Author: Andres-Papazian

TURKISH PRESIDENT TO ‘TAKE ACTION’ ON DINK CASE

by Asbare
Thursday, January 27th, 2011

ANKARA (Hurriyet Daily News)–Turkish President Abdullah Gul has
revealed plans to take action in the controversial Hrant Dink murder
case upon his return to Turkey, telling reporters in Strasbourg that
he plans on ordering further investigations into the stalled case.

Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin who wrote on subjects
that included the denial of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey and
the reconciliation between Armenians and Turks, was murdered four
years ago.

The Dink family recently made a new plea that police and gendarmerie
officials not questioned during the investigation be brought into the
scope of the investigation, given a recent European Court of Human
Rights decision that found Turkey guilty of both failing to protect
Dink and his freedom of speech and not properly investigating civil
servants suspected of being involved in the murder.

Gul said he was ashamed that the Turkish government was not able to
protect one of its citizens and that the system in place in Turkey
had proven to be “deeply troubling” given that the Dink case remains
unsolved after four years.

Gul said he planned to instruct the State Audit Board (DDK) to further
investigate the Dink case and bring to light what remains hidden.

Leaving the murder unsolved would be a “stain” on the country’s
history and raise concerns regarding the judiciary process, he said,
adding that solving the case with a determined approach would prevent
similar incidents from happening in the future.

The DDK recently called for a new investigation into a 2009
helicopter crash that killed a right-wing political party leader,
Muhsin Yazıcıoglu, after it found serious flaws in the Turkish
state’s response to the incident.

Meanwhile, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal
Kılıcdaroglu said Gul’s announcement could finally allow the
investigation to reveal the truth behind the murder.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) “conceals evidence,
instead of revealing it. We know that those who hide evidence are
elevated to high positions. It is a great development that the
president is stepping in. Maybe the public can finally learn the
facts that have been hidden,” Kılıcdaroglu said.

From: A. Papazian

FRESNO AYF SENDS 700 TOYS TO ORPHANAGES IN ARMENIA, KARABAKH FOR CHRISTMAS
BY SEVAG JIERIAN

by Asbarez
Thursday, January 27th, 2011

FRESNO, CA-The Armenian Youth Federation’s Fresno “Kevork Chavoush”
chapter collected and delivered more than 700 toys to orphanages
throughout Armenia and Karabakh this Armenian Christmas, reported
the Armenian Youth Federation.

The toy-drive, an annual tradition for the chapter, began mid November
2010 and ended on January 6, 2011 with the delivery of the toys to
orphanages operated by the Armenian Relief Society.

According to Chapter Chairperson Anto Torossian, this was the
most successful toy drive to date. “Four years after starting
this tradition, the chapter was able to put a smile on the face of
700 different children, the most we’ve ever impacted,” explained
Torossian. “We could not have done this without the help of our
local community, the dedication of our members and the support of
the Armenian Relief Society.

“With the help of the Armenian Relief Society Western Region out of
Glendale, CA, we are able to ship the toys to Armenia and distribute
them to orphanages operated by the ARS,” Torossian said. “They have
been a great help to us, ensuring that the toys reach the hands of
less fortunate children in the homeland.”

“In 2007 the Fresno “Kevork Chavoush” Chapter set out to help our
little brothers and sisters in Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh by
bringing smiles to their faces,” said Jierian. “That year we collected
a mere 150 toys, so we promised ourselves to make this an annual event,
while outdoing the previous year.”

Torossian described the event as a privilege for everyone involved.

“The toy drive allowed our members to work with many generous people
and businesses in the community to successfully match and exceed the
number of toys collected from previous years, and more importantly,
to help youth in our homeland.”

From: A. Papazian

PORTANTINO AND ACHADJIAN CALL FOR GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

by Asbarez
Thursday, January 27th, 2011

SACRAMENTO-Assmeblymembers Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge)
and Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian, (R-San Luis Obispo), along with
State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) introduced AJR 2 designating
April 24, 2011 as California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian
Genocide. For the past several years, the state Legislature has
memorialized the events of the early 20th century with a resolution
marking April 24th as the symbolic beginning of the Armenian Genocide.

The resolution calls on President Obama and Congress to formally
recognize the atrocities committed during the genocide and calls
on Turkey to acknowledge its role in the Armenian Genocide and the
deaths of more than 1.5 million people.

The word “genocide” was first used in 1948 in the establishment of
the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
Genocide in referring to “the Turkish massacres of Armenians”.

California is home to the largest population of Armenians outside of
Armenia with large numbers of Americans of Armenian ancestry living
in the Southern California cities of Burbank, Glendale, Hollywood
and Pasadena.

“The Armenian massacre was one of the greatest crimes in modern history
and to ignore it is to condone,” said Assemblymember Portantino. “I
am honored to join my new colleague, Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian,
in the introduction of this Resolution remembering the 1.5 million
Armenians who were tragically killed in the first genocide of the
20th Century. We hope to properly commemorate this horrendous act
and offer some peace and respect for the survivors and their family
members who live in California.”

AJR 2 is a bi-partisan and bi-cameral effort, jointly authored by
Portantino and Achadjian with Principal co-authors, State Senators
Joe Simitian, Tom Berryhill, Kevin De Leon, Carol Liu, Mark Wyland,
and Leland Yee and Assemblymembers Mike Gatto and Linda Halderman.

From: A. Papazian

OBAMA RENOMINATES BRYZA FOR FULL TERM

by Asbarez
Thursday, January 27th, 2011

WASHINGTON-President Barack Obama, in the wake of his controversial
last-minute “recess” appointment of Matt Bryza as Ambassador to
Azerbaijan in the final days of 2010, is now seeking formal Senate
support for extending the term of this contentious envoy’s service
in Baku, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

The President’s recess appointment of Brzya, in the last days of the
111th Congress, came despite “holds” placed on his confirmation by
Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ). A
“hold” is a Senatorial privilege that effectively blocks the full
Senate from voting upon a presidential nomination. The President’s
push to get Bryza to Baku reflects a lack of concern on the part of
his Administration regarding Bryza’s unusually close and controversial
ties to Azerbaijani government officials, his deeply troubling track
record as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus, and persistent
conflict of interest issues related to the Caspian energy industry.

“Armenian American voters are, once again, disappointed that President
Obama – having failed to honor any of his many pledges to Armenian
American voters – is now, over the strong objections of Senators from
his own party, pressing for Senate confirmation of his controversial
and deeply flawed recess appointment of Matt Bryza as Ambassador to
Azerbaijan,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We look
to Senators to stand up for U.S. interests, American values, and our
nation’s diplomatic credibility by doing everything in their power
to prevent the confirmation of this candidate.”

Armenian Americans are encouraged to express their concerns about
President Obama’s decision, and to urge the Senate to block his
confirmation by sending free ANCA Webmails using the links below:

ANCA WebMail to President Obama:

ANCA WebMail to U.S. Senators:

Bryza, who had served as Organization of Security and Cooperation
in Europe Mink Group Co-Chair, charged with mediating the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict from 2006 through 2009, was nominated for U.S.

Ambassador to Azerbaijan in May of 2010. The Armenian National
Committee of America opposed his nomination, issuing a 10-page
report citing issues ranging from conflict of interest concerns to
his prolonged inaction in the face of the Azerbaijani Government’s
destruction of the 13th Century Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, and his
inordinately close ties to the dictatorial Aliyev Administration.

A complete overview of ANCA concerns can be found at:

Following his Senate confirmation hearing this July, 2010, Bryza
was asked to respond to several rounds of written questions from
Senators regarding his track record in the region. After reviewing
his testimony, written responses, and reviewing his diplomatic record,
Senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez placed a “hold” on Bryza’s
nomination, effectively blocking a vote on his nomination by the
full Senate.

In her remarks during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote
on his candidacy, Senator Boxer explained that she voted against the
Bryza nomination because he had not demonstrated the willingness or the
ability to meaningfully confront Azerbaijan’s aggression. “Despite my
appreciation for Mr. Bryza’s long service as a Foreign Service Officer,
I don’t believe he is the right person for this position,” explained
Senator Boxer. “What concerns me is that Mr. Bryza has demonstrated
a pattern of unwillingness to speak out forcefully in the face of
increasing Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh.”

Senator Menendez, who has played a constructive role in reviewing the
Bryza confirmation process, noted that he had “serious reservations
about the U.S. ambassador nominee to Azerbaijan,” citing Bryza’s
inaction in the face of Azerbaijan’s desecration of the Djulfa cemetery
close personal ties to regional leaders, and therefore about his
ability to act as an unbiased representative of the United States
in Azerbaijan.

Even Senators voting in favor of Bryza expressed worries about his
nomination. The panel’s Chairman, John Kerry (D-MA), stated that
he appreciated the concerns raised by Senators Menendez and Boxer
and anticipated continued Senate scrutiny. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)
issued a statement following the vote, stating that he found concerns
raised by constituents and others “troubling, particularly Mr. Bryza’s
relationship with the Azerbaijan Government.”

From: A. Papazian

WORLD BANK EXTENDS 68M DOLLARS IN LOANS TO ARMENIA

Mediamax
Jan 26 2011
Armenia

Yerevan, 26 January: Head of Yerevan representative office of World
Bank (WB) Jean-Michel Happi and Armenian Minister of Finance Vache
Gabrielyan signed three loan agreements totaling 68m dollars in
Yerevan today.

Mediamax was informed in the press service of the Ministry of Finance
that WB allocates 25m dollars to Armenia within the framework of
“Second Development Policy Program”, 24m dollars for “E-Community and
Competitiveness Innovation Program” and 19m dollars for additional
financing of healthcare system modernization program.

The first loan aims at poverty reduction and economy stimulation, the
second one at establishment of auspicious environment for e-community
formation in Armenia though providing for basic infrastructures,
the third one at increase of healthcare system management efficiency
and increase of affordability and quality of medical services in
the regions.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER KILLED NEAR KARABAKH: MINISTRY

Agence France Presse
January 26, 2011 Wednesday 7:03 AM GMT

An Azerbaijani army soldier has been killed in the latest outbreak
of shooting around the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region, Azerbaijan’s
defence ministry said on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the defence ministry in Baku told AFP the soldier had
been killed on Tuesday when Armenian forces opened fire on Azerbaijani
positions across the ceasefire line, which has divided the opposing
sides since the end of the Karabakh war in 1994.

It was the third reported death amid exchanges of fire this month.

Tensions over Karabakh have mounted over the past year amid stalled
peace talks, with more than 20 soldiers reported to have been killed
in 2010.

International mediators have raised concern about increasing violence
over the region, where ethnic Armenian separatists backed by Yerevan
seized control from Baku in a war in the early 1990s that left an
estimated 30,000 dead.

Azerbaijan has threatened to use force to win back Karabakh if peace
talks do not yield satisfactory results, while Armenia has warned of
large-scale retaliation if Baku launches any military action.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL, ARMENIA

Anadolu Agency
Jan 25 2011
Turkey

Strasbourg, 25 January: Turkish President Abdullah Gul said
that genocide had never been a part of Turkey’s history, adding,
“If we concentrate on the history, no-one in Europe cannot look at
each other’s face. What we have to do is to create a better future
together.”

President Gul addressed the plenary session of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe after Turkey has taken over
chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. He also replied questions
of members of the PACE.

“Turkey has made a series of reforms to raise democratic and legal
standards. There are still many things to do. Turkey is aware of its
deficiencies and continue making reforms with a great determination,”
he said.

President Gul said that general election would take place in Turkey
this summer, adding that preparation of a new constitution would be
high on the country’s agenda after the election.

Asked about restoration of places of worship belonged to the minorities
in Turkey, President Gul said, “We are obliged to respect people’s
religious beliefs. Freedom of religion is one of the most important
parts of the fundamentals rights and freedoms. Anyone should be able
to perform their religious duties freely in Turkey.

Restoration of old mosques and churches have already begun with the
support of the government. For instance, the historical Armenian
church in eastern Turkey has been restored.”

Replying to a question about illegal migration, President Gul said,
“Turkey has taken all necessary measures and set up cooperation ties
with international organizations to prevent illegal migration on its
territories. I believe that we need to further develop cooperation
in combat against illegal migration instead of accusing each other.”

Referring to Turkey-Israel relations, President Gul said, “Turkey’s
role as a mediator in the Middle East aims at ensuring stability,
tranquillity and cooperation in the region. Our country has rooted
relations with all countries in a vast geography. As a result, we have
the capacity to contribute to solution of problems in our region. Both
Israeli government and Palestinians requested our assistance in
the past. Latest situation in Turkey-Israel relations emerged as a
preference of Israel. As for the ongoing Gazan blockade, the Council
of Europe, the United Nations and the other human rights organizations
said that such a collective punishment was not legal. As you know,
an aid flotilla carrying people from 47 countries was subject to
an attack by Israeli forces in the international waters. It is not
Turkey but Israel which is responsible for the recent situation in
Turkey-Israel relations.”

Asked about the Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915,
President Gul said, “genocide has never been a part of our history. We
called on Armenia to establish a joint commission to carry out
a detailed research. We are also ready to open our military and
civil archives. Saddening things happened during the World War I. The
Ottoman Empire had to relocate some of its citizens after they uprising
against the state. Genocide means intentional killing of people from a
certain faith or race. In those days, Armenian citizens were acting as
ambassadors, members of the higher courts in the Ottoman Empire. All
Armenian churches were open then. It is unacceptable to define those
bitter events as genocide. If we concentrate on the history, no one
in Europe cannot look at each other’s face. What we have to do is to
create a better future together.”

“Turkey has made a significant progress in its zero-problem policy for
the neighbouring countries. Turkey has the political will to normalize
its relations with Armenia. But 20 per cent of Azerbaijiani territory
has been under occupation of Armenia. Armenia has to withdraw from
Azerbaijani territory,” he said.

President Gul also complained about the European Union’s visa
proceedings for Turkish citizens. “The union should review and change
its visa policy,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

HIGH COURT WON’T HEAR CASE AGAINST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Lisa Redmond

Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
January 26, 2011 Wednesday

LOWELL — “An abomination” is how Pearl Teague describes a
Turkish-American group’s attempt to use the nation’s high court to
force public-school systems in Massachusetts to include a viewpoint
in the curriculum that denies there was an Armenian genocide after
World War I.

The court case drew attention because it brought into public classrooms
the controversial, historical debate over whether the deaths of about
1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks could be labeled
a genocide.

But late last week, Armenians across the country and the approximately
7,000 Armenians in the Lowell area applauded a U.S. Supreme Court
ruling that refused to take up a case of the “contra-Armenian genocide”
viewpoint.

The Supreme Court declined to hear a First Amendment appeal in the
Massachusetts’ case of Griswold versus Driscoll.

Theodore Griswold, a Lincoln-Sudbury High School student; his father,
Thomas Griswold, of Sudbury; William Schechter, a Lincoln-Sudbury
social-studies teacher; and Lawrence Aaronson, a social-studies
teacher at Cambridge Rindge & Latin, along with the Assembly of Turkish
American Associations, sued Massachusetts Commissioner of Education
David Driscoll in federal court for not allowing their standpoint in
statewide curriculum.

Teague, a spokeswoman for the Lowell-based Armenian National Committee
of Merrimack Valley, explained that the contra-genocide viewpoint
for Armenians is “tantamount to denying the Holocaust” for the Jews.

Joseph Dagdigian, a past chairman of ANC of Merrimack Valley, said
the lawsuit is just another attempt by those who deny there was
an Armenian genocide to “reach into American society and refuse to
acknowledge that this was a planned genocide.”

Attorney Harvey Silverglate, one of the attorneys representing
Griswold, described the case on his website as “an important First
Amendment case involving censorship from school reference materials…”

The Turkish-American group maintains that the Muslim Turkish Ottoman
Empire did not commit “a policy” of genocide after World War I. While
not denying the tragedy, Silverglate wrote, his clients “dispute the
genocide label.”

The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in 2005 in U.S. District Court in
Boston alleging their First Amendment rights to learn, free from
discrimination, were violated by eliminating from public-school
materials viewpoints that suggest there was no genocide.

The First U.S. District Court of Appeals in August affirmed a
lower-court decision dismissing the lawsuit. When the high court
decided not to tackle the issue, it allowed the appeals-court decision
to stand.

“This victory, while certainly a serious setback to Turkey’s campaign
of denial…will, just as surely, not mark the end of the concerted
and well-funded efforts by allies of Ankara to use our nation’s great
freedoms to silence discussion of the Armenian genocide in America’s
classrooms,” said Armenian National Committee of America Executive
Director Aram Hamparian.

“There will always be those who deny the genocide,” said Teague. “But
it legitimates that viewpoint if it becomes part of public-school
curriculum. ”

As recently as two years ago, Vergin Mazmanian, then 100, a survivor of
the 1915 Armenian genocide, spoke to Wilmington High School students
about being rounded up by the Ottoman Army before daylight and forced
to begin a death march with only the clothes on their backs.

She told the students stories about hunger, suffering and watching
family members die.

Mazmanian never saw her home again.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS BEREAVED RELATIVES OF ARMY SOLDIERS

Demotix.com

Jan 27 2011

RA President Serzh Sargsyan talks to relatives of soldiers who died
during their obligatory service in Armenian State Army. The protesters
are demanding investigations of all army death cases. Yerevan,
Armenia. 27/01/2011

After the awarding ceremony of military workers, RA President Serzh
Sargsyan while being photographed in a group photo, went to a crowd
of relatives of soldiers who died, during their obligatory service
in Armenian State Army.

The Armenian Army is the largest branch of the Armed Forces of Armenia
and consists of the ground forces responsible for the country’s
land-based operations. It was established in conjunction with the
other components of Armenia’s military on January 28, 1992, several
months after the republic declared its independence from the Soviet
Union. The army’s first head was the former deputy commander-in-chief
of the Soviet Ground Forces, Norat Ter-Grigoryants.

In compliance with its strategic allies, Armenia has sent over
1,500 officers to be trained in Greece and Russia. Since the end
of the Nagorno-Karabakh War, Armenia has committed many elements
of the army to help bolster the defense and defend the unrecognized
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh from a possible renewal of hostilities
with neighboring Azerbaijan. Jane’s World Armies reports that both
conscripts and officers from Armenia are routinely sent for duty to
Karabakh, often posted to the frontline between Karabakh Armenian
and Azerbaijani forces.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH COMMEMORATION OF HOLOCAUST IS SEGUE TO ARMENIAN RECOGNITION
Michael Cerkas

HULIQ.com
Jan 27 2011
SC

ShareToday, January 27, 2011, marks the first occurrence of a
state-initiated ceremony by Turkey to remember and honor the victims
of the Holocaust at the hands of German Nazi’s and their collaborators
during World War II.

January 27 represents the date of the liberation of the Auschwitz
Death Camp 66 years ago (1945).

The ceremony at Istanbul reflects a current tumultuous relationship
between Turkey and former ally Israel over the Jewish state’s treatment
of Palestinians.

Turkey has historically released statements that denounced the genocide
of Jews, however, the official ceremony that was held today at the Neve
Salom synagogue in Istanbul, underscores Turkey’s position as well as
visibly and emphatically demonstrates a condemnation of the Holocaust.

The ceremony was attended by people within the local Jewish community
as well as the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The Jewish community had issued the following statement with regard
to this first public and official Turkish ceremony; “It is humanity’s
obligation to condemn and Holocaust, which aimed to completely destroy
a people, to take necessary measures to prevent future genocides and
to encourage efforts to educate new generations.”

The most recent physical action taken by Turkey denouncing the
Holocaust and remembering the Jews that were killed, occurred in 2005.

Current Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, attended a public ceremony
held at Auschwitz that marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation
of the death (concentration) camp.

This overt action taken by Turkey to pay homage to the victims of
the Holocaust is anticipated by many Armenians to be an indication of
future action that Turkey might take in recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, also known as the Armenian Holocaust or Armenian Massacres
that occurred in 1915.

During that time, the Ottoman Empire deliberately and systematically
exterminated (killed) an estimated one and a half million Armenians,
destroying an entire people. The Armenian Holocaust is considered to
have been one of the first modern genocides.

The successor to the Ottoman Empire is the Republic of Turkey.

Historically, it has denied the use of the term genocide to describe
the events of 1915. In recent years, Turkey has received repeated
calls to accept the events as genocide. To date, 20 countries have
already officially recognized the events as genocide.

Armenians view today’s official ceremony by Turkey of the Jewish
Holocaust as an indication that Turkey may be nearing an official
recognition of the Armenian Holocaust as well.

From: A. Papazian