Author: Babajanian Karo

PART OF TURKISH SOCIETY RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – POLAND’S AMBASSADOR

news.am
April 24, 2012 | 11:55

YEREVAN.- A part of Turkish society recognizes the Armenian Genocide.

As regards the Turkish state, it is difficult to act under duress,
Poland’s Ambassador to Armenia Zdzislaw Raczynski told journalists
in Tsitsernakaberd.

The Ambassador laid a wreath at the monument to the Armenian Genocide
victims on Tuesday morning.

The Polish diplomat said that one must feel guilt, it is impossible
to impose it.

“I am not a supporter of international pressure on Turkey, as the
forced admission of something can only have political significance,
but there will be no moral side,” he said.

Raczynski stressed one must realize his guilt to understand,
acknowledge and repent. The Ambassador also said there are similarities
in the history of the Armenian and Polish nations and the people of
Poland share the pain and mourn the day of the Armenian Genocide.

In the beginning of 20th century 1.5 million Armenians were annihilated
in the Ottoman Empire. On April 24 Armenia and the world marks the
97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the
20th century.

The fact of the Armenian Genocide is recognized by many states. It
was first recognized in 1965 by Uruguay. In general, the Armenian
Genocide in Ottoman Turkey has already been recognizedby Russia,
France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania,
Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada,
Venezuela, Argentina, and 42 U.S. states.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS PART OF FRANCE’S HISTORY

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 24, 2012 – 12:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – French Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud believes
that Armenian Genocide is part of the history of France.

“France today is a home for 500000 Armenian Diaspora who settled
here fleeing the Genocide,” ambassador Reynaud told journalists at
the Genocide Memorial on Tsitsernakaberd Hill in Yerevan.

He also noted that France and Armenia maintain close ties and that
is why France officially recognized the 1915 Genocide.

97TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN INDIA

hetq.am
12:02, April 24, 2012

On 24th April 2012, the Armenian community of India, Church
Committee Members, students, teachers and staff of Armenian College
and Philanthropic Academy assembled at the Armenian Holy Church of
Nazareth, Kolkata to commemorate the 97th Anniversary of Armenian
Genocide, where 1.5 million innocent victims were massacred.

Very Rev. Fr. Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of Armenians in India and
Manager of Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy presided over
the Requiem Service which was offered for the ‘repose of souls’ of
the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, at the marble memorial
erected in memory of the genocide victims in the churchyard. The
faithful prayed for the peace of the souls of myriads of martyrs and
bowed to lay flowers at the memorial.

The memorial was erected in India in the year 1965 to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of Armenian Genocide.

In the Pontifical Kondak of 17th August, 1964, Vazken I of blessed
memory, the Catholicos of All Armenians, proclaimed, “…as the
Patriarch of All Armenians, at the threshold of the 50th anniversary
of the great tragedy in our history, we propose and direct: a) that
the forthcoming year be declared for all our churches and our people
a year of national mourning and prayer…”

The marble memorial in the northern side of the Mother Church of Holy
Nazareth was erected by the Armenian community of India, subsequent
to this historic Pontifical Kondak.

COMMUNIST PARTY ALWAYS RAISED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’S RECOGNITION ISSUE – PARTY LEADER

news.am
April 24, 2012 | 11:02

YEREVAN. – The Communist Party of Armenia has always raised the
recognition issue of the Armenian Genocide, Party leader Ruben
Tovmasyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am at capital Yerevan’s Genocide
Memorial.

Tovmasyan recalled that the aforesaid Memorial was built during the
Soviet years.

“Also, films about the events in 1915 were shot in the Soviet era.

Soviet Armenia’s cote of arms had Mount Ararat, the symbol for the
restoration of historical justice,” he noted.

Ruben Tovmasyan added that, in connection with 90th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide, the Communist parties of all ex-USSR republics
had adopted a joint declaration condemning the Genocide.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA HONORS MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

news.am
April 24, 2012 | 11:08

YEREVAN.- President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and his spouse visited
Tsitsernakaberd on Tuesday morning to lay wreath at the monument to
the Armenian Genocide victims.

He was accompanied by Speaker Samvel Nikoyan, Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, chairman of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutunyan,
ministers and MPs. Catholcos of All Armenians Karekin II held a
requiem service.

Hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens, representatives of
Diaspora, numerous foreign guests are coming to Tsitsernakaberd
memorial.

At the moment the heads of diplomatic missions are laying flowers to
the monument.

The fact of the Armenian Genocide is recognized by many states. It
was first recognized in 1965 by Uruguay. In general, the Armenian
Genocide in Ottoman Turkey has already been recognized by Russia,
France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania,
Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada,
Venezuela, Argentina, and 42 U.S. states.

ODE TO WESTERN ARMENIA – ASKING FOR YOUR BLESSING
By Lucine Kasbarian

hetq
10:46, April 20, 2012

On our cellar walls, you are immortal.

Over the years, I’ve conversed with you.

I speak the mother tongue your resolute children, my parents,
taught me.

You stare back thoughtfully, through sepia-toned photos.

Your bodies are stocky; you wear clothes you made yourselves.

Your hands are calloused from planting, building, kneading and mending.

Your faces are stoic, even when in bridal garb.

Your expressions carry a worldliness born from suffering and
uncomplaining dignity.

Almond shaped, your eyes have the heavy lids that is our ancestral
birthright.

They betray the sleeplessness of tormented memory, and exhaustion
from rebuilding shattered lives.

Sometimes I ask about Dikranagerd, sometimes Sepastia — wishing you
could reminisce.

I long for your folk wisdom, your Old Country ways.

I ask you to recall our gentle kertastan before the seizures,
slaughters and destruction.

I try to picture how you subsisted as lambs before wolves.

You patiently listen as I speak of the burdens of today’s Armenian
— no matter how light when compared to yours, and sometimes just
as onerous.

Then I ask forgiveness for not doing more.

Many times I seek to borrow your strength, your all-seeing wisdom.

Why did you die before I could know you?

In my mind, your penetrating eyes lavish the love only grandparents
can give.

Year after year, I yearn for you to speak up and say,

“We see you clearly from above.

You carry our blood in your veins.

You feel our ancient world in your bones.

You live with our history.

You possess our ethic.

You dance and sing authentically.

You persist in spite of exile.

You know our sufferings.

You speak for us.

You won’t forsake us.

You have our blessing.

You do us justice.

You are Western Armenia.”

COMMEMORATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN A BAGNEUX
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 20 avril 2012

Lundi 23 avril 2012 a 18 heures Square Kirovakan (face au parc
Rosenberg)

Le 24 avril 1915 a Istanbul, capitale de l’Empire Ottoman, 600
notables armeniens furent assassines sur ordre du gouvernement. C’est
le debut du premier genocide connu du XXe siècle. Il fera 1,2 million
de victimes dans la population armenienne de l’empire turc, soit les
deux tiers de la communaute armenienne.

Il a fallu attendre 2001, pour que la France reconnaisse enfin
officiellement ce genocide toujours nie par la Turquie.

Madame Marie-Helène Amiable, Maire de Bagneux, Deputee des
Hauts-de-Seine

Monsieur Patrick Alexanian, Conseiller general des Hauts-de-Seine

Madame Sylvie Roge, Conseillère municipale deleguee a la culture de
paix, au travail de memoire et aux Anciens Combattants vous invitent
a la commemoration du 97ème anniversaire du genocide perpetre par le
gouvernement turc en 1915 a l’egard du peuple armenien.

Lundi 23 avril 2012 a 18 heures Square Kirovakan (face au parc
Rosenberg)

ANTONOVICH RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Leon Worden

SCVNEWS.com

April 19 2012

Along with members of the Armenian diplomatic corps, clergy and
business community, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich proclaimed April
24, 2012 as “Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923”
throughout Los Angeles County.

On April 24, 1915, the Turkish government began the systematic
extermination of the Armenian community. Religious, political and
intellectual Armenian leaders were among the 1.5 million victims who
were arrested and murdered.

“Due to this horrible tragedy, the Armenian community is committed
to ensuring that those who have died, were tortured and tattooed
during this are never forgotten,” said Antonovich. “By consistently
remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against
the Armenians, Los Angeles County demonstrates its sensitivity to the
need for constant vigilance to prevent similar events in the future.”

“Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of Armenians
in the United States, and they have enriched our County through their
leadership in the fields of business, agriculture, academia, medicine,
government and the arts,” he added.

SARBANES CONDEMNS US FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE

asbarez
Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Rep. John Sarbanes Sarbanes: US refusal to recognize genocide “puts
salt on the wounds of the Armenian people . . . Corrodes the moral
standing of our nation”

WASHINGTON-Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) offered moving
remarks on the floor of the U.S. House this week in support of full
and formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America.

In his April 18 speech, Representative Sarbanes stressed that the U.S.

government’s failure to stand up to Turkey’s denial of this crime
“puts salt on the wounds of the Armenian people. But it does more
than that. It corrodes the moral standing of our Nation as a whole.”

He also explained to his House colleagues that: “When faced with the
deeply compelling research and scholarship surrounding the Armenian
Genocide, it is wholly untenable to assert that the genocide did not
occur. Instead, many in Congress offer the protest that recognition
would harm our relationship with Turkey and undermine our broader
geostrategic interests. Others suggest weakly that it is just not
the right time to push the issue of recognition.”

Watch the Maryland Congressman’s remarks.

“Armenian Americans from Maryland and across America join in thanking
Congressman Sarbanes for his principled call for U.S. condemnation and
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. “We share his view that U.S. complicity in the denial
of this crime not only represents an offense against Armenians, but
also a surrender of our human rights policy to foreign pressure that
undermines America’s moral standing.”

The complete text of the Congressman’s remarks are provided below.

Congressional Record: U.S. House of Representatives

April 18, 2012

The SPEAKER pro tempore: The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) for 5 minutes.

Mr. SARBANES: Mr. Speaker, the genocide of more than 1 1/2 million
Armenians by Ottoman-era Turkish authorities is an undeniable fact of
history. In 1915, the Armenian nation which had resided in Anatolia
for thousands of years was subjected to an organized barbarity that
included death marches, drowning, and executions.

Those who managed to survive these horrors scattered to the four
corners of the Earth. Today, survivors of the Armenian Genocide and
their children and grandchildren bear witness to this massacre. Each
year, Armenian Americans, supported by others who readily accept
the teachings of history, renew their plea that the United States
Government formally recognize the Armenian genocide, and every year
that responsibility of recognition remains unfulfilled.

When faced with the deeply compelling research and scholarship
surrounding the Armenian Genocide, it is wholly untenable to assert
that the genocide did not occur. Instead, many in Congress offer the
protest that recognition would harm our relationship with Turkey and
undermine our broader geostrategic interests. Others suggest weakly
that it is just not the right time to push the issue of recognition.

The result is the same-the continued failure on the part of the United
States to do the right thing. This failure puts salt on the wounds
of the Armenian people. But it does more than that. It corrodes the
moral standing of our Nation as a whole.

I join those who once again, at this time of annual remembrance,
implore my fellow Members of Congress and President Obama to formally
recognize the Armenian genocide.

CHESS FLOURISHES IN ARMENIA AND DECLINES IN RUSSIA – KASPAROV

news.am
April 19

TALLINN. – The 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov presented his
‘Chess in Schools’ project in Tallinn, Estonia, on Wednesday. Kasparov
talked about the success of his new project, rus.delfi.ee reports.

“The interest towards chess grows everywhere in the world except in
Russia. No one needs intellect here. From the post-Soviet countries
interest towards chess has decreased in the Baltic States, it has grown
in Armenia as well. Last year chess was included in the mandatory
school program in Armenia, but as we know that Armenia’s President
is also the Chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation.

Georgia has adopted the ‘Kasparov Chess Foundation computer program’.

I wouldn’t say that the situation is really bad in Russia but it cannot
be compared with previous years. Unfortunately, ‘Chess in Schools’
project is developing outside the borders of Russia,” Kasparov said.