ASBAREZ Online [05-04-2005]

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05/04/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ANCA Chairman Calls on President Bush to Speak With Moral Clarity on Armenian Genocide 2) Minister Hatzistergos Condemns Removal of Armenian Plaque 3) Uruguay to Ask UN to Declare April 24 Genocide Condemnation International Day 4) Ethnic Armenian Soldiers of Georgian Army AWOL 5) Ceremony Marks Opening of 30th Navasartian Games 1) ANCA Chairman Calls on President Bush to Speak With Moral Clarity on Armenian Genocide "The time has come, Mr. President, for our government to end all forms of complicity in Turkey's morally bankrupt campaign of genocide denial." --ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian WASHINGTON, DC--Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian expressed disappointment on Wednesday with President Bush's April 24 statement, asking for a meeting to discuss this matter and the range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community. While thanking President Bush for standing with Armenians in "remembering the tragic events of April 24th," Hachikian expressed concern that the President, again, retreated from his February, 2000 campaign pledge to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide. "Your refusal to honor this pledge, and the ongoing opposition of your Administration to Armenian Genocide legislation before Congress, in our view, represent failures of American moral leadership, and reflect a flawed and shortsighted approach to our nation's long-term interest in peace and stability in the Caucasus and Middle East," explained Hachikian. Commenting on the President's indirect reference to the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission, Hachikian noted, "The only sound basis for improved Armenian-Turkish relations remains Turkey's open acknowledgement of its genocidal crime and full acceptance of its responsibilities to the Armenian nation. In this regard, we are reminded of how Germany came to terms with the Holocaust and, more recently, of the comprehensive report prepared by the Israeli government setting the material damage to the Jewish people during the Holocaust at between $240 billion to $330 billion." Hachikian concluded the May 3 letter urging President Bush to "to speak with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide, to support Armenian Genocide legislation that will come before Congress, to pressure the Turkish government to acknowledge the truth, and to use the full influence of your office to work toward a just resolution--including full reparations and restitution--of this crime against the Armenian people." The full text of the letter follows: Dear Mr. President: I am writing, on behalf of Armenian Americans throughout the United States, to thank you for joining with our community in remembering the tragic events of April 24th, but also to express our profound disappointment with the content of your remarks on the day of this solemn remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. We remain deeply troubled by your retreat from your promise, made in February 2000, to properly recognize the genocidal campaign against the Armenian people. By not using the proper termgenocide--your message failed to accurately communicate the moral, historical, and legal meaning of the crime committed against the Armenian people. Your refusal to honor this pledge, and the ongoing opposition of your Administration to Armenian Genocide legislation before Congress, in our view, represent failures of American moral leadership, and reflect a flawed and shortsighted approach to our nation's long-term interest in peace and stability in the Caucasus and Middle East. While we welcome your statement about looking forward to a promising future for Armenia, we must point out that Armenia's future should not have to be built under threat from Turkey--an unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against the Armenian people. Very simply, the Republic of Armenia cannot be secure as long as Turkey continues to deny its crime against the Armenian nation. We are troubled, as well, by your support for attempts, along the lines of the widely discredited Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission, that promote an artificial reconciliation, one with neither truth nor justice. Sadly, your mention of an anonymously authored report, which was not written by, but only facilitated through, the International Center for Transitional Justice, lends credence to those seeking to derail progress toward Genocide recognition, while abetting those who want to help Turkey avoid the modern-day consequences of this crime. The only sound basis for improved Armenian-Turkish relations remains Turkey's open acknowledgement of its genocidal crime and full acceptance of its responsibilities to the Armenian nation. In this regard, we are reminded of how Germany came to terms with the Holocaust and, more recently, of the comprehensive report prepared by the Israeli government setting the material damage to the Jewish people during the Holocaust at between $240 billion to $330 billion. The time has come, Mr. President, for our government to end all forms of complicity in Turkey's morally bankrupt campaign of genocide denial. As such, we respectfully call upon you to speak with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide, to support Armenian Genocide legislation that will come before Congress, to pressure the Turkish government to acknowledge the truth, and to use the full influence of your office to work toward a just resolution - including full reparations and restitution - of this crime against the Armenian people. Given your emphasis on morality and speaking the truth, how can you possibly do otherwise? In closing, I would like to note that we continue to pay special attention to your Administration's response to the historically accurate description of the Armenian Genocide by the US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans. If history has taught us anything, it is that those who speak the truth should be encouraged, not silenced. We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this matter and address the full range of issues of concern to Armenian Americans. Sincerely yours, 2) Minister Hatzistergos Condemns Removal of Armenian Plaque RYDE--The Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship, John Hatzistergos, on Wednesday condemned the removal of a plaque in Meadowbank commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. The plaque, which was installed on April 24, 2005, marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, has been forcibly removed from Memorial Park, Meadowbank. It is unknown who has removed the plaque. "This is a disgraceful and cowardly act," Hatzistergos said. The plaque was installed following a motion from Ryde City Council officially recognizing and condemning the Armenian genocide of 1915, the first genocide of the twentieth century. "The plaque is solemnly dedicated to the 1.5 million men, women and children who were victims of the Armenian genocide~EIt serves as a reminder to the community of such darks chapters in human history~EI urge anyone with information concerning the removal to contact authorities," Hatzistergos said. In 1997, the NSW Parliament passed a unanimous bi-partisan motion condemning the Armenian genocide of 1915. In the following year, the Parliament passed another motion to install a memorial for the victims of the genocide, which is now located in the NSW Parliamentary precinct. 3) Uruguay to Ask UN to Declare April 24 Genocide Condemnation International Day MONTEVIDEO (Armenpress)--The parliament of Uruguay made a unanimous decision Wednesday to ask the country's foreign ministry to submit to the United Nations a resolution declaring April 24 as "Genocide Condemnation World Day," Diego Karamanukian from Uruguay Armenian Radio reported. The parliament decision was largely due to the efforts of an Armenian member of the Uruguay parliament, Lian Kechijian. The decision asks the Uruguay foreign ministry to ask the UN to consider it at its next session. Uruguay was the first country to officially recognize the Armenian genocide, when the country's Senate and House and Representatives adopted a resolution on April 20, 1965. On March 26, 2004, the President of Uruguay signed a law designating April 24 as a "Day of Recognition for the Armenian Martyrs." 4) Ethnic Armenian Soldiers in Georgian Army AWOL TBILISI (Armenpress)--Twelve ethnic Armenian servicemen of the Georgian army abandoned their military unit on Tuesday in Akhaltsikhe and went absent without leave (AWOL), claiming they were subjected to human rights abuses and intimidation from officers and other servicemen in the military unit, Itar-Tass reported. All of these servicemen are residents of Akhalkalak, a town in the southern Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, predominately populated by ethnic Armenians. Rustavi 2 television interviewed several of these AWOL servicemen on May 3. One private said in an interview: "We were beaten up in the military unit; we were frequently questioned about why we speak Armenian and not Georgian, but I do not speak Georgian." Another private complained that the officers were intimidating him and demanding money. No official comment has been made by the Georgian defense ministry yet. The Georgian public defender's office has launched a probe into the case. "I have talked with an official from the defense ministry and I think we can find a solution to this problem," Sozar Subeliani, the public defender, told Rustavi 2. 5) Ceremony Marks Opening of 30th Navasartian Games GLENDALE--The much-awaited Homenetmen Navasartian Games kicked-off on May 1, during a ceremony marking the official opening of the 30th Annual Games. The small torch--symbolizing the beginning of the games--was blessed at the cross stone at Glendale's St. Mary's church, and then transferred by athletes to Stengel Field in Verdugo, where the program began. Emcee Simon Manucharian welcomed the enthusiastic crowd and introduced guests, which included religious and political leaders, as well as elected officials from the cities of Glendale and Los Angeles, and representatives of ARS and Homenetmen. 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. 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