Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

FRANCE/GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : ERDOGAN DENONCE MAIS N’ANNONCE PAS DE RIPOSTE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 25 janvier 2012

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a qualifie de “raciste”
mardi l’adoption la veille par le Parlement francais d’une loi
penalisant la negation du genocide armenien, sans cependant annoncer de
riposte concrète dans l’attente de sa promulgation par Nicolas Sarkozy.

“La proposition (de loi) adoptee en France est ouvertement
discriminatoire et raciste”, a-t-il dit au Parlement devant les
deputes du Parti de la justice et du developpement (AKP, issu de la
mouvance islamiste).

M. Erdogan a affirme que cette loi etait “entièrement nulle et non
avenue” pour la Turquie qui imposera “etape par etape” les sanctions
qu’elle a prevues contre la France, “sans marche arrière”.

“Nous allons annoncer notre plan d’action en fonction des
developpements”, a-t-il prevenu. “La Turquie est encore dans une
periode de patience”, a-t-il toutefois ajoute.

Le president francais, qui a voulu ce texte de loi, provoquant une
grave crise entre Ankara et Paris, a en principe 15 jours pour le
promulguer.

M. Erdogan a utilise un ton plus modere qu’attendu et emis l’espoir
que la France “reparerait son erreur”. Il s’en est surtout pris
aux ambitions de Nicolas Sarkozy avant la presidentielle de mai,
l’accusant de vouloir seduire l’electorat d’origine armenienne,
et non a la France en general, alliee d’Ankara au sein de l’Otan et
partenaire strategique commercial et politique.

Il a aussi precise que son gouvernement s’efforcait d’obtenir que
des senateurs francais saisissent le Conseil constitutionnel pour
obtenir l’annulation du texte de loi.

Le chef de l’Etat turc Abdullah Gul a lui aussi espere que “60
senateurs francais fassent une demarche” en faveur de l’annulation
du texte.

Un depute du parti majoritaire UMP, Jacques Myard, oppose a la loi,
a annonce mardi qu’il allait tenter de rassembler 60 signatures de
deputes pour saisir cette instance.

Le Conseil constitutionnel peut censurer une loi qu’il juge contraire
a la Constitution, s’il est saisi par 60 deputes, 60 senateurs, le chef
de l’Etat, le president de l’Assemblee nationale ou celui du Senat.

“Nous sommes decides avec un ami a faire circuler une saisine du
Conseil constitutionnel, j’espère que nous serons soixante et nous
allons l’adresser a l’ensemble des deputes”, a declare Jacques Myard.

Selon une source parlementaire un autre depute UMP, Michel
Diefenbacher, president du groupe d’amitie avec la Turquie a
l’Assemblee, est egalement a l’origine de cette initiative.

Pour l’instant, l’ambassadeur de Turquie restera a son poste a Paris
mais Ankara, qui l’avait brièvement rappele après un premier vote des
deputes francais le 22 decembre, envisage cette fois de le rappeler
sine die et de reduire son niveau de representation en France lorsque
le texte prendra force de loi, souligne-t-on de source informee.

Après le premier vote, Ankara avait annonce le gel de la cooperation
politique et militaire avec la France, avertissant de nouvelles
represailles.

Face a ces reactions, le chef de la diplomatie francaise, Alain Juppe,
a appele la Turquie au “sang-froid” et a tendu “la main” a ce “grand
pays, cette grande puissance economique, politique”.

L’Armenie a pour sa part salue mardi la “grandeur” et le “devouement”
de la France.

“La France a reaffirme sa grandeur et son pouvoir, son devouement pour
les valeurs humaines universelles”, a ecrit le president armenien,
Serge Sarkissian, dans une lettre a son homologue francais, selon un
communique publie sur le site de la presidence armenienne.

La loi sanctionne d’un an de prison et 45.000 euros d’amende la
negation de tous les genocides reconnus par la France, dont celui
des Armeniens.

La Turquie refute le terme de genocide, meme si elle reconnaît que des
massacres ont ete commis et que quelque 500.000 Armeniens ont peri
en Anatolie entre 1915 et 1917, les Armeniens evoquant 1,5 million
de morts.

From: Baghdasarian

GENOCIDE: LES ARMENIENS D’ISTANBUL DUBITATIFS SUR LA LOI
Par Laure Marchand

Le Figaro

24 janvier 2012
France

L’adoption par le Parlement francais de la proposition de loi sur
la negation du genocide armenien suscite la colère des Turcs, les
Armeniens du pays prefèrent se taire.

Confrontes a un deferlement negationniste dans les medias depuis que
les deputes francais ont vote en première lecture, le 22 decembre,
la loi sanctionnant la negation des genocides, les 60.000 Armeniens
de Turquie adoptent un profil bas. En un siècle d’hostilite de la
Republique turque a l’egard de leur minorite, ils ont appris a faire
de la discretion une de leur vertu cardinale. “La loi en France a pour
consequence de braquer les projecteurs sur nous, le “bon” Armenien
qui sera contre le texte est recherche, ressent Sibil Cekmen, une
jeune cineaste stambouliote. La communaute prefère ne pas s’exprimer,
rester dans l’ombre en attendant que ca passe.”

Seuls les militants armeniens engages dans la reconnaissance du
genocide donnent spontanement leur avis. “Au fond d’eux, les Armeniens
sont heureux de cette loi. Mais ils se taisent, a cause de la peur”,
souligne Robert Koptas, le redacteur en chef d’Agos, le journal
fonde par Hrant Dink, journaliste armenien assassine le 19 janvier
2007 a Istanbul. Les rares paroles officielles sont calquees sur le
discours d’Ankara. Comme en temoigne le commentaire precautionneux
d’Aram Atesyan, patriarche par interim: “Nous sommes en faveur de
la resolution de nos problèmes dans notre propre pays. Les tierces
personnes doivent rester en dehors de cette question.”

Negationnisme de bonne foi L’impact de l’initiative francaise sur le
negationnisme en Turquie est largement discute. “D’un point de vue
europeen, sa penalisation a un sens car elle est liee a la notion de
democratie, pense Etyen Mahcupyan, intellectuel armenien. Mais si les
gens ignorent l’Histoire, la punition est absurde. Elle n’a de sens que
si le negationnisme est commis en connaissance de cause.” Les ecoliers
turcs apprennent encore dans les manuels d’histoire que ce sont les
Armeniens qui les ont massacres. De bonne foi, une proportion non
negligeable de la population ignore aujourd’hui ce qu’il s’est passe
pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. “Avec cette loi, des citoyens
turcs, mal eduques, pourront etre condamnes en France mais l’Etat turc,
dont l’ideologie est toujours negationniste, ne sera pas touche”,
critique Robert Koptas.

La parodie de justice qui a clos, mardi, le procès des meurtriers
presumes de Hrant Dink, qui a paye de sa vie son engagement pour la
verite historique, est revelatrice de la persistance de l’attitude de
l’Etat. Un seul prevenu, sur 18, a ete reconnu complice d’Ogun Samast,
mineur au moment des faits, qui a abattu le journaliste de deux balles
dans la tete et a ete condamne a 23 ans de prison en juillet dernier.

Malgre les responsabilites au sein des services de securite de l’Etat
pointees par les parties civiles, le juge a ecarte l’existence d’un
complot.

Pour les 20.000 manifestants qui ont defile jeudi a Istanbul en
reclamant justice pour Hrant Dink, ce verdict s’inscrit dans le deni
de l’histoire. “La priorite est ce qu’il se passe dans mon pays,
je veux juste pouvoir faire enfin mon deuil, conclut Sibil Cekmen.

J’espère que cette loi, a long terme, exercera tout de meme une
pression en Turquie, sinon, elle ne servira vraiment a rien.”

From: Baghdasarian

EXPERT: FAILURE OF MULTICULTURALISM IN EUROPE MAY FUEL NEO-NAZI MOODS

arminfo
Wednesday, January 25, 16:08

The failure of multiculturalism in Europe may fuel neo-Nazi and
anti-Muslim moods, Principal Director of the European Geopolitical
Forum Marat Terterov said in an online interview to ArmInfo.

He said that the Europeans are trying to be tolerant and to protect
their rich societies by means of laws. Europe does not have laws
prohibiting religion, religious clothing or practices. But Islam is a
very active religion and the Muslims are more demonstrative in their
religious behavior than the Jews or the Christians are. Besides,
the Muslim culture is still regarded by many in Europe as strange
and even dangerous, especially in view of the violence and political
instability in the Muslim world.

Terterov believes that the absence of bans on Muslim religion and
clothing in Europe may result in growing tensions and “We Are Against
Them” moods. In Europe Neo-Nazism is not active as it is in Russia
but growing displeasure may fuel such moods.

Terterov was interviewed in the framework of the Security in the South
Caucasus and NATO project, designed as an opportunity for Armenian,
Azeri and Georgian journalists to interview foreign experts and
politicians on security and NATO related problems. The project has
been organized by the Region Research Center (Armenia) with the
support of NATO Public Diplomacy Division.

From: Baghdasarian

REPRESENTATIVE OF US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: THIS IS A MATTER BETWEEN TURKEY AND FRANCE

arminfo
Wednesday, January 25, 16:13

At a press briefing in Washington, US State Department Spokesperson
Victoria Nuland dwelt on the Armenian Genocide bill passed by the
French Senate.

She said that the views of the USA on this issue have been expressed
before and “they haven’t changed.” “We exchanged views with the
French government. This is a matter between Turkey and France. We
want to see good relations between them. Both of them are allies of
the United States, ” – Nuland said.

From: Baghdasarian

Nils Muižnieks elected Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 25, 2012
STRASBURG

STRASBURG, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS: The Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe has elected new Council of Europe Human Rights
Commissioner. Armenpress Armenian News Agency reports that at the
winter sitting of the PACE the majority of the parliamentarians backed
Latvia’s representative Nils Muižnieks. The latter will pass to his
duties from April 1, 2012.

The new Human Rights Commissioner was born in 1964. As a Council
of Europe expert he participated in the regulation of a number of
conflicts. In January 2007 he visited Georgia where he dealt with
the settlement of the Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-South Ossetian
conflicts.

From: Baghdasarian

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN ADDRESSES LETTER OF GRATITUDE TO HIS FRENCH COUNTERPART

ARMENPRESS
JANUARY 25, 2012

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS: Secretary for National Security
Council of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan has addressed a letter of
gratitude to his French counterpart – Frances Delon, press service
of National Security Council informed Armenpress.

In the letter Arthur Baghdasaryan expressed his deep gratitude on
the occasion of passing of the bill criminalizing the denial of the
Armenian genocide by the French Senate.

“Passing the bill, France proved its devotion to sublime universal
values and democratic principles for a regular time.

This historical document is the logical continuation of the law
condemning the Armenian Genocide adopted by the French Parliament
in 2001. This step of France inspires hope that it will serve as an
example for the parliaments of the European Union and other states
of the world,” the letter runs.

Simultaneously, in the letter Secretary for National Security Council
Arthur Baghdasaryan expresses confidence that the adoption of the
bill will strengthen the centuries-long Armenian-French friendship.

From: Baghdasarian

THE CHAMPAGNE PROBLEM; PARTIAL SOLUTION

Avedis Kevorkian, Philadelphia, PA USA, 24 January 2012

Thank you, President Sarkozy. You have solved one-half of my
“Champagne” problem.

As many readers may recall, I have written about the two bottles of
Champagne in my refrigerator, and France’s recent action criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide has given me the opportunity to
drink one bottle.

For those just tuning in, permit me explain. When Senator Meds Yeghern
was campaigning for the presidential nomination of the Dummycrat Party,
in 2008, he was very vocal about his love of the Armenians and his
unequivocal acceptance of the historic fact of the Armenian Genocide
and that when elected he would firmly announce it. The Armenians in
America were so ecstatic and vocal in their support that I succumbed
(despite my distrust of politicians, in general, and presidents,
in particular) so I put a bottle of Champagne in the refrigerator in
anticipation of that joyous day. When nominee Meds Yeghern won the
election in November 2008, the Armenians were so elated and their songs
of praise and their dancing in the streets set off seismographs around
the world, I was swept up, and I put another bottle of Champagne in
the refrigerator-~Vvowing to get well and truly drunk for the first
time in my life.

As we all know, President Meds Yeghern turned out to be what I
termed “The Liar, Mark 3” (One and Two being Presidents Clinkhead
and The Idiot.)

However, I have decided to drink one bottle, as a result of the French
decision. Note that I said “have decided,” and not “have drunk.” That
is for two reasons. The first is that never having been drunk before,
I am not sure how long it will take for me to sober up, so I should
wait till the weekend; there are some things that I have to do–this
essay, for one.

The second reason is that a friend who writes a food column for a
local publication has published his favorite recipe for brisket. So,
I have decided to try it and drink the Champagne with it.

Why only one bottle, why not both, you may ask.

Obviously, the French action is worthy of a bottle of Champagne.

(Historians may recall that when Henri of Navarre converted to
Catholicism to become King Henri IV, he said, “Paris is worth a Mass.”

This is my version.)

Since it is unlikely that President Meds Yeghern will live up to his
promise, even in this election year, I am keeping the other bottle
to see what further discomfort the French decision will have on Turkey.

So far, the reaction has been a delight to observe. Of course, too,
there is the reaction of President Meds Yeghern and Secretary of
State hiLiar Clinkhead (who, when a Senator, was full of love for
the Armenians and also. . .never mind) yet to come.

It is my guess that Turkey will take out its anger on the US. After
all, what good is having the US as a poodle if it won’t bark now
and then at other countries? You will recall that when Clinkhead was
confirmed as Secretary of State, she was immediately summoned to Ankara
to receive her instructions in matters-Armenian, matters-Cypriot,
and matters-Greek.

And, let us not forget that shortly after Meds Yeghern entered the
Oval Office, he announced that he would be going to the G-20 meeting
in London, in March, and to the NATO conference, in Brussels, in
April. He, too, was then summoned to Ankara to get his instructions
on matters-Armenian, matters-Cypriot, matters-Greek. We all know what
happened (or did not happen) later that month.

I am sure that Ankara wants to be sure that if the Genocide Recognition
Bill comes up again in the American Congress, the obedient pair will
do their dance.

Since the French action now pretty much means that Turkey’s accession
to the European Union is dead-~Vits chances were slim since it
announced that if Cyprus takes the rotating presidency in July,
Turkey would cease dealings with the EU (has anyone ever commented
on the arrogance of an applicant dictating to the organization it
wants to join?)-~VI have a suggestion for President Meds Yeghern:
Try to get Turkey to become the 51st American State. I suggested this
when The Idiot was president, but nothing came of it. I think I will
return to it, after we see what Turkey does/says/threatens next.

If I recall correctly the bottle on the left is the older of the two.

I hope that 2008 was a good year; 2012 is turning out to be.

From: Baghdasarian

FRENCH SENATE PASSES ARMENIAN “GENOCIDE” BILL

CRIENGLISH.com

Jan 24 2012
China

French Senate on Monday passed a bill criminalizing the denial of the
controversial Armenian “genocide,” which has caused tension between
Paris and Ankara.

Ankara froze political and military ties with France after the bill
was passed by French lower house of parliament in December.

The bill would impose a 45,000-euro (58,267 U.S. dollars) fine and a
year in jail on those guilty of denying that World War 1-era deaths
of over one million Armenians under the Ottoman rule amounted to
“genocide.”

It was rejected on Wednesday by French Senate’s Laws Commission and
some analysts had predicted most of the senators likely to oppose
the bill would abstain.

Turkey rejects the term “genocide,” insisting that the Armenians were
victims of widespread chaos and governmental breakdown as the Ottoman
Empire collapsed before modern Turkey was created.

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIA AND IRAN – UNEASY NEIGHBORS
by James Brooke

Tne Moscow News

Jan 24 2012
Russia

Countries without natural borders are like amoebas. Over centuries,
they expand and contract, expand and contract.

As the Western world wonders why Russia has such a nuanced policy
toward Iran’s nuclear program, it is important to skip back over four
centuries of history.

Under Ivan the Terrible, Russia defeated the Tatars and started to
expand east to Siberia and south to the Caspian Sea. There, it first
encountered Persia, forerunner to modern Iran. For the next century,
wary coexistence ensued between the two empires.

In 1722, Russia expanded south again, embarking on the first of four
successful wars against Persia. Steadily, Russia gobbled up chunks of
Persia’s Central Asian Empire. With the 1828 Treaty of Turkemnchay,
the Caspian Sea became a Russian lake.

One author of that treaty was Russia’s new ambassador to Persia,
Alexander Griboyedov, a witty and charming poet and playwright.

© RIA Novosti. / Valeriy Shustov

Alexander Griboyedov’s statue in MoscowBut Persian resentment of the
treaty boiled over when an Armenian eunuch escaped from the Shah’s
harem and two Armenian girls escaped from the harem of his son-in-law.

Under terms of the new treaty, Armenians were allowed safe passage
from Persia to Russiancontrolled Armenia. Ambassador Griboyedov stood
on principle, and protected his Armenian charges.

A mob of rioting Persians overwhelmed the Russian Embassy’s Cossack
guards and slaughtered everyone inside. When Griboyedov’s 16-year-old
bride, Nino, learned of her husband’s fate, she became so distraught
that she miscarried, and lost their baby. For the rest of her life,
she refused all suitors. Today, a larger than life Griboyedov statue
in Moscow is a popular meeting point for young people. In St.

Petersburg, Griboyedov Canal is a picturesque waterway in the heart
of the city.

The embassy slaughter may live on in Russian’s popular image of Iran.

But it did not deter the Kremlin, which retained control of Northern
Iran through 1946.

In 1907, with the military rise of Germany, Russia and Britain signed
the Anglo-Russian Convention. Under this treaty, Persia was divided up
between a northern Russian zone, a central neutral zone governed by a
Shah, and a southern British zone. This allowed Britain to develop oil
deposits in southern Iran and to build a refinery in Abadan. Founded
in 1909, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company grew into what is known today
as BP.

In 1941, Britain and the Soviet Union conducted a joint, threeweek
military campaign and deposed the pro-German Shah, installing his
son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. For the next five years, the two foreign
nations oversaw what had now come to be called Iran.

In early 1946, the British pulled out, but the Red Army stayed in
Northern Iran well beyond an exit deadline stipulated in the Teheran
Conference of 1943. Stalin decided to extend control over northern Iran
by setting up two puppet Soviet republics and signing an oil treaty
with Teheran that gave the Soviet Union ownership of 51 percent of
northern Iran’s oil deposits. But soon after Red Army troops withdrew
from northern Iran, the puppet republics collapsed. In late 1947,
Iran’s parliament refused to ratify the oil agreement.

Six decades of oil earnings and a swelling young population have
given Iran a powerful military machine. Now, it may be building a
nuclear bomb.

By contrast, in the Caspian, post-Soviet Moscow’s control has receded
to about 20 percent of the 7,000 km shoreline. And half of the
Russia portion is Dagestan, where currently the hottest insurgency
is underway in Russia’s Islamic south. Moscow fears Iran reaching
across the Caspian to destabilize southern Russia.

Last year’s Arab Spring ended a series of Soviet legacy relationships.

Russian influence in the Mediterranean receded to a toehold in
Tarsus, a naval base on Syria’s coast – but a large question mark
hangs over the future of Syria. And the Russian public has little
taste in overseas military entanglement, whether Syria or Iran.

The Kremlin keeps its ear close to the ground through an extensive
public opinion polling system. Today, as the Russian amoeba retracts,
there is no indication that the nation’s leaders want to tangle
with Teheran.

James Brooke (Twitter: @VOA_Moscow) is the Moscow bureau chief for
Voice of America. To view all “Russia Watch” posts, go to voanews.com.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL BECOMES INDUSTRY IN TURKEY – TANER AKCAM

news.am
January 21, 2012 | 03:49

Armenian News-NEWS.am publishes an extract from the interview of the
Turkish sociologist and historian Taner Akcam in the French blog of
Le Monde.

In response to the question what he thinks of France and the bill
criminalizing denial of genocides and, in particular, the Armenian
Genocide, he said that the bill was accepted in Turkey very negatively,
as it was a short term effect, while the long term effects will be
more positive. Turkey may try to prohibit and force to keep silent
on the truth within its borders, while the international agencies
will constantly remind it of the issue, which Turkey must face and
solve eventually.

Besides, the French initiative is not a law for France. To the joy
and sorrow, it has become a part of the international campaign for
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Turkey’s hysteria, anger and negative events will soon be forgotten,
while heavy reality of the serious indecisiveness of the issue will
remain. It will, hence, strengthen positions of those who ascertain
confrontation with the historical memory is closely linked with the
creation of a democratic society in Turkey.

Regardless of France’s final goal, Turkish society and elite are again
claimed the necessity to make a decision on the fundamental issue.

As for it is effectiveness, he said that everyone should acknowledge
the fact. Turkey is irritated by being reminded of its memory. The
memory, like a ghost, pursues it for decades.

“I have been discussing the Armenian Genocide issue for many years
and the truth is that I felt alone. I even had to explain my closest
relatives the meaning of the 1915,” Akcam said.

To comprehend Turkey’s denial policy, one should realize that denial
is a structure

Denying the 1915 events, Turkey reproduces institutes, public relations
and mentality. Denial also fuels the continuing policy of aggression
inside and outside Turkey towards anyone daring to speak against
mentality of denial.

Denial of genocide is an industry in Turkey and public policy of utmost
importance. As far as Turkey continues state policy of denial through
its institutes and mentality, Ankara will be sensitive to the outside
pressure, meantime, the pressure should be increased.

In response to what are Akcam’s expectations of the pressure and where
it would lead to Turkey, he said that as far as the West allows Turkey
to run the policy of denial, it will go on.

“We must reach global comprehension of the Genocide and its prevention
equally. Struggle against Genocide denial is an issue of global
democracy and human rights. Recognition is essential for humanity,”
Akcam concluded.

From: Baghdasarian