Month: February 2015

ARMIN WEGNER, WRITER, POET AND EYEWITNESS TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

February 24, 2015

Intellectual, Doctor in Law, Photographer, Writer, Poet, Civil Rights
Defender, Eyewitness to the Armenian Genocide

Armin Theophil Wegner (1886-1978)

Armin T. Wegner, whose photographic collection documents conditions
in Armenian deportation camps in 1915-1916, was born in Germany
in 1886. At the outbreak of World War I, he enrolled as a volunteer
nurse in Poland during the winter of 1914-1915, and was decorated with
the Iron Cross for assisting the wounded under fire. In April 1915,
following the military alliance of Germany and Turkey, he was sent
to the Middle East as a member of the German Sanitary Corps. Between
July and August, he used his leave to investigate the rumors about
the Armenian massacres that had reached him from several sources. In
the autumn of the same year, with the rank of second-lieutenant in
the retinue of Field Marshal Von der Goltz, commander of the 6th
Ottoman army in Turkey, he traveled through Asia Minor.

Eluding the strict orders of the Turkish and German authorities
(intended to prevent the spread of news, information, correspondence,
visual evidence), Wegner collected notes, annotations, documents,
letters and took hundreds of photographs in the Armenian deportation
camps. With the help of foreign consulates and embassies of other
countries, he was able to send some of this material to Germany and the
United States. His clandestine mail routes were discovered and Wegner
was arrested by the Germans at the request of the Turkish Command-and
was put to serve in the cholera wards. Having fallen seriously ill,
he left Baghdad for Constantinople in November 1916.

Hidden in his belt were his photographic plates and those of other
German officers with images of the Armenian Genocide to which he
had been a witness. In December of the same year he was recalled
to Germany.

Wegner was deeply moved by the tragedy of the Armenian people to which
he had been eyewitness in Ottoman Turkey. Between 1918 and 1921,
he became an active member of pacifist and anti-military movements
while dedicating his literary and poetic output to the search for
the truth about himself and his fellow man. On February 23, 1919,
Wegner’s “Open Letter to President Wilson” appealing for the creation
of an independent Armenian state was published in Berliner Tageblatt.

A man of conscience who protested his country’s responsibilities in
the Armenian Genocide, Wegner was also one of the earliest voices to
protest Hitler’s treatment of the Jews in Germany. He dedicated a great
part of his life to the fight for Armenian and Jewish human rights.

In 1968 he received an invitation to Armenia from the Catholicos
of All Armenians and was awarded with the Order of Saint Gregory
the Illuminator.

Armin Wegner died in Rome at the age of 92 on May 17, 1978.

Wegner served as a witness during the trial of Soghomon Tehlirian, who
had assassinated the Ottoman leader, Talaat Pasha, in Berlin in 1921.

GERMAN WRITER TO PUBLISH BOOK ABOUT GERMANY’S ROLE IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

February 24, 2015

Jurgen Gottschlich, a foreign correspondent for German newspaper Die
Tageszeitung in Istanbul, will soon publish the “Genocide complicity:
Germany’s role in the Armenian Genocide” book, News.am reports citing
Nouvelles d’Armenie.

100 years after the atrocities committed against the Armenians
Gottschield accuses Germany of its involvement in the genocide.

According to him, German officers and diplomats were well aware
of Armenians’ massacres and deportations in Ottoman Turkey. The
journalist criticizes Germany for not even referring to its role in
the Armenian slaughter.

Gottschield visited and interviewed the survivors’ descendants,
as well as studied the German and Turkish archives.

As a result, the documentary historical book appeared that
multilaterally examines Germany’s participation in the Armenian
Genocide, as well as the controversy concerning this issue.

IRWF TO PAY TRIBUTE TO ARMENIANS WHO REACHED-OUT TO THE VICTIMS OF HOLOCAUST

February 24, 2015 13:58

Eduardo Eurnekian and former Swedish FM Carl Bildt.

Photo:

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The Board of the International Raoul Wallenberg
Foundation (IRWF) has decided to create a Memorial Plaque to pay
tribute to the brave Armenian women and men who reached-out to the
victims of Holocaust.

To date, 24 Armenians have been officially recognized as Righteous
among the Nations, but many more stories are waiting to be revealed.

Researchers from the IRWF are collecting and evaluating information
regarding additional Armenian rescuers, whose feats have not been
hitherto properly documented.

In a special statement, Eduardo Eurnekian, Chairman of the
International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has elaborated further:

“Despite the small size of the Armenian nation, the share of Armenian
rescuers is remarkable, exemplifying the spirit of solidarity of this
ancient people. The Wallenberg Foundation is proud to have embarked
in a two-pronged quest to unveil unknown cases of rescue protagonized
by Armenians and paying tribute to those who have been recognized and
those who are still awaiting recognition. The decision of the IRWF to
create a specially designed Memorial Plaque is our way to recognize
their courageous deeds and say thanks to these heroes”.

The commemorative plaques will be affixed in major cities of the world.

The Armenian Association of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, which headquarters are
adjacent to the St. Nicholas Monastery will be the first house to
host the commemorative plaque.

NIKOL PASHINYAN DEMANDS THAT NKR AUTHORITIES SHOULD PUNISH THE POLICEMEN WHO BEAT FOUNDING PARLIAMENT’S MEMBERS

by Ashot Safaryan

Tuesday, February 24, 21:05

Armenian MP Nikol Pashinyan demands that the NKR authorities should
punish the policemen who beat Founding Parliament’s members in Berdzor
on Jan 31.

In his today’s speech at the Armenian Parliament, Pashinyan said
that the Berdzor events questioned the legitimacy of the numerous
statements of Armenian delegations to international structures,
who said that the NKR has statehood, law and democracy.

“On Feb 6, the Armenian parliamentary delegation visited Stepanakert
to discuss the issue of liquidation of the Berdzor incident
consequences. During the debates with the NKR authorities, my
stand was unambiguous – those who organized and applied violence
against the motor rally participants should be brought to criminal
responsibility in line with the NKR legislation and the high-ranking
officials of the police should be dismissed. This stand was clear to
Artsakh. However, it is more than strange that no criminal case has
even been instituted”, said Pashinyan.

Pashinyan believes that the only way to liquidate the incident
consequences is to punish the culprits; otherwise, the events in
Berdzor undermine the statehood and the image of the NKR.

To remind, on Jan 31 the representatives of the Founding Parliament,
including the Artsakh War veteran Zhirayr Sefilyan, were severely
beaten by the NKR police on their way to Artsakh near Berdzor. The NKR
police were trying to hinder the motor rally within the frames of the
“Centennial Without Regime” movement, which seeks to shift the power
in Armenia on the threshold of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.

The movement members say that most of the policemen were wearing
civilian clothes. The police were taking the motor rally participants
out of the cars and beating them with batons. Many activists were
taken to Stepanakert hospital.

AZERBAIJAN ALSO HOLDS ARMENIAN CIVILIANS AS CAPTIVES – NGO PRESIDENT

16:04 * 23.02.15

The president of an Armenian NGO of missing Karabakh war veterans on
Monday shared her expectations of a Government decision to declare
June 29 Day of the Disappeared.

Rima Arakelyan, who is also a member of a commission tasked with
arranging the return of captives, hostages and missing people,
complained particularly about the impossibility of having meetings or
maintaining a direct contact with Azerbaijan over handover procedures.

She said that Azerbaijan holds not only Armenian prisoners of war
but also civilians as captive.

“We are not able to find common language with Azerbaijan. We have
demonstrated good will, yet it isn’t possible to work with them.

That’s their policy and diplomacy that has been continuing ever since
the war period,” Arakelyan noted.

She added that the commission works to the best of its efforts to
manage the return. “We collaborate with the Red Cross, which operates
a similar office also in Azerbaijan and appears to be the only mediator
between us,” she said.

Samara Grigoryan, a parent of a missing Karbakh freedom fighter also
attending the news conference, said they are still hopeful that the
Government will spare no effort to return their sons.

“There are both captive and people who have disappeared or died,
but we hope that at least one of them will return. No mother thinks
that her son has died. We work with consolidated efforts to return
everybody. And our Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan is doing
everything possible to bring back at least someone,” she added.

94 OF 1,000 ARMENIANS MISSING IN KARABAKH WAR WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE?

14:13, 23.02.2015

YEREVAN. – The number of missing Armenian freedom fighters during the
Karabakh War reaches 1,000, there are data about 94 of them possibly
being taken captives, and efforts are underway to have them returned.

The member of the working group of Armenia’s Commission on Prisoners
of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, Rima Arakelyan, told the
aforementioned to reporters. She added, however, that the similar
commission which functions in Azerbaijan displays no will towards
collaborating with the Armenian side.

“There are no precise data on these 94 [people]. We are still unable to
find common ground with Azerbaijan in any way,” Arakelyan specifically
noted.

In her words, the International Committee of Red Cross therefore
remains the only mediator for the return of these captives.

“The Red Cross has pledged to help; we hope that it helps. But they
are not bringing [the pledges] to complete fruition; they are doing
nothing,” Rima Arakelyan concluded.

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL: ARMENIA CORRUPTION AT STANDSTILL

11:55, 24.02.2015

YEREVAN. – Corruption is at a stagnation phase in Armenia.

The Executive Director of Transparency International Anti-corruption
Center NGO of Armenia, Varuzhan Hoktanyan, stated the aforesaid at
a press conference on Tuesday

He recalled that in accordance with last year’s data, the Corruption
Perceptions Index in Armenia is 36, which means the situation in the
country is similar to that in highly corrupt countries.

“Let’s not forget that this refers not solely to bribery, but backing,
[and] misuse of official position,” Hoktanyan said. “There are three
reasons why corruption is in this state in our country: Business
and politics have interwoven, monopolization is widespread, and the
branches of power are not free.”

To note, Armenia is above Azerbaijan and Iran, but below Georgia in
the Corruption Perceptions Index.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY PAYS $1 MILLION TO EGYPT FOR ERASING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TRACES

00:04, 24.02.2015

The Turkish authorities had paid $1 million to the Muslim Brotherhood
of Egypt for the eradication of the documents in the country, and
which attest to the Armenian Genocide.

At the Egyptian Cabinet meeting, Democratic Jihad Party Founder
Sheikh Nabil Na’eem stated that Turkey had given over $1 million to
Egypt to destroy the documents pertaining to the Armenian Genocide,
Demokrathaber website of Turkey reported citing the Veto newspaper
of Egypt. He also accused several Muslim Brotherhood members of
eradicating these documents.

The Egyptian newspaper noted that the Armenian Genocide-related
documents, which the Muslim Brotherhood had burned, would have put
Turkey in a difficult situation at international courts.

Nabil Na’eem also insisted that Egypt should punish Turkey for the
riddance of these documents.

EX-PRIME MINISTER: AMID STATEMENTS ON SME DEVELOPMENT, DECISION TO REDUCE NUMBER OF BANKS IN ARMENIA IS SHEER MOCKERY

by Ashot Safaryan

Tuesday, February 24, 21:02

At today’s session of the Armenian Parliament, MP from the Armenian
National Congress faction, ex-Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan strongly
criticized the policy of the Armenian Central Bank, which made a
decision on Dec 30 2014 to tighten the minimum total capital standard
for commercial banks to 30 bln AMD (versus the current 5 bln AMD)
starting from 1 Jan 2017. Bagratyan believes that the CB’s steps
hinder the SME development.

“In Russia one needs 4 mln USD to open a bank, in Armenia one needs
60 mln USD. How is it possible to develop small business?! The CB
intentionally hinders the opening of small banks. If the lending rises,
increase the capital. Why should you make the banks leave the market
and why should you leave hundreds of people without a job?!” he said.

He said that the CB’s decision has already affected the economic
growth rates in January and these rates promise nothing good.

To recall, January had economic decline not only in 2015, but also
in the previous years.

To note, starting January 1 2017, a new standard of minimal total
capital – 30 billion drams versus current 5 billion drams – will be
introduced in the banking system of Armenia. The Central Bank Council
made the given amendment to the provision 2 of the Law “On Regulation
of the activity of banks and basic economic standards of the banking
activity” on 30 December 2014. The amendment will apply to all the
participants in the banking system of Armenia. The banks have enough
time to meet the new requirements. This tightening will lead to merger
of banks and bigger actors will emerge in the banking sector, which,
in turn, will ensure a higher quality and more accessible banking
services and health- competition. In addition, the banking sector
will become more efficient and stable. Favorable environment will be
created for introduction of new technologies and products, which will
help involving Armenian banks into the international equity market
and creating a basis for further enhancement of cooperation. The banks
will become more flexible and resistant to economic shocks. This will
promote also financial mediation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN, YAZIDI COMMUNITIES OF CANADA TO HOLD JOINT EVENTS COMMEMORATING GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL

22:47, 24 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Armenian Ambassador to Canada Armen Yeganian had a meeting with Mirza
Ismail, the Head of the Yazidi community of Canada.

Issues related to the further development of cooperation between
the Armenian and Yazidi national structures, and the organization
of joint events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide were discussed.

Ambassador Yeganian hailed the centuries-long friendship between
the two peoples and praised the contribution of the Yazidis to the
development of Armenian statehood. He said the Yazidi community has
always enjoyed the special attitude of the Armenian government.

The parties expressed concern over the atrocities against the
Yazidis in the north of Iraq and emphasized the importance of larger
involvement of the international community in the protection of the
rights of the Yazidi people.

The interlocutors agreed that the crimes against the Yazidi, Christian
and other ethnic or religious minorities in the Middle East should be
properly assessed by international structures and the guilty should
be held accountable, since impunity results in new crimes.