ARMENIAN LEADER STARTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO FRANCE
Arminfo
17 Feb 07
Yerevan, 17 February: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan left for
France on a four-day official visit today, the presidential press
service has told Arminfo.
Kocharyan will meet French President Jacques Chirac in Paris. He
will also meet French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, National
Assembly President Jean-Louis Debre and Senate President Christian
Poncelet.
[Passage omitted: more on the schedule of the visit]
U.S. SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ HONORED AS ANC-NJ MAN OF THE YEAR
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 19 2007
YEREVAN. February 19. /ARKA/. American Senator Robert Menendez was
honoured as the Man of the Year by the Armenian National Committee of
New Jersey, the division of the Armenian National Committee of America.
The press service of ANCA reported that at the award ceremony ANCA CEO
Aram Hamparian pointed out the senator’s contribution to expanding
the Armenian-American ties, his devotion to the proper recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, and his protests against the unfair recall
of U.S. ex-Ambassador to Armenia John Evans.
In his talk, he made remarks stating that despite the denial of this
fact by the Turkish Government, despite the current Administration’s
position, "we know, we know, the atrocities committed between 1915
and 1923 in Ottoman Turkey constitute genocide".
The elegant program was attended by a cross-section of Armenian
American leaders from the New York metropolitan area, Church leaders
representing Armenian Apostolic, Evangelical, and Catholic communities,
and, from the Republic of Armenia, a very special guest, the Honorable
Vahan Hovhannisyan, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament.
He said that he intends to continue blocking Richard Hoagland’s
nomination for the post of ambassador to Armenia, because he also
adheres to the policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide.
The Senate put hold on the nomination of Richard Hoagland as U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia twice by the efforts of the Armenian lobby and
Senator Robert Menendez. The Armenian Diaspora of the USA also does
not support Hoagland’s nomination, because he does not recognize the
Armenian Genocide that took place in Ottoman Turkey.
Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
Feb 16 2007
Azerbaijan may quit talks, as Armenia reneges
by Ali Verdiyev
BAKU – Baku may break off peace talks with neighboring Armenia over
the occupied Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh unless Yerevan
sticks to previous agreements, a top Azerbaijani diplomat has said.
`I want to tell the Armenian side that there is no use continuing
negotiations at all if they are not based on previous agreements,’
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov warned on Monday. Azimov, also
the Azerbaijani president’s envoy for the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, was commenting to the media on the recent
meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Elmar
Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan, in Moscow as part of a further round
of negotiations to resolve the 19-year-old conflict.
Azerbaijan and Armenia reached a ceasefire in 1994 to end the
bloodshed that had lasted for almost six years and claimed thousands
of lives. The Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven
adjacent districts were occupied by Armenia, while almost a million
Azerbaijani civilians were driven out of those areas in the wake of
the conflict. Yerevan is still demanding independence for the
separatist region, but Baku says it is ready to grant the highest
level of self-administration to Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan’s
borders.
`On some issues Vardan Oskanyan expressed a position which totally
contradicted the discussions that have been underway for the past two
years. It was about the return of ethnic Azerbaijanis to
Nagorno-Karabakh and the use of the road through Lachin,’ Azimov told
journalists.
Lachin is a key occupied Azerbaijani district connecting Armenia with
Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia is reportedly refusing to use the Lachin
corridor jointly with Azerbaijan. `This [stand] is not constructive.
Yerevan must know that Azerbaijan will never agree to Lachin being
controlled by Armenia,’ Azimov said, pointing out that the only
possibility is joint use of the corridor.
`The overland connection between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is
feasible only if the Lachin corridor is jointly used with respect for
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,’ he said. `If the Armenians want
to make progress in the determination of the legal status of
Nagorno-Karabakh, they must understand that it is impossible without
the return of the Azerbaijani community to Karabakh. Conditions
should be established for the security of ethnic Azerbaijanis in
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian troops should be withdrawn from the
region,’ Azimov concluded. The Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister
described the Moscow meeting of the foreign ministers as `a step
backwards’. It is difficult to predict how the peace talks will
proceed because of the `very tough position’ of the Armenian foreign
minister, Azimov said.
However, some analysts believe that Yerevan may be backpedaling on
previous agreements made in talks with Azerbaijan because of the
coming parliamentary elections in Armenia in May this year.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, on the contrary, does
not think that the elections in Armenia may represent an obstacle to
continuing the peace talks. `Various elections are held in most
countries. But it does not mean that the negotiation process must be
stopped,’ the Azerbaijani minister told local news portal Day.az.
`The sides must have the political will to resolve the Karabakh
conflict’, he added. The importance of having the political will was
also stressed last week by Matthew Bryza, a US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, a mediating team led by US, French and Russian
diplomats to resolve the Karabakh conflict.
`The parliamentary elections are forthcoming in Armenia and we need
to be very careful. I think that the problem is not in the Minsk
Group, but in the relations between the [two] countries,’ Bryza said.
As time ticks away, Armenia finds itself more isolated in the region
and sidelined by almost all major energy and communication projects,
something that many believe will eventually bring Yerevan to the
brink of accepting Azerbaijan’s proposals for resolving the Karabakh
conflict. Having yielded all of its energy enterprises to Russia and
accommodating Russian military bases on its territory, Armenia is
still dependent on Russia both economically and militarily.
Thus, Baku is making it clear that it is not going to tolerate any of
Armenia’s `whims’, by which it is often accused of trying to torpedo
peace talks which have been going on for a decade. Experts say that
the pressure on Armenia will keep growing as Azerbaijan is becoming a
major player in the region. Backed by oil revenues and lucrative
transport and energy infrastructures, such as the recently confirmed
Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars railroad project, Azerbaijan is gaining more
weight regionally and will soon be able to dictate its terms to
Armenia, experts believe.
OhmyNews International, South Korea
Feb 16 2007
The Decline and Fall of Tony Blair
[Opinion] The barbarians are pounding on the gates
Mike Cunningham (Mike66)
Consider the spread of possibly the greatest empire ever to straddle
the known world! In the days of the caesars, the very stride of the
Roman legions put fear into their enemies, and gave hope to those
under their protection. From Hadrian’s wall in the north of Britain,
to Egypt’s burning sands; from the wine harvest of Hispania to the
olive groves of Armenia, the rule of law was that of Rome, and the
rules were handed down by those same caesars!
Not for nothing was the proud boast made that a Roman could walk the
length and breadth of that empire, cloaked only in the famous words,
"Civitas Romanus." I am a Roman citizen!
The knowledge of certain death was enough to stay the hands of
brigands, outlaws or thieves who would disturb the peaceful progress
of that same citizen, because the empire promised, and the empire
always made good on its promises!
If the will of the reigning caesar was to institute a water system
which delivered plentiful arable growth to an area, woe betide the
fools who tampered with the acqueducts. The empire rolled forward,
but the decline began with the senate, who took office for what they
might gain, instead of how they might serve. It continued with the
elevation to emperor of those who were simply either unworthy, mad or
totally venal.
The empire fell when Rome was unable to resist the onslaughts of the
barbarian hordes in a hundred different places, and under a thousand
different rulers!
Fast forward some 2,000 years, and view the tattered remnants of the
rule of Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland. Once astride the victorious body politic, with a massive
majority in parliament, with a cabinet solidly behind his every move;
with an opposition rent with discord and disharmony, unable to give
any rein whatsoever to an unstoppable march to further the aims of
New Labour, and with a second term won in a walk, he seemed to
literally "have it all!"
With an economic stance seemingly firmly based in the concrete of
"good governance," husbanded by a fellow Scot (Chancellor Gordon
Brown) whose nickname was "Prudence," his government delivered on
promise after promise.
With the virtual privatization of the Bank of England as a
cornerstone, his government was seen to have delivered on low
inflation, on unemployment, on medical care! But the cracks started
to show early, with a revolt against a plan to freeze "single parent"
benefits, and the revolts, plots and cabals only increased in both
number and virulence as the years rolled by.
He pushed through devolved government for Scotland and Wales, and saw
the day dawn when he must have bitterly regretted his move. The
upstart Scottish National party seems unstoppable in its path towards
a majority, and a fresh search for independence from the United
Kingdom.
His work towards an devolved government, and accomodation with a
bunch of terrorists in Northern Ireland broke down when the
largely-Protestant D.U.P. refused to share power with SinnFein/IRA,
and the devolved Assembly sat dormant for over two years. There are
plans to resurrect it, but don’t hold your breath.
His friends, who were given preference, made blatant and grave
mistakes, but he kept them on, because he couldn’t rid himself of
those whom he trusted. His government was characterized by "spin" or
propaganda. The "message" was placed above all; and his own press
secretary only resigned because he became better known than his
master. His transport secretary’s spin doctor was forced to resign
after sending out an email suggesting that the government should take
advantage of the Sept. 11 crisis to bury any controversial decisions.
He delayed the British General Election due to the onslaught of a
cattle disease known as "foot-and-mouth," and saw his government
roundly condemned for its’ shambling approach to the problem, which
cost Britain over ?’4.8 billion ($9.3 billion), and its meat markets
within Europe possibly forever.
He signed Britain up to join the coalition which invaded Afghanistan,
and the Taliban crumbled like breadcrumbs. Mission accomplished. But
then he joined with George Bush on an ill-fated expedition to conquer
Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.
Now in itself, the invasion was well done. But the bean-counters
tried to do things on the cheap, so there were never enough soldiers
(with guns) on the ground, the Iraqi Army was disbanded against all
good advice, the Americans removed all the Baa’thists from power who
knew where everything was, and we see the results to this day, with
civil war just around the corner.
His government then heard bitter criticism of the intelligence upon
which the Iraq war was waged, and a senior scientist, Dr. David Kelly
was "outed" by the government and committed suicide. The enquiry
which followed this death cleared the government of wrongdoing, but
it (the enquiry) was widely viewed as a whitewash.
Blair’s problems increased at this point as he had made a "pact" with
his chancellor that he would resign mid-term, and let Gordon Brown
take the reins. Unfortunately, Blair wasn’t for resigning, and
"Gordon’s poison brew" commenced living next door at No. 11 Downing
Street.
The Iraq survey group decides that the intelligence which was relied
upon before the invasion was faulty, and that Iraq never had
possessed "Weapons of Mass Destruction," but Blair once again refused
to resign!
His third General Election saw his majority slashed to 66, and this
has dogged his steps ever since, mainly because the Labour Party
"awkward squad" number around 40, so he has to tread very warily if
he wants to avoid defeats inflicted by his own party.
His party loses a by-election in Dunfermline, the first in over 20
years. He lost more cabinet ministers, mainly due to stupidity rather
than misconduct, but retained his own deputy’s services, despite
stripping him of virtually all jobs, after news of sexual misconduct
with his blonde secretary. He nearly lost his job last autumn, when a
Labour Party "putsch" fizzled rather than fired, but was grievously
wounded in the political fallout. He eventually confirmed that he
would resign, but didn’t say when. Naturally, that became the "story"
rather than anything else, and so he became more embattled by
default.
His next, and some would say worst, travail began when allegations
surfaced regarding the "loans for peerage" scandal. Labour Party
donors were alleged to have been promised seats in the House of
Lords, or other preferment, after "lending" large sums of money. He
has been awarded the rather dubious honour of being the first serving
prime minister in British history to be interviewed twice by the
police, albeit not under caution, and further revelations are
expected soon.
Blair’s enemies are circling, and he doesn’t know where the next blow
will fall.
The shine, so apparent in the smile of 10 years ago, has worn off,
and we see the dull false metal underneath!
view.asp?article_class=3&no=345749&rel_no= 1
February 16, 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: <;
CLERGY CONFERENCE OF THE PRELACIES
OF NORTH AMERICA AND CANADA
February 12-14, 2007
Each year on the occasion of the Feast of St. Ghevont, which is
also a celebration of clergy, it has become a tradition for our Prelacies to
organize a clergy conference. Moreover, every two years the three Prelacies
of North America and Canada come together to hold a joint clergy conference
with the participation of the Prelates and clergy members of the three
Prelacies. This year, the Western Prelacy hosted the three-day joint clergy
conference from February 12-14, 2007, under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of
the Eastern U.S.A., and H.E. Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of Canada.
The main topic of discussion was challenges facing the Armenian Church and
Clergy in the Western world in the 21st century.
The conference, with the theme "The Zeal of Clergy", convened on
the afternoon of Monday, February 12th, at the "Ghazarian" Hall adjacent to
Forty Martyrs Church in Orange County, with the reading of the letter of
blessing of H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia and His
message to the participants on this occasion. Following welcoming remarks by
the host parish pastor and board of trustees representative, the three
Prelates offered their remarks and encouragement to the participants.
The meeting began with Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian being
elected as Chair of the divan and Rev. Nareg Terterian as Secretary. Over
the three day period, pastoral and spiritual concerns were discussed, as
well as issues relating to Christian Education. Among the items on the
agenda also was the discussion of topics raised at the Youth Gathering with
Aram Vehapar which took place from December 1-3, 2006. Alongside meetings,
morning and evening church services were also offered during the conference.
On Monday evening, the eve of the Feast of St. Ghevont, Holy Mass was
conducted at Forty Martyrs Church by H.G. Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, who
also delivered the sermon. Following Mass, requiem service was offered for
the souls of departed clergy from the three Prelacies. Among those in
attendance were guest clergy members Father Johanna Ibrahim of the Coptic
Orthodox Church, and Father John Monestera and Secretary Mrs. Irma Contrera
of the Catholic Church.
On the morning of Tuesday, February 13th, students from A.G.
Minassian School attended morning church services and later had the
opportunity to be photographed with the clergy members. In the evening, the
eve of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple was celebrated with Holy
Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale, where Archbishop Khajag Hagopian
delivered the sermon. Homenetmen scouts also participated in the service.
Following church services, the parish Board of Trustees and Ladies Auxiliary
had organized a reception at the "Armenak Der Bedrossian" Hall.
On the morning of Wednesday, February 14th, clergy members
visited the new Prelacy Building where morning services took place at the
Sts. Dertad and Ashkhen Chapel, followed by a visit to V. & A. Chamlian
School where the students had organized an assembly in honor of Vartanants.
The Prelate commended the students and administration, and presented the
principal with a memento.
The conference, which offered the participants the chance to
renew their spiritual responsibilities and their will to serve our faithful,
concluded on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 14th.
PanARMENIAN.Net
U.S. eyes Caucasus as next stage of NATO enlargement
16.02.2007 16:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The U.S. and EU view the South
Caucasus not only as an energy supplier but also as a
transit region allowing to transport hydrocarbon from
Central Asia to world markets bypassing Russia and
Iran,’ political observer of the strategic culture
foundation Alexander Krylov says. `Successful
functioning of new energy corridors built by the
United States and EU is impossible without settlement
of some pressing problems. First of all it’s
maintenance of stability and counteraction to attempts
of resumption of large-scale hostilities in conflict
zones. Besides, the West needs to prevent
destabilization in transit states – Azerbaijan and
Georgia.
When the military stage was over in early 1990-ies,
the conflicts entered the `frozen’ stage that
initiated negotiation processes under the aegis of the
UN and other international organizations. The talks
did not reconcile the sides. Moreover, the problem of
the not recognized states tends to aggravate.
Reduction of Russian military presence and active
penetration of the U.S., EU and NATO in the region may
change the balance of forces.
Washington is not going to abandon Caucasus
rearrangement plans. Integration of three South
Caucasian states and pushing Russia out of the region
is a priority. At that accession of the republics to
the EU is not supposed even theoretically, since it’s
NATO that should become the main tool of the Euro
Atlantic integration. Washington eyes the Caucasus as
the next stage of NATO enlargement and simultaneous
accession of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia is
supposed to be the best variant.
The current U.S. administration prescribes a bit part
for Russia in the forthcoming rearrangement of
Caucasus and uses local allies for the purpose by
rendering political and financial support.
Russia’s only real strategic partner in the South
Caucasus is Armenia that builds its foreign policy by
the principle of balance between different military
and political blocs whose interests immediately
concern the Caucasus. Yerevan pursues a pro-Russian
policy, since it’s best of all meets the republic’s
interests at the current stage,’ Krylov says, reports
New Region.
PROSPEROUS ARMENIA WARNS AGAINST VOTE RIGGING
Armenpress
Feb 15 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: Gagik Tsarukian, head of the
Prosperous Armenia party, who arguably boasts Armenia’s largest
fortune, issued today a thinly veiled warning against attempts to
rig the May 12 parliamentary elections, saying his party will defend
every ballot that will cast in its favor.
Addressing hundreds of delegates convened for the party’s extraordinary
conference Tsarukian ruled out an election alliance saying the
Prosperous Armenia will fight for seats in the National Assembly alone.
"We are getting prepared for elections realizing our strength and
with a strong trust in our supporters and standing prepared for free
and clean vote and for fair political competition. We respect our
rivals and are ready to join efforts for the sake of clean and just
vote. This is the only way, others will lead to complete collapse of
Armenia’s political system," he said.
Gagik Tsarukian said his Prosperous Armenia has now the muscle to win
the elections and assume responsibility for governing the country. The
Prosperous Armenia was formally established last year.
Some local newspapers quoted senior members of the party as saying
that it has already recruited as many as 400,000 members, or nearly
one fifth of the country’s 2.3 million eligible voters.
Critics accuse the Prosperous Armenia’s leader of capitalizing on the
vulnerable sections of population to promote his populist appeal and
describe his provision of agricultural aid, free medical care and other
public services to low-income people across the country as vote-buying.
THERE ARE NO DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA AND
"PROSPEROUS ARMENIA" PARTY, SPOKESMAN FOR ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. "There are no disagreements among
representatives of the authorities, and the Republican Party of
Armenia and the "Prosperous Armenia" Party". Spokesman for the
Armenian President Victor Soghomonian stated this in an interview to
the newspaper "Hayots Ashkharh" ("Armenian World"). He denied the
rumors about disagreements between the president Robert Kocharian and
the defence minister, chairman of the RPA Board Serge Sargsian.
The Armenian president is not a member of any political party. Members
of the "Prosperous Armenia" Party’s (PAP) political board elected at
the PAP special congress on February 15 denied the rumors that Robert
Kocharian is the author of the idea of creating the "Prosperous
Armenia" Party.
To recap, representtaives of both RPA and PAP have repeatedly stated
that they have chances to receive many votes at the parliamentary
elections to be herd on May 12.
OVER 47% OF MONEY TRANSFERS TO ARMENIA FELL ON THE SHARE OF UNISTREAM
Mediamax Agency, Armenia
Feb 14 2007
Yerevan, February 14 /Mediamax/. 47.27% of money transfers, sent to
Armenia from abroad in 2006, fell on the share of the UNIstream system.
As Mediamax was told in the press service of "Unibank", the volume
of money transfers to Armenia by means of the UNIstream system grew
1,5 times, as compared to 2005, thus making 149bln 130mln AMD.
The volume of transfers, realized from Armenia by means of the
UNIstream system, grew by 37%, as compared to 2005, and as of December
31 of 2006 made 18bln 516mln AMD.
PROFESSOR OUTLINES ARMENIAN CONNECTION TO GALLIPOLI
Reporter: Mark Colvin
6039.htm
PM – Monday, 12 February , 2007 18:40:00
MARK COLVIN: What links the first genocide of the 20th century with
the battle most often cited as defining the birth of Australia’s
national identity?
The genocide was the Turkish massacre of the Armenians; the battle
was Gallipoli.
And what they have in common is that they both started on almost the
same day, within a few hundred kilometres of each other.
Why don’t we know this as a nation? That’s the question posed in an
essay by Robert Manne, Professor of Politics at LaTrobe University,
in this month’s issue of the magazine The Monthly.
He’s discovered that Australian historians have hardly noticed the
coincidence of the two events.
ROBERT MANNE: In 1915 the Ottoman Government began one of the first
really systematic genocides in history, certainly of the 20th century.
And within a year or so, perhaps one million Armenians had been killed
because they were a Christian minority in the Muslim Ottoman Empire,
which was in its point of crisis.
And there’d been persecution for a long time, but this was not
persecution, it was the attempt to eliminate a people.
MARK COLVIN: And of course the Turkish Government throughout the
20th century denied that this ever happened, and denial is still
going on. A journalist, Hrant Dink, was just murdered the other day
for talking about the Armenian genocide. To what extent has it been
covered up in history?
ROBERT MANNE: Well, I think two things; I think most people have
a vague awareness now because the Armenians have been absolutely
determined not to let it just fade out of history, but I don’t think
it’s as well known as it ought to be.
The Turkish Government has always utterly denied that a genocide took
place, although they admit that some massacres took place. But they
largely blame the Armenians for that saying they were a rebellious,
subversive element at a time of wartime crisis. But it’s at the
heart of Turkish identity is to deny the meaning and the reality of
that genocide.
MARK COLVIN: And you say that Australian historians have effectively
ignored it, and that’s despite a really close coincidence between
the genocide and a key event in Australian history.
ROBERT MANNE: That’s right.
It seems to me the strangest thing. We have Anzac Day as April the 25th
1915 is remembered; the Armenians have April the 24th 1915 as their
day of mourning, which they take to be the beginning of the genocide.
The two events not only coincided in territory and in time, but there
is quite a lot of evidence that the genocide was pushed on because
of the Dardanelle campaign of the Anglo-French forces in which the
Australians were involved.
So despite the fact that the things happened at the same time and in
the same place more or less, and they were even kind of connected with
a causal link, I looked through book after book about Gallipoli, and
there’s no end of books that Australians have written about it, and
virtually none of them mention it for more than a passing paragraphs
or a couple of lines.
MARK COLVIN: What is the causal link? Tell us more about that.
ROBERT MANNE: Well, there are some contemporary historians, there’s
a wonderful Turkish historian, Tanner Akcham, who think that when the
Gallipoli campaign began, or when the Dardanelles were first bombed by
the Anglo-French in March 1915, that was the final moment of reckoning,
and that the Turkish regime, which was run by two or three young Turks
were the dominant figures, they set upon and decided on a systematic
extermination of the Armenians, saying that at this moment of crisis,
where Constantinople might fall, we can’t afford to have a subversive
minority within our country.
So, the Dardanelle campaign and the Gallipoli landings pushed on and
maybe not exactly caused, but at least triggered the final events
that led to the genocide.
MARK COLVIN: So why should Australian historians look more closely
at it?
Because our national myth says that we weren’t really the strategic
force behind the Dardanelle campaign, we were just the pawns, we were
just the people who were thrown into the breech.
ROBERT MANNE: Yes, my point is not so much that they should, although
I wish they had. My point is how strange it is that the event that’s
really by far the most important historical event in the national
imaginary in Australia, which is the Gallipoli campaign, our historians
have never thought to ask the obvious questions about the connection
between the two events, or even to comment on the fact that the two
events took place at the same time.
Apart from the poet Les Murray, I’ve not come across an Australian
writer who’s really thought imaginatively about the connection of
the two events in whatever they’ve written.
MARK COLVIN: And you think that’s not likely to change? You say,
"in the Australian collectively memory of Gallipoli, the Armenian
genocide simply has no role, I suspect it never will".
ROBERT MANNE: Yes, that’s what I think. That is because, as I say,
I don’t think …
MARK COLVIN: Is that just your natural pessimism or do you think
historians are simply unlikely to heed your call?
ROBERT MANNE: It’s not really pessimism in so much as to think
that history and collective memory are different things. And that
Gallipoli, this event that’s so important to Australians has never
been an important event for historical reasons.
I think it was an important event at first because it was the point at
which the Australian nation felt it was a nation, which they hadn’t
felt at federation, and where they felt they showed to the British
and the British Empire, the kind of manliness that they possessed.
And I think always Gallipoli has been tied up with identity and almost
never been really connected to a kind of interest in the history of
the First World War, let alone an interest in the Ottoman Empire.
And so it’s not really pessimism so much as kind of trying to identify
the difference between history and myth, that I think it’ll never
become a matter of great interest in Australia, except perhaps for
some intellectuals.
MARK COLVIN: But historians are supposed to be interested in facts
not national myths, aren’t they?
ROBERT MANNE: Yes, but the historians that move time and again back
to Gallipoli, I think are driven by the interests of myth. Even
if they want to revise the story, what they’re doing is revising
the myth. But they’re not really interested in the kind of overall
historical questions that are connected to it.
MARK COLVIN: Robert Manne, whose essay on that subject is published
in this month’s issue of the magazine The Monthly.