Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:

11 November 2008

Heritage Executive Board’s Statement on the Meiendorf Declaration

Yerevan–The Heritage Party finds that the declaration signed on November 2,
2008 at the Meiendorf Castle outside Moscow by the Armenian president Serzh
Sargsyan, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, and Russian president Dmitry
Medvedev undermines the mission to maintain peace, bring Karabagh’s
decolonization process to fruition, and achieve international recognition
for its independence.

1. Heritage believes that the Meiendorf Declaration is only the latest
manifestation of the trend toward protecting the interests of the
superpowers at the cost of the national interests of Armenia and Mountainous
Karabagh. This trend previously was championed by the West, but now enjoys
the subscription also of Russia, which has since 2002 linked its national
security with Armenia’s within the context of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO). This trend became all the more official with the
declaration on "Friendship and Strategic Partnership between the Republic of
Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation," which the Azerbaijani and Russian
presidents signed in Baku on July 3. This document specifically noted that
"Russia and Azerbaijan deem necessary the Mountainous Karabagh conflict’s
quick resolution based on the universally recognized norms and precepts of
international law and, first and foremost, on the basis of securing and
respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, the
invariability of boundaries, and also based on the relevant UN Security
Council resolutions and OSCE decisions. The sides will assist in the speedy,
voluntary, and safe return of the refugees and people who were displaced as
a consequence of the conflict." It is disturbing that the formulations made
in the Baku accord have been transferred, with mere touch-ups, to the
Meiendorf Declaration.

2. In actual fact, the signing of the Meiendorf Declaration also extorted
official Yerevan’s positive outlook on the Madrid Principles, which formally
were presented to the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents on November 29,
2007. The bodies politic of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh, by contrast,
are to date uninformed of their content. The Heritage Party is seriously
concerned that the precepts fixed in this document do not guarantee the just
resolution of the Karabagh conflict. How could they be, when Armenia’s
authorities have signed the agreement without asking for the support of the
people of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh? The proposed succession–"firstly
the elimination of the consequences of the conflict and, only after that,
the determination of Karabagh’s status"–of the Madrid principles is the
best proof that the superpowers which compete in this region have no
interest in legitimizing the statehood of Karabagh. On the contrary, the
superpowers are primed to continue to wield their influence and play their
energy games. This unfortunate turn of events unfolds precisely at the time
when the recognition of Karabagh’s status is a priority issue for the
Armenian and Karabagh sides. The Madrid Principles, the contents of which we
were able to ascertain through non-official channels, are unacceptable to
the Heritage Party. No Armenian government should accept them as a
foundation for talks. Heritage believes that the unilateral return of
territories and refugees, as well as the delay in determining the status of
Mountainous Karabagh, are unacceptable. Heritage firmly condemns the
acceptance of those principles by the Armenian authorities, and warns of the
beginnings of irreversible processes which run counter to the interests of
Armenia and the Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR).

3. The current Karabagh talks in reality have no connection whatsoever with
securing a just settlement, achieving stabilitity and peace in the region,
and fostering the much-anticipated reconciliation of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani people. Moreover, Mountainous Karabagh’s absence from the talks
has become for all the superpowers a currency of "payment" and "repayment"
for receiving Azerbaijan’s support for new energy routes. Consequently, the
Heritage party can neither approve of the Meiendorf Declaration, nor trust
that it will bring about the "normalizing of the situation in South Caucasus
and establishing an environment of peace and security in the region" and
begetting "conditions for carrying out measures toward consolidating peace."
Heritage does not have faith in the real and immediate intentions of
official Moscow–which has become the architect of this declaration–and of
official Brussels, Washington, and Paris–which have approved this document.
NATO, the United States, and France know all too well that the fragile peace
maintained in the region since 1994 is the result of a trilateral agreement
which, likewise by Russian mediation, was signed among the official
representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Mountainous Karabagh, and that
the latter not only is the beneficiary of regional security but also the
protector of regional peace.

4. It is apparent from the Meiendorf Declaration, which enjoys the signature
of only one country from the OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chairs, that Russia, the
signator, seeks to create parallel platforms for high-level and lower-level
"direct talks" between Armenia and Azerbaijan, through which it will
gradually redener obsolete the format of the Minsk Group. From its
long-standing criticisms of the OSCE to its formal letter sent to the
organization last year, Azerbaijan openly shares this objective. And now
Turkey, too, has joined Russia and Azerbaijan, which have reached a silent
consensus on the basis of this interest. The official, societal, and
political circles of Armenia have stated numerous times that the OSCE is the
best format for resolving the problem and that the talks again must include
Mountainous Karabagh as a full and equal side to the settlement discussions.
Heritage deplores the fact that Armenia’s administration continually
contributes to the distortion of those formats, and affirms that this is a
result of myopic policy–which still is conducted with respect to the
Karabagh question–including the refusal to consider Heritage’s draft law
formally to recognize the independence of MKR.

5. The Heritage Party calls on the authorities of Armenia to acknowledge the
aforesaid perils and to transfer the discussion of and solution to the
problem back into the officially authorized format–that is, the Minsk Group
and the juridical platform–to secure the real conflicting sides’
participation to the talks, and to decipher the Madrid Principles and offer
them for broad public discussion.

Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central office is located at 31 Moscovian Street, Yerevan 0002, Armenia,
with telephone contact at (374-10) 536.913, fax at (374-10) 532.697, email
at [email protected] or [email protected], and website at

NKR LEADER CONGRATULATED OBAMA ON ELECTION AS U.S. PRESIDENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2008 17:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On 6 November, President of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory address to President-elect
of the United States of America Barack Obama.

The message reads as follows:

"On behalf of the people and authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic I cordially congratulate You on the occasion of being elected
as the 44th President of the United States of America. Your victory
is an epoch-making event both in American history and world democracy.

Artsakh rates highly the role of the United States in peaceful
settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and the annual
financial assistance provided by the U.S. to the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic.

I am confident that with Your interest and support in solving issues
the Armenian people face, under the new Administration the ties
between our countries will become much stronger and more diversified.

I congratulate You once again and wish peace, happiness, robust health
and prosperity to You and all your relatives and friends."

ARMENIA HAS NEVER APPEALED TO ANY COUNTRY

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
28 Oct 2008
Armenia

To Realize Mediation Mission

President Serge Sargsyan’s interview given to the Public TV.

"Mr. President the discussions on the settlement of Karabakh
conflict have become very active – different assessments, different
predictions. At what stage is the settlement of the conflict?"

"The thing is, after a long-term passiveness the process of the
settlement of Karabakh conflict has entered an active stage. This
fact is conditioned by at least two important circumstances: firstly
– presidential elections were held both in Armenia and in Azerbaijan
and secondly – the famous events that took place in the region over
again proved that there is no military option for the settlement of
the conflict.

The settlement of Karabakh conflict is possible only in case
Azerbaijan recognizes the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh
to self-determination, if Nagorno Karabakh has a land border with
the Republic of Armenia and if the international organizations and
the progressive countries guarantee the security of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh.

In my view that activeness, public discussions are really helpful and
I strongly believe that we will enter a period of much more active
public discussions. The discussions are always helpful, but they must
be based on only one interest, the interest of Armenian people.

We have sacrificed a lot for the settlement of Karabakh conflict
and can’t afford closing our eyes on the speculations of certain
facts. We are solving a precious issue. We are solving a very important
historical issue and those who seek a benefit from this historical
issue are simply immoral."

"Mr. President, judging from the recent developments the activeness
of the other players in the region becomes perceptible. Particularly
the initiative of the Russian President, D. Medvedev, of the meeting
between the three Presidents and the announcement made by A. Gyul
saying that you were the first to ask for his help in the settlement
process. How would you comment on this?"

"I must say that the process of the settlement of Karabakh conflict
passes in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group, based on "Madrid
principles". I have said many times and I would like to repeat that
there are no other mediators, other than OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen
and the confusion that some people are trying to create doesn’t
support us.

I must repeat OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen are the only mediators,
Armenia has never appealed to any country to realize mediation mission.

Russia is one of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen countries and the
invitation made by D. Medvedev and his activeness in this issue is
quite normal.

As regards the commentary on the announcement made by Abdullah Gyul,
I must firstly say that, maybe you have noticed that I don’t like
commenting on the announcements made by other political figures,
especially because our press usually publishes sections cut from the
whole context.

In reality OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen are the only mediators,
but we still don’t refuse any assistance. I believe Turkey can lend
a hand in the process of the settlement of Karabakh conflict and
they do so. President Gyul’s visit to Armenia, the negotiations
between Armenia and Turkey are good examples for the settlement of
tough issues. I believe if Turkey opens its borders with Armenia and
establishes diplomatic relations with us, it will greatly help the
settlement of Karabakh conflict.

U.S. NOT LIKELY TO WELCOME TURKEY AS MEDIATOR BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.09.2008 14:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. hopes that the OSCE Minsk Group will
continue talks in the operating format, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Ann Derse told reporters on Friday.

"Standing for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the United States
will continue activities in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group,"
she said, adding that Co-chair Matt Bryza is planning a visit to
Azerbaijan. "It’s a good time to resolve the Karabakh conflict,
in compliance with the international law and within territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan," she said, Trend Azeri news agency reports.

Earlier, Turkish President Abdullah Gul announced his intention
to mediate between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. "The
OSCE Minsk Group failed to produce effect during 17 years of its
mediation. Turkey-Armenia and Azerbaijan-Armenia issues are not
only bilateral but also territorial. The situation in the region has
changed. Resolution of conflicts will lead to political and economic
stability," he said.

STEPAN SAFARIAN AFFIRMS THAT ARFD TRIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S RETURN TO BIG POLITICS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Gagik Minasian, a
member of the Board of the Republican Party of Armenia, the relative
peace has been broken in the South Caucasus after August 8, and the
instability that emerged as a result of it in the region can last
very long. As he stated at the September 2 dispute, the uncertainty
will go on until the issue of Georgia’s membership to NATO becomes
clear. The RPA figure also said that the humanitarian crisis in the
region and the prospect of warming of Armenian-Turkish relations make
realistic the opening of the Kars-Gyumri railway.

Stepan Safarian, a member of the Board of the Zharangutiun (Heritage)
party, affirmed that Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s possible visit
to Armenia shoult not yet make RA authorities hope that the contacts
between the two countries will improve. "We welcome Serzh Sargsyan’s
invitation to A. Gul as a precedent, as an attempt. However, if I
were the RA authorities, I would not have much hopes connected with
Turkish President’s visit," A. Safarian said.

Touching upon the rally of ARFD to take place in the evening the same
day, the Zharangutiun representative said that though the rally is
dedicated to the Artsakh independence day, nevertheless, A. Gul’s
visit will be touched upon during the rally.

According to S. Safarian, lately it is obvious that former President
Robert Kocharian strives for returning to big politics, and ARFD
tries to contribute to it. "Armenian-Turkish relations were frozen
under R. Kocharian and S. Sargsyan has changed serious accents
in the RA foreign policy, and it contradicts ARFD’s principles,"
S. Safarian said.

PRESIDENT OF FOOTBALL FEDERATION OF ARMENIA: I EXPECT ONLY VICTORY IN UPCOMING MATCH AGAINST TURKEY

arminfo
2008-09-02 16:25:00

ArmInfo. ‘I am a maximalist by nature and I expect only victory in
6 September match of Armenia vs Turkey – 2010 FIFA World Cup draw’,
President of Football Federation of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan said
at a press conference Tuesday.

He said all the players of the Armenian team except four have already
arrived in Yerevan and are in top form and ready to fight. ‘In case
of success, players will get a solid prize’, FFA president said. He
ruled out any political motives of the upcoming match and categorically
banned any political propaganda on tribunes.

R. Hayrapetyan said FFA provided FIFA quota for Turkish and however
Turkey has not made any relevant application so far except application
for 15 VIP-seats and 115 tickets. Alongside with local media 100
journalists from Turkey and 150 journalists from other states will
cover the match. FFA President urged the fans of Armenian team to
arrive at the Hrazdan Stadium at least 30 minutes before the match
to avoid jam and crowd. ‘Hrazdan Stadium has 55,000 seats and police
will be just unable to prevent jams of dozens of thousands of people
arrive at the stadium 10 minutes before the match’, Hayrapetyan said.

SAAKASHVILI APPEALS TO US AS RUSSIAN MILITARY UNITS ENTER GEORGIA

The White House Bulletin
August 8, 2008 Friday

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili appeared on CNN television
today to ask for US help, claiming Russia had invaded Georgia this
morning. Early press accounts reflected the confusion in the area,
but it appears that a smoldering situation caught fire today in
South Ossetia, a province of Georgia which has struggled to win its
independence, with the help of Russia which has deployed peacekeepers
to the provincial capital of Tskhinvali. Open fighting has been taking
place for weeks between South Ossetian separatists and Georgian
military forces, and some news accounts report that this morning
Georgian military units launched an offensive on the provincial capital
to regain control. Georgia lies in the Caucasus region and is bordered
by Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The region is a major oil
producing and transit area, and ancient enmities among the Turks,
Armenians and Azeris have repeatedly flared into open hostilities,
with Armenia and Azerbaijan fighting as recently as 1994. Should
fighting from Georgia spill over into that area, it would mark a
third area of open warfare on Iran’s borders.

As of late this morning, the Georgian government was claiming to be
in control of Tskhinvali. A convoy of Russian tanks is expected to
reach that city by nightfall. The Russian military says 10 Russian
peacekeepers have been killed and 30 wounded in South Ossetia. Georgian
President Saakashvili claims Georgian defense forces shot down two
Russian fighter jets over Georgian territory. Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev said today, "I am obliged to protect the lives and dignity of
Russian citizens, no matter where they are located," adding, "We won’t
allow the death of our compatriots to go unpunished." Russian media,
citing South Ossetian rebel sources, said "hundreds" of civilians
were dead in Tskhinvali.

Opening the media front on the war, Saakashvili, speaking in
English, told CNN this morning, "Well, I mean, Georgia is under
attack. And we have Russian tanks moving in. We have continuous Russian
bombardments since yesterday, you know, specifically targeting civilian
population. It happened at — you know, we had lots of bombs today,
but it happened in one occasion I saw firsthand with my own eyes,
I happened to be in that town, two Russian jets coming very low, and
at low altitude at low speed, specifically looking at the marketplace
in a very busy afternoon time. And hitting it — hitting the crowd
of the people. And lots of wounded people there. And, you know,
this is — Russia is fighting war with us in our own territory. And
this — we are in the situation of self-defense against the big and
mighty neighbor. We are a country of less than 5 million people,
and certainly our forces are not comparable."

Asked what he would like the United States to do, Saakashvili said,
"Look, I mean, this conflict is not about separatist area inside
Georgia. There where — the overall population there is less than
25,000 people. It has never been more than 30,000. And it’s ethnically
diverse, and it’s right in the middle of Georgia. Russia has been
preparing for this for years and months now, you know. There have
been amassing troops at our border at that place for already four
months and they made no secret. They are unhappy with our closeness
with the United States, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
with the West in general. They are happy with Georgian — they are
unhappy with Georgian democracy, and the way Georgia is run. Georgia
is indeed one of small but very prosperous democratic neighbors of
Russia. Not a good example for present people, apparently, in the
Kremlin. And the point here is that, you know, they’ve always told us,
We’ll hit at you because you’re so close to the United States."

Saakashvili continued, "Yesterday the whole thing started. You
know, they had been shelling our position for weeks and weeks and
for — especially the last hours. We didn’t respond, we declared
a cease-fire. And we only responded when Russian tanks started to
move into our country. I mean, at 24:00 a.m., the very moment I got
the news, Russian tanks are in, I told, OK, let’s open the artillery
fire. This was not about separatist area. This a very blunt Russian
aggression.

"So what the — what America can do about it? Well, look, it’s not
about Georgia anymore. It’s about the principles and values America
has. You know, it’s like Finland in 1939 attacked by Stalin. It’s like
Afghanistan in 1979. It’s like Czechoslovakia in 1968, when Soviet and
Russians tanks moved in. We are right now suffering because we want to
be free and we want to be a democracy — multi-ethnic democracy that
belongs to all ethnic groups. And that’s exactly what’s happening
there. So, basically I have to — I mean, it’s not about Georgia
anymore, it’s about America, its values.

"You know, I went to two U.S. universities. I always thought that these
values were also those of my own. We have held them not because we love
America — although I love America — but because we love freedom. And
the point here is that I also thought that America always stands
up for those free-loving nations and supports them. And that’s what
America is all about. That’s why we look with hope at every American."

Saakashvili Claims Georgian Attack Would Be Suicidal.

Asked about the Russian contention that Russia is only protecting
South Ossetians in the face of a Georgian attack, Saakashvili
responded, "You know how well the moment was chosen. Look
at it. You know, there is — there are Olympic Games; nobody
cares about politics. There is a U.S. election, of course, the
internal politics consumes everything. There is — most of the
decision-makers are gone for holidays. Brilliant moment to attack a
small country. Who would care? Please, do care, because it makes lots
of difference." Saakashvili added, "Of course, it would be suicidal
of us to provoke Russia unless Russia — I mean, what happened to us,
it wasn’t about provocation anymore. Russia waited, waited for some
time and then just said, ‘OK, something is happening, you know, there
is artillery fire, there is attack,’ and then tanks move in. This
situation was so artificial, it was like Poland attacking Germany in
1939. It was exact — I’m — for me that the parallel. I mean, and it’s
like Finland attacking the Soviet Union in 1939, when Stalin wanted
part of Finland and therefore that he trying to subjugate that nation."

Saakashvili concluded, "And if this thing — if they get away with
this in Georgia, the world will be in trouble. Georgia is not at stake
right now, although for me Georgia — it’s all about Georgia. It’s
about values, principles and the world order. Is Russia going to get
away this kind of violation? Well, I don’t think so."

White House Appeals For Calm.

The White House today called for both sides to avoid more
violence.? Press Secretary Dana Perino said, "We urge restraint on all
sides — that violence would be curtailed and that direct dialogue
could ensue in order to help resolve their differences."? Another
White House press official, Gordon Johndroe, said Bush discussed the
issue with Russian President Vladmir Putin earlier today during a
luncheon in Beijing, but had no further details.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE MECC’S GENERAL SECRETARY AND UNIT CHIEFS

His Holiness Aram I received the General Secretary of the Middle East
Council of Churches (MECC), Gerges Saleh, in Antelias on July 2. Saleh was
accompanied by the directors of different departments of MECC.

The General Secretary and the directors of the departments briefed His
Holiness on the Council’s activities and projects. Listening to the reports
of various MECC officials, His Holiness made several recommendations with
respect to cutting certain projects short and prioritizing some others.

MECC officials also inquired about His Holiness’ views on cooperation
between various ecumenical councils and issues related MECC member churches.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos284.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

"GOLDEN APRICOT" INTERNATIONAL FILM-FESTIVAL STARTS JULY 13
By Hasmik Harutyunyan

AZG Armenian Daily
05/06/2008

Culture

The 5th "Golden Apricot" international film-festival will start July
13 this year with Roman Balayan film "Birds of paradise".

Besides favoring film-lovers with 7-days culture festival the
multi-genre program of "Golden Apricot" will be also directed to the
development of the Armenian film, said Haroutiun Khachatrian on June
3 in "Urbat" (Friday) club.

According to him, the program of "Golden Apricot" is very satiated
this year. The office received applications of 400 films from 65
countries to participate in the festival.

The competitive program of the festival is divided into 4 parts –
art of acting, documentary, Armenian panorama and "Film-makers without
borders" regional contests.

In the series of Yerevan premieres the Armenian audience will watch the
film of Frenzies Ford Copola "Youth without youth", Goran Paskalievich
film "Optimists" and Vim Venders film "Shooting in Palermo".

Parajanov Award will be given to Vim Venders and Persian film-maker
Dariush Mehrdzu.

"Golden Apricot" will also touch upon the 100th anniversary of
William Saroyan showing films based on the film scenarios and works
of the writer.

The Armenian audience will be first time shown Saroyan’s film "Good
work" shot in 1942.

Harutyun Khachatrian mentioned that Chairman of the festival Atom
Egoyan will hold mastery classes, and a film will be shot with
participation of Armenian young film-makers.

The closing ceremony of the festival will be held on June
19. A. Egoyan’s film "Worship" will be shown. The film was involved
in the main competitive program of Cannes Festival and got the Prize
of the Ecumenical Jury.

REMEMBERING MODERN HISTORY’S GREATEST CRIME

Foreign Correspondent
June 2 2008
Canada

Toronto – Canada will soon make an important contribution to the cause
of historical accuracy, human rights, and justice. To coincide with
last week’s visit to Ottawa of Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yushchenko,
the Canadian government announced it planned to recognize the mostly
forgotten 1932-1933 genocide in Ukraine.

Ottawa’s decision was motivated as much by ethnic politics as historic
justice: there are 1.1 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent. But
Ottawa still deserves kudos for doing the right thing.

For eight decades, the greatest mass murder in modern history has been
shamefully covered up or ignored. I have been repeatedly shocked to
receive letters from young Americans and Canadians of Ukrainian descent
saying they had known nothing about the 1930’s genocide, or `Holdomor,’
until reading about it in my columns. Hopefully, more will now know.

>From 1932-33, Stalin and henchmen, Lazar Kaganovitch and Vyacheslav
Molotov, conducted a merciless campaign to crush resistance by
Ukrainian farmers to communism and collectivization. They isolated
Ukraine, then cut off all food supplies and seeds. Six to nine million
Ukrainians died from the ensuing man-made famine and mass shootings of
`anti-State elements’ by secret police execution squads. Cannibalism
became common.

Large numbers of Ukrainians were also murdered during the Great Terror
of 1936-38 in which an estimated 2 million Soviet citizens were shot
and the same number died in Stalin’s concentration camps.

In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, the Soviet penal system reached
its zenith: 5.4 million people were prisoners in the gulag. Some
300,000 more Ukrainians were sent to concentration camps under
the supervision of Commissar Nikita Khrushchev, and 21,259 were
killed in Soviet `pacification’ campaigns and against independence
fighters. Other Ukrainian nationalist leaders were assassinated in
Western Europe by special Soviet hit teams.

During the same period, Moscow unleashed terror on the tiny Baltic
states. From March to May, 1949, 95,000 Lithuanians, 27,000 of
them children, were sent to concentration camps. In total, 120,000
Lithuanians, 50,000 Latvians and 30,000 Estonians went to the gulag
where the death rate was 51% per annum.

While the Western world rightly commemorates genocide inflicted on
Armenians, Europe’s Jews, Cambodians, Rwandans, and Bosnians, it
shamefully shut its eyes to the Ukrainian Holdomor because it was
conducted by a key wartime ally whom President Franklin Roosevelt
hailed as `Uncle Joe.’

Nor has the West ever acknowledged genocide against other peoples of
the Soviet Union. In the Caucasus, Stalin sent most of the Chechen
and Ingush peoples to the gulag, where 500,000 died. Yet when the
children of the survivors fought for independence from Russia, the
West branded them `Islamic terrorists.’

Up to three million Muslims of the Soviet Union died at Stalin’s hands,
including 1.5 million Kazakhs and Crimean Tatars. Yet no holocaust
memorials exist for them.

Nearly 100,000 Moldovans were murdered in a purge conducted by then
Commissar Leonid Brezhnev, who would later lead the Soviet Union and
be feted by Western leaders. Add to this butcher’s bill Volga Germans,
Greeks, Cossacks, Armenians and Poles.

If we keep demanding that Germany and Japan atone for their wartime
crimes, is it not time for our governments to finally recognize and
atone their alliance with the biggest mass murderer in history, Josef
Stalin, a man whose crimes exceeded those of Adolf Hitler by a factor
of at least three or four times? Particularly so in the United States,
where World War II has become something of a state religion and is
endlessly invoked by conservatives and neocons to justify foreign
military adventures.

Neither Roosevelt nor Churchill cared to admit they had allied
themselves with a greater criminal than Hitler to wage their `Crusade
for Freedom,’ nor that the price of this compact with the devil was
giving Eastern Europe to the Soviets. In the end, the Allies destroyed
a lesser threat, Germany, and in doing so, created a greater one,
the nuclear-armed Soviet Union.

Roosevelt’s and Churchill’s alliance with Stalin, whom they knew
to be a mass murderer and tyrant, in my view denies the Allies any
claim to have been waging a `just’ or `good war.’ When the lingering
clouds of wartime propaganda finally dissipate, future historians will
likely look back on the western Allies as not much morally superior
to Germany or the USSR, though certainly less murderous.

Communists and leftists everywhere joined in covering up Stalin’s
crimes. For example, to the end of his life, Jean Paul Sartre
kept insisting Stalin’s gulag was a fiction created by western
propaganda. The official Communist Party line was that the deaths
of millions of Ukrainians was simply an unfortunate natural disaster
that also affected other parts of the USSR.

In North America, intense attention to the Jewish Holocaust tended
to push all other national historic tragedies into the background or
completely eclipse them. The fact that during the 1930’s, many senior
officers of Stalin’s Cheka, or secret police, were Jewish, including
Kaganovitch, led to ferocious reprisals against Ukraine’s Jews in the
following decade. As a result, Ukrainians were permanently branded
`anti-Semites;’ their suffering received scant sympathy.

Soviet dissident Vladimir Bukovsky demanded a Nuremburg trial for all
the Soviet crimes, but unfortunately this will never happen. Most
of the criminals are dead. The Soviet Eichmann, Lazar Kaganovitch,
died peacefully in Moscow in 1991; Molotov died in 1986. In fact, not
a single Soviet official was ever indicted for the crime committed
by the state from the 1920’s to 1953, though many Cheskisti were
liquidated during Stalin’s purges.

Canada’s recognition of this historic crime is important for
two reasons. First, Canada is one of the world’s most respected
nations. Its acknowledgement of the Holdomor will be heard around
the globe. Second, nostalgia for Stalin is on the rise in today’s
Russia. His memory and politics are being rehabilitated. Russians
must to be reminded of his crimes and reign of terror.

In `les abuses de la mémoire,’ the Bulgarian-born French philosopher
Tzvetan Todorov, who studied the Jewish Holocaust, wrote: `Life
cannot withstand death, but memory is gaining in its struggle against
nothingness.’

–Boundary_(ID_TsbKPUOSFNKg 4zu/wlR0vA)–