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02/22/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Karabagh National Assembly Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of Conflict 2) Aram I Discusses 90th Anniversary of Genocide; WCC Calls for Genocide Recognition 3) Website on Armenian Genocide to be Launched 4) Armenian Platoon Begins Duties in Iraq 1) Karabagh National Assembly Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of Conflict STEPANAKERT (Combines Sources)--In a February 20 statement, the National Assembly of the Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) reaffirmed its readiness to construct an independent democratic state based on the right to self-determination. The statement came on the 17th anniversary of the February 20, 1988 decision of the mainly ethnic Armenian Mountainous Karabagh's Supreme Soviet that called for the transfer of authority over the region, from Azerbaijan to Armenia. In its newly released statement, the MKR National Assembly of reaffirms not only the determination of the people of Mountainous Karabagh people to build an independent and democratic state based on the right to self-determination, but also reiterates the authorities' allegiance to settle the conflict through peace negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group. They also call on the Azeri authorities to renounce their unreasonable policy of confrontation, and direct their efforts to the establishment of peace and stability in the region. The statement also appeals to members of foreign parliaments to support efforts for MKR's international recognition. Vigen Hayrapetyan, chairman of the recent session of the National Assembly, said that the convening of the extraordinary session on February 20, 1988 was a historical necessity. "Any delay would have threatened Armenians with annihilation...it was the decision of the session, along with the support of progressive political forces, and the international community that prevented mass violence against the local population [of Mountainous Karabagh]. 2) Aram I Discusses 90th Anniversary of Genocide; WCC Calls for Genocide Recognition In his report to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, which meets once a year, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, stated, "This year my church and people will commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. During the First World War in 1915, one-and-a-half million Armenians were massacred by the Ottoman-Turkish government according to a well-devised and systematically executed plan. Although my generation did not directly experience the tragic past, the Armenian Genocide has had a strong impact on our spiritual and intellectual formation. The past haunts the victims; we cannot free ourselves from the past unless that past is duly recognized." The Cathlicos's reference was made in the context of his analysis of the question of forgiveness and reconciliation. He said: "The acceptance of truth is the sine qua non condition for forgiveness. The past must be confronted boldly and be challenged responsibly. Neglecting the past with its wounds will not help to build a new future. When the memories are not healed, they hold us hostage to the past; when they are healed, through confession and forgiveness, they empower us to rebuild relationships, promote mutual trust and acceptance, and engage in a process of transformation. Unhealed memories cause violence, hate and fragmentation. Forgiveness, as a response to confession, is a determining factor in the healing and reconciliation process. Through forgiveness, we accept each other in truth and justice. Forgiveness is costly; only confession must lead to forgiveness, which is a pre-condition for real healing and reconciliation." During its meeting, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches drafted a statement calling for the recognition of the genocide against the Armenian people. "Sunday April 24, 2005 will be the 90 years Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the tragic massacre of one-and-a-half million Armenians in Turkey and the deportation of another million from their homeland. "The World Council of Churches has on different occasions addressed the need for public recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the necessity of Turkey to deal with this dark part of its history," read the statement. "The importance of Turkey evaluating its history has recently also been addressed by the Conference of European Churches relating to Turkey's relation to the European Union. "From the Christian perspective, the path towards justice and reconciliation requires the recognition of the crime committed as a sine qua non condition for the healing of memories and the possibility of forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting but to look back with the intention to restore justice, the respect for Human Rights and relationships between perpetrators and victims. "The Public Committee recommends to the General Secretary and the staff, to propose to all member churches to make Sunday April 24 a day of memorial of the Armenian Genocide and to consider further appropriate actions related to the 90 years Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide." In a separate statement concerning the International Criminal Court, the Central Committee noted: "Human History is filled with examples of horrendous cruelties, aggressions and inhumanities. In just 20th Century there are four recognized genocides--90 years ago the Armenian genocide, 60 years ago the Holocaust, nearly 30 years ago the Khmer Rouge and the most recent genocide in Rwanda, a little more than 10 years ago. There were very different ways of addressing these horrific crimes: there was no consequence for the Armenian genocide, the victors justice in the Nuremberg trail for the Nazi war criminals, a failed local response with UN support to the Khmer Rouge and the ad-hoc International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda." 164 voting members, together with over 100 advisors, consultants, and representatives of the Vatican and various international organizations, are participating in this year's meeting in Geneva. His Holiness Aram I has served as the moderator of the Central Committee since 1991. 3) Website on Armenian Genocide to be Launched YEREVAN (Yerkir)--Over 50 Armenian genocide experts will participate in the events commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Genocide. A new website will be launched, in addition to a photo exhibition to be on display at the Charents Literature Institute, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Yerevan State University. A film, as well as an audio cassette, containing documents from the British, German, Russian and French archives, photos, and narrated accounts of genocide survivors will also be released. 4) Armenian Platoon Begins Duties in Iraq YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenia's 46-member member non-combat platoon, which left for its peacekeeping mission in Iraq on January 18, has begun the implementation of its duties in Iraq. Artak Tonoyan, the Commander of the 12th peacekeeping platoon of the Armenian armed forces, said the Armenian military servicemen finished the training classes and exercises. According to Tonoyan, no incidents have taken place with the Armenian servicemen in Iraq. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress