Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Catholicos Aram I calls on Germany Church to back Genocide recognition
efforts
10.05.2005 12:47
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – In letter to the Chairman of the Evangelical Church
in Germany, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I asked
Germany’s churches to support Armenian Genocide recognition efforts,
so as to “restore the rights of the Armenian people, which have been
held captive.”
“We are deeply satisfied that in German political and academic
circles, there is renewed interest and vigor in advancing the issue of
the Armenian genocide,” His Holiness Aram I writes to Bishop Wolfgang
Huber.
The Catholicos praises all parties in the German parliament, which
recently agreed to a resolution telling Turkey to “take historic
responsibility” for the 1915 Armenian genocide. He also praised German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for reminding the leadership of Turkey,
duringa recent visit there, that it must come to terms with the issue
of the Armenian Genocide in order to join the European Union.
Bishop Huber and Catholicos Aram I enjoy a lengthy professional
relationship and personal friendship, including their work together on
the World Council of Churches.

Zaman Online, Turkey
May 10 2005
Paris Making the Armenian Allegations ‘Legal’ now Embraces Algerian
Archives
By Ali Ihsan Aydin
Algerian President Abdullaziz Buteflika has called on France “to
accept its responsibility” on the 60th anniversary of the Setif
Massacre on May 8, 1945; and received a unique response: “Let’s
undertake an archival study.”
The French Parliament undertook a decision in 2001 regarding the
Armenians despite all of the Turkish reactions that had defended the
deaths in 1915. However, France has not adopted the same attitude to
Algeria.
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said that history should be
examined together “for establishing a common future and removing
difficult times”. Speaking to the Algeria newspaper Al-Vatan, Barnier
said, “It is necessary to encourage the works of historians from both
parties. They should work together on the common past”. Reminded that
the French archives relating to the French era in Algeria are open to
historians, Barnier has expressed that there has been a study into
this era already prepared by the Algerian and French historians and
that this could help to clarify any disputes. In addition to
President Buteflika, some intellectuals and civil society
organizations in Algeria during the 60th anniversary of the Setif
massacre had expected France to accept their responsibility for the
deaths.
The French army had held both airborne and land attacks against Setif
and Guelma to suppress French opposition demonstrations in Algeria on
8 May 1945. While the Algerian government suggests that about 45,000
Algerians were killed in the oppression, French historians claim that
the numbers of those killed was only around 20,000. While French
politicians have remained tight-lipped over the claims since 1962,
when Algeria gained its independence, the first statement on
recognizing the deaths came from the French Algerian Ambassador.
Ambassador Hubert Colin de Verdiere who visited Setif in February to
remember those who were killed in the massacre had recorded that the
Setif massacre has been “an unforgivable tragedy”. On other hand,
Foreign Minister Barnier who reminded that Ambassador’s view is also
the view of France added that this also demonstrates the importance
given by France on “brain storming” the issue with its brother state,
Algeria.
On the other hand, the Algeria President addressed the public in
Setif to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the massacre and noted
that they expect further steps to be taken by France following these
statements. Buteflika said, “They faced a French attack after
returning from European and African fronts where our Algerian soldier
heroes defend the interests and honor of France to Algeria” reminding
in his declaration that while Europeans were celebrating their
victory against Nazi Germany on 8 May 1945, the French were killing
Algerians who had gathered in the streets to gain their independence.

PRESS RELEASE
The 24 April committee for commemoration of 90 years memory of the
genocide
Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden
Box 25 106,
75025 Uppsala, Sweden
Contact: Mimi Mirzakhanian
[email protected]
Tel. +46 704 412 412
Stockholm
Web: <; 23 April 2005 Stockholm DEMONSTRATION Early Saturday morning of April 23 at `Medborgarplatsen' - The Citizen Square in central Stockholm young people and functionaries from the April 24:th Committee for Commemoration of the Armenian genocide 1915 were busy preparing for the manifestation for honoring the victims of the genocide. A miniature of the Tsitsernakaberd monument was placed on the square, surrounded by 90 candles symbolizing the number of years that had passed since the genocide. The Armenian and Swedish flags flapped together in the wind. The air was chilly and windy. A young man had problems lighting the candles, the wind put out the candles at the same speed they were lighted. The man continued without taking notice of this. The spiritual Armenian music with its sorrow tunes could be heard from distance. People, from near and far, from all over Sweden were gathering, all with resolute wish to be here, April 24th 2005, to commemorate the family members and relatives - the victims of the first genocide in modern time. Everybody having one aim - to show the world that this crime against the Armenian people and humanity was not forgotten and that it would never be forgotten. People passing by were wondering about the manifestation and showed a genuine interest and understanding. Many of them stayed and took part in the manifestation. The crowed grew continuously, hundreds of Armenians and Swedes commemorating the victims. The posters and the banderoles had a clear message; the message that the Armenians demanded a worldwide recognition of the Armenian genocide and that EU should press Turkey to recognize the genocide, apologize for their crime and the suffering they had caused the Armenian nation and people, setting the recognition as a precondition for entering the EU. The manifestation went on for four hours with speeches by distinguished Swedish writers and politicians, music and prayer for the victims. The young man continued to light the candles and the wind put them out. The author of newly published book, The Year of The Sword, Mr. Bertil Bengtsson had a speech where he reminded of another speech held 1917 at the very same Citizen Square by Hjalmar Branting, Swedish Prime Minister some time later, at a manifestation for the Armenian people and condemnation of what the Turks were doing with the Armenians. In front of tens of thousands the word `folkmord' was used for the first time in the Swedish language. `Folkmord' is, if translated precisely, murder of a people - the same meaning as the word genocide that where to be used some thirty years later. Mats Einarsson from the leftwing party `Vänsterpartiet and member of the Swedish parliament where talking about the collective consciousness end the traumatic consequences a genocide has on the survivals, in general and the Armenians and others Christians that where victims of the genocide of 1915 specifically. He emphasized the need of recognition of the genocide from Turkey as a prerequisite for a reconciliation and normal relation and common future between the both sides. He assured his support to get there. Mr. Charlie Weimers, nominated chairman for `KDU'- the youth organization for the Swedish Christ Democrats party, emphasized the just demands the Armenians had. He gave his full support for the Armenians and their demands and assured his and his party's support in the Armenians struggle to have Turkey recognizing the genocide. The chairman of the Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden (UAAS), Garo Hakopian, had a speech on the political developments in this area and the importance and consequence of the Armenian demand of recognition of the genocide. He also informed that Poland, as number 9 of the EU member states, had also recognized the Armenian genocide recently. Father Norayr Gandjumian prayed for the victims of the genocide. The manifestation was over but the crowd stayed for a while, admiring the ninety lighted candles and thinking of their symbol and message. ---------------------------------- Stockholm, 24 April 2005 - By buses, train and cars from several parts of the country hundreds of Armenians and other interested persons attended today the commemoration ceremony of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Kista Church and ABF Center, in Stockholm. The commemoration ceremony was organised by the April 24: th Committee for Commemoration of the Armenian genocide 1915, a work committee consist of several Armenian organisations in Sweden, Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden (UAAS) as well as Armenian Apostolic and catholic churches, The Armenian Association Ararat, Armenian Relief Society, Young Armenians Organisation in Stockholm and Armenian Association CSS. The Commemoration ceremony started early in the Sunday morning at the Kista church in Stockholm, with annual divine services and prayer devoted the Armenian innocent victims 1915. After the ceremony at the Church a commemoration meeting took place in the auditorium of ABF House in Central of Stockholm. Beside the several hundreds of Armenians, who participated the commemoration, there were Counsellors for Swedish and Catholic Churches, members of Swedish Parliament, representatives for the Swedish public and common services, representatives of `Living History ' as well as the Kurdish and Assyrian Federations members among the guests. The cultural events of the program consist of spiritual Armenian music performed by the Moscow Armenian Chamber Chorus of the Stat Philharmonic Society who had two concerts during the day, as well as included Armenian declamation, chorus of Young Armenians in Stockholm; piano and duduk music dedicated The Armenian Genocide performed by local artists. The Commemoration speech program opened by Mr.Garo Hakopian, the chairman of UAAS (Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden) who mentioned the need of an united and collective, purposeful and longsighted campaign against the Turkish aggressive, denial policy on the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide and reconciliation. He furthermore read the letter sent by Kurdish community in Sweden expressing words of sympathy and solidarity with the Armenian People in their struggle for Justice. The second speaker, the British Ph.D. in History, David Gaunt, a Professor with Södertorns University of Stockholm, who exposed in details the circumstances under which the genocide became possible to execute. He concluded his speech with the absolute necessity of pressure applied by the international public opinion on the Turkish government in order to achieve recognition. Dr. Ashot Alexanian, the guest speaker of the day, Counsellor at the Armenian Embassy in Vienna, who made his speech both in English and Armenian, addressing the audience, he said in his message: "On behalf of all principles and values of human rights, human dignity and fundamental freedoms, for the defence of which Armenians have paid heir own life, even more - losing their historical homeland, - like a biting irony of history, nowadays Turkey wants to become a member of western community, proclaiming and safeguarding the same values. Armenia and Armenians worldwide cannot drop, forget or deny the Genocide of 1915, perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire, against the residing in its historical homeland. All Armenians - in Armenia and Diaspora - more or less are engaged in the matter of genocide recognition by the world community". Furthermore he demanded "Turkish recognition of Armenian Genocide has to be involved in the basic document of the EU-New Neighbourhood comprehensive program, as an indispensable precondition of implementation of regional security, aiming at boosting cooperation among the involved countries. The best example for this is the creation of European Union and the historical experience of establishment of after-war Europe." The Commemoration program concluded with prayer of the Armenian reverend, father Sarkis Melkonian at 16:00 p.m. The 24 April committee for commemoration of 90 years memory of the genocide Mimi Mirzakhanian [email protected] Tel. +46 704 412 412 Stockholm

Diplomacy Newsline
Friday, May 6, 2005
DIPLOMACY
Turkey condemns Argentinean Senate’s ‘genocide’ resolution:
ANK – Turkish Daily News
The Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday condemned a resolution
approved by the Argentinean Senate on April 20 in which Turkey was
accused of committing genocide against Armenians between 1915 and
1923.
The ministry said in a written statement that Turkish officials
had told Argentinean officials beforehand about the possible
negative impact of such a resolution.
“It is obviously irresponsible for the Argentinean Senate to
approve a resolution full of factual errors by following activities
aiming at political interests despite our efforts,” the statement
said. It added that countries which wished the normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relations should support Ankara’s proposal to set
up a joint research committee to discuss and investigate the tragic
events of World War I.

A1plua
| 15:35:53 | 06-05-2005 | Politics |
TOLERANT OFFER
“The UN tolerates dual citizenship, if not encourages it”, said
Grigor Ghonjeyan while representing the draft Constitution of the
United Labor Party in the NA. The dual citizenship is stipulated in
the ULP draft and that, according to the delegate, was done «due
to the profit of our own country». But those who will have dual
citizenship will not have the right to take part in elections, that
is- elect and be elected.
According to Ghonjeyan, the dual citizenship issues must be regulated
by international treaties and agreements, «The overwhelming majority
is limiting, not encouraging». The stipulating of dual citizenship
in the RA Constitution does not mean that an Armenian citizen of any
country can become citizen of Armenia. It is necessary that the given
country have accepted dual citizenship.
While representing the Constitutional chapters Grigor Ghonjeyan
mentioned that as a result of a non-professional official translation
their draft has received remarks from the Venice Committee. The
delegate claimed that they have taken into account greater part
of about 700 offers of the Venice Committee, as well as other
organizations.
–Boundary_(ID_CdutqT40KHbYR4t+Ri9Chw)–

Congressional Record: May 4, 2005 (Extensions)
MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn memorial to the
estimated 1.5 million men, women, and children who lost their lives
during the Armenian Genocide. As in the past, I am pleased to join
so many distinguished House colleagues on both sides of the aisle
in ensuring that the horrors wrought upon the Armenian people are
never repeated.
On April 24, 1915, over 200 religious, political, and intellectual
leaders of the Armenian community were brutally executed by the Turkish
government in Istanbul. Over the course of the next 8 years, this
war of ethnic genocide against the Armenian community in the Ottoman
Empire took the lives of over half the world’s Armenian population.
Sadly, there are some people who still deny the very existence of
this period which saw the institutionalized slaughter of the Armenian
people and dismantling of Armenian culture. To those who would question
these events, I point to the numerous reports contained in the U.S.
National Archives detailing the process that systematically decimated
the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. However, old records
are too easily forgotten–and dismissed. That is why we come together
every year at this time: To remember in words what some may wish to
file away in archives. This genocide did take place, and these lives
were taken. That memory must keep us forever vigilant in our efforts
to prevent these atrocities from ever happening again.
I am proud to note that Armenian immigrants found, in the United
Sates, a country where their culture could take root and thrive. Most
Armenians in America are children or grandchildren of the survivors,
although there are still survivors among us. In my district in
Northwest Indiana, a vibrant Armenian-American community has developed
and strong ties to Armenia continue to flourish. My predecessor in
the House, the late Adam Benjamin, was of Armenian heritage, and his
distinguished service in the House serves as an example to the entire
Northwest Indiana community. Over the years, members of the Armenia-
American community throughout the United States have contributed
millions of dollars and countless hours of their time to various
Armenian causes. Of particular note are Mrs. Vicki Hovanessian and
her husband, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, residents of Indiana’s First
Congressional District, who have continually worked to improve the
quality of life in Armenia, as well as in Northwest Indiana. Three
other Armenian-American families in my congressional district, Dr. Aram
and Mrs. Seta Semerdjian, Dr. Heratch and Mrs. Sonya Doumanian, and Dr.
Ara and Mrs. Rosy Yeretsian, have also contributed greatly toward
charitable works in the United States and Armenia. Their efforts,
together with hundreds of other members of the Armenian-American
community, have helped to finance several important projects in
Armenia, including the construction of new schools, a mammography
clinic, and a crucial roadway connecting Armenia to Nagorno Karabagh.
In the House, I have tried to assist the efforts of my Armenian-
American constituency by continually supporting foreign aid to Armenia.
This past year, with my support, Armenia received $84 million in U.S.
aid to assist economic and military development. In addition, on
April 16, 2004, I joined several of my colleagues in signing the
letter to President Bush urging him to honor his pledge to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian people have a long and proud history. In the fourth
century, they became the first nation to embrace Christianity. During
World War I, the Ottoman Empire was ruled by an organization known as
the Young Turk Committee, which allied with Germany. Amid fighting
in the Ottoman Empire’s eastern Anatolian provinces, the historic
heartland of the Christian Armenians, Ottoman authorities ordered the
deportation and execution of all Armenians in the region. By the end
of 1923, virtually the entire Armenian population of Anatolia and
western Armenia had either been killed or deported.
While it is important to keep the lessons of history in mind, we
must also remain committed to protecting Armenia from new and more
hostile aggressors. In the last decade, thousands of lives have been
lost and more than a million people displaced in the struggle between
Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabagh. Even now, as we rise to
commemorate the accomplishments of the Armenian people and mourn the
tragedies they have suffered, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and other countries
continue to engage in a debilitating blockade of this free nation.
Consistently, I have testified before the Foreign Operations
Appropriations Subcommittee on the important issue of bringing
peace to a troubled area of the world. I continued my support for
maintaining the level of funding for the Southern Caucasus region of
the Independent States (IS), and of Armenia in particular. In addition,
on February 26, 2004, I joined several of my colleagues in sending
a letter to President Bush urging him to ensure parity in military
assistance between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives
Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone, for organizing this special order
to commemorate the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Their
efforts will not only help bring needed attention to this tragic
period in world history, but also serve to remind us of our duty to
protect basic human rights and freedoms around the world.

Turkey’s EU chances linked to Armenia dispute: EU official
EUbusiness (press release), UK
May 5 2005
Turkish membership of the European Union will likely be influenced
by Ankara’s relations with Armenia, which wants it to recognise mass
killings from 1915 as a genocide, an EU official said in Yerevan,
Armenia on Thursday.
“Negotiations between the EU and Turkey will soon begin. And
there is no doubt that relations between Armenia and Turkey will
have an influence on them,” said Heiki Talvitie, the EU’s special
representative to the South Caucasus.
Talvitie, a former Finnish diplomat whose mandate covers regional
cooperation, was speaking at a press conference with Armenia’s Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said in late April that the
subject would never be a precondition to Turkey’s EU accession.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed the creation
of a joint commission of experts with Armenia to study the disputed
history of the mass killings.
The two countries have no official diplomatic relations and their
border is closed, though there are limited flights between them.
“There will be a positive development after the opening of the border
between Armenia and Turkey. We understand it is a very sensitive
issue and will take some time to iron out,” said Talvitie.
“Europe sees the Turkish prime minister’s proposal as a chance for
Turkey to be reconciled with its history,” Oskanian told the press
conference.
Turkey recognised Armenia on its 1991 independence but never set
up diplomatic relations with it because of the profoundly differing
stance on the mass killings.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen perished in
deportations and orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917.
Ankara argues that 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died
in what was civil strife during World War I and rejects outright the
genocide theory.
Turkey says the incidents happened when Armenians took up arms for
independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with Russian troops invading
the crumbling Ottoman Empire.

Peninsula On-line, Qatar
May 5 2005
Schroeder pressures Turkey on EU reform
Web posted at: 5/5/2005 7:2:39
ANKARA: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday urged Turkey to
fully implement the democracy reforms it adopted to achieve European
Union norms and called for more freedoms for Christian communities
in this Muslim-majority country.
Schroeder, a staunch supporter of Turkey’s EU membership bid, assured
Ankara that the bloc was determined to open accession talks with
Turkey on schedule on October 3.
“The dynamics of reform should continue,” Schroeder said after talks
with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “The constitutional
and other legal amendments should be put into practice.”
Referring to concerns that France will vote down the European
constitution at a May 29 referendum and plunge the EU into crisis,
the German leader said: “No referendum anywhere in Europe will affect
Turkey’s EU process.”
Schroeder also renewed EU demands from Turkey to expand the freedoms
of its non-Muslim comminuties, mostly Orthodox Christians and Jews.
“Religious freedom is a European principle,” Schroder said. “It is
indisputabe and is valid for Turkey as well. People should freely
practice their religions.”
Turkey is under pressure to remove legal obstacles for non-Muslim
religious foundations to fully exercise their property rights and to
open a Greek Orthodox seminary in Istanbul closed down more than 30
years ago.
Schroeder also backed a Turkish proposal to Armenia for the creation
of a joint commission of historians to study allegations that the
Ottoman Turks committed genocide against their Armenian subjects
during World War I.

Azeri group against opening communications with Armenia
Trend news agency
5 May 05
Baku, 5 May: The member parties of the Union of Azerbaijanist Forces
(UAF) believe that the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has
reached a breaking point and express their concern with the processes
unfolding in that direction.
The head of the UAF staff, Haciaga Nuri, has told Trend that public
and political developments in the region compel Azerbaijan to be more
cautious about its own stance.
“On the one hand, we are on the threshold of launching the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, but on the other, initiatives are
being taken in the Caspian region to clash the interests of the world’s
superpowers. The UAF considers it unacceptable to open communication
lines with Armenia in exchange for freezing the problem for many
years or vacating certain occupied districts outside Karabakh. The
prejudiced position of the countries, which fear occupying Armenia’s
discontent, should be qualified as support for occupation.”
The UAF will also prepare an action plan to mark the occupation of
Susa and the 60th anniversary of the historic victory over fascism.

Armenians Appeal for Recognition of Genocide
By Ben Hurley
Epoch Times, NY
April 3 2005
The Epoch Times
May 03, 2005
On April 24, 1915, as Anzacs troops were on their way to Gallipoli,
the Turkish Ottoman government began to eradicate its Armenian
Christian population, in a campaign which would see an estimated 1.5
million killed.
In recognition of this tragedy approximately 650 Armenians on Thursday
April 28 paraded through Sydney’s Central Business District to Martin
Place, where they held a moment’s silence to commemorate its 90th
Anniversary.
“Basically it’s an unrecognized genocide”, said Haig Kaysserian,
a spokesman for the Armenian Youth Federation. “If your father or
your grandfather, god forbid, was to pass away, or your mother or
your grandmother, you’d want their souls to rest in peace…you’d
want to find what happened. Whereas we don’t have that luxury.”
The Turkish Government insists that the Armenian death count is
inflated, and that Armenians were killed amid civil war during the
collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
“The position is total denial,” says Panayiotis Diamadis, Director
of the Australian Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Mr.
Diamadis says he has ample evidence of a massive genocide campaign,
including copies of telegrams sent from the capital to provincial
governments at the time, reports from diplomats of then Turkish allies,
and testimonies by Anzac prisoners of war.
He says that the difference between civil war and genocide is an
important distinction to make. “The difference is the intent on
the part of the state to wipe out the targeted group, and that’s the
difference with the Armenians, the clear policy, the clear orders from
the Turkish government were ‘wipe out every single Armenian wherever
you find them’.”
“Particularly in the political sphere they [The Turkish Government]
are extremely active in blocking or attempting to block any form of
state recognition by any other countries around the world, especially
by the United States Congress,” he said.
The NSW Parliament passed a resolution in 1997 recognizing the genocide
of the Armenian people and calling on the Turkish Government to do
the same. More significantly, German parliament is currently debating
a resolution which, if passed, will ask for the Armenian people’s
forgiveness for pre-Nazi Germany’s complicity in the massacres.
As Turkey readies for European Union accession talks later this year,
European politicians are placing increasing pressure on Turkey to
recognize that the killing of the Armenians during WWI was genocide.
On Tuesday April 19, Poland became one of 15 countries to officially
acknowledge the Ottoman campaign as genocide.