Zaman, Turkey
April 23 2005

Armenia to Medal Recognition of So-Called Genocide
By Ali Ihsan Aydin

Journalist-writer Ragip Zarakolu and Ali Ertem, chairman of “Union
against Genocide” Turkish organization in Germany, will be granted
with “medal of courage” as they showed the “courage to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.”

Ertem and Zarakolu will receive their medals at Paris municipality
during a reception that will be organized by Paris Mayor Bertrand
Delanoe in the honor of Armenians who live in Paris. Ara Toronian,
head of The Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France
(CCAF), will give the medals. Ertem, who lives in Frankfurt Germany,
participates in the so-called Armenian genocide conferences in Europe
and Armenia claims: “Turks are the only nation who were not judged
for the genocide that they committed and the violence it directed
against Kurds who were used by Turks during the genocide.”

‘Turkey arguments for the arousal of Armenian Identity’

The French Armenian Diaspora, which is the largest and most organized
Armenian organization in Europe, has launched a big campaign all over
France for so-called April 24 anniversary. Armenian organizations
will have rallies today and nationwide in France. In Paris, Armenians
will light the Unknown Soldier fire at Champs Elysee and will march
to the Turkish Embassy. They place electronic lighted banners
reading, “We remember the Armenian Genocide” on billboards around the
city. A commemorative ceremony in the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral for
the memory of those who died in 1915 will also be held. Almost all of
the French televisions will broadcast documentaries and debate
programs about the so-called Armenian Genocide. Armenians also
organize conferences and panels in many cities about Turkey’s EU
membership. Chairman of Armenian National Committee of Europe (CDCA)
Vartan Arzoumanian said in his interview to Le Figaro that Turkey’s
EU membership process helped Armenians to reshape an Armenian
Identity in Europe and added, “We try to advertise the 1915 Armenian
Genocide in great effort before the genocide is totally forgotten.”