Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

The Bristol Press
April 24 2014

Armenian commemoration

Friday, April 25, 2014 1:05 AM EDT

Ruth Thomasian, a photo archivist and historian, will be the keynote
speaker at the annual 99th Armenian Genocide Commemoration which will
be held in the House Chambers at the State Capitol on Saturday, April
26, 2014, starting at 11 a.m.

“The April 26th ceremony will be held to remember our martyrs and
honor our survivors,” said state Rep. Christopher Wright (D-Bristol),
chairman of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration event. “We invite
everyone to join us and following the commemoration event all
participants are invited to gather in the Hall of the Flags for
refreshments.”

For 39 years Ruth Thomasian, a photo archivist and historian, has
dedicated herself to saving the photographic heritage of the Armenian
community as Founder (1975) and Executive Director of Project SAVE
Armenian Photograph Archives, Inc. During the 1970s, while pursuing a
career as a theatrical costume designer in New York City, she became
aware that visual material to research costumes for Armenian plays set
in Historic Armenia was extremely scarce.

During the horrific period of the Armenian Genocide, between 1915 and
1923, over 1.5 million people suffered and perished at the hands of
the Turkish Government.

Five hundred thousand others were driven from their homes into exile.

From: Baghdasarian

Glendale News Agency, CA
April 25 2014

Genocide descendants continue to seek recognition

Attendees of commemoration at Alex Theatre are largely unmoved by
recent political statements regarding the Armenian Genocide.

By Brittany Levine, [email protected]

April 25, 2014 | 8:53 a.m.

As nearly 1,200 people packed the Alex Theatre on Thursday at the
13th annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, attendees were
abuzz about a historic statement made by the Turkish Prime Minister
the day prior.

PHOTOS: Armenian Genocide commemoration at the Alex Theatre

Most dismissed the comments made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan on the eve before the 99th anniversary of the
genocide, in which he offered condolences to Armenian descendants of
the massacre and mentioned a “shared pain,” but did not directly
recognize the massacres of the Ottoman Empire as a genocide.

It was the first time a top Turkish official has offered conciliation,
but the government continues to refuse to recognize the 1915 genocide
of 1.5 million Armenians. The United States has also yet to describe
the killings by the Ottoman Empire as genocide, but local and state
lawmakers have done so.

“There was nary an apology, there was nary any atonement for what
happened,” Mihran Toumajan, a Glendale resident who works in software
engineering, said before the event, which featured speeches, and
Armenian songs and performances — including a modern dance that
depicted a man dressed in a traditional Turkish fez hat steal a
woman’s baby.

But, Osheen Keshishian, a Glendale Community College professor from
Sherman Oaks, said that although many would criticize him for saying
it, he considered the statement a step in the right direction.

“It’s not enough, but he has never reached this point,” he said.

State Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) echoed Keshishian on
stage, but added that after 99 years, condolences cannot be considered
an adequate response. While Rep. Adam Schiff didn’t directly refer to
the condolences, he said the pain of genocide victims’ descendants are
not the only emotion that can be passed down.

“Responsibility, too, passes down through generations,” Schiff said.

Speakers also recognized other recent news that shook the
international Armenian community: the violent takeover last month of a
majority Armenian town in Syria known as Kessab. The Syrian rebel
forces who overran the town of about 2,000 came in through the Turkish
border, an upsetting reminder of the genocide for many Armenians
around the world.

“By now the wounds should have healed, but the wounds have not
healed,” Mayor Zareh Sinanyan said. “The wounds are still bleeding.”

The event’s keynote speaker, Maurice Missak Kelechian, a Silicon
Valley engineer whose scientific research led to the unveiling of a
mass grave at an Armenian orphanage dating back to the time of the
genocide, shared a lengthy presentation demonstrating American
humanitarian efforts during the early 20th century to support
Armenians.

“We don’t have to prove to anyone that the genocide happened,”
Kelechian said, clicking through a presentation featuring photos of
starving children, hundreds of orphans and American advertisements
asking for donations to a humanitarian group called “Near East
Relief.”

During that time, Americans — even presidents, their wives, and local
politicians — rallied to support Armenians, he said, adding that with
that past support in mind, President Barack Obama should be ashamed of
his multiple attempts to commemorate the tragedy without calling it a
genocide.

On Thursday, Obama described the events 99 years ago as an atrocity,
despite promising to recognize the genocide as president during his
2008 campaign.

“We need to make the tragedy not just an Armenian one, but a tragedy
for humanity at large,” Kelechian said.

,0,6652246.story

From: Baghdasarian

We should not have rushed and have negotiated around some details `
Armenian economist

April 26, 2014 | 00:48

YEREVAN. ` It would have been more expedient forArmenia not to rush
and, instead, to negotiate around some details, whereupon enter the
Eurasian economic space.

Former MP, non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party member,
economist Vardan Bostanjyan told the aforesaid to Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

He commented on now former Economy Minister Vahram Avanesyan’s recent
announcement that, on April 29, Armenia may become a member in the
Eurasian Economic Union, instead of the Customs Union.

`In the case of entering in such a sharp manner, we [Armenia] will not
be able to pay the needed attention to numerous matters in terms of
time. I’m inclined to believe that an immediate entry will rule out
the talks and the analyses in terms of some details,’ the ex-MP said,
in particular.

Bostanjyan is convinced that this hurriedness by Armenia will lead to
undesired results.

To our query on the perils of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian
Economic Union, the economist specifically stressed:

`There is no catastrophic peril. But this process assumed a chain of
negotiations in advance. But we must keep in mind that investments
will be made, new jobs will open, the salaries will be raised, but, on
the other hand, life will become more expensive. But these two factors
will compensate one another.’

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

Thousands Attend AYF’s Protest at Turkish Consulate in LA

Friday, April 25th, 2014 | Posted by Contributor

Protesters in front of the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES’Thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Turkish
Consulate in Los Angeles Thursday to demand justice for the Armenian
Genocide as part of the 24 Hours of Action organized by the Armenian
Youth Federation.

The day-long demonstration began at 2 p.m. with protesters
disseminating information about the Armenian Genocide to the public.
At 4 p.m., those in attendance took part in the protest rally,
expressing their demands for justice and recognition of the genocide
by the Turkish and United States governments.

Artists paint in front of the Turkish Counsulate at night as young
Armenians continue 24 hours of demonstrations with ‘Music as
Resistance, Art as Rebirth.’

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian was among the protesters.
In his speech, he compared the Armenian demands for reparation to
those of Americans for the occurrences of September 11, 2001.
Montebello City Councilman Jack Hadjinian also addressed the crowd and
commended the Armenian youth on their efforts on social media to
spread awareness about the Armenian Genocide.

Serob Abrahamian presented the AYF’s message in Armenian, calling on
President Barack Obama to keep his presidential campaign promise of
recognizing the genocide. Sanan Shirinian presented the AYF’s message
in English, saying that the youth will not stop fighting until justice
is served. `Don’t tell us we’re being too idealistic, because we’re
not meant to be level-headed. We are meant to be revolutionaries,’ she
said. `Why? Because we belong to the Armenian Nation.’

Demonstrators conduct a silent protest at 8 a.m., symbolizing Gregory
Stanton’s 8th stage of genocide: denial.

The 24 Hours of Action will continue until 2 p.m. Friday. Musical
performances and live art comprised the rest of the evening. Beginning
at midnight, Gregory Stanton’s eight stages of genocide was presented
until 8 a.m. Protesters continued to spread awareness into Friday
morning. A second protest rally will take place from noon to 2 p.m. to
conclude the 24 hours.

From: Baghdasarian

Turkish organization: Erdogan’s statement was publicity stunt

April 26, 2014 | 13:11

YEREVAN. ` There are two reasons for Turkish PM’sstatement made on the
eve of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, representative
of Turkish organization said.

Levent Sensever, representative of Dur De organization, said Erdogan
made the statement because of international pressure, and secondly,
because of internal pressure from civil society. Members of
organization discussed the statement with the Armenian community in
Istanbul, he told reporters in Yerevan.

`As a representative of Turkish organization I had to be very cautious
in my statement, and first I had to listen to local Armenians. For
example, one of the AGBU leaders said the statement was a publicity
stunt, and I do agree,’ Sensever said.

Representatives of Agos newspaper, that was founded by Hranit Dink,
were of the same opinion, but they added it was the first formal
statement on Armenian issue.

`I want to add that this statement will help us ` Turks and Kurds `
who are struggling for Armenian Genocide recognition. The statement
expanded area for struggle, and paved way for the ruling Justice and
Development party members’ participation in debates on Armenian
Genocide,’ he emphasized.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

CE SOIR
Conférence d’Erol Ozkoray rue Jean Goujon

Organisée par l’Armenian Council of Europe, l’écrivain et journaliste
turco-kurde francophone Erol Ozkoray, donnera une conférence salle
Nourhan Frighian, 15 rue Jean Goujon à Paris (Eglise apostolique) Ã
20h30

Il s’agira d’une Rencontre-débat sur le thème `Les dynamiques en
Turquie – État des lieux du système turc`

Erol Ozkoay est actuellement sous le coup d’une accusation en Turquie
pour avoir publié son livre Le Phénomène Gezi. Il a indiqué qu’il se
présenterai au tribunal.

Entrée libre

Cocktail

samedi 26 avril 2014,
Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 24 2014

ARMENIAN DIASPORA POSES OBSTACLE TO RECONCILIATION

Due to the Armenian diaspora’s political interests, Turkey’s offer to
approach the 1915 incidents from a historical and factual perspective
has been refused. Yet, Turkey still favors reconciliation

by Yusuf Selman Ä°nanç
Published : 24.04.2014 00:59:12

ISTANBUL ‘ The underlying factor which explains the division between
the Armenian diaspora, whose members reside in other countries and
Armenians who live in Armenia, is their differing approach to their
national identities.

While the diaspora does not care about Armenia and Armenians’
interests, the Armenians living in Turkey and Armenia have a different
perspective. Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was murdered
in 2007, raised his concerns about the diaspora’s stance on the 1915
incidents. He has repeated in his articles that Turks and Armenians
would have reconciled had the process not been sabotaged by certain
groups in Turkey and the diaspora, as both were privileging their own
interests rather than the needs of the people. The debate over
Armenian genocide claims outside of Armenia still attracts attention.
Even in Turkey, conferences have been organized to discuss the
historical facts. Yet, those who try to understand the incidents
without calling them genocide and attempt to communicate with Turkey
have witnessed the diaspora’s harsh and ostracizing stance. Turkey’s
clear stance and contributions by nongovernmental organizations and
academics to communicate and share the pain with Armenians seems to be
disadvantageous for the Armenian diaspora, which considers the
incidents a political issue rather than a historical one.

One of the main reasons that the Armenian issue has become complicated
is that the incidents have not been seen as through a historical lens
but rather through a political one. The Armenian incidents remain
unsolved due to the speculative news of international media outlets
during and after World War I and a lack of adequate data.

The only way to solve the problem seems to be engaging in qualified
archival studies. Keeping the archives, which offer accurate
information regarding the incidents, closed is not advantageous for
either side. Yet the diaspora’s concerns target Turkey’s influence in
the international arena, allowing Ankara to ignore the diaspora’s
demands. As such Turkey has concerns over its territorial integrity
and calls for reparations, particularly as the diaspora continues to
demand territory in Turkey’s northeast. Such actions have damaged
reconciliation attempts.

What is necessary during a probable reconciliation process is
investigating state archives and consular documents while keeping
political polarization, international media, legal authorities and
politicians away from the investigations and research. Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an echoed the Turkish government sentiments
in 2006 and 2009 in international forums and called on Armenia to
investigate those documents under the guidance of groups comprising
supervisors, state officials and academics to be selected by both
sides.

Yet, the Armenian diaspora rejected these offers and tried to protect
its own interests, which are based on establishing relations with
strong political actors through hampering Turkey’s international
reputation and vulgarized media sources, since any case that can be
aroused which is against the diaspora’s interests will be an obstacle
to its political and social recitation which was established in past
decades.

Another dispute between Turkey and the diaspora is based on the archives.

Although it is not moral to make assessments over the death toll, the
archives will provide accurate information on those who were
segregated, died, survived or relocated determined by the Ottoman
officials during the migration.

The diaspora has been disseminating propaganda over the death toll
claiming that 1.5 million people were murdered in a few months. Yet,
the more the archives are open, the more the diaspora’s claims become
baseless. Turkish historians continue their research and elaborate on
the incidents carefully. Yet, the diaspora prefers oral history
narratives rather than archives.

Since the Turkish Republic started discussing the Armenian incident
clearly, the government has demanded clarifications on the issue
through historical sources but there has been no positive response
from the Armenian side. Turkey, which previously claimed that
Armenians killed more Turks or the death toll could be considered as
normal in a time of war, has decided to reveal the facts as the
archives deny the diaspora’s claims.

From: Baghdasarian

Daily Sabah, turkey
April 24 2014

GREAT GOVERNMENT REFLECTION

Ä°hsan AktaÅ? 25 April 2014, Friday

With international headlines yesterday like “For first time in almost
a century,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an’s statement on sharing
in the Armenians’ suffering was a sharp detour from Turkey’s existing
policy of ignoring the events that took place in 1915. It has thrown a
curveball ahead of the Turkish presidential election to be held later
this year. The astounding and pleasing announcement cannot be
considered a surprise in the scope of wider policies working toward a
“new Turkey.” Primarily, the new Turkey’s policy may be summarized as
returning to its old geographic and geopolitical area and taking its
place in the top league among world’s countries.

Turkey focused on the establishment of a new state in 1923. It acted
like someone who once lived in a large house and suddenly moved into a
small house. This is what happened to Turkey after the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire. This can be comprehended within the context of
external conditions and the environment of a country that was weary of
battle. However, in the following years, Turkey got used to living
with its small agenda.

The narrowed circle turned Turkey into a country that was squashed
between great powers. The vision for the new Turkey, which began with
the AK Party, includes disregarding the recent past and returning to
Turkey’s historical mission. While small countries are busy with their
empty internal agendas, great powers solve their problems reasonably.
The AK Party’s new Turkey vision is based on the European experience.

With the new Turkey perspective, Turkey is focusing primarily on
solving complicated problems to reflect its great power. It started
with development projects on a massive scale to ensure Turkey’s place
among the world’s first-class countries, along with a number of
economic reforms by using the European Union membership process as
leverage.

It posed a political perception aiming to break the heavy bureaucratic
influence on citizens. Added to this strategy are the AK Party’s
liberal economic policies aimed toward strengthening the economy and
paving the way for entrepreneurs and investors.

All these reforms aim to make Turkey a great power and focus on
solving problems in advance by taking the initiative, instead of being
a country that drifts between geo-strategic waves in external policy.

The Armenian question was one of the problematic areas that always
posed an obstacle for Turkey to be a reputable country on the world
stage. It was not possible for Turkey to become a respectable country
had it continued its traditional nation state policies. To achieve its
goal of respect among the league of nations, it was essential to have
a worldranking economy, a first-class democracy and a state policy at
peace with its people.

After coming into power, the AK Party appointed this vision. This
policy, known as the 2023 vision, aims to make the Republic of Turkey
a first-class country by its 100th anniversary. While the world was
struggling with the economic crisis, Turkey became resistant to
external economic shocks.

As result of political reforms, Turkey’s third-class democracy became
a first-class democracy. The AK Party adopted a policy that made the
people real guardians of the state. Making peace with the peoples in
the Middle East, Turkey became the most important actor in the region.

It was not possible to solve the Armenian question through nationalist
reflections, which only create emotional breakdowns. The statement
made by the prime minister was a reflection of Turkey being a great
state. After the Dec. 17 operation, some believed we would watch the
collapse of an empire. But on the contrary, we are watching an empire
rise from the ashes.

From: Baghdasarian

The Nation, Pakistan
April 24 2014

Armenia accuses Turkey of ‘utter denial’ on genocide

April 25, 2014
AFP

For news details visit :

For news details Read on : Armenia accuses Turkey of ‘utter denial’ on genocide

YEREVAN : Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian on Thursday accused
Turkey of an “utter denial” in failing to recognise World War I mass
killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide, apparently
brushing off Ankara’s first ever offer of condelences for the tragedy.
In an unprecedented move described by the United States as a historic
gesture, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday
offered condolences over the massacres, calling them “our shared
pain.”
But in a statement marking the 99th anniversary of the start of the
killings and mass deportations, Sarkisian made no acknowledgement of
Erdogan’s move and instead accused Turkey of continuing to ignore the
facts.
“The Armenian genocide… is alive as far as the successor of the
Ottoman Turkey continues its policy of utter denial,” he said.
“The denial of a crime constitutes the direct continuation of that
very crime,” he added. “Only recognition and condemnation can prevent
the repetition of such crimes in the future.”
He said the looming 100th anniversary offered “Turkey a good chance to
repent and to set aside the historical stigma in case if they make
efforts to set free their state’s future from this heavy burden.”
He also stressed that the events of 1915 “should not prevent Turks and
Armenians from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes
towards one another.”
US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington welcomed
Erdogan’s “historic public acknowledgement of the suffering that
Armenians experienced in 1915.”
Thursday was a day of national mourning in Armenia and requiem masses
were held in churches across the country marking the 99th anniversary
of the massacres.
All national television channels ran live broadcast of the annual
ceremony which saw thousands of Armenians flocking to a hilltop
memorial above Yerevan to lay flowers at the eternal flame.
“I came here for the first time with my father when I was
five-year-old, today I came here with my grandson and he knows what we
expect from the world and from Turkey,” 58-year-old resident of
Yerevan Narine Balayan told AFP.
“I do hope that when he comes here with his grandchildren all problems
with Turkey will be resolved,” she said.
In Istanbul, a commemorations also took place but on a far smaller
scale, gathering a few hundred people.
A group calling itself “The Platform for the Commemoration of 24
April’s Armenian Genocide” organised the rally on the steps of the
Haydarpasa train station, from where the first convoy of Armenians
were deported on April 24, 1915 after being rounded up by the
authorities.
The group carried black and white photos of deportees and a banner
that read: “We commemorate the victims of Armenian genocide: some
wounds do not heal with time”.
“Yes, it is true. This is our shared pain. We are here to share the
pain of Armenians,” activist Levent Sensever said.
Another demonstration was to be held later in Taksim Square, a
traditional rallying point which was the scene of mass anti-government
protests in June.
Traditionally, thousands of members of the Armenian diaspora arrive
from around the world arrive in Yerevan to take part in the ceremony.
This year saw many Armenians from conflict-ridden Syria – descendants
of those who fled Ottoman persecution in 1915 – return to the
ancestral homeland.
In his Thursday statement Sarkisian said the fate of Armenians in
Syria “is our open wound and the issue of our primary concern.”
On Wednesday, young activists of the nationalist Dashnaktsutyun party
burned Turkish flags and led a 15,000-strong torch-lit procession in
Yerevan.
They held placards that read “Recognition-Condemnation-Compensation”
and “Turkey still hides behind lies.”
One of Dashnaktsutyun leaders, Kiro Manoyan, denounced Erdogan’s
statement as an “attempt to deceive us and the world.”
Erdogan acknowledged that the events of 1915 had “inhumane
consequences” but also said it was “inadmissable” for them to be used
as an excuse today for hostility against Turkey.
Using both diplomatic levers and its influential diaspora abroad,
Armenia has long sought to win the massacre’s international
recognition as genocide.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed during World War I
as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart, a claim supported by several
other countries.
Turkey argues 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman
rulers siding with invading Russian troops.
Over 20 countries have so far recognised the massacres as genocide.

From: Baghdasarian

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
April 25 2014

Large crowd including activists and intellectuals commemorate 1915 in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

A large crowd gathered on Istanbul’s central Istiklal Avenue on April
24 to commemorate the 1915 killings of Armenians, which Turkey refuses
to recognize as `genocide.’

Nearly 1,000 people, including renowned journalists, writers and
activists, lit candles and held pictures of those who lost their lives
in an event that was staged for the first time in Istanbul in 2010.

Rakel Dink, the wife of the murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink, and the parents of Sevag Å?ahin Balıkçı, a young Armenian killed
while performing his military duty on April 24, 2011, also attended
this year’s commemoration.

The names of prominent Armenian public figures and community leaders
who perished in 1915 were also read out during the event.

The Armenian Remembrance Day in Turkey was marked this year by a
message released by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, where he
offered his condolences to the descendants of the hundreds of
thousands of victims of the mass killings.

From: Baghdasarian