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02/22/2005
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1) Karabagh National Assembly Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of
Conflict
2) Aram I Discusses 90th Anniversary of Genocide; WCC Calls for Genocide
Recognition
3) Website on Armenian Genocide to be Launched
4) Armenian Platoon Begins Duties in Iraq
1) Karabagh National Assembly Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of
Conflict
STEPANAKERT (Combines Sources)–In a February 20 statement, the National
Assembly of the Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) reaffirmed its
readiness to
construct an independent democratic state based on the right to
self-determination.
The statement came on the 17th anniversary of the February 20, 1988 decision
of the mainly ethnic Armenian Mountainous Karabagh’s Supreme Soviet that
called
for the transfer of authority over the region, from Azerbaijan to Armenia.
In its newly released statement, the MKR National Assembly of reaffirms not
only the determination of the people of Mountainous Karabagh people to
build an
independent and democratic state based on the right to self-determination, but
also reiterates the authorities’ allegiance to settle the conflict through
peace negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group. They also call on the Azeri
authorities to renounce their unreasonable policy of confrontation, and
direct
their efforts to the establishment of peace and stability in the region.
The statement also appeals to members of foreign parliaments to support
efforts for MKR’s international recognition.
Vigen Hayrapetyan, chairman of the recent session of the National Assembly,
said that the convening of the extraordinary session on February 20, 1988
was a
historical necessity. “Any delay would have threatened Armenians with
annihilation…it was the decision of the session, along with the support of
progressive political forces, and the international community that prevented
mass violence against the local population [of Mountainous Karabagh].
2) Aram I Discusses 90th Anniversary of Genocide; WCC Calls for Genocide
Recognition
In his report to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, which
meets once a year, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia,
stated, “This year my church and people will commemorate the 90th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide. During the First World War in 1915, one-and-a-half
million Armenians were massacred by the Ottoman-Turkish government
according to
a well-devised and systematically executed plan. Although my generation did
not
directly experience the tragic past, the Armenian Genocide has had a strong
impact on our spiritual and intellectual formation. The past haunts the
victims; we cannot free ourselves from the past unless that past is duly
recognized.”
The Cathlicos’s reference was made in the context of his analysis of the
question of forgiveness and reconciliation. He said: “The acceptance of truth
is the sine qua non condition for forgiveness. The past must be confronted
boldly and be challenged responsibly. Neglecting the past with its wounds will
not help to build a new future. When the memories are not healed, they hold us
hostage to the past; when they are healed, through confession and forgiveness,
they empower us to rebuild relationships, promote mutual trust and acceptance,
and engage in a process of transformation. Unhealed memories cause violence,
hate and fragmentation. Forgiveness, as a response to confession, is a
determining factor in the healing and reconciliation process. Through
forgiveness, we accept each other in truth and justice. Forgiveness is costly;
only confession must lead to forgiveness, which is a pre-condition for real
healing and reconciliation.”
During its meeting, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches
drafted a statement calling for the recognition of the genocide against the
Armenian people. “Sunday April 24, 2005 will be the 90 years Commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide, the tragic massacre of one-and-a-half million Armenians
in Turkey and the deportation of another million from their homeland.
“The World Council of Churches has on different occasions addressed the need
for public recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the necessity of Turkey to
deal with this dark part of its history,” read the statement. “The importance
of Turkey evaluating its history has recently also been addressed by the
Conference of European Churches relating to Turkey’s relation to the European
Union.
“From the Christian perspective, the path towards justice and reconciliation
requires the recognition of the crime committed as a sine qua non condition
for
the healing of memories and the possibility of forgiveness. Forgiveness does
not mean forgetting but to look back with the intention to restore justice,
the
respect for Human Rights and relationships between perpetrators and victims.
“The Public Committee recommends to the General Secretary and the staff, to
propose to all member churches to make Sunday April 24 a day of memorial of
the
Armenian Genocide and to consider further appropriate actions related to
the 90
years Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.”
In a separate statement concerning the International Criminal Court, the
Central Committee noted: “Human History is filled with examples of horrendous
cruelties, aggressions and inhumanities. In just 20th Century there are four
recognized genocides–90 years ago the Armenian genocide, 60 years ago the
Holocaust, nearly 30 years ago the Khmer Rouge and the most recent genocide in
Rwanda, a little more than 10 years ago. There were very different ways of
addressing these horrific crimes: there was no consequence for the Armenian
genocide, the victors justice in the Nuremberg trail for the Nazi war
criminals, a failed local response with UN support to the Khmer Rouge and the
ad-hoc International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda.”
164 voting members, together with over 100 advisors, consultants, and
representatives of the Vatican and various international organizations, are
participating in this year’s meeting in Geneva. His Holiness Aram I has served
as the moderator of the Central Committee since 1991.
3) Website on Armenian Genocide to be Launched
YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Over 50 Armenian genocide experts will participate in the
events commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Genocide. A new website will
be launched, in addition to a photo exhibition to be on display at the
Charents
Literature Institute, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Yerevan State
University.
A film, as well as an audio cassette, containing documents from the British,
German, Russian and French archives, photos, and narrated accounts of genocide
survivors will also be released.
4) Armenian Platoon Begins Duties in Iraq
YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Armenia’s 46-member member non-combat platoon, which
left
for its peacekeeping mission in Iraq on January 18, has begun the
implementation of its duties in Iraq.
Artak Tonoyan, the Commander of the 12th peacekeeping platoon of the Armenian
armed forces, said the Armenian military servicemen finished the training
classes and exercises.
According to Tonoyan, no incidents have taken place with the Armenian
servicemen in Iraq.
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