Author: Badalian Vardan

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.

“CENTENARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE; ANATOLE FRANCE” STAMPED CANCELLED

18:36, 23 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Today, on April 23rd 2015, within the framework of the forum “Against
the Crime of Genocide”, HayPost has officially cancelled and put
into circulation a postage stamp dedicated to the “Centenary of the
Armenian Genocide; Anatole France”.

The president of the General Council of the state Hauts-de-Seine,
member of the Parliament Patrick Devedjian, leader of France-Armenia
deputy friendship group Francois Roshblua, President of the National
Assembly of RA Galust Sahakyan and HayPost Trust Management BV
Managing Director Juan Pablo Gechidjian participated in the ceremony
of cancellation of the Anatole France postage stamp.

Anatole France (1890-1945) was an outstanding French writer,
academician and a Nobel Prize winner as well as the founder
and publisher of “Pro Armenia” journal in Paris. He has shown
a bigcontribution and humanitarian help to the survivors of the
Armenian Genocide.

GALLIPOLI BATTLE ANNIVERSARY: TURKEY’S AIM IS TO CONFUSE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY – DANIEL FEIERSTEIN

22:08 * 23.04.15

In an interview with Tert.am, in response to a question as to whether
he can make Turkey abandon its policy of denying the Armenian Genocide,
Daniel Feierstein, President of the International Association of
Genocide Scholars (IAGS), pointed out the need for spare no efforts
and continue struggle.

He welcomed the Pope’s remarks about the Armenian Genocide.

The developments are now following the right course. However, Turkey
should follow Germany’s example and admit the Armenian Genocide.

Sufficient evidence of the Armenian Genocide is available, and much
has to be done for all states to recognize the fact.

A Turkish ambassador visits countries that have mot recognized the
Armenian Genocide and warns of possible deterioration of relations if
they recognize the Armenian Genocide. US President Barack Obama is
well aware of the truth, but the question is whether he will accept
it or not, Mr Feierstein said.

Although all the states are well aware of the need to struggle against
genocide, recognition involves politics.

Mr Feierstein also hopes for Armenian-Turkish reconciliation.

As regards Turkish blockade of the borders, he agrees that this is
not a problem of the 21st century.

Although every country has a right to close its borders, they should
follow the way to Europe without borders.

Speaking of the events commemorating the Battle of Gallipoli Turkey
scheduled for April 24, Mr Feierstein said that Turkey’s aim is to
misrepresent the Armenian Genocide as part of that battle.

TURKISH RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE ‘SHORTEST PATH’ TO RECONCILIATION, SARKISIAN SAYS

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Armenia’s President Serzh Sarkisian during an interview with Euronews

YEREVAN–In an interview with Euronews, Armenia’s President Serzh
Sarkisian reiterated his country’s view that the mass killings and
deportations of Armenians under Ottoman Turkish rule should be termed
a genocide.

“Without a doubt, the recognition of the genocide by the Turks is the
shortest path to the reconciliation of our nations. And it is my
strong conviction that, if it is done sincerely, I believe, in a short
period of time, relations between Armenia and Turkey could reach a new
and quite a high level.”

“The events that will commemorate the victims of the genocide contain
in themselves a few messages,” President Sarkisian said.

“The first one is the message of remembrance. We think the crimes
against humanity cannot be forgotten with time. The second message
during the events is gratitude, which is directly linked to the
message of remembrance. It is gratitude to those individuals,
organizations and nations and states that at the most difficult moment
for us spoke up and extended a helpful hand to us and helped some of
our people to survive. The third message is a mix of both remembrance
and gratitude that leads towards prevention against the recurrence of
such crimes and it is our duty to find out and point out the patterns
and the causal relations that can later turn into this type of crime.

With this we say that it is necessary to fight against these
particular phenomena in order to be able to prevent future genocides
and other crimes against humanity from recurring. And a final general
message, the fourth one, is the message of a nation rising from the
ashes. We say that those who wished us harm did not succeed in erasing
us from the Earth.”

Speaking about the prospects of reconciliation, Serzh Sarkisian said:
“I myself in my capacity as the president of the Republic of Armenia
have tried two times to embark upon this path. And the two presidents
who preceded me tried to embark upon that same path. We have declared
our intention to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without
any preconditions. After that, parties could have discussed and
addressed all issues that exist between them. The second such attempt
was made on the eve of the Armenian Genocide centennial. Several
months in advance I sent a letter to the president of Turkey. That
letter was delivered in person by our foreign minister to the
appropriate Turkish officials, so it was not just a publicized action.

And by that letter I invited him to partake in the April 24th events
and to express jointly condolences and commemorate all victims. But
the Turkish authorities decided otherwise: they decided to hold on
April 24th – our genocide remembrance day -celebrations for the
Gallipoli battle.”

In the past days the Turkish side has unleashed all their anger, there
were harsh statements, unusually harsh reactions to the statement of
the Pope, to a resolution voted by the European Parliament. “For us
those statements and reactions of the Turkish side were not in any way
or shape unexpected,” the Armenian President said.

“We have always heard and witnessed their denialist posturing. We have
also seen that every time they renewed their toolbox of denial. With
regard to the statement by His Holiness, I consider that to be an
appropriate one. You know, I believe that a world free of crimes
against humanity can be achieved only with the leadership of strong
people. His holiness is a great leader, just and truth speaking.”

As for Turkey’s proposal to set up a commission of historians,
President Sarkisian said: “First, from the very beginning it is
incorrect since I am not aware of a case that historians sat down,
made a decision and the question was settled once and for all. This
was the first point. Secondly, I cannot imagine how such a commission
shall operate, since the Turkish historians would be under pressure of
the Turkish society and Turkish authorities’ pressure, and the
Armenian historians would be under the pressure of the Armenian
society and Armenian authorities’. But even these are not the most
important arguments. The most important is the following: the
specialized structures, countries that posess the largest archives on
this issue have no doubts about it. There are no doubts about it and I
again return to what happened at the Vatican: what do you think, isn’t
the Vatican one of the most well informed of the events that unfolded
during the First World War? What do you think, does the Vatican feel a
shortage of well-educated historians? For us such a proposal in itself
is an insulting one since it questions the very fact and veracity of
the Armenian Genocide. Ultimately, what will the historians find out?

How many people died? And is there a significant difference whether
one and a half million people or one million four hundred forty nine
thousand people died?”

THOMAS DE WAAL READS THE TESTIMONY OF POGHOS VARDANIAN

April 23, 2015 09:34
EXCLUSIVE

Thomas de Waal

Photo: From personal archive

Mediamax presents 100 Seconds project devoted to Armenian Genocide
Centennial. The project is based on testimonies of Genocide survivors
published by the National Archive of Armenia.

Thomas de Waal is a British journalist and writer.

For 100 seconds project he reads an extract from Armenian Genocide
survivor Poghos Vardanian’s testimony.

National Archives of
Armenia Collection of Documents

Testimony of survivor Poghos Vardanian on the deportation and massacre
of Armenians of Karin

October 2, 1916, Karin

Night fell. It was very uncomfortable in the prison. The sweat was
flowing down like water from everybody’s forehead. Some even took off
their coats to wring them. Everybody wanted water. The gendarmes were
bringing water from the Euphrates in tin kerosene pots and giving in
to us through a hole in the lower part of the stable door, getting 1-2
kurush for each cup. But only those close to the door could make use
of it. Those at the far end couldn’t drink. It was impossible to sleep
and we were waiting for the dawn. The day hadn’t broken yet when the
prisoners thundered the air with a church ceremony (reciting the hymn
“Morning of Light”).

The day broke. Two soldiers searched me and took 138 kurush but didn’t
find the 14 gold coins tied on my back. Then a gendarme said to me:
“Hey, take off your shoes”. “I’ll be barefooted,” I said. “Put on
mine,” he said. “Yours are old”, I said. “You won’t wear off even the
old ones”, he said. When I heard this, I took off my shoes without
any resistance and put on his old ones.

Producers: Ara Tadevosyan, Yulia Petrossian Boyle Filming: Ross
Goldberg Post Production: Tumo LLC

The source of Poghos Vardanian’s testimony: National Archives of
Armenia, Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turkey, 1915, Testimony of
survivors, Collection of documents, Yerevan-2013.

VivaCell-MTS is the general partner of 100 seconds project.

VICE SPEAKER OF CZECH PARLIAMENT CITES HITLER: “WHO, AFTER ALL, SPEAKS TODAY OF THE ANNIHILATION OF THE ARMENIANS?”

Thursday, April 23, 13:43

Vice Speaker of the Czech Parliament Zdenek Skromach delivered a
speech at the ongoing Public and Political Global Forum Against the
Crime of Genocide in Yerevan. In his speech, the Czech politician
said the history of Armenians dates back over 2,000 years.

“We are living difficult times when some countries still rattle the
sabre,” he said. Skromach said massacre of Armenians is part of the
mosaic that makes the international culture and cited Adolf Hitler:

“Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

The Czech parliamentarian is sure that to prevent such crimes against
humanity, it is necessary to learn the lessons of the past. “We ought
to work towards that,” he said

PACE ADOPTES WRITTEN DECLARATION “COMMEMORATION OF THE CENTENNIAL OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

by Tatevik Shahunyan

Thursday, April 23, 15:13

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a
written declaration “Commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian
genocide” on April 23.

The declaration authored by Rene Rouquet was signed by 171 delegates.

The text of the Declaration reads: “Genocide is an unconceivable crime
for a society which is founded on tolerance and protection of human
rights and fundamental freedoms. Early prevention of such crimes can
surely stop the escalation of conflicts, tragedies and humanitarian
catastrophes. The absence of unequivocal and timely condemnation of the
Armenian genocide largely contributed to the failure to prevent future
crimes against humanity such as the Holocaust and other genocides.

24 April 2015 marks the Centennial of the Armenian genocide. 1,500,000
Armenians perished as a result of this hideous crime perpetrated in
the Ottoman Empire.

The undersigned parliamentarians pay tribute to the memory of innocent
victims and condemn all forms of crimes against humanity and genocide
and deeply deplore attempts at their denial.

Prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity should be amongst
our priorities. Further development of the international capacities in
this regard is instrumental. The Council of Europe has an important
role to play within the international efforts in contributing to the
prevention of crimes against humanity. It should encourage its member
States to come to terms with their own past and prepare grounds for
future reconciliation between peoples.”

GERMANY’S ANTI-GENOCIDE MOVE TO ASSERT HISTORICAL TRUTH – ENVOY

15:11 * 23.04.15

Germany’s ambassador to Armenia said Thursday that he expects his
country’s legislative authorities’ move to back an anti-genocide
motion to succeed.

But Reiner Morell expressed strong doubts that their president would
use the word “genocide” to refer to the mass killings of Armenians
committed 100 years ago.

“We all understand that the expectations are great, but I do not know
what the president of Germany will say,” he said at the Yerevan-hosted
International “Social and Political Global Forum against the Crime
of Genocide”.

Asked about possible steps by Turkey, the diplomat said he doesn’t
think that the country can be influence by any leverage. “I am
confident that all that will be said or pronounced will not be against
Turkey; it will address the historical fact. We definitely want to
live in peace,” he said, noting that Armenian officials also often
reiterate their willingness for an open dialogue.

The ambassador said his country is trying to offer unbiased and
balanced support to Armenia and Turkey to promote a mutual dialogue.

MILORAD DODIK: BY BANNING FLIGHTS ANKARA CANNOT ACHIEVE REVISION OF ITS HISTORY

Thursday, April 23, 12:10

If President of the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Milorad Dodik chose the air corridor passing by Turkey, he would
be in Yerevan now, Ruben Grdzelyan, Spokesperson of the Chief Civil
Aviation Department of Armenia, told ArmInfo. He said Turkey refused to
serve Dodik’s charter flight. The president was to arrive in Yerevan
at 5:00pm local time. Grdzelyan said it is not a violation of the
international standards of civil aviation.

“There would be no problems, if he chose another air corridor passing
by Turkey, which would be more expensive, indeed,” Grdzelyan said. He
is sure there would be no problems even if the president of the
Republika Srpska chose a planned flight via Vienna, for instance.

President of the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Milorad Dodik was to arrive in Armenia on April 22 to attend
the Armenian Genocide Centennial events. However, his plane was
not allowed to fly via Turkey, through the flight was previously
coordinated with Ankara.

Milorad Dodik has already come out with a statement wherein he says
that Ankara will not get its history to be revised by banning flights.

“Everyone knows that 100 years ago a horrific crime was committed
against the Armenian Christians and it were Turks who committed that
crime,” Dodik said.

ARAM I ARRIVES IN ARMENIA BRINGING RELICS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

10:50, 23 April, 2015

YEREVAN, 23 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. In the early morning of April 23,
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia has arrived
in Armenia by a special flight to preside with His Holiness Karekin
II Catholicos of All Armenians over the canonization ceremony of the
Armenian Genocide victims. “Armenpress” was informed about this from
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s official cite. His Holiness Aram I
was accompanied by the bishops and priests of the Congregation of
Catholicosate of Cilicia.

His Holiness has brought with him the relics of Genocide victims,
which were kept in the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs’ Altar of the Great
House of Cilicia.

After the canonization ceremony, at the same night Aram I Catholicos
will return to Antelias to preside over the ecclesiastical ceremony of
April 24, as well as to consecrate the renovated Armenian Genocide
first Memorial and deliver his pontifical speech of the 100th
anniversary to the people.