Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIANS REMEMBER MASS SLAUGHTER ON 98TH ANNIVERSARY

NBC News. Los Angeles
April 24 2013

Millions honor victims on April 24 every year

By Jason Kandel
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013

Millions of Armenians and their supporters around the world honored
on Wednesday victims on the 98th anniversary of their mass slaughter
by Ottoman Turks.

Participants in Los Angeles included genocide survivors, politicians,
activists and Armenian-American community leaders. Thousands of
protesters were also expected to march to the Turkish Consulate on
Wednesday afternoon.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I. Turkey denies that the
deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and
those who were killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

President Barack Obama is honoring Armenian victims on the anniversary
of their massacre in Turkey nearly a century ago.

Obama, in a statement he releases annually on this date, stopped
short of calling the slaughter “genocide,” but said it was “one of
the worst atrocities of the 20th century.”

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATED IN BULGARIAN CITIES

April 24, 2013 – 19:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On April 24, Armenian ambassador to Bulgaria
Arsen Shoyan, the embassy staff, former MP Katar Khachikian and
representatives of the Armenian community laid flowers at the
Genocide memorial in Sofia. Ambassador Shoyan delivered a speech,
stressing the need for the international recognition of the Genocide
and condemning the denial policy. A liturgy was further served in
Sofia’s St. Mary’s Church.

The Armenian Genocide commemoration events will also be held in
Bulgaria’s other cities such as Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse, Burgas, Dobrich
and Sliven.

LE COLLECTIF VAN A ISTANBUL : UN 24 AVRIL HISTORIQUE

Publie le : 24-04-2013

Info Collectif VAN –

Collectif VAN [Vigilance Armenienne contre le Negationnisme] –
Communique de Presse – 24 avril 2013 – 19:15

Ce 24 avril 2013, le Collectif VAN [Vigilance Armenienne contre le
Negationnisme] commemore le genocide armenien a l’endroit meme où il
a debute. Le 24 avril 1915, a la veille de la bataille de Gallipoli,
avait lieu la première rafle des elites armeniennes de Constantinople,
capitale de l’Empire ottoman : environ 650 notables et intellectuels
(il y en aura en tout plus de 2 000) etaient arretes, deportes en
Anatolie et massacres.

Notre association anti-negationniste a repondu a l’invitation de
l’EGAM [European Grassroots Antiracist Movement], pour prendre part
aux ceremonies organisees a Istanbul (Turquie) par l’IHD et DurDe!.

Chaque annee, depuis 2005, nos partenaires de l’IHD [Ýnsan Haklarý
Derneði – Human Right Association] organisent la commemoration du
genocide armenien a Istanbul. Ces femmes et ces hommes epris de
justice, font du 24 avril un moment de recueillement, mais egalement
d’incitation a >. Ils sont rares –
et donc precieux – ceux qui, en Turquie, osent aller au-dela de la > et qui parlent ouvertement des spoliations
et des dedommagements. Leur engagement desinteresse et sans concession
a contribue a briser bien des tabous et a montre la voie a d’autres
associations.

C’est ainsi que, cette annee, l’ONG antiraciste turque DurDe! signe
un texte – ecrit conjointement avec l’EGAM et l’UGAB Europe
[Union Generale Armenienne de Bienfaisance] et amende par l’IHD
et le Collectif VAN – qui parle clairement du genocide armenien,
du negationnisme, du combat pour la verite et la justice.

Du 21 au 25 avril 2013, DurDe! accueille a Istanbul une delegation
composee de militants antiracistes europeens. C’est dans ce cadre
que le Collectif VAN inscrit, 98 ans après les faits, sa presence sur
les lieux meme du Crime, après avoir signe l’Appel des associations
organisatrices.

A deux ans du centenaire du genocide, a un an du 10e anniversaire
de notre association, c’est donc a Istanbul que le Collectif VAN
porte depuis le 21 avril son combat pour la justice et la verite,
sa lutte contre le negationnisme de l’Etat turc, et sa critique
d’une haine anti-armenienne qui s’exprime toujours, y compris contre
les descendants islamises des

A NOS MARTYRS

Chers compatriotes,

En ces jours de commemorations du genocide des Armeniens, c’est un
sentiment de recueillement qui s’empare de chacun d’entre nous. Tout
un siècle s’est ecoule mais la memoire de nos ancetres reste toujours
bafouee par la Turquie qui s’enlise dans son mensonge d’Etat.

A travers le monde, notre nation honore sa memoire collective et
reitère ses revendications . Personne, ni meme cet Etat negationniste,
ne pourra jamais echapper a la justice. Justice ne sera faite que si
cet Etat genocidaire reconnaît et repare son crime.

En ce 24 avril, nous rendrons hommage a nos martyrs et porterons bien
haut nos revendications lors des differentes commemorations organisees
dans de nombreuses villes de France.

Nous pourrons egalement nous deplacer virtuellement vers
Dzidzernagapert et y deposer a titre symbolique une fleur en leur
memoire eternelle en cliquant sur ce lien

Tous ensemble, defendons la Cause Armenienne.

–

Bureau Francais de la Cause Armenienne

17, rue Bleue

75009 Paris

mercredi 24 avril 2013,
Stephane ©armenews.com

AZERBAIJANI RULING PARTY VOICES DISCONTENT WITH OSCE MEDIATORS’ ACTIVITY

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 23 2013

The OSCE Minsk Group, which has taken over the mediation in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, can not adequately perform its task.

Against this background, the role of Turkey looks quite objective,
Deputy Chairman of the ruling Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party (YAP)
Ali Ahmadov said.

According to him, Azerbaijan has repeatedly stressed that Turkey may
play a major role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking before the House of
Representatives on April 18, said Turkey might become a constructive
player in the settlement of the Cyprus and Nagorno-Karabakh issues.

According to Ahmadov, mediation has been conducted in an unfair format.

“If we look at the composition of the mediators, we can see there is
not a single party that would protect Azerbaijan’s interests.

Alongside, the mediators are not neutral. Thus, on the one hand,
they are not neutral, but on the other, there are no mediators that
would protect the just position of Azerbaijan. In this case, the value
of Turkey’s role in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
increases even more,” Ahmadov said.

According to him, Turkey’s role in the South Caucasus as well as the
role and prospects in the settlement of the processes associated with
the region are also creating opportunities to significantly influence
the settlement of the conflict.

“We, as citizens of Azerbaijan, consider it fair. Scoring such
a thought on the part of John Kerry is also not an accident,”
Ahmadov said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in
conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since a
lengthy war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied
over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory,
including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security
Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia’s withdrawal, but
they have not been enforced to this day.

A precarious cease-fire was signed in 1994. However, units of the
Armenian armed forces commit armistice breaches on the frontline
almost every day.

Peace talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs representing the
United States, Russia and France have been largely fruitless so far.

KNESSET DISCUSSES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Ynetnews, Israel
April 23 2013

Zehava Gal-On pushes for official recognition of tragic events,
despite risk of angering Turkey

Moran Azulay Published: 04.24.13, 01:31 / Israel News

The Knesset on Tuesday devoted a session to mark the 98-year
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the behest of Meretz MK Zehava
Gal-On, sparking a discussion of Israel’s policy regarding the events.

“It is time that Israel recognizes the genocide of the Armenian
people, as did 27 other countries,” said Gal-On. The proposal toward
formulating a law on the issue was approved on a preliminary vote and
forwarded to a Knesset committee tasked with deciding how to proceed
with the legislation.

The Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day is marked annually on April 24.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I. Turkey denies that the
deaths constituted genocide, saying that the toll has been inflated
and taht those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

For years, Israel has refrained from commenting on the matter for fear
of angering Turkey, which was its closest ally in the Muslim world
until the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010. Though an Obama-brokered
rapprochement with Turkey is on the cards, Gal-On stressed it was no
reason to deny the genocide.

“Reconciliation with Turkey is an important and strategic move,”
she said, “but it should not affect the recognition.”

MK Ayelet Shaked also spoke in support of official recognition, saying
“How many of us really know much about the Armenian genocide? Why do
we accept Turkey’s refusal to take responsibility for the heinous
crimes? We must act against our and the world’s silence on such
atrocities. No nation stood with the Armenians, just as no one took
interest in the genocide in Rwanda.”

Former Knesset speaker, Likud MK Reuven Rivlin, said that “Turkey has
always been and will be an ally of Israel. Talks with Turkey at this
time are understandable and necessary strategically and politically,
but these circumstances can not justify the Knesset’s denial of
another nation’s misfortunes.”

Rivlin added it was “inconceivable that the Knesset would ignore this
tragedy, the historical facts of which are so well established. We find
it hard to forgive the disregard of other peoples and unfortunately
for us we should not ignore other people’s misfortunes.”

AP contributed to this report.

,7340,L-4371664,00.html

MK RIVLIN: REMEMBER THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Arutz Sheva, Israel
April 23 2013

During the Knesset session marking the anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, MK Reuven Rivlin said, “Turkey is our ally. We may have
some current strategic differences of opinion, but the Knesset must
not ignore the genocide of the Armenian people.”

“With our own history of attempted genocide, and facing constant brazen
Holocaust denial from our enemies, I feel we must acknowledge this
catastrophic historic fact of the Armenian genocide,” added Rivlin.

ISRAELI MP: RECONCILIATION WITH TURKEY MUSTN’T AFFECT GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net – Knesset member, the chair of Meretz party Zahava
Gal-On stressed that negotiations for restoration of diplomatic
relations with Turkey must not stand in the way of Israel’s recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

“It’s time for Israel to follow the suit of 27 states in recognizing
the 1915 massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey as Genocide.

Reconciliation with Turkey being an important strategic step, it must
not affect Jerusalem’s recognition of Genocide,” ZMAN.com cited Ms
Gal-On as saying.

HAYPOST ENLARGES ITS VEHICLE FLEET WITH 26 NEW VEHICLES WORTH $380,000

ARMINFO
Tuesday, April 23, 21:33

Haypost has enlarged its vehicle fleet with new vehicles worth
$380,000, invested by the company’s concessionary, haypost Trust
management B.V.

During the presentation of the vehicles at Yerevan’s Republic
Square on Tuesday Director of Haypost Trust Management B.V. Juan
Pablo Gechidjian said that HayPost has obtained 25 Renault Logan,
Daewoo Matiz and Daewoo Damas cars and one Gazel-based PostMobile. He
said that this will allow to increase the number of routes in Ararat,
Armavir and Gegharkunik regions by 70 percent which will in its turn
significantly improve the quality of the provided services.

By 2014 Haypost is planning to enlarge its vehicle fleet from 126 to
200 vehicles.

The press service of Haypost reports that all the vehicles are equipped
with GPS tracking technology which allows to control the flaws of the
fleet from the head office and are fuel efficient which has a direct
impact on the ecology and helps to reduce the operational costs of
the company.

As regards PostMobile, at the first stage it will regularly visit the
rural communities of Aragatsotn region among which are both villages
with existing post offices and villages where postal services were
never available before.

PostMobile concept is developed based on the best practices of
Haypost’s partners – Pochta Rossii (Russia), La Poste (France) and
Poste Italiane (Italy). It is a post office on wheels tailored to the
climatic and landscape conditions of Armenia. It is equipped with
power generator, heating and air conditioning, computer as well as
security and video registration systems. The mobile post office has
online connection to the head office using the same core software as
the whole network. Installed GPS tracking system allows to control
the itinerary from the head office which will lead to a significant
increase in security and quality of provided services.

The vehicle will visit communities at specified times and days each
week and will park at pre-determined location. The residents will
be able to make utility and other payments, receive and make money
transfers, buy insurance, subscriptions, postcatalog products, and
use traditional postal services.

PostMobile will bring the modern services of Haypost to the remote
rural areas thus making available for the residents to get the same
high-quality services and products as in the post offices of the
cities. Adopting new quality service Haypost Trust Management makes one
step further on the path of modernizing and transforming the Armenian
national postal operator into one of the leaders in the sector.

ISRAELI KNESSET TRANSFERRED ISSUE ON RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO THE DISCUSSION OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION

19:21, 23 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS: Issue of the recognition of Armenian
Genocide was discussed in plenary session of Israeli Knesset. This was
noted by the Head of Armenian National Committee of Israel Georgette
Avakian in the interview with Armenpress. “Issue of the recognition
of Armenian Genocide has been discussed in Israeli Knesset and the
majority of votes decided to transfer the issue of the recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide to one of parliamentary
commissions for the final discussion. Nevertheless, it is not yet
decided which commission exactly will continue to deal with the issue,”
Avakian said, adding that it would possibly be the commission on
education and cultural issues.

One of government’s members declared that it was not yet possible to
make a decision.

The Israeli Knesset held a special session on April 23 to discuss the
Armenian Genocide. The Israeli press calls this session “historical”
and states that it takes place at this “sensitive” time for Turkey
and Israel, when the Israeli officials are in Ankara negotiating
compensation for the families of the Turks killed during the Mavi
Marmara incident occurred on May 31 in 2010.

The election of the Israeli Knesset was held on January 22, in the
result of which some traditional parties lost their seats to new ones.

The Israeli Knesset launched its summer session today.