Author: Andres-Papazian

ANALYSIS: ‘GENOCIDE’ TERM STILL NOT USED

The New Age, South Africa
May 6 2014

Tom Wheeler

A South Africa’s ambassador to Turkey in the late ’90s and early 2000s,
I was amazed to learn of the statement issued by Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 23, the 99th anniversary of the events
commonly known as the Armenian genocide. It was a forbidden topic
during my tenure.

The fact that there was no mention in South African media is probably
attributable to the absence of an identifiable Armenian diaspora here.

Erdogan conveyed his condolences to the descendants of those
Armenians who lost their lives in 1915. The statement, issued in
Turkish, Armenian and seven other languages, elicited widely different
reactions in Turkey and abroad. The Armenian Patriarch Archbishop Aram
Atesyan, based in Istanbul, met with Erdogan. At the other extreme,
the president of Armenia dismissed the statement because Erdogan had
avoided referring to the events as “genocide”.

Some commentators have noted that the statement was probably a
foreign policy ploy drafted in the foreign ministry, rather than
in Erdogan’s prime ministry. It was seen to be aimed at influencing
relations between Turkey and the US, rather than with Armenia. As it
is, US President Barack Obama in his annual statement on the topic
failed again to use the word “genocide,” indicating perhaps that
sound relations with Turkey are more important than the votes of the
Armenian diaspora in the US.

The term genocide is simply not used in Turkey, even though the events
took place several years before the declaration of the Turkish republic
in 1923. Orders for the expulsion of Armenians from Anatolia came
from the Young Turks who ruled the Ottoman Empire during the First
World War.

In 2008 the Armenian diaspora commissioned a British queen’s counsel,
Geoffrey Robinson, to study the records to establish whether there was
indeed a case of genocide for Turkey to answer. He did find that by
current definitions genocide did occur. But interestingly he reveals
something not commonly known.

In October 1918, at the end of the First World War, the Young Turks
lost power and the Ottoman Sultan appointed a military tribunal that
found many of them guilty of “deportation and massacre”. Oddly, the
Turkish republican government has never used this information in its
own defence.

On the other hand, Turkey was one of the first countries to recognise
the independence of Armenia after the Soviet Union’s collapse.

In 2009, the current president of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, engaged in some
football diplomacy not unlike the ping-pong diplomacy of the Nixon era
in the US when Nixon used sport as a way to open contact with China.

Gul went to the Armenian capital to watch the European Cup of Nations’
football match between the two countries at the invitation of Armenian
President Serzh Sargsian, who later attended a return match in Bursa,
Turkey.

Regrettably the Swiss-brokered protocol to end the dispute at that
time came to naught.

The cause of the deadlock was the unresolved 1993 invasion and
occupation by Armenia of the Azerbaijan enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan, which also became independent at the demise of the USSR,
is a Turkic-speaking state with which Turkey has close fraternal
relations.

The refusal of Turkey to recognise the events of 1915 as “genocide”
combined with the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh issue have up to now
made a solution impossible.

What then could be the reason for the sudden reconciliatory gesture
by the Turkish prime minister?

The centenary of the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands of
Armenians from Anatolia to Syria and the death of the majority of them,
whether one terms that genocide or not, will be one year from now,
on April 24, 2015.

In his statement, Erdogan, perhaps for the first time ever, made
a clear distinction between the Ottoman Sultanate responsible for
the events of 1915 and the current republican government created 94
years ago.

While Erdogan has been criticised as opportunistic by some of his own
countrymen, on both the right and the liberal left, this is the first
real gesture indicating any shift in the Turkish position that could
lead to possible reconciliation between the two countries and to the
“common future” referred to in the statement.

Armenia certainly needs a solution and an open border with Turkey. It
is a poverty-stricken country without resources and therefore very
much in the thrall of Putin’s Russia.

It has already signed up to the Eurasian Union, the means by which
Moscow wishes to reconstruct the empire of the czars.

The unresolved problem of Nagorno-Karabakh remains a stumbling
block but Erdogan’s move gives Turkey the political advantage in the
international perception of his country.

Then again, Erdogan’s harsh response to Turkey’s May Day demonstrations
will probably undo any personal advantage his statement on Armenia
may have brought.

Tom Wheeler is an independent commentator and former diplomat

From: A. Papazian

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS TURN ATTENTION FROM STATE TO CAUCASUS REGION

Los Angeles Times, CA
May 6 2014

by Melanie Mason

tate lawmakers Monday briefly turned their attention from California
to the Caucasus region as an Assembly panel approved a measure
touching on a long-standing geopolitical feud between Armenia and
Azerbaijan.

At issue is Nagorno-Karabakh, a semiautonomous territory within
Azerbaijan’s borders but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. A
resolution by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) expresses support
for Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence — a departure from U.S. foreign
policy, which considers the region to be part of Azerbaijan. For
decades, the two countries have disputed the region, and international
negotiations have stalled.

Gatto, speaking before the Assembly Rules Committee, said the measure
was a “a simple item … an expression of support for a people who have
embraced our own American values of democracy and self-determination.”

But the thorniness of the conflict was apparent in the vastly
conflicting accounts from Armenians and Azerbaijanis who attended the
hearing. The room was packed with members of the respective
communities — who generally sat on opposite sides of the room — as
witnesses alternately cast Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence movement as
a legitimate aspiration for freedom or an undemocratic land grab.

“As Americans, we have a moral imperative grounded in our own
courageous history to protect human rights even if they are half a
world away,” said Nora Hovspepian, chair of the Armenian National
Committee of America-Western Region, speaking in favor of the measure.

But Dr. Ismail Rustamov, president of the Azerbaijani-American
Council, said the resolution was “extremely biased and factually
incorrect.”

“Does the author realize that the adoption of this resolution will
damage a peaceful settlement of the conflict? Does he wish to create a
war?” Rustamov asked.

The measure is a symbolic one, conveying the Legislature’s backing of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence to President Obama and Congress. But
the resolution — versions of which have been passed in a few other
states such as Louisiana and Rhode Island — diverges from the State
Department at a particularly sensitive time, given the upheaval in
eastern Ukraine.

Thomas de Waal, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace, said the Legislature taking on this issue was
“certainly strange — a state Assembly making its own ruling on U.S.

government foreign policy because of the pressure of local politics in
the shape of a diaspora Armenian community.”

California — and particularly Gatto’s district — is home to a large
Armenian American population.

De Waal, an expert on the South Caucasus region, said it was unlikely
the resolution could affect U.S. diplomacy on the issue, but added:
“If it is unhelpful, it is because it feeds into Azerbaijani paranoia
about the Armenian lobby, which is exaggerated.”

In an interview, Gatto acknowledged that wading into geopolitical
conflicts could be fraught.

“I really, really wrestled with whether this was an appropriate action
by the California Legislature,” Gatto said. But he noted that state
lawmakers occasionally wade into international affairs, such as voting
in favor of divestment from South Africa during the apartheid era and
condemning Russia’s treatment of gay people in advance of the Sochi
Winter Olympics.

“Every once in a while, when there’s an issue of moral importance,
it’s appropriate for California to weigh in on foreign policy,” he
said.

Assemblyman Rocky J. Chavez (R-Oceanside) was wary of the measure’s
wording, which supports the self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“It’s nice that we talk about self-determination, but if we actually
practice self-determination, you find us involved in all kinds” of
regional conflicts, he said. “There are great implications that we’re
talking about. We, in this body, should stay within our circle of
influence.”

Chavez was the only no vote on the panel; Assemblyman Curt Hagman
(R-Chino Hills) abstained.

“I have serious trepidation about California’s state Assembly engaging
in international issues,” said Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park), the
committee chairman. But he said he voted yes because “there ought to
be an opportunity for a discussion about whether or not we should be
engaging in these kinds of issues to occur on the [Assembly] floor.”

From: A. Papazian

THE PEOPLE SPEAK – ARE WE ACCESSORIES TO GENOCIDE?

Muskogee Daily Phoenix, Oklahoma
May 5 2014

The Muskogee Phoenix Mon May 05, 2014, 11:17 PM CDT

Recently, Mark Levin and Walid Shoebat made presentations per Internet
media about the silence of the Western world to the plight of untold
numbers of Christians being persecuted horrendously. Walid Shoebat
was being interviewed by Mark about this travesty because most people
didn’t know of its occurrence.

The March-April 2014 edition of BARNABAS AID, p. 3, addresses this
situation described in a diplomatic report of March 1896 of the
massacres of Armenian Christians in the Ottoman Empire 1895-96: “88,000
Armenians killed; 568 churches destroyed; 328 churches turned into
mosques; 2,400 villages looted; 646 villages forcefully Islamized.” The
survivors, refugees, displayed hopelessness and unbearable hardships.”

The reader/listener asks if the European politicians of 1896 were
alerted to this tragedy, why did they not act? Mark raised his
voice saying if we today know of more like tragedies, why is there no
response from politicians or from churches? The persecution lasted for
nearly 30 more years, peaking in 1915 with a total death toll of over
1.5 million Armenians and Assyrian Christians; however, during WWI,
the German government asked “the church” to keep silent about the
genocide to avoid disrupting the German-Turkish alliance.

At last there is a beginning realization of the gravity of the
situation among those who have the power, influence and money to change
the course of events. We, the People, need to speak out against those
afflicted ones whose welfare or lack of may lead to the extinction
of the Church in the Middle East.

Walid Shoebat, a former Muslim Brotherhood member himself, now a
Christian peace activist, heads up the organization RESCUE CHRISTIANS.

His site for information and donations is

Walid’s newsletter of March 24, 2014 contains an article, “America is
Now an Accessory to Genocide.” We, as a country, are allies of those
who are the murderers. The last two presidential elections have been
recipients of material support from the Muslim Brotherhood.

CATHERINE WHITE Muskogee

From: A. Papazian

IRAN ALWAYS WILLING TO BRING ABOUT STABILITY TO THE REGION: ZARIF

Mehr News Agency (MNA), Iran
May 5, 2014 Monday

TEHRAN, May 5 (MNA) – Iran’s FM has said Iran has been always willing
to help create peace and stability in the region. Mohammad Javad Zarif,
who was speaking to the reporters in his joint press conference with
Armenian counterpart Mr. Edward Nalbandian today in Tehran, said
that he was pleased to receive a politician from Iran’s neighboring
country of Armenia.

“Our relations with Armenia have been long-lasting and quite cordial,”
Zarif described the nature of relations between two neighbors. He also
pointed to cultural ties between two nations. “Both countries lead
a relationship based on mutual respect and national interests, with
both countries making similar positions in international community,”
Zarif told the press. Zarif reiterated Iran’s gratitude for Armenian
support for the Islamic Republic of Iran in international politics
and provided an outline of his meeting with Armenian FM. “We discussed
political, parliamentary, cultural, and economic relations and possible
ways to expand ties in transportation, energy, and banking sectors,”
he said. “We also discussed the developments in Ukraine and Syria and
peaceful venues for the crises was emphasized upon by both of us,”
Zarif said, and that “The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that
the region should be a region of peace and security for all and
we are willing to help create peace and security in any subjects
possible.” SH/ZK MNA END

From: A. Papazian

L’ARMENIE ET LA GEORGIE SIGNENT UN NOUVEL ACCORD POUR REPRENDRE LA COOPERATION DANS LE SECTEUR DU TOURISME

ARMENIE

Le Gouvernement arménien a approuvé la signature d’un accord
avec le gouvernement géorgien pour la coopération dans le secteur
touristique.

Le ministre de l’Economie Vahram Avanesyan, présentant la question
a d’autres ministres lors de la réunion du Cabinet a déclaré que
les gouvernements des deux pays ont signé un accord similaire en
1993 pour dix ans.

” La durée du contrat a déja expiré et, en fait, par la signature
de ce nouvel accord nous allons reprendre notre coopération avec la
Géorgie dans le domaine touristique ”, a-t-il dit.

Selon ministère de l’Intérieur de la Géorgie, 1,28 millions citoyens
arméniens ont visité la Géorgie en 2013. L’Arménie est le deuxième
plus grand fournisseur de touristes a la Géorgie.

mardi 6 mai 2014, Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

PENALISATION DU NEGATIONNISME : UNE SOLUTION ALTERNATIVE a L’ATTENTISME

COMMUNIQUÃ~I DE VALERIE BOYER

A la veille du 99e anniversaire du génocide arménien de 1915,
le Premier Ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a présenté ses ”
condoléances ” aux petits enfants des victimes arméniennes. La
communauté internationale, considérant qu’il s’agissait la d’un
progrès, a dÔ être surprise par l’explication de texte donnée le 29
avril 2014 par le même Erdogan qui a déclaré cyniquement : ” S’il
s’agissait d’un génocide, pourrait-il encore y avoir des Arméniens en
Turquie ? ” (29 avril 2014, AFP). Alors même que Francois Hollande
qualifiait ces condoléances ” d’évolution ”, nous pouvons nous
interroger sur les réelles motivations du Premier Ministre turc,
tout juste deux mois après les négociations commerciales engagées
avec le président Hollande a l’occasion de son voyage en Turquie.

En adressant ses ” condoléances ” aux petits-enfants des victimes
arméniennes, au lieu de présenter au minimum des excuses, Erdogan
consolide sa position négationniste. Seule nouveauté : il cesse la
sa stratégie d’évitement.

Mettant en balance les souffrances des ” millions de citoyens ottomans
”, sans jamais évoquer le génocide des Arméniens, Erdogan souhaite
” partager librement les opinions sur une question historique ”
et donc autoriser les ” opinions ” négationnistes. Seuls des
observateurs naïfs ou partisans ont pu finalement imaginer que
les propos tenus le 23 avril 2104 pouvaient laisser espérer une
reconnaissance du génocide de 1915. Parallèlement, dans un article
du Monde du 25 avril 2014, nous apprenions qu’un projet de loi de
pénalisation du négationnisme avait été porté par l’Elysée,
puis soumis pour expertise au conseil d’état l’année dernière,
et ce dans le silence le plus total.

L’article nous révèle que ” le Conseil d’Etat a donné un avis
défavorable au nouveau texte qui lui fut transmis par le gouvernement,
au motif que celui-ci méconnaissait le principe de prévisibilité
de la loi pénale ”. Cet échec du gouvernement n’a jamais été
rendu public.

Cela explique les effets d’annonce de Francois Hollande, celui de ses
voyages en Arménie en mai 2014 et avril 2015, celui de la création
d’un centre de la mémoire et de la civilisation, etc. Autant de
maigres lots de consolation alors que la seule chose attendue depuis
deux ans par les Francais d’origine arménienne et les défenseurs
des droits de l’homme est une loi de pénalisation du négationnisme.

J’ai été trop impliquée dans le combat contre le négationnisme du
génocide de 1915 reconnu par une loi francaise de 2001, notamment avec
ma proposition de loi n°3842 du 18 octobre 2011 portant transposition
du droit communautaire sur la lutte contre le racisme et réprimant
la contestation de l’existence du génocide arménien, pour ne pas
réagir a cette nouvelle attaque. L’arrêt Perincek de la CEDH du 17
décembre 2013, qui légitime le négationnisme au nom de la liberté
d’expression, est la preuve qu’un texte de pénalisation est plus que
jamais nécessaire. La situation est néanmoins claire aujourd’hui. La
majorité socialiste n’aura pas le courage de présenter un projet
de loi avant une solution définitive de la Cour, autant dire pas
avant 2017.

Francois Hollande n’a pas non plus eu le courage de répondre au
cynisme d’Erdogan. Il n’est pourtant pas concevable d’organiser les
commémorations du centenaire du génocide de 1915 sans que justice
ne soit rendue aux victimes et a leurs descendants. Il est urgent de
trouver une solution alternative a l’attentisme. Qu’attendons-nous ?

mardi 6 mai 2014, Ara ©armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: “LET THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COME TO A STRAIGHT PATH AT LEAST FOR THE SAKE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED OF HUNGER”

APA, Azerbaijan
May 5 2014

[ 05 May 2014 14:27 ]

“Some people say that the Armenians’ visiting Azerbaijan is wrong,
I disagree with it”

Baku. Ramiz Mikayiloghlu – APA. “The U.S., Europe benefit from
our energy resources. Then why don’t they uphold justice in the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem. We have normal relations both with Russia and
Iran. Why don’t they give real support to us in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict? It shows that they want it to be so,” Deputy Prime Minister,
Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Refugees and IDPs Ali
Hasanov said at the presentation ceremony of “With confidence in a
great victory” documentary about the liberation of Horadiz and 22
other villages of Fuzuli region that was shot on the occasion of the
91st anniversary of Heydar Aliyev’s birthday.

Hasanov noted that let the aforementioned countries once reveal a true
reason of their position: “Therefore, we trust only in our state,
nation and President. Our army that didn’t have enough ammunition
liberated Horadiz and 22 villages under the leadership of Heydar
Aliyev. Today, the Azerbaijani army is the strongest army in the
region, Goycha and Zengezur will be also liberated under the order
of President Ilham Aliyev. Except government officials, people live
in poverty in Armenia. Let them come to a straight path at least
for the sake of the people who died of hunger. I have recently
received a large group of journalists of the Council of Europe. I
asked them why there were no Armenian journalists among them. They
had to come and see everything. Some people say that the Armenians’
visiting Azerbaijan is wrong. I disagree with it. They should visit
Azerbaijan and witness the development of Azerbaijan. Maybe, in this
case the Armenians will realize the truth and it will be a revolution.”

Hasanov told that Turkey takes fairer and unbiased position on
Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV: THE CONTINUOUS TALKS ON KARABAKH WILL WORK PROPERLY ONLY AFTER AN ABSOLUTE RULING OUT OF THE BATTLE ACTIONS

by Marianna Lazarian

Tuesday, April 29, 13:13

The continuous talks on Karabakh will work properly only after an
absolute ruling out of the battle actions, the former co-chair of
the OSCE MG, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Diplomats’ Association,
Vladimir Kazimirov, wrote in the article published in Nezavisimaya
gazeta on 28 April.

He said that peace for Nagornyy Karabakh seriously guaranteed by
Azerbaijan as well as by the superpowers would change positions of the
Armenians, and they would be forced to gradually leave the occupied
territories. But Baku, allegedly striving to resolving of the conflict
as soon as possible, still goes on doing everything visa versa –
despite the declared interests, it prolongs the status-quo, he said.

The diplomate also thinks that unwillingness to recognize Nagornyy
Karabakh as a party to the conflict and a participant in the talks
is another obstacle in the talks. “Without participation of Nagornyy
Karabakh in the talks the talks cannot enter final straight, as its
status is the main controversial problem of the conflict.

This problem may be resolved only on peaceful and truly democratic
basis”, – Kazimirov said.

He also added that the reason of criticizing of Azerbaijani authorities
is Baku’s militaristic rhetoric, its refusal to make an agreement on
non-use of force, numerous incidents at the line of contact and other
demonstrations of the outrage, force and crass policy. “The call of
the current leadership of Azerbaijan is

“The war is not finished, only its first stage has finished”, –
he said.

The Russian diplomat thinks that there are another three reasons for
criticizing Baku, First, the new war around Karabakh is dangerous
for the both peoples – Armenian and Azerbaijani, as well as their
neighbors and Russia.

Secondly, fulfillment of the agreements and other arrangements
between the parties to the conflict is very much important, as for
the young states this is a measure of reliability as partners. The
list of non-fulfillment of peaceful initiatives is not in favor of
Azerbaijan: disruption of the four resolutions of the UN Security
Council, four ceasefires, more than 20 proposals by the intermediaries
(Armenians -four), refusal of troop mounting and ignoring of agreements
on ceasefire regime enhancing.

‘The third reason is from the sphere of morality – the propaganda
is vicious and even false. Baku presents occupation as number one
problem. But if so, it is high time to understand the reason of its
appearance, but not explain it by aggression of the Armenians, but
not by obvious miscalculation made by Abulfaz Elchibey and Heydar
Aliyev which counted on force. The propaganda of the Armenians also
has mistakes. But the Armenian leadership is neater and avoids doubtful
arguments. As for Baku, here high rank officials present unbelievable
arguments: allegedly about occupation of 20% of territories, more than
1 million refugees, etc. I remember the ethics as well: Azerbaijan’s
foreign minister asked me to pass to Armenians his draft document as
my own one”, – Kazimirov concluded.

From: A. Papazian

Le Monde.fr, France
Vendredi 25 Avril 2014

Pour Paris, les ‘condoléances’ d’Ankara sur le génocide arménien ne
suffisent pas

Thomas Wieder

Comment sortir d’une impasse juridique sans perdre politiquement la
face ? C’est la question à laquelle François Hollande s’est efforcé de
répondre, jeudi 24 avril, à l’occasion des commémorations du 99e
anniversaire du génocide perpétré contre les Arméniens dans les
dernières années de l’Empire ottoman.

Dans un discours d’un quart d’heure prononcé au pied de la statue de
Komitas (1869-1935), ce prêtre et musicien arménien rescapé des
massacres qui a donné son visage au monument honorant la mémoire des
victimes, à deux pas du pont des Invalides, à Paris, le chef de l’Etat
a esquissé une voie pour sortir du casse-tête que constitue pour lui,
depuis plus de deux ans, le débat sur la pénalisation de la négation
du génocide.

Cette voie de sortie a un nom : l’Europe. En décembre 2013, la Cour
européenne des droits de l’homme (CEDH) avait désavoué la Suisse après
la condamnation par celle-ci d’un nationaliste turc, Dogu Perinçek,
qui avait nié l’existence du génocide des Arméniens. Depuis, la Suisse
a décidé de faire appel, en demandant le renvoi de cette affaire
devant la Grande Chambre de la CEDH. Dans cette nouvelle bataille qui
s’engage, François Hollande a déclaré que la France ‘ interviendrait
aux côtés de la Suisse ‘.

CENSURE DU CONSEIL CONSTITUTIONNEL

Bien que procédurale, cette annonce du chef de l’Etat a été très
applaudie par les quelques centaines de personnes, en grande majorité
des représentants de la communauté arménienne, venues l’écouter jeudi
en fin de journée. Si la CEDH donne finalement gain de cause à la
Suisse, c’est en effet le combat de ceux qui, en France, souhaitent
que soit pénalisée la négation du génocide qui pourrait se trouver
facilité.

Pour l’heure, ce combat est dans l’impasse. Il l’est en fait depuis
février 2012, quand le Conseil constitutionnel a censuré une loi
visant à pénaliser la négation des génocides, adoptée quelques
semaines plus tôt par l’Assemblée nationale et le Sénat. Alors
candidat à la présidentielle, François Hollande s’était engagé à ce
que, une fois élu, un nouveau projet de loi allant dans ce sens soit
déposé, malgré les protestations et menaces de représailles de la
Turquie. La parole a été tenue, mais un an plus tard, en avril 2013,
le Conseil d’Etat a donné un avis défavorable au nouveau texte qui lui
fut transmis par le gouvernement, au motif que celui-ci méconnaissait
le principe de prévisibilité de la loi pénale.

FRANÇOIS HOLLANDE À EREVAN

Plutôt que de prendre le risque d’une nouvelle censure du Conseil
constitutionnel, le gouvernement a finalement décidé de ne pas déposer
le projet de loi au Parlement. La décision de la CEDH l’a conforté
dans sa prudence. ‘ Cela n’aurait aucun sens de déposer un projet de
loi compte tenu des positions du Conseil constitutionnel, du Conseil
d’Etat et maintenant de la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme ‘,
explique-t-on à l’Elysée.

Soucieux de ne pas laisser s’installer l’idée qu’il renonce à une
promesse de campagne juridiquement difficile à honorer, François
Hollande a multiplié les gestes, jeudi, visant à montrer qu’il
continue, comme président de la République, de défendre la cause
arménienne avec la même ardeur qu’à l’époque où il dirigeait le Parti
socialiste.

D’où son engagement à ce que soit inauguré à Paris, pour le centenaire
du génocide, en 2015, un Centre de mémoire et de civilisation
arménien. D’où sa promesse de revenir à Erevan, où il doit déjà se
rendre le 12 mai, pour les cérémonies du centenaire. D’où, enfin, sa
réaction aux ‘ condoléances ‘ présentées la veille par le premier
ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan aux ‘ petits-enfants des Arméniens
tués en 1915 ‘ : ‘ C’est un mot qu’il faut entendre mais qui ne peut
pas suffire ‘, a estimé le président français. A quinze jours de son
déplacement en Arménie, François Hollande ne pouvait pas dire mieux
pour s’y garantir un accueil des plus chaleureux.

From: A. Papazian

Paris-Normandie, France
vendredi 25 avril 2014

L’Arménie attend davantage

Mémoire. Les condoléances du Premier ministre turc, inédites, ne
suffisent pas aux yeux d’un peuple qui commémorait hier son génocide.

L’Arménie, qui commémorait hier le génocide perpétré il y a 99 ans
sous l’empire ottoman, a rejeté les condoléances présentées la veille
par la Turquie, dans un geste pourtant inédit. Le Premier ministre
turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a en effet présenté les condoléances de
son pays « aux petits-enfants des Arméniens tués en 1915 » lors des
massacres visant cette communauté.

Mais le président arménien a appelé la Turquie à aller beaucoup plus
loin. « Seule la reconnaissance et la condamnation (du génocide)
peuvent empêcher la répétition d’un tel crime à l’avenir », a ajouté
Serge Sarkissian dans un communiqué.

Le 24 avril 1915, le gouvernement jeunes-turcs ordonnait la
déportation vers la province ottomane de Syrie de centaines de
milliers d’Arméniens accusés de collaborer avec l’ennemi russe. Cette
journée est commémorée dans le monde entier par la diaspora
arménienne.

Appel à une « pleine » reconnaissance

Selon les Arméniens, 1,5 million des leurs fut tué lors des
persécutions et déportations. La Turquie, elle, reconnaît des
massacres qui ont coûté la vie à 300 000 personnes, tout en refusant
le caractère génocidaire des événements reconnu par de nombreux pays,
dont la France. Sans interpeller directement son allié turc au sein de
l’Otan, et sans utiliser le mot « génocide », le président américain
Barack Obama a appelé de son côté à une « reconnaissance pleine,
franche et juste des faits ».

En effet, le texte d’Erdogan, certes inédit, reste vague et décrit la
fin de l’Empire ottoman comme une période « difficile » pour « des
millions de citoyens ottomans, turcs, kurdes, arabes, arméniens et
autres, quelle que soit leur religion ou leur origine ethnique ». La
presse turque a salué une démarche « historique » du régime
islamo-conservateur à l’heure où son image internationale a été
fortement ternie à cause de la répression des manifestations de l’été
dernier et des accusations de corruption touchant Erdogan. « Ce sont
les mots les plus explicites que peut prononcer à ce stade un Premier
ministre turc », s’est félicité un éditorialiste du journal Hürriyet.

« C’est un mot qu’il faut entendre mais qui ne peut pas encore suffire
», a déclaré quant à lui le président français François Hollande, hier
lors des commémorations du génocide à Paris.

From: A. Papazian