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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

March 29, 2005
___________________

EASTER A TIME OF JOY AND HOPE

By Jake Goshert

“Hope” is one of the greatest gifts available each Easter. And this
Easter, it could be found throughout New York City’s St. Vartan
Cathedral, as 2,000 people packed the pews, joined in prayer, and
stepped forward to take communion.

There was hope in the eyes of new parents, flanked by their young
children decked out in frilly dresses and pint-sized suits. Hope was in
the on faces of old and young, as worshippers joined in singing the Hayr
Mer.

Hope abounded as the faithful filled the plaza to watch Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), and others release 12 doves, symbolizing the 12
apostles being sent by Jesus to spread His gospel.

The same hope — a deep and unbending faith in a life to come — in the
past saw Armenians through their darkest hours. By choosing to die to
offer us hope of everlasting love, Jesus affirmed that He would be next
to all those who faced death.

“This is a powerful thought for us this year — 90 years after the
Armenian Genocide of 1915,” the Primate said in his message to the
packed Cathedral. “Our ancestors living in Ottoman Turkey were
captives, awaiting death at the hands of an unjust power. For the most
part, we do not know how they viewed their final hours — although
nearly every Armenian has a story of some lost family member who met his
or her fate with a kind of bravery we can hardly imagine today.”

But hope can be found, the Primate said, in the fact that throughout all
the devastation and death that has haunted Armenians for generations,
and all the pain that will befall us individually, Christ has been there
and will be there beside us.

“What we recognize today, on Easter Sunday, as we contemplate this
sorrowful anniversary, is this: That the losses we have endured as a
people, the scars we still bear today, Christ has borne before us. He
bore them in anticipation of our own suffering. He bore them out of His
love for us, to show He abides with us, in triumph as well as tragedy,”
the Primate added. “He bore them, above all, to assure us that
affliction is not the End. Our hope — the hope of Easter — is that a
day will come when we are made new again: made whole in our bodies and
spirits, and re-united with those we have lost along the way.”

RELEASING THE DOVES

After the inspiring Divine Liturgy — celebrated by the Primate and sung
by the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir under the direction of Maestro Khoren
Mekanejian with Florence Avakian on the organ — worshippers filled the
cathedral plaza for the traditional release of doves ceremony. Barbara
Lorincie served as “godmother.”

“Though she now lives in California, her heart is always with us,” the
Primate said of Mrs. Lorincie. “She has done so many good deeds for the
Armenian people, especially for the children of Armenia through the Fund
for Armenian Relief.”

The faithful were also invited to a reception in Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium, organized by Anie and Gregory Manuelian, during
which the Primate performed a home-blessing service. Musical
entertainment was provided by Apo Sarkissian and orchestra.

HOLY WEEK

The Easter services were just the culmination of Holy Week services at
St. Vartan Cathedral, orchestrated by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of the
cathedral, who celebrated a Divine Liturgy and the Turun-Patzek or
“Door-Opening” service on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2005.

Fr. Chevian also led a special mid-day Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday.
Later that night the Primate officiated over the “Washing of the Feet”
ceremony.

The cathedral also held Divine Liturgies on Holy Friday and Holy
Saturday, sung by the St. Vartan Cathedral Youth Choir, under the
direction of Maro Partamian, and scripture readings delivered by
students of the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum.

— 3/29/05

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, offers communion to one young Armenian during Easter services
at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27, 2005.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate is greeted by the more than 1,500
faithful who filled St. Vartan Cathedral for Easter services.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): The crowd gathers on the St. Vartan Cathedral plaza
for the releasing of doves, following the Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): Archbishop Barsamian prepares to release one of 12
doves on Easter Sunday, symbolizing Christ’s dispatching of the
apostles.

PHOTO CAPTION (5): Children release doves following the Easter Sunday
Divine Liturgy at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27,
2005.

PHOTO CAPTION (6): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, joined by Fr. Mardiros
Chevian, conducts the home blessing service following Easter Sunday
services at St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27, 2005.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 19:17:01 | 29-03-2005 | Politics |

KAZIMIROV SUGGESTS STEPWISE SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH PROBLEM

Former Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov does not
understand the phrase “liberated territories”. During today’s hearings
in the National Assembly he asked, “From who and what were these
territories liberated? From the population or buildings, where they lived?”

He called Armenia not to hide behind the wording “guarantor of
security”, as everyone knows that the conlfict broke out between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.

He also stated that the Azeri party, which adhered to the military
resolution of the conflict, waged the war and lost it. “I have many
times spoken to Heydar Aliyev and he always reiterated he is not going
to fulfill the demands of the Security Council”, he said. Ilham Aliyev,
in Kazimirov’s opinion, does not wish the problem to be resolved as
speaking of the liberated territories, he mentioned about Karabakh as well.

Proceeding from the situation Vladimir Kazimirov suggested a stepwise
settlement of the conflict as it is impossible to resolve the problem by
a package one. “You do not want to see Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is of an opposite opinion, it would be hara-kiri for Ilham
Aliyev”, he said. In case of stepwise settlement each conflicting party
will raise its priority issues. For Armenia it is the status of
Karabakh, for Azerbaijan – the returning of the territories.

Vladimir Kazimirov also stressed the importance of providing the
guarantees for bilateral security.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Arab tribal leaders pay tribute to Genocide victims

29.03.2005 14:27

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – A delegation of 12 Arab tribal leaders, accompanied
by National Assembly’s Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction
and theARF Armenia Supreme Body members, visited Tuesday the
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian
Genocide.

The delegation members prayed for the victims’ souls. Speaking to
reporters, they pointed out that no one can deny the reality of the
Genocide that is proven by numerous documents.

The Arab tribal leaders of the northern Syria are in Armenia to take
part in the events commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. The trip has been organized by the Armenian community of
Syria.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN SINGER PHILIP KIRKOROV TO VISIT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN
REMORSE FOR HIS FORMER MISTAKES

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. Russian pop star Philip Kirkorov is going
to visit the Armenian Genocide Memorail and Museum during their
forthcoming tour in Yerevan, says Temine Ayrumyan, spokesperson of the
Manukyan company who invited Kirkorov to Armenia.

Ayrumyan says that Kyrkorov is feeling remorse and is going to
apologize for his earlier mistakes against Armeians, a nation he also
belongs to.

Meanwhile many Armenian pop singers and some 30 youth organizations
are protesting against the tour of Kirkorov mostly because of his
pro-Turkish repertory (remakes of Turkish pop star Tarkan) and public
insult of Armenian journalist Irina Aroyan, an action that generated
wide public disapproval in Russia leading to his oust from the Russian
show business.

Ayrumyan claims that she daily receives 350 calls in Kirkorov’s
support. “We expected such attitude but could not help inviting g him
as he is the best,” she says. Meanwhile only 30% of the tickets have
been sold to date. The tickets for his Dzoraberd restaurant concert
range from $80 to $150 and for the Concert Complex one from 3,000 AMD
to 15,000 AMD ($6-30).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan’s attempts to regain Karabakh “pointless” – Armenian minister

Mediamax news agency
29 Mar 05

YEREVAN

Two-day parliamentary hearings on the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict started at the Armenian National Assembly today.

Speaking at the hearings, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
stated that the Karabakh settlement process is experiencing a
“complicated stage” today, our Mediamax parliamentary correspondent
reports.

The Armenian foreign minister said that “all the attempts of
Azerbaijan to turn back time are doomed to failure”. Vardan Oskanyan
noted that at present, there are elements of the package, as well as
stage-by-stage settlements of the conflict at the “negotiating table”.

The Armenian foreign minister acknowledged that Azerbaijan is trying
to transfer the settlement process from the OSCE Minsk Group to other
international organizations which give preference to the principle of
the territorial integrity of states. At the same time, Vardan Oskanyan
noted that the world has seen precedents when the principle of a
nation’s self-determination takes priority and cited East Timor, Sudan
and Kosovo as examples.

Vardan Oskanyan stressed that the Karabakh problem has no military
solution and described Baku’s demands to return Nagornyy Karabakh to
Azerbaijan as “pointless”. Oskanyan said that the Azerbaijani side is
deliberately dodging the issue of Nagornyy Karabakh’s status, putting
forward the problem of the adjacent territories.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 18:14:45 | 29-03-2005 | Politics |

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE RELEASES REPORT ON US SUPPORT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Armenia

The Government’s human rights record remained poor; although there were
some improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained.

The president, who is directly elected, has extensive powers that are
not checked by the legislature or judiciary. Recent elections v
including the controversial 2003 presidential election v have not met
international standards. There were some limits on freedom of assembly,
the media and religious freedom.

However, in a positive step toward religious freedom, the Government
registered the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Judges remained subject to pressure
from the executive branch and corruption was a problem. Some members of
the security forces committed a number of human rights abuses. Security
forces beat pretrial detainees, and impunity remained a problem. There
were instances of arbitrary arrests and detentions. In April, police
used excessive force to disperse an opposition rally, detained
opposition politicians and raided opposition party offices. The
Government’s assistance with the creation of a civilian prison
monitoring board and decision to permit independent monitoring of prison
conditions were positive developments. While the Government took steps
to limit trafficking in persons, violence against women and trafficking
of women and children remained problems. The U.S. human rights and
democracy strategy focused on the promotion of democratic institutions
and processes, the development of a vibrant civil society, fundamental
freedoms, rule of law, human rights and anti-trafficking measures.

United States officials regularly met with Armenian government
officials, parliamentary opposition leaders, religious minorities and
human rights activists regarding these issues. In 2004, the United
States sent two high-level State Department officials to Armenia who
engaged leaders on a variety of human rights issues. United States
officials raised human rights concerns during all high-level encounters
with Armenian officials, including during the meetings of the
U.S.-Armenia Task Force in May and October. The Embassy hosted numerous
representational events and roundtables during the year to raise
awareness and encourage dialogue in support of these objectives.

To promote democratic institutions and processes, the United States
supported programs designed to strengthen the separation of powers.
Toward that end, the United States funded programs in Armenia to augment
the national legislative abilities to respond to citizen concerns. The
Armenian National Assembly provided its members with information they
previously lacked, such as drafts of past legislation and
non-governmental organization (NGO) literature. The United States helped
the National Assembly’s Control Chamber to improve legislative oversight
of the national budget and helped the Government improve the published
budget. The United States helped Armenian citizens access information on
pending legislation. With U.S. support and encouragement, the National
Assembly improved its transparency by holding committee hearings,
publishing draft laws in newspaper inserts and developing a tracking
system for citizen inquiries and communications. The program also
provided citizens with information about the National Assembly through
the creation of a website and publication and dissemination of draft
legislation.

The United States targeted its assistance to expand civic participation,
strengthen institutions of governance, and empower citizens to hold
government accountable by encouraging laws and policies needed to create
a democratic governance framework in Armenia. United States-funded
programs helped local governments improve internal management systems,
implement transition reforms, strengthen oversight and fiscal
responsibilities and increase public accessibility and accountability.

With U.S. help, more than 13,000 people participated in 240 town hall
meetings to discuss citizen concerns with community leaders. In more
than 660 dialogue groups held around the country, citizens discussed the
law on the legal status of property, community schools, privatization,
community development and apartment building administration, among other
issues. The impact of these programs was reflected in the concrete
actions taken by initiative groups that formed as a result of the
dialogues. Successful efforts included renovation of a local state
college and establishment of a library fund for the college,
legalization of supplementary constructions by building residents and
improvements in the sanitary situation in communities. Through these
programs, citizens created tangible improvements in their communities by
engaging in democratic processes at the local level.

To promote the development of a vibrant civil society, the United States
gave grants and technical assistance to advocacy NGOs and continued to
foster citizen participation at the grassroots level. The United States
supported public awareness campaigns, including campaigns to address the
societal costs of corruption and the shared responsibility for combating
it. The United States also launched a program to strengthen Armenian
NGOs through 82 grants in various sectors. This program has demonstrated
success as citizen advocacy programs deepen and broaden, and according
to USAID’s NGO Sustainability Index, NGOs in Armenia have significantly
increased their self-sustainable capacity.

The United States also provided 38 small grants in 2004 to NGOs and
independent media outlets that work to strengthen democratic
institutions and promote civil society in Armenia. These embassy-based
“Democracy Commission Small Grants” addressed issues such as citizens’
use of the newly passed Law on Freedom of Information, patients’ rights,
environmental education, the promotion of volunteerism, media literacy
and the integration of disabled youth into society. Following the
Government’s excessive reaction to peaceful opposition protests, the
Department of State issued a Statement in April which observed that
“Physical assaults, raids on political party offices and widespread
arrests and detentions of opposition activists by the police do not
contribute to creating an atmosphere conducive to political dialogue.”
The United States also sponsored international visitors to observe
political parties in action during the U.S. elections.

To promote freedom of the media, the United States provided equipment
and technical assistance to increase journalists’ level of
professionalism and objectivity. A U.S-funded International Visitors
Program on media ethics introduced Armenian journalists to democratic
media practices in the United States.

To promote the rule of law, the United States continued to engage with
the Armenian Ministry of Justice and legal institutions. With the
assistance of a U.S.-funded NGO, the Government enacted legislation
creating a bar association for defense lawyers. Human rights advocates
believe that the new association will increase the legal defense of
human rights by improving the training and organization of defense lawyers.

Senior U.S. officials consistently engaged government officials on the
rights of women, children, minorities and the disabled. In 2004, the
United States began a Children’s Tolerance Education Program in
elementary schools and closely monitored and engaged the Government on
issues of intolerance.

United States officials urged greater respect for religious freedom. As
a direct result of international engagement, the Government of Armenia
legally registered Armenia’s Jehovah’s Witnesses and enacted new laws to
allow conscientious objectors an alternative to mandatory military service.

The United States increased its assistance to anti-trafficking efforts
in Armenia, aiding the Government, local NGOs and international
organizations in their efforts. With U.S. assistance, the Government
began training consular officers to recognize and assist potential
victims of trafficking, and the United States invested in informational
and child-protective prevention efforts. The United States established
programs to research trends in trafficking and assisted in the creation
of anti-trafficking legislation. The United States continued to engage
the Government diplomatically on trafficking issues. The United States
also significantly assisted NGOs in creating, maintaining and
publicizing victim assistance programs nationwide.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Scotsman, UK
March 29 2005

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Azerbaijan

“PA”

1. Azerbaijan had a hand in England’s most famous triumph when
`Russian linesman’ Tofi Bakhramov allowed Geoff Hurst’s goal to stand
in the World Cup Final win over West Germany in 1966. In fact
Bakhramov was not Russian but an Azeri – Azerbaijan was then part of
the Soviet Union. The national stadium in the capital, Baku, is named
after him – with a statue of Bakhramov outside.

2. The country regained its independence in 1991, after the collapse
of the Soviet Union.

3. Former world chess champion Gary Kasparov, who has just retired,
hails from Azerbaijan and is known as the `Beast of Baku’. In his new
political career he has vowed to campaign against Russian president
Vladimir Putin. Probably not an omen for Wednesday but Kasparov once
beat English challenger Nigel Short in a World Championship final.

4. Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest lake. As
well as its oil resources, the sea also provides another source of
income – caviar. You can take caviar tours if you visit the country,
which was also on the silk route between Europe and Asia.

5. The world’s first oil well was drilled near Baku, at the end of
the 19th century.

6. Azerbaijan was one of the settings for 1999 Bond film `The World
is Not Enough’.

7. The population is 93.4% Muslim with Russian Orthodox and Armenian
Orthodox Christian minorities. In 2002 it was visited by Pope John
Paul II even though there are only 120 Catholics in the country – one
of the smallest Catholic communities.

8. It has borders with Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia and Iran.

9. The country’s population is around eight million – similar to
London.

10. The Azeri unit of currency is the manat.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN MP SLATES NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY FOR POOR WORK

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan severely criticized today the work of the National Academy
of Sciences of Armenia and its research companies.

The budgetary financing of science has grown from 2.9 bln AMD in 2003
to 4.1 bln AMD in 2005. But active financing is not effective without
specific programs. One should stop asking money for some abstract
things – the Government should know what it gives money for. Only 3-5
and 10-year programs should get financing. Of 40 research companies
operative are 4-5 with their directors have long being of pension age
clinging to their posts and preventing young specialists and managers
to climb up the ladder. Reforms do not mean closing research companies
and firing researchers. “Today we need specific proposals rather than
endless and pointless debates,” says Margaryan.

For this purpose the Government has set up a special commission fo
developing a long-term plan of reforms in science. These reforms will
be given all-out support by the Government. The first step is
additional monthly bonuses to candidates and doctors (5,000 and 10,000
AMD respectively) and this is not the end, says Margaryan.

Inspired by Margaryan’s criticism academic Anry Nersissyan stood up to
charge National Academy President Fadey Sargsyan with falsifying the
results of the last academy elections and misappropriating budgetary
funds. Sargsyan called him a liar.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Scandal, which is not spread the State Chancellery.

Newspaper `Akhali Taoba’
March 29, 2005

Why did the President Saakashvili’s Press officer apologize to
`Dashnakcutiun’?

Scandal, in the Press centre of President of Georgia, Michael
Saakashvili, is expected.The process is growing against the background
of confrontation between the Press Centre and the Advisor of
President.

This case was led to the present stage, as the advisors of President
Michael Saakashvili, political scientists Gogi Gachechiladze and Igor
Kveselava gave their views concerning the Armenian Genocide on the
territory of Turkey and the present situation in Javakheti region,
after what the offended Armenian Party `Dashnakcutiun’ made a
statement, accusing the adviser of president in awareness. That’s
strange that after that the Press Office of President apologizes to
`Dashnakcutiun’.To make the reason of scandal clear first of all we
introduce to you the comments made by the advisors of President.

Gogi Gachechiladze, political scientist, advisor of President:

-and what concerning this tragedy fact, as the Armenian genocide is, I
want to say, that there is truth in everybody’s life in which a man
doesn’t want to believe, because it’s unpleasant. In this tragedy the
hand of Russian Empire got involved and if the Armenian party
`Dashnakcutiun”s representatives don’t know that the peripetea of the
tragedy is too big and the negative role of Russian in provocation of
genocide, that’s their problem. And what about the statement made by
`Dashnakcutiun’, that they will always try defense the rights of
Armenian population in `Javakhk’ I remind that one of the oldest parts
of Georgia is called Javakheti and not `Javakhk’.

Igor Kveselava, political scientist, advisor of President:

I’m sure that in Armenian’s misfortune was involved another interested
government. It can’t be that this tragedy is related only with Turkey.
There is no difference in anti-georgian ideas between Migranyan and
`Dashnaks’. They should once and for all understand that there is no
`Javakhk’ in nature `that’s Javakheti and what claims can stake
Armenians to Georgia, that’s unclear to me’

Because of such opinion expressed by the advisor of President
concerning the Armenian tragedy, the Press Centre of `Dashnakcutiun’
by means of internet spreads such information, where it is said that:

Adviser’s lack of education doesn’t give us right to ignore the real
problems in Javakhk. ‘ Dashnakcutiun’ is ready to help the Georgian
government in defense the political and social rights of Armenian
population in Javakhk, and also in solving their social-economic
problems in case Georgian government intends to take such steps.

At that time the Press Centre of President unexpectedly states its
position in this way:

Giorgi Gachechiladze is not President’s advisor in the International
issues.

The Administration of the President of Georgia doesn’t share G.
Gachechiladze’s opinion concerning this issue. The friendly relations
between Georgia and Armenia are very important for us. We are sure
that no provocative statement or act will ever strain the
centuries-old relation with the brotherly Armenian population.

The apologies presented from the side of the Press Office of the
president to the separatist Dashnaks are not defensible. As a result
what do we have – in the person of G. Gachechiladze, the President has
taken on a provocateur?

G. Gachechiladze didn’t come across with the President
accidentally. He was one of those intelligents, who beforehand from
the Opera House declared that Michael Saakashvili deserves to be a
President. So, what does the Press Office of the President have to
apologize for? It is well known that one of the advisors of President
of Russia Vladimir Putin in the economic issues sharply criticizes his
president, but the President’s Press Office doesn’t spread the
information that the advisor President is a provocateur.

And what about the Council of Advisers of Saakashvili (consisting of
four person) ` they defense the President’s political course, and
naturally, there is no time for criticism. And it would be out of
place to speak about their provocative acts. While the external
enemies of M. Saakashvili accuse him in alliance with Armenian Lobby,
at the same time the Press office of President, encouraging Armenian
`Dashnaks’ declares that the President in the persons of Advisers in
Foreign Issues has provocateurs, how do we call it: a mistake, a
misunderstanding, indifference, improvidence or¦?That’s also unclear
why do the President’s Press office pays attention to protest made by
one of Armenian parties?

Their position is not the position of President Kocharyan and the
whole Armenia, isn’t it?So, what do we deal with? Information
concerning the text of the statement made by the president’s Press
Office which wasn’t have been approved by the president itself already
leaked out in the State Chancellery. And in the end, we contacted Soso
Tsintsadze, the Chairman of the Council of Advisers of Saakashvili,
who didn’t wish to answer the questions concerning the mentioned above
issue; he only said that we should be more careful in such issues.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Journal of Turkish Weekly
March 29 2005

Ottoman Archives Open to All, Including Armenian Researchers
Ottoman archives promoted

Prime Ministry State Archives Director General Yusuf Sarinay said
that there were tens of thousands of documents in Turkish State
Archives refuting the Armenian allegations.

Holding a news conference, Sarinay said, ”Armenians have been making
propaganda against Turkey for a long time. There are more than 1
million documents related with Armenians directly and indirectly in
our archives from 1870s to 1922. These documents are waiting for a
scientific examination.”

”When we read those documents, we see that the Ottoman Empire
decided to relocate Armenians to suppress a de facto uprising and put
an end to Armenian’s collaboration of Russian army, not toprevent a
likely rebellion,” he said.

Noting that the allegations of so-called Armenian genocide were based
on subjective works and evaluations like memories instead of
scientific documents, Sarinay said, ”there are tens of thousands of
documents in our archives refuting these allegations. Our basic
target is that the history should be written objectively. Therefore,
we have opened our archives to all scientists.”

Recalling that April 24th was declared as ”day of genocide” by
Armenians, Sarinay told reporters, ”in fact, leading names of
Armenian committees were arrested on that date. For instance, 235
Armenian people were arrested in Istanbul. None of them was sentenced
to death penalty or sent to exile. Some circles claim that Armenian
artist Comidas was killed in the genocide. In fact, he was a member
of the Armenian committees. He was arrested in Istanbul and served 14
days in Cankaya Prison. He later left for Paris and died there.”

”Armenians created an imaginary history. The Republic of Turkey
remained silent against their allegations till 1990s in order to
prevent revival of past hatred, however, its silence did not resolve
the issue. On the contrary, this silence was wrongly perceived as a
sign of its being guilty,” he said.

Sarinay kept on saying, ”when we examine these documents as a whole,
it is evident that the decision of the Ottoman Empire to relocate
Armenians was totally legal. The Ottoman Empire had also made some
arrangements about properties of Armenians, and adopted a law about
return of these properties to Armenian people when they returned. The
Ottoman Empire had never targeted a genocide. It had made such an
temporary decision on political and military grounds.

Western historians and Armenian diaspora ignore these documents to
preserve their imaginary history.”

”There were many high-level Armenian officials in Istanbul in those
days. If the Ottoman Empire had intended a genocide, it would have
killed those officials first. The Ottoman Empire had sent notes to
Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland in 1919, which had not been
involved in the World War I, to send jurists. If they had sent
jurists to Turkey, all those allegations would have been buried in
the history,” he stressed.

”Once again, we call on Directorate General of Armenian State
Archives to pave the way for scientific studies. Also, archives of
the American diaspora in the United States should be opened,” he
said.

Upon a question, Sarinay told reporters, ”according to the latest
population census in the Ottoman Empire, Armenians had a population
of 1 million 161 thousand. Sources say that nearly 400 thousand
Armenians had left for Russia, and 450-750 thousand Armenians had
been subject of the relocation. However, warfare and epidemics made
it impossible to clarify all these figures.”

Turkish Prime Minister tayyip Erdogan and Turkish opposition leader
Deniz Baykal had called the Armenian side to open their archives.
Erdogan said Turkish archives were open to all, and Turkey expected
the same from the Armenians and all related states. The Armenian
Tashnak Archives are closed to researchers. The Armenian politicians
argue that there is nothing to be discussed or researched because all
of the reality is clear. Armenian Foreign Minister Vaskan Oskanyan
said “the problem is not a matter of science but politics. Historians
has nothing to discuss.”

JTW News desk. Compiled from Anatolian news agency and other nes
sources.
29 March 2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress