Author: Babajanian Karo

LES TUTSIS INTERPELLENT LES CANDIDATS A LA PRESIDENTIELLE
Ara

armenews.com
vendredi 6 avril 2012

Ibuka France rappelle que voici dix huit ans, un genocide a ete commis
contre les Tutsi du Rwanda. Il se deroula d’avril a juillet 1994,
sous l’autorite d’un gouvernement reconnu par la France et dont des
ministres furent recus a Paris. Parmi ses perpetrateurs, des elements
de l’armee, de la gendarmerie et de nombreux civils, en particulier
une milice encadree par les forces de l’ordre et supervisee par les
cadres de l’administration territoriale. L’implacable tuerie des
Tutsi par armes a feu (50% des tues) fut ” completee ” par des hommes
armes de machettes, de gourdins, de massues cloutees. Elle fit plus
d’un million de victimes en cent jours. Aujourd’hui un grand nombre
de corps gisent encore dans des fosses communes improvisees, de plus
en plus difficiles a identifier.

Les meurtres ont ete commis en plein jour, au vu de tous. Tous les
Rwandais savaient qu’ils etaient en gestation depuis deux ans. Les
appels a la haine et a l’extermination des Tutsi etaient publics.

Depuis octobre 1990, les Hutu etaient invites a ” cesser d’avoir pitie
des Tutsi “. Un document du Haut commandement militaire qualifiait
cette categorie de citoyens rwandais d’ ” ennemi interieur “. Une
presse proche du pouvoir les accusait de nourrir des projets de
restauration de la monarchie et d’extermination des Hutu. L’impact de
cette campagne etait devastateur sur une opinion publique dresse a ”
obeir aux autorites “. Entre 1990 et 1993, des pogromes a repetition
ont touche des Batutsi du Rwanda, notamment les pasteurs Bagogwe du
Nord ouest, les Batutsi du Bugesera et ceux de la region du Mutara.

Les choix politiques et la logique raciste qui ont preside au
genocide des Tutsi sont aujourd’hui escamotes, voire occultes par une
classe d’intellectuels qui privilegient l’ethnographie des massacres
recurrents entre tribus africaines. En depit des jugements du TPIR,
le negationnisme s’exprime ouvertement et en toute liberte. Enfin,
devant les tribunaux francais, la lenteur a juger les hommes soupconnes
de complicite dans le genocide des Tutsi est percue comme une garantie
de l’impunite. Des plaintes deposees voici 17 ans n’ont pas encore
donne lieu a un audiencement de procès.

Nous interpellons les candidats aux elections presidentielles pour
que chacun s’engage, en cas de victoire a :

reprendre et achever le travail de clarification et de verite
timidement ouvert par la Mission d’information parlementaire en 1998

accelerer le travail de la justice en attribuant aux magistrats et
enqueteurs les ressources necessaires,

Attribuer au genocide des Tutsi un lieu de memoire a Paris

Introduire reellement l’enseignement du genocide des Tutsi dans les
manuels scolaires.

Après le genocide des Armeniens et la Shoah, le genocide des Tutsi
a ete le 3è du siècle dernier. Sa banalisation et sa negation
augureraient mal du XXIè siècle.

LA LETTRE DE L’AMBASSADEUR TURC A LONDRES AUX ELUS GALLOIS
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
vendredi 6 avril 2012

L’ambassadeur turc a Londres a envoye un courrier aux parlementaires
gallois qui viennent de decider que le 24 avril devrait âtre au Pays
de Galles, le jour du Souvenir du Genocide des Armeniens.

Comme son collègue ambassadeur de Turquie en France, se defendant
d’interferer avec les elus, tout en le faisant cyniquement, il recourt
aux arguments uses jusqu’a la corde : preuves insuffisantes, critères
non remplis, “controverse”. Il relève les dangers que font courir
ces declarations a la liberte d’expression en passant sous silence
l’article 301 que son gouvernement a etabli. La definition de la
Convention des Nations Unies est datee de …1984 (au lieu de 1948).

Bref, on vous le dit, il n’y a pas eu de Genocide mais on peut reunir
une commission mixte pour parler du massacre des Turcs.

Une nouveaute cependant, la menace de manifestations du genre de
celles qui ont eu lieu en janvier a Paris.

L’ambassadeur turc a Londres termine meme en demandant que les elus
gallois reviennent sur leur decision : on ne sait jamais, avec ces
democraties europeennes.

GB

Turkish Embassy

43, Belgrave Square – London SW1X 8PA

Tel. : 020 7393 02 22 – Fax 020 7393 92 13

Ambassador

Mr….

National Assembly for Wales

28 mars 2012

Cher Mr…..

Je vous ecris pour attirer votre attention sur un point important qui
nous preoccupe. J’ai ete informe qu’un Written Satement of Opinion
[Declaration Ecrite d’Opinion] avait ete signee par vous le …fevrier
2012 appelant l’Assemblee a declarer le 24 avril, dans le Pays de
Galles, “Jour du Souvenir du Genocide Armenien”.

Je voudrais vous donner un bref expose du point de vue et de la
position de la Turquie sur ce sujet. La Turquie defend et soutient
fermement l’idee que les evenements tragiques de 1915 devraient
etre evalues par les historiens dans une approche impartiale et
scientifique. Les annees de la fin de l’Empire Ottoman ont ete une
periode douloureuse pour les Turcs, les Armeniens et beaucoup d’autres
peuples qui composaient l’Empire. Cette periode doit etre comprise
dans son ensemble et la memoire de tant de vies perdues doit etre
respectee comme il convient. Un tel exercice exige une base factuelle
fiable, une approche ouverte et une empathie. La Turquie ne nie pas
les souffrances des Armeniens, y compris la perte de beaucoup de vies
innocentes, au cours de la Première Guerre Mondiale. Ce qu’objecte
la Turquie, c’est la presentation partiale de cette tragedie comme
un genocide par un groupe contre l’opinion d’un autre.

Il en resulte que selon nous, les initiatives de parlements de pays
tiers tendant a porter un jugement sur une allegation serieuse
concernant une periode douloureuse de l’histoire commune turque
et armenienne fondee sur des vues partiales ne sont pas seulement
contre-productives pour la normalisation des relations entre la
Turquie et l’Armenie, mais presentent aussi des risques pour les
relations entre la Turquie et les pays respectifs [concernes]. Il est
preferable, sur des sujets historiques aussi controversees, les pays
tiers adoptent une approche encourageant au dialogue et aux solutions
entre les parties concernees, plutôt que de faire des interventions
imprudentes et prejudiciables. Toute autre approche porte en elle un
risque de dresser une communaute contre une autre.

Dans ce contexte, comme dans un exemple des plus recents, je voudrais
relever l’initiative du Parlement francais visant a penaliser en
France toute contestation des allegations de genocide concernant les
evenements de 1915. Finalement, le projet de loi [la loi] qui etait
une atteinte manifeste a la liberte d’expression a ete annulee par le
Conseil Constitutionnel du fait de son inconstitutionnalite. Encore
une fois, cette experience a montre que de telles initiatives,
partiales et discutables, conduisent a des tensions et s’opposent a
toute cooperation bilaterale.

Je voudrais egalement insister sur le point que le sujet de cette
Declaration Ecrite d’Opinion est en totale contradiction avec la
position claire des gouvernements successifs du Royaume-Uni sur
les evenements de 1915, selon laquelle les preuves ne sont pas
suffisamment indiscutables pour persuader les autorites competentes
que ces evenements devraient qualifies de genocide comme la Convention
des Nations Unies de 1984 [ !] [1948] sur le Genocide l’a defini. Le
Royaume-Uni soutient egalement la creation d’une commission pour
l’etablissement de la verite historique par des recherches mixtes a
faire par les parties directement impliquees. C’est precisement ce
que la Turquie a propose a l’Armenie en 2005.

Je devrais souligner que nous respectons la volonte de liberte et
l’independance des parlementaires. Quoiqu’il en soit, nous pensons
que de telles initiatives ne peuvent ouvrir la voie a une nouvelle
controverse et portent en elles la deterioration des liens bilateraux
excellents au renforcement desquels nous travaillons.

Je me tiens a votre disposition s’il vous fallait d’autres
informations. J’apprecierais que vous reconsideriez cette initiative
du fait de ce qui precède.

Sincèrement

Unal Cevikoz

POOR YEGANYAN, DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:46:34 – 03/04/2012

Head of the State Migration Service Gagik Yeganyan was asked today
whether there is a relationship between the number of voters and the
number of Armenian emigrants, “I have not thought on this issue but
I trust the Police which issued a clear statement, and I don’t doubt
they will filter the voters’ register,” said Yeganyan.

As to whether the lists need to be cleared, Yeganyan said, “Probably
yes, the Police states so.”

Gagik Yeganyan started explaining how the people who have left the
country appear on the voters’ register. According to him, most people
who leave the country do not know that their trip will end in change
of residence.

He says that there are thousands of people who are abroad but are
still registered here and only 10-15% of emigrants change their
registration status before leaving the country.

UNGOR TO TALK AT NAASR ON ‘GENOCIDE IN CONTEXT OF TERRITORY’

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 4, 2012
BELMONT

BELMONT, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS: On Thurs., April 26, historian Ugur
Unit Ungor will give a lecture entitled “Race and Space: The Armenian
Genocide in the Context of Population and Territory,'” at 8 p.m. at
the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
Center on 395 Concord Ave. in Belmont, reports Armenpress citing The
Armenian Weekly.

Based on a decade of research on a range of unexamined records, Ungor
demonstrates that the Armenian Genocide was part and parcel of this
wider process. He will offer insights into the economic ramifications
of the genocide and describe how the plunder was organized on the
ground. He will conclude that this violent process not only destroyed
historical regions and emptied multicultural cities, but also cleared
the way for the modern Turkish nation state.

Ungor is an assistant professor at the department of history of
Utrecht University and the Institute for War and Genocide Studies
in Amsterdam. He specializes in genocide, mass violence, and ethnic
conflict. His recent publications include Confiscation and Destruction:
The Young Turk Seizure of Armenian Property (Continuum, 2011) and
The Making of Modern Turkey: Nation and State in Eastern Anatolia,
1913-1950 (Oxford University Press, 2011).

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER – “WE’D AGREE TO A GABALA-TYPE RADAR STATION”

hetq
16:40, April 4, 2012

In an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant, RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that international sanctions on
neighboring Iran hinder the development of economic relations with
Armenia.

“Iran is one of the two neighbors we have relations with.

International sanctions against Iran prevent the development of its
economic relations with Armenia. They restrict the opportunities
of diversification of our economy, raise the geopolitical risks for
Armenia, and cause harm to the investment attractiveness,” the Prime
Minister said.

PM Sargsyan said he does not share the opinion that the EU Eastern
Partnership seeks to decrease Russian influence on post-Soviet
territory.

“We cooperate with NATO and the European Union, but these processes
are not directed against a third country. Likewise, our strategic
relations with Russia are not directed against the EU. Armenia’s
strategic partner Russia is aware of all cooperation programs Armenia
joins, be it EU, NATO, U.S., Iran, China or Georgia,” he said.

When asked if Armenia would allow the construction of a similar station
on its territory if Russia and Azerbaijan fail to agree on the terms
of use of the Gabala Radar Station, PM Tigran Sargsyan said, “Why not?”

Sargsyan added that there are advantages to having such a station
in Armenia, given that it is a mountainous country and the station
could have a longer range.

TJEKNAVORIANS TO DISCUSS ‘CREDO,’ ‘RAVISHED ARMENIA’ AT UCONN

Armenian Weekly
April 4, 2012

On Mon., April 16, noted filmmakers Alina and Zareh Shahan Tjeknavorian
will give the 2012 Alice K. Norian Lecture at the Zachs Community Room
at the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Social Work. The
event is co-sponsored by the National Association for Armenian Studies
and Research (NAASR).

Alina and Zareh Tjeknavorian will speak on their film ‘Credo,’ based
on the 1919 classic film ‘Ravished Armenia’.

The evening will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. The Tjeknavorians
will then show and discuss their film “Credo,” which they assembled
from remnants of the legendary silent film “Ravished Armenia,” and
set to a soundtrack by Zareh’s distinguished father, Maestro Loris
Tjeknavorian. The program will also include a performance of music
for piano and voice of selected Armenian folksongs interspersed
with Armenian Sketches for Piano “for my son Zareh Shahan” by Loris
Tjeknavorian, which will be performed by soprano Anna Hayrapetyan
and pianist Irma Vallecillo, of UConn’s department of music.

Zareh Tjeknavorian has made a number of films that explore aspects
of Armenian history and culture. His most widely known film, the
documentary “Enemy of the People,” explored Stalinist oppression
in Armenia, and was narrated by Eric Bogosian. He, along with his
wife Alina, have gone on to make a number of Armenian-themed films,
including a short lyrical film “Embers of the Sun” (2001) exploring
their interests in prehistoric Armenian monuments, and “Tigranakert:
An Armenian Odyssey,” about the discovery of an ancient city in Artsakh
(Karabagh).

Their most recent film project focuses on the work of the Near East
Relief, an American-inspired organization that worked tirelessly
to aid all victims of the devastating effects of World War I and
its aftermath in the Middle East and the Caucasus. The survival and
eventual resettlement of the Armenian victims of the genocide would
not have occurred without the efforts of Near East Relief.

The Norian Lecture is supported by a bequest from Alice K. Norian to
the University of Connecticut to establish an endowment to be used
to educate students and the general public about Armenian culture and
history, and to gather Armenian Americans for both these purposes. The
Norian endowment supports three primary initiatives at UConn: the
annual Alice K. Norian Lecture; the Summer Field School in Armenian
Prehistory; and student and faculty exchange programs through the
School of Social Work at UConn and the Social Work Program at Yerevan
State University.

The event is free and open to the public, and takes place from 6-9
p.m. at 1798 Asylum Ave. in West Hartford, Conn. For more information,
call (860) 486-3152.

ARMEN MKHITARYAN: SUCH STATEMENTS BY AZERBAIJANI LEADER DRAW SIDES FARTHER AWAY FROM PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT

Panorama.am
04/04/2012

“It is inappropriate for a president to make such statements. It
is strange that the international community has not yet responded
to this statement, with heads of European organizations constantly
stressing the impermissibility of provocative statements. Nevertheless,
Azerbaijan makes such statements at the highest level,” member of RPA
parliamentary faction Armen Mkhitaryan told Panorama.am, commenting
upon the statement by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev calling
Armenians fascists.

The parliamentarian expressed bewilderment that Azerbaijan sows seeds
of hatred towards Armenians in schools and at the same time calls
Armenians fascists.

“Such statements by the Azerbaijani leader draw the conflicting
sides farther away from peaceful resolution of the conflict,”
stressed Mkhitaryan.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF FINLAND PAYS TRIBUTE TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS IN TSITSERNAKABERD

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 4, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS. The delegation headed by Finnish Foreign
Affairs Minister Erkki Tuomioja visited on April 4 Tsitsernakaberd;
monument dedicated to innocent victims of Armenian Genocide.

The Finnish Minister put a wreath on the memorial of victims on behalf
of Finnish Government.

Armenian genocide museum-institute Director Hayk Demoyan accompanied
the guest; who later presented to the Finnish Minister the history
of one of the greatest crimes committed in the 20th century.

Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister also planted a tree in the “Memory
Alley” and watered the one planted by President of Finland Tarja
Halonen in 2005.

CUSTOMS UNION NOT NECESSARY FOR ARMENIA – PM

news.am
April 04, 2012 | 12:21

YEREVAN. – The Customs Union is meaningless for Armenia, PM Tigran
Sargsyan said responding to the question whether Armenia is ready to
become a full member of EurAzEC and join the customs union or even
the common economic space.

“Armenia is interested in deepening and strengthening relations with
EurAzEC. The state is the most active member of the CIS and offers
efforts for EurAzEC development, despite it is just an observer,”
Sargsyan said in an interview with Kommersant newspaper.

“The aim of the Customs Union is to carry out goods’ exchange without
customs control. In case of Armenia, we have to cross the territory
of our neighboring state [Georgia] twice and pass customs clearance
twice. And it is economically inefficient. In this case taxes and
customs duties would have increase,” Sargsyan concluded.

AZERBAIJANI SIDE NOT MAD ENOUGH TO INVITE ARMENIAN DELEGATES TO SHAHID ALLEY

news.am
April 04, 2012 | 13:40

The visit of the Euronest delegations to the Shahid alley in Baku is
a result of Azerbaijani authorities’ policy aiming to distort facts
and falsify history, Armenian delegate Naira Zohrabyan said.

In a phone conversation with the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter,
Zohrabyan said the Azerbaijani side is presenting falsified facts to
the international community.

“The Azerbaijani side was not mad enough to invite the Armenian
delegates to visit the Alley. They did not dare,” she emphasized.

After the Wednesday short session, Armenian delegate Vahan Hovhannisyan
handed over “Armenians in Baku” book and brochures on pogroms in
Azerbaijan to the delegations.

“I presented as a gift “Khojalu: Truth as it is” book to the
Azerbaijani delegates,” Zohrabyan added.

Organizers and members of 1990 mass pogroms of Armenians killed after
intrusion of the Soviet forces are buried at the Shahid alley. Present
Azerbaijani authorities are presenting them as “fighters for
independence and territorial integrity of the country.”