ASBAREZ Online [03-15-2006]

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03/15/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Photos of Demolished Armenian Cemetery in Nakhichevan Published 2) Andrew Goldberg to Discuss His Genocide Documentary on KFI Radio 3) Anniversary of Talaat Pasha's Death Marked in Yerevan 4) State Dept. Again Refuses to Directly Comment on Reports of Amb. Evans' Recall 5) Turks in France to Protest Genocide Monument in Lyon 1) Photos of Demolished Armenian Cemetery in Nakhichevan Published (PanArmenian/A1Plus)--The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) circulated photos of the former Armenian cemetery in Julfa, Nakhichevan, which shows that it has been completely demolished by Azerbaijan. According to a statement released by the MFA, "By 2005 only 3500 out of 10,000 Armenian khatchkars remained standing in Old Julfa. These 3500 monuments were demolished by Azeri soldiers." After fully eliminating the remnants of the khatchkars (cross-stones) and removing them from the cemetery, several eyewitnesses have reported that Azeri soldiers began using the cemetery as a military shooting range. 2) Andrew Goldberg to Discuss His Genocide Documentary on KFI Radio --ArmeniaTV announces it too will broadcast documentary LOS ANGELES--KFI 640 AM, the largest talk radio station in the country, has invited director/producer Andrew Goldberg to discuss issues surrounding his upcoming PBS documentary [The Armenian Genocide] with John Ziegler. Goldberg will appear for a 45 minute segment on the John Ziegler show, which airs every weeknight from 7:00 PM-10:00 PM, on Thursday, March 16. According to KFI, their decision to invite Andrew Goldberg on the air was due to the many recent high-profile issues surrounding the film, and most recently an article in the Los Angeles Times. According to the KFI producer "Free speech issues are the bread and butter of our show, so naturally this issue is something we're looking forward to exploring in depth." [The Armenian Genocide] is the story of the first Genocide of the 20th century--when over a million Armenians died at the hands of the Ottoman Turks during World War I. This unprecedented and powerful one-hour documentary, airing April 17th on PBS was written, directed and produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Andrew Goldberg of Two Cats Productions, in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting. In an "act of solidarity," Armenia's largest television broadcaster, Armenia TV, announced that it will be airing Goldberg's documentary in exactly the same time slot and date as the PBS broadcast in the US. Two Cats Productions, which produced the film, has waived all costs and donated all broadcast rights for the film to Armenia TV. Canadian Broadcaster TV Ontario has also acquired the rights to the film and stated they too will be showing the film in April. "That so many millions of people across the world will be seeing the film in April, and that so many will do so at the same time as the PBS Broadcast, really affirms for us that we did the job we set out to do. Our goal was clear, we wanted to tell the story of the actual events of the Genocide and to make clear on national, and now international television, that this event was Genocide, and cannot be denied," said Goldberg. 3) Anniversary of Talaat Pasha's Death Marked in Yerevan YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--The anniversary of the assassination of Armenian genocide perpetrator Talaat Pasha was marked by over 200 people Wednesday at the unveiling of a Soghomon Tehlirian monument in Yerevan. ARF Supreme Body of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian was present at the ceremony and said, "This event that happened 85 years ago had a great impact on the fate of the Armenian nation. Tehlirian's example has been educating our present and future generations." Rustamian went on to explain the importance of the day and underlined the efficiency of the plan "Nemesis," named after the Greek Goddess of vengeance, meant to punish the main organizers of the Armenian genocide. On March 15, 1921, one of the main perpetrators of the Armenian genocide, Talaat Pasha, was gunned down in Berlin by then 24 year old student Soghomon Tehlirian. A Berlin court later acquitted Tehlirian and posthumously convicted Talaat. "Punishing a genocide perpetrator is never a crime," Rustamian said, adding that Turkey should realize this. Rustamian noted that "the demand of the Armenians was fair" and the trial held in Germany proved that. Rustamian also noted that along with Talaat, other organizers of the genocide, Enver and Jemal, were also assassinated following the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's decision to carry out the "Nemesis" operation. 4) State Dept. Again Refuses to Directly Comment on Reports of Amb. Evans' Recall WASHINGTON, DC--For the fourth time in the last week, the State Department's official spokesperson has failed to directly respond to questions raised by journalists during the Department's daily press briefing about reports that the US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, has been recalled due to his truthful statements about the Armenian genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). "It's certainly disappointing seeing State Department officials hiding behind their spokesperson to avoid directly answering questions about whether Ambassador Evans is being recalled because he had the courage to stand up against what effectively amounts to a 'gag-rule' preventing our nation's diplomats from speaking truthfully about the Armenian genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, in a March 8 letter to Secretary Rice, wrote that, "If, in fact, the State Department has taken punitive steps against Ambassador Evans, you should fully and openly explain your policies and actions to the American people. If, on the other hand, the Department has not taken any such steps, you owe it to the American people to affirm that it is not the policy of the United States of America to punish its diplomats for speaking the truth about the Armenian genocide." Questions concerning Ambassador Evans were raised on March 8 and 10 and again on March 13 and 14. Each time journalists asked for official comments about Ambassador Evans' reported recall. Reflecting the growing frustration among journalists over the lack of a clear response to their inquiries, a member of the State Department press corps publicly described the answers provided by the official spokesperson as "a bit of a dodge." The growing controversy surrounding reports of Ambassador Evans' recall has resulted in separate letters being sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus, as well as formal Congressional inquiries by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Grace Napolitano (D-CA). Speaking last year to an Armenian American gathering at the University of California at Berkeley, Ambassador Evans said, "I will today call it the Armenian genocide. . . I informed myself in depth about it. I think we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of discussing this problem. Today, as someone who has studied it~E there's no doubt in my mind [as to] what happened. I think it is unbecoming of us, as Americans, to play word games here. I believe in calling things by their name." Referring to the Armenian genocide as "the first genocide of the 20th century," he said: "I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at addressing this issue." Evans also disclosed that he had consulted with a legal advisor at the State Department who had confirmed that the events of 1915 were "genocide by definition." Within days of his remarks, Ambassador Evans was apparently forced to issue a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian genocide were his personal views and did not represent a change in US policy. He subsequently issued a correction to this statement, replacing a reference to the Genocide with the word "tragedy." Later last year, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), in recognition of his honesty and commitment to principle, decided to honor Ambassador Evans with the "Christian A. Herter Award," recognizing creative thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service. AFSA states, "The purpose of the [award] is to encourage Foreign Service career employees to speak out frankly and honestly." Sadly, as Washington Post staff writer Glenn Kessler revealed on June 9, AFSA withdrew its award following pressure from "very serious people from the State Department" just days before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Washington, DC to meet with President George W. Bush. The full text of the four exchanges are provided below: 1. MARCH 8, 2006 ­ DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (WASHINGTON, DC) SEAN MCCORMACK, SPOKESMAN QUESTION: [. . .] Why did you recall your Ambassador to Armenia, Mr. John Evans? Are you going to replace him? MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not aware that we have recalled anybody -- our Ambassador to Armenia. QUESTION: Not in Germany, in Armenia. MR. MCCORMACK: What's that? I'm not aware that - I believe that he's still serving as Ambassador in Armenia. 2. MARCH 10, 2006 ­ DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (WASHINGTON, DC) TOM CASEY, ACTING SPOKESMAN QUESTION: Is the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia having his time there cut short, maybe his career? A couple of Congressmen have asked Secretary Rice about it and apparently have not gotten an answer. He's supposed to have suggested that Armenians were the victims of genocide, which doesn't happen to be Bush Administration policy. MR. CASEY: I think Sean addressed this a couple of days ago. QUESTION: I think it's been brought up -- further up to date. If you could -- MR. CASEY: I don't have anything beyond what he said on it. I'll look into it for you and see if there's any changes in -- QUESTION: He said that ambassadors serve at the privilege of the President MR. CASEY: Yeah. And as far as I know, he's . . . still ambassador. I'm not aware that anything's changed that situation. QUESTION: You can't -- well, all right, if you don't have anything further. (Inaudible.) MR. CASEY: I think, Barry, I will -- yeah, I'll look into it for you. I haven't gotten an update on it, but I'll try and see if there's something and we'll post an answer for you. QUESTION: And also if somebody ghosted an answer from the Secretary to Mr. Schiff and the other Congressmen. MR. CASEY: Okay. I'll let you know. Let's go back here. Oh, to you guys first and then we'll come over to this side. 3. MARCH 13, 2006 ­ DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (WASHINGTON, DC) TOM CASEY, ACTING SPOKESMAN QUESTION: Is the Ambassador of Armenia being -- having his career shortened because he spoke out against genocide in Armenia? MR. CASEY: Barry, I know we promised you an answer on that one on Friday. Still don't have it and I'll get something for you this afternoon. QUESTION: You mean his future hasn't been decided yet? MR. CASEY: Not that I'm aware of. QUESTION: I think it has. MR. CASEY: I believe you think it does. QUESTION: No, I do believe it does and so do -- and I have reason to believe it does and I know there are at least two members of Congress who believe it does. No, I just think the State Department is having difficulty finding words to announce his premature retirement. MR. CASEY: No. We owe you an answer on that. QUESTION: Thank you. MR. CASEY: I'll get it for you. Yes, Saul. [. . .] QUESTION: And one on Armenia. Representative Frank Pallone in a strong statement expressed his extreme disappointment with regards of the Department of State decision to rid finally Ambassador John Evans from Armenia as a retaliation for statements he made in recognition of the Armenian genocide in Los Angeles by Ottoman Turks. And it was reported that already you have decided to replace him. Could you please clarify for us what is going on exactly this particular moment of this issue? MR. CASEY: That was the question Barry asked. We owe you an answer and we'll get you one. QUESTION: Is the same answer. MR. CASEY: Yeah. It's the same issue; it will be the same answer. QUESTION: Is there an ambassador on post in Armenia right now? MR. CASEY: Yes, there is. QUESTION: Is his name Evans? MR. CASEY: Yes, it is. QUESTION: Does he have suitcase packed? MR. CASEY: Not that I'm aware of. QUESTION: But when you do announce this, would you kindly tell us the difference between what happened and genocide? MR. CASEY: I think -- QUESTION: Because U.S. policy is there was no genocide. MR. CASEY: Our policy on this issue is well known. It was reported in a presidential statement and, yeah, I don't have anything to add to it. 4. MARCH 14, 2006 ­ DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (WASHINGTON, DC) ADAM ERELI, SPOKESMAN QUESTION: Mr. Ereli, on the DOS [Department of State] Web site, regarding yesterday's taken question about U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans' status, you have put quote, "genocide," unquote, in quotes. I'm wondering why, if you can say so. MR. ERELI: I think because it was referring to remarks that somebody made. QUESTION: Do you know whether John Evans was recalled or whether he's been recalled due to his speech on Armenian genocide? MR. ERELI: I think the question was answered in the - that was answered in the question posted. QUESTION: Should DOS [Department of State] employees have been advised not to use the term, quote, "genocide," unquote, when discussing the extermination of the (inaudible)? MR. ERELI: No, I think our guidance on that is the same. And we posted that guidance last week. QUESTION: Is it not true that Mr. Evans' 35-year diplomatic career will be shortened because of the remarks he made, saying that ... genocide? MR. ERELI: I think the question was answered in the - that was answered in the question posted. QUESTION: Had DOS [Department of State] employees been advised not to use the term, quote, "genocide," unquote, when discussing the extermination of the 1 ­1/2 million . . . MR. ERELI: No, I think our guidance on that is the same. And we posted that guidance last week. QUESTION: Is it not true that Mr. Evans' 35-year diplomatic career will be shortened because of the remarks he made, saying that Armenians were the victims of genocide, since the U.S. government or the State Department doesn't believe what happened was genocide? It doesn't fit the definition of genocide? MR. ERELI: I really don't have anything more to add to what we posted. QUESTION: Well, what you posted yesterday was a bit of a dodge. MR. ERELI: No. I think it's the situation as it is. (CROSSTALK) QUESTION: There is very strong reason to believe, in Congress and elsewhere, that this man is going to lose out; he's going to be brought home early because of what he said. MR. ERELI: Look, I'd like to be able to -- Ambassador Evans is our ambassador and he continues to exercise that honor and privilege. And he takes it seriously; we take it seriously. And I really don't have any more to add to that. 5) Turks in France to Protest Genocide Monument in Lyon (Zaman)--Several Turkish organizations in France have organized a protest on March 18 against the construction of an Armenian genocide monument in Lyon, France. After two years of political debate, construction of the monument has begun despite Turkish attempts to stop it. The Council of Turkish Culture Associations in Rhone-Alpes resorted to the French courts to stop the monument, but did not succeed. Turkish organizations are also angered that the French built a Komitas genocide memorial in Paris in 2001, but have not found an appropriate place to build a statue of Ataturk despite Turkey's efforts for years. The Armenian genocide monument in Lyon will be located in the heart of the city's historical center. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. 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