Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

AZNAVOUR REMERCIE SARKOZY POUR SA POSITION SUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Le Matin

26 dec 2011
Suisse

Le chanteur franco-armenien Charles Aznavour, ambassadeur d’Armenie
en Suisse, a exprime au president francais Nicolas Sarkozy sa
“reconnaissance” après l’adoption par les deputes d’une loi penalisant
la negation des genocides, dont celui des Armeniens.

Charles Aznavour a ete nomme en 2009 ambassadeur d’Armenie en
Suisse. © Keystone

Charles Aznavour s’est adresse au president francais par ecrit pour
exprimer sa “reconnaissance” après l’adoption par les deputes d’une
loi penalisant la negation des genocides, dont celui des Armeniens.

“Vous vous etes exprime a plusieurs reprises pour la condamnation du
negationnisme par la loi en rappelant a juste titre que la liberte
d’expression, ce n’est pas celle de manipuler l’Histoire ni celle de
nier les evidences historiques”.

“Il y a dix ans, la France avait inspire des sentiments de fierte aux
500’000 Francais d’origine armenienne, en devenant le premier Etat au
monde a donner force de loi a la reconnaissance du genocide armenien”,
poursuit Charles Aznavour. “Aujourd’hui, nous sommes fiers que notre
Assemblee nationale preconise la penalisation du negationnisme”,
ajoute-t-il.

Autorites turques furieuses

L’Assemblee nationale francaise a adopte jeudi une proposition de
loi du parti presidentiel de droite UMP reprimant la negation de
tout genocide, ce qui a suscite la fureur des autorites turques et
une suspension des relations diplomatiques. Le texte doit desormais
etre inscrit a l’ordre du jour du Senat.

Charles Aznavour a ete nomme en 2009 ambassadeur d’Armenie en Suisse.

Il est aussi representant de ce meme pays auprès du bureau europeen
des Nations unies.

From: Baghdasarian

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : REBSAMEN (PS) DEMANDE AU GOUVERNEMENT D’INSCRIRE LE TEXTE AU SENAT
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 26 decembre 2011

Le president du groupe PS au Senat, Francois Rebsamen, a demande
vendredi au gouvernement d’inscrire la proposition de loi UMP
penalisant la contestation du genocide armenien, votee jeudi par les
deputes, a l’ordre du jour du Senat “dans les plus brefs delais”.

“Je demande au gouvernement de l’inscrire a l’ordre du jour du Senat
dans les plus brefs delais”, a indique Francois Rebsamen dans un
communique.

“Meme si ce texte est porteur de soupcons electoralistes, rien
ne serait pire aujourd’hui que de l’enterrer, suscitant ainsi
l’incomprehension et la deception de la communaute armenienne, après
avoir souleve, l’indignation et la colère de la communaute turque”,
ecrit-il.

Pour etre adopte, il faut qu’il soit inscrit et examine avant la fin
du mois de fevrier, fin de la session parlementaire.

L’Assemblee a vote jeudi une proposition de loi reprimant d’un an de
prison et d’une amende la contestation du genocide armenien de 1915-17,
suscitant la colère d’Ankara qui refute le caractère genocidaire des
massacres survenus dans les dernières annees de l’empire ottoman.

From: Baghdasarian

NICOLAS SARKOZY : LA TURQUIE N’A DE LECONS A DONNER A PERSONNE
Laetitia

armenews.com
lundi 26 decembre 2011

Le president francais Nicolas Sarkozy a rejete vendredi 23 decembre
2011 les represailles d’Ankara contre Paris. Nicolas Sarkozy a annonce
que la Turquie n’avait de lecons a donner a personne.

” Je respecte les opinions de nos amis turcs – c’est un grand pays,
une grande civilisation – et ils doivent nous respecter “, a affirme
Nicolas Sarkozy lors d’une interview pour l’agence AFP, a Prague où
il a assiste aux funerailles du president tchèque Vaclav Havel.

” La France n’a pas de lecons a donner, ni a recevoir.

” Nous devons rester calmes en toutes circonstances… La France
a ses convictions, respecte les droits humains et la memoire “,
a ajoute Nicolas Sarkozy.

Lors d’une interview, M. Sarkozy a egalement cite une loi francaise
datee de 2001 concernant le genocide armenien de 1915.

” Il y a dix ans, la France a adopte une loi reconnaissant le genocide
armenien “, a-t-il dit. ” La question pour le Parlement etait de
savoir si la contestation de ce genocide devait etre punissable. ”
” Et, c’est ce qui a ete decide par l’Assemblee nationale. La France
a des principes. ”

La Turquie a fermement condamne le projet approuve par l’assemblee
nationale francaise jeudi 22 decembre 2011 et a annonce que les
relations politiques economiques et militaires entre les deux pays
etaient desormais suspendues.

Vendredi 23 decembre 2011, le Premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, a accuse la France d’avoir commis un genocide dans son
ancienne colonie, l’Algerie, et a lance une attaque personnelle contre
Nicolas Sarkozy.” Depuis 1945, on estime que 15% de la population
en Algerie a ete massacree par les Francais. C’est un genocide “,
a declare M. Erdogan a la television en direct, selon l’agence de
presse Reuters.

” Si le president francais M. Sarkozy ne connaît pas ce genocide,
il faut demander a son père, Paul Sarkozy. Son père a servi dans la
Legion francaise en Algerie dans les annees quarante. Je suis sûr
qu’il aurait beaucoup a dire a son fils sur les massacres francais
commis en Algerie “, a rencherit le Premier ministre turc.

Jeudi 22 decembre, Ankara a rappele son ambassadeur a Paris pour
des consultations et a suspendu des visites politiques ainsi que des
projets conjoints militaires avec l’OTAN.

L’AFP a indique que le ministre des Affaires etrangères francais,
Alain Juppe, a appele la Turquie a ne pas ” dramatiser la situation
uniquement pour ce projet de loi ” et a insiste sur le fait qu’il
soit une initiative parlementaire, et non un projet du gouvernement
de Nicolas Sarkozy.

” Nous avons ete accuses de genocide ! Comment pourrions-nous ne
pas reagir de manière excessive ?, ” s’est exclame l’ambassadeur de
Turquie en France, Tahsin Burcuoglu,avant de prendre un vol de retour.

” La Turquie ne reconnaîtra jamais le genocide armenien. ”

L’Armenie, qui n’a pas de relations diplomatiques avec la Turquie,
a remercie les deputes francais pour avoir fait passer la loi. Le
ministre des Affaires etrangères, Edouard Nalbandian, a declare que la
France a demontre que les droits de l’homme sont une ” valeur supreme
” pour elle.

Edouard Sharmazanov, le porte-parole du Parti Republicain d’Armenie, a
condamne la reaction turque. ” J’espère que nous pouvons nous attendre
un vote similaire au Senat francais “, a-t-il declare ensuite a RFE
/ RL.

Vladimir Karapetian, un porte-parole pour la politique etrangère du
principal parti d’opposition, le Congrès national armenien (HAK),
a egalement salue le vote des Francais au parlement. Karapetian a
annonce que la France a ainsi reaffirme son engagement envers la
justice et envers son amitie pour le peuple armenien.

From: Baghdasarian

DIVISION OF IRAQ BECOMES TURKEY’S MAIN CONCERN
By Murat Yetkin

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 26 2011

Despite the fact that Turkish politics was almost totally occupied
with French Parliamentary vote to criminalize the denial of Armenian
genocide allegations, Iraq was raised to the first rank among Turkey’s
foreign and security policy worries last week.

The reason was a court order against Tariq al-Hashemi, the deputy to
Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani. Accused of subversive acts against
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government, Hashemi immediately left
Baghdad to hide in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) controlled
northern sector of Iraq, bordering Iran and Turkey.

This development was alarming in Ankara, since al-Hashemi belongs to
the Sunni sect of Islam, whereas al-Maliki is Shiite and Talabani is
of Kurdish origin. Therefore in one single incident all main ethnical
and religious fault lines in Iraq were shaken and on the day after
the last American soldier left Iraq for Kuwait.

Ankara has been expecting something bad to happen after U.S. troops
evacuated following U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Defense
Secretary Leon Panetta’s visits to Iraq earlier December. But as one
ranking Turkish official told me last week, “We thought the al-Maliki
government or Shiite powers in general would wait until the official
end of American presence by the end of the month.” They did not expect
that al-Maliki was going to use the ‘surprise factor.’

Al-Maliki immediately issued a statement calling Massoud Barzani, the
head of the KRG to send al-Hashemi to Baghdad for trials and should
not let him to go to another country. Since al-Hashemi would not go
to Iran or Syria under control of Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of
Iran, the only country al-Maliki meant was Turkey. Al-Hashemi made
an appearance the next day in Arbil, where Barzani’s headquarters
are and then went to Sulaymaniyah, President Talabani’s hometown.

In an interview in Sulaymaniyah with Aslı AydıntaÅ~_baÅ~_ of Turkey’s
Milliyet newspaper yesterday, al-Hashemi linked the stability of Iraq
with stability of Turkey.

That is exactly the reason for Ankara’s worries. Ankara believes that
Iran is behind what is happening in Iraq nowadays. “Tehran would
like to see an Iraq under Shiite control,” one high ranking source
explained how Ankara considered the situation. “If they understand
that this would not be possible then they might want to secure at
least the Shiite populated south of the country.”

That might lead up to division of the country and the Kurdish region
in the north will be left with one option only – even if they declare
an independent Kurdistan – in order to survive and that would be to
be attached to Turkey which would be an exit for their oil and gas
production and also protection. Speaking of security, both Turkish
and Iraqi Kurdish officials are aware that the issue of the armed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bases in the KRG region to carry out
attacks in Turkey will not be an item untouched.

A divided Iraq will have serious affects on Turkey’s own Kurdish
problem and bring additional security burdens. But the troublesome PKK
presence in Iraq could also turn into a bargaining chip in Barzani’s
hands in his encounters with Turkey.

On the other hand, the Shiite region has Basra as the biggest Iraqi
city on the shores of the Persian Gulf, where the oil and gas terminals
pump some 40 percent of exports to outer markets.

Iran has started a 10-day military exercise in the strait of
Hurmuz, the narrow outlet of the Gulf. And Iranian Chief of Staff
General Hassan Firouzabadi said yesterday Iran was “ready to expand
military links with Iraq,” only to be welcomed by Saadoun Al-Dulaimi,
al-Maliki’s acting Defense Minister. Iran also does not hide its
disturbance from Turkey’s getting ready to activate the NATO Missile
Shield radar this week. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s timing in his visit to
Armenia three days ago was noted in Ankara.

Those are the reasons why Iraq is now a bigger headache for Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan than Syria and France.

From: Baghdasarian

THE JEWS CANNOT REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO ARMENIAN TRAGEDY

12/26/2011

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said, Monday, “It is our moral duty to
remember and commemorate the tragedy that befell the Armenian people.”

Addressing a Knesset Education Committee hearing on recognition by
the Jewish people of the destruction of the Armenian population in
the Ottoman Empire during and immediately after World War I, Rivlin
referred to the current Turkish government’s sensitivity on the subject
when he continued, “We do not want to exploit the political situation
to settle scores with another country. One must remember that since
’89 Haim Oron and I have put the issue on the Knesset’s agenda every
year, in order not to enable denial of a tragedy to another people.”

He added, “We as a people, demand from the world not to deny the
Holocaust that befell us, and we cannot morally, as Jews and as human
beings, to do so to another people. It’s not a political issue but
a moral issue of the highest order.”

From: Baghdasarian

L’AZERBAIJAN DEVELOPPE SON INDUSTRIE MILITAIRE
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 26 decembre 2011

Selon Arminfo, citant le Ministre azerbaïdjanais de l’industrie
militaire, Yavar Jamalov, l’industrie militaire azerbaïdjanaise
produira en 2012 des drones ” Aerostar ” et ” Orbiter-2M “. Le
Ministère azerbaïdjanais coopererait avec plus de 60 entreprises
d’armement dans le monde entier et notamment avec des societes
ukrainiennes pour la production conjointe de missiles antichars.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

From: Baghdasarian

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Dec 23 2011

France in confusion after Armenian resolution, says Turkish Ambassador Burcuoglu

Istanbul: Turkish ambassador in Paris, Tahsin Burcuoglu, said Friday
that the French were in confusion and felt embarrassment after an
Armenian resolution pertaining to the incidents of 1915 was adopted at
the French Parliament on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport,
Burcuoglu said that “the French were now reckoning with each other”.

What was interesting on Thursday is that although the resolution was a
product of the French government, those opposing the resolution in the
French Parliament were also members of the government, Burcuoglu
stressed.

We will now closely watch the process in Paris until February 22,
Burcuoglu also said.

The lower house of the French Parliament adopted on Thursday a
resolution that criminalizes rejection of Armenian allegations
pertaining to the incidents of 1915.

Only 70 out of 577 parliamentarians joined the voting of the
resolution which was adopted with majority of votes.

The resolution envisages “one-year prison term and 45,000 Euro fine
for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws.” French
Parliament had recognized so-called Armenian genocide in 1915 on
January 29, 2001.

The draft criminalizing the rejection of Armenian allegations had
first been approved in 2006, but it could not become a law as French
President Nicolas Sarkozy prevented its presentation to Senate.

Now, the senate’s approval is necessary to make the resolution a law.

Turkey strongly opposes the issue of the incidents of 1915 being used
as a tool in French politics. Many believe that French President
Sarkozy supports the Armenian resolution in order to garner support
from France’s Armenian population that number around 500,000.

France will hold the first round of next year’s presidential election
on April 22 and the second round run-off on May 6. Sarkozy is running
for a second term.

If the resolution is not adopted at the senate till February 22, 2012
when the parliament and senate will recess for presidential elections,
it will be invalid.

From: Baghdasarian

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 23 2011

Is It Possible To Cover up the Ergenekon Case

by Huseyin Gulerce

Some concerns have been raised that indicate the ongoing Ergenekon
investigation, the cases associated with a recent coup attempt, will
be covered up and undermined.

It is even argued that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
administration has been trying to do so. I would agree with the
concerns but I do not and I cannot believe that the AK Party would
possibly be involved in an initiative that would undermine its
prestige and render worthless its hard-earned successes.

The Ergenekon case is the case of the century. For the first time in
this country, the guardianship system is being effectively undermined.
The pro-coup mindset is being questioned and a trial process is taking
place to remove all junta factions and groups from within the armed
forces. Since the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), the illegal
structure within the state has consolidated its position and power
through coups and acquired a suitable place in all state institutions,
including those spelled out in the constitution. This is a powerful
entity which is stronger and better organized than anybody would
think. I would even say that only 20 per cent of this entity has been
removed by the ongoing investigation and other relevant measures.

We have to understand better what we are dealing with; the entity
called Ergenekon is organized to lay the ground for coups. In other
words, it is not the true brain of the illegal structure. Gladio, a
clandestine Italian organization similar to Ergenekon, is composed of
P-2 Masonry members, leading figures who previously served as
president, prime minister, ministers, deputies, judges, businessmen,
generals and media representatives. From this perspective, ignoring
the Ergenekon case and arguing that the investigation should stop
would mean walking into the trap of guardianship.

True, there might be some concerns and fears that the deep structure
of Ergenekon is still powerful and influential, and will therefore
fight back and prevent justice from being served. But I would not
accept that the AK Party would be so ignorant that it would adopt a
more lenient approach to weaken strong political will. These
investigations also cover the Anti-reactionaryism Plan, anti-AK Party
and Gulen Plan. A few days ago, the AK Party was granted co-plaintiff
status by the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court.

Dozens of trials based on very serious allegations supported by
official documents and other evidence are under way. The media,
together with citizens who would like to foster the will to
democratize, should not allow these trials to be forgotten.

Everybody should be cautious and careful about something: the circles
of guardianship are trying to divert public attention with artificial
moves in the coup trials. Even extensive focus on the recent Armenian
genocide bill in France should be considered from this perspective.
This will be followed by other distractions. The AK Party is being
undermined and different scenarios are being staged to cause tension
within the party. These plots are attempting to create alienation
between the government and the people who voted for stability and the
future of Turkey in recent elections. Scenarios are being drafted to
distance the president from the prime minister. I am telling you, the
structure called guardianship is one hundred years old. Its experience
in staging plots is far more extensive than the experience of any of
the politicians. The pro-status quo actors are stronger than you would
think. They are still standing and alive; they are resisting and they
will remain so.

Susurluk should not be covered up and unresolved murders should not be
covered up. We should not remain indifferent to the massacres
committed in Sivas, Basbaglar, Kahramanmaras and Gazi, nor should we
ignore other provocative incidents. We should do something to make
sure that these cases are not annulled because of the statute of
limitations. We have to hold those who burned inmates alive with
unusual bombs responsible for what they did and try the commanders who
gave orders to use chemical weapons to suppress a prison riot in 2000.
We have to hold those who acted negligently in the martyrdom of our
sons in the mountains and in unprotected military stations, despite
having adequate information to prevent this incident.

Nobody could cover up the Ergenekon cases; you’ll see, they cannot be
covered up.

From: Baghdasarian

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 24 2011

Dining in Paris in the shadow of the French Parliament

As I was sitting in a chic French restaurant with friends, they asked
me about my thoughts on the latest piece of legislative attempt on
`criminalizing rejection of Armenian genocide.’ I wasn’t surprised by
such a legislative attempt, and yet despite my age – which is 64 – and
extensive travels, I was shocked that it was happening in France,
considered to be cradle of individual rights and liberties, chief
among them being free speech.

My French hosts explained to me that the legislative piece would incur
penalties up to 45,000 and jail time of one year. They also explained
that this was a move by President Nicolas Sarkozy for the upcoming
elections as the polls show that he is trailing some six points behind
and that he needs all the votes he can get. To me, this is just a lame
excuse. (They said they would vote for Socialists!)

Of course you can blame me for thinking this way because I have
Turkish heritage, but I am saying it nevertheless. Because of my job
in international trade, I have been in France many times, as I have
seen some things in my time.

I had the chance of living in Paris for a year at a time when some
Armenians were on trial for planting a bomb outside the offices of
Turkish Airlines in Orly that killed civilians, including French
citizens. Turkey called this action terrorism then, it would be
considered terrorism now by any shape or standard. At the time, those
on trial were claiming they took an action that was politically
motivated. That did not play well with the French court. I have seen
that they were jailed.

I have also seen that the leading thinkers of literature and other
prominent public figures giving support to those who committed the
crime at Orly. Same people who traveled with Mr. Sarkozy to Armenia
last month, applauding Mr Sarkozy in his promises to do all he could
to push Turkey to acknowledge `the genocide.’

I have also seen that other politicians, at both local and national
levels, around the world including the US, to take advantage of this
unfortunate dispute in history for political gain.

Nobody stops to think what really happened during this dark page of
history. Armenians say `it was genocide,’ Turks say `it was massacre
by both sides in a war.’ Well, who am I to pass judgment, right? After
all, I am Turkish by birth. I don’t blame the Armenians for thinking
what they think. I don’t blame them for getting politically engaged on
what they think. And, I don’t really blame much the petty politicians
for them to take advantage of this history in their elective
districts. But I am very well placed to blame those politicians who
claim leadership of their people for taking them down a very dangerous
path of criminalizing freedoms.

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise, when I learned of what my French
hosts told me, that I was horrified by the fact that, in France, a
country that is claiming to be the cradle of freedoms in the Continent
and leading force of European values, I would be a criminal from now
on.

Europe is going through tough times these days for obvious reasons.
And, because the UK chose to opt out of the Eurozone decisions the
other week, Mr. Sarkozy snubbed Mr. Cameron without shaking his hand
in the hallway. If that’s what leaders do, so be it. This goes to show
character, or the lack thereof, at a more personal level. But, what
leaders should not do is to limit free speech and foment discord and
hostility between respective peoples of countries in the process. I
don’t know if Turks and Armenians will work out their differences any
time soon, but I am positive that Mr. Sarkozy will lose the hearts and
minds of millions in Turkey, which – I would guess – will not play out
well for the interests of either France or Turkey. And this for what:
a few votes?

Real leaders make history. Others try to rewrite them. The French
Parliament should not go down this path on December 22. If it does, I
will say to the `leader’ of this nation of revolutionaries: `Shame on
you, Mr Sarkozy. Shame on you for leading your people to follow this
path!’ Then I will start wondering if I will get prosecuted for saying
that: Shame on you!

(*) Naciye Sahin-Davenport is a Turkish-American businesswoman who
currently resides in Paris.

December/24/2011

From: Baghdasarian

FARS News Agency, Iran
December 23, 2011 Friday

Sargsyan Hails Armenia’s Growing Ties with Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan praised his country’s
developing ties with Iran, and said his talks with Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were much fruitful.

The two presidents’ meeting was followed by extended talks between the
delegations of both countries.

Addressing a second meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Sargsyan
said, “I am convinced this visit will further stimulate our friendly
relations. This year marks the 20th anniversary of not only the
Republic of Armenia’s independence, but also the 20th anniversary of
our friendship in the new era.”

“Throughout these years we successfully carried out several important
projects and outlined new programs. I am very happy that we reached
very important conclusions during our private talks with Mr.
President. Our political dialogue is on good tracks, in all levels; it
has a very good economic basis, and our economic relations are
developing,” the Armenian president continued.

“Together with Mr. President we were saying how good it is that our
trade is growing and is on the highest level. (But) Mr. President
rightfully notes that US$300 million is a very small amount for two
friendly and neighboring peoples and states.”

“What’s important is that we see a potential. As Mr. Ahmadinejad said,
we could double or triple those numbers in a very short period of
time.”

“Together with Mr. President we discussed other matters, too. What’s
important is that the environment is truly constructive, and we
understand each other very well,” the Armenian president reiterated.

The Iranian president arrived in Armenia on Friday to discuss
expansion of bilateral ties and cooperation in meetings with his
Armenian counterpart.

Ahmadinejad first met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsian and
signed five bilateral agreements amid growing cooperation between
Tehran and Yerevan.

One of the agreements scheduled the start of construction work on a
hydro-electric power station on the Arax river which runs along the
two countries’ border.

Other agreements included joint cooperation between the Institute of
Standards and Industrial Research of Iran and Armenia’s National
Institute of Standards, cooperation in social welfare and affairs as
well as bilateral environmental cooperation.

Armenia has been developing closer ties with Iran. Trade turnover
between Tehran and Yerevan has been increasing, from $206 million (157
million euros) in 2009 to $273 million (209 million euros) last year.
This year it amounted to $300 million.

From: Baghdasarian