Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, KARABAKH CONFLICT, MIDDLE EAST: PRESIDENT’S SPEECH AT FORUM “AT THE FOOT OF MOUNT ARARAT”

18:24, 18 March, 2015

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS: The President of the Republic of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan delivered a speech at the 5th media forum “At the Foot
of Mount Ararat”. The press service of the Armenian President’s Office
informed Armenpress that Serzh Sargsyan said in particular:

“Distinguished journalists, Ladies and gentlemen,

I greet you in the Republic of Armenia, and welcome your participation
in the framework of this important and large-scale event. The presence
of 150 well-recognized journalists from the different corners of
the world itself speaks for the international community’s attention
to this forum, as well as of its interest towards Armenia. I hope
that, besides your work, you, the participants of the forum bearing
the beautiful heading “At the Foot of Mount Ararat,” will have the
opportunity to familiarize with the Armenian culture and cuisine,
and admire the wonderful view of biblical Mount Ararat.

It is obvious that in our days, media outlets have huge potential
to disseminate universal values, fight against their encroachment
and consolidate the international community. Today, a highly
representative group of international media outlets has gathered
under the same roof. You have already built an effective media
platform for the discussions pertaining to the Armenian Genocide with
the objective to once again uncover the realities regarding one of
the most serious crimes committed in the 20th century. This forum,
why not, is also a unique platform to thoroughly and comprehensively
present the achievements of the Republic of Armenia in various areas,
and challenges faced by our country.

In 2015, Armenia, Armenians all over the world and the international
community remember and commemorate the Armenian Genocide committed
in the Ottoman Empire one century ago. The genocide took lives
of one and a half million Armenians, hundreds of thousands of
people became refugees or were forcefully converted into other
religion. Each Armenian from any corner of the world continues to
feel the consequences of the Mets Yeghern psychologically, culturally,
linguistically and politically.

We wish we could have also commemorated the Centennial of the Armenian
Genocide together with the Turkish people, thereby heralding a new
haven of the rapprochement of the two nations and normalization of
their relations. This was the goal pursued by the protocols between
Armenia and Turkey signed back in 2009 and of my invitation to the
President Erdogan of Turkey to join us on April 24 in honoring the
memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. Unfortunately, once more
we encountered denial, one that acquired a particular manifestation
this year.

I believe you are well aware that this year Turkish authorities decided
to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli on the
very day of April 24. The only motive for that was the simple-minded
goal to distract the attention of the international community from the
events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. By the
way, in this context your Norwegian colleague BÃ¥rd Larsen published
in February an article titled “Useless Diplomacy,” in which he very
aptly put that “this would be tantamount to Germany celebrating heroic
victories of Wehrmacht in the Eastern Front during World War II.”

I regret that the Turkish authorities instead of availing themselves
of this Centennial to confront their own history and reconcile,
put themselves in an awkward position by obviously distorting the
well-known chronology the Battle of Gallipoli, and thereby embellishing
their policy of denial with new manifestations.

The Turkish policy of denial pursued not only vindicates the crime
committed by the Ottoman authorities – the dispossession of Armenians
– but also sets a dangerous precedent for the recurrence of new
genocides. The Holocaust, the Rwandan and Cambodian genocides, the
ethnic cleansing and destruction of cultural heritage carried out by
the Islamic State in recent years have all been striking examples of
this. Their efforts to avoid responsibility or consign the Armenian
Genocide to oblivion can be characterized as continuation of the
crime and encouragement of new genocides.

Nevertheless, I must note that larger and larger segments of the
Turkish intelligentsia and progressive youth are demonstrating courage
to confront their historical past, desiring to live a dignified life
and relieving themselves of such a heavy burden of sin.

It is a matter of plain fact that the policy pursued by the current
Turkish government rules out the possibility of bringing the
famous Protocols into life at which official Ankara looked from the
perspective of the absurd preconditions perpetually set forth by it.

For that very reason I decided to recall them from our parliament.

Thus, the process did not reach its logical conclusion, and everybody
knows which party is to blame for its failure. This does not mean that
we are closing the window for rapprochement with Turkey. Nevertheless,
we are not going to get involved in a process, which may fall victim
to the third country’s unconstructive whims and, most importantly,
without hope of restoring mutual trust.

Initially, we thought that the policy “Zero Problems with Neighbors”
proclaimed by the Turkish authorities enshrined Turkey’s sincere
intentions to normalize relations with neighboring countries, including
Armenia. I do not want to comment on the nature of current relations
between Turkey and other states, but as the subsequent developments
demonstrated, Turkey had to face the reality of “Zero Neighbor and
Numerous Problems.” In fact, Turkey’s real intention was not to
have zero problems with neighbors, but to impose its own perception
of those relations on the neighbors, which was nothing else than a
manifestation of Neo-Ottoman policy.

The State Commission for coordination of the events for commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide Centenary was established. Its members
encompassed heads of all the largest Armenian institutions. The
Commission adopted All-Armenian Declaration, which determined the
united will of the Armenian people; by that Armenia and the Armenian
people reiterated their commitment to continuing the international
struggle for the prevention of genocides, restoration of the rights
and establishment of historical justice for the nations subjected to
genocide. In that perspective, the Armenian Genocide Centennial events
are not solely of all-Armenian nature; they are a unique appeal to
prevent any encroachment upon universal values. For that very reason I
have invited the leaders and high-level officials of various countries
to visit Armenia on April 24 and, thus, send a powerful message of
the inadmissibility of the crime of genocide to the world.

Dear friends,

The Republic of Armenia will also continue its fight against the crime
of genocide within the framework of international organizations. In
2013, at its 22th session, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously
adopted the resolution on the prevention of genocide initiated by
Armenia. This year we are going to table another draft resolution.

It is inspiring that the representatives of the international community
are also engaged in Armenian-led initiatives. Moreover, its members
continue to bring their weighty contribution towards the recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

We are forever grateful to all those states and peoples who both in
times of the calamity and during the subsequent years, have granted
asylum to thousands of Armenians, giving them an opportunity to
survive and preserve their identity and become full-fledged members
of society in the given countries.

While attaching importance to the recognition and condemnation of
genocides as a means of preventing their recurrence, we also extend
our gratitude to all those states and organizations who continue
to reflect upon the crime committed against our nation. This bears
witness to the civilized world’s sincere commitment to the protection
of universal values, which inspires nations subjected to genocide
to believe in the restoration of justice and violated rights, just
condemnation of the crimes and inadmissibility of impunity.

The resolution titled “The Armenian Genocide and European Values”
adopted recently by the EPP Political Assembly on March 3, 2015
was a striking example of such a commitment. It contained serious
political messages on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
its condemnation and denial, and called upon Turkey to confront its
past. Such a position on the Armenian Genocide adopted by Europe’s
largest and most influential political force should indeed play a
guiding role for European institutions and EU member states.

It is clear that in today’s world the guarantee of stability and
normal development is peaceful co-existence and tolerance. This is
the very principle guiding us through the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, thereby not allowing Azerbaijan to ruin peace negotiations
with its bellicose statements and provocative actions. In contrast
to Azerbaijani authorities, whose provocative actions endanger the
stability of not only their state but also of the region, Armenia is
fully aware of the grave consequences of such adventurism. Therefore,
by containing Azerbaijan’s military provocations, we try to avoid
a new spark of the conflict, which will seriously deteriorate the
already unstable situation in our entire region.

We do not incite hostility and hatred among our people, which has
been an inseparable component of the policy carried out by the
Azerbaijani authorities for years. In contrast to the Azerbaijani
President who declared that the Armenian people are the number one
enemies of Azerbaijanis, I would like to highlight once again that
the Armenians do not have enemy nations.

It was Azerbaijan’s decades-long anti-Armenian policy and the
determination to restore historical justice that ultimately drove
the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to exercise their inviolable right to
self-determination – to build their own homeland on their own land.

Regardless of Azerbaijan’s threats and provocations, the wheel of
history is impossible to roll back: the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is
already a well-established reality and it is not feasible to break
the freedom-loving spirit of its people. To ascertain it, I am calling
upon you to visit Nagorno-Karabakh to get acquainted with the Artsakh
state-building on the ground and represent the objective reality to
your public.

The Armenian position on the settlement of the conflict remains
the same: it must be settled within the framework of the OSCE Minsk
Group, through peaceful negotiations on the basis of the three famous
principles of the Helsinki Final Act put forth by the Co-Chairs.

Azerbaijan’s efforts to alter the format provided by the Minsk
Group, talk to the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh from
a position of force, provocations and blackmail will not yield a
lasting solution. This is an unequivocal truth.

On January 27, 2015 the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group issued a
statement in Krakow on Azerbaijan’s destructive policy, in which they
called upon Azerbaijan to live up to its commitments to the peaceful
resolution of the conflict. I strongly believe that continued sending
of targeted messages calling to exercise restraint will incite certain
degree of vigilance with their true addressee.

Distinguished participants,

Although the recognition of the Genocide and settlement of the NK
conflict are of vital importance to us, our agenda is, of course,
much broader.

For centuries, our people have gone through hardships, which have
not been able to ruin Armenians’ resolute determination to preserve
their own identity, master their own destiny and, ultimately, build
an independent state. And we have managed to achieve our cherished
goals, which sometimes could have even looked like a dream.

In spite of the hardships that have fallen to our lot during the
years of our statehood, we have managed to build a democratic state
with a liberal economic model. We have not been alone in carrying
out the difficult task of state-building; we have always enjoyed the
support of friendly countries and their readiness to stand beside us
in tough times.

Among our country’s important political achievements is certainly the
establishment and development of civil society, which has actively
engaged itself with the government’s various initiatives, especially
in the recent years. In terms of indicators in the areas of human
rights, rule of law, economic policy and development Armenia leads
in the region, and considerably excels many countries of the region
in a number of indicators.

With its accomplishments and limitations, the free press that
comprehensively covers and introduces the public to the country’s
domestic and foreign affairs, is also a top achievement since
we gained our independence. According to the World Press Freedom
Index 2015 annual report released by the Reporters Without Borders,
Armenia was ranked the 78th out of 180 countries, occupying a leading
position among the CIS countries, and even surpassing some EU member
states such as Greece (91) and Bulgaria (106). It is obvious that
we are not satisfied with that indicator, but we try to assess it
from a comparative perspective, and if we see a real difference in
a five-year or three-year period, yes, we more or less appreciate it.

We have got actively working political opposition. I myself attach
great value to the establishment of constructive opposition and
perfectly understand that it is a key component of a democratic
consolidation.

Armenia has been actively engaged in the initiatives of the Open
Government Partnership, which pursues the objective of promoting
effectiveness, accountability and transparency in governance.

In this context, we also place great weight on the constitutional
reform that we have initiated in Armenia. It is aimed at improving
the constitutional mechanisms for realization of the rule of law
and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, ensuring
steady balance between the branches of government and promoting
good governance. Right now we have reached the stage of finalizing
the revised text of the constitution; a process which hinges on the
principle of utmost transparency and engages all interested parties.

We are fully aware that building a democratic society and country is
an ongoing process, and we are ready to make consistent efforts to
reach our goal.

Distinguished journalists,

Armenia’s foreign policy has always been based on the principle
of complementarity of different systems and accommodation of the
interests of great powers involved in the region. Joining the CSTO,
the Republic of Armenia has simultaneously enhanced its cooperation
with NATO, by contributing to the strengthening of international peace
and security through its participation in the peace-keeping missions.

Our country has developed and continues to develop allied strategic
partnership with Russia. The Armenian-Russian allied inter-State
relations are anchored in the close historical ties that existed
between the two nations. The close collaboration with the RF is a key
component of our security, economic development and stability. The RF
is Armenia’s largest trade partner: in 2014, our trade accounted for
more than 1.4 billion dollars, there are 1.3 thousand enterprises with
Russian capital in Armenia and the amount of Russian investments in
our economy have exceeded three billion dollars. I am confident that
for very many persons sitting in the hall these numbers seem small
and ridiculous, but believe me that for a small state and a small
economy such as Armenia these numbers are extremely important. We
cooperate with Russia in different sectors – energy, infrastructure,
industry etc. According to non-official data, there are around
2 million Armenians living in the RF. We also continue to deepen
our collaboration with the RF within the framework of international
organizations – the Eurasian Economic Union, CIS and CSTO. We attach
great importance to the Russia’s efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement
of the NK conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Our foreign policy is also aimed at reinforcement of our friendly
partnership with the US and of the special relationship with France.

Since independence, Armenian-American relations have continued to
develop dynamically. Currently our bilateral agenda includes various
sectors – political, economic, human, security and other dimensions –
in which we have been making further progress year to year.

I must express my content with the fact that owing to mutual efforts
our partnership has now reached its highest level in the history of
Armenian-American relations. The reciprocal visits at various levels
conducted in the recent years bear testimony to this.

We highly appreciate long-standing US support for the RA’s economic
development, multi-sectoral reforms, consolidation of democracy and
civil society, which pursue the objective to strengthen our statehood.

We also place great value on the US role in the maintenance of security
and stability in the region, especially on its active involvement in
the peaceful settlement of the NK problem.

Armenia is very keen on continuing interstate relations based on
shared values and the age-old friendship between the Armenian
and French peoples. We value the achievements embellishing our
interstate relations during the last two decades, which involve regular
promotion of political, economic, cultural, scientific and educational
cooperation, and effective implementation of the assistance programs.

The consistent and concerted efforts in the relations between Armenia
and France have resulted in a crucial haven, special relations we
enjoy. France’s role is invaluable both in the condemnation and
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide at the highest
level, and in the peaceful resolution of the NK conflict within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

Of course, deepening and broadening of our traditionally friendly
partnerships with neighboring countries, particularly, with the Islamic
Republic of Iran and Georgia are top priorities for our country.

We highly appreciate our mutually beneficial and multifaceted
cooperation with Iran, which is rooted in historical and cultural
similarities, reciprocal economic interests and in common approaches
to a number of regional issues.

The multifaceted relationship between Armenia and Iran is maintained
at the high level. This is testified by our active and high-level
political contacts, and agreements reached therein pertaining to the
effective implementation of joint political, economic and humanitarian
projects.

We are closely following the negotiations between the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the P5+1 over Iran’s nuclear program. We wish the issue to
be resolved as soon as possible, and the settlement to be acceptable to
all the parties. We are hopeful that the agreements that have already
been achieved will result in a comprehensive settlement of this issue.

I must express my content with the fact that in recent years
the high-level contacts between Armenia and Georgia have tangibly
intensified. Our active interstate dialogue rooted in the traditional,
historical and good-neighborly friendship and mutual understanding
between our peoples establishes serious prerequisites to outline
new dimensions in our partnership. As a result, we are building
effective mechanisms to swiftly address any issue on our current
bilateral agenda.

We have always attached great importance to Georgia’s role not only in
the development of our bilateral relations, but also in strengthening
and maintaining security in the South Caucasus.

The level of our political cooperation has provided favorable
conditions for promotion of bilateral economic cooperation. In this
regard, we have made considerable progress in the development of a
relevant legal framework.

>From January of 2015 onwards we have been a full-fledged member of
the Eurasian Economic Union. Since independence active involvement
in regional integration processes has been and continues to be
a priority for the Armenian foreign policy. In the 21st century
regional integration unions play a major role in helping small states
follow ongoing trends in the global economy and fully integrate into
it. In this regard taking into account the present structure of our
country’s economy, the geography of export and our economic ties with
EEU member states, the accession to the EEU opens up new prospects for
our country to develop. Free movement of goods, capital, services and
labor give our businessmen substantial opportunities to penetrate new
markets and reinforce their positions there. All this will naturally
stimulate employment opportunities in Armenia, increase of foreign
direct investments and development of our economy.

Distinguished journalists,

Being a full-fledged member of the European family and civilization
and building our development on the European principles and values,
we continue to make vigorous efforts to enhance our relations both
with individual European countries, and with the EU and our Western
partners. The cooperation between Armenia and EU has been marked
by major achievements, which is a result of our concerted efforts,
political will and mutual commitment. Throughout these years,
the large-scale reforms in Armenia have been at the forefront of
our dialogue. To raise the effectiveness of those reforms, we have
transformed the executive structure, establishing the Ministry of
International Economic Integration and Reforms, which will coordinate
those processes.

We intend to maintain these achievements and, moreover, to deepen
and buttress them with further initiatives. This is proved by the
Armenia-EU Joint Statement adopted in Vilnius in November of 2013,
in which the parties reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further
enhancing and strengthening multi-sectoral cooperation. We are taking
active steps both towards development of a new legal framework for
our relations with the EU and pushing forward our agenda with NATO.

Meanwhile, I have to note that under conditions of the boisterous pace
at which globalization has proceeded in the 21st century, when the
world is moving towards formation of a single common area, when it
seems that the economic borders between the states are losing their
importance, it is meaningless to speak about conflicting integration
models. In this respect, as I have said on numerous occasions before
by joining the EEU, Armenia could serve as a connecting link between
the business communities of EEU states and Western countries.

Our country’s foreign policy agenda has been expanding with every
passing day through embracing new partners. Our relations with the
countries of the Latin American and Asian countries have intensified,
and we continue to maintain traditionally good relations with the
Arab world. Among the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, we have
kept on promoting close cooperation with China, Japan and with a host
of other states. In a few days, I am going to pay a State Visit to
China, which I am sure will give a new impetus to the development of
our bilateral relations in various fields.

Of course, our foreign policy and security cannot remain unaffected
by events unfolding in neighboring regions and, in general, in the
international arena. By this I refer to the alarming developments
in Ukraine and the Middle East. Today, the so called Islamic State
based in the territories of Syria and Iraq poses a real threat to both
regional and international security. In the Middle East, the cradle of
ancient civilizations, those very civilizations risk being destroyed.

Armenian communities in Syria and Iraq are also affected by that
situation. The Armenian Genocide survivors, who had found shelter in
Syria and Iraq, now have to face the mentioned challenges. Armenia
has already accepted more than ten thousand refugees from Syria.

Armenia condemns the crimes and atrocities committed by the Islamic
State, the Al Nusra Front and by other terrorist groups, and calls
on the international community to take decisive steps against this
newly-emerged calamity. In this context, Armenia expresses its full
support to the complete implementation of the relevant resolutions
of the UN Security Council.

Distinguished journalists,

I think this is all and now I am ready to respond to your questions”.

TWO PROMINENT ISTANBUL-ARMENIANS: TWO WIDELY DIVERGENT VIEWS OF 1915

Anna Muradyan

11:45, March 18, 2015

Hetq talks to Bedros Ã…~^irinoglu and Dikran Altun, two influential
members of the Armenian community of Istanbul regarding their
perceptions of the events of 1915.

Bedros Ã…~^irinoglu serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Holy
Savior (Surp Prgich) Armenian Hospital in Istanbul. His family roots
are in Bardizag (now Bahcecik) near Izmit. His business interests are
in construction, tourism and woodworking. He is known to have close
relations with ruling Turkish government officials.

Erzurum born businessman Dikran Altun has supported building bridges
between the Armenian community in Turkey and Armenia since the latter
gained independence from the Soviet Union. He’s probably best known
as the person who launched a charter air flight between Yerevan and
Istanbul that operates twice a week despite the closed border between
the two nations.

Hetq – What is your perception regarding the events of 1915?

Ã…~^irinoglu- What I’m about to say may seem strange to most Armenians
in Armenia and to most Turks, but I believe that those events were
planned by outsiders in an attempt to put an end to the Ottoman Empire.

It was done not only in the case of Armenians, but all nationalities.

It was a plan to destroy the empire of the Ottomans.

Hetq – While you describe the current Turkish government in a positive
light, I remember that in the past certain Armenians had good relations
with the Turkish elite. And look what happened back then.

Aren’t you afraid that the same will happen again?

Ã…~^irinoglu – Those actions were started by the Ä°ttihat ve Terakki
Cemiyet (Committee of Union and Progress – CUP). There were also
Armenians in that organization. And Armenians murdered fellow
Armenians.

There were powerful and rich Armenians living in Anatolia at the time.

Of course there were also poor Armenians. But the CUP enlisted rich
Armenians into its ranks and thus Armenians killed other Armenians.

In 1908 Patriarch Ormanian petitioned the people and asked ‘What are
you doing? You are preparing to turn Anatolia into a sea of blood.’

Altun – True, Armenians killed one another and that other such things
happened. But such things cannot be the cause to kill children, women,
old people or an entire nation. Bedros only talks about the Genocide,
but it continued after 1915.

While I cannot say if the plans of the CUP continue in this current
government or not, but did we kill one another or were those 300,000
a threat to Turkey. [Altun refers to the estimated 300,000 Armenians
who remained in Turkey after the Genocide. Due to a policy of state
discrimination, many either converted to Islam or left the country.

Estimates place the current number of Armenians in Turkey between
50,000 and 70,000]

The idea is the same. Armenians must be destroyed. Today, Erdogan is
here and we are alright. But on different occasions when I meet with
foreign ambassadors I tell them that they [Turks] do not want us here.

They don’t trust us.

Hetq – If that’s the case, what’s the fate of the Armenian community
in Istanbul?

Ã…~^irinoglu – What happened to Beirut or Syria? Or to Iraq? No one
knows what will happen here. Right now Erdogan is powerful. What he
will do for Turkey is unclear. If something happens we, as citizens,
are in the middle of it and will be affected.

Syrian-Armenians were comfortable and content. But look what has
happened. Where have they all gone? Some believe that I am against
Armenia, but that’s not true. I too am Armenian. I do not seek
revenge. Rather, I want the future to be good. I want our community
and Armenians overall to continue to live in good conditions.

This is my view. Let’s put aside 1915 for a moment and forget. Let
the border open and give people a chance to come and go. Later on,
or at the same time, let the historians from France and elsewhere,
including Armenia, sit down and discuss those events.

Altun – What exactly will they discuss? Did it happen or not? We
know it happened. If they are to gather and discuss how it happened
or why it happened, that is possible. But first, they have to accept
that which happened.

Ã…~^irinoglu – This government will not accept such a thing.

Altun – Of course it will not because other things will follow if
they do.

Ã…~^irinoglu – Sometime after 2004 an elderly couple approached me. I
asked them if they had lived through the Genocide. They said they did.

I asked them if only the Ottomans did wrong things. ‘Didn’t we do
wrong things as well’, I asked. ‘We did many wrong things’, they
answered. I then asked why they didn’t talk about this. The couple
replied that they no longer had the heart to talk about such matters.

‘We began by only talking about the Ottomans and that outsiders [the
diaspora-AM] continue only to mention the Ottomans’ was their reply.

Altun – Naturally, we did wrong things as well. I believe that the ARF
(Dashnaktsutyun) did the most. But what does this resemble? Bedros,
I do something wrong to you. I kill you and your family. And not
only your family but to all those bearing the last name of Altun. I
destroy them all and then say that you started it all. That you did
wrong as well. This cannot be.

There is a hierarchy in this country. At the very top is the Turk.

Then comes the Cherkez, the Laz, the Jew, and then the Armenian. At
the very bottom right now is the Kurd. If any of them wants to move
up the ladder or be equal, the order will be upset.

Ã…~^irinoglu – I accept all of this. But the ottomans were very
powerful at the time and then they started to slowly weaken. Greece
was separated and later Syria and the rest. Our people launched their
own movements.

The outsiders, the English and French, regarded Armenians as an active
and governing group. They came and told the Armenians that everything
is in your hands, the money and industry. We will give you weapons and
you strike from within. Most of us rejected these overtures but some
accepted the offer. And those same people who were giving weapons to
the Armenians went to the Sultan and told him that the Armenians are
arming themselves. But the sultan doesn’t believe this so they take
him and show him what Armenian homes have weapons. So the sultan
becomes fearful and orders that the weapons be collected from the
Armenians. That’s why Armenians hid their weapons in the walls.

Given this, the Russians enter the picture. They tell the Kurds that
they will liberate them and will give all the Armenian property to
them. So the Kurds killed us.

Many Ottomans protected us from the Kurds. Some people told them where
the Armenians were hiding, in what Ottoman house. They trusted us so
much and regarded us as faithful citizens that they couldn’t believe
that we betrayed them. That’s why the situation went to the extreme
[i.e. the Genocide-AM]

Afterwards, at the end of the war, the English and French fleets
arrived and captured Istanbul. Why? Because they wanted to dissect
the Ottoman Empire.

Altun – Those people entered the war and lost. Naturally, when you
lose the war the enemy comes and captures your capital. Didn’t the
same happen to Berlin?

You’re talking as if the Ottoman or the Turk hadn’t done a thing and
was standing by peacefully and all of a sudden the English and French
came and captured this place. This isn’t acceptable.

I have revealed the cause of the Genocide, at least for me.

Until the French Revolution there was no such thing as nationalism.

There was only the feudal system. This concept made its way east from
Europe. The first to be affected were the Greeks and the Bulghars,
who wanted to separate from the Ottoman Empire and have their own
nation state and maintain their national character.

Later on, that movement reached here. And who were the ones in contact
with France and Europe? It was the Armenians.

That’s to say that the Ottomans didn’t know how to read or write.

Let’s not say the Ottomans but rather the Muslims. From my grandfather
I know that until 1936 in Kayseri (Kesaria) if one wanted to insult
someone they’d call him a Turk; that’s to say an illiterate.

Thus, there were many nationalities at the time within the Ottomans
who began to think about issues such as national identity. At the
time, a Greek would say he was Greek, an Armenian would say he was
Armenian. But if you asked any Muslim, he wouldn’t say he was a Kurd
or an Arab, or a Turk. They’d all say they were Muslims.

When the CUP saw the Balkans slip away, then the Arabs, they realized
that the unity based on Islam was no longer of any use. A new mortar
was needed and it was being a Turk. But where would they find these
new Turks? Greeks saw themselves as Greek and Armenians as Armenians.

Thus, Turks would be created from Muslims without any notions or
feelings of nationalism.

And the Greeks lost much more than us – Trabzon, Antalya, Izmir, and
Konya. They lived on their lands as much as we did on ours. They were
all packed on to ships and tossed into the sea to drown. If we left
2,100 churches behind, they left 10,000. The CUP didn’t want anyone
but Muslims left on these lands.

Now, seeing that Turkishness hasn’t worked because people are standing
up and saying we aren’t Turks but Kurds, the military and the state
got together and discussed the matter. They understood that in order
to prevent the dismemberment of the nation the mortar holding it all
together must again be Islam.

Top photo: Dikran Altun, Bedros Ã…~^irinoglu

(This is an abridged version of the Armenian)

45 BORDERING COMMUNITIES IN TAVUSH TO BENEFIT FROM RUSSIA-FUNDED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

15:15, 18 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Over the next 5 years 45 bordering communities of Tavush region,
with an overall population of 62,000, will have the opportunity to
develop their own community plans, prioritizing activities – such
as infrastructure and income generating activities – for financing
within the framework of “Integrated Support to Rural Development:
Building Resilient Communities” project, financed by the Government
of the Russian Federation and implemented by the UNDP in Armenia, in
close partnership with the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration
and Emergency Situations. The project budget is over USD 5 million.

Today, Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident
Representative in Armenia, Armen Yeritsyan, Minister of Territorial
Administration and Emergency Situations, and Ivan Volynkin, Ambassador
of the Russian Federation to Armenia, signed the relevant documents to
launch the project. Representatives of government agencies responsible
for rural and community development, as well as international
organizations, diplomatic corps and media attended the event.

“UNDP, as a global development organization, tries to reach remote
communities in Armenia with the support needed not to provide short
term emergency aid, but sustained development support. Our added value
has several facets – neutrality, impartiality, flexibility, as well
as innovation, which makes UNDP special as a development partner for
Armenia. For more than two decades UNDP has worked closely with the
government and other development partners to make Armenia a better
place to live and work. In this context, I would like to express my
gratitude to the Governments of Russian Federation and Armenia for
the excellent collaboration and for this important partnership to
support vulnerable communities. By working together, we can make a
difference to peoples lives,” said Bradley Busetto, UN RC/UNDP RR in
his welcoming remarks.

“Russia consistently builds up its efforts in providing support to
its foreign partners in achieving sustainable development. Priority
recipients of the Russian international development assistance are CIS
countries and its partners in Eurasian integration. The importance
of this UNDP programme is its focus on complex development of the
vulnerable bordering communities in Tavush region and the positive
experience of its realization could be transferred to other communities
of the country. It should be noted that UNDP is a reliable partner
of the Russian Federation which has an excellent reputation and huge
experience accumulated within years of work globally,” said Ivan
Volynkin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation.

“We have 915 communities in Armenia and they have unique problems and
challenges. In order to make the country’s territorial administration
more efficient, it is necessary to engage in each community and
village, especially in bordering regions. Bordering communities are
always in the focus of the Government of Armenia, which carries
out various measures aimed at their support and development. We
are confident that this project will be an invaluable investment
to mitigate the burden felt in bordering communities,” noted Armen
Yeritsyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency
Situations.

Since 2001, UNDP in Armenia has provided support to over
150 communities in Armenia, including rehabilitation of rural
infrastructures and providing income generation, while building
institutional capacities through jointly developed local community
plans.

LE 18 MARS 1915, LA DERNIERE CHANCE PAR MANOUG ATAMIAN

HISTOIRE

On sait que le 25 avril 1915, les Allies et principalement les
Britanniques tentèrent de conquerir la presqu’ile de Gallipoli dans le
detroit des Dardanelles et qu’ils subirent un echec, après des mois
de vains combats. C’est ce debarquement dont le gouvernement turc
s’apprete a commemorer le centenaire, en le decalant d’une journee
pour le faire coïncider avec le 24 avril, on se demande pourquoi…

Mais cette tentative n’etait que la suite de l’echec de l’attaque
navale franco-britannique du 18 mars, dont l’objectif etait la prise
de Constantinople, et dont la reussite aurait, a mon avis, empeche
la mise en application du genocide des Armeniens. Malheureusement,
suite a la perte, dues a des mines non detectees, de quelques navires
vetustes qu’on avait place a dessein en tete de l’escadre, la panique
gagna l’amiral anglais John de Robeck nomme a ce poste seulement deux
jours auparavant, et il decida de retirer ses bateaux.

C’est Winston Churchill, en qualite de Premier Lord de l’Amiraute,
c’est-a-dire ministre de la Marine, qui fut le principal instigateur
de cette strategie, dont l’echec lui fut injustement attribue, malgre
une commission d’enquete qui le disculpa complètement. Quels etaient
les motivations d’un tel projet ?

Au debut de 1915, la Russie etait deja très affaiblie par les coups
de boutoir des armees allemandes et manquait de munitions et meme
de simples fusils pour equiper ses nouvelles troupes. Le front du
Caucase etait menace par les Turcs (c’etait juste avant la defaite
d’Enver a Sarikamich), aussi le Grand Duc Nicolas, Commandant en chef
des armees russes, demanda aux Britanniques d’agir contre l’Empire
Ottoman pour soulager leur fardeau ( un peu comme Staline qui reclama
la meme chose aux memes Anglais en 1941-43).

D’autant plus que depuis l’entree en guerre de la Turquie en novembre
1914, la Russie etait complètement isolee et surtout, elle ne pouvait
plus exporter son ble, avec des consequences financières risquant des Puissances Centrales,
autrement dit la Turquie et particulièrement la presqu’ile de Gallipoli
qui protegeait la capitale du cote mediterraneen, mais qui n’etait
alors defendue que par deux divisions.

Et d’emblee, on envisagea une attaque combinee terrestre et navale,
mais le ministre de la Guerre du Royaume-Uni, le prestigieux Lord
Kitchener, declara qu’il n’avait pas de troupes disponibles, puis
accorda une division, la 29ème, prete a partir en fevrier, les navires
pour la transporter a quai. Puis il se ravisa et on annula tout.

Churchill trouva alors une solution de rechange en obtenant l’accord
de Venizelos, le Premier ministre grec, pour debarquer plusieurs
divisions sur Gallipoli, et de ce fait entrer en guerre contre l’Empire
Ottoman. La deportation par les Jeunes-Turcs de plusieurs centaines
de milliers de Grecs d’Asie Mineure en 1914 n’etait pas oubliee. Mais
c’est alors que le Tsar, voulant empecher a tout prix l’entree des
Grecs a Constantinople, mis son veto a cette intervention. En effet,
les Allies lui avaient promis qu’ a l’issue du conflit, il obtiendrait
l’annexion de la >, un vieux reve russe…Et la
Churchill, dans ses memoires sur la Grande Guerre redigees dans les
annees vingt, (et qui viennent d’etre publiees en francais) a un cri
du coeur : >.

Ekaterinenbourg, c’est la ville dans laquelle la famille imperiale
fut assassinee en 1919 par les Bolcheviques, mais par ses decisions a
courte vue dont celle evoquee ici, le Tsar a bien scie les branches
sur lesquelles il etait assis, malheureusement en entrainant avec
lui des millions de victimes et indirectement le peuple armenien.

Et suite a l’echec du 18 mars (>, ecrit Churchill et le grand expert en strategie Sir Basil
Liddell Hart exprima la meme opinion) le gouvernement Jeune-Turc,
qui s’appretait a fuir la capitale, cria victoire : la plus puissante
flotte du monde avait rebrousse chemin ! Les consequences en furent
fatales pour les Armeniens : le plan d’extermination deja elabore
les mois precedents, fut mis en application. Dans son dernier
ouvrage redige avec Yves Ternon, l’historien Raymond Kevorkian
date cette prise de decision entre le 22 et le 25 mars, moins d’une
semaine après la retraite des navires allies ! Et dès la fin mars,
les Turcs > la faisabilite du plan de deportation en
commencant par la ville de Zeïtoun, ordre auquel leurs valeureux
habitants se soumirent sur injonction du Catholicos de Cilicie, qui
esperait ainsi preserver la vie des Armeniens de cette province,
une illusion… Or, si Constantinople avait ete conquise en mars,
comme cela etait possible, la fuite du gouvernement Jeune-Turc aurait
forcement perturbe la realisation du projet criminel. Des massacres
se seraient sans doute produits, ne serait-ce que pour faire payer aux
Armeniens la chute de leur capitale si difficilement conquise en 1453,
mais l’organisation du genocide aurait probablement ete enrayee. On
ne peut commettre un tel acte en quelques jours, et les Turcs, en
ayant les mains libres, precisement a cause de la reculade du 18 mars,
mirent pourtant des mois pour accomplir leur crime, qui se poursuivit
jusqu’en 1916.

A contrario, le debarquement allie du 25 avril tombait trop tard. La
rafle de l’elite armenienne datait de la veille, avec tout ce qui
s’ensuivit. Et de toute facon, l’echec de ce > etait
previsible, les Turcs et leurs cadres militaires allemands, prevenus de
l’attaque, avaient renforce leur defense et avaient triple le nombre
de leurs divisions dans la peninsule et ils tenaient les hauteurs
très escarpees.

Quant aux Allies, les consequences de cette campagne mal organisee dès
le debut, furent exactement a l’oppose du but poursuivi : on voulait
tendre une main secourable a la Russie, on echoua complètement, et
cela se termina par la Revolution et le retrait des Russes du champ
de bataille ; et d’autre part, suite a cet echec, la Bulgarie entra
en guerre en septembre 1915 du côte germano-turc, ce qui provoqua
l’effondrement de la Serbie et surtout, la jonction territoriale entre
l’Allemagne et la Turquie, laquelle put ainsi etre secourue en armes
et munitions et continuer la guerre jusqu’en 1918. Non seulement on
ne reussit pas a relier entre eux les Allies, mais ce sont finalement
les Puissances Centrales qui se retrouvèrent d’un seul tenant, de
Bruxelles a la Mecque.

Pour qu’un genocide >, comme c’est le cas en
accidentologie, il faut une conjonction de causes. Pour le peuple
armenien, la dernière de ces causes fut l’echec du 18 mars 1915,
le signe malefique du Destin.

mercredi 18 mars 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

TURKEY LAUNCHES WORK ON $10 BN PIPELINE TO PUMP AZERI GAS TO EUROPE

Aquila Style, Singapore
March 18 2015

By Fulya OZERKAN / Stuart WILLIAMS in Istanbul

Turkey and Azerbaijan on Tuesday formally began construction on a
new gas pipeline costing $10 billion which will pump gas from the
vast Azerbaijani Shah Deniz 2 field across Anatolia to Turkish and
EU consumers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham
Aliyev and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili simultaneously
pushed three buttons to launch work at the eastern end of the pipeline
in the ceremony in the Kars region of eastern Turkey.

“In the name of God!” said the pious Erdogan as he pushed the button
to the booming sound of the theme music from the film “Pirates of
the Caribbean” in the televised ceremony.

The EU, whose energy commissioner Maros Sefcovic was at the ceremony,
is backing the project as part of its Southern Corridor policy to
bring gas from new eastern markets and reduce dependence on Russia
for supplies.

The 1,850 kilometre (1,150 mile) Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline
(TANAP) pipeline — which is due to be completed in 2018 — is to link
up to the existing South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) which links Turkey
to the Azerbaijani gas fields in the Caspian Sea through Georgia.

The backers of the project expect that the TANAP will then link up with
the planned Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) that will bring the gas from
western Turkey to Greece, Albania and across the Adriatic to Italy.

Project of peace

The pipelines avoid Armenia, with whom Azerbaijan and Turkey have
frozen ties due to the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict and the dispute over
the mass killings of Armenians in World War I.

But Erdogan said the pipeline would not only carry Shah Deniz gas to
Europe but also “carry peace”.

“Oil and natural gas projects are unfortunately associated in the world
with conflicts, competitions, fights, wars and exploitation. I believe
that this project will be remembered with peace and welfare,” he said.

He confirmed the project would cost $10 billion, far more than when
it was originally conceived in 2012.

According to the partnership agreement signed last week, Azerbaijan’s
state energy firm SOCAR and Turkey’s Botas will hold 58 percent and
30 percent stakes respectively while British energy giant BP has a
12 percent share.

“Without TANAP you cannot get Azerbaijani gas across Turkey,” said
Laurent Ruseckas, senior advisor in global gas at IHS Energy in London.

“The development of Shah Deniz 2 depends on getting all the pipelines
from the Caspian Sea to Italy built and a big part of that is TANAP.”

Small share of overall market

The total investment in Shah Deniz 2, including the cost of the
pipeline infrastructure, is $40-45 billion.

The field will have 16 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas production per
year with 6 bcm pumped to Turkish consumers and 10 bcm sent to Europe.

“This is a small share of the overall market,” commented Ruseckas,
who projects total consumption this year in the EU at 444 bcm.

Erdogan said annual volumes would eventually increase to a capacity
of shipping 22 bcm and subsequently 31 bcm.

However Turkey, whose relations with Moscow have warmed considerably
in recent years, is also talking with Russia on a new Turkish Stream
pipeline that will pump Russian gas under the Black Sea to its
territory and Europe.

The Turkish Stream pipeline is aimed at replacing Russia’s South
Stream project for pumping gas to Europe avoiding Ukraine, which
President Vladimir Putin dramatically pulled last year citing a lack
of cooperation from the EU.

Russia has expressed doubts about the TANAP project with its envoy to
the European Union Vladimir Chizov saying it was “extremely challenging
from a technical point of view” and “exorbitantly expensive”.

However Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that TANAP was not a
rival to Turkish Stream, whose final terms are still being negotiated
with Russia.

“TANAP should not contradict Turkish Stream because these two
projects intend to carry gas from two different sources — Russia
and Azerbaijan,” said Chi-Kong Chyong at the European Council on
Foreign Relations.

LES MEMBRES DU CONGRES VONT DEVOILER AUJOURD’HUI UNE RESOLUTION SUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

USA

Mercredi 18 Mars, les Representants Robert Dold (R-Ill.), Adam Schiff
(D-Calif.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), et Frank Pallone (DN.J.),
ainsi que d’autres membres du Congrès et les membres de la communaute
armenienne, devoileront la resolution sur la verite et la justice sur
le genocide armenien devant le Capitole, a indique le Comite National
Armenien d’Amerique (ANCA).

Cette resolution bipartisane va appeler le president Barack Obama
a travailler en faveur de relations armeno-turques equitables,
constructives et durables basees sur la pleine reconnaissance par la
Turquie des faits et consequences du genocide armenien.

mercredi 18 mars 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

INTELLECTUALS IN ARMENIA DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS OVER COAT OF ARMS (VIDEO)

10:59 | March 18,2015 | Politics

Intellectuals in Armenia continue to debate on whether we need to
change the coat of arms and national anthem. The issue has divided
our intellectuals into two teams.

“Our coat of arms seems to be a symbol of coward and retreating
policy,” says Karen Aghamyan, Chairman of the Artists’ Union of
Armenia. He adds that a state commission has been set up for changing
the coat of arms.

Mkrtich Minasyan, Chairman of the Union of Architects, suggests using
a changed version of the coat of arms that was drawn by prominent
Armenian painter Martiros Saryan.

Sculptor Ferdinand Arakelyan also approves the version created by
Martiros Saryan in which he sees kindness and optimism.

Details are available in the video.

PUTIN, ERDOGAN DISCUSS ‘TURKISH STREAM’ GAS PROJECT

Cihan News Agency, Turkey
March 18 2015

CIHAN | ISTANBUL- 18.03.2015 18:00:33

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
discussed the “Turkish Stream” gas project during a phone call, the
Kremlin stated on Tuesday, as Moscow continues to push for its new
undersea pipeline to Europe.

Facing objections from the European Union, Russia in December abandoned
its $40 billion South Stream project, which would have passed under
the Black Sea to Bulgaria and carried up to 63 billion cubic meters
of gas annually to Europe.

Russia has now pinned its hopes on Turkey, hoping to construct a
“Turkish Stream” pipeline with the same capacity on the Turkey-Greece
border by the end of 2016.

Turkish officials have said the plans are unlikely to progress
as quickly as Russia would like, given Ankara’s concerns about
overdependence on Russian energy. But the Kremlin’s statement added
that Putin and Erdogan did discuss the project during a phone call,
without giving further details.

Turkish presidential sources also told Reuters the two discussed
developments in Ukraine, with Erdogan saying he plans to visit Ukraine
this week.

They also discussed the “events of 1915,” the sources said in reference
to the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman soldiers during World
War I. The contested events continue to sour relations between Turkey
and Armenia, a former Soviet republic.

Ankara accepts that many Armenians were killed in clashes, but
denies that up to 1.5 million were killed in an act of genocide —
a description used by some historians and governments.

Minister says word is bond in Gazprom deal

Amid media reports arguing that Turkey failed to reach a deal over
a discount in gas prices with Russia’s Gazprom, Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Taner Yıldız said on Wednesday that trust between
the two countries has as much importance as signatures, confirming
that no deal, despite pledges, had yet been made.

In late February, the minister announced that Gazprom cut natural
gas prices to the state-run Turkish Pipeline Corporation (BOTAÃ…~^)
by 10.25 percent; however, due to the ever-weakening Turkish lira,
he said customers would not benefit from the reduction. But even a
10.25 discount has yet to be secured, the minister admitted, saying
that signatures follow negotiations.

Speaking at the 14th Turkish International Oil & Gas Conference
(TUROGE), Yıldız said: “The trust between the Russian Federation
and us is at least as important as writing [signatures]. If I made a
statement, if I said a 10.25 percent discount had been reached, you
were informed by the primary source… The signatures follow after,
there is no problem.”

The minister added that the discount would soon be reflected in market
prices. Yıldız’s remarks falsified the ground for his earlier pretext
that he presented for not decreasing the price at the market despite
the alleged deal with Gazprom. The minister asserted that customers
would not benefit from the discount due to the depreciating value of
the Turkish lira against the US dollar.

Turkey is heavily dependent on energy imports and purchases around 60
percent of its natural gas from Russia, paying in US dollars. Yet,
the lira has lost much more value as of March 18 than in February,
when the minister addressed the weakening lira for not reflecting
the discount in the home market.

LES ARMENIENS D’ANATOLIE FACE A LEURS RACINES CHRETIENNES

Publie le : 18-03-2015

Info Collectif VAN – – >
Le Collectif VAN Le Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction de
Gilbert Beguian d’un article en anglais de Vartan Estukyan publie
sur le site d’Agos le 26 janvier 2015.

Legende : Des fidèles chretiens dans l’eglise armenienne de Sourp
Guiragos, a Diyarbakir (Turquie) – Photographie Berge Arabian.

NAM

Les Armeniens d’Anatolie en attente de leurs pretres

AGOS

Vartan Estukyan

26 janvier 2015

Bien qu’il y ait des eglises armeniennes a Diyarbakir, a Van et
Kayseri, des messes regulières ne peuvent etre celebrees, des pretres
n’etant pas designes par le Patriarcat. Il n’y a aucun representant
religieux officiel dans les eglises de Turquie, excepte dans celles
d’Istanbul et d’Iskenderun.

Outre le fait que les Armeniens en Anatolie soient confrontes a des
difficultes diverses pour sauvegarder leur identite, ils continuent a
faire des efforts pour retourner a leurs racines et garder vivante la
culture de leurs ancetres. L’un des plus grands obstacles rencontres
est l’accès a une eglise, la plupart d’entre elles ayant ete
endommagee. Par ailleurs, bien qu’il y ait des eglises armeniennes
a Diyarbakir, a Van et Kayseri, des messes regulières n’y sont pas
celebrees faute de pretres designes par le Patriarcat.

Pour l’instant, le seul ecclesiastique servant de facon permanente
est le frère Avedis Tahasyan, religieux officiel de l’eglise Karasun
Manuk a Iskenderun et de l’eglise Surp Asdvazadzin de Vakifli Koy. En
plus de Tabasyan, le frère Krikor Damatyan et le diacre Artun Damatyan
visitent les eglises a travers l’Anatolie au cours des semaines qui
suivent les fetes importantes, celebrant des Messes Badarak avec
la communaute armenienne locale. Damatyan est en fait le religieux
en charge de l’eglise Kadikoy d’Istanbul et se trouve en ce moment
en Anatolie. Les besoins en ecclesiastiques permanents en Anatolie
sont continuels. L’Archeveque Atesyan a repondu a nos questions
sur ce point : ” Nous ne pouvons pas dire que la messe n’est pas
celebree en Anatolie. Le frère Krikor Damatyan se trouvait a Elazig
la semaine passee, et se rendra a Sivas cette semaine. Et le frère
Avedis Tabasyan sert la messe a Iskenderun “. Quoiqu’il en soit, les
Armeniens d’Anatolie pensent que des representants ecclesiastiques
devraient se trouver en permanence dans leurs eglises.

Diyarbakir est le centre

Armen Galustyan, le President de l’Association Sociale Solidaire
du Tourisme Armenien du Daron a Mouch, a critique le Patriarcat et
soutenu qu’un representant officiel devrait se trouver dans chaque
eglise d’Anatolie. ” Diyarbakir a une position très centrale, elle est
seulement distante d’une heure de beaucoup de villes d’Anatolie. Il
faudrait non seulement un representant religieux a Diyarbakir,
egalement a Van, mais il faudrait au moins un representant religieux
permanent a Diyarbakir. Et la messe devrait etre dite au moins deux
fois par mois. Il y a des Armeniens vivant dans beaucoup de villes
entre Mouch et Kayseri en passant par Batman. Ces gens ont retrouve
leur identite et ils veulent la garder vivante. L’eglise est de la
première importance a ce point de vue “.

Galustyan declare aussi que pour lui, l’eglise a une dimension
culturelle avant sa dimension religieuse : ” Pour moi, l’Eglise est
ma culture. Je veux que mes funerailles se deroulent ici, je veux etre
marie dans une eglise. Mais personne ne se soucie de cela a Istanbul.

La communaute d’ici ne deviendra jamais active si un representant
religieux n’est pas envoye d’Istanbul “.

” Aucun eglise n’est restee debout ! ”

Hikmet Bakirci, un resident d’Adiyaman, declare que les Armeniens
d’Adiyaman assistent a la messe dans l’Ancienne Eglise Syriaque.

Bakirci dit qu’en majorite, les fidèles qui assistent a la messe dans
l’ancienne Eglise Syriaque sont des Armeniens, et que dans la mesure où
dans les villes environnantes, aucune des eglises armeniennes n’est en
etat de recevoir la messe, ils sont forces de tenir leurs ceremonies
religieuses dans d’autres eglises : ” Toutes les eglises armeniennes
dans la region ont ete detruites. L’eglise en meilleur etat se trouve a
Diyarbakir, mais c’est relativement loin. Nous ne pouvons nous y rendre
que pour les fetes religieuses. La seule eglise dans laquelle une messe
peut etre celebree a Adiyaman est l’ancienne eglise syriaque. Nous y
donnons une messe environ toutes les deux semaines, et quelquefois,
trois fois par mois. 80% de ceux qui y assistent sont Armeniens “.

” Les Armeniens ont ete Syriacises”

Les circonstances a Diyarbakir sont differentes. Melike Dara Gunal,
un citoyen de Diyarbakir, dit que les Armeniens d’Anatolie ont ete
soit islamises progressivement, ou ont perdu leur foi, tandis que
quelques Armeniens se sont adaptes a la culture syriaque. ” La plupart
des Armeniens de Diyarbakir, pour des raisons sociales et politiques,
ont ete convertis a l’Islam ou ont perdu leur foi. Par consequent, la
designation d’un representant religieux permanent n’importe aucunement
a ce groupe. Le nombre d’Armeniens chretiens, tristement, ne depasse
pas quelques-uns. Et ils ont ete influences par la theologie syriaque,
et se sont adaptes a la culture de l’Eglise syriaque “.

Gunal ajoute qu’il y a egalement quelques Armeniens qui souhaitent
qu’un representant religieux permanent soit designe pour l’eglise Sourp
Guiragos : ” Meme peu nombreux, ils sont quelques-uns a vouloir que
soit nomme un representant religieux permanent afin que la Chretiente,
element fondamental de la culture armenienne, y soit enseignee. Les
quelques Armeniens anatoliens qui restent s’efforcent de garder
leur foi vivante. Cependant, les generations d’Armeniens les plus
jeunes perdent leur identite, etant detaches de l’eglise ; ils sont
soit syriacises, soit kurdifies, soit turquifies. La presence d’un
representant religieux permanent est de grande importance pour la
sauvegarde des Armeniens d’Anatolie.

Vartan Estukyan

Journal AGOS

Traduction Gilbert Beguian

samedi 14 mars 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

Article en anglais :

Armenians in Anatolia wait for clergy

Source/Lien : NAM

EURONEST EN ARMENIE: DEBAT SUR LE NOUVEAU PAYSAGE POLITIQUE

Publie le : 18-03-2015

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous invite
a lire cette de presse publiee sur le site du Parlement europeen le
17 mars 2015.

Parlement europeen

Communique de presse

Assemblee Euronest en Armenie: les deputes europeens et des pays
voisins de l’est debattent du nouveau paysage politique

17-03-2015 – 10:05

Les reponses du Parlement europeen face aux changements radicaux dans
le voisinage oriental de l’UE, causes par l’agression de la Russie
en Ukraine mais aussi par les accords d’associations de l’UE avec
l’Ukraine, la Moldavie et la Georgie, feront l’objet d’un debat entre
les deputes europeens et des pays du partenariat oriental. Ce debat est
organise a l’occasion de la quatrième session ordinaire de l’Assemblee
parlementaire Euronest qui se tient cette semaine a Erevan en Armenie.

“Pendant les six annees d’existence du partenariat oriental, le
contexte politique a change, notamment en raison de l’agression russe
en Ukraine. Nous devons reflechir a de nouvelles formes de cooperation,
comme la securite energetique qui est un sujet de preoccupation tant
pour l’UE que pour ses partenaires orientaux. La reflexion actuelle
de l’UE sur l’union de l’energie pourrait offrir des solutions”,
a declare la co-presidente de l’Assemblee Euronest, Heidi Hautala
(Verts/ALE, FI).

“Les negociations a Erevan, tant formelles qu’informelles,
contribueront a faconner le message que l’UE et les parlements des
voisins de l’est souhaitent envoyer au sommet de Riga en mai, où
de nouvelles decisions historiques sur l’avenir de la region seront
prises”, a-t-elle ajoute.

Outre la preparation du message au sommet du partenariat oriental a
Riga (Lettonie), les deputes europeens et des parlements d’Armenie,
d’Azerbaïdjan, de Georgie, de Moldavie et d’Ukraine s’accorderont sur
une position commune concernant l’agression de la Russie en Ukraine.

Par ailleurs, les parlementaires aborderont le recours a l’aide
financière de l’UE, les progrès de reformes dans les pays du
partenariat oriental, ainsi que la mise en oeuvre des accords
d’association signes avec l’UE.

Parmi les autres sujets a l’ordre du jour figurent des projets
routiers, ferroviaires, et en matière de cooperation energetique,
ainsi que le dialogue interculturel visant a rapprocher les societes
de l’est et de l’ouest de l’Europe.

Assemblee Euronest en Armenie: les deputes europeens et des pays
voisins de l’est debattent du nouveau paysage politique

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Euronest : >

La quatrième session ordinaire de l’Assemblee Euronest est en cours
dans la capitale armenienne Erevan cette semaine. Les parlementaires
discutent comment ameliorer les relations entre l’Union europeenne et
ses voisins de l’est. La reunion de trois jours a debute le 16 mars et
rassemble les deputes europeens et les deputes d’Armenie, Azerbaïdjan,
Georgie, Moldavie et Ukraine. La securite energetique, l’agression
russe et les relations avec le Belarus font partie des sujets discutes.

>,
a declare le parlementaire ukrainien et co-president de l’Assemblee
Euronest Borys Tarasyuk.

Les pays representes a l’Assemblee Euronest comprennent la Georgie, la
Moldavie et l’Ukraine qui ont des accords d’association economique avec
l’Union europeenne ; et l’Armenie qui a opte pour l’Union economique
eurasienne dirigee par la Russie.

Ryszard Czarnecki, depute conservateur et reformiste polonais et
vice-president du Parlement europeen, a ouvert l’Assemblee au nom
du President du Parlement europeen Martin Schulz. >.

Euronest : >