Author: Kajoyan Gevork

” LE MONDE ” DE CE MATIN CONSACRE DE NOMBREUX ARTICLES SUR LA LOI DE PENALISATION
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
jeudi 22 decembre 2011

” Le Monde ” date du 22 decembre consacre son premier titre a la loi
de penalisation du negationnisme avec le titre ” la Turquie menace la
France de sa colère ” et une photo d’Antoine Agoudjian legendee ” En
Turquie un bapteme armenien dans la region de Dersim, lieu de memoire
du genocide ” “. Puis en page 3 et 4 plusieurs articles intitules ”
Genocide armenien : le forcing turc pour influencer le vote des deputes
francais “, ” Cette loi va tuer le dialogue affirme le ministre des
affaires etrangères turc ” et ” En Turquie, les Armeniens relèvent la
tete, jusque dans les vallees du genocide “. La page 19 est consacree
au ” reveil des Armeniens de Turquie ” par Guillaume Perrier avec des
photos d’Antoine Agoudjian. ” Le Monde ” sous-titre ” a l’heure où,
en France, la question armenienne devient un enjeu electoral de court
terme, les Armeniens de la vallee de Dersim, en Turquie, puisent dans
une memoire martyre leur desir d’affirmer leurs racines “. Mais c’est
sans doute le dessin de Plantu qui resume le mieux cet evènement avec
Nicolas Sarkozy deguise en vizir turc monte sur des livres d’histoire
et accompagne d’elus francais qui tiennent un dossier ” Loi memorielle
(Armenie) ” qui dit ” Bon !…On va t’expliquer l’Histoire avec une
grand ” I ” “. Mots adresses a un historien. Plantu qui connaît très
bien la question du genocide armenien -nous l’avons longuement evoques
ensemble lors de nos rencontres dans le cadre de Cartooning for Peace-
s’aligne malheureusement vers la ligne de ce groupe d’historiens
ou intellectuels proches de la version ” liberte pour l’Histoire ”
chère a Pierre Nora.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]

TOP STORY December 22, 2011

St. Joseph

_Archbishop Barsamian’s Christmas Message_

Despite the warm, peaceful feelings Christmas evokes, the story of Christ’s
birth could have ended in tragedy-cut off before it had barely begun.

In his annual Christmas Message, Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian reminds us that “it was one man’s calling to lift the Nativity
story out of tragedy,” and “allow the warmth and sweetness of Christmas to
prevail.”

That man was Joseph the Carpenter: the husband of Mary, and the earthly
father who raised and instructed Jesus. Understanding Joseph’s indispensable
role in the first Christmas is our first step in approaching Jesus, and in
understanding the consequence of our own ministry.

Read the entire 2012 Christmas Message in [4]English and [5]Armenian.
Links:
4.
5.

Scripture of the Week

Is 41:4-14
Heb 7:11-25
Lk 19:12-28

Prayer of the Week

Son of God, true God, who descended from the bosom of the Father and took
flesh of the holy Virgin Mary for our salvation, who was crucified, buried,
and arose from the dead, and ascended with glory to the Father.

Grant forgiveness to me a sinner, for since my birth at the holy font until
this day I have sinned before your Godhead with my senses and with all the
members of my body.

Have mercy upon your creatures, and upon me, a great sinner.

Upcoming Saints & Feasts

_24 December:_ St. David the Prophet-King and the Holy Apostle James,
Brother of the Lord

_26 December:_ St. Stephen the Protodeacon and First Martyr

_27 December:_ Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

_29 December:_ Holy Apostles James and John, “Sons of Thunder”; Barekendan
of the Fast of Nativity

CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

St. Stephanos Church in Bulgaria
The newly built St. Stepanos Armenian Church in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria.

_New Armenian Church Built in Bulgaria _

On Sunday, December 18, the Armenian community of Pazardzhik, Bulgaria,
participated in the celebration of the first Divine Liturgy at the city’s
newly built St. Stepanos Armenian Church. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated
by the Very Rev. Fr. Abgar Hovakimian, the Vicar General of the Diocese of
Bulgaria.

Construction of the new house of worship began in 2005, and was completed
thanks to the support of local and diasporan Armenians. Previously the city
was home to an Armenian church which was destroyed by the Communist regime
in 1969.

Also taking part in Sunday’s celebration was Armenia’s Ambassador to
Bulgaria Arsen Shoyan, Mayor of Pazardzhik Todor Popov, and other government
officials. A blessing of _madagh_ and a musical program and celebration
followed services.

Armenians have been living in what is now Bulgaria since the Byzantine era.
The present-day community is estimated at 20,000 people.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian in Cuba earlier this month.

_Ecumenical Director Visits Cuba with NCC Delegation _

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director of the Eastern Diocese,
joined a delegation of U.S. church leaders on a visit to Cuba last month,
where the group met with a U.S. political prisoner, local religious figures,
and government officials.

Archbishop Aykazian and National Council of Churches Secretary Michael
Kinnamon met with Alan Gross, an American subcontractor who was arrested and
sentenced in Cuba for community work he was carrying out through the United
States Agency for International Development in 2009.

Archbishop Aykazian said the NCC pressed Cuban authorities to release Mr.
Gross and to ensure his safe passage home. Back in Washington, D.C., this
month, Archbishop Aykazian said he met with Mr. Gross’s wife and updated her
on the visit and on her husband’s health.

Also during the NCC-organized visit, which took place from November 22 to
December 2, the delegation met with religious leaders and visited Greek and
Orthodox churches in the country. They were received by government
officials, with whom they discussed the need to normalize relations between
the United States and Cuba.

Together the NCC and the Council of Churches of Cuba released a statement
urging President Barack Obama to revisit U.S. policies toward Cuba, which
originated during the Kennedy Administration half a century ago.

`We have no doubt that it is in the best interest of both Cuba and the U.S.
to initiate the sort of normalized relations appropriate to sovereign and
neighboring countries,’ the statement said, adding that a review of the
current situation would also need to take into account a number of
humanitarian issues.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Bishop Haigazoun Najarian
Bishop Haigazoun Najarian met with Archbishop Barsamian and Diocesan staff
during a visit on December 22.

_Bishop Haigazoun Najarian Visits Diocesan Center_

The Diocesan Center in New York was pleased to welcome a dear friend and
former colleague, the newly-consecrated His Grace Bishop Haigazoun
Najarian.

The former Diocesan Vicar, who was appointed in 2010 by His Holiness Karekin
II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to serve as the
Pontifical Legate for Central Europe and Sweden, visited the center on
December 22. He met with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, and
Diocesan staff members.

Bishop Najarian was one of six clergymen elevated to the episcopate by the
Catholicos in early November. In his capacity as Pontifical Legate of
Central Europe, Bishop Najarian is based in Vienna, Austria, and oversees
the spiritual needs of the Armenian communities in more than a dozen
European countries. Administratively aided by vicars in Sweden and Prague
(Czech Republic), he is primarily in charge of Eastern Europe’s broadly
dispersed clergy, and Armenian communities in varying levels of development.

Europe’s Armenian communities contrast in many ways with their counterparts
in America, according to Bishop Najarian. While many of the former are much
older than anything in America (some dating back to the Middle Ages), the
communities are not as tightly organized, and in places the church plays a
less dominant role in community affairs. Nevertheless, he sees among his new
flock a great potential for development, and a thirst for the authentic
faith of the Armenian Christian heritage.

Bishop Najarian will be visiting the United States through the New Year.

Christmas Servicese at St. Vartan Armenian Cathderal

_Christmas Services at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York_

The Feast of the Nativity and Baptism of Jesus Christ will be observed at
New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Thursday and Friday, January 5
and 6. [6]Click here to view the special liturgical schedule for these
“Armenian Christmas” services.
Links:
6.

Following services and the Blessing of Water ceremony on January 6, a Home
Blessing service and Christmas reception will be held in Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium. The Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble of the St. Thomas Church
of Tenafly, NJ, will perform during the reception, which is free and open to
the public.

Concurrent with the Armenian Christmas observances, an art exhibit will be
on display in Guild Hall and Yerevan Hall of the cathedral complex. In
“Armenian Christmas and the Legacy of Armenian Artists,” curator Vicki
Shoghag Hovanessian has assembled works by prominent Yerevan-based painters
and by prolific American-Armenian artists. [7]Click here for more
information about the exhibit.
Links:
7.

Diocesan Council meeting

_Diocesan Council Meets in Boston _

The Diocesan Council met on Saturday, December 17, at Holy Trinity Church in
Cambridge, MA. Members reviewed the results to date of the Annual Appeal and
received a report from development team members Dr. Sam Mikaelian and Sandra
Shahinian Leitner about activities planned for the coming months,
particularly in connection with the endowment fund that is being established
in honor of the Primate’s 40th ordination anniversary, which will be used to
support Diocesan youth programs.

The council also received and discussed reports from the Diocesan vicar,
executive director, and treasurer. A portion of the meeting was devoted to a
brainstorming session in which all council members discussed the mission of
the Armenian Church and the meaning of our faith and church in the lives of
parishioners.

After the meeting, council members met with clergy and parish council
leaders from the New England region and discussed the Diocese’s lay ministry
theme and how it is being implemented in the parishes. Participants shared
many inspiring examples of their local lay ministry initiatives and
activities.

On Sunday, December 18, council members attended the 80th anniversary
celebration at St. James Church in Watertown, MA.

Annual Appeal
Archbishop Barsamian speaks with Edward and Janet Mardigian during the
Annual Appeal reception at St. John Church.

_Annual Appeal Receptions Held in Detroit, Boston_

Receptions were held in Detroit and Boston last week for the 2011 Annual
Appeal-the only Diocesan-wide fundraiser conducted each year to help the
Diocese provide the many ministries, programs, and resources that enrich
life in our local parishes.

On Thursday, December 15, about 100 people gathered at St. John Church of
Southfield, MI, for the Detroit-area reception. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Diocesan Primate, spoke about the Diocese’s focus on lay ministry and
extended his appreciation to the local parish for their support of Diocesan
initiatives and for their active involvement in the life of the Armenian
Church.

Diocesan Council member Howard Atesian gave an overview of the appeal and
its importance in supporting Diocesan programming. The Rev. Fr. Garabed
Kochakian, parish pastor, spoke about Archbishop Barsamian’s leadership of
the Eastern Diocese and his pastoral ministry.

The reception was sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Howard and Catherine Atesian and
Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Janet Mardigian.

On Saturday, December 17, the Guleserian family hosted more than 120 people
for the Boston-area reception at the Sheraton Commander Hotel. Sandra
Shahinian Leitner spoke about the goals of the 2011 Annual Appeal. The Rev.
Fr. Vasken Kouzouian, pastor of Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA, spoke
about Archbishop Barsamian’s 40 years of service to the Armenian Church.

This year’s appeal honors the 40th anniversary of Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian’s ordination into the holy priesthood of the Armenian Church. The
first $700,000 raised will fund the Diocese’s operating budget; but all
funds raised beyond that amount will be used to establish a special
endowment in the Primate’s honor.
[8]
Click here to donate to the appeal.
Links:
8.

Living the Armenian Church Year

_New Online Publication from the Diocese _

A new resource from the Diocese’s Department of Youth and Education guides
readers on a journey through the sacred calendar of Armenian Christian
tradition. _Living the Armenian Church Year_ surveys the vital, uplifting
commemorations of the Armenian Church, as they progress through the
“academic year” from September through August.

Geared for Christian educators, the manual is a resource for all people
interested in the daily observances and milestones of our church, and how
these can instruct and enrich the spiritual lives of Armenian
Christians-from ancient times to the present day.

Brief historical essays on the saints and feasts are accompanied by lessons
which-while ideal for Sunday School assemblies or classes=80’will also allow
general readers a wonderful opportunity for reflection and inspiration.

[9]Click here to learn more and to access this free publication.
Links:
9.

Vemkar

_The Armenian Church in the Palm of Your Hand_

Since the launch of Vemkar last spring, hundreds of users from the Eastern
Diocese and beyond have downloaded the app on their mobile phones. Available
on both iPhone and Android platforms, the free app offers daily Scripture
readings, spiritual and folk music, videos, and much more.
[10]
Click here to view a brief animation about the app, and check back in the
coming weeks for new Christmas hymns, videos, and other updates.
Links:
10.

Fund for Armenian Relief
GTech graduate Suren Gharagyozyan assists a high school teacher during
recent computer training sessions in Armenia.

_GTech Graduates Lead Computer Training Program _

The Fund for Armenian Relief’s Gyumri Information Technology Center _(GTech)_
recently concluded a computer training program for high school teachers in
Armenia’s Lori and Tavush regions. GTech graduates taught advanced computer
operating and programming skills to 18 teachers over the course of two
months.

The Armenian Educational Foundation, a California-based NGO that promotes
education in Armenia, sponsored the training project. The aim of the
training was to provide the high school teachers with the latest IT and
Internet knowledge, and to offer them new methods for teaching IT to their
students.

GTech is proud to see its graduates giving back to their communities by
enhancing IT skills of educators in Armenia. GTech was established in 2005
by FAR, in partnership with U.S. and Armenian technology companies, and with
strong support from FAR’s Young Professional alumni community. The goal of
the center is to strengthen the information technology skills of young
Armenians and to expand employment and business opportunities in the region
for young professionals. GTech also helps to bolster development by
providing an incubator space for new start-up IT businesses.
[11]
Click here to visit FAR’s blog and to read more.
Links:
11.

Advent

_Visit our Blog for Daily Advent Reflections_

Last month marked the beginning of the Advent season. Advent means
`coming’-the coming of Christ. In Armenian it is called Hisnag, from the
word for `fifty.’

Advent is the 50-day period during which we prepare to celebrate the
Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time to reflect on
our relationship with God and to rededicate ourselves to Christ through our
actions, thoughts, and prayers. Advent can also be an occasion to discover
God’s gifts all around us.

This year the Department of Youth and Education is offering daily Advent
reflections on our blog. [12]Click here to view today’s reflection, and come
back every day to read and reflect on a new post.
Links:
12.

PARISH NEWS

St. James Armenian Church, Watertown, MA
From left: Ann Korian, Paul Korian, Archbishop Barsamian, and Fr. Arakel
Aljalian. Paul Korian received the `St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal’ and
pontifical encyclical during Sunday’s celebration.

_Watertown, MA, Parish Marks 80 Years _

St. James Church of Watertown, MA, hosted its 80th Anniversary Name Day
Banquet on Sunday, December 18. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan
Primate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and spoke about this year’s Diocesan
theme of `The Call to Serve: Ministry of the Faithful.’

Following services, the community gathered for a special program featuring
remarks, musical performances, and a video presentation.

The parish honored Paul Korian as the 2011 Parishioner of the Year.
Archbishop Barsamian presented Mr. Korian with the `St. Nersess Shnorhali
Medal’ and pontifical encyclical. Also recognized were outgoing Parish
Council members Scott Kapilian and Sandy Raphalian.

Remarks were offered by the Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, parish pastor; former
longtime pastor the Rev. Fr. Dajad Davidian; and the Rev. Fr. Arten Ashjian.
Jeniffer Carson served as the master of ceremonies. The gathering was also
an opportunity to celebrate the church’s successful 75th Anniversary Capital
Campaign, which raised funds for the renovation of the church and cultural
center and the establishment of new programs for the parish.

genocide exhibit in Virginia
A traveling exhibit on the Armenian Genocide is currently on view at the
Virginia Holocaust Museum.

_Armenian Genocide Exhibit on View in Virginia _

The Armenian Education Center of St. James Church (Richmond, VA) and the
Virginia Holocaust Museum are working together to create a permanent exhibit
on the Armenian Genocide at the Virginia Holocaust Museum.

In the meantime, a traveling exhibit called “The Ongoing Armenian
Genocide-Death, Denial & Desecration” is on display at the Virginia
Holocaust Museum. The traveling exhibit is on loan from the Armenian Library
and Museum of America of Watertown, MA. It will be on view at the Holocaust
Museum through July 30, 2012, after which time it will move to the
University of Richmond for an additional six months.

The official opening and reception took place on Sunday, December 11. Guest
speakers included Aram Arkun, a scholar of the genocide period, and Dr.
Roger W. Smith, Professor Emeritus at the College of William and Mary.
Members of the Virginia Holocaust Museum and the Armenian Education Center
shared their vision for the development of a permanent Armenian Genocide
exhibit. The Rev. Fr. Mesrob Hovsepyan, pastor of St. James Church of
Richmond, offered a prayer.
[13]
Click here to view a video about the reception (advance to 5:34).
Links:
13.

Fr. Simeon Odabashian visits Nashville community
Fr. Tateos Abdalian (left) and Fr. Simeon Odabashian with children at the
Armenian Church of Nashville.

_Vicar, Mission Parish Director Visit Nashville, TN_

On Sunday, December 18, the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar,
celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Church of Nashville mission
parish. He was assisted at the altar by the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, the
Diocese’s director of Mission Parishes.

During the fellowship hour, an open forum was led by Fr. Abdalian and Parish
Council chair Sevada Badalian. The forum gave parishioners an opportunity to
ask questions about the Armenian Church and to brainstorm ideas for
increasing membership and participation at the parish level.

Also on Sunday, Fr. Abdalian baptized a child at the beginning of the Divine
Liturgy, and Fr. Odabashian and Fr. Abdalian met with members of the Parish
Council.

St. James ACYOA Watertown, MA
ACYOA Juniors of Watertown, MA, wrap gifts for families in need.

_ACYOA Juniors of Watertown, MA, Assist with Gift Drive_

The ACYOA Juniors of St. James Church of Watertown, MA, hosted a =80=9CGiving
Tree’ drive to benefit My Brother’s Keeper-a local organization that
provides furniture, food, and other assistance to families in need.

As part of the project, a Christmas tree bearing gift suggestions was
installed in the church hall, and parishioners were encouraged to fulfill
the gift suggestions.
Once the gifts had been collected on December 12, the ACYOA Juniors=80’led by
the Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, parish pastor, and Maria Derderian, parish
youth minister-visited My Brother’s Keeper to deliver the gifts and to
assist in sorting and wrapping them.

_Upcoming Parish Events _

_St. Mark Church | Springfield, MA _
St. Mark Church of Springfield, MA, will host its second annual Christmas
Dinner and Concert on Friday, December 23, beginning at 6 p.m. [14]Click
here to view a flyer for more information. For reservations, contact Elaine
Devine at (413) 267-5306 or [15][email protected].
Links:
14.
15. mailto:[email protected]

_Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church | Providence, RI _
The Cultural Committee of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI,
will host a Christmas Concert titled `Silent Night, Holy Night’ on
Wednesday, December 28, at 7 p.m. The concert will be held in the church
sanctuary.

It will feature performances by the choir of the Saint Ephraim Syriac
Orthodox Church, the Armenian Chorale of Rhode Island, and the Junior Choir
of Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church.

[16]Click here to view a flyer for more information.
Links:
16.

_Soorp Haroutiun Church | Orlando, FL_
Soorp Haroutiun Church of Orlando, FL, will host a New Year’s Eve dinner and
dance on Saturday, December 31, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy live Armenian music and a buffet dinner. The event will be held in the
church hall (9274 Winter Garden Vineland Road in Orlando). [17]Click here to
view a flyer for more information.
Links:
17.

_St. Leon Church | Fair Lawn, NJ_
St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ, will host its 5th annual Christmas Dance
on Saturday, January 7, from 7 p.m. to midnight, in the church’s Community
Center.

The evening will feature the Michael Gostanian Ensemble. Tickets are $35 for
adults; $20 for students (ages 10-22). [18]Click here to view a flyer for
more information
Links:
18.

YOUTH NEWS

Khrimian Lyceum
Khrimian Lyceum students sang Armenian songs during a recent visit to the
New York Armenian Home.

_Khrimian Lyceum Students Visit NY Armenian Home_

On Saturday, December 17, students of the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum visited
the New York Armenian Home in Flushing, NY, where they played music, sang,
and danced for the elderly residents.

Maro Partamian conducted the choir and Florence Avakian accompanied on the
piano. Also present were Berj Manukian, Gilda Kupelian (the Diocese’s
Armenian Studies coordinator), other teachers, and parents. Khrimian Lyceum
graduate Alex Calikyan also joined the group. [19]Click here to view photos.
Links:
19.

The annual visit to the Armenian Home is part of the students’ internship
program at the Khrimian Lyceum. In the coming weeks, they will serve in
their local parishes during the Christmas Eve celebration. At their next
session on January 21, they will host Dr. Anny Bakalian, who will give a
presentation on historic Armenia.

St. David Armenian Church, FL

_Register for the ACYOA Chapter Workshop _

The ACYOA Central Council will sponsor its 4th annual Chapter Workshop at
St. David Church of Boca Raton, FL, from January 13-15. The workshop will
focus on the basics of being an ACYOA leader and working together to build a
vibrant and successful organization.

The Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, will preside over the
weekend’s program. The Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor of St. David
Church, will serve as chaplain.

The ACYOA Central Council strongly encourages all those who are currently in
leadership positions in their respective chapters to attend the workshop.
Representatives from parishes who lack organized chapters but have young
people who are interested in establishing them are also welcome.

Participants will stay at the Hilton in Deerfield Beach, FL. All workshop
sessions will take place at St. David Church, which has graciously
volunteered to host the program again this year. The registration fee is
$175. For more information, or to register, contact Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA
executive secretary, at [20][email protected].
Links:
20. mailto:[email protected]

NOTE TO OUR READERS

The staff of the Eastern Diocese wish you and your loved ones a happy,
healthy New Year and a Merry Christmas.

[21]Click here to view our video card.
Links:
21.

ARMENIANS PLEASED BY GENOCIDE RULING

Dailoy Telegraph
22 Dec 2011
UK

Armenians welcome news that France has passed a bill to criminalise
the denial of genocide, including the 1915 mass killing of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks, a move that has sparked a major diplomatic row
between France and Turkey.

Lawmakers in France’s National Assembly – the lower house of parliament
– voted overwhelmingly in favour of a draft law outlawing genocide
denial, which will be debated next year in the Senate.

The move has sparked a major diplomatic row between France and Turkey,
prompting Ankara to cancel all economic, political and military
meetings. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the law was a
product of “politics based on racism, discrimination, xenophobia”
and recalled the Turkish ambassador in Paris.

A senior politician in the Armenian capital Yerevan said he believed
that all European Union countries should follow France’s lead.

“When the Turkish side argues that this is against freedom of speech
and etc., it does not recognise the fact that this is an EU framework
decision regarding all genocide’s, and all EU countries should adopt
such laws,” Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Kiro Manoyan said.

On the streets of Yerevan, Armenians were pleased by the decision,
“It is a right decision. I think it should have been done long
ago. If people recognise the Holocaust, why not recognise the Armenian
Genocide?” said Robert Khachatryan, an economist.

TURKEY FUMES AS FRENCH LAWMAKERS ADOPT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL
By Gary Dunn

The Australian Eye
Dec 22 2011

PARIS _ The already strained relations between France and Turkey
suffered a further blow Thursday after France’s National Assembly
adopted a bill making it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered
genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War I.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted with predictable
anger, saying he was recalling Turkey’s ambassador from Paris.

He also announced that French military planes could no longer fly over
Turkey; French naval ships could no longer dock in Turkish ports;
and all military, political, economic and educational exchanges,
visits and commission meetings were canceled.

“We don’t have genocide in our history,” Erdogan told reporters
in Ankara.

“France has trampled on the principles of its own revolution: liberty,
equality and fraternity,” he said.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe urged Turkey to react with
restraint.

“What I wish is that our Turkish friends do not overreact to this
decision by the French National Assembly,” he said,” insisting the
two countries had “a lot of things to do together.”

The bill, which punishes denial of genocides by a year’s imprisonment
and a fine of about $59,000, was adopted by a large majority of
parliamentarians in a show of hands after a nearly four-hour debate.

France officially recognizes two genocides: the Nazi Holocaust
of Jews during World War II and the mass killings of Armenians in
Ottoman-controlled eastern Turkey during World War I. The country
already has a law punishing Holocaust denial.

Armenians say that up to 1.5 million people were either killed or
died of neglect on deportation marches to the Syrian desert.

About two dozen countries have recognized the killings as genocide.

Ankara says between 300,000 and 500,000 Armenians were killed, but
it argues that the deaths were mainly the result of unrest following
the invasion of eastern Turkey by Russian forces and that there was
no systematic policy to kill them.

That interpretation is disputed by a small but growing number of
Turkish intellectuals who believe that the Armenians were killed
deliberately. Two years ago, about 150 academics, columnists and
writers signed a petition in which they apologized to Armenians for
the 1915-18 killings.

In France, politicians from across the divide backed the bill, which
was tabled by a member of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s Union for a
Popular Movement, or UMP. The opposition Socialists introduced the
first such bill in 2006, but it was rejected in May this year in
the Senate.

The greatest opposition to the bill came from within the UMP.

UMP deputy Michel Diefenbacher told the assembly that he opposed
any attempt by France to impose its reading of history on another
sovereign state, and he voted against the measure. The president of
the assembly, Bernard Accoyer, also from the UMP, had also said he
personally opposed the bill.

Outside the assembly, thousands of French people of Turkish origin
waving Turkish and French flags demonstrated over what they saw as
an attempt by the government to woo voters of Armenian origin ahead
of next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

France is home to about half a million people of Armenian origin.

Sarkozy had promised them before becoming president that he would
push through genocide denial legislation.

“Fishing for votes must not be done at the expense of a country’s
history,” read a placard waved by one demonstrator.

In order to become law, the bill must also be adopted by the Senate,
where a vote might not take place for months.

Erdogan said he would wait to see how that vote unfolded before taking
more measures against France.

The standoff is the latest to rock Franco-Turkish relations, which
have soured over Sarkozy’s resolute opposition to Turkey joining the
European Union.

However, recent months had seen a thaw as France and Turkey banded
together in support of pro-democracy uprisings in Libya, and in
Turkey’s neighbor, Syria.

___

(Byrne reported from Paris and Mortimer from Ankara.)

FRENCH TURKS PROTEST AHEAD OF “GENOCIDE BILL” DEBATE

Chicago Tribune
Dec 22 2011

PARIS (Reuters) – Several thousand Franco-Turks demonstrated in
central Paris Thursday ahead of a parliamentary vote on a bill that
would make it a crime to deny the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by
Ottoman Turks was genocide.

Tension has risen between Paris and Ankara in the last week over the
draft law put forward by members of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s party
that will be put to a vote around lunchtime.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan wrote a letter to Sarkozy last
week warning political and economic relations would suffer grave
consequences if the bill is passed.

“I don’t understand why France wants to censor my freedom of
expression,” Yildiz Hamza, president of the Montargis association
that represents 700 Turkish families in France told Reuters outside
the National Assembly. “Every five years there is this sort of debate
because elections are approaching.”

When the debate began, public benches were filled with Turks and
Armenians. Police strengthened their presence inside the chamber to
head off any possible disorders.

Armenia, backed by many historians and parliaments, says about 1.5
million Christian Armenians were killed in what is now eastern Turkey
during World War One in a deliberate policy of genocide ordered by
the Ottoman government.

Successive Turkish governments and the vast majority of Turks feel the
charge of genocide is a direct insult to their nation. Ankara argues
that there was heavy loss of life on both sides during fighting in
the area.

Ankara sees the bill, proposed by 40 deputies from Sarkozy’s party,
is a blatant attempt at winning the votes of 500,000 ethnic Armenians
in France in next year’s elections, limits freedom of speech and
is an unnecessary meddling by politicians in a business best left
to historians.

Police said about 3,000 demonstrators were already on site with as
many as 10,000 expected during the day, which also marks 32 years
since a Turkish diplomat was assassinated by Armenian militants in
central Paris.

Faced with Sarkozy’s open hostility to Turkey’s all-but stagnant bid
to join the European Union, and buoyed by a fast-growing economy,
Ankara has little to lose by picking a political fight with Paris.

With Turkey taking an increasingly pivotal and influential role in
the Middle East, especially over Syria, Iran and Libya, France could
experience some diplomatic discomfort, and French firms could lose
out on lucrative Turkish contracts.

“Turkey is a democracy and has joined the World Trade Organization so
it can’t just discriminate for political reasons against countries,”
Europe Minister Jean Leonetti told France Inter radio. “I think
these threats are just hot wind and we (have) to begin a much more
reasoned dialogue.”

The French government has stressed that the bill, which mandates a
45,000-euro fine and a year in jail for offenders, is not its own
initiative and pointed out that Turkey cannot impose unilateral
trade sanctions.

France passed a law recognizing the killing of Armenians as genocide
in 2001, Turkey was in the midst of an economic crisis, and reacted
in a similar vein, but figures show trade between the two countries
nevertheless grew steadily.

The French lower house of parliament first passed a bill criminalizing
the denial of an Armenian genocide in 2006, but it was finally rejected
by the Senate in May of this year.

The new bill was made more general to outlaw the denial of any
genocide, partly in the hope of appeasing the Turks. While it is very
likely to be approved by the lower house, it could also face a long
passage into law, though its backers want to see it completed before
parliament is suspended at the end of February.

(Reporting By John Irish)

FRANCE AND TURKEY ON EDGE OF CONFLICT

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 22 2011
Russia

The French parliament is to vote on the bill for criminalization
of misrecognition of the Armenian Genocide.Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a special statement, warning Paris about
counter-measures to be taken by the Turkish government. The prime
minister noted that the initiative was raised by French President
Nicolas Sarkozy only to improve rating for the coming presidential
polls. Erdogan warned that it would cause tensions in the bilateral
ties.

The Turkish prime minister reminded that there are 500,000 Armenians
and 550,000 Turks living in France. About 2-3-4 million people share
the Turkish position in France. He added that it was a diplomatic error
because Sarkozy has made no contacts with Turkish President Abdullah
Gul to discuss the issue.French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe in a
conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that he
does not support criminalization of misrecognition of the so-called
Armenian Genocide, 1news.az reports.

Vestnik Kavkaza reported earlier that Turkey is planning
countermeasures if the bill is passed.Turkey plans to withdraw its
Ambassador Takhsin Burzhuoglu from France. Turkey would demand the
same step from Paris. Turkey would withdraw its military attaches
and cancel accreditation of the French ones.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey would
recognize genocide of Algerians by France in 1945. Other Turkish
steps are limitation of French participation in tenders, a stop for
exchange of recon information, a close of air access to Turkey for
French air forces, a band for French military vessels on Turkish
territorial waters. Turkey would also stop support of France in
international organizations, stop giving information on Iran,
Syria and the Middle East and would stop cooperating in science,
technologies and culture.Armenians with Turkish citizenship expressed
opposition towards the French bill, urging President Sarkozy not to
use Armenians in his political interests.

Azerbaijan expressed support for Turkey. The issue should be
discussed by historians, the French should not politicize events,
Ali Hasanov, head of the socio-political section of the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration, said. The process would not contribute
to French-Turkish relations. Azerbaijan is at war with Armenia,
the responsibility for the events in Hojaly lies on Armenian
administration, which is the source of such issues, Hasanov says.

TURKEY, FRANCE SPAT OVER ‘GENOCIDE’ BILL

The Nation

Dec 22 2011
Pakistan

PARIS/ANKARA (Reuters) – Relations between France and rising regional
power Turkey are likely to nose-dive after a vote in the French
parliament on Thursday that would make it a crime to deny that the
1915 mass killing of Armenians was genocide.

Faced with French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s open hostility to
Turkey’s all-but stagnant bid to join the European Union, and buoyed
by a fast-growing economy, Ankara has little to lose by picking a
political fight with Paris.

TURKISH OFFICIAL: FRENCH GENOCIDE BILL IS ATTACK ON OUR DIGNITY – DPA
By Gary Dunn

The Australian Eye

Dec 22 2011

PARIS _ Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made a final appeal
on Wednesday to French parliamentarians not to back a bill that would
make it a crime to deny that Armenians had suffered a “genocide”
at the hands of Ottoman Turks.

The lower house of France’s parliament, the National Assembly, will
on Thursday vote on a bill, which would make denying genocides a
crime punishable with a year in jail and a fine of $59,000.

The bill is widely expected to pass but will not become law until it
is approved by the Senate.

Armenians say that the mass killings of Armenians in eastern Turkey
during World War I was genocide.

The Turkish government admits that more than 300,000 people were
killed but refuses to term the deaths a genocide.

In an interview with Le Monde newspaper, Davutoglu called the bill
“an attack on our (Turkish) national dignity” and warned that it
would not only harm relations between Turkey and France but also chill
relations between Turkey and Armenia, which have began a process of
normalizing ties.

“But now the process of rapprochement will be affected,” he said,
adding: “This initiative kills dialogue.”

Davutoglu accused France of double standards.

“When there were insults against the Prophet Mohammed, Europeans
said it was a question of freedom of expression. And now, they’re
punishing an opinion,” he accused.

The bill has caused anger in Turkey, whose Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has warned President Nicolas Sarkozy of “grave consequences”
for bilateral relations.

Turkey has said it will immediately recall its ambassador if the bill
passes the Assembly.

A spokesman for the Turkish embassy in Paris, Engin Solakoglu, also
warned of consequences for cooperation on international issues.

Without specifically naming Syria, he told the German news agency dpa:
“Can you imagine France and Turkey taking any common measures on any
subject after such a hostile act?”

The two countries have been leading international condemnation of
Syria over its violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Both in Turkey and in France, the timing of the bill has been linked
to a presidential election next year in France, which has a small
but influential Armenian community.

A similar bill was approved by the assembly in 2006 but was rejected by
the Senate in May this year. That bill was proposed by the opposition
Socialists. The current bill was proposed by a member of Sarkozy’s
ruling Union for a Popular Movement.

FRENCH PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL CRIMINALIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

armradio.am
22.12.2011 16:31

The French Parliament approved a bill criminalizing the denial of
the Armenian Genocide, and rendering it punishable with a year in
jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($58,000).

“I will vote thinking of Hrant Dink,” said one Member of Parliament
as he concluded his remarks.

“We are not punishing any country, but we are fighting against
genocide denial in our country,” said another.

The French Senate is expected to vote on the bill in March 2012.

The MPs who spoke highlighted the stories of survivors who arrived
in France after the genocide, and talked about the significance
of honoring the memory of the victims, the survivors, and their
descendants, as well as safeguarding historical truth.

In 2001, France adopted a bill officially recognizing the 1915 events
as genocide.

ARMENIE : LOI CONTRE GENOCIDE, PAR BERNARD-HENRI LEVY
Ara

armenews.com
jeudi 22 decembre 2011

On dit : “Ce n’est pas a la loi d’ecrire l’Histoire”… Absurde. Car
l’Histoire est deja ecrite. Que les Armeniens aient ete victimes, au
sens precis du terme, d’une tentative de genocide, c’est-a-dire d’une
entreprise planifiee d’annihilation, Churchill l’a dit. Jaurès l’a
crie. Peguy, au moment meme où il s’engage pour Dreyfus, parle de ce
commencement de genocide comme du “plus grand massacre du siècle”. Les
Turcs eux-memes l’admettent. Oui, c’est une chose que l’on ne sait pas
assez : dès 1918, Mustapha Kemal reconnaît les tueries perpetrees par
le gouvernement jeune-turc ; des cours martiales sont instituees ;
elles prononcent des centaines de sentences de mort. Et je ne parle
pas des historiens ni des theoriciens du genocide, je ne parle pas
des chercheurs de Yad Vachem, ni de Yehuda Bauer, ni de Raoul Hilberg,
je ne parle pas de tous ces savants pour qui, a l’exception de Bernard
Lewis, la question de savoir s’il y a eu, ou non, genocide ne s’est
jamais posee et ne se pose pas.

Il ne s’agit pas de “dire l’Histoire”, donc. L’Histoire a ete dite.

Elle a ete redite et archi-dite. Ce dont il est question, c’est
d’empecher sa negation. Ce dont le Senat va discuter, c’est de
compliquer, un peu, la vie aux insulteurs. Il y a des lois, en France,
contre l’insulte et la diffamation. N’est-ce pas la moindre des choses
d’avoir une loi qui penalise cette insulte absolue, cet outrage qui
passe tous les outrages et qui consiste a outrager la memoire des
morts ?

On dit : “Oui, d’accord ; mais la loi n’a pas a se meler, si peu que
ce soit, de l’etablissement de la verite car elle empeche, lorsqu’elle
le fait, les historiens de travailler.” Faux. C’est le contraire. Ce
sont les negationnistes qui empechent les historiens de travailler. Ce
sont les negationnistes qui, avec leurs truquages, brouillent les
pistes. Prenez la loi Gayssot. Citez-moi un cas d’historien, un seul,
que la loi Gayssot, sanctionnant la negation de la destruction des
juifs, ait empeche de travailler.

C’est une loi qui empeche Le Pen ou Gollnisch de trop deraper. C’est
une loi qui met des limites a l’expression d’un Faurisson. C’est une
loi qui gene les incendiaires des âmes type Dieudonne. C’est une loi
qui, par parenthèse, nous evite des mascarades du type de ce procès du
super-negationniste David Irving qui eut lieu a Londres il y a sept ans
et où, precisement faute de loi, l’on vit juges, procureurs, avocats,
journalistes a scandale, affaires a se substituer aux historiens et a
semer, pour de bon, le trouble dans les esprits. Mais c’est une loi qui
ne s’est jamais mise en travers de la route d’un seul historien digne
de ce nom. C’est une loi qui, contrairement a ce que nous disent, je
n’arrive pas a comprendre pourquoi, les “historiens petitionnaires”,
les protège, oui, les protège de la pollution negationniste. Et il
en ira de meme avec l’extension de cette loi Gayssot a la negation
du genocide armenien.

On dit : “Où s’arretera-t-on ? Pourquoi pas, tant qu’on y est, des
lois sur le colonialisme, la Vendee, les caricatures de Mahomet ?

Est-ce qu’on ne s’oriente pas vers des dizaines de lois memorielles
dont le seul resultat sera d’interdire l’expression des opinions non
conformes ?” Autre erreur. Autre piège. D’abord, il n’est pas question
de “lois memorielles”, mais de genocide ; il n’est pas question de
legiferer sur tout et n’importe quoi, mais sur les genocides et les
genocides seulement ; et des genocides, il n’y en a pas cent, ni
dix – il y en a quatre, peut-etre cinq, avec le Rwanda, le Cambodge
et le Darfour, et c’est une escroquerie intellectuelle de brandir
l’epouvantail de cette multiplication de nouvelles lois attentatoires
a la liberte de pensee.

Et puis, ensuite, soyons serieux : il n’est pas question, dans cette
affaire, d’opinions non conformes, incorrectes, etc. ; il est question
de negationnisme, seulement de negationnisme, c’est-a-dire de ce tour
d’esprit très particulier qui consiste non pas a avoir une certaine
opinion quant aux raisons de la victoire d’Hitler ou des Jeunes-Turcs,
mais qui consiste a dire que le reel n’a pas eu lieu. Pas de chantage,
donc, a la tyrannie de la penitence ! Arretons avec le faux argument
de la boîte de Pandore ouvrant la voie a une inquisition generalisee !

Le fait que l’on punisse le negationnisme antiarmenien n’impliquera
en aucune facon cette fameuse proliferation, en metastases, de lois
politiquement correctes.

On dit encore : “Attention a ne pas tout melanger ; il ne faut pas
prendre le risque de banaliser la Shoah.” Ma reponse, la-dessus, est
très claire. Il est vrai que ce n’est pas pareil. Il est vrai que,
et le nombre de ses morts, et le degre d’irrationalite atteint par
les assassins, et le type très particulier de rapport a la technique
qu’implique l’invention de la chambre a gaz, il est vrai, oui, que
tout cela confère a la Shoah une irreductible singularite. Mais,
a cette evidence, j’ajoute deux remarques.

Primo, ce n’est peut-etre pas “pareil”, mais le moins que l’on
puisse dire est que cela se ressemble. Et le premier a le savoir,
le premier a en prendre acte, fut un certain Adolf Hitler, dont on
ne dira jamais assez combien le genocide antiarmenien l’a frappe,
fait reflechir et, si j’ose dire, inspire. Ce genocide armenien,
ce premier genocide, le fut – “premier” – a tous les sens du terme :
un genocide exemplaire et presque seminal ; un genocide banc d’essai ;
un laboratoire du genocide considere comme tel par les nazis.

Et puis j’ajoute, secundo, cette autre observation. Lorsque je me suis
plonge dans la litterature negationniste touchant les Armeniens, quelle
ne fut pas ma surprise de decouvrir que c’est la meme litterature,
litteralement la meme, que celle que je connaissais et qui vise la
destruction des juifs. Meme rhetorique. Memes arguments.

Meme facon, tantôt de minimiser (des morts, d’accord, mais pas
tant qu’on nous le dit), tantôt de rationaliser (des massacres qui
s’inscrivent dans une logique de guerre), tantôt de renverser les rôles
(de meme que Celine faisait des juifs les vrais responsables de la
guerre, de meme les negationnistes turcs expliquent que ce sont les
Armeniens qui, par leur double jeu, leur alliance avec les Russes,
ont fait leur propre martyre), tantôt, enfin, de relativiser (quelle
difference entre Auschwitz et Dresde ? quelle difference entre les
genocides et les victimes turques des “bandes armees” armeniennes ?)

Bref. A ceux qui seraient tentes de jouer au jeu de la guerre
des memoires, je veux repondre en plaidant pour la fraternite des
genocides. C’est la position de Jan Patocka, le philosophe de la
“solidarite des ebranles”. C’etait la position des pionniers d’Israël,
qui, tous, se sentaient un destin commun avec les Armeniens naufrages.

La lutte contre le negationnisme ne se divise pas. Laisser une chance
a l’un equivaudrait a ouvrir une brèche a l’autre…

On dit enfin – et cela se veut l’argument definitif : “Pourquoi ne pas
laisser la verite se defendre seule ? N’est-elle pas assez forte pour
s’imposer et faire mentir les negationnistes ?” Eh bien non, justement
! Parce que ce negationnisme anti-armenien a une particularite que l’on
ne trouve pas, pour le coup, dans le negationnisme judeocide : c’est
un negationnisme d’Etat ; c’est un negationnisme qui s’appuie sur les
ressources, la diplomatie, la capacite de chantage, d’un grand Etat.

Imaginez un instant ce qu’eût ete la situation des survivants de
la Shoah si l’Etat allemand avait ete, après la guerre, un Etat
negationniste ! Imaginez leur surcroît de detresse s’ils avaient eu,
face a eux, une Allemagne non repentante menacant ses partenaires de
retorsions s’ils qualifiaient de genocide la tragedie des hommes,
femmes et enfants tries sur la rampe d’Auschwitz ! C’est votre
situation, amis armeniens ; et il y a la une adversite qui n’a, cette
fois, pas d’equivalent et a laquelle je ne suis pas sûr que la verite,
dans sa belle nudite, ait assez de force pour s’opposer.

Un tout dernier mot. Vous vous souvenez d’Himmler creant, en juin
1942, un commando special, le commando 1005, charge de deterrer les
corps et de les brûler. Vous connaissez les euphemismes utilises pour
ne pas avoir a dire “meurtre de masse” et pour effacer donc, jusque
dans le discours, la marque de ce qui etait en train de s’operer.

Eh bien, cette loi qui est celle de la Shoah, ce theorème que j’appelle
le theorème de Claude Lanzmann et qui veut que le crime parfait soit un
crime sans trace et que l’effacement de la trace soit partie integrante
du crime lui-meme, cette evidence d’un negationnisme qui n’est pas
la suite mais un moment du genocide et qui lui est consubstantiel,
tout cela vaut pour tous les genocides et donc aussi, naturellement,
pour le genocide du peuple armenien. On croit que ces gens expriment
une opinion : ils perpetuent le crime. Ils se veulent libres-penseurs,
apôtres du doute et du soupcon : ils parachèvent l’oeuvre de mort.

Il faut une loi contre le negationnisme parce que le negationnisme est,
au sens strict, le stade supreme du genocide.

Bernard-Henri Levy est ecrivain.

Article paru dans l’edition du Monde du 02.02.07.