Month: February 2012

ISRAELI TOP DIPLOMAT OPPOSES RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
February 7, 2012 Tuesday

Israeli minister of foreign affairs Avigdor Liberman opposed
recognition of so-called Armenian genocide, AzerTAc said citing IzRus
information portal.

The minister stressed hardships that Jews suffered during the World
War II are incomparable with any people`s tragedy.

He stressed no country except for France has recognized officially
Armenian genocide, adding nowadays historic events become subject to
political disputes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRO-ARMENIAN SENATOR DISAPPOINTS ARMENIANS

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
February 7, 2012 Tuesday

Pessimist remarks of Jean-Claude Gaudin, the pro-Armenian Mayor of
Marseilles and head of the Union for a Popular Movement Party (UMP)
has seriously disappointed the Armenians.

This was confirmed also in the article titled Pessimism of Jean-Claude
Gaudin and rage of the Armenians published in the Armenian News
(Jan 6) daily in Paris.

The article says that the Armenians didnt believe in cancellation of
the bill by the Constitutional Council. But, the remarks Jean-Claude
Gaudin made in a meeting these days have gravely disappointed the
Armenians. Expressing his concern, Jean-Claude Gaudin sated that on
appeal of the Senators the Constitutional Council of France could
cancel the bill. He added that the Constitutional Council can cancel
not only the bill, but also the voting conducted in connection with
the so-called genocide of Armenians adopted in 2001. The Senator
expressed doubt in adoption of another bill in the case of annulment
of this one, and according to him, the Parliament has no time for this.

Jean-Claude Gaudin also condemned signing of the appeal to the
Constitutional Court by his Party members (18 Senators from UMP)
on cancellation of the said bill.

AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA SENTS HUNDREDS OF PROTEST LETTERS TO THE CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS

APA

Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku-APA. The Azerbaijani Diaspora in the US strongly opposed
California Assemblymen Fuentes, Gatto and Achadjian’s resolution to
designate February 27, 2012, as “California Day of Remembrance for
the Massacres of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku”

The Diaspora members have sent the hundreds of letters to the
California lawmakers, expressing their indignation over the draft
and called it “a real outrage, especially considering the date it
chooses to designate for remembrance”.

“It’s appalling that the California legislature will serve as a venue
to celebrate the killing of 30,000 Azerbaijani people by the Armenian
army, the ethnic cleansing of up to 800,000 Azeris that are unable to
return to their homes and live as refugees in their own country for
20 years now. This is a consequence of irredentist claims and campaign
of aggression by Armenia against Azerbaijan”, wrote the authors.

The Azeri Diaspora members also mention that the facts about the
Sumgait events of 1988 were distorted and obscured by the propaganda
and greater tragedies that followed, such as dozens of Azerbaijanis
massacred in Armenia throughout 1988, the terrible massacre of over 400
Azerbaijanis in Baku during the Black January of 1990, a genocidal act
of mutilating well over 600 Azerbaijanis during the Khojaly Massacre
in February 1992 – the largest massacre in the region to date. All
these tragedies caused considerable and irreparable damage to the
Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, and should be carefully examined,
with their masterminds brought to justice.

“The Sumgait tragedy, which killed people on all sides, should be
considered only in the larger historic context of the occupation
of NK and other Azerbaijani regions by the armed forces of Armenia,
displacement of over 800,000 Azerbaijanis, killing of a total of over
20,000 Azeris, and of course the gerrymandering of the Soviet Communist
regime with the lives of millions of people on their periphery”,
say the letters.

The authors also mention that Azerbaijan is a country with
well-recognized positive record of tolerance, where Jews and Christians
of all denominations, Shia and Sunni Muslims, Bahais and Agnostics,
have lived side by side for centuries. “Meanwhile, Armenia is a
mono-ethnic state that regularly jails Jehovah Witnesses”.

TURKEY WILL FURTHER SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN

Trend
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

Chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament Oqtay Asadov received a
delegation led by Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed
Forces Necdet Ozel on Wednesday, the press-service of the parliament
said.

The chairman noted at the meeting that during its independence
Azerbaijan has always felt support of Turkey.

He said the Azerbaijani people highly appreciate these relations and
will always support Turkey in all questions worrying it.

The both countries adhere to similar position in matters of principle,
he added.

Mr Asadov said before the discussion by the French Senate of the
issue related to the so-called “Armenian genocide” the Azerbaijani
Parliament sent a message to French senators.

“As a result of talks with the French senators during their visit
to Azerbaijani we became confident that the French Constitutional
Court will make an impartial and just decision in connection with
the so-called “Armenian genocide”, Mr Asadov said.

Mr Ozel said he is proud of the fact that he paid his first visit as
chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces to Azerbaijan.

Mr Ozel noted that at the meetings held during the visit he once again
witnessed inviolability of friendship between the two countries and
also noted Turkey will continue to support Azerbaijan in all issues.

First Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafet Esgerov,
head of the Parliament’s apparatus Safa Mirzayev, Turkish Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic and other official attended the meeting.

SENATOR: FRENCH CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL TO CANCEL LAW ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Trend
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

The French Constitutional Council will cancel the law envisaging a
criminal penalty for denying the “Armenian Genocide,” French Senator
Jean-Claude Gaudin said, tje Aksam newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Gaudin does not rule out that the council may cancel the law.

French senators who do not agree with the adoption of the law appealed
to the Constitutional Council on Jan. 31 with a request to cancel it.

On Jan 23, after an eight-hour debate, the senate adopted the bill.

Some 127 senators voted in favour, while 86 voted against.

The bill demands a year’s imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euro for
denying the so-called genocide.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of the Turkey
– Ottoman Empire had committed the 1915 genocide against the Armenians
living in Anadolu, and achieved recognition of the “Armenian Genocide”
by the parliaments of several countries.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT DISCUSSED AT NETHERLANDS DEFENSE ACADEMY

Trend
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani ambassador to the Netherlands Fuad Iskenderov met
with teachers and students of the Academy of National Defense, the
Azerbaijani embassy in the Netherlands told Trend.

In his remarks Iskenderov spoke about the prospects for cooperation
in security at the international and regional levels, and informed
about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, emphasizing
the destructive position of Armenia in the conflict resolution process.

The economic development of Azerbaijan, its role in regional and
international projects was also discussed.

After the meeting, the representative of the Defense Academy,
Lieutenant-Colonel Marcel de Haas expressed his appreciation to the
Azerbaijani diplomat for the meeting and the detailed information.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

AMBASSADOR: EU WANTS TO LAUNCH NEW IDEAS TO PROMOTE QUICKER SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

The European Union would like as a request of parties to
launch new ideas in order to promote quicker settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Head of the EU
Delegation to Azerbaijan, Ambassador Roland Kobia told journalists
on Wednesday.

“We of course support all objectives of the Minsk Group and we would
like also as a request of parties to launch new ideas in order to
promote quicker settlement of the conflict,” he said.

According to Kobia, these ideas are still being tested with the
government of Azerbaijan and with the government of Armenia, and they
will be disclosed soon.

“But first, we would like to have concrete development of these ideas.

But it is really to try to enhance people-to-people contact and to
generate confidence between the parties,” he added.

Kobia said the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Philippe Lefort visited Azerbaijan yesterday and had meetings with the
President, with the foreign minister, with the minister of justice,
minister of internal security and other actors.

“The main topics of the meetings were the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno
Karabakh conflict,” he said.

According to Kobia, as the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton
confirmed when she came to Azerbaijan a few months ago, the EU wants to
have more active role in helping the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijan
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

WITH THE VIEW OF ACCELERATING RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT, EUROPEAN UNION MAKES NEW PROPOSALS FOR ESTABLISHING CONFIDENCE BETWEEN THE SIDES

APA
Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

Ambassador Roland Kobia: “These ideas are being discussed with
Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership”

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. “The European Union is discussing
with Azerbaijani and Armenian officials new proposals on confidence
building measures aiming to accelerate the resolution of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict”, said Head of EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Roland
Kobia, APA reports. He reminded that EU High Commissioner Catherine
Ashton said in Azerbaijan that the EU would increase its efforts in
the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict: “We support and welcome
the efforts of the Minsk Group, but we want to propose new ideas
for achieving rapid resolution of the conflict, particularly for
establishing confidence between the conflicting parties.”

Kobia said that those ideas were being discussed with Azerbaijani and
Armenia leadership: “Of course we will announce these ideas. But we
intend to discuss it with the sides”.

On February 7, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus and
crisis in Georgia Philippe Lefort met with Azerbaijani President,
Foreign Minister and Justice Minister during his visit to Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

NEW BOOK PUBLISHED BY THE EUROPE AZERBAIJAN SOCIETY, ENTITLED THE ARMENIAN QUESTION IN THE CAUCASUS: RUSSIAN ARCHIVE DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS LAUNCHED IN LONDON

APA

Feb 8 2012
Azerbaijan

Professor Kerim Shukurov: All documents have been systematically
arranged for publication and, to date, we have gained access to
over 10, 000 pages, of which 2000 pages have been published in these
three volumes

Baku – APA. The roots of the ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh were outlined in the heart of London on 6 February 6
during the launch of a new book, published by The Europe Azerbaijan
Society (TEAS), entitled The Armenian Question in the Caucasus:
Russian Archive Documents and Publications. The event was attended by
H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK; H.E. Unal
Cevikoz, Turkish Ambassador to the UK and more than 70 journalists,
historians, students and friends of Azerbaijan.

These three authoritative volumes incorporate facsimile documents
from the Russian State Historical Archive, St. Petersburg, and the
Russian State Military History Archive, Moscow. These invaluable
historical documents, many of which are published for the first time,
chart the systematic migration of Armenians to the Caucasus and their
subsequent protection during the time of the Russian Empire.

During his speech at St. James’s Hotel and Club, Professor Kerim
Shukurov, who spearheaded the research, commented: “This is a key
resource, taken from the Russian archives. All documents have been
systematically arranged for publication and, to date, we have gained
access to over 10, 000 pages, of which 2000 pages have been published
in these three volumes. There is no exact definition of The Armenian
Question, but by collection the material and arranging it correctly,
Azerbaijan can seek to gain understanding of its position. Future
books will cover relations with Georgia and Armenia in the years
beyond 1914.”

He continued: “The Azerbaijani position on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is supported by the publication of these books, which prove
that Armenians were systematically relocated to the Caucasus during
the time of the Russian Empire.”

Lord Laird stated: “I recently discovered the South Caucasus area,
which has great future potential, particularly due to its expending
relations with Europe. The Armenian Question does not try to
rewrite history – it is a serious work of archive research. It is
very important to ensure that the Azerbaijani case is understood,
and these books assist with achieving this.”

Professor Tadeusz Swietochowski, Monmouth University, USA, then
contextualized the importance of these books, saying: “These
books contain important, overwhelming details. During the late 19th
century, Azerbaijan’s international position changed, due to the oil
revolution. Baku became a cosmopolitan, urbanized hub of intellectual
development, with a booming economy. It was also the center of the
press in the Turkic world. However, the Armenian aggression of 1905-06
changed this situation, and this is charted in these books.”

From: Baghdasarian

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : LA TURQUIE N’ACCEPTERA JAMAIS D’ETRE TAXEE DE “NEGATIONNISTE”

Le Nouvel Observateur

8 fev 2012
France

A la fin du mois de janvier, le debat fut vif entre partisans et
opposants d’une loi francaise penalisant la negation du genocide
armenien. “Le Nouvel Observateur” a couvert le sujet a travers de
nombreux articles, dont un que le porte-parole de l’ambassadeur de
Turquie en France, Engin Solakoglu, souhaite commenter.

La raison pour laquelle j’ai senti le besoin d’ecrire cette tribune est
l’article signe par Laure Marchand paru dans “Le Nouvel Observateur” au
debut du mois de fevrier et egalement publie sur le site internet. Je
voudrais repondre une a une aux allegations qu’il contient, a commencer
par son titre : “Genocide armenien : un tabou qui se fissure”.

Quelques bases historiques…

Il est vrai que la question armenienne a longtemps ete un tabou en
Turquie. Mais elle etait loin d’etre le seul sujet mis a part. Tout
un passe pre-republicain a fait l’objet d’une amnesie totale et cela
pour une bonne raison : il fallait oublier les tragedies vecues par
tous les peuples du pourtour anatolien y compris par les Turcs pour
pouvoir construire un avenir denue d’inimitie et d’esprit de vengeance.

C’etait le choix reflechi d’Ataturk qui voulait bâtir une nouvelle
nation, en ligne avec la definition de Renan, a partir des debris
d’un empire annihile non seulement a cause de son ineptie de gerer
plusieurs peuples d’une manière juste et equitable mais aussi de
l’ingerence des autres empires coloniaux qui n’ont jamais rate une
seule occasion de “diviser pour mieux regner” en attisant les haines
entre les peuples de la region.

Un des aspects inconnus de ce sujet en France est que la population de
la Turquie en 1923 etait seulement de 9,5 millions, dont 4 millions
etaient des immigres turcs et/ou Musulmans des Balkans, de la Grèce
et du Caucase, tous rescapes des massacres perpetues contre ces
populations qui vivaient dans ces contrees depuis plus de 4 siècles.

Il etait important pour le nouveau regime turc de faire oublier le
passe, de ne pas attiser une nostalgie paralysante ou un irredentisme
destructeur qui auraient des effets nefastes pour la reconstruction
d’un pays devaste par des guerres successives de 1911 a 1922.

“Negationnisme” : une simplification erronee et trompeuse

Après avoir donne ces details historiques meconnus ou inconnus en
France, je peux dire avec le c~ur net en tant que diplomate mais
aussi intellectuel turc que la Turquie n’acceptera jamais cette
qualification de “negationniste”, qui ne constitue a nos yeux qu’un
raccourci intellectuel et une simplification erronee et trompeuse. Le
fait que la presse et la classe intellectuelle francaises la repètent
sans cesse jusqu’a l’eternite ne changera rien a notre vision et a
notre perception de notre histoire.

Il va sans dire que notre attitude ne consistera jamais non plus a
nier ou a minimiser les enormes souffrances du peuple armenien ni
leur douleur d’avoir perdu une grande partie de leur patrie ancestrale.

Nous les considèrerons toujours comme des victimes des visees
imperialistes de puissances etrangères qui ont essaye d’utiliser le
sang des Armeniens pour partager plus facilement l’empire mourant des
Ottomans. Soyons clair et net ; personne en Turquie n’osera dementir
le fait qu’en 1914, 1 million d’Armeniens vivaient sur les terres
anatoliennes et qu’il n’en reste actuellement en Turquie que 60.000.

Cela va de meme pour les 1,5 millions de Grecs d’Anatolie en 1920.

Toutefois, essayons aussi de voir la face noire de la lune : en 1910,
Salonique etait une ville majoritairement peuplee de Turcs musulmans
et juifs. Elle etait connue comme etant la plus grande ville juive en
Europe. Combien en reste t-il aujourd’hui ? En 1900, il existait plus
de 100.000 Turcs en Crète. Où sont-ils maintenant ? Qui se souvient
d’eux aujourd’hui a Paris ? Combien d’articles sur leur sort ont paru
au Nouvel Observateur ? Quel correspondant d’un journal francais base
a Athènes a eu l’idee d’aller chercher les traces des Turcs de Crète
ou de Rhodes ? Qui ose parler d’un million d’Azeris qui ont dû quitter
leurs terres a cause de l’occupation et du nettoyage ethnique de la
Republique d’Armenie ? Les millions de Circassiens chasses de leurs
terres ancestrales a partir de 1829 par l’Empire russe, des centaines
de milliers massacres par les Cosaques ou laisses pour mort dans les
eaux froides de la Mer Noire ont fait l’objet de combien d’articles
ou d’emissions televisees en France ?

Tout cela pour dire que l’histoire de l’Humanite est aussi l’histoire
des tragedies humaines. Il est errone et injuste de faire un choix
entre les differentes tragedies vecues plus ou moins a la meme periode
et aux environs d’Anatolie. A partir du moment où on commence a
privilegier le drame d’un peuple a l’insu des autres, inevitablement
la question des “critères” s’impose. Pourquoi les souffrances des
Armeniens seraient-elles plus importantes que celles des Turcs ou
des Circassiens ? Aurons-nous le courage necessaire pour apporter
une reponse honnete a cette question ?

La question du “syndrome de Sèvres”

Pour revenir a l’article de Mme Marchand, il faut peut-etre parler
aussi de ce fameux “syndrome de Sèvres” (tire du nom de la ville où
fut signe en 1920 le traite de paix impose par les pays occidentaux
victorieux, qui morcelait l’Empire ottoman, ndlr), qu’une partie des
intellectuels turcs neo-liberaux aiment bien mentionner chaque fois
qu’il y a une discussion sur l’histoire de la Turquie.

Qualifier d’un “syndrome” ou d’une “paranoïa” les sentiments d’un
peuple par rapport a un traite signe en 1920 ; quand l’Empire Ottoman
etait mis a genoux, que sa capitale et une bonne partie de ses
territoires etaient militairement occupees par la France, la Grande
Bretagne, l’Italie et la Grèce, qui divisait d’une manière ehontee la
Thrace et l’Anatolie peuplees majoritairement par les turcs musulmans
en zone d’occupation, d’influence et des etats independants ; va bien
au-dela des limites de la raison et d’honnetete.

Le peuple turc et les cadres qui ont fonde la Republique turque n’ont
jamais oublie les cuirasses francais ou anglais defilant au Bosphore,
leurs canons diriges vers eux. Ils n’ont aucun complexe pour ne pas
avoir oublie egalement l’entree “triomphale” du Marechal Franchet
d’Esperay a Istanbul sur un cheval blanc, en faisant allusion a
celle du Mehmet le Conquerant en 1453 sous l’acclamation delirante
des sujets ottomans d’origine grecque et armenienne.

Le Traite de Sèvres etait l’edit de mort du peuple turc et il a ete
envoye aux oubliettes de l’histoire par le combat et les sacrifices de
ce meme peuple. Une lutte qui merite le respect au moins autant que la
lutte des resistants francais a la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Neanmoins,
nous serions prets a l’oublier volontiers si les autres n’avaient pas
insiste pour le rappeler regulièrement a diverses occasions depuis
la fondation de la Republique turque.

Le “peche originel” turc n’existe pas

Je terminerai cette tribune par quelques remarques sur “le peche
originel” que Mme Marchand mentionne dans son article, tout en etant
sûrement très heureuse d’avoir trouve une qualification intelligible
pour les Francais et suffisamment offensante pour les Turcs. Vous
savez aussi bien que moi que “le peche originel” n’existe pas dans
notre culture.

Il n’est pas question pour les Turcs de se sentir coupable ni
pour etre ne, ni pour avoir defendu leur patrie, et encore moins
pour avoir reussi a survivre au Traite de Sèvres. Il est clair que
cette qualification particulièrement blessante ne rend pas honneur
a son auteur.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress