timesunion.com
Turkey keeps running from genocide truth
By LUCILLE G. SARKISSIAN
First published: Sunday, April 11, 2004
When is a lie not a lie? Are there codes and colors to lies that can be
measured, that separate small lies from big lies?
Does it make a difference if the lie is told in a court of law, or in polite
society, or in religions, or in politics, or just among friends or
businesses? Doesn’t conscience mean anything anymore? Must the truth be
covered up?
There is an Armenian proverb that says: “If you tell a lie, it will
eventually confront you.” There is also a Turkish proverb that says: “If you
tell the truth, you better keep running.”
The Turkish government has chosen to deny the truth about the Armenian
genocide and consequently it has been running from the truth for 89 years.
But it cannot hide from the truth forever because the truth will eventually
catch up to it.
When Germany acknowledged its guilt in the Holocaust, its people were able
to take their government forward based on good conscience and actions that
finally gave justice to Holocaust victims and their families.
Turkey does not want to do that and so will not be able to move forward and
become a real democracy until it faces its past history and gives justice to
the victims of the genocide and their families.
It is well past time for Turkey to do what Germany did in the case of the
Holocaust. Only then will Turkey be able to stop running from the truth and
be at peace with itself, its neighbors and the world. But most important of
all, there will be peace and closure for the victims and their families.
Without acknowledgment, without acceptance of its historical responsibility,
Turkey undermines efforts at reconciliation in the Caucasus and sets up the
possibility for repetition of such crimes against humanity.
The world recognizes the scope and horror of the Armenian genocide, and
history has long settled the question of how and why the Turkish government
sought to rid itself of an industrious Christian minority.
This month, Armenians all over the world will commemorate the first genocide
of the last century with prayers, vigils, proclamations and speakers to
remember the 1.2 million people who were annihilated by the Ottoman Turkish
government in 1915.
Lucy Derderian, the oldest genocide survivor living in New York state, died
in 2003. She was 103 and lived in Queens. She will be missed this year at
the commemoration, but her spirit and memory will always be with us.

Apostles met grisly ends
Bucks County Courier Times
April 11, 2004
by J. D. Mullane
After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, what happened to the 12
apostles?
We know they hid in an upper room, fearing they would be crucified, too.
Scripture states Jesus appeared to them, that Thomas doubted, and that they
went out into the world to preach.
Then what?
It’s hard to say for sure. History is sketchy when it comes to the 12, and
it’s tough to separate fact from the thick cloud of Bible lore, tradition
and faithful belief.
John, for example, is believed to have written the Book of Revelation, with
its frightening images of the apocalypse. Also, his preachings were so
effective he supposedly was tossed into a vat of boiling oil by Roman
authorities, but miraculously emerged unharmed.
Andrew is said to have parted an ocean with a cup of water.
Philip allegedly killed a black fiery dragon, and was accompanied on his
journeys by his sister, Miriam, who was martyred.
Whatever really happened, this much is clear: Most apostles were put to
death because they refused to deny Jesus.
Here’s a list of what happened to the 12 men Jesus picked to spread his
message, according to books and scholarly articles:
Peter married Perpetua and they had two children, a boy and girl. After
Jesus’ death and resurrection, Peter was perhaps the most aggressive
disciple and most visible face of the early Christian church. King Herod
tossed him in prison. Christian lore states an angel freed him. He preached
throughout Asia Minor, where Mark joined him and gathered material for his
gospel. He became the first bishop of the Church of Rome, where he was
crucified by the Roman Emperor Nero in 64 A.D.
Andrew, a fisherman and the first apostle, preached throughout Scythia,
today in the area of Ukraine. He was crucified on an x-shaped cross on
orders of the Roman governor Aegeas. He was tied to the cross rather than
nailed to prolong suffering.
James the Elder was a fiery speaker and personality who probably traveled
throughout Spain after the resurrection. He is considered the patron saint
of Spain. He was beheaded with a sword about 44 A.D. by Herod Agrippa.
Matthew spent 15 years evangelizing Egypt and Ethiopia, but there are
conflicting stories regarding the place and manner of his death, and if he
was martyred at all. Some accounts have King Hircanus ordering his death by
sword; others that Matthew was stoned, burned or beheaded.
Philip was a coach maker by trade who became a disciple after Jesus told
him, “Follow me.” He preached for 20 years in Asia, joined by his three
daughters. He was stoned and crucified head downward on a cross.
Bartholomew preached throughout Armenia. Details of his death in Albanopolis
conflict. He was either skinned alive and then crucified with head downward,
or beheaded by Astyages for having converted his brother, Polymius, the King
of Armenia.
Thaddeus preached throughout Judea and Samaria, but was clubbed and his head
severed with an ax by nonbelievers.
Simon was crucified after preaching the gospel in Samaria.
James the Lesser had sworn off food and drink until he saw the resurrected
Jesus. He was murdered about 62 A.D. in Jerusalem, tossed from the top of a
temple, stoned and clubbed. Some accounts have him praying for his attackers
as he died.
Thomas, the doubter, took his ministry to India, where he converted the wife
and son of King Misdai. For this he was sentenced to death, led from the
city to a hill and executed by four soldiers with swords.
Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot, was a wealthy tax collector who gave
away his money and embarked on a ministry to spread the message of Jesus,
perhaps in Ethiopia. Some accounts place his death in Ethiopia, others have
him being stoned to death and beheaded in Jerusalem.
John, the apostle “best loved” by Jesus, was among the first four apostles
and shared the nickname “Son of Thunder” with his brother, James the Elder.
Jesus gave the brothers the name because of their fiery preaching. John was
the only apostle not to abandon Jesus at his trial and crucifixion. He
traveled extensively and died at an old age, the only apostle believed to
have died of natural causes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

No recognizable part in multipart/alternative.

Armenian minister criticizes Azerbaijan’s stance on Turkish border opening

Arminfo
9 Apr 04
YEREVAN
“The Azerbaijani side looks at the issue of opening the
Armenian-Turkish border not from the point of view of prospects, but
exclusively from the point of view of the internal political
situation,” Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has told an
Arminfo correspondent commenting on statements by Azerbaijani
politicians on the inadmissibility of opening the border.
“We are confident that the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will
help develop regional cooperation and settle the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. I think that Azerbaijan approaches the issue incorrectly,”
Oskanyan said.

Armenian president appoints adviser
A1+ web site
10 Apr 04

[Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan on 9 April signed a decree
appointing Garnik Isagulyan as presidential adviser.

Opposition held sit-in Armenian capital ahead of another rally
Mediamax news agency
10 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The Armenian opposition does not see any more opportunities to realize
the change of power in the country by means of holding a referendum on
confidence in the president, one of the leaders of the opposition
Justice block, Albert Bazeyan, said in Yerevan today.
The opposition leaders met today their adherents, who are staging a
sit-in on Freedom Square in Yerevan, Mediamax’s correspondent
reports. About 150 opposition activists are on Freedom Square at
present.
Albert Bazeyan said that the opposition had practically refused the
idea of holding a referendum on confidence in the authorities and
demanded the unconditional resignation of Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan. According to him, this decision was made after the ruling
coalition, which has a majority in the Armenian National Assembly,
rejected yesterday the opposition’s proposal to put the issue of
holding a referendum on confidence in the authorities on the agenda.
The regular meeting of the Armenian opposition will be staged on
Freedom Square at 1800 today. The leaders of the Justice block and the
National Unity party stated that mass protest actions will continue
unless the president resigns.

CIS security chief, Armenian official discuss cooperation
Arminfo
9 Apr 04

YEREVAN
The head of the Armenian National Security Service, Karlos Petrosyan,
the secretary- general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO), Nikolay Bordyuzha, and the CSTO deputy secretary-general,
Valeriy Semerikov, discussed regional security today.
The press service of the Armenian National Security Service told
Arminfo news agency that the meeting had discussed military and
political issues, changes in the operational situation and the
development and intensification of military cooperation within the
framework of the CSTO.

Turkey not to open Armenian border without Azerbaijan’s consent – minister
ANS TV, Baku
10 Apr 04
[Presenter] [Visiting] Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay has said
that without Azerbaijan’s consent, Turkey will not open its borders
with Armenia.
[Atalay in Turkish] In relations with Armenia, Turkey never forgets
Azerbaijan’s interests. Our foreign minister proposed that meetings be
held between the Azerbaijani, Armenian foreign ministers and Turkey to
discuss these issues.
We will never discuss any issues with Armenia without Azerbaijan’s
involvement. Our government wants to build peaceful relations with all
our neighbours and to discuss the existing problems.
[An unspecified correspondent] Do you want to say that Turkey can take
a decision only after Azerbaijan gives consent.
[Atalay] Yes, Azerbaijan’s interests will be taken into account in
taking decisions.
As you know, esteemed President Ilham Aliyev is coming to Ankara on 13
April. These issues will be discussed there. I cannot add anything
else to that.

Armenia opposition leader says dozens detained after Friday rally
Interfax news agency, Moscow
10 Apr 04
Yerevan, 10 April: The Armenian law-enforcement agencies detained
several dozen opposition activists following an opposition rally in
Yerevan on Friday evening [9 April], the leader of the opposition
Justice bloc and member of parliament, Albert Bazeyan, told Interfax.
The detainees have been indicted for the violation of public order, he
said.
Interfax has so far been unable to receive confirmation of this
information from the Armenian police.
At the present time, opposition members are continuing a
round-the-clock sit-in demonstration on Freedom Square in downtown
Yerevan. The organizers of the demonstration said they would not stop
their action until the authorities resign.
The number of the people taking part in the demonstration varied from
several dozens to several hundreds depending on the time of day.
In addition, two opposition parties Justice and National Unity, which
have temporarily joined for political purposes, plan to hold another
major rally on Freedom Square on Saturday evening.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Different figures given for Armenia opposition Saturday rally
Interfax news agency, Moscow
10 Apr 04

YEREVAN
Two opposition parties held a rally in central Yerevan on Saturday [10
April] which was one in a recent series of meetings to demand the
removal of Armenia’s leadership.
“The current Armenian regime is doomed as it is impossible to keep
power by force,” the leader of the Justice party, Stepan Demirchyan,
told the meeting, whose number of participants was put at about 20,000
by the organizers but at a maximum of 2,500 by the law-enforcement
agencies.
It was announced at the rally, organized by the Justice and National
Unity parties, that there would be an opposition procession on Monday
along the street in Yerevan where the presidential residence and
parliament stand.
Opposition leaders told the rally that several dozen opposition
activists had been detained since Friday and that the arrests were
illegal.
A police spokesman told Interfax that “there have been arrests of
citizens for breach of peace but not for participation in an illegal
rally.” He said he could not name the exact number of those arrested.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress