ASBAREZ Online [09-28-2005]

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09/28/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) EU Parliament Demands Turkey Recognize Armenian Genocide 2) Rocking Denny's Boat: System of a Down, ANC, AYF rally outside Hastert's office 3) Update on ARS Hurricane Relief Efforts 1) EU Parliament Demands Turkey Recognize Armenian Genocide STRASBOURG, France (Combined Sources)--European Union lawmakers chided Turkey on Wednesday, five days before it is due to open EU membership talks, demanding that Ankara recognize the 1915 massacre of Armenians as genocide before it joins the bloc. The European Parliament gave grudging blessing to the start of negotiations next Monday after a heated debate in which many members vented strong criticism of Turkey's human rights record. With 356 votes in favor, 181 against and 125 abstentions, the EU legislature adopted a resolution that "calls on Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide" and "considers this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European Union." The non-binding resolution was a political slap in the face for Turkey, which still insists there was no genocide. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also warned Turkey it would have to amend its new penal code, adopted to meet EU criteria, if hardline judges were still able to prosecute the country's leading novelist for expressing his views on the killings of Armenians under Ottoman rule. "The case of author Orhan Pamuk is emblematic of the difficulties ensuring effective and uniform implementation of these reforms, and also of the struggle between reformers and conservatives in Turkey," Rehn told the European Parliament. An Istanbul judge is prosecuting the writer for "denigrating Turkish identity" by endorsing the term genocide. He faces up to three years in jail if convicted. Other judges tried in vain to halt an academic conference in Istanbul on the Armenian genocide last week. The Brussels-based European Armenian Federation [ANC Europe] welcomed the Strasbourg-based parliament's statement. "This latest appeal by the European Parliament ahead of the negotiations with Turkey must serve as a guideline for the European Council and the European Commission," its chairman, Hilda Tchoboian, said in a statement. The Federation last week staged a high-profile conference in the parliament, drawing attention to the issue. "Europeans can be confident those negotiations are effective only if leaders are responsive to the desires of the population; we therefore call on the EU foreign ministers to touch upon the genocide issue during their meeting in Luxembourg on October 3," added Tchoboian. The EU legislature also demanded that Turkey recognize Cyprus and said negotiations could be suspended unless it grants access to Cypriot aircraft and shipping by next year. EU governments remain deadlocked on a negotiating mandate for the talks, with Austria holding out for a more explicit mention of an alternative to membership. Ankara reaffirmed on Wednesday it would accept nothing less than full membership. Diplomats said the 25 EU foreign ministers would probably hold an emergency meeting on Sunday night in Luxembourg, hours before negotiations are meant to start, to seek an agreement. 2) Rocking Denny's Boat System of a Down, ANC, AYF rally outside Hastert's office BATAVIA--System Of A Down singer Serj Tankian, leaders of the Armenian National Committee (ANC), and the Armenian Youth Federation headed up a rally in front of Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's district office in Batavia, IL, urging the Speaker to "do the right thing" and schedule a vote on Armenian Genocide legislation currently before the House of Representatives. With the street in front of Hastert's office cordonnned off by police, BBC, ABC, Fox, and other media outlets were on hand, as hundreds of people of all ages listened to Tankian, John Dolmayan and Armenian National Committee representatives Aram Hamparian and Greg Bedian address the crowd, thanking them for their support and urging them to continue building momentum for the legislation. All four members of System Of A Down lost family members in the genocide and the band has done a number of things, including its annual Souls benefit concert, to increase awareness of the issue. Tankian and Armenian American community representatives passed on to Hastert's aides a letter urging the Speaker to move the legislation forward and presented hundreds of letters from community members calling for a vote. In a personal letter delivered to Speaker Hastert's office, Tankian stated "My grandfather, Stepan Haytayan, is a 97 year-old survivor of the genocide. He's my only link to this past. I promised him that I would try to reach you and explain how important American recognition is to the surviving children of the first genocide of the 20th century." "On these particular [resolutions] he [Hastert] hasn't been dragging his feet--yet," said Greg Bedian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Illinois. "But three strikes and we'll see what happens." When Tankian finished reading his letter, the audience cheered for him to give a rallying speech, but he said he would rather meet everyone individually. As he worked his way through the crowd, taking pictures and signing autographs, some greeted him in Armenian while others thanked him for making them aware of the issue. "Up until a couple days ago, I had heard nothing of this," 15-year-old David Gerhard of Downers Grove told Tankian. "But I became outraged that something like this hasn't been taught in any of our classes." Gerhard, like many of the young people in the crowd, heard about the event--and the issue--through the band's e-mail, which wasn't sent out until Monday night. Bassist Shavo Odadjian said he believes the group is making headway: "Every time someone asks me a question about it, I think we've gotten a step closer. It's just the fact that it makes news, and people talk about it, and it becomes an issue that it actually did occur. That's our biggest issue with it: that they still don't admit to it occurring." The rally was organized by the popular rock band, along with Axis of Justice, the Armenian National Committee of America, and the Armenian Youth Federation. In addition to members of the Armenian-American community of Greater Chicago, attendees traveled from Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, California, and Washington, DC to take part in the event. The numbers of Armenian Americans were buoyed by the participation of throngs of fans of System Of A Down and supporters of Axis of Justice. Heratch Doumanian came from Indiana to participate in the event and honor his grandparents and uncles and aunts who "died in the desert." "[The legislation] will prevent future genocide," Doumanian said. "If people realize they're accountable for it." Demonstrators from the Armenian National Committee of Illinois had picketed Speaker Hastert's "Mobile Office Tour 2005" on Wednesday, July 20, demanding that he honor his five-year-old pledge to move the Armenian Genocide Resolution forward in the House of Representatives. Hastert made the pledge to have the full House vote on Armenian Genocide legislation in August of 2000, but reneged in October of 2000 citing pressure from then President Clinton. He also prevented a similar resolution from reaching the floor in 2004. Staffers committed to providing the Speaker's feedback to the constituents very soon regarding the current bill. 3) Update on ARS Hurricane Relief Efforts The Armenian Relief Society chapters throughout the Western region are continuing to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims. Its San Francisco "Garin" and East Bay "Erepouni" Chapters took advantage of their annual St. Gregory Church bazaar and set up collection stations all over the bazaar site in San Francisco; the Montebello "Nairy" Chapter set up a table at Holy Cross Cathedral; the Studio City "Meghry" Chapter used the Armenian Center as a collection station; other chapters got on the phone and collected funds for the Hurricane victims. In Orange County, California, where the "Sevan" and "Karni" Chapters are located, a fundraiser is planned at Zov's Bistro in Tustin, on October 30. Zov Karamardian, who is underwriting all the cost of the event, said that she was moved to do her part for the evacuees. Meanwhile, the ARS Eastern USA, is working to provide assistance to families who have escaped to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from the New Orleans area. The organization is focusing on assistance to families and schools. The ARS has been contacting mostly Louisiana schools, to provide school supplies, uniforms, play clothes, and toiletries for children who have transferred from the hurricane stricken regions. "We feel responsible to make a difference in the lives of the families and children who have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina," ARS-WR Chair Angela Savoia siad. "We all know how burdened schools are these days, and we are glad to assist those that have taken in evacuee children; this is the most effective way to impact the lives of those who have lost everything." The Western Prelacy has designated the ARS as one of the agencies to offer Gulf Coast disaster relief donations. Tax-deductible donations may be sent, payable to the "ARS of Western USA," to: 517 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202-2812; the organization requests that donations be marked: "Hurricane Victims Fund." 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.