Author: Boshkezenian Garik

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 6, 2004, Wednesday
VISA-FREE TERRITORY FOR THE RUSSIAN ARMY GROUP IN THE CAUCASUS
SOURCE: Krasnaya Zvezda, October 2, 2004, p. 3
by Oleg Gorupai
TBILISI PREVENTS NORMAL LIFE SUPPORT OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES
LOCATED ON THE TERRITORY OF GEORGIA
The authorities of Georgia do what they can to prevent normal life
support of the Russian military bases located on the territory of
this country.
For example, Foreign Ministry of Georgia is deliberately taking its
time to provide entry visas for servicemen assigned to the 12th
(Batumi) and 62nd (Akhalkalaki) military bases of the Russian Army
Group in the Caucasus. As of this June, over 400 servicemen
(conscripts, officers, and warrant officers) cannot reach their
destination in Armenia (the 102nd Military base). Some of the
conscripts have to be demobilized now.
The situation of whoever already been to Georgia and serves in the
Tbilisi, Batumi, or Akhalkalaki garrisons is somewhat better. Because
of unprecedented and unexplained delays with visas, many of them
cannot take a vacation in Russia and actually run the risk of being
jailed to violation of the visa regime.
Lieutenant General Alexander Studenikin (commander of the Russian
Army Group in the Caucasus), his Chief-of-Staff Andrei Popov, Colonel
Ramazan Krimcheyev (of the department of organization and
mobilization who tackles visa problems), and Russian diplomats
regularly appeal to the Defense Ministry of Georgia, Foreign
Ministry, and presidential administration… with nothing to show for
it. Only a few servicemen were given the necessary documents
permitting them to cross the Russian-Georgian border – even though
finances are not a problem because the Army Group has a special
foundation to tackle these matters. Even though official Tbilisi
claimed for the entire world to hear that Russian military bases had
not been involved in the Adjarian events.
It is common knowledge that the term of presence of the Russian
military bases in Georgia is a subject of negotiations between
Georgia and Russia. According to the international norms and
standards, unless the matter is settled Georgia is not supposed to
create any barriers or make life harder for the bases or servicemen
assigned to them. Unfortunately, official Tbilisi is quite selective
when it comes down to international standards. In other words, it
does not always apply them to its relation with Russia.
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Azeri official rules Turkey in but Karabakh out of talks on Karabakh
ANS TV, Baku
8 Oct 04

[Presenter] The Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuriy
Merzlyakov, has stressed the importance of Turkey’s involvement in the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. At the same time, Yuriy
Merzlyakov insists on the participation of Nagornyy Karabakh as a
party in the talks.
[Correspondent] A lasting solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh problem
cannot be practically found without Turkey’s involvement, the Russian
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuriy Merzlyakov, said in an
interview with the Armenian Regnum news agency.
[Passage omitted: Merzlyakov on criticism of the Minsk Group]
Merzlyakov said once again that one could not expect the co-chairmen
to come up with a secret settlement formula. In his opinion, the
problem cannot be resolved without agreement in principle between the
parties to the conflict.
Mr Merzlyakov said that the next visit by [OSCE] co-chairmen to the
region would depend on the presidents of the two countries [Azerbaijan
and Armenia]. He did not rule out that the visit could take place
before the end of this year.
In his interview, the Russian co-chairman said once again that
Nagornyy Karabakh should be involved in peace talks as an independent
party. Many issues could not be discussed and resolved without
Nagornyy Karabakh’s participation, end of quote.
Commenting on Yuriy Merzlyakov’s statements, the head of the
international relations department at the presidential administration,
Novruz Mammadov, said that Azerbaijan wanted Turkey to be involved in
the peace talks. This country could play a pivotal role in the
settlement of the conflict. We take this into consideration and we
have said on many occasions that Turkey could join in the
negotiations, end of quote.
However, Mr Mammadov noted that the Russian co-chairman’s opinion that
Nagornyy Karabakh should take part in the talks was not real. Azerbaijan
is not going to talk to separatists.

Agence France Presse
1 octobre 2004 vendredi 5:02 PM GMT
Référendum sur la Turquie: le PS “prend acte”
PARIS
1er oct 2004
Le PS a pris “acte” vendredi de la proposition de Jacques Chirac de
réviser la Constitution française pour garantir une consultation des
Français par référendum sur l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union
européenne et sur les élargissements ultérieurs.
Le PS rappelle que “cette entrée de la Turquie n’est qu’une hypothèse
et qu’elle ne sera possible que dans une dizaine d’années, une fois
qu’elle aura réglé un certain nombre de conditions, notamment sur la
démocratie et la reconnaissance du génocide arménien”, selon un
communiqué de son porte-parole Julien Dray.
Jacques Chirac ayant précisé que “dans son esprit”, ce référendum ne
concernerait pas la Roumanie, la Bulgarie et la Croatie, dont les
négociations d’adhésion “sont pratiquement achevées”, M. Dray
souligne qu’il “ne peut y avoir de référendum concernant strictement
l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne”.
“L’Europe étant amenée à évoluer, la question doit porter sur tout
nouvel élargissement et la Turquie ne peut être un cas particulier”.

PRESS RELEASE
Analysis Research & Planning for Armenia (ARPA)
18106 Miranda Street
Tarzana, CA 91356
Contact: Hagop Panossian
Tel: (818) 586-9660
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
ARPA Institute presents the lecture/Seminar “The Universe Observed
with the Hubble Telescope” on Thursday, October 21, 2004 at 7:30 PM in
the Merdinian School Auditorium. The presenter is Dr. Yervant
Terzian.
The address is 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
Directios: On the 101 FY Exit on Woodman, Go North and Turn Right on
Riverside Dr.
Abstract:
The evolution of the universe, from its beginning some 13.7 billion
years ago to the present time will be presented in a breath-taking
manner. Astronomical images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope will
be utilized and explained. The phenomenal works of the astronomers at
the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory in Armenia will also be related
and highlighted.
Presenter:
Yervant Terzian, is “The David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical
Sciences”, in the Department of Astronomy and Space Sciences at
Cornell University. He was Department Chairman from 1979-1999. His
fields of expertise are the physics of the Interstellar Medium,
Galaxies, and Radio Astronomy. He is a Research Professor with the
National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center and member of the
International Astronomical Union, the International Union of Radio
Science, the American Astronomical Society, and the Hellenic
Astronomical Society, among other memberships. He has been a
Scientific Editor of The Astrophysical Journal (1989-1999). In 1984,
he received the Clark Distinguished Award for Excellence in Teaching.
In 1996, he was appointed Director of NASA’s New York Space Grant
Program to enhance science education. He has been awarded Honorary
Doctor of Science degrees from the University of Indiana (1989), the
Yerevan State University in Armenia (1994), the University of
Thessaloniki in Greece (1997), and from Union College (1999). In
1990, he was elected Foreign Member of the Armenian Academy of
Sciences. In 2001 he was elected a Fellow of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science. In 2002 he was elected Chairman of
the US Consortium of Universities and Institutes to construct the
Square Kilometer Array giant radio telescope. He is the author or
co-author of more than 200 scientific publications and the editor of
six books, including “Carl Sagan’s Universe”.
For Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660 or
e-mail at [email protected]

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
October 8, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
****************************************************************
The Armenian Assembly would like to call to your attention the list of U.S.
Representatives who have signed onto a congressional letter urging President
Bush to denounce Azerbaijan’s ongoing war-mongering towards Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh.
Ackerman, Gary (D-NY)
Andrews, Robert (D-NJ)
Becerra, Xavier (D-CA)
Berkley, Shelley (D-NV)
Berman, Howard (D-CA)
Bilirakis, Michael (R-FL)
Bradley, Jeb (R-NH)
Capuano, Michael (D-MA)
Cardoza, Dennis (D-CA)
Conyers, John, Jr. (D-MI)
Costello, Jerry (D-IL)
Crowley, Joe (D-NY)
DeLauro, Rosa (D-CT)
DeMint, Jim (R-SC)
Ehlers, Vernon (R-MI)
Eshoo, Anna (D-CA)
Feeney, Tom (R-FL)
Filner, Bob (D-CA)
Foley, Mark (R-FL)
Frank, Barney (D-MA)
Garrett, Scott (R-NJ)
Hinchey, Maurice (D-NY)
Honda, Michael (D-CA)
Israel, Steve (D-NY)
Jackson, Jesse, Jr. (D-IL)
Kelly, Sue (R-NY)
Kennedy, Patrick J. (D-RI)
Kirk, Mark (R-IL)
Kleczka, Gerald (D-WI)
Knollenberg, Joe (R-MI)
Langevin, James (D-RI)
Levin, Sander (D-MI)
Lowey, Nita (D-NY)
Lynch Stephen (D-MA)
Maloney, Carolyn (D-NY)
Markey, Edward (D-MA)
McCarthy, Karen (D-MO)
McCollum, Betty (D-MN)
McCotter, Thaddeus (R-MI)
McGovern, James P. (D-MA)
McNulty, Michael (D-NY)
Meehan, Martin (D-MA)
Miller, Candice (R-MI)
Moran, James (D-VA)
Napolitano, Grace (D-CA)
Nunes, Devin (R-CA)
Pallone, Frank, Jr. (D-NJ)
Peterson, Collin (D-MN)
Porter, Jon (R-NV)
Price, David (D-NC)
Radanovich, George (R-CA)
Rogers, Michael (R-MI)
Rothman, Steve (D-NJ)
Roybal-Allard, Lucille (D-CA)
Rush, Bobby (D-IL)
Sanchez, Loretta (D-CA)
Saxton, Jim (R-NJ)
Schiff, Adam (D-CA)
Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. (R-FL)
Shays, Christopher (R-CT)
Sherman, Brad (D-CA)
Shimkus, John (R-IL)
Souder, Mark (R-IN)
Sweeney, John (R-NY)
Tubbs Jones, Stephanie (D-OH)
Upton, Fred (R-MI)
Van Hollen, Chris, Jr. (D-MD)
Visclosky, Peter (D-IN)
Waxman, Henry (D-CA)
Weiner, Anthony (D-NY)
Wilson, Joe (R-SC)
Wynn, Albert (D-MD)
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-092
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RESETTLEMENT FOR WELFARE OF KARABAKH
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
01 Oct 04
The process of resettlement in Nagorni Karabakh began after the
liberation of Shoushi. In the years 1994-2004 about 23 thousand people
settled in Artsakh, 150 settlements were restored, 120 of them having
been razed to the ground. The Agency for Migration, Refugees and
Resettlement under the NKR government, which formerly operated within
the Ministry of Social Security, started its activity since January 1
of 2003. We talked to the head of the agency Serge Amirkhanian on the
work done by the organization in the current year. ` Mr. Amirkhanian,
what work is done in the sphere of resettlement this year? ` First I
want to tell you that in the months January – August of 2004 we
admitted623 resettlers (120 families). In fact, this number surpassed
the number of resettlers in Karabakh during 12 months of the previous
year. We are guided by the program confirmed by the NKR government for
2001-2010 according to which wemust try to increase the number of
resettlers up to 68 thousand, including in all the regions of NKR, and
especially the northeast area. On the basis of the number of settlers
arrived since the first year of resettlement up today we may hope that
in the framework of the ten-year program the number of resettlers will
grow up to 68 thousand. – It is not easy to implement a program on
state means only. The program will cost 110 million dollars. Whereas,
annually 440 million drams is provided from the state budget. If rely
upon the budget only, the ten-year program will last perhaps for
110-120 years. That is to say, the strategic value of the program will
be lost. We often state that in the social-economic sphere of Karabakh
a population of 300 thousand will act asa trump card. We must get the
international community to recognize that the half million Armenian
population resettled from Azerbaijan in fact exists. It is also a fact
that the return of the refugees to Azerbaijan is absurd and
illogical. `Besides the NKR state bodies you also work with the
organizations of the Diaspora. Who are your sponsors? – In the past
two years we tried to involve in the humanitarian programs schools,
surgeries, water pipelines, electrification.In 2003 5-6 schools, 1-2
water pipelines were constructed in the framework of these
programs. This year two schools were built in Maragha and Nor
Getashen, 1 pipeline and 1 surgery in Hovtashen. We work with 7-8
organizations of the Diaspora (among them public, political
organizations, national governments, diocese), and we try to find new
sponsors. Also, on charity means provided by Karapet Harutiunian and
the foundation `Toufenkian’ the villages Knaravan and Arajamough were
restored. We have contracts for the implementation of which we need
the approval of the corresponding ministry, the regional
administrations must provide land, permit for building is needed,
seismic security must be considered. In the 13th year of building our
statehood we must do everything within the law. – Mr. Amirkhanian,
both the local and Armenian mass media write about the non-prospective
policy of resettlement implemented in Shoushi. What is your opinion? –
The April 15, 2003 decision of the government maintainedthe list of
the villages to be included in the program of resettlement. It mainly
involves the border areas, and Shoushi is not, being one of the
central towns of Artsakh. That is to say, the inhabitants of the town
do not enjoy privileges maintained for them (house, privileged loan,
etc.). Recently Shoushi has also been involved among the resettled
areas and the resettlers are granted privileges as well. Our agency
turned to the government with the suggestion of restoring and settling
the block houses of Shoushi. The problem of Shoushi remains. It is
necessary to solve unemployment, develop small and medium-size
enterprises, grant privileged loans there. In 2001 the government of
NKR adopted the ten-year development program for Shoushi and the
region of Shoushi, which includes the problems of resettlement and
employment. The foundation `Shoushi’ was established: donations are
made for the town, whereas the program has a cultural-archaeological
direction. If the foundation was called architectural-archaeological,
this would be something else, but it turns out that the foundation has
expectations on the part of the all Armenians of the world in
reference to restoration and resettlement of Shoushi. The work they do
does not correspond to their statements. I think public organizations
should also come out of the shade, maintain transparency of the work
done and to be done. Besides, the government adopted a decision
according to which any humanitarian aid should pass through the
Ministry of Finance and the aim and order of expenditure shouldbe
published. The foundation `Shoushi’ also must keep to this
principle. – One of the functions of the agency is the problem of the
refugees. What steps are undertaken to solve the problems of refugees?
– After the establishment of the agency we presented the NKR law `On
refugees’ which was passed by the NKR National Assembly. At the
upcoming meetings we will set forth the question of solving the
problem of housing of the refugees who moved from Azerbaijan in
1988-1992. We are also working on the projects of maintaining
privileges. By the way, the privileges maintained for the resettlers
must be for the refugees as well. Otherwise it will be an unfair
step: in 1988-1992 the refugees moved to Karabakh, fought and died for
its independence, whereas now they live in hired flats in hard social
conditions. In fact, since the Artsakh movement the refugees were
always the losing side, whereas we do not think about them. In the
upcoming two years we must try to solve their social and housing
problems. Presently the refugees are mostly from Armenia, the towns
Hrazdan, Yerevan, Stepanavan, Charentsavan, Abovian, Armavir, Masis
and Gegharkunik, Russia, Turkmenia and Uzbekistan. In Stepanakert we
have a department which deals with internal migration, involving
people from the capital and densely populated areas who do not have
houses and would like to settle down in villages, and start farming.
There are people, mainly specialists who went to live in villages. We
help them, provide them with houses and grant privileges to them.
NVARD OHANJANIAN.
01-10-2004

China, Armenia to promote comprehensive cooperation
Viet Nam News Agency, Vietnam
Sept 28 2004
Beijing, Sept. 28 (VNA) – China and Armenia will continue with exchange
of high-level delegations to strengthen bilateral cooperation, says
a Sino-Armenian joint communique issued in Beijing on Monday.
The joint communique, signed by Chinese President Hu Jintao and
his Armenian counterpart, Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan, who ended
his five-day state visit to China on Monday, says the two countries
will increase exchange of delegations between their parliaments and
encourage cooperation between their businesses.
The Armenian president said China’s market economy status will be
conducive to enhancing trade relations between the two countries.
He also reaffirmed that the People’s Republic of China Government is
the sole legitimate government representing the entire Chinese people.
Meanwhile, President Hu confirmed China’s support to the efforts of
the international community to address the Nagorno-Karabakh issue
peacefully, saying he hoped that the conflict will be settled in a
just and reasonable way in line with relevant international rules
and practices.
The two presidents witnessed the signing of three China-Armenia
cooperation agreements, including an agreement on technical and
economic cooperation.–

The Messenger, Georgia (messenger.com.ge)
Sept 27 2004
‘True Stories’ bring together Georgians and Abkhaz
By Keti Sikharulidze
HE Donald MacLaren, Jonathan Cohen,
Natia Mamistvalovi and Lena Cook
A presentation of audio diaries prepared by Georgian and Abkhaz
journalists was held on September 24. The diaries feature the lives
of ordinary people, and are intended to give an opportunity to those
whose voices are rarely heard to express their views.
In December 2003, Conciliation Resources launched a new audio diaries
project entitled “True Stories” in conjunction with several Georgian
and Abkhaz radio stations. It is supported financially by the UK
Government’s Global Conflict Prevention Pool and the Swedish
International Development Co-operation Agency.
Audio diaries are a new genre, created in the UK in the 1990s – one
that differs from other types of radio programs in that ordinary
people themselves record them, without any intervention from
journalists.
When the diary has been recorded, the most poignant and moving
extracts (around of three-four minutes duration) are selected.
The authors of the diaries are ordinary people- teenagers and old age
pensioners, victims of domestic violence and representatives of
different minority groups – whose voices are rarely heard on the
radio and who are often marginalized in their own society and who
suffer from stereotyping and intolerance.
Over the last year and a half the Georgian and Abkhaz journalists
have collected over 400 diaries. Many of these have been exchanged
and a joint CD has recently been issued featuring the best of them.
In June this year the project moved onto a different level covering
the whole of the South Caucuses. Today audio diaries are being
recorded in Azerbaijan and Armenia as well as in Nagorno Karabakh.
The best audio diaries recorded in the regions are translated into
four languages and broadcast by 20 radio stations throughout the
South Caucasus.
Conciliation Resources say that when this project began, the Abkhaz
journalists did not want to work together with Georgian journalists.
They said they would do this project, but alone and without anybody’s
help. But later they got interested in what the Georgian journalists
were doing and so started the exchange of diaries.
Later, journalists from the two sides met in Moscow for training:
Conciliation Resources say they soon developed good relations. Then
came a joint award from a radio festival in Rostov. After time, the
organization says, their attitudes have changed.
The UK Ambassador to Georgia Donald MacLaren of MacLaren opened the
presentation and thanked the host Heinrich Boll Foundation for
playing a major role in touching the lives of people affected by the
conflict.
“Many people have wrestled with the Abkhaz question and many people
are trying to do so today. The limelight usually falls on the
politicians, the grand people who think that they have the answers.
The importance of what Heinrich Boll Stiftung and Conciliation
Resources is trying to do, is to focus not so much on grand people
but on ordinary people,” MacLaren said.
“Of course, politicians have to take a lead and come up with proposed
solutions. But the whole issue of Abkhazia is essentially an issue of
ordinary people. And there can be no reasonable and stable outcome
without the input of the people themselves – those who live in
Abkhazia, those who used to live in Abkhazia, and those who consider
Abkhazia as their home,” stated the ambassador.
He also added that the audio diaries project was an excellent example
of “giving those people who were often marginalized, often with a
sense of division and isolation from each other a voice.”
“The project of course focuses on Georgia-Abkhazia but it is
important also to recognize that the emphasis of this is not confined
just to that area but has a wider outlook and impact on the region as
a whole, of the South Caucasus,” the ambassador concluded.
Conciliation Resources’ Caucasus regional manager Jonathan Cohen
stated that the radio diary project is part of a wider engagement
looking at different aspects of how to move foreword in the
Georgian-Abkhaz conflict.
Cohen said that they have been working almost seven years with NGOs
and politicians, from both sides of the conflict “to look at what
resources there are to find a resolution. The diaries project has
been one of the most creative ways of trying to change the discourse
surrounding the conflict.”
“One of the most disturbing things that has happened in the last ten
years is that the people in the Caucasus have been forced to look
inside their society and not look at the society that are around them
as well. As a result of this they have lost contact with each other,”
stated Cohen, adding that the aim of the project was to reconnect
these societies.
Today more then 20-radio stations broadcast these diaries throughout
the South Caucasus. Only South Ossetia is not part of the project,
but the organizers hope that they will soon join the project as well.

A1 Plus | 18:59:43 | 24-09-2004 | Politics |
HIGH TIME TO SPECULATE HOW TO SAVE ARMENIA
Participants of the discussion held Friday by the National Citizen’s
Initiative compared current situation in Armenia with that of short period
of Armenia’s independence from 1918 to 1920. Political analyst Artsrun
Pepanyan said the then situation was even worse than one can imagine.
He said quoting one of the then governors “we had neither state mentality
nor state world vision”.
Lawyer Hrayr Tovmassyan joined him in criticizing the first republic by
saying election fraud and scandals of that time overdid today’s ones.
In his words, Dashnak party activists were forcing people to go to polling
stations by threatening them with guns.
These facts were remembered at the discussion to show on what legacy our
present republic is built. Thirteen years have already passed since
declaration of independence in 1991, but so far a majority of Declaration
provisions is not put into reality.
In Pepanyan’s opinion, very few intellectuals remain in Armenia today.
After his speech the event participants came to sad realization that Armenia
is badly in need of being saved. Time has come to speculate over the matter
to save the republic, they said.

CanadianChristianity.com, Canada
Sept 23 2004
Comment: Sudan genocide challenges Canadian indifference
By Mel Middleton
ChristianWeek
GENOCIDE is raging in the nation of Sudan. It is now unquestionably
the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world today.
Unfortunately, our political leadership is not acknowledging it. The
reason for this is clear. Use of the term ‘genocide,’ under
international law, carries with it an obligation for countries to act
— and action to save African lives carries too few political
benefits.
Following the Nazi holocaust, a shocked international community
cried, “Never again!” Never again would a dictator like Hitler be
permitted to exterminate an ethnic group like the Jews. Never again
would the world stand idly by while hundreds of thousands of people
stood waiting to be slaughtered. Never again would such an evil be
allowed to take root and flourish.
But it has. The list of post-Nazi genocides — including Biafra,
Cambodia, Rwanda, Congo and Sudan — continues to grow. The
international community, including Canada, has yet to demonstrate
that it is serious about stopping genocide.
We recently observed the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan holocaust,
where the world community stood idly by while extremists hacked to
death more than 800,000 people in front of the world’s media. This
genocide was both predictable and preventable, yet the international
community did nothing.
But no politician, no bureaucrat, no western official has paid any
political price for this decision — one which has wrought such
unimaginable suffering on the entire region. U.S. president Bill
Clinton, who led the way in ‘doing nothing,’ was re-elected. UN
bureaucrat Kofi Annan, who gave the orders to ‘do nothing,’ was
promoted to the top UN position of Secretary General.
Recently, the Canadian House of Commons voted to declare the Turkish
slaughter of Armenians to be “genocide.” Yet Canada’s Liberal cabinet
refused to support the motion. Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham
urged parliamentarians not to recognize this genocide, fearing that
it might adversely affect trade with Turkey. Canada’s justice
minister, Irwin Cotler, who only a few days before had issued strong
pronouncements about the need to never stand idly by in the face of
genocide, did not even bother to show up for the vote.
With political leadership like this, it is not surprising that
genocide is mushrooming in Darfur, Sudan. As New York Times columnist
Nicholas D. Kristof wrote in an April 14 editorial: “In the last l00
years, the United States has reacted to one genocide after another —
Armenians, Jews, Cambodians, Bosnians — by making excuses at the
time, and then saying, too late, ‘Oh, if only we had known!’
“Well, this time we know what is happening in Darfur: 110,000
refugees have escaped into Chad and testify to the atrocities. How
many more parents will be forced to choose whether their children are
shot or burned to death before we get serious?”
On July 9, 2004, Sudan researcher Eric Reeves pleaded with the world
to take action, concluding that if genocide is allowed to take its
ugly course in Sudan, “It will not be because we did not know what
was happening or what needed to be done. It will be because we
ourselves, acquiescing in the face of political obstacles, judged
these African lives not worth saving. It is difficult to imagine an
uglier truth for history to record, but history will have no choice.”
For Canadians, the moral implications of genocide in Sudan are even
more disturbing. It was Canadian oil money and Canadian moral cover
which helped to solidify Khartoum’s brutal stranglehold on power in
Sudan. It was this blood oil, backed by Canada’s banks and the Canada
Pension Plan, which provided Sudan’s military junta with the
resources to purchase the helicopter gunships and other weaponry of
genocide. Sudan’s holocaust is the direct result of failed Canadian
foreign policy.
The real lesson of the tragedy in Sudan is that genocide will
continue to occur until politicians pay a price for allowing it to
occur. As long as turning a blind eye to genocide is the political
path of least resistance, the cry of “never again” will have no
meaning.
For God’s people, who are commanded to “let justice roll down like a
river,” indifference is not a moral option.
Mel Middleton is executive director of Freedom Quest International.