Tert.Am 30.09.09
Establishing Armenian-Turkish relations will promote the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, said former President of Finland, UN Special Envoy in Kosovo, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Marttii Ahtisaari during his interview to Azerbaijan news agency ANS PRESS.
"I am sure establishing Armenian-Turkish relations will have its positive contribution in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and will allow us to look at the issue from a new perspective," Ahtissari said.
Besides, the diplomat said, the U.S.'s role is significant in settling conflicts.
"I was convinced once again that the U.S. plays quite an important role in the settlement of any conflict. Their assistance is needed. The settlement of the conflict also depends on the relations between the major players. During settling the conflict in Kosovo, the relations between the West and the East, Russia and other countries. were not that favourable. It's true, that's not the main component, but still it's an important factor. In my opinion, the economic crisis also had a positive influence in this matter. The countries understood that they need each other," the former president of Finland stated.
Armenian President: In The Last Year I Have Said For At Least 200 Times That Establishing Relations With Turks Does Not Mean Questioning Armenian Genocide, Arminfo 2009-09-30
ArmInfo. Establishing relations with the Turks in no way means questioning the Armenian Genocide. This is simply impossible, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during a meeting with representative of the Public Council.
Sargsyan said that the proposal that Armenia had to officially support the continuation of the process of international recognition of the Amenian Genocide was strange. "In the last year I have said that for at least 200 times. I don't understand who they mean by saying "Armenia." No sensible Armenian can forget the Armenian Genocide and nothing can force them to act otherwise. If the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide slows down, the cause will be not our initiative but the people using it as pretext for doing nothing on this matter. If the stability of Armenia depends on the Armenian Diaspora, the latter must be more persistent," Sargsyan said.
As regards the Armenian-Turkish historical sub-committee, Sargsyan said that it would be formed on a parity basis and both parties would be able to express their positions. Sargsyan perfectly knows that today Armenia is facing a serious situation. "I perfectly understand that any political process has a price. I am ready to pay. Time will show if we gain or lose," Sargsyan said.
The Ministry Of Diaspora Is One-Year-Old Sona Hakobyan "Radiolur" 30.09.2009
The Ministry of Diaspora celebrates the first birthday anniversary. Today Minister Hranush Hakobyan summed up the work dune by the agency over the past year. The activity of the Ministry has been primarily targeted at the revival of the Diaspora in the spiritual, cultural and educations spheres.
The Minister laid a special emphasis on issues of maintenance of the Armenian national identity and repatriation. Thus, presenting the work done in different directions, Hranush Hakobyan confessed that there had been a number of difficulties resulting from lack of experience.
"This first year was like a preparation for our employees. The main difficulty is connected with the fact that the Diaspora is not a single body. The Diaspora is far from us, and there are a lot of Armenians, not included in any organization. The more we get involved in Armenians structures and organizations, the easier the work of the Diaspora Ministry," Mrs. Hakobyan stated.
30.09.2009
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "RA President's decision to visit Armenian communities was a little bit belated," Editor-in-Chief of "Ararat" Lebanese-Armenian newspaper and member of Social-democratic Hnchakyan party Aharon Shkhrtmyan told a news conference in Yerevan. According to him, Armenian President should have carried out his visits last year. Diaspora, he said, should be aware of all developments since it was formed as a result of Armenian Genocide, "One meeting with Diaspora representatives will not be enough. That will not provide solution to Armenian Issue," Skhrtmyan said.
Director of Uruguay-based "Armenian Arax" radio station Diego Karamanukyan noted in turn that Armenia's policy was unclear to both Uruguay's government and people since the country's government had recognized Armenian Genocide in 1965. "By such step, Armenia calls into question Genocide issue," Karamanukyan said. "I don't understand what parties may decide, if all questions are settled as it is," he added.
On October 1, Armenian President will start his first all-Armenian tour to biggest Armenian communities. Serzh Sargsyan will meet with Armenian community leaders in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Beirut and Rostov-on-Don. Visit aims at revealing Armenian Diaspora's views on Armenian-Turkish rapprochement.
Army Of Crime (2009), Time Out 2009-09-29 Movie Review
From Time Out London Just as director Rachid Bouchareb's Algerian ancestry inspired him to tell in his 2007 film 'Days of Glory' of the Maghrebian contribution to the effort to recover France from the Nazis in 1944, so, presumably, French filmmaker Robert Guédiguian's own background inspired this latest, equally revisionist wartime drama which offers a thrilling and informative new angle on the war in France.
Guédiguian is best known for modern-day, Marseilles-set films such as 'Marius and Jeanette' and 'My Father is an Engineer', but he is half Armenian and was latterly involved with the French communists, and this second of his historical films, after 2005's 'The Last Mitterrand', turns out to be just as personal as his more 'local' ones, despite the grand period canvas on which it unfolds.
It focuses on the guerilla efforts of the 'Manouchian group' - a unit of Paris-based communists and immigrants who helped the armed struggle against Nazi occupation. Heading this unit with some initial reluctance was the Armenian poet Missak Manouchian (Simon Abkarian) who directed a band of Jews, Hungarians, Poles and others to sabotage Nazi rule. What this film describes is the radicalisation of Manouchian and his comrades and the execution of their mission - a fatal mission, as we know from the 22 names heard over the opening credits to the refrain of 'Mort pour la France'.
The title is a double nod - firstly, to the nickname given to Manouchian and his colleagues after they were executed in 1944 and, secondly, to Jean-Pierre Melville's 1969 masterpiece 'Army of Shadows', a film which dramatised with cold brilliance the rituals of the French resistance. But while Melville suggested that all of France was resisting or supportive of the resistance, Guédiguian adopts a more nuanced stance. By dramatising the efforts of the Francs-Tireurs, the leftist resistance, he dispels the myth of sistance - an assumption that was first and most powerfully exploded in cinema by Marcel Ophuls in his 1969 doc 'The Sorrow and the Pity'.
Dramatically, though, Guédiguian doesn't live up to Melville, who condensed the spirit of the resistance to a tense drama of few personalities. Guédiguian, meanwhile, calls on a rambling ensemble to serve the many points he has to make about wartime France and why people did - and did not - join the resistance, from stressing Manouchian's memories of war in Armenia and the motivations of French Jew Marcel (Robinson Stévenin) after his father is deported, to the idealistic communism of young Hungarian Thomas (Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet) and the self-serving collaboration with the French police of young Jew, Monique (Lola Naymark).
The breadth of Guédiguian's story is sometimes at the expense of dramatic momentum, but nobody could accuse him of over-simplification. His film is always fascinating and is a crucial, stirring addition to the cinema about wartime France.
"Truth Allegedly Not Recognized By Turks", Book By Hovhannes Chilinkaryan, Presented In Yerevan, 29.09.2009
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Library has today hosted the presentation of historian, political scientist Hovhannes Chilinkaryan's book titled "Truth Allegedly Not Recognized by Turks".
In his book, the author thoroughly describes Turkish Government's attitude to Armenian Genocide and makes arguments as to why Turkey should recognize the fact of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman empire and return occupied Armenian lands.
Chilinkaryan himself was not present at the ceremony, but gave 150 copies of his book as a present to National Library, as well as to schools in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The book has been also published in English, Turkish and French languages.
Hovhannes Chilinkaryan was born in 1924 in Constantinople (Turkey). In 1955, he had to leave the town and move to Nice. Despite living and working in France, Chilinkaryan wrote articles about Armenian-Turkish relations which were always published in Armenian Nayiri daily (Beirut, Lebanon).
The historian was brave enough to draw parallels between Armenian Genocide and Jewish Holocaust. He contributed to the opening Ruben Sevak museum in Nice, which keeps the poet's works and handwritten pieces are. Museum also keeps 200 canvases by Armenian marine painters. Chilinkaryan is the nephew of renowned western Armenian poet Ruben Sevak.
Diaspora Won't Abandon Pursuit For Armenian Genocide Recognition, Says Sdhp, Tert.Am 28.09.09
"No way will the Diaspora abandon its pursuit of Armenian Genocide recognition," head of Social Democrat Hunchukian Party's (SDHP) American office Hambik Sarafian stated at a press conference today in Yerevan. Referring to the protest action of three established parties in Los Angeles yesterday, he stated that diasporan parties have a united opinion on the Armenian-Turkish Protocols.
According to him, Armenian established parties don't consider the pursuit of Armenian Genocide recognition from a political point of view, and they are of the same opinion on that issue. According to Sarafian, the Armenian-Turkish Protocols don't promise anything positive; rather, they include risks connected with the recognition and pursuit of the Armenian Genocide.
Sarafian stated that Armenia should have a clear approach in the issue of Armenian Genocide recognition and they should distinguish it from state policy. That is, according to him, there should be Diaspora-Homeland concepts and it should be clear which has what priorities.
Continuing, Sarafian said Armenia has no right to raise the issue of the Armenian Genocide, and Diaspora has no right to interfere with Armenia's state affairs. "Turkey's long-lasting policy of disassociating Armenia from the Diaspora is indirectly becoming reality," he said.
In Sarafian's opinion, by getting involved in the current process of establishing Armenia-Turkish relations, Armenia is putting those countries that have recognized the Armenian Genocide in an awkward situation.
Scholar Ara Sarafian to Lecture
At CSUF on `Remembering Adana' FRESNO - Ara Sarafian of the Gomidas Institute (London) will present a lecture `Remembering Adana' at 7:30 PM on October 12, in the Alice Peters Auditorium, Rm. 191 of the University Business Center on the Fresno State campus.
The lecture is co-sponsored by the Armenian Studies Program and Armenian Students Organization of Fresno State. This year marks the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific chapters in modern Armenian and Turkish history. The Adana massacres of 1909 claimed the lives of over 20,000 Armenians, resulted in massive material losses (the Armenian quarters of Adana city and elsewhere were burned down), and heralded the genocide of Armenians only six years later in 1915.
In his talk, Ara Sarafian will give a power-point presentation showing images of the city of Adana, before and after the massacres of 1909. He will also discuss the historiography surrounding the Adana events, with particular reference to Hagop Terzian, who wrote a devastating documentary account of the events in question. Terzian's narrative soon became a master narrative of the Adana massacres, and his work has just come out in an abridged translation into English from the Gomidas Institute.
The lecture will end with the release of Terzian's Cilicia, 1909: the Massacre of Armenians, translated by Ara Melkonian and edited by Ara Sarafian, (Gomidas Institute, 2009).
Ara Sarafian is an archival historian specializing on late Ottoman history. He is the director of the Gomidas Institute , which is a leading research and publication center related to modern Armenian history. In June 2009 the Gomidas Institute released, in Ankara (Turkey), the Turkish edition of a British parliamentary blue book on the Armenian Genocide. The Institute is also a main sponsor of a conference in Istanbul (Turkey) on November 5-6, 2009 dedicated to the Adana massacres of 1909.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Relaxed parking will be available in the UBC (University Business Center) parking lot after 7:00 PM the night of the lecture. For more information on the lecture please contact the Armenian Studies Program at 278-2669.
Capitol Hill: Sex & Drugs & Turkish `Soap' 27 September, 2009,
Lesbian Congresswomen, gay Senators and other `sinners' of the US establishment fall victims of an espionage scandal. Former FBI employee tells how Turkish intelligence gathers information on Capitol Hill.
A 34-year-old, Turkish-born woman of Azerbaijani descent, Sibel Edmonds, joined the FBI as a Turkish and Farsi translator a few days after 9/11. Her duties included translation of recordings of conversations between suspected members of Turkish intelligence and their American contacts.
However, in April 2002 Edmonds was fired after she raised concerns that one of the staff in her section was a member of a Turkish organization that was under investigation for bribing senior US government officials and members of Congress, drug trafficking, illegal weapons sales, money laundering, and nuclear proliferation.
Despite the fact that no one has ever disproved any of her revelations, no effort was made to address the corruption that she had been monitoring. That is according to The American Conservative magazine, which has had the opportunity to interview the former FBI translator.
The cases disclosed by Sibel Edmonds may well be considered the most incredible story of corruption and influence peddling in modern US history.
`If this were written up as a novel, no one would believe it,' The American Conservative quoted the woman as saying. Before and after 9/11
According to documents that Sibel Edmonds had access to, intelligence agents repeatedly reported Al-Qaeda plans to arrange a series of large-scale terrorist attacks on American soil. Despite that, their chiefs dismissed the reports as dubious.
Moreover, John Ashcroft's Justice Department twice invoked the State Secrets Privilege on the files so Edmonds could not tell what she knew, while the 9/11 Commission did not have a chance to see them either.
Interestingly, between 1997 and 2001, not once did anybody use the word `Al-Qaeda,' the woman says. It was always always `bin Ladens' ` plural.
`There were several bin Ladens who were going on private jets to Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. The Turkish ambassador in Azerbaijan worked with them¦ People and weapons went one way, drugs came back,' Edmonds continues.
`A lot of the drugs were going to Belgium on NATO planes. After that, they went to the UK, and a lot came to the US via military planes to distribution centers in Chicago and Patterson, New Jersey. Turkish diplomats, who would never be searched, were coming with suitcases of heroin,' she explained. Generous Turks, helpful congressmen
After having been sacked, Sibel Edmonds had revenge on her former employer by telling journalists that entire groups of American congressmen and diplomats were permanently `supported' by Turkish intelligence and lobbyists in Washington DC.
For instance, they allegedly recruited Marc Grossman for regular payouts, who was a US Ambassador to Turkey between 1994 and 1997.
On top of that, Edmonds lists several high-profile officials among his collaborators, including the 13th US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, senior Pentagon officials, Richard Perle and Douglas Feith, and Air Force Major Douglas Dickerson.
Simultaneously, she says, Grossman arranged for several US congressmen to lobby Ankara's interests on Capitol Hill, while compensation reached up to $400,000.
`The number-one Congressman involved with the Turkish community, both in terms of providing information and doing favors, was [a former Republican Representative from Louisiana] Bob Livingston,' Edmonds said in an interview.
Bob Livingston ` also the founder of the renowned lobbying group, The Livingston Group `was allegedly paid a monthly compensation of $105,000 by the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC. In total, the woman says, his family received $13 million between 2000 and 2005.
`Number-two after him was [a member of the US House of Representatives] Dan Burton, and then he became number-one in Congress until [Dennis] Hastert bec l, Janet Reno, was briefed on the investigations, and since they were Republicans, she authorized that they be continued,' Sibel Edmonds has said.
Employing the basic instinct
Yet, what really surprises is the way the Turkish intelligence allegedly approached Janice, or "Jan" Schakowsky ` a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives.
They arranged for the bisexual woman and her spouse, Robert, to be seduced by a pretty Turkish lesbian ` all it took to get everything the Turkish agents needed.
Even these few examples of Edmond's disclosures of US officials provides a glimpse of the overall scale of corruption in US governmental institutions, as well as of the activity of Turkish intelligence there.
Quite interestingly, all the US MPs who have been listed by Sibel Edmonds were the first to actively oppose the pro-Armenian resolutions concerning America's recognition of the Armenian genocide by the Turks in 1915.
All in all, Turkish agents reportedly received numerous strategic secrets about the American military and, even more importantly, a number of compromising ties that certain politicians, diplomats and military officials established with various international criminal syndicates.
www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2009-09-27/capitol-sex-drugs-turkish.html
Obama - Erdogan Discussion 09/26/2009
U.S. President Barack Obama met with Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the framework of G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh. In the course of 15-minute meeting, the officials touched upon Armenian-Turkish reconciliation, Turkish mass media reports.
Obama and Erdogan discussed the issues on the Middle East, Armenian-Turkish rapprochement and Azerbaijan. The U.S. President positively assessed the recent developments in Armenian-Turkish relations' normalization, underlining that the establishment of relations between the two states is a matter of regional significance.
Turkish Prime Minister stated that the activation of the Russian, U.S. and French OSCE MG Co-Chairs' efforts, can contribute to the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Obama noted that is aware of the significance of Karabakh problem solution.
Obama, Erdogan Discuss Armenia-Turkey Relations, armradio.am 26.09.2009
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday.
Erdogan, who attended G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh, held a meeting with Obama after the summit.
The parties discussed problems in the Middle East as well as Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan relations.
Obama told Erdogan that the recent developments in Turkey-Armenia relations were positive, and he stressed the importance of these relations for the region.
Erdogan and Obama also dwelt on the Karabakh issue. Erdogan said that it would make things easier if the Minsk Group was involved in the solution process more actively, Turk.net reports
ANCA Calls On Hillary Clinton To Lift U.S. Pressure On Armenia
WASHINGTON, DC — Ken Hachikian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, Wednesday called upon Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to lift the unfair and heavy pressure the U.S. government is using to force Armenia to accept a set of highly controversial Protocols on the normalization of relations with Turkey.
In his letter, dated September 30, 2009, Hachikian expressed the Armenian American community’s concern that “these one-sided agreements, which are being imposed upon a landlocked Republic of Armenia that remains blockaded by Turkey and that is still working to overcome the devastating demographic, economic and geopolitical legacy of the Armenian Genocide, would, if adopted, call into question the reality of the Armenian Genocide, threaten Armenia’s security, jeopardize the freedom of Nagorno Karabagh, and compromise the inalienable rights of all Armenians.”
The complete text of the letter is provided below.
September 30, 2009
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Clinton,
I am writing to share with you the growing alarm and outrage among Armenian Americans over the heavy pressure that you, officials of the Department of State, and others in the Obama-Biden Administration are applying to Armenia to accept the Turkey-Armenia Protocols.
These one-sided agreements, which are being imposed upon a landlocked Republic of Armenia that remains blockaded by Turkey and that is still working to overcome the devastating demographic, economic and geopolitical legacy of the Armenian Genocide, would, if adopted, call into question the reality of the Armenian Genocide, threaten Armenia’s security, jeopardize the freedom of Nagorno Karabagh, and compromise the inalienable rights of all Armenians.
As you can imagine, in light of your powerful track record as a U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate in support of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, we are particularly troubled by the role that you have played in pressuring Armenia to accept these Protocols. Rather than keeping faith with your principled stands on this human rights issue, you have, since taking office, aggressively pressured Armenia into a process that effectively provides President Obama with a rationale –morally flawed, but nonetheless politically effective – for failing to honor his clearly stated pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The starkest evidence of the intense pressure applied on Armenia is that the initial Turkey-Armenia “Roadmap” was announced late on the evening of April 22nd, only hours before the President’s first April 24th remarks, following a marathon 14-hour session in Yerevan between the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandyan, and Matt Bryza, at the time a Deputy Assistant Secretary. This meeting, and all the intense pressure on Armenia in the days leading up to the President’s reversal on his Armenian Genocide pledge, was plainly intended to serve Turkey’s interest in blocking U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This coercion has continued through to this day, with headlines in the New York Times and elsewhere reporting your personal “prodding” and “pushing” of the Armenian government to accept the Protocols in the face of broad-based opposition both in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.
As you may know, over 10,000 Armenian Americans gathered in Los Angeles over the weekend to protest the one-sided Protocols and to demand full U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. These American citizens and over one and a half million Armenian Americans, rightful stakeholders in our nation’s policies on Armenian issues, have been excluded from any meaningful role in the shaping of our nation’s active diplomacy on the Protocols. When we have formally protested this exclusion to senior officials of the State Department, we have been advised to address our concerns to the Armenian government. This dismissal represents a patent insult to every American of Armenian heritage. We deserve transparency and honesty from our government, a policy-making process that fairly embraces all American stakeholders, and the opportunity to offer our input in a respectful and meaningful manner.
In light of these concerns, I call upon you to lift the pressure being applied to Armenia to accept the Protocols and ask you, once again, to agree to accept our outstanding request to meet to discuss these and other urgent matters of concern to the Armenian American community.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman
Turks, Azeris Want Lachin to Become ‘Shared Corridor’
ANKARA, BAKU (Combined Sources)—Speaking at a news conference in Ankara on Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu claimed that a team of OSCE experts is now visiting the Kashatagh (Lachin) district to delineate an internationally recognized land corridor that would link Karabakh to Armenia proper in the event of a peaceful settlement. He said they plan to complete the “technical work” in time for the a meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan set for Oct. 8.
The information was confirmed by an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, but flatly denied by a senior aide to Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakian. Speaking to RFE/RL, the Karabakh official, David Babayan, also said in that regard that the Stepanakert government continues to consider the entire Lachin district an integral part of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Official Baku reiterated on Thursday that it is ready to guarantee unfettered communication between Armenia and Karabakh but wants the Lachin corridor to remain an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan. “We can not accept unilateral use of Azerbaijan’s territory by Armenia,” the APA news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov as saying. “The Lachin corridor will remain Azerbaijani territory even if it is given to Armenia for use.”
“We have heard repeatedly that Armenia intends to communicate with the Armenian community of the Nagorno-Karabakh through the Lachin corridor. This road is also important for the Azerbaijanis and we cannot accept its one-sided use,” Azimov said.
Citing unnamed diplomatic sources, Turkey’s “Hurriyet Daily News” newspaper reported on Thursday that Aliyev and Sarkisian have already made progress in determining “the width and status of the Lachin corridor.” “The deadlock is over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, but hopes are running high for a final settlement,” it said.
The paper also said Ankara has deliberately made sure that its agreements with Yerevan on the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations are signed after the planned Armenian-Azerbaijani summit. It said the Turkish side feared that Sarkisian would otherwise sit down with Aliyev “in a more advantageous position.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that his government will not rush to establish diplomatic relations and reopen Turkey’s border with Armenia without a breakthrough in the Karabakh peace process. The Armenian side, for its part, maintains that Karabakh has not been on the agenda of its fence-mending talks with the Turks.
“The finalized [Turkish-Armenian] agreements do not contain even a hint of precondition, especially on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution,”
Nalbandian said during public hearings held in the Armenian parliament on Thursday.
The Minsk Group co-chairs also seemingly sought to allay widespread fears in Armenia that Yerevan has pledged to make more concessions to Azerbaijan as part of its landmark deal with Ankara. “The Co-Chairs would also like to reiterate the points made separately by each of our governments that the Minsk Group negotiations are a separate process that should move forward along its own rationale, without preconditions, without any linkages, within a reasonable timeframe, and without imposed acceleration or delay,” read their statement.
Asbarez
Ohio Commission Issues Convoluted Split-Decision on Schmidt v. Krikorian Case
CINCINNATI, Ohio—Following a second day of intense testimony outlining the complicated web of Turkish interests to fueling Armenian Genocide denial in the U.S., a perplexed Ohio Elections Commission issued, what can only be described as a convoluted and confounding split decision ruling on the case brought by OH Rep. Jean Schmidt (R) against her presumptive Democratic Congressional opponent David Krikorian.
In a series of 4 panel votes, Commissioners affirmed that Turkish funds are a primary source of support for Rep. Schmidt’s political campaign, but chided Krikorian for statements related to Turkish Government funding of his opponent. The votes were taken after a controversial and befuddling panel decision to disregard testimony provided regarding the Armenian Genocide and its denial – an integral component of the allegations and Krikorian’s defense.
Throughout the proceedings, Krikorian attorneys Mark Geragos and Christopher Finney raised concerns and objections to the Commission’s questionable and inconsistent approach to the entire process and expressed serious doubts about the ultimate validity of the Commission’s decisions.
Krikorian’s attorneys have indicated that they will be issuing a public statement shortly regarding any future challenge or appeal on the Ohio Elections Commission’s decision.
Asbarez
50,000 Signatures Gathered in Turkey Calling on Sarkisian Not to Visit
BURSA, Turkey–The Confederation of Unions of Public Employees of Turkey (Kamu-Sen) has collected 50,000 signatures from the citizens of Bursa to protest the upcoming visit of Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan to Bursa for a soccer match between the two countries’ national teams on October 14.
Holding a press conference, the provincial chairman of Bursa’s Kamu-Sen, Selcuk Turkoglu invited citizens of Bursa to the game.
Stressing that sport activities create “a nice competition between countries and nations, Turkoglu said that the soccer game has been politicized
“Our invitation for Armenian President Sarksyan is turned into a blackmailing. He said that he would come only if the borders are open. We should not forget that Nagorno-Karabakh was invaded by Armenian army with Russian support,” Turkoglu said. “Armenians held an invasion that is against international laws and they committed a genocide there. Turkey’s border to Armenia is closed because of Nagorno-Karabakh issue till the resolution of the problem within the frames of international norms.”
“As Confederation of Unions of Public Employees of Turkey, we are not against the football game to be held in any city. But we want our government and state to react to the blackmailing of Armenian President Sarkisian about his visit,”
Turkoglu said that they will “show a strong reaction” against the Turkish government if Sarkisian comes to Bursa. “We will not bow to cheap Armenian blackmailing with the signatures that we are collecting here.”
Asbarez
A Gala for the Protocols, "Ara Khachatourian"
The champagne will flow and the caviar will be served this Sunday at a gala banquet honoring President Serzh Sarkisian at the Beverly Hills Hilton as part of his Diaspora tour to discuss—or force down our throats—the protocols for the establishment and development of relations with Turkey.
What a fitting way to mark the dangerous and defeatist documents that are sure to irreversibly change the course of Armenian history.
On H1, Armenia’s state television, advertisements heralding the president’s Diaspora tour have been airing regularly like a promotion for a Rolling Stones world tour. But before we buy the tour t-shirts and paraphernalia we must ask why? Why now? And, what is this tour going to accomplish?
As stated on several occasions by the president and Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, the protocols are a fait-a-compli. They are scheduled to be signed on Oct. 10 in Zurich by the foreign ministers of the two countries, with Hillary Clinton reportedly in the audience to cheer them on.
So, President Sarkisian’s world tour is nothing but a publicity ploy by the administration to claim that the Diaspora was included in the discussions of the pre-determined protocols. In fact the Armenian nation was never included in any discussion and has been forced to address this crucial and delicate issue according to Sarkisian’s agenda and not as a national concern that requires discourse and in-depth analysis.
Case in point: his agenda for the Los Angeles leg of the tour includes a meeting with some 40 representatives of the community, a gala banquet and a television interview with three channels. Talk about casting a wide net! So, the more than 10,000 Armenians who attended last week’s protest in Glendale and represent a even larger demographic, are not given the opportunity to hear the president and address their concerns.
In fact, the staging of this entire farce has been so calculated and deliberate in its intention to leave the public out of any choice, discussion and decision starting with the announcement of the “roadmap” on April 22. And, in this season of protocol-mandated public discussion, the state-run Armenian media—television, radio and newspapers—which has the most reach in Armenia has been silent about any opposition to the protocols and plays down any protests that have occurred, be they in Armenia or Diaspora. In fact, the number for Sunday’s protest in Glendale was put at 800 by some state-run media. On Friday, Armenia’s police chief announced that any slur against the authorities would be punishable by law.
The iron curtain, once again, seems to have fallen on Armenia.
Nalbandian, on Thursday, proudly proclaimed that it was Armenia that initiated the protocols chastising parliament members for not having enough faith that Armenia can actually can take the lead on something. Well, if it was, in fact, Armenia that initiated the protocols then the authorities get a big fat F for failure. The new spin by Sarkisian and Nalbandian is that they were not pressured by the US or any other power to enter into this process. Ironically, the same sentiments were expressed last Monday by Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon, who told reporters that the US was a mere observer. It is always comforting that Washington and Yerevan are dancing to the same tune, believing that the public is too stupid to read between the lines.
Also joining that dance are the leadership of the Armenian Assembly of America, the AGBU and the Etchmiadzin-controlled Diocese. Through a joint announcement they proclaimed their unwavering support for the protocols and welcomed the president to the US. They, of course, will have to answer to their constituencies and flock for turning a deaf ear to historical injustice and threats to the future of our nation.
In the wake of these developments, community members are urged to meet in front of the Beverly Hilton at 3 p.m. on Sunday and raise their united voice in opposition to the protocols. At this critical juncture in our history, President Sarkisian has chosen to spend his valuable time in the Diaspora wining and dining and not facing his public, effectively telling the community: “Let them eat cake…”
Asbarez
Ohio Panel Rules Against Congressional Challenger, By Stephen Majors (Ap)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Armenian-American congressional challenger made false campaign statements with reckless disregard for the truth when he said an Ohio congresswoman took money from the Turkish government and Turkish government-sponsored interests, the Ohio Elections Commission found Thursday.
U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, a Cincinnati-area Republican, brought the complaints against David Krikorian after he made the statements in the waning days of the 2008 campaign. Krikorian, who ran as an independent, said Schmidt was given roughly $30,000 from Turkish interests because of her denial that the mass killings of Armenians by the Turks in 1915 constituted genocide.
The commission will issue a public reprimand of Krikorian for three violations, all variations of statements he made about Schmidt taking money either directly from the Turkish government or indirectly through what he called Turkish government-sponsored political action campaigns.
It is illegal for elected officials or candidates to take money from foreign governments or individuals.
"We are incredibly gratified that we won on all the major counts," said Schmidt Chief of Staff Barry Bennett. "We'll see if he learns his lesson."
The commission ruled in Krikorian's favor on one of Schmidt's arguments, dismissing a complaint that his statement that Schmidt had taken money from Turkish individuals was a false statement. The commission felt that "individuals" could be interpreted to mean Americans of Turkish descent.
Krikorian attempted to show that he had a "good faith" reason to believe that Schmidt was getting Turkish government money because registered lobbyists of the Turkish government were donating money to Turkish-American political action committees, who in turn gave to Schmidt's campaign.
Neither side disputed that Schmidt received legal money from Turkish-American political action campaigns.
Krikorian also attempted to show that he believed that the lobbyists of the Turkish government helped coordinate fundraising activities for Schmidt.
The commission found that Krikorian should have known that he had no proof to make the claims.
"A prudent person, given his cognitive ability, would have been a little hesitant in making those bold statements," said commission member Larry Wolpert.
Krikorian's attorney, Mark Geragos, argued that the commission should come down on the side of protecting free speech.
"For anyone to say that that is actual malice, that he didn't have a basis, makes a mockery of free speech," Geragos said. "This goes to the core of political speech."
But Schmidt attorney Donald Brey said candidates can't say anything they want.
"Freedom of speech is not a license to lie or defraud the voters, which is what he did," Brey said.
Krikorian said he didn't yet know whether he would appeal the decision in common pleas court. He is running for the Democratic nomination to face Schmidt again in 2010.
"The people of the district desperately need some leadership and this case has taken too much time," he said.
Schmidt's position that she doesn't have enough information to proclaim the 1915 killings were genocide — which many history scholars believe it was — is also shared by the U.S. government. The U.S. foreign policy establishment's careful positioning on the issue is driven by the importance of maintaining productive relations with a moderate ally in the Middle East.
Turkey denies that the deaths an estimated 1.5 million Armenians constituted genocide, contending the toll has been inflated and that the casualties were victims of civil war. It says Turks also suffered losses in the hands of Armenian gangs.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
David Krikorian Loses Genocide “Hush Money” Case in Ohio [ 2009/10/02
An Armenian-American congressional challenger made false campaign statements with reckless disregard for the truth when he said an Ohio congresswoman took money from the Turkish government and Turkish government-sponsored interests, the Ohio Elections Commission found Thursday.
U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, a Cincinnati-area Republican, brought the complaints against David Krikorian after he made the statements in the waning days of the 2008 campaign. Krikorian, who ran as an independent, said Schmidt was given roughly $30,000 from Turkish interests because of her denial that the mass killings of Armenians by the Turks in 1915 constituted genocide.
The commission will issue a public reprimand of Krikorian for three violations, all variations of statements he made about Schmidt taking money either directly from the Turkish government or indirectly through what he called Turkish government-sponsored political action campaigns.
It is illegal for elected officials or candidates to take money from foreign governments or individuals.
“We are incredibly gratified that we won on all the major counts,” said Schmidt Chief of Staff Barry Bennett. “We’ll see if he learns his lesson.”
The commission ruled in Krikorian’s favor on one of Schmidt’s arguments, dismissing a complaint that his statement that Schmidt had taken money from Turkish individuals was a false statement. The commission felt that “individuals” could be interpreted to mean Americans of Turkish descent.
Krikorian attempted to show that he had a “good faith” reason to believe that Schmidt was getting Turkish government money because registered lobbyists of the Turkish government were donating money to Turkish-American political action committees, who in turn gave to Schmidt’s campaign.
Neither side disputed that Schmidt received legal money from Turkish-American political action campaigns.
Krikorian also attempted to show that he believed that the lobbyists of the Turkish government helped coordinate fundraising activities for Schmidt.
The commission found that Krikorian should have known that he had no proof to make the claims.
“A prudent person, given his cognitive ability, would have been a little hesitant in making those bold statements,” said commission member Larry Wolpert.
Krikorian’s attorney, Mark Geragos, argued that the commission should come down on the side of protecting free speech.
“For anyone to say that that is actual malice, that he didn’t have a basis, makes a mockery of free speech,” Geragos said. “This goes to the core of political speech.”
But Schmidt attorney Donald Brey said candidates can’t say anything they want.
“Freedom of speech is not a license to lie or defraud the voters, which is what he did,” Brey said.
Krikorian said he didn’t yet know whether he would appeal the decision in common pleas court. He is running for the Democratic nomination to face Schmidt again in 2010.
“The people of the district desperately need some leadership and this case has taken too much time,” he said.
"Scientific Article Or Scientific Denial Of Genocide?: Political Analysts Argue Over Content Of Book" Armenia Now 29 September 2009 Gayane Abrahamyan
The ‘Ararat’ Center for Strategic Research filed a lawsuit against the ‘Caucasus Institute’ (CI) Foundation in Armenia for printing and distributing a book which has an article refuting the fact of the Armenian Genocide. The word genocide is written in quotation marks 34 times.
CI recently published a book in Yerevan called ‘Caucasus Neighborhood: Turkey and The South Caucasus’ (Yerevan), where among other articles there is an article called ‘Turkey-Armenia relations: an eternal deadlock?’ the author of which is Turkish Aybars Görgülü.
Iskandaryan is accused of denying Genocide because of using the word in quote marks.
“The author of the article referring to the Armenian Genocide casts doubt on that historical fact not only by an open announcement but also by legal means using the term Genocide in quotation marks several times (34),” says Armen Ayvazyan, Director of ‘Ararat’ Center for Strategic Research.
The editor of the book is Director of ‘Caucasus Institute’ Foundation Alexander Iskandaryan, and Ayvazyan insists that the choice of the articles belongs to him, too.
Iskandaryan, after a long lasting silence, finally on Tuesday (September 29), clarified that the article “does not have any sentence refuting the Genocide.”
In the article the expression “genocide” allegations’ is used several times, and there is the following sentence:
“Turkey felt aggrieved that Armenia accused Ottoman Turkey of having committed ‘genocide’ about which serious doubts remain and intense discussion is still going on.”
Ayvazyan told ArmeniaNow that if these sentences and the whole article are not a denial, then “Iskandaryan either does not know what denial means in general or he does not want to accept it.”
“In the legal sense, there is no violation, because at the beginning of the book there is a statement saying that the Institute does not bear any responsibility for the thoughts expressed by the authors of the articles. Besides, there is a reference under the word Genocide that is written in quotation marks, stating that it is only the opinion of the author,” Iskandaryan says, giving assurances that the trial will last ten minutes, and it will not continue.
Iskandaryan is sure that the Armenian public has the right to know what people in Turkey think about the Armenian Genocide.
“This is a scientific article, and science must submit all the existing opinions,” he says.
Ayvazyan demands that the court should oblige the ‘Caucasus Institute’ to apologize publicly, as well as to ban the usage of the word Genocide in quotation marks from now and on, and stop the further distribution of the book.
ANCA Calls On Hillary Clinton To Lift U.S. Pressure On Armenia
WASHINGTON, DC — Ken Hachikian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, Wednesday called upon Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to lift the unfair and heavy pressure the U.S. government is using to force Armenia to accept a set of highly controversial Protocols on the normalization of relations with Turkey.
In his letter, dated September 30, 2009, Hachikian expressed the Armenian American community’s concern that “these one-sided agreements, which are being imposed upon a landlocked Republic of Armenia that remains blockaded by Turkey and that is still working to overcome the devastating demographic, economic and geopolitical legacy of the Armenian Genocide, would, if adopted, call into question the reality of the Armenian Genocide, threaten Armenia’s=2 0security, jeopardize the freedom of Nagorno Karabagh, and compromise the inalienable rights of all Armenians.”
The complete text of the letter is provided below.
September 30, 2009
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Clinton,
I am writing to share with you the growing alarm and outrage among Armenian Americans over the heavy pressure that you, officials of the Department of State, and others in the Obama-Biden Administration are applying to Armenia to accept the Turkey-Armenia Protocols.
These one-sided agreements, which are being imposed upon a landlocked Republic of Armenia that remains blockaded by Turkey and that is still working to overcome the devastating demographic, economic and geopolitical legacy of the Armenian Genocide, would, if adopted, call into question the reality of the Armenian Genocide, threaten Armenia’s security, jeopardize the freedom of Nagorno Karabagh, and compromise the inalienable rights of all Armenians.
As you can imagine, in light of your powerful track record as a U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate in support of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, we are particularly troubled by the role that you have played in pressuring Armenia to accept these Protocols. Rather than keeping faith with your principled stands on this human rights issue, you have, since taking offi ce, aggressively pressured Armenia into a process that effectively provides President Obama with a rationale –morally flawed, but nonetheless politically effective – for failing to honor his clearly stated pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The starkest evidence of the intense pressure applied on Armenia is that the initial Turkey-Armenia “Roadmap” was announced late on the evening of April 22nd, only hours before the President’s first April 24th remarks, following a marathon 14-hour session in Yerevan between the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandyan, and Matt Bryza, at the time a Deputy Assistant Secretary. This meeting, and all the intense pressure on Armenia in the days leading up to the President’s reversal on his Armenian Genocide pledge, was plainly intended to serve Turkey’s interest in blocking U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This coercion has continued through to this day, with headlines in the New York Times and elsewhere reporting your personal “prodding” and “pushing” of the Armenian government to accept the Protocols in the face of broad-based opposition both in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.
As you may know, over 10,000 Armenian Americans gathered in Los Angeles over the weekend to protest the one-sided Protocols and to demand full U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. These American citizens and over one and a half million Armenian Americans, rightful stakeholders in our nation’s policies20on Armenian issues, have been excluded from any meaningful role in the shaping of our nation’s active diplomacy on the Protocols. When we have formally protested this exclusion to senior officials of the State Department, we have been advised to address our concerns to the Armenian government. This dismissal represents a patent insult to every American of Armenian heritage. We deserve transparency and honesty from our government, a policy-making process that fairly embraces all American stakeholders, and the opportunity to offer our input in a respectful and meaningful manner.
In light of these concerns, I call upon you to lift the pressure being applied to Armenia to accept the Protocols and ask you, once again, to agree to accept our outstanding request to meet to discuss these and other urgent matters of concern to the Armenian American community.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman
Turkish Armenian Protocols Unanimously Rejected
European Armenian Federation For Justice & Democracy
Bruxelles
PRESS RELEASE
28 September 2009
Contact : Varténie ECHO
The “Votch” (No) petition is met with by worldwide acceptance
The Protocols on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, which were initiated under Swiss mediation earlier this year, are vehemently opposed by the Armenians worldwide.
The “Votch” (No) petition, which is open to “all who uphold human dignity”, was initiated by philologist Krikor Beledian, essayist Janine Altounian, journalists Arpig Missakian and Arpi Totoyan, historian Yves Ternon of France, Professor Mihran Dabag, Director of the German Research Institute on Diasporas and Genocides of Bochum University, and American professor Roger Smith, former Chairman of the International Association of Genocides Scholars.
The petition, which is online at www.votch.org, has received signatures from residents in nearly 30 countries and the campaign is rapidly growing.[1] The petition states that “to submit such a unique experience as genocide to negotiations and a judgment by governmental commissions or sub-commissions would subordinate the truth to political maneuvers and power relations”. The document therefore considers that “by the signing of these protocols, Armenia marginalizes the Diaspora, and enters into the strategy of the Turkish State to divide the Armenian people and to stigmatize and delegitimize the Diaspora for advocating the consciousness of the Genocide”.
The text concludes that “these protocols [are] an effort of the Turkish State to impose on the economically vulnerable Republic of Armenia its distorted vision of history from which the Republic of Turkey was formed and which is consubstantial with it” and “call[s] upon all those who uphold human dignity to express their rejection of these agreements which endanger the integrity of the Armenian people”.
“The Armenians worldwide welcome the “Votch” Petition. The Turkish Armenian protocols are blatant infringements on the memory of the Armenian Genocide and the dignity of its victims,” stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.
“The Turkish State is attempting to make its denial policy legitimate by embedding it in a legally binding document that would have far-reaching consequences not only for the Republic of Armenia, but for Armenians worldwide,” added Tchoboian. “It is therefore incumbent upon the Armenian Diaspora to make their position clear to the Republic of Armenia that surrendering to Turkey’s intransigent position would establish a profound division between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora,” concluded Tchoboian.
------------------
[1] Signers include those from Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Dubai, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Karabakh, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, the Ukraine, the United Arabs Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States
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