Author: Andres-Papazian

FRENCH CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL TO EXAMINE GENOCIDE BILL BEFORE MARCH 1

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 3, 2012 – 19:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Constitutional Council of France will examine
the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial before March 1,
with votes of seven council members required for passing a decision.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. Expected
to be signed into law by President within 14 days, the bill will
impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France
who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Two separate groups of French politicians who oppose the legislation
– from both the Senate and the lower house – said they had formally
requested the constitutional council examine the law. The groups said
they each had gathered more than the minimum 60 signatures required
to ask the council to test the law’s constitutionality. The council
is obliged to deliver its judgment within a month, but this can be
reduced to eight days if the government deems the matter urgent.

From: A. Papazian

ZIONIST PLANS TO BUILD A SHOPPING CENTRE ON ARMENIAN CHURCH LAND

Quds Media

Feb 3 2012

Jerusalem Center for Media – Sources – Asmaa Thaher

The Jerusalem occupation municipality announced a plan to build a new
shopping centre with a car park on a piece of land that is owned by
the Armenian Church in the old city.

The municipality further banned residents of the Armenian quarter in
the old city from parking their cars on the land which is owned by
the church.

Residents of the Armenian quarters demonstrated on Thursday to
protest the steps taken by the municipality, but the demonstration
was dispersed by the Israeli occupation police.

The land which is about 4000 square meters and which is owned by the
Armenian Church was used by local residents as a free car park, but
the locals were surprised when the so called Jewish quarters committee
started collecting parking fees, and now barred them altogether from
parking their cars there.

From: A. Papazian

IRAN SAYS CONFLICT WILL NOT AFFECT TIES WITH ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza
Feb 2 2012
Russia

Tensions over Iran would not affect its ties with Armenia, Sayed
Ali Saygan, Iranian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to
Armenia, said, News Armenia reports.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited Iran in late March 2011.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Yerevan in late
December 2011.

The ambassador emphasized that the two states have numerous economic
projects they continue realizing. The number of Iranian tourists
to Armenia grows every year. He reminded that Iran has been facing
sanctions since 1979, the year of the Islamic Revolution.

The US and a set of other Western states accuse Iran of developing
nuclear arms on the background of peaceful atom. Tehran denies all
accusations and insists that the nuclear program is to fulfill demands
for electricity.

Foreign ministers of 27 EU states met in Brussels on January 23
and approved the embargo on Iranian oil exports. The new package of
sanctions includes a gradual ban on imports of petroleum from Iran.

The embargo will come into full force on July 1.

From: A. Papazian

MP JANJANIAN THANKS FRENCH ENVOY OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LAW

The Daily Star

Feb 2 2012
Lebanon

BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces MP Shant Janjanian, a Lebanese-Armenian,
delivered a thank-you letter to French envoy to Lebanon Denis Pietton
Thursday for France’s support of a bill banning the denial of the
Armenian genocide.

The French Senate approved a law last month to punish anyone with
jail time who denies that the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman
Turk Forces amounted to genocide.

A left-wing group of senators said last week they had gathered 76
signatures from senators opposed to the law, more than the minimum
60 required to ask the council to examine the law’s constitutionality.

The council is obliged to deliver its judgment within a month, but this
can be reduced to eight days if the government deems the matter urgent.

There are around 200,000 Lebanese of Armenian origin represented by
five ministers in the Lebanese Cabinet.

France recognizes the killings, which Armenians say up to 1.5 million
of their forebears were killed in 1915 and 1916 by the Ottoman Empire,
which broke up after the end of World War I.

If introduced, the new law would punish anyone who denies this with
up to a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($57,000).

Turkey disputes the figure, arguing that 500,000 people died and that
their deaths were not the result of genocide.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY: EU NEGOTIATOR, TODAY WE ARE MORE DEMOCRATIC

ANSA Med
February 1, 2012 Wednesday 5:05 PM CET
Italy

No genocide of Armenians, Minister Bagis in Doha

(ANSAmed) Turkey’s European Affairs Minister and chief negotiator for
EU accession, Egemen Bagis, has said that “today Turkey is wealthier,
more democratic and more transparent thanks to the reforms imposed
by the European Union,” adding that “the reform process required
to enter the Union is more important than the final result.” Bagis,
talking during a conference in the Brookings Doha Center in Qatar,
discussed the questions that currently keep Turkey out of the EU,
including the issue of admitting the Armenian genocide now that
France has passed a law that criminalises denying the event. “What
happened in 1915 cannot be called a genocide in my view, anyway I
was not there in 1915,” said Bagis.

“I am a politician, my task is to define the future, not the past,” he
added. Asked whether he believes the fact that Turkey would add around
80 million Muslims to the EU is an obstacle to the country’s accession,
Bagis said that “the European Union is not a club of Christians,
it is political union, the largest union for peace in the world. So
this is not a problem, also because Turkey is broadly secularised.”

Bagis concluded his speech with a historical diplomatic incident. He
said that the word “Europe” has Turkish origins, annoying the Greek
ambassador to Qatar, Helen-Elsa Zorbala: “Europa was one of the lovers
of Zeus in Greek mythology, everybody knows that!”, the Greek diplomat
pointed out.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIA WILL STAY FOCUSED ON KARABAKH RESOLUTION UNDER PUTIN – US EXPERT

news.am
February 03, 2012 | 00:28

Russia will stay focused on Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution under
the presidency of Vladimir Putin, said the expert at the Strategic
Studies Institute (US Army War College), Dr. Stephen Blank. According
to him, attention to the internal affairs in Russia won’t divert
Moscow’s attention from Karabakh conflict settlement.

Russia has always been the most influential actor in Karabakh process,
and this trend is likely to persist, the expert added. This will
continue even despite the uneventful outcome of the trilateral meeting
at Sochi on Jan 23 – 24, of the presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan, and
Armenia. The trilateral meetings’ format itself, initiated in 2008,
is also likely to be preserved.

“I don’t expect any tangible progress in peace talks this year,
but one can surely expect the involvement of Russia not to decrease,
especially considering tough statements Putin has been making on the
matter,” he told. “There’s been a trend of political integration around
Russia, which has been constant in the last 20 years, and Russia will
keep CIS consolidation among its foreign policy priorities.”

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA PARTICIPATES IN EUROPEAN ASTRONOMICAL COUNCIL IN SWITZERLAND

NEWS.AM
February 02, 2012 | 20:16

The Council of the European Astronomical Society (EAS) took place in
Rolle, Switzerland on January 31-February 2. Armenia also participated
in that council.

The aim of the council was to discuss the work done in the past 4
years and further work to be done, Armenia’s Astronomical Society
informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

It was decided that from 2014 EAS’s annual budget will be increased
from ~@5,000 to ~@100,000 and instead of 500 scientists 2,000
scientists will be included in the Society.

From: A. Papazian

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA MEETS HEADS OF UNESCO CHAIRS

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 2, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS: The meeting of Deputy Foreign Minister
of Armenia Ashot Hovakimyan with heads of the UNESCO Chairs was held
at the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Armenia.

Press service of the Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry told Armenpress
that during the meeting the heads of the UNESCO Chairs briefly
presented the programs implemented during the accounting year and
discussed issues on Chairs-UNESCO and Chairs- Armenian National
Commission for UNESCO cooperation.

A number of agreements on improvement of the Chairs’ activity
and efficiency increase of the cooperation with Armenian National
Commission for UNESCO were gained during the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

LIFE-SIZE NOAH’S ARK TO BE BUILT IN A COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE STILL LIVE IN MAKESHIFT HOUSES: OPINION

epress.am
02.03.2012

The Public Council’s culture commission yesterday began to discuss a
project to build a life-size Noah’s Ark with a surface area of 10,000
square meters in Yerevan’s Victory Park.

As reported by local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”),
the commission very quickly gave the green light to the project. The
ark is expected to be built according to the measurements noted in
the Bible: a wooden structure 132-157 meters in length, 24-30 meters
wide and 13-20 meters high. The first floor will be a museum which
will house life-size models of the 8 humans and 120 pairs of animals
said to have boarded the vessel in the Biblical narrative. There will
also be observation binoculars to get a closer look at Mount Ararat,
Yerevan or the open sky.

The newspaper notes that the building project seems quite ambitious.

“To show the world that after the Great Flood, the rebirth of humanity
began from the heart of the Armenian world – Mount Ararat,” said Armare
director Martun Harutyunyan, one of the people behind the project,
during its presentation.

“This structure will be unique in the world – it will be dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of the Great Catastrophe [the Armenian Genocide]
and will belong to humanity,” he added.

Asked what he means when he says “belong to humanity,” Harutyunyan
said: “That is… how can I explain it to you? That is, it will be
a universal structure.”

However, at the discussion, not everyone was excited about the project.

“I fear that in the implementation of this project that small green
space will be eliminated,” said art critic Levon Lachikyan.

Also opposed to the project was National Gallery of Armenia museum
director Paravon Mirzoyan. “Our country today has so many problems,
so many pains. People live in caravans [makeshift houses]; they don’t
have money for food – do you understand?

“There isn’t a proper museum building in the country. An American or
someone came, advised building a Noah’s Ark, for us to fill it with
animals – we’re all overjoyed. Listen, now is not the time for that…

When I sometimes see the state of people living in the Gyumri or
Vanadzor region, to tell the truth, I’m surprised that we build so
many churches today. Spending all that money for what? For an American
to come, see that Noah is sitting at the foot of Ararat? It’s not
right. See, we make decisions – they removed the kiosks on Abovyan
Ave. And what did they do? They moved them someplace else. When a
decision is made, it must be considered, why is it being made?”

Architect Levon Igityan, in turn defending the project, said, “We at
least have to be the first in doing something and not allow our values
to be taken away from us – just as they took lavash and harissa.”

“Our people, we, are the owners of Noah’s Ark. [Mount] Ararat today
isn’t on our side [of the border], but we hope that we’ll live to
see it on our side. The truth is this should’ve been built on Mount
Ararat. But we don’t have this option now. Why do we allow everyone
to get ahead of us and own what is ours? The Turks will build it,
they will do it, they will become the owners of Noah’s [Ark], this
is the problem,” said publicist Meruzhan Ter-Gulanyan, also behind
the project, at the discussion.

From: A. Papazian

AVEC LES ARMéNIENS – CENTRE COMMUNAUTAIRE LAïC JUIF
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 3 fevrier 2012

Voici l’édito de la revue mensuelle juive de Belgique de ce 1 février.

Il mérite d’être lu et diffusé. ” Regards ” est publié depuis
plus de 4O ans et, tirant a 15.000 exemplaires, est le plus important
organe de presse de la communauté.

L’Edito

Avec les Arméniens

Depuis que les députés francais ont adopté le 22 décembre 2011
la proposition de loi visant a pénaliser la négation du génocide
des Arméniens, des intellectuels aussi éminents que Jean Daniel,
Pierre Nora et Robert Badinter ont eu les mots les plus durs pour
condamner cette initiative parlementaire.

Bien qu’ils ne nient pas ce génocide, ils s’obstinent a présenter
cette loi comme l’illustration parfaite de la dérive législative
mémorielle francaise. On comprend mal leur réaction, d’autant
qu’ils ne demandent pas l’abrogation de la loi Gayssot pénalisant
la négation de la Shoah !

Dans Le Monde,Robert Badinter affirme que le génocide des Arméniens
n’a pas été établi et ses auteurs n’ont pas été condamnés
par une juridiction internationale ou nationale dont l’autorité
de la chose jugée s’impose a tous. En écrivant de tels propos,
l’artisan de l’abolition de la peine de mort témoigne de manière
éclatante de sa méconnaissance historique : entre 1919 et 1922,
les tribunaux militaires turcs ont poursuivi quelque 300 dirigeants
Jeunes-Turcs, accusés de participation aux tueries de 1915. Les
principaux architectes du génocide, Enver Pacha, Djemal Pacha,
Talaat Pacha et le docteur Nazim ont été jugés coupables et
condamnés par contumace. Ces procès ont permis d’amasser une
quantité impressionnante de documents sur ce crime et de mettre
a jour l’organisation et la mise en Å”uvre de l’élimination des
Arméniens par ces dirigeants Jeunes-Turcs.

Des historiens israéliens ont heureusement réagi différemment
que ces intellectuels francais. Spécialistes des génocides, ils
parlent en connaissance de cause. Fondateur du Journal pour les
études sur l’Holocausteet le génocide, Yehouda Bauer a déclaré
que la négation du génocide des Arméniens est une négation de
l’histoire. Et IsraÔl Charny, fondateur de l’Institut de recherche sur
l’Holocauste et le génocide, a Jérusalem, s’est exprimé sur cette
question devant les membres de la Knesset : ” Aucun Juif décent,
aucun Israélien décent, ni aucune personne décente ne peut nier
les faits historiques établis du génocide d’un autre peuple. Que
direz-vous et que diriez-vous a quelqu’un qui nierait l’Holocausteâ~@~I
? Y aurait-il certaines conditions dans lesquelles vous “comprendriez”,
“admettriez”, ou d’une quelconque manière, accepteriez la nécessité
et par la suite la légitimité de leur négation ? ”.

Suggérant naïvement la création d’une commission internationale
d’historiens chargée de déterminer les conditions et l’ampleur du
génocide arménien de 1915, dont la Turquie s’engagerait a suivre les
conclusions, Robert Badinter et Pierre Nora devraient prendre la peine
de s’entretenir avec IsraÔl Charny qui s’est livré a cet exercice…

en 1982. Lorsqu’il a organisé cette première conférence
internationale sur l’Holocauste et le génocide réunissant de
nombreux experts internationaux, il a subi d’énormes pressions de
la part de la Turquie qui refusait de voir aborder le génocide des
Arméniens. Outre les menaces de sanctions a l’égard d’IsraÔl, on
lui a très cyniquement fait remarquer qu’il risquait de mettre en
danger la communauté juive de Turquie. En dépit de ces menaces et de
ces pressions, la conférence s’est tenue et 300 participants y ont
assisté. Cet épisode a le mérite d’établir que la Turquie n’est
pas prête a accepter les conclusions d’historiens indépendants,
même si elle ne cesse de réclamer depuis des années la création
d’une ” commission mixte internationale ” sur cette question.

Au lieu de conforter le nationalisme turc le plus intransigeant, nous
devons soutenir les Arméniens, précisément parce que nous avons
souffert du négationnisme. Mieux que quiconque, les Juifs savent
que ce fléau est une imposture qu’il faut réprimer. Nous avons
accueilli avec soulagement la pénalisation de la négation de la
Shoah en France et en Belgique. Ce qui est valable pour la Shoah doit
l’être pour le génocide des Arméniens. Au nom de la fraternité
des réprouvés, placons-nous du côté des Arméniens pour que ”
leur ” génocide ne soit pas celui qu’on aurait le droit d’oublier
et de nier en toute impunité. Cette attitude nous honorerait et ne
remettrait pas en cause les singularités de la Shoah qui en font
son unicité a la fois sur le plan historique et mémoriel.

Mercredi 1 février 2012

Nicolas Zomersztajn

Centre Communautaire Laïc Juif asbl Rue de l’Hôtel des Monnaies 52
a 1060 Bruxelles – Tel : +32 2 543 02 70 – [email protected]

From: A. Papazian