Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: TURKEY THREATENS FRANCE WITH SANCTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 14:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated official
Ankara may apply trade and other sanctions against France, if the
French Parliament adopts a law, providing for penalty for denial of
the Armenian Genocide. Erdogan noted France’s bill to criminalize
denial of the Armenian Genocide is related to its domestic political
issues. Erdogan said he met with representatives of French companies
operating in Turkey and added that they are also worried over the
current situation. Emphasizing that French President Jacques Chirac
also voiced his discomfort over the bill during their conversation
in Vienna, Erdogan said: “Chirac wants that the bill be decided by
the lower wing and should not be carried to Parliament. He said the
agenda of the French Parliament was already too busy.”

“Our patience continues up to a certain point. We want to reach an
agreement and we will continue to act with patience, but I don’t know
what will happen if this process in France continues. We are not in
the position of hostility; however, we can apply our own sanctions,”
Erdogan said. He said that a country that has considerable investments
in Turkey will of course be negatively affected with this kind of a
situation, reports the Zaman newspaper.

Discussion of the bill, which provides for a fine of 45 thousand
euros or imprisonment of 5 years for denial of the Armenian Genocide,
is planned May 18.

KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT “DEPENDS ON ENSURING DEMOCRACY IN ENTIRE OSCE SPACE”

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 15:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Austrian FM Ursula Plassnik stated that peaceful
settlement of frozen conflicts in Transnistria, Nagorno Karabakh and
South Ossetia “depends on ensuring democracy in entire OSCE space.”

The FM of Austria, which presides the EU, states it after a meeting
of the OSCE Troika led by organization Chairman-in-Office Karel de
Gucht. “Strengthening democracy is a basic precondition for lasting
peace,” Ursula Plassnik said, reports Mediamax.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY MAY RECOGNIZE “GENOCIDE COMMITTED BY FRANCE IN ALGERIA”

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 15:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In response to debates in the French Parliament on
a new bill for prosecution of persons openly denying the Armenian
Genocide, Turkey is seriously considering the possibility of
recognition of “a genocide committed by France in Algeria.” Among
scheduled steps is erection of a monument in one of districts
of Istanbul “in memory of victims of the genocide of peaceful
population in Algeria committed in the years of struggle for national
independence,” Trend reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN KEEPS TALKING TERROR LANGUAGE TO KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.05.2006 15:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hearings on the 15th anniversary of Koltso operation
for forced exile of Armenian population from Getashen and Martunashen
villages of Shahumyan region and Nagorno Karabakh were held at
the NKR Parliament. In NKR Speaker Ashot Gulyan’s words, Soviet
Azerbaijan authorities “organized and implemented an unprecedented
cruel military operation to exile Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh
and adjacent regions” in April-June 1991.

He also noted that Karabakh people’s struggle hampered implementation
of those plans. “Only a state structure could rebuff that policy,
which resulted in the establishment of the NKR in September 1991,”
he emphasized.

He spoke in favor of joining efforts of state structures and
competent persons to collect facts, confirming anti-Armenian policy
of Azerbaijan.

Hearing participants qualified Koltso operation as a terrorist action
by Azerbaijan. It was underscored that Azeri authorities are not only
responsible for the crimes, they also continue speaking terror language
to Nagorno Karabakh by threatening to solve Karabakh issue by force.

During Koltso operation of special destination detachments of the
Azeri Ministry of Interior, USSR Ministry of Interior troops and
detachments of the 23rd division of the Soviet Army 6030 persons from
24 villages were deported.

ROBOT IS IN SOCHI

Lragir.am
15 May 06

Relying on Russian sources, ARKA News Agency reports that a underwater
apparatus PT1000 with a special manipulator will be used to lift from
the sea bottom the black boxes of the Armenian A320, which crashed
near Sochi. The apparatus was created at the Russian State Scientific
Center of Southern Sea Geology. The experts of the center said the
apparatus is an underwater robot with remote control.

Minister of Transport of Russia Igor Levitin announced several days
ago that the lifting of the black boxes will begin on May 16 and will
last for 2-3 days. “The rest depends on the weather.” The robot was
transferred to Sochi on May 15.

RUSSIAN DUMA MEMBER SUGGESTS ESTABLISHING PARTY SIMILAR TO ARF

Yerkir
15.05.2006 14:08

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Dmitry Rogozin, the former leader of the Rodina
Party and a member of the Russian State Duma, called for establishing
a party in Russia similar to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

As reported by Yerkramas, a newspaper published by the Armenians of
southern Russia, Rogozin, speaking of a patriotic movement’s future
in Russia with a Russian online publication, said the example of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation could be useful.

“ARF has been the key anti-Turkish force during the genocide of the
Armenian people at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Armenians became
a ‘scattered’ nation but they had the ARF whose branches operated in
different countries.

There was an international bureau which made decisions on main issues,
there were creative, cultural and educational elites.”

TURKISH, AZERI DIASPORAS SHALL HELP TO DESTROY THE MYTH OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – TURKISH AMB TO AZERBAIJAN
Author: R. Abdullayev

TREND Info, Azerbaijan
May 15 2006

Turkey and Azerbaijan shall use diasporas more to prevent Armenians’
efforts to achieve global recognition of so-called Armenian
genocide of 1915 in Osman Empire, reportedly said Turan Morali,
Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, commenting French Senate discussed
law draft for prosecution of persons openly refusing to recognize
so-called Armenian genocide.

“We shall work not only at the level of governments but also among
public using our diasporas”,- Ambassador said, adding that Turkey
will do its best to prevent passing this law draft.

Morali reminded the recall of Turkish Ambassador from France and
stated his hope for stability of economic relations between the two
countries regardless of these steps taken.

THE FRENCH ATTITUDE TOWARDS ARMENIAN CLAIMS
Recep Guvelioglu

The New Anatolian, Turkey
May 15 2006

The French Parliament is set this Thursday to debate a bill to
criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian genocide. The one-article
bill aims to impose prison terms of up to one year and a 45,000 euro
fine for deniers of the so-called genocide claims. In France it’s
already an offense to deny the Holocaust of World War II.

France has been a haven for the Armenian diaspora for almost a
century. That’s why almost every French government, whether leftist
or rightist, has tried to be sympathetic to the diaspora to get
their votes. As a result, the French public has been influenced by
Armenian propaganda without questioning the case. In 1920, when Aram
Andonian published the so-called “Official Documents on the Armenian
Massacres” (Documents Officiels Concernant les Massacres Armeniens,
Imprimerie H. Turabian, Boulevard Raspall, 1920, Paris), the French
public accepted them as real evidence of an Armenian “genocide.” But
in the 1980s it was proven that the letters which are the basis of
the book’s claims were false and mere fabrication.

Even though French soldiers were eyewitnesses to the Mt. Musa incident,
exaggerations in the book “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” (Werfel
Franz; Die vierzig Tage des Musa Dagh, Paul Zsolnay Verlag A.G.,
1933, Berlin) were disregarded by the French. French administrations
have been proud of themselves for erecting genocide monuments. French
governments sometimes went too far, even supporting terrorists. They
supported the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia
(ASALA). But after an ASALA bomb blast in front of a Turkish Airlines
(THY) office at Orly Airport which claimed eight lives (four of them
French) and wounded 60 on July 15, 1983, and their occupation of the
Turkish Consulate General in which they murdered the security officer
and wounded the consul general, the French government realized that
supporting terrorism doesn’t help anything. There were many reasons
at the root of all this, but I would like to address four of them.

The first reason is classic Christian solidarity. The second was
quite interesting: The French government, during World War I,
like the Russians and British, provoked the Armenian quest for an
independent state just to dissolve the Ottoman Empire. But the French
didn’t help the Armenians after their revolt. To a certain extent the
French betrayed the Armenians. This isn’t my own idea; it’s found in
pro-Armenian books. Armenian villagers died not for their own cause,
but for the realization of the Alliance’s plans. They squeezed the
juice out of the orange and then threw it away. After the massive
Armenian immigration to France, the French government started
supporting them just to save face.

The third reason behind the French governments’ stance was and is to
gain leverage against Turkey. The fourth is to seek Armenian votes as
a part of domestic politics. I would like to make some comments on
the last reason. Many people think that the Armenian lobby is solid
and powerful in France. But it’s not. There are many French citizens
of Armenian origin who think that there have been falsifications in
the thesis of the “genocide” story. Because of oppression from the
diaspora’s leaders, these poor people haven’t been able to say anything
or reject some claims. Some of them think that a continuation of the
genocide claims won’t help anyone, especially the Armenian state,
where economic conditions are bad and the population is falling
rapidly. Some of them believe that the diaspora’s leaders are working
for some Armenian families which for the most part live in the U.S.,
and that their main cause is compensation from U.S. insurance companies
if Turkey accepts the “genocide.”

Now I’d like to ask the French legislators some questions. Do you
really believe that you’re going to secure all the Armenian votes if
you approve the bill?

How will you implement the bill? Are you considering creating a
sort of examination at the border gates to check at passport control
whether Turkish citizens above all believe in the Armenian “genocide”
or not? Do you believe that anti-Semitism is over because it’s a
crime to deny it in your law?

Which massacre would be the next to criminalize? That of the
Algerians? I’d like to take this opportunity to like to express my
humble gratitude to the Bulgarian Parliament for last week rejecting
a bill on “genocide” claims.

KORKMAZCAN: ALL PROPAGANDISTIC STEPS REGARDING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARE NOTHING BUT INHUMAN ACTS FOR AIDING AND ABETTING TERROR

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 15 2006

ANKARA – “All propagandistic steps regarding the so-called Armenian
genocide are nothing but inhuman acts for aiding and abetting terror,”
said Turkish Parliamentarians’ Union Chairman Hasan Korkmazcan
on Monday.

Holding a news conference about the draft law which will be debated by
the French parliament on May 18th and considers denial of the so-called
genocide a crime, Korkmazcan said, “Turkish-French friendly relations
will be put to test on May 18th. The Armenian lobby, which has limited
political impact in France, has launched a dirty campaign to defame
Turkey. Those who are behind this campaign, are, in fact, international
underground powers which directed the terrorist organization ASALA.”

“A number of western countries have committed such crimes against
humanity since 1974. The draft is an assassination of the humanity’s
struggle throughout the history for freedom of scientific research
and expression. We call on French parliamentarians not to ignore a
500-year history for the sake of 3-5 thousand bloody votes,” he said.

Korkmazcan added, “if our warnings are ignored, the Turkish parliament
will make several arrangements about ‘active response’ and make
several decisions.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US AMB OF AZERBAIJAN NOMINEE AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL RESOLUTION

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 15 2006

Senator Sarbanes submits questions for the hearing record Washington,
DC – During her Senate confirmation hearing today, Ambassador-designate
Anne Derse reiterated U.S. policy for a peaceful, mutually acceptable
resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, stating that “a return
to violence would be a tragedy.”

Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), a senior member of the Foreign Relations
Committee, submitted a series of questions for the record, including
the government of Azerbaijan’s continuing war rhetoric and other
bellicose actions taken against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Specifically, the Senator inquired about the impact of such acts
on the Karabakh peace process, and what steps will be taken to end
Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of Armenia.

Further, he addressed Azerbaijan’s attempts to isolate Armenia via a
proposed railway that would connect Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey,
but not traverse Armenia. The Senator also raised questions regarding
the decision of the Administration to provide asymmetrical military
assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as on Azerbaijan’s
human rights record. “The Assembly commends Senator Sarbanes for
his outstanding leadership on these issues of great significance,”
said Assembly Board of Trustees Executive Committee Member Annie Totah.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard G. Lugar (R-IN)
asked Derse about the status of the Karabakh issue and her general
assessment of democracy in the Azerbaijan. Lugar added that Azerbaijan
will not reach its full potential if the rule of law is not improved.

Derse responded that if confirmed, she will work toward expanding and

strengthening U.S.-Azerbaijan security cooperation and help promote
democracy and governance. She said a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict is critical to achieving this goal and expressed
hope that President of Armenia Robert Kocharian and President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will work together on this issue.

She further stated that as Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, the U.S. will
also urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to remain engaged in the process and
demonstrate political courage. Derse also expressed her commitment
to work with both countries towards a peaceful resolution.

>”We appreciate Ambassador-designate Derse’s intentions to promote
democracy in Azerbaijan and the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict,” said Totah. “But the Nagorno Karabakh problem calls
for the full commitment of the United States to require Azerbaijan
to end its threats of renewed warfare and to defend the right of the
population of Nagorno Karabakh to determine its political future
through a democratic government of their free choice. Regional
security, economic prosperity, and peace will be possible only if
these principles are followed.”

On the issue of good governance, Derse stressed the importance of
a genuine effort by Azerbaijan to respect human rights in order to
pursue democratic reform and ensure long-term political stability.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress