Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

HEIDI HAUTALA: IF TURKEY RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, IT WILL OPEN DOORS FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

by Tatevik Shahunyan

Tuesday, March 24, 14:29

If Turkey recognizes the Armenian Genocide, it will open doors for
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Euronest PA Co-President
Heidi Hautala told ArmInfo.

Hautala said the European Parliament and the Euronest PA have done
much to assist Armenia in achieving international recognition of the
Genocide and making Turkey recognize that crime against humanity. If
this finally happens and Turkey recognizes the Genocide of Armenians,
it will open doors for peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict,
she said. Hautala is sure that one beautiful day Turkey will recognize
the Genocide against Armenians.

Heidi thinks the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations in April
2015 will draw the world community’s attention to that issue and,
maybe, then Ankara will recognize its own history under international
pressure.

As for the Karabakh conflict and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s
statement at the Euronest PA Session saying that the principle of
the people’s right to self-determination has begun to dominate over
other principles, Heidi Hautala said: “In Europe the principle of
the people’s right to self-determination has really began to dominate
over others.”

Euronest PA and EPP have lately recognized and condemned the Genocide
of Armenians. The first country to recognize that crime against
humanity was Uruguay. Genocide of Armenians has been recognized
by 43 United States as well as by 23 countries, including Canada,
Argentina, Switzerland, Russia, Belgium, France, Poland, Slovakia,
the Netherlands, Greece, Cyprus, Vatican, Sweden, Lithuania..

Swizterland, Slovakia and Greece have even passed laws criminalizing
denial of the Armenian Genocide. France is preparing a similar bill.

The Genocide of Armenians was recognized also by the CoE, European
Parliament, the UN Subcommittee to prevent discrimination and protect
minorities, the UN Committee for Military Crimes, the World Church
Council, as well as New South Wales, San- Paolo, Seara and Parana
(Brazil), Wales, Schotland and Northern Ireland, the Basque Country,
Catalonia, Balearic Islands (Spain), Quebec, Kyev, Uzhgorod, Izyum.

Goloseevskiy region (Ukraine), Crimea. Turkey still denies the genocide
of 1,5 million Armenians in 1915-1923.

From: Baghdasarian

ARAVOT: ARMENIA SHOULD NOT HAVE ‘SMALL NATION’ COMPLEX

10:44 * 24.03.15

Below is an excerpt from the newspaper’s editorial:

The Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh presidents’ meeting in Astana,
without Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s participation, as well
as Vladimir Putin’s statement on a common currency, caused Armenian
analysts to think that Armenia is going to be “expelled” from the
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

“I would be happy if ‘expelling Armenia’ would become a reality,
but I think the comments are superficial.

The fact is that Armenia has an insignificant role in this union
as compared with that of the ‘founding states’, as Mr Lukashenko
calls them.

“If German and French leader meet to discuss the European Union’s
problems among other issues and did not invite Estonia to a meeting,
I do not think Estonia would get a complex because that state is
equally represented at all the events of the EU structures.

“I do not think the ‘initial positions’ are as equal in the EEU’s
case the as in the EU’s case. But Armenia should not develop a
‘small nation’ complex because of an unofficial meeting in Astana. As
regards a common currency, even if Kazakhstan and Belarus were ready,
the process requires at least five years.

“However, the ‘founding states’ except for Russia have never expressed
such willingness.”

From: Baghdasarian

THAT’S NOT A GOOD SIGN

Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview – 24 March 2015, 13:04

Interview with Gaidz Minassian, expert in French Center for Strategic Studies

A few days ago Serzh Sargsyan expressed his concerns about the sale of
Russian weapons to Azerbaijan which was followed by border tension. Do
you see a link between these two events?

Indirectly, there is a link, directly, I don’t think so, because the
incidents at the border cannot be organized overnight, it would take
some time because the Azerbaijanis cannot be aware of the Armenian
president’s agenda and statements beforehand. I don’t think there
is a direct link. The Azerbaijanis are doing everything to spoil
relations between Russia and Armenia. They use every opportunity and
Russian weapons to cause issues between Russia and Armenia. This is
the reality.

How would you explain why Serzh Sargsyan had not been invited to
Astana to discuss issues relating to the Eurasian Economic Union with
other three member states? Don’t they consider Armenia an EEU member
or maybe a lot of things have changed in the foreign policy of Armenia?

There are no important changes in the foreign policy of Armenia. I
am surprised that the Armenian president was not attending the Astana
summit of the EEU member states, and that’s not a good sign. Armenia
has hardly joined this union and now it was not invited to the summit.

This question needs to be asked to the Armenian government. I think
Armenia is doing everything to have good relations with Russia and
the EU. In other words, the stronger the tension between Russia
and the EU, the worse it will be for Armenia, and the better these
relations, the better it will be for Armenia. At this moment, it is
not known whether Armenia will attend the Eastern Partnership summit
in Riga and whether the political part of the EU-Armenia Association
Agreement will be signed, considering that Armenia is mostly busy
with the preparations of the Centenary of the Genocide.

European officials attending the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in
Yerevan noted that Armenia which is already a member of the EEU should
suggest the extent to which it wants to cooperate with the EEU. Does
this mean that Europe has a softer approach and accepts the “both”
policy adopted by Armenia. Is it possible?

Armenia has already joined the EEU, and what we hear from the side
of Europe, we can hear that from Riga, Poland, as well as the head
of the EU Delegation to Armenia, does not mean that the leading
EU member states agree to the idea of signing a new agreement with
Armenia. Many people may express their opinions but the decisions are
made by Germany, France and the United Kingdom. If the key officials
of these countries announce that such an agreement must be signed with
Armenia, we will be sure that such an agreement will be signed. France
and Germany conduct a responsible policy on Russia but there are EU
member states, such as the Baltic States and Poland which conduct
a radical policy on Russia. These countries are afraid of Russia’s
influence and they are doing everything to withdraw the ex-Soviet
states from Russian influence, and they use the opportunity to make
relevant statements.

In your opinion, does Armenia have a future in the EEU, considering
the problems facing Russia, as well as the reluctance of Kazakhstan
and Belarus to welcome Armenia to the EEU.

I would put this question with a different wording. Is there hope
that the EEU will survive as an organization. After the collapse
of the Soviet Union the Russians created another union which did
not achieve any results. Why would be believe that the EEU will be
established and have a future?

I don’t believe that this union will have a free, quiet and positive
future. Surely, Belarus, Kazakhstan will do everything to retain their
sovereignty, and we don’t know what Putin is going to do. Now they want
to have a common currency. Let’s wait and see what they will achieve.

However, Armenia seems to be left out of this currency zone. What is
the reason?

I don’t know, we need to ask the Armenian government whether Armenia
is dissatisfied with this union, whether Armenia can express its
dissatisfaction with not attending that summit. These questions must
be addressed to the Armenian government which has announced that
Armenia has nothing to do with the meeting in Astana. On the other
hand, there is nothing important there because Nalbandyan is so fond
of such meetings which do not produce any results for Armenia.

More importantly, very interesting things are happening in the region.

In particular, Serzh Sargsyan resists Russia, expecting new external
developments. Besides, Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey oil and gas
cooperation is considered, and it is interesting to see how Russia
will react to them.

From: Baghdasarian

A PROFESSIONAL TOURISM GROUP SEEKS NEW ADVENTURE TRAVEL ROUTES IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 24. /ARKA/. A group of tourism professionals acting
as As Tour Club has initiated a new project to find new adventure
travel routes in Armenia.

A series of tours to most remote areas of the country will be taken
to study and develop unique tour projects, the representatives of
the Club said, as cited by Novosti-Armenia.

The tour group will focus on all areas of adventure tourism, including
alpinism, climbing, mountain hiking, speleo tours, ecology tourism,
ride tours and bike tours, as well as fishing.

Mild climate, difficult still accessible routes, beautiful sceneries
and lots of historic and cultural monuments help vary and combine
different travel routes and various trip components, the club
representatives said.

The tours will be arranged by and paid from the funds of As Tour Club,
the members of which have been in adventure tourism since 2008.

In 2012-2014, the members of the club participated in three
Armenian-Russian tour expeditions held by the Armenian Institute of
Tourism and the Russian International Academy for Tourism. -0–

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION GAINS MOMENTUM AS HOUSE MEMBERS CONTINUE CALLS FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE

11:32, 24 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

A broad spectrum of veteran and freshmen House Members are adding
their voices to the global call for truth and justice, as support for
passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.154) continues to
grow, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

A bipartisan cross-section of House Committee leaders have added their
voices to the over 45 supporters of the measure. Joining H.Res.154
lead advocates – Robert Dold (R-IL), Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA)
and Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) – are:
Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Devin Nunes
(R-CA), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot
Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee Nita
Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee John Conyers
(D-MI), Ranking Member of the Budget Committee Chris Van Hollen (D-MD),
Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee Sander Levin (D-MI),
Ranking Member of the House Ethics Committee Linda Sanchez (D-CA),
Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee Collin Peterson (D-MN),
Chairman of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Steve Israel
(D-NY), Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission James
McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chairs of the Hellenic Caucus Gus Bilirakis
(R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and Representatives Karen Bass
(D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA),
David Cicilline (D-RI), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Mike Coffman (R-CO),
Jim Costa (D-CA), Jeff Denham (R-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Scott Garrett
(R-NJ), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Michael Honda (D-CA), Joe Kennedy (D-MA),
Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), James Langevin (D-RI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted
Lieu (D-CA), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal
(D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Edwin Perlmutter
(D-CO), Jared Polis (D-CO), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes
(D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Jackie Speier
(D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), David Trott (R-MI) and Niki Tsongas (D-MA).

Armenian American U.S. Representatives Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier
Offer Personal Accounts of the Ravages of Genocide

During a press conference held in conjunction with the introduction
of H.Res. 154 last week, Representatives Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier
offered powerful personal calls for U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide. “I am of both Armenian and Assyrian descent,” said Rep.

Eshoo. “I know the stories. I lost family in the Genocide,” she
explained, as she went on to share her concerns about the ongoing
horrors in the Middle East visited on Christian communities today.

“History does repeat itself. Today, we are seeing the elimination
of Christians across the Middle East. And so, history is repeating
itself. The Armenian Genocide took place because Armenians were
Christians – they had a mark on them. The Christians in the Middle
East today are suffering at the hands of yet others who seek to
exterminate them.”

Rep. Jackie Speier explained, “I am a proud Armenian American. I am
also a pained Armenian American because our Congress has not seen
fit to do the very least that we can do in recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. This is the 100th anniversary. Certainly after 100 years
we can recognize a fact and pass a resolution condemning the act.”

Rep. Sherman: “Genocide denial is not just the last step of a genocide,
it is the first step in the next genocide.”

Throughout the inaugural press conference and in statements issued
thereafter, House members cited the importance of ending U.S.

complicity in Turkey’s Armenian Genocide denial.

“This is a genocide that Senator Barack Obama recognized, that
Senator Kerry recognized, that UN Ambassador, Ms. Power, recognized
and wrote the book on. And it’s time for both the Executive branch
and legislative branch to do the same.” stated House Foreign Affairs
Committee senior member Brad Sherman (D-CA). “We need to show the
Government of Turkey that we cannot be cawed. That we cannot ignore
history; because Genocide denial is not just the last step of a
genocide, it is the first step in the next genocide.”

“I think it is important that the world community, that the United
States, Turkey, acknowledge the atrocities that occurred – the
genocide,” stated Michigan Freshman Republican David Trott. “I am new
to this Congress. I have only been here a few months, but it is hard
for me to fathom why we are still debating and discussing this topic.

We need to move forward with this resolution. I am a proud sponsor
of it.”

Southern California Congresswoman Judy Chu remembered her meetings
with 104 year old Armenian Genocide survivor Joseph Manjikian, who
has since passed away, but remains a steadfast reminder of the horrors
of the past and the need to speak truthfully about that crime. “With
the Armenian genocide centennial quickly approaching, we must stand
shoulder to shoulder with the Armenian American community and on
the side of justice,” said Rep. Chu. “We will not give up until our
country stands on the side of history.”

Calls for reaffirmation and justice continued after the press
conference, with Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline, sharing this
statement with the ANCA: “I am proud to be an original cosponsor of
the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution. Though a century
has passed since the horrific period of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey
continues to deny these historical facts. I will continue to work
hard for recognition of the Armenian Genocide and properly honor the
memories of the Armenian martyrs. Rhode Island is home to a thriving
Armenian American community and I am honored to be a strong voice
for this community in Congress.”

Fellow Ocean State Congressman James Langevin, noted “A century
has passed since more than one million Armenians lost their lives
in a senseless campaign of violence, and yet the Armenian people
worldwide are still waiting for universal acknowledgement of the
genocide committed against them. I am proud to support the Armenian
Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution, and I will continue to back
these efforts to honor the victims and give the Armenian community
the support and peace of mind that they deserve.”

Rep. Jim Costa: “The Time is Now!”

Central Valley, California Congressman Costa countered detractors
who would argue the timing of the resolution. “Next month will be the
100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide. Acknowledging
this atrocity would finally allow a fair, just, and comprehensive
international resolution of this crime against humanity. […] The time
is now! Congress and the President should go on record acknowledging
this atrocity once and for all.”

The Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Act (H.Res.154), spearheaded
by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Robert Dold, Adam Schiff,
David Valadao and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone
reflects and reinforces previous U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide as a crime of genocide, citing the U.S. Government’s May 28,
1951 written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide, President Ronald Reagan’s April 22, 1981 Proclamation and
Congressional adoption of Armenian Genocide legislation in 1975 and
1984. The resolution calls on the President to work toward equitable,
constructive, stable, and durable Armenian – Turkish relations based
upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgment of the facts and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and
comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

From: Baghdasarian

SAMVEL KARAPETYAN STARTED AUDIT IN ELECTRIC NETWORKS OF ARMENIA

Lragir.am
Business – 24 March 2015, 10:47

The Zhoghovurd newspaper has learned that the owner of Tashir Group
Samvel Karapetyan has started an audit in the Electric Networks of
Armenia. In the middle of the past year it became known that the
Electric Networks of Armenia owes hundreds of million dollars. The
exact number is not published but, according to rumors, its debt
is between 300 million to 500 million dollars. In the result of the
audit Samvel Karapetyan will decide to buy or not to buy the Electric
Networks of Armenia.

The results of the audit will become known in September and accordingly
a final decision on the deal will be made. Most probably, the deal
will be made because the managers of the present owner of the ENA have
already “pilfered” whatever they could, and now the ENA has become
a burden for the Russians because nothing else is left to “pilfer”
whereas it needs to be “managed”.

From: Baghdasarian

NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TO ATTEND TURKEY’S GALLIPOLI EVENTS DROPS BY 25

March 24, 2015 – 15:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The number of countries to be represented April 24
at the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I,
dropped by 25, according to Agos.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that invitation
letters had been sent to 102 leaders.

The figure has now decreased to 77, with Ankara attempting to increase
the number of participants. So far, only the arrival of the Charles,
Prince of Wales and his son Prince Harry has been confirmed.

French and Russian leaders Francois Hollande and Vladimir Putin
confirmed their participation in the Armenian Genocide centennial
events on April 24 in Yerevan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent official invitations
to more than 100 world leaders, including Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, to take part in the ceremonies dedicated to 100th anniversary
of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I. The date designated for
these commemoration events–April 24–created uproar among Armenians
worldwide, while Turkish human rights groups urged world leaders to
boycott the Gallipoli events.

On Jan. 16, Sargsyan responded to Erdogan’s invitation to Turkey in
a strongly worded letter. “Turkey continues its conventional denial
policy and is perfecting its instrumentation for distorting history.

This time, Turkey is marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle
of Gallipoli on April 24, even though the battle began on March 18,
1915 and lasted until late January 1916, while the Allies’ operation
started on April 25,” he wrote, adding, “What is the purpose [of this]
if not to distract the world’s attention from the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide?”

From: Baghdasarian

PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER OF WWF-ARMENIA SUDDENLY DIED

20:25 March 24, 2015

EcoLur

EcoLur expresses its deep condolences with the sudden death of
our colleague and friend, Partnership and Communications Manager of
WWF-Armenia Gera Voskanyan. We all were shocked. Gera Voskanyan was not
only very educated person, but also very comfortable in communication,
a reliable, responsible and simply a remarkable person.

He passed away, but we will always keep Gera in our memories.

From: Baghdasarian

LOOKING AT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE THROUGH THE LENS OF ART

18:17, 24 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

“In honor of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the Musee
de la Photographie di Charleroi in Belgium has organized, in
collaboration with the Boghossian Foundation and the Universita
Saint Joseph in Beirut, an exhibition entitled “Les armeniens –
Images d’un destin 1906 – 1939 (The Armenians – Images of Destiny,
1906-1939),” which focuses on photographs recovered from the photo
archives of the Oriental Library at the Universita Saint Joseph,”
Maurizio G. De Bonis, a photo critic and cinematographer, writes in
an article published by The Huffington Post.

The photographs were taken by Jesuit missionaries, including Antoine
Poidebard and Guillaume de Jerphanion, and, over a broad period of
time, highlight the dramatic repercussions persecution had on the
Armenian population, even prior to 1915. The exhibit also showcases
works that portray the places, villages and towns where the Armenians
lived.

Whether these were villages lost among the mountains, or neighborhoods
in Turkish cities (for example Adana), the viewer feels as though he
is witnessing a community with its own local history and traditions,
and which was brutally uprooted and eradicated.

The simple, serious dignity of several very young students from the
city of Tokat, photographed by Antoine Poidebard, is set against the
enormous mass of orphans captured in Tarso following the massacre that
took place in 1909 in Adana. Later in the exhibition, a shoeshine
man is captured as he’s working, counterbalanced by a young, proud
Circassian woman looking into the camera, seemingly communicating
with the viewer directly.

“Today, thanks to works like these, it is possible to truly understand
the importance of human memory,” the author writes. According to him,
“the Armenian Genocide cannot be left to sink away into silence.”

“The visual arts must strive to play a key role in the transmission
of memory, especially to younger generations, as they have in
disseminating a global understanding of the Holocaust. In this sense,
photography and cinema can help jumpstart that extremely important
process that we can define as actualization of the past; a process
that transforms the memory of a tragedy from a purely historical,
museum-worthy subject of in-depth analysis for specialized scholars
— distant from the rest of us, and destined to be forgotten — into
a dramatic, agonizing phenomenon experienced in the present day. It
must become an element of our shared memory. And as such, it cannot,
must not be erased and forgotten,” Maurizio G. De Bonis writes.

From: Baghdasarian

KURDISH COMMUNITY OF ARMENIA IS GRATEFUL TO ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT

14:38, 24 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 24 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Kurdish community is grateful
to the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan for highly
appreciating the community and congratulating on the national holiday.

The head of the Armenia’s Kurdish community Knyaz Hasanov stated
this during the event dedicated to the Kurdish National Holiday
Newroz. “In Kurdish Newroz means “new day”. The Newroz is one of the
oldest holidays of the Kurdish people, which is still celebrated from
pagan times. That day, the Kurds burn embers and eat, drink, rejoice,
dance, sing around the fire. Later, when the national liberation
struggle of the Kurdish people started, headed by Abdullah Ocalan,
this holiday was reviewed, reformed and became a symbol of national
liberation struggle of the Kurdish people,” as “Armenpress” reports
Knyaz Hasanov underlined.

From: Baghdasarian