Author: Badalian Vardan

FRENCH PRESIDENT: RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS AN ACT OF PEACE (VIDEO)

15:07 | April 24,2015 | Politics

In his speech at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, Serbian
President Tomislav NikoliÄ~G said he had come to Armenia to express
their modest but firm support for Armenians.

“Today historical facts are distorted and used for petty interests.

Legal acts are applied by double standards and turned to absurdity,
Genocide victims are presented as criminals. Could we choose not to
come here today? Could we betray the memory of millions of victims and
all those who believe that only the truth will save us from the bloody
past? No, we could not and we would not dare not to be present here,”
said Mr NikoliÄ~G.

In his speech, President of France Francois Hollande reminded that
the Armenian Genocide started with the killing of intellectuals. “We
gave shelter to all Genocide survivors who came to France with one
suitcase. The role of Armenians in France is invaluable. They have
developed our country with their talent and assiduous work,” he said.

Mr Hollande said historical facts cannot and must not be forgotten.

“We do not discriminate between countries. That is why I allowed
opening the Rwanda genocide archive. We condemn each infringement
against humanity. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide does not
mean starting a new process, it means remembering the innocent
victims and excluding the repetition of similar crimes. I want to
see the Armenian-Turkish border opened, I want to see the two nations
reconciled,” he stressed.

The French president also referred to the Karabakh peace deal.

“Together with our partners we will do our best to solve the problem
in a peaceful way. Peace is our motto,” Mr Hollande said adding that
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is an act of peace.

ISRAEL, THE DENIER OF ANOTHER NATION’S HOLOCAUST

The country has always had its cost-benefit analyses and global
interests to consider — now the issue is Turkey at the Armenians’
expense.

By Yossi Sarid | Apr. 24, 2015 | 11:06 AM

A memorial march marking the 100th anniversary of the mass of Armenians
by Ottoman Turkish forces, in Berlin, April 23, 2015. Photo by Reuters

Today, April 24, 1915, marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide. But Pope Francis erred this month when he referred to it
as “the first genocide of the 20th century.” The first took place
in German South West Africa, what is now Namibia. Tens of thousands
of tribespeople were annihilated. But blacks apparently don’t count
as much.

The pope neglected to mention them when he cited the 1.5 million
Armenians killed and called on the countries of the world to recognize
the Ottoman Turks’ crime against the Armenians and humanity. Still, he
should be commended. It’s not easy for him to take on the conservative
Catholic establishment, which is only surpassed in its backwardness
and corruption by the Israeli rabbinical establishment.

Will “the Jewish state” heed the Christian’s call? Or will it prefer,
as usual, to focus on a different pope, accusing him of ignoring the
destruction during those most awful times? True, Pius XII didn’t go
out of his way to save Jews. But we too aren’t so quick to empathize
with others’ suffering and rush to their aid. In its own way, Israel
is also a denier of another nation’s holocaust.

Dozens of countries have already answered the Armenian plea and
recognized the genocide, to the dismay of Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and despite his government’s threats. The European
Parliament just decided to break its silence too.

For what are the Armenians and their diaspora asking for? Not aid,
just recognition. No one need be endangered for their sake; just show
some sympathy and understanding. When eyes insist on remaining shut,
wounds will keep on reopening.

But Israel hasn’t been willing to forgo its monopoly on victimhood
or share its exclusive right to be the persecuted. It always has its
cost-benefit analyses and global interests to consider — whether
with apartheid South Africa or the juntas of Argentina and Chile.

And who’s going to preach to us, “the most moral” of them all? After
all, official Israel also has custody of the universal conscience. As
far as we’re concerned, the Armenians can go jump in a lake. We don’t
jump first, because we’re no dummies. And we’ll be the last ones to
resume relations with Cuba, as an arrogant American satellite.

Exactly 15 years ago today, I was invited to the Armenian Church in
Jerusalem. “I’ve come to be with you on your remembrance day — as a
human being, a citizen of the world, a Jew, an Israeli and the Israeli
education minister,” I said. “You have been alone for too many years.

Today, for the first time, you are less alone.”

Since then I’ve have been asked many times whether I consulted with
the prime minister and the foreign minister. Why bother to ask when
the answer is predictable and permission will not be granted? And I
wasn’t exactly a child.

Sure enough, Prime Minister Ehud Barak hastened to distance himself
from my comments, and others said the Armenian genocide must be left
to the historians. And I was declared persona non grata in Turkey;
to this day, Ankara isn’t waiting for me.

In the wake of the 2010 Mavi Marmara episode, when Israel-Turkey
relations soured, there were encouraging signs. Perhaps now — so
belatedly — the injustice will at last be corrected. What’s there
to lose?

And this month came a new glimmer of hope with Kim Kardashian’s visit.

What the Jewish head hasn’t accomplished the Armenian derriere would.

But this hope failed too. Yes, the Knesset is sending MKs to the
Armenian capital for the centennial — Likud’s Anat Berko and Zionist
Union’s Nachman Shai — but these are backbenchers briefed by the
Foreign Ministry. What difference does it make if they go or not?

It’s hard to understand why Turkey refuses to be different. Recently
it seemed to be softening, but now it’s returning to its same old
path. It’s not to blame for its ancestors’ sins, nor should it have
to bear the historical responsibility for the Armenian Nakba. The
wheel cannot be turned back, it can only be pulled out of the mire
of blood and resentment, and be turned in new directions.

LE 24 AVRIL SUR FRANCE 24

Genocide

Le 24 avril sur France 24 :

Dès 06h30 et tout au long de la journee, France 24 retransmettra en
direct et en trois langues les ceremonies qui se tiendront dans la
capitale armenienne, en presence de nombreux chefs d’Etat.

A 12h15, l’emission culturelle de France 24 A l’affiche ! ( Encore !

sur la chaîne en anglais) sera egalement dediee aux artistes armeniens
avec une emission speciale realisee a Erevan. Sonia Patricelli et
Eve Jackson recevront notamment Tigram Hamazyan, pianiste de jazz,
et le photographe Antoine Agoudjian.

La chaîne ponctuera egalement ses editions d’information par des
interventions et des reportages de ses correspondants et envoyes
speciaux en Armenie, en France et a travers le monde. Enfin, cette
programmation speciale sera agrementee par la rediffusion d’extraits
des recents entretiens exclusifs avec les presidents armenien et turc,
Serge Sarkissian et Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

France24.com proposera aussi un webdocumentaire inedit consacre aux
survivants du genocide de 1915 qui ont reussi a transmettre leur
histoire et leur culture millenaire aux generations suivantes. Les
internautes pourront decouvrir quelques portraits de descendants de
rescapes qui ont repris le flambeau en cultivant, a leur manière,
l’heritage de tout un peuple.

vendredi 24 avril 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com

KEY: OPERATION “NEMESIS”

April 24, 2015 13:47
EXCLUSIVE

This time the Key section reflects on the history of establishment
of Operation “Nemesis” aimed at the punishment of the perpetrators
of the Armenian Genocide.

1. What is “Nemesis?”

“Nemesis” was an operation, which aimed to punish the leaders of the
Young Turks who perpetrated and implemented the Armenian Genocide
in 1915 as well as perpetrators of the Baku Pogrom – the massacre of
Baku Armenians in 1918.

2. When and how was “Nemesis” conceived?

After Turkey was defeated in World War I, the leaders of the Young
Turks fled to Germany. On December 16, 1918, a suit was brought
against them – Talaat, Enver, Nazım, Djemal and their accomplices
were accused of drawing the Ottoman Empire into war and organizing
the deportation and massacre of Christians (Armenians). The court
pronounced a death penalty for four out of the 31 accused – Talaat,
Enver, Djemal and Nazim.

In order to execute the sentence of the criminals who escaped it,
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) established “Nemesis.” At
its 19th General Assembly in Yerevan, ARF singled out 41 out of the
650 criminals. A responsible authority led by special Ambassador of
Armenia to the United States Armen Garo and a special fund headed by
Shahan Satchaklyan were set up to carry out Operation “Nemesis.”

Shahan Natalie and Grigor Merjanov stood accountable for the
operational management and the logistics of the operation.

3. Which sentences were executed?

– Berlin, March 15, 1921 – Soghomon Tehlirian assassinated principal
perpetrator of the Armenian Genocide Talaat Pasha.

– Rome, December 5, 1921 – Arshavir Shirakian killed head of the
first office of the Young Turks Said Halim.

– Berlin, April 17, 1922 – Arshavir Shirakian and Aram Yerkanian
assassinated Cemal Azmi, who had ordered to drown 15 000 Armenian
children in the sea, as well as Behaeddin Shakir.

– Tiflis, July 22, 1922 – Petros Ter-Poghosyan and Artashes Gevorgyan
killed Minister of the Navy Djemal Pasa.

– May 31, 1920 – One of perpetrators of Baku Pogrom in 1918 Nasib
Yusifbeyli was killed.

– June 19, 1920 – Aram Yerkanian assassinated former Prime Minister
of Azerbaijan Fatali Khan Khoyski.

– Tiflis, July 19, 1920 – Aram Yerkanyan killed Hasan bey Aghayev,
one of the main figures accountable for the massacres of Shushi and
Baku Armenians.

– July 18, 1921 – Misak Torlakian assassinated Behbud Khan Javanshir,
Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan.

Three traitors – Mkrtich Harutyunyan, Vahe Ihssan (Yesayan) and Adur
Yasyan were also killed during Operation “Nemesis.”

4. The execution of which sentences failed?

-The list of Operation “Nemesis” included the names of former War
Minister Enver Pasha and Secretary General of Committee of Union
and Progress Nazim Bey. The members of Operation “Nemesis” failed to
assassinate them.

Enver had fled to Central Asia from Germany. He was assassinated by
Armenian Commander of Red Army Hakob Melkumov in Tajikistan in 1922.

Nazim was sentenced to death in Turkey. He was accused of attempting
to assassinate Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

5. What caused Operation “Nemesis” to discontinue?

In 1922, the governments in exile of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
signed “Prometheus” bill of joint struggle against Bolshevism and
the ARF Bureau decided to discontinue Operation “Nemesis.”

This decision was not unanimously accepted and came to be known as
“most embarrassing” in the history. Years later Shahan Natalie
suggested restoring Operation “Nemesis,” but his proposal was
rejected. He established “Western Armenian Liberation Alliance”
in Paris.

Mari Taryan

ROMANIA’S PARLIAMENT CALLS TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 24 DAY OF GENOCIDES

17:13, 24 April, 2015

BUCHAREST, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: The Human Rights Commission of the
Chamber of Deputies of Romania spread on April 24 a statement on the
occasion of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.

“April 24 marks the 100th anniversary of the massacres, implemented
against the Armenians in 1915 in the east of Turkey. This crime against
the humanity should not be forgotten, as the Pope Francis of Rome
says, as it is the first genocide of the 20th century and preceded
the genocides, committed by the Nazi and Stalin”, – says the statement.

SERBIA PRESIDENT: “WE HAVE NO MORAL RIGHT TO FORGET THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS AND THE SHOCKING FACTS OF THE PAST”

by Karina Manukyan

Friday, April 24, 13:23

“We have no moral right to forget the Armenian Genocide victims and
bury in oblivion the shocking facts of the past, ” President of Serbia
Tomislav Nikolic said at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.

Nikolic condemned the denial or distortion of the historical truth
saying to forget that tragedy means not to honor the memory of the
victims. “We are living in the time when people call the thing by their
proper names depending on their benefits. We have come here today well
aware of the undisputable truth and the consequences of that tragedy
for the humanity. Such tragedy should never happen again,” he said.

“In the century when Genocide is used in favor of political interests
and double standards are meanly applied, when the victims of Genocides
and pogroms are presented as criminals, we – representatives of the
Serbian people that suffered huge losses during all the wars of the
last period – could not but come here today,” Nikolic said.

RUSSIAN STATE DUMA ADOPTS STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENARY

15:32, 24 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, has passed
a draft statement on Friday in connection with the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, TASS reports.

The document submitted by the State Duma Committee for CIS Affairs,
Eurasian Integration and Ties with Compatriots expresses “deep sympathy
to fraternal Armenia in connection with the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide and also to other peoples who suffered during the tragic
events of the First World War.” “Complex historical issues need to
be resolved by peaceful means, including by diplomatic efforts – for
the sake of establishing lasting peace and security on the planet,”
it says.

The State Duma believes that the “Eurasian continent can and
should become an example of good-neighborly relations and equitable
cooperation, a space of peace and creative endeavor.” “Multifaceted
activities in the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization are aimed at achieving this goal,” the draft resolution
says, noting that these organizations “were designed to ensure
sustainable development, prosperity of our peoples and the triumph
of humanistic ideals.”

The document adds that the lawmakers are guided by “the principles
of equity and support the striving of all people for preserving the
historical memory.”.

ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS APPEALED TO PUTIN

Lragir.am
Politics – 23 April 2015, 20:53

Leaders of the independent Armenian newspaper Third Force Plus (“TFP”),
illegally closed by the efforts of the Russian FSS (Federal Security
Service) and their representatives in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,
addressed an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Copies of
the appeal of Armenian journalists are given the Presidents of Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh, chairman of the parliament and government of
the two Armenian states, UN, OSCE and EU, all embassies in Yerevan,
human rights and journalistic organizations, the media in different
countries. It states:

“Dear Mr. President!

This is the fourth year that the legal authorities of the Russian
Federation violate the rights of the international staff of our
newspaper, refusing to investigate the theft of its funding from
the FSS Lieutenant Colonel Vadim Pozdyshev officially presented
us as a member of the Federation Council. As a result of the crime
committed by the Russian official, the newspaper, promotes only the
idea of friendship and cooperation of different nations, was forced
to suspend its activities.

In 2010 the FSS opened a criminal case against V. Pozdyshev for this
crime, and in 2011 he was dismissed from the government service. This
fact is confirmed by numerous testimonies not only from relatives and
a representative from the FSS authorities, but also of the offender
(the newspaper can provide you with a copy of their written messages).

Crime against “TFP” was proved repeatedly and in documentary form.

Preserved even written acknowledgment of Pozdyshev that he was
dismissed from the public service for this theft. In other words,
the FSS itself was assured of the fraudulent actions of V. Pozdyshev,
“punished” him for the robbery of journalists and even forbade him
from travelling abroad, at least until 2015. But return money honestly
earned by an international staff of the newspaper, it’s not, to put
it mildly, in a hurry.

We notified about this egregiously criminal act the director of FSS
A.V. Bortnikov, the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Y.Y.

Chaika, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian
Federation A.I.Bastrykin, asking them to help in the restoration of
an elementary rule of law in this matter and return the publication
collective funds misappropriated FSS officer. But all Russian law
enforcers, frankly covering criminal, do not make the simplest
procedures prescribed by law, even the most backward countries in
the world. Silent also the Russian Embassy in Armenia. Visibility of
some investigation attempted to create only the Interior Ministry, but
after three months of serious deliberation decided to refer the matter
to the Federal Security Service, citing his “special importance”.

Representatives of the Russian Themis, in flagrant violation of the
law, even afraid to question us as witnesses, as well aware of the
validity of claims of Armenian journalists. As we are told colleagues
from the Russian Federation, the cause of all these iniquities one:
if the offender – the FSS, he will not be prosecuted in Russia.

We also inform you that on September 29 and on October 5, 2012
Presidential Plenipotentiary, the Russian government and the party
“United Russia” informed us in written that our appeal to the
consideration by the FSS. The Russian government has instructed the
FSS to the staff of the newspaper, quote, “substantiated response on
the merits of the raised issues” contained in our circulation, and
“send a copy to the Government of the Russian Federation”. Moreover,
your press secretary Dmitry Peskov assistants, who introduced Julia
and Veronica, told us that the treatment of journalists “lying on his
desk” (audio recording of a conversation with them also saved). But
the situation has not changed…

Dear Mr. President! On Your arrival to Armenia on the occasion of
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide we were going to go on
hunger strike in protest against the arbitrariness of Russian officials
in the attitude of the team edition. However, the reluctance to
overshadow the visit of the President of the Russian Federation and be
misconstrued the public and colleagues from the media, we have decided
to postpone the protest until your response to this appeal. We believe
that the President of the Russian Federation, has repeatedly spoken in
favor of strengthening the Armenian-Russian relations, will respond
to the call of journalists seems to be a friendly country and take
action to recover the most-most elementary laws. Fair investigation
of this case under the law – our only desire. If the edition of the
newspaper is wrong in its demands, we are ready to make a public
apology to the public of the two countries and even suffer for it
corresponding responsibility. If it rights as we demand return our
funds stolen by Russian officials. Emphasize again: for the theft,
he was dismissed from the civil service in the Russian Federation.

Mr. President! As the management of the Russian Embassy in Armenia
systematically demonstrates the “problem” with vision and hearing and
apparently blocking our letters to the authorities of the Russian
Federation, we are sending copies of this appeal and the embassies
of other countries in Yerevan with a request to submit it to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation through the
Russian embassy in their country. The Russian Ambassador to Armenia Mr.

Volinkin did not leave a choice.

We ask you to reply to the letter in accordance with the order of
consideration of citizens.

Vahram AGHAJANYAN

Editor-in-chief of “Third Force Plus”

Nelson SARGSYAN

Executive Director of “TFP”

Tel. 097-31-03-67; 077-15-65-15

April 18, 2015

OUT OF MEDIA PLAYER. PRESS ENTER TO RETURN OR TAB TO CONTINUE.

Why Armenia is welcoming Syrian Armenians

14 minutes ago
23/04/15

Over 15,000 Syrian Armenians fleeing the war in their country have been
welcomed by the Armenian authorities who have given them citizenship
and helped with their resettlement.

Many who could not make it in the biggest Armenian cities have settled
in neighbouring Nagorno-Karabakh, where they face difficult living
conditions and the threat of a looming war.

Reda El Mawy reports.

FRENCH MEP: ABOVE ALL, WE ASK TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

21:26, 23.04.2015
Region:World News, Armenia, Turkey
Theme: Politics

Socialists and Democrats political group of the European Parliament
condemns all occurrences of crimes against humanity and genocide and
strongly deplores any attempts to deny them, the French MEP Sylvie
Guillaume told Armenian News -NEWS.am.

According to her, the European Parliament resolution came to a very key
moment. “Its message is clear: not only encouraging Turkish authorities
to use the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian genocide as
an opportunity for Turkey to continue its efforts to come to terms with
its past and prepare for reconciliation with Armenia, but above all,
we ask Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide,” the French MEP said.

On April 15 the European Parliament adopted by a majority vote a
resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide and calling on Turkey to
pave the way for reconciliation with Armenia.