Month: June 2005

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
June 16, 2005
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN HEADS FOR LEBANON
Archbishop Oshagan is en route to Lebanon where he will meet with His
Holiness Aram I at the Catholicate in Antelias. One of the topics of
discussion will be the upcoming visit of the Catholicos to the Eastern
Prelacy in October. His Holiness has already visited several dioceses within
the Cilician See and is planning to visit all of the dioceses before the end
of the year in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Seminary in
Antelias. This year is also the tenth anniversary of the election and
consecration of Aram I.
The Prelate will return to New York next week.
ORDINATIONS IN ANTELIAS
Twenty seminary students were ordained as clerics and deacons at St.
Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, Lebanon. Rev. Fr. Tatoul
Anoushian, a member of the brotherhood of the Constantinople Patriarchate
conducted the holy mass. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Kegham
Khatcherian, primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, who spoke about the traits
of people who dedicate themselves to serve the church. “Every one of you was
granted the right of service to the church on a certain level. Each right
assumes an obligation. That obligation being your dedicated service to the
holy church of God. Today you climb the first stairs of this service, so you
can reach higher levels in the future,” he said.
Following the liturgy, the newly ordained servants of the church
proceeded to the Veharan (Catholicosal residence and administration center),
where they received the blessings of His Holiness Aram I. The Catholicos
advised them to prepare themselves for higher service. “Your study years at
the seminary open up our church’s and nation’s treasury. You will have to
gain so much from these years, so you can enrich our people in the near
future on both ecclesiastical and national levels through the riches you
acquired,” he said.
SIAMANTO ACADEMY STUDENTS PERFORM
Following five weeks of rehearsals, Siamanto Academy students
participated in the annual concert presented by the New York Hamazkayin
Chorus dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The
concert took place at the Flushing Town Hall in New York under the
directorship of Vagharshak Ohanian, with David Allahverdian on the piano,
and Isabella Alexandrovski on the kanon. Also featured on the program were
recitations by Lucine Djirdjirian and Dr. Herand Markarian. The Siamanto
students sang songs dedicated to Yerevan including, Karoun Yerevan,
Yerevanian Kisherner, Im Yerevan, Jan Yerevan, Yerevan-Erebouni, and
Hayasdan.
The Siamanto Academy is sponsored by the Armenian National Education
Committee.
ARMENIAN CHURCH REMEMBERS KING TIRIDAT, QUEEN ASHKHEN
AND KHOSROVITOUKHT
This Saturday, June 18, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives of
three saints important to the establishment of Christianity in Armenia, King
Tiridate, Queen Ashkhen, and Khosrovitoukht.
King Tiridate was a persecutor of early Christians, having imprisoned
Gregory the Illuminator in a deep pit, and ordering the murder of the nuns
Hripsime and Gayane and their companions. He became a convert when afflicted
with mysterious ailments and demons, he was cured by St. Gregory following
the king’s sister, Khosrovitoukht’s, vision that only Gregory could save her
brother.
Queen Ashkhen, wife of Tiridate, helped the king’s sister in Gregory’s
release. After the Christian conversion of the king, she and the king were
baptized in the Euphrates river by Gregory. She subsequently helped Gregory
establish church communities.
BEAST ON THE MOON EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 5
It’s official. The Beast on the Moon, the popular Off-Broadway play
about two genocide survivors, has been extended to September 5th, according
to David Grillo, the producer of the show.
The nationally syndicated columnist, Liz Smith, has described Beast as
“the hit new Off-Broadway play,” and has told her many readers, “Don’t miss
it!”
For information go to:
LADIES GUILD OF STS. VARTANANTZ WILL CELEBRATE
50TH ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 23
The Ladies’Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
will celebrate the Guild’s 50th anniversary on Saturday, July 23, at the
Pawtucket Country Club in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, with a gala dinner dance.
For information contact the church office, 401-831-6399.
JEWISH REPORT ON GENOCIDE
The May-June issue of “Special Interest Report” published by The
American Council for Judaism, has an article entitled, “American Jewish
Groups’ Role in Downplaying Turkey’s Mass Murder of Armenians is
Highlighted.” The article describes the Armenian genocide and the campaign
for international recognition and how Turkey has enlisted the aid of Jewish
groups to “prevent Congress from adopting the term ‘genocide’ regarding the
slaughter of Armenians.” The article rightly points out that, “the implicit
support of U.S. Jewish organizations and the tacit support of Israel give
moral cover to any American administration that stops legislation
recognizing the Armenian genocide.”
Yair Auron, a professor at Israel’s Open University and author of The
Banality of Denial: Israel and the Armenian Genocide, is quoted: “To my
sorrow, Israel has become Turkey’s principal partner in helping it deny the
Armenian claims.” Auron says that Israel should have explained to Turkey
from the start that “the Armenian genocide could not be negotiated as part
of their relations.” As custodian of the memory and lessons of the
Holocaust, Israel is obliged to change course on the issue, Auron says. “You
have to take a position; and the historic moral position is one that accepts
the genocide.”
SUNDAY IS FATHERS DAY
This Sunday, June 19, is Fathers Day. The United States is one of the
few countries in the world that has an official “fathers day.” Although
there are different stories of who and where the first fathers’ day was
celebrated, there is agreement that the most ardent promoter of the holiday
was Mrs. Bruce John Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who wanted to honor her
father who raised six children after the untimely death of his wife. It is
believed that the first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in
Spokane. States began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Father’s Day.
President Woodrow Wilson approved the idea in 1916 as did President Calvin
Coolidge who in 1924 suggested that it be a national event to “establish
more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress
upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.” The celebration of
Father’s Day grew in popularity; however, it was not until 1966 that
President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation officially declaring the
third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
FIRST DAY OF SUMMER
This Tuesday, June 21, is the summer solstice, the longest day of the
year, and the first day of summer (at least here in the northern
hemisphere).
OUR GARDEN NOW AND THEN
We first mentioned our garden last year as a whim, never contemplating
that our garden would take on a life and personality of its own with our
readers. We had no intention of making it a regular commentary, but you-dear
readers-keep asking about the status of our garden when several weeks go by
without a report. Your reaction was totally unanticipated, but most welcome!
When last we spoke of our garden we lamented the cold weather. What
followed could very well be classified in the category of “be careful what
you ask for.” A few days later the east coast was gripped in an
unprecedented June heat wave with temperatures well into the 90s that
continued for almost ten days. Our poor seedling plants, that in May
withstood two nights of frost and survived, were now limp under the hot sun.
Thankfully we only lost a few cucumber plants, but everything else seems to
have survived.
Being a gardener provides one with great respect for nature and
admiration for farmers whose fate depends so heavily on the elements. We
feel closer to God in our garden than anywhere. How can you not believe in
the higher power of God when a small seed breaks the mighty ground, sprouts
and in 60 to 70 days begins to produce vine-ripened, pesticide free,
delicious fruit!
Everything we know about gardening we learned from our father, Krikor,
and our mother-in-law, Hripsime. Both were consummate gardeners, who could
grow anything in defiance of rules and regulations. Being survivors of the
Genocide and of the Great Depression of the 1930s, both of them had little
use for flowers (not edible!).
We are nowhere near their category as gardeners, and never will be. But
our garden is a reminder of them, their lives and the legacy they left us.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from
the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17
Visit our website at

Turkey condemns German resolution on Armenian “genocide”
Anatolia news agency
16 Jun 05
Ankara, 16 June: Turkey has strongly condemned approval of a resolution
envisaging commemoration of so-called Armenian genocide by the German
parliament.
Releasing a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
said on Thursday [16 June]: “The German parliament adopted a resolution
about the events of 1915. We regret and strongly condemn it. Turkey
explained its views to German authorities on numerous occasions. We
pointed out to unilateral content of the decision, serious mistakes
in the text, and lack of information. We stressed that approval of
such a decision by Germany which we always considered one of our
friendly and allied countries, will play havoc with our relations.”
“However, we regret to see that the German government did not take
into consideration all our warnings. It is evident that the initiative
stemmed from domestic political purposes. Use of such a sensitive
issue for political purposes is nothing but irresponsibility and
narrow-mindedness. The decision includes totally baseless allegations
that almost all Armenians in Anatolia were destroyed. The decision
recommending the German government to include ‘relocation and
destruction of Armenians’ in state education policies, includes
extremely dangerous and provocative proposals that could led enmity
among German young people against Turks,” it emphasized.
The MFA kept on saying: “Turkey advocates that historical events should
be discussed by historians and scientists instead of politicians and
parliaments. Therefore, we have opened our archives to all researchers
including Germans and Armenians. Also, Turkey proposed Armenia to set
up a joint commission to examine Turkish-Armenian relations during
the era of the Ottoman Empire.”
“Turkey is in reconciliation with its past. Turkey does not need
decisions of foreign parliaments to deal with any part of its
history. If the German parliaments needs to reconcile with its own
history, it should handle it under its own historical responsibilities
instead of putting forward such baseless allegations against Turkey,”
the MFA added.
Earlier in the day, the German parliament unanimously adopted a
resolution envisaging commemoration of so-called Armenian genocide.
The resolution was brought onto the parliamentary agenda by
[opposition] CDU/CSU [Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social
Union].

‘Genocide’ clashes
7DAYS, United Arab Emirates
June 16 2005
Germany’s parliament condemned yesterday the mass killing of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks 90 years ago, sparking an angry protest from
Ankara. In a vote shortly after Germany’s government and opposition
clashed over whether Turkey should join the European Union, all main
parties in the Bundestag joined forces to deplore what many historians
say amounted to genocide.
The resolution stopped short of calling the killings genocide, a
term Turkey rejects, but looks sure to test relations between Ankara
and Berlin, until now a key supporter of Turkish EU aspirations.
“This resolution is regretful and we strongly condemn it,” said the
Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement.
It described the resolution as one-sided and “provocative” and said
it would hurt Turks’ feelings. It said German lawmakers had been
motivated by domestic politics and had ignored repeated warnings of
the harm the resolution would do to bilateral ties.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told German journalists this
week that the resolution amounted to “a huge injustice towards Turkey
and Turks living in Germany”, the newspaper Rheinische Post reported.

Turkish foreign minister tells US envoy of determination “to
consolidate” ties
Anatolia news agency
16 Jun 05
Ankara, 16 June: The 229th anniversary of independence of the United
States was marked at a reception hosted by US Ambassador to Turkey
Eric Edelman on Thursday [16 June].
Speaking at the reception, Edelman said that 229 years had elapsed
since approval of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776
including the foundation principles reading, “we hold the truths
to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among
these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure
these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form
of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of
the people to alter or to abolish it”.
Recalling that former President Abraham Lincoln had objected to slavery
since it had been violation of those rights, Edelman said that rights
and freedoms could not be taken under guarantee anywhere in the world
unless rights of an individual were ensured everywhere.
Stressing that the United States faced one of the worst foreign
threats of its history on 11 September 2001, Edelman said that US
President George W. Bush, in response to that threat, included social,
political and economic factors in the defence.
Describing Turkey as a “source of inspiration”, Edelman said that
“Mustafa Kemal Ataturk had created a modern Turkey from the ashes
of the Ottoman Empire with similar principles”. Turkey’s vision
and achievements were worthy of appreciation; support of the United
States to the democracy in Turkey would continue to be one of the
basic principles of the US foreign policy, he stressed. Emphasizing
that Turkey-the United States relations could not be evaluated on
the basis of only political interests, Edelman said that the common
values of the two countries enriched and revived the alliance.
Edelman added that the United States would continue attributing
importance to friendly relations with Turkey, relying on opinions of
Turkey, and needing assistance of Turkey in the struggle for freedom.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah
Gul said that Turkey-the United States relations were based on common
values such as democracy, rule of law and human rights.
“Global threats of the 21st century such as proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction and terrorism have made the strategic partnership
between Turkey and the United States more important. We consider our
relations with the United States one of priorities of our foreign
policy. Those relations have gained new dimensions as a result of
global developments. We are determined to further consolidate our
relations,” he said.
Gul thanked Edelman for all his contributions to the bilateral
relations between Turkey and the United States.
Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay, State Minister Mehmet Aydin,
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, General Staff Deputy Chief Gen Ilker
Basbug, National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit
Alpogan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ali Tuygan,
Turkey’s Special Envoy to Iraq Osman Koruturk, Motherland Party
(ANAP) leader Erkan Mumcu and a number of guests were in attendance
at the reception.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
U.S. ASSOCIATION WITHDRAWS AWARD TO AMB. EVANS FOLLOWING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMENTS
Pallone Expresses Disappointment to Congress
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly today commended Congressman
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) for expressing disappointment over the
American Foreign Service Association’s (AFSA) unprecedented withdrawal
of its Herter Award for “constructive dissent” from U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia John Evans for his proper characterization of the Armenian
Genocide.
Evans, during his public exchanges with Armenian-American communities
throughout the United States in March, declared that “the Armenian
Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century.” Members
of the House and Senate, as well as the Assembly, publicly supported
Evans’ declarations and called on President George W. Bush to also
accurately label this crime against humanity.
In a speech before the House of Representatives Monday, Pallone said in
part: “It is simply unacceptable for this Administration to continue
to penalize the ambassador for his comments. Ambassador Evans did
a courageous thing. His statements did not contradict U.S. policy,
but rather articulated the same message that this Administration
has sent to the public. The only difference in this case is that
Ambassador Evans assigned a word to define the actions taken against
the Armenians.”
For example, in 1981, Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation
that said in part: “like the genocide of the Armenians before it,
and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it – and like too
many other persecutions of too many other people – the lessons of the
Holocaust must never be forgotten…” President Bush himself has also
carefully set forth the textbook definition of the crime of genocide
as it applies to Armenians in his successive April 24th statements
of remembrance.
AFSA President John W. Limbert last week told the Washington Post
that no one at the organization can remember an award being withdrawn
after it had been announced.
Pallone also noted that the AFSA rescinded the award days before
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Washington
for a meeting with President Bush.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
###
NR#2005-065
Editor’s Note: Below is the full text of Congressman Pallone’s
comments as delivered on the floor of the House of Representatives
on June 13, 2005.
AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION AWARD WITHDRAWN – (House of
Representatives – June 13, 2005)
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to express my
disappointment with the American Foreign Service Association, and
its decision to withdraw awarding a “Constructive Dissent” award to
U.S. Armenian Ambassador John Evans.
Ambassador Evans was due to receive the Christian A. Heter Award for
intellectual courage, initiative, and integrity later this week. The
award was as a result of courageous statements he made regarding the
recognition of the Armenian genocide.
In a series of public statements, Ambassador Evans, who has studied
Russian history at Yale and Columbia and Ottoman history at the Kennan
Institute stated, “I will today call it the Armenian genocide.”
Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Evans has studied history of Armenia , and
based on his substantial studies of the issue, he is willing to go on
the record and define the actions taken Armenians as genocide. The
Armenian genocide was the systematic extermination, the murder,
of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children. To this day, the
Republic of Turkey refuses to acknowledge the fact that this massive
crime against humanity took place on soil under its control, and in
the name of Turkish nationalism.
Unfortunately, some 90 years later, the U.S. State Department continues
to support Turkey’s demands and denials despite all evidence to the
contrary. It is not likely that the State Department was happy that
their Ambassador to Armenia acknowledged the Armenian genocide. And,
therefore, Ambassador Evans retracted his remarks after receiving
substantial pressure from the State Department.
Well, now the selection committee at the American Foreign Service
Association has decided to withdraw the award with no reason for
its actions. I find the timing of the decision peculiar. The sharp
turnaround came right before Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan arrived in
Washington for a meeting with President Bush. Based on past history,
it is clear that the State Department, the Bush administration, and the
pro-Turkish lobby pressured AFSA to withdraw Ambassador Evans’ award.
It is simply unacceptable for this administration to continue to
penalize the ambassador for his comments. Ambassador Evans did a
courageous thing. His statements did not contradict U.S. policy,
but rather articulated the same message that this administration
has sent to the public. The only difference in this case is that
Ambassador Evans assigned a word to define the actions taken against
the Armenians.
This was a refreshing break, I must add, from a pattern on the part of
the State Department of using evasive and euphemistic terminology to
obscure the full reality of the Armenian genocide. Ambassador Evans
pointed out, and I quote, that no American official has ever denied
it, and went on to say, and I quote, I think we, the U.S. Government,
owe you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of discussing
this problem.
Ambassador Evans was merely recounting the historical record, which
has been attested to by over 120 Holocaust and genocide scholars from
around the world. By doing this, he earned a prestigious award that
was taken from him because of politics and denial.
Mr. Speaker, I want to add my voice to all those who, in Ambassador
Evans’ own words, and again I am quoting, think it is unbecoming of
us as Americans to play word games here. I believe in calling things
by their name. Evans was right, and the American Foreign Service
Association was correct in awarding him the Christian A. Herter
Award. We should encourage our Ambassadors to speak the truth, and,
more broadly, end, once and for all, our complicity in Turkey’s
campaign of genocide denial.
Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Evans has been penalized for simply telling the
truth. The American Foreign Service Association has set a terrible
example by retracting Ambassador Evans’ award. I guess, even in
America, the Turkish Government is able to stifle debate.
####
–Boundary_(ID_f73z6u2O6dm1/Tt5bNaSqQ)–

Germany angers Turkey with massacre resolution
Expatica, Netherlands
June 16 2005
16 June 2005
BERLIN – Straining relations with Turkey, the German Bundestag
parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday condemning the massacre of
up to 1.5 million ethnic Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 90 years ago.
The resolution criticised the current government of Turkey for
“neglecting to address the issue” in a forthright manner.
Turkey’s foreign minister Abdullah Gul denounced the resolution as
“irresponsible, appalling and injurious” to relations between the
two countries.
“We note this decision with regret and we strongly condemn it,” said
a statement released by the foreign ministry. The statement accused
the resolution of being rooted in “domestic politics” and called it
“irresponsible and narrow-minded”.
Turkey acknowledges the tragedy of hundreds of thousands of deaths in
“civil strife” during 1915-17 but denies there was a state- sponsored
extermination plan – a stance that has complicated its efforts to join
the European Union. Accession talks are due to start later this year.
On 24 April 1915, the Ottoman Turkish government arrested hundreds
of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders, most of whom were
quickly executed.
This was followed by the mass relocation of Christian Armenians from
Anatolia through desert to Mesopotamia and what is today Syria.
Starvation, disease, attacks by bandits and the brutality of the
escorting troops resulted in mass fatalities. Most Western sources
maintain that more than a million deaths took place.
The incident has been widely referred to as the first genocide of
the 20th century.
Turkey said Thursday’s resolution is not historically correct, saying
claims that “almost all Armenians living in Anatolia were exterminated”
have “no basis”.

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
June 16 2005
Armenian Church plans Vacation Bible School
Thursday, June 16, 2005
First Armenian Church will host a Vacation Bible School again this
year. It will be held July 11-15 at the church, 380 Concord Ave.,
Belmont.
Children will follow the daily “Faith Expedition” themes through Bible
lessons, skits, arts and crafts, snacks and song. Get your treasure
maps ready and help uncover the greatest treasure in the world.
The Bible School will be held 9 a.m. to noon daily for ages
pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. There is no charge and all are
welcome.
To register, contact the church office at 617-484-4779 or e-mail
[email protected].

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
June 16 2005
Jazz from Armenia
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Armenian jazz vocalist Datevik Hovanesian and her trio will be
performing favorites and some new pieces at the Armenian Library and
Museum of America (ALMA) in Watertown on Sunday, June 26 at 7 p.m.
An internationally renowned jazz singer, educator, recording artist
and arranger, Hovanesian has been called the “First Lady of Jazz”
in the former Soviet Union. She has performed in over 30 countries in
concert halls, prestigious international jazz festivals, television
and radio, master classes and workshops. She also specializes in
ethno-jazz music. Her latest CD, “Stage To Stage,” is the collection
of her live jazz recordings over the years with outstanding musicians,
some of the songs combining Armenian folk and jazz.
The musicians accompanying Hovanesian are all very well known in
the world of jazz: pianist/composer Bob Albanese, bass player Joe
Fitzgerald and drummer David Mead.
Belmont resident John Baboian, a jazz guitarist and professor at
Berklee College of Music in Boston, will join the group as a special
guest.
This event is organized by Amaras Art Alliance, which will allocate a
portion of the proceeds to its Hovanness Badalian Music Fund. Admission
price is $20.
ALMA is located at 65 Main St., Watertown. For more information
call 617-733-7162 or 617-489-5298 (Russian), or visit

Erdogan – Mikati Joint News Conference
Turkish Press
June 16 2005
BEIRUT – Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in
Lebanon, held a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister
Najib Mikati on Thursday.
Mikati said that they discussed Middle East peace process,
Israeli-Palestinian dispute and recent developments in Iraq. He said,
“we also took up economic cooperation between Turkey and Lebanon
and agreed to increase mutual investments and collaboration in
international areas.”
On the other hand, Erdogan said, “Lebanon supports Turkey’s point
of view in Cyprus issue. We also share the same views as regards
Iraq. I conveyed that Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative
is a democratization and freedom process as well as an initiative to
establish a joint program to fight terrorism and to increase prosperity
in the region.”
Replying a question on the Armenians allegations, Erdogan said,
“Turkey urged Armenian authorities to open their archives because
Turkey has already done so. Other countries can open their archives
too. It is impossible to accept a genocide claim which is not based
on documents and sound information. We have a positive approach, but
Armenia is still busy with the past. Future cannot be established on
hatred,” noted Erdogan.
Yesterday, nearly 1,500 Armenians who are living in Lebanon held a
demonstration to protest the visit of Erdogan to Lebanon.

German Parliament Criticizes Turkey Over Armenians (Update1)
Bloomberg
June 16 2005
June 16 (Bloomberg) — Germany’s lower house of parliament today
approved a motion criticizing Turkey for failing to recognize that
the Turkish Ottoman Empire was involved in the massacres of hundreds
of thousands of Armenians in 1915.
The extent of the massacres and deportations of Armenians is still
being played down or denied by the modern Turkish government,
contradicting the idea of reconciliation promoted by the European
Union, according to the motion, which was submitted by all
parliamentary groups. It stopped short of describing the killings
as genocide.
“The lower house of parliament regrets that an extensive discussion
of events in the then Ottoman Empire still is not possible and that
academics and writers who want to look into this part of Turkish
history are being prosecuted and defamed,” the motion said.
Turkey denies allegations that the Ottoman Empire’s treatment of
its Armenian subjects in 1915 was a planned genocide, arguing that
an Armenian rebellion caused clashes and the resulting deaths. The
European Union, with which Turkey is due to start membership talks
Oct. 3, has said the dispute with Armenia clouds Turkey’s bid to join.
“It’s not possible to accept the notion of `genocide’ without
relying on documents and information,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said at a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon today.
“We are proud of our history. Therefore we cannot stand by while this
issue is being used as a political tool, as free political capital
by lobby groups.”
`Abundantly Documented’
Turkey should take responsibility for the deaths because the evidence
of genocide is “abundantly documented,” the Purdue University,
Indiana-based International Association of Genocide Scholars said in
a letter to Erdogan on April 6.
During a visit to Turkey on May 4, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
urged the Armenian government to accept a proposal by Turkey that
scholars from both countries study the genocide claims.
More than 1 million Armenians died in massacres, on death marches
through the Syrian desert or in camps, the German parliamentary motion
said. Acknowledging the former injustice would help normalize the
relationship between Armenia and Turkey and stabilize the Caucasus
region, it said.
The lawmakers said Turkey is showing some positive signs that it
is beginning to address the issue, such as an invitation to Turks
of Armenian origin by the Turkish National Assembly to talk about
the crimes, an exchange of documents between Turkish and Armenian
historians and Erdogan opening the first Armenian museum in Istanbul.
Still, they criticized the cancellation by the Turkish Justice
Ministry of a conference on the subject by Turkish academics that
had been due to take place in May.
The motion also expressed regret that the German government of the
time didn’t act to prevent the killings even though it was aware of
what was happening.