Il Est Temps De Penaliser La Negation Du Genocide Armenien

IL EST TEMPS DE PENALISER LA NEGATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Armees.com
,42014.html
3 Mai 2011
France

Dans l’histoire a la fois riche et tourmentee du 20ème siècle, les
massacres des Armeniens en 1915 – un genocide au sens juridique du
terme – constitue l’un des chapitres le plus noirs. La reconnaissance
par la France du genocide armenien a ete actee par la loi du 19
janvier 2001, loi que j’ai eu l’honneur de voter en tant que senateur.

Communique de presse de Bertrand Delanoë

Paris, fidèle a sa vocation de terre d’accueil, est devenue, au fil
des ans, l’un des centres culturels et intellectuels de la diaspora
armenienne. L’une de mes premières decisions en tant que maire de
Paris etait de rendre hommage aux victimes du genocide chaque annee
en deposant une gerbe de la Ville de Paris au pied de la statue de
Komitas, lieu traditionnel de rassemblement des Armeniens de Paris.

Il est donc naturel que des voix parisiennes se lèvent aujourd’hui
pour rejoindre celles de la communaute armenienne dans la lutte sans
relâche contre le negationnisme du genocide armenien. Puisque il
s’agit d’une realite, il est logique de vouloir punir sa negation,
comme la loi Gayssot le fit en 1990 pour la Shoah.

A partir du 4 mai, la proposition de loi penalisant la negation du
genocide armenien sera debattue au Senat. Deposee par des senateurs
socialistes en juillet 2010, il faudra comme prealable au debat que
les senateurs repoussent l’exception d’irrecevabilite que la commission
des lois a malheureusement opposee au texte.

Depuis que le 12 octobre 2006 l’Assemblee nationale a vote la
penalisation du genocide armenien, le president de la Republique et
le gouvernement ont fait en sorte que ce texte ne soit pas transmis
au Senat, ce qui a oblige les elus socialistes de la Haute Assemblee
a deposer une autre proposition afin de dejouer cette politique
d’obstruction systematique, de ce veto tacite motivee, nous dit la
droite, par les possibles ” embarras diplomatiques ” avec la Turquie.

La verite est que Nicolas Sarkozy ne tient pas sa parole. Le 24
avril 2007, alors candidat a la presidentielle, il avait dans une
lettre ouverte aux associations armeniennes promis de soutenir la
ratification par le Senat de la loi de 2006. Il fustigeait alors le
” negationnisme d’Etat ” venu d’Ankara. Puis une fois elu il a fait
l’inverse, se taisant aussi lorsqu’au lendemain de la commemoration
du genocide armenien, le 24 avril, le gouvernement turc detruit le ”
monument de l’humanite ” erige a Kars ~uvre du grand sculpteur Mehmet
Aksoy qui symbolise, dans la region meme où eut lieu le genocide,
la reconciliation possible et indispensable entre les deux peuples.

Il n’y a dans mon esprit aucun propos agressif envers le peuple turc,
mais l’attitude de leur gouvernement est d’autant plus choquante qu’en
Turquie meme, des voix s’elèvent pour reconnaître le genocide armenien,
a l’image du rassemblement qui s’est tenu le 24 avril devant le musee
d’art d’Istanbul afin de proclamer qu’il etait temps de mettre un
terme a la politique de negation du genocide. Ce sont ces voix-la
qui doivent etre encouragees, dans l’interet meme de la Turquie et
de ses relations avec l’Europe. Comme les Francais et les Allemands
ont su se reconcilier après la terrible Seconde Guerre mondiale, il
faut se battre pour que les peuples armenien et turc se reconcilient,
ce qui necessite pour commencer que l’Etat turc reconnaisse la realite
du genocide armenien.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.armees.com/info/actualites/il-est-temps-de-penaliser-la-negation-du-genocide-armenien

Armenian DM Meets Iran’s Deputy Ministry Of Defense And Armed Forces

ARMENIAN DM MEETS IRAN’S DEPUTY MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AND ARMED FORCES LOGISTICS

armradio.am
03.05.2011 14:08

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received Iran’s Deputy
Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Resa Mosaffari Niya.

Discussed were issues related to the Armenian-Iranian cooperation in
the field of defense, Information and Public Relations Department of
the Ministry of Defense reported.

From: A. Papazian

What Marks Boundaries For Press Freedom? – Debate

WHAT MARKS BOUNDARIES FOR PRESS FREEDOM? – DEBATE

Tert.am
03.05.11

The press in Armenia is on the borderline between semi-free and free,
an Armenian expert has said.

At a news conference devoted to the World Press Freedom Day, Ashot
Melikyan, President of the Freedom of Speech Protection Committee,
said the Armenian media has been demonstrating signs of regress in the
recent years. He expressed concerns of some politicians’ intolerance
to media criticism.

“Criticism is the sacred duty of media. That’s an internationally
accepted standard which requires a high professionalism and a great
sense of responsibility,” he said.

Speaking further on the issue, Editor-in-Chief of Hetq Online (an NGO
of investigative journalists) Edik Baghdasaryan considered limitations
to press freedom a usual matter.

“I always say that no one sets the boundaries for freedom. It’s up
to each journalist to determine his or her limits. A journalist’s
unwillingness to prepare a material demonstrates that he/she is
getting used to the situation determined by his editors and chiefs.”

He also expressed astonishment that journalists often tolerate the
boundaries set by others.

“You have to gain your boundaries yourselves,” he said.

Upon Tert.am’s request, Melikyan spoke of the causes of the current
regress. He particularly indicated such factors as the level of press
freedom, poor laws and the lack of contact between the information
domain and reporters.

From: A. Papazian

Lithuanian Leader Favors Peace Settlement Of Karabakh Conflict

LITHUANIAN LEADER FAVORS PEACE SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

Tert.am
03.05.11

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, who is currently on a working
visit to Azerbaijan, has spoken of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
expressing support to its peaceful settlement.

Grybauskaite addressed the issue at a news conference in Baku,
according to the Azerbaijani news agency APA.

“Such conflicts lead to serious human losses in any country. They
have a tremendous impact on spiritual values. And it’s extremely
hard to overcome such difficulties. That requires patience, openness
and peaceful relations,” she said. “Europe, as well as the countries
worldwide support a peaceful conflict settlement. Lithuania is willing
to do its best to assist in your efforts.”

From: A. Papazian

ICRC Representatives Visit Armenian POWs

ICRC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT ARMENIAN POWS

Tert.am
03.05.11

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
visited Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan on Friday.

Citing a statement by the ICRC Office in Baku, the Azerbaijani news
agency APA reported that ICRC representatives conducted a situation
monitoring and gave the prisoners letters from the families.

Three Armenian soldiers, and five civilians are currently being held
in Azerbaijan.

The civilians – Yeghishe, Ruzanna, Alfred, Gayane and Petros Gasparyans
(all members of the same family) – were captured by Azeris in
January 2010.

The two soldiers – Ohan Harutyunyan and Gevorg Tovmasyan, have been
held POWs since May 2009 and July 2009, respectively.

From: A. Papazian

Armenians Lack Unanimous Agenda On Javakhk – Expert

ARMENIANS LACK UNANIMOUS AGENDA ON JAVAKHK – EXPERT

Tert.am
03.05.11

Armenians lack a unanimous agenda on Javakhk, says Vahe Sargsyan,
an expert from Mitk Analytical Center.

“Each of our government bodies is trying to do something to be useful
to the region, but we do not have a clear-cut concept reflecting
our ideas about Javakhk. We have no solution to the problem,” he
told Tert.am.

The expert stressed the importance of adopting a tougher stance on
the Armenian-populated Georgian region.

“We have influence over the 150,000 Armenians in Javakhk, so Georgia
has to win their hearts. Instead, they do the opposite; we are
attempting to win the Georgians’ hearts for them not to hurt the
Armenians there. We can make Javakhk a serious tool of influence on
Georgia. That may enable us to have the same transit privileges as
Azerbaijan,” Sargsyan added.

Speaking of the US Department of State’s 2010 report on human rights,
the expert noted that the document lacked precise information on
Javakhk Armenians.

“I think, however, it differs from all other reports issued
previously,” he said, adding that the authors of the document
misrepresented the arrests of young Javakhk Armenian activists,
failing to indicate that those people are sent to jail because of
their activities.

From: A. Papazian

French Leader Says He Won’t Oppose Genocide Denial Criminalization B

FRENCH LEADER SAYS HE WON’T OPPOSE GENOCIDE DENIAL CRIMINALIZATION BILL

Tert.am
03.05.11

French President Nicolas Sarkozy told a French-Armenian delegation
Saturday that he would not oppose the Armenian Genocide criminalization
bill, Asbarez.com reported.

The bill pending in the French Senate would criminalize the denial
of the Armenian Genocide, if approved.

A delegation of the Coordinating Council of Armenia Organization in
France met with the French leader at Elysee Palace to discuss the
bill and Sarkozy’s position on the matter.

Sarkozy stated that the government would not interfere in Senate
decision and guaranteed he would not oppose a vote in the Senate,
essentially saying that he would allow senators affiliated with his
party to vote their conscience. He also reiterated his position for
the need to continue the struggle against Armenian Genocide denial.

The Senate is set to debate and discuss the bill on Wednesday. While
the bill is overwhelmingly supported by the Socialist bloc of the
Senate, French Armenians indicate that it may meet with opposition
from the Communist bloc and other parties.

The CCAF has scheduled a rally-demonstration in front of the Senate
on Wednesday. The group held a similar rally last month with Charles
Aznavour and a slew of legislators, human rights activists and
political officials in attendance.

The CCAF delegation was led by Mourad Papazian and Ara Toranian and
included Patrick Devedjian and Levon Sayan, who represented Charles
Aznavour as he was in Switzerland for President Sarkisian’s visit
there. Jean-David Levitte, the Elysee Palace diplomatic adviser was
also on hand at the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

Coalition Statement Aimed To Push Robert Kocharian Out Of Political

COALITION STATEMENT AIMED TO PUSH ROBERT KOCHARIAN OUT OF POLITICAL FIELD

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 – 12:11 AMT

The statement adopted lately by the ruling coalition was aimed to
push former President Robert Kocharian out of the political field
and show that Kocharian lost the support of Prosperous Armenia party,
a political analyst said.

“Some in Serzh Sargsyan’s team, including Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, want to discredit Robert Kocharian, shouldering on him the
responsibility for the tragic events in March 2008,” Armen Aghayan
told reporters on May 3.

According to him, Armenian National Congress (ANC) leader Levon
Ter-Perossian has a similar objective. “Ter-Perossian wants to use
Kocharian’s mistakes and March 2008 to shield his own misconduct in
1996,” Aghayan said.

From: A. Papazian

Military Psychologist Says Current Situation With Azeri Society Abno

MILITARY PSYCHOLOGIST SAYS CURRENT SITUATION WITH AZERI SOCIETY ABNORMAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 – 08:35 AMT

Lack of own values, cultural heritage and historic past leads an ethic
community into appropriating the history of other nations, a military
psychologist stated.In a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter
David Jamalyan characterized current situation in Azeri society as
a consequence of ethnic sublimation.

“What’s happening with Azeri society abnormal. We live next to a
country, where the people have not even a theoretical idea about
co-existing next to the other nation. We’re doomed to living in a
situation of constant threat. This must be a warning for us to be
strong at all times,” the psychologist said.

From: A. Papazian

Israel Supports Efforts For Karabakh Conflict Peaceful Resolution

ISRAEL SUPPORTS EFFORTS FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT PEACEFUL RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2011 – 09:41 AMT

Pinchas Avivi, political director at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, has
said that Israel supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair
states to achieve a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

“A peace settlement of the conflict will make an important contribution
to regional stability in the Caucasus and assist in making the Caucasus
a region of cooperation, not confrontation. Israel welcomes the steps
taken by the president of Armenia and the president of Azerbaijan to
hold meetings, conversations and negotiations in order to reach an
agreed-upon solution to the NK conflict. A peaceful solution to the
conflict will be most highly welcomed by Israel,” he said.

The remarks followed the statement by Israeli ambassador to Azerbaijani
Mikhail Lavon, who said that Israel “supports territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan.”

Meanwhile, a source in the Israeli MFA told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter,
that amb. Lavon did not make a statement of the kind.

From: A. Papazian