Author: Frangulian Shushan

AZG Armenian Daily #075, 27/04/2005
Armenian Genocide
WILL ARMENIANS AND TURKS EVER COME TO TERMS?
24% Said Yes, 33% Said No
The issue of the Armenian Genocide arouses painful feelings in 40% of
Armenian citizens, revenge in 21%, hatred in 18%, hostility in 11.5%, pity
in 5% and sense of guilt in 2%.
53% of Armenians consider human loss the greatest calamity of the Genocide,
23% sees the land loss as such, 7% the loss of national spirit and will, 4%
the loss of intelligentsia.
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) conducted
a public poll opinion among 1900 citizens in all regions of Armenia on the
eve of Armenian Genocide’s 90th anniversary. They asked 40 questions. Stepan
Safarian, ACNIS research coordinator, presented poll’s results yesterday. We
have rounded up the numbers.
61% of respondents views the Turkish state as the ultimate responsible
authority for the Genocide, 55% the Young Turks, 30% Germany, 23% Turkish
people, 13% the Russian Empire, 10% Armenian traditional political parties.
“Is today’s Turkey responsible for the Genocide?” 81% gave positive answer,
8% negative. Speaking of modern Turkey and its people 63% of respondents
said that “Turks remains Turks and capable of committing genocide”, 29% said
that “Turkish official policy and a common Turk are different things”, 7%
think that “nowaday Turks are not the barbarians of early 20th century”.
93.5% thinks that Armenia has to demand reparations from Turkey. The next
question was “What kind of reparation do you expect?” 27% said that Turkey
has to officially recognize the Genocide, apologize, become civilized and
put down all means of Genocide negation. 20% wants to see the territories of
Western Armenian back.
25% stands for Turkey’s accession to the EU, 52% is against it, 23% was hard
to answer. On the other hand, 62% thinks that the Genocide recognition
should be put as a precondition before Turkey.
“Do you agree with Armenia’s position of establishing bilateral relations
with Turkey without preconditions but with the pursuance of Genocide’s
international recognition?” 40% agreed, 29% did not and 31% could not
answer.
The public opinion poll showed that the majority of Armenia’s population
still continues subconsciously to perceive Turkey’s western regions as
Western Armenia. Answering the question “Where the Armenian Genocide took
place?”, 76% said in Western Armenia, 19% said in the Ottoman Empire.
By Tatoul Hakobian

Reuters Alert, UK
April 26 2005
Armenia conditionally backs genocide probe idea
26 Apr 2005 18:22:05 GMT
Source: Reuters

YEREVAN, April 26 (Reuters) – The president of ex-Soviet Armenia on
Tuesday conditionally backed a Turkish proposal to set up a joint
commission to investigate claims of mass genocide of Armenians 90
years ago.
Robert Kocharyan said the proposal would work only if better
relations were first established between Turkey and his country of
3.2 million lying on its eastern border.
The neighbours share a border but no diplomatic ties.
Armenia wants Ankara to recognise as genocide the killing of 1.5
million Armenians between 1915 and 1923. Armenians say their kin were
systematically exterminated by Ottoman Turkey’s rulers during and
soon after World War One.
Ankara says there was no plan to wipe out Armenians and that they
were victims of a war, not genocide.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has suggested opening up the
countries’ state archives for experts from both countries to resolve
the issue, which is casting a shadow over Ankara’s ambitions to join
the European Union.
“We have proposed and continue to propose establishing, without any
preconditions, normal relations between our countries,” Kocharyan
wrote in reply to the Turkish plan.
“It is precisely in this context that an inter-governmental
commission can be created to discuss any single question between our
two countries or all questions with the goal of solving them and
achieving joint understanding.”
Turkey shut its border with Armenia in 1993 and cut diplomatic ties
in solidarity with Azerbaijan which was fighting a war with the
Armenians over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Kocharyan added: “Your proposal to address the past cannot be
effective if it doesn’t relate to the present and future.”
Turkey’s Oct. 3 start date for talks on EU membership has put the
dispute firmly on the political agenda. France, home to an
influential 400,000-strong Armenian community, has promised to seek a
Turkish admission of genocide.
Erdogan, addressing an Istanbul conference, repeated his criticism of
politicians in Europe and North America who backed the Armenian
demands, saying their stance would “stoke resentment and hatred, not
be a basis for peace in the world”.
“If we have to face up to our history, we will do so. But other
countries must also face up to the same history,” he said.

TURKEY MUST REPENT
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
25 April 05
Each Armenian, in whichever part of the world he lives, at the bottom
of his heart keeps the undying memory of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide. On these days it is the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. In my opinion, it is not only a day of commemoration of the
innocent victims but also a day for drawing an important lesson from
the history and bringing together all the Armenians around the idea of
homeland. We are glad that the number of countries condemning the
Genocide is growing, thereby making the international community
understand that it was a crime perpetrated not only against the
Armenians but against humanity. It was the worst action against the
mankind and the global civilization. I think that the present
authorities of the Republic of Armenia have also had their great
contribution to this. Today Turkey does not intend to recognize the
Genocide, whereas it is also necessary for this country and its
people. Moreover, if the parliament of any country puts forward the
question of recognizing the Armenian genocide, the threats of official
Ankara follow immediately. It is absurd that after imposing a heavy
blockade on Armenia and backing Azerbaijan Turkey tries to act as a
mediator in the Karabakh â=80` Azerbaijani talks. Nevertheless, I am
convinced that the time when the international organizations will
oblige Turkey to repent will come soon.
ARTEM ABRAHAMIAN.
25-04-2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
KIEVYAN BRIDGE TO CLOSE FOR 4 MONTHS
25.04.2005 07:50
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ From April 26 the traffic on the Kievyan Bridge will be
suspended for four months, head of the department of construction and
municipal economy Ashot Sargsian told journalists today. In his words, major
repairs totaling in 380 million AMD will be carried out. Head of the
municipal transport department Tigran Ghazarian informed that 5 mini-buses
(N3, 27, 28, 40a and 90) will follow the route along the Tsitsernakaderd
Hill. The routes of the other mini-buses will lie along the Davidashen
Bridge. Mini-buses N18 and 64 will go along Orbeli Street. Besides, the
route terminal of mini-buses N58 and 66, which started from Barekamutyun
subway station, will be prolonged to the Hrazdan Bridge. To note, the
Kievyan Bridge has never undergone thorough repairs since it was put into
operation in 1950.

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
23 avril 2005
Il y a 90 ans débutait le génocide arménien
Il y a 90 ans débutait dans l’empire ottoman le génocide arménien,
qui allait se poursuivre jusqu’en 1917, au cours duquel plus d’1,5
million de personnes allaient trouver la mort selon les Arméniens,
entre 250.000 et 500.000 selon les Turcs.
A la fin du XIXe siècle : las de subir le joug ottoman depuis le XVIe
siècle, des comités révolutionnaires arméniens s’étaient constitués,
provoquant une répression sanglante entre 1894 et 1909 (200.000
morts).
La défaite de la guerre des Balkans (1912-1913) devait ensuite
affaiblir considérablement l’empire ottoman. Mais, en octobre 1914,
l’empire ottoman entre dans la Première Guerre mondiale, au côté de
l’Allemagne et de l’Autriche-Hongrie.
Le 24 avril 1915, des milliers de dirigeants arméniens suspects de
sentiments nationaux hostiles au gouvernement central sont arrêtés.
La population arménienne d’Anatolie et de Cilicie (région intégrée à
la Turquie en 1921), appelée « l’ennemi intérieur », est exilée de
force vers les déserts de Mésopotamie.
L’Empire ottoman sera démantelé en 1920, deux ans après la création
d’un État indépendant arménien en mai 1918.
La Turquie reconnaît aujourd’hui que des massacres ont été perpétrés
et que de nombreux Arméniens sont morts lors de leur déportation.
Le génocide arménien a été reconnu le 29 août 1985 par la
sous-commission des droits de l’homme de l’ONU, puis le 18 juin 1987
par le Parlement européen. Quatre millions et demi d’Arméniens vivent
dans le monde aujourd’hui.

[Congressional Record: April 22, 2005 (Extensions)]
[Page E745]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr22ap05-54]

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 90TH ANNIVERSARY
______

HON. ERIC CANTOR
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, April 24th marks the anniversary of one of
the most horrible tragedies of the 20th century, the genocide that was
committed against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire. Over one
million people were forced into exile and lost their lives during this
horrible tragedy that befell the Armenian people in 1915.
The United States is proud of the strong ties we share with Armenia.
Over the years many Armenian-Americans have helped to enrich and
enhance our Nation’s character; we have remained committed to peace in
the region and will continue to help Armenia with its economic
prosperity and strengthening of its democracy.
On this day of remembrance I send my solemn wishes to Armenians
everywhere. I look forward to our nations working toward a future of
peace, prosperity, and continued freedom.

Financial Times (London, England)
April 22, 2005 Friday
London Edition 1
Turkey challenges genocide ‘fraud’ UK ARMENIA DOCUMENT
By VINCENT BOLAND
ANKARA
The Turkish parliament was yesterday preparing to ask the UK to
repudiate a historical document that is considered to form the basis
of the claim that Armenians were victims of genocide by Ottoman Turks
during the first world war.
The initiative comes on the eve of Sunday’s 90th anniversary
commemorations among Armenians of what they regard as the start of
the massacre of up to 1.5m people.
The move is likely to exacerbate the bitter dispute between Turks and
Armenians. Supporters of the Armenian cause, particularly in France,
are lobbying for the European Union to delay the start of Turkey’s
accession talks for EU membership until Turkey acknowledges a
“systematic extermination” in 1915.
Turkish MPs completed and signed a letter to both houses of the UK
parliament arguing that the document was “a fraud based on
fabrications, half truths and biased reports and perceptions” of what
happened and “a masterpiece of propaganda and tool of deception”.
The document, The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
1915-1916, was written by the British historian Arnold Toynbee and
included in a publication known as the Blue Book, by Viscount Bryce,
a British diplomat. It was an official Westminster document, which is
why the Turkish parliament wants the House of Commons and House of
Lords to act.
Turkey rejects the charge of genocide. It insists that the true death
toll among Armenians was about 600,000 and that many died from the
effects of civil war, starvation and deportation. It says the deaths
of hundreds of thousands of Turks at the time are overlooked.
The letter, which was made available yesterday by the Turkish
parliament in the original Turkish and in English translation, will
be sent to London imminently.
The letter says British propaganda in the first world war aimed to
portray the destruction of the Ottoman Empire as a key aim of the
war, to “render British colonialism in Anatolia and Mesopotamia
palatable”, and to encourage the US to join the Allied side. The
Ottoman Empire collapsed into many nations after the war. Its
Anatolian heartland is now Turkey.
The British embassy in Ankara declined to comment on the letter. Some
Turkish historians say the document has stood the test of time;
others say Mr Toynbee later distanced himself from its findings,
which were based on eyewitness accounts.
The official UK position is that the massacres were “an appalling
tragedy” but that the evidence is not “sufficiently unequivocal” to
categorise them as genocide under the 1948 United Nations Convention
on Genocide.
The letter is the initiative of Turkey’s main opposition People’s
Republican party, which has shaped Ankara’s longstanding opposition
to any official acceptance of the genocide claim. Diplomats said it
appeared to be an attempt to prevent the ruling Justice and
Development party from diverging from that policy.

PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIAN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
ARMENIAN HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION OF THE BAY AREA
ARMENIAN MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
Host the “9th Armenian Medical World Congress” (AMWC)
Tel: (650)940-1122
(650)325-7207
Fax: (650) 940-1089
Email: [email protected]
Web:
CONVENTION FOR MEDICAL / HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS:
The Armenian Healthcare Association of the Bay Area will present the
9th Armenian Medical World Congress, to be held at the Fairmont Hotel
in San Francisco from Wednesday, June 29 through Saturday July 2,
2005. The Congress will feature new developments in diabetes, heart
disease, mental health and other specialties as well as cover ongoing
healthcare projects in Armenia.
According to Dr Jerry Manoukian, Congress Chairman, approximately
400-500 participants are expected from the US, Canada, Europe, Armenia
and South America. Keynote speakers will include the Ministers of
Health of Armenia and the Republic of Karabagh.
This convention of Armenian physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists
and other healthcare personnel will follow the 8th Congress, held
in 2001 in Toronto, and the 1st International Medical Congress of
Armenia, held in 2003. These meetings have been coordinated through
the efforts of the Armenian Medical International Committee (AMIC),
and have been held in North America, Europe, and Lebanon.
Information about the Congress, as well as registration and associated
social events (gala dinne dance, cruise and wine country tour),
can be downloaded from
> ======================================================================
>
> 9TH Armenian Medical World Congress
> San Francisco 2005
>
> ARMENIAN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
> ARMENIAN HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION OF THE BAY AREA
> ARMENIAN MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
>
> EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
>
> JERRY MANOUKIAN, MD
> Chairman
>
> JOHN MISSIRIAN, MD
> Vice-Chairman
>
> JOHN POOCHIGIAN, MD
> Secretary
>
> AGHEG YENIKOMSHIAN, MD
> Treasurer
>
> KRIKOR SOGHIKIAN, MD
> Chair, Scientific Committee
>
> ADVISORS
>
> JACK ASLANIAN, MD
>
> SALPY AKARAGIAN, RN, MN
>
> TONY BASTIAN, Dpharm
>
> CAROLINE CHADERJIAN, MHA
>
> ARMEN CHERIC, MD
> President, AAMSC, Liaison
>
> JANIG HALEBLIAN, PhD
>
> JACK KOUMJIAN, DDS
>
> MARIAM MANOUKIAN, MD, PhD
>
> RUZANNA OHANJANIAN, PhD
>
> JACK SAROYAN, DDS
>
> The 9amwc Committee

Armenian cemetery demolition stopped after injunction
By Leo Leonidou
Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
April 22 2005
ALL demolition work at the Armenian Cemetery near the Ledra Palace
Hotel in Nicosia has been stopped after the Ministry of the Interior
took out an injunction to stop the work.
The Armenian Prelature last week started digging up graves, as part
of their plans to put remains together in a new communal pit in the
new Armenian Cemetery in Deftera, on the outskirts of the capital.
Bedros Kalaydjian, parliamentary representative of the Armenian
community in the House of Representatives, said “the demolition was
carried out by unprofessional people, which was hurtful to the memory
of the deceased.”
He went on to say that the cemetery “was declared a heritage site by
the Interior Ministry last June, meaning no work could be done without
their permission. But the Church committee started work without having
the required permit from the Ministry’s Town Planning Committee. The
Church were not aware of the cemetery’s status as a heritage site
and were not aware of the need to secure a permit. There was uproar
in the Armenian community because demolition started without their
knowledge. It is only fair and democratic that the community are kept
informed of what is going on.”
A meeting took place on Wednesday evening between the Prelature,
Kalaydjian and Green Party leader, George Perdikis, to discuss the
matter, where the Prelature agreed to stop the work. “I am very
satisfied that work has been stopped,” said Perdikis. “The Prelature
admitted that they were in the wrong and we will now keep a close
eye on future developments.
“At Wednesday’s meeting, the Church Council decided to send out
circulars to members of the Armenian community, inviting them to the
Prelature for an open discussion on the matter in a couple of weeks,”
Kalaydjian said. “Nothing further will happen until then.”
It is believed the Prelature was planning to make the land available
for redevelopment after work finished, but Kalaydjian said “there is
no clear future master plan. The cemetery’s future will be discussed
with the public.”
The cemetery contains the remains of Armenians who lived and worked
in Nicosia from the 18th century until 1931.
There are approximately 2,500 Armenians living in Cyprus, in addition
to the 500 non-Cypriot Armenians that work on the island.

MERZLYAKOV: OSCE MG DOES NOT URGE ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO CONCESSIONS
Pan Armenian News
21.04.2005 06:10
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov
stated that private meetings with FMs will give an impetus to soonest
settlement of the conflict. He noted that the MG does not urge Armenia
and Azerbaijan to an agreement based on concessions. In his words,
the international mediators have called the parties to observe norms
relating to the cease-fire regime. «We did not make any statements
on readiness to compromises. We have urged them to solve the conflict
via peace talks. If we look through the document, you will see we
urged Azerbaijan and Armenia not to break their commitments over
strengthening of the cease-fire regime, not to make statements
that negatively tell on the settlement process,» Yu. Merzlyakov
noted. The Russian diplomat also stated the format of the negotiations
between the foreign ministers with participation of the co-chairs has
changed. He noted that the goal of the mediators’ private meetings
with ministers is the soonest and final clarification of the details
of the conflict. «We want to discuss the details of the problem with
both parties, as when holding the joint meetings with both Ministers
the Co-Chairs cannot attain discussion of small details. E.g. to clear
out the available problems holding private talks with the ministers
is more favorable,» he added. The Russian Co-Chair said that already
now – a month before the recurrent meeting of the Azeri and Armenian
Presidents, the Co-Chairs are ready to bring their point of view over
some issues to the notice of the state leaders.
–Boundary_(ID_mo/ZGm1tgMbixZCtdHxsZw)–