Author: Kajoyan Gevork

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)

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”.

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

DES ELUS APPELLENT OBAMA A RECONNAITRE LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

La Presse. Canada
18 mars 2015

À l’approche des commemorations du centenaire du genocide armenien,
plus de 40 parlementaires americains ont depose mercredi une resolution
appelant Barack Obama a reconnaître le genocide, un terme qu’il n’a
jamais employe comme president.

Le texte, depose a la Chambre des representants par des democrates et
des republicains, appelle Barack Obama a aider a l’amelioration des
relations entre l’Armenie et la Turquie, sur la base “d’une pleine
reconnaissance des faits et consequences continues du genocide
armenien”.

Le president americain, lorsqu’il faisait campagne pour la
Maison-Blanche en 2008, s’etait engage a reconnaître le genocide,
mais en tant que president il n’a jamais prononce le mot, notamment
dans les communiques diffuses chaque annee autour du 24 avril. En
2014, il avait evoque “l’une des pire atrocites du XXe siècle” et
appele a une “reconnaissance pleine, franche et juste des faits”.

Le Congrès a reconnu le genocide avec l’adoption de resolutions par
la Chambre en 1975 et 1984.

En 1981, le president Ronald Reagan avait dans une proclamation
egalement cite le genocide des Armeniens.

La Turquie a toujours refuse d’admettre toute elimination planifiee,
evoquant la mort d’environ 500 000 Armeniens (contre 1,5 million selon
l’Armenie), qui s’etaient ranges du côte de son ennemie la Russie,
lors de combats ou a cause de famines.

Vingt-et-un pays reconnaissent le genocide, selon l’Institut national
armenien, qui inclut les Etats-Unis dans sa liste.

“Lors de cet anniversaire important, et tant qu’il reste des survivants
parmi nous, le Congrès et le president ont l’occasion et l’obligation
d’envoyer un message fort: nous n’oublierons jamais les morts, et nous
appellerons ce crime contre l’humanite ce qu’il est, un genocide”,
a declare le representant democrate Adam Schiff, l’un des signataires,
qui avait deja depose un texte similaire en 2007.

À ce stade, le president de la Chambre, le republicain John Boehner,
n’a pas indique si le texte serait soumis a un vote.

NEW GENERATION PREFERS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL NETWORKS, NOT FROM PRINTED MEDIA – ARMENIAN EXPERT

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. The new generation prefers to receive
information from social networks, not from printed media, Armen
Davtyan, head of head of Blitz Media LLC, said at a news conference
on Wednesday.

He was quoted by Novosti-Armenia as saying that young people are not
willing to read newspapers – this is alien to them.

PRESIDENT: ARMENIA’S JOINING EEU OPENS UP NEW PROSPECTS FOR OUR COUNTRY

18:52, 18.03.2015

YEREVAN. – Active involvement in regional integration processes has
been and continues to be a priority for the Armenian foreign policy,
President Serzh Sargsyan said during “At the Foot of Mount Ararat”
media forum in Yerevan.

“From January of 2015 onwards we have been a full-fledged member of
the Eurasian Economic Union. 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,” President said.

The Armenian leader added that 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” .

– See more at:

MFA: ARMENIA WILL HOST FRANCOPHONIE CONFERENCE AT HIGH LEVEL

16:41, 17.03.2015

YEREVAN. – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward
Nalbandian, on Tuesday received members of the organizational committee
for the 31st Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie, which Armenia
will host this fall.

The organizational committee delegation was led by Ousmane Paye,
special envoy for the Secretary-General of the International
Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Nalbandian stressed that it is a great honor but also a huge
responsibility for Armenia, an active member of the Francophone
family, to host delegations from eighty countries on the occasion of
the aforesaid ministerial conference. But he expressed the hope that
the conference will be organized and convened at a high level.

The organizational committee representatives, for their part, assured
that they will do their utmost to assist in Armenia’s efforts to
ensure the best organization and success of this event.

At the ensuing talk, the interlocutors discussed the preparations
for this ministerial conference.

At the end of the meeting, Edward Nalbandian and Ousmane Paye signed a
memorandum of understanding between the Armenian government and the OIF
on the holding of the 31st Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

RUSSIAN PROFESSORS ARRIVE IN YEREVAN TO PARTICIPATE IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE EVENTS

YEREVAN, March 17. / ARKA /. A group of professors from the Russian
People’s Friendship University have arrived in Armenia to participate
in a series of events planned as part of “The Week of Russian Language
and Russian Education in Armenia.”

Speaking at an event at Yerevan State Teachers’ Training University the
deputy head of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Yerevan
Igor Kusov said praised Armenian and Russian education and science
ministries as well as universities for doing a lot in expansion of
bilateral humanitarian cooperation.

‘The Week of Russian Language and Russian Education” is another
opportunity for us to strengthen our partnerships in education and
discuss a wide range of professional issues,” said Kusov.

He said Armenian and Russian teachers of Russian will have an
interesting and useful exchange of views which in turn will promote
the popularization of the Russian language in Armenia.

A prominent Armenian expert on Russian language Bella Yesajanyan said
in the current difficult geopolitical situation the Russian language
is perceived in the first place as a language of peace and friendship.

According to her, Armenians have a special attitude towards the
Russian language.

“In our country many families speak Russian at their homes. The love
for the Russian language in the Armenia is several centuries old,”
she said.

She recalled that the first Russian language textbook for Armenians
was compiled over 200 years ago, in 1788 by Cleopatra Sarafian,
an Armenian in Astrakhan.

“Since then, the tradition of writing Russian language textbooks for
Armenians by Armenians has never been interrupted,” she said.

The “Week of Russian Language and Russian Education in Armenia”
is part of a Russian Federal program “Russian Language” for 2011-2015.

The event in Armenia is being supported by the Ministry of Education
and Science of Armenia, the Russian Embassy and the Russian Centre
for Science and Culture in Yerevan.-0-

ARMENIA’S GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION DOES NOT ALLOW TO STAY APART FROM REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

17:06, 17 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

What’s happening in the Middle East is a war involving all neighboring
countries. Vardan Khachatryan, lecturer at the Faculty of Theology
at the Yerevan State University, says the developments are dangerous
for the small, indigenous peoples. “This is not new in our region,”
he said, pointing to the Armenian Genocide as an example.

“What’s happening today is a more large-scale phenomenon; the possible
developments are even harder to predict,” Khachatryan said. He stressed
the need for correct steps, adding that “any mistake could be fatal.”

According to publicist Karine Hakobyan, Armenia’s geographical position
does not allow the country to stay neutral, which is fraught with
negative consequences.

“We should have our own active policy in this geopolitical situation,”
she said.

Karine Hakobyan considers that the current events are a war against
ancient civilizations. In this regard, she believes Armenia can well
be helpful for small nations targeted by ISIS.

Diaspora Armenian Garnik Sarkisian says “being a small nation, we
should be alert under the conditions of the current developments in
the region.”

“The geopolitical situation around Armenia is extremely strained
today. We may become the unwitting victim. This is how indigenous
peoples having no role in decision-making become victims.”

According to Garnik Sarkisian, to be influential, one should be
strong economically and militarily and enjoy strong people-government
relations.

PARIS : MEMORIAL DEDIE AUX FEMMES VICTIMES DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Publie le : 17-03-2015

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose cette information publiee sur le site de l’ambassade de la
Republique d’Armenie en France le 8 mars 2015.

Credits photo : Ministère armenien des Affaires etrangères.

Ambassade de la Republique d’Armenie en France

08.03.2015

Memorial a Paris dedie aux femmes armeniennes victimes du genocide
armenien

Cent rosiers ont ete plantes dans le Jardin d’Erevan a Paris le 8 mars
dans le cadre des ceremonies du centenaire du Genocide des Armeniens
et a l’occasion de la Journee Internationale de la Femme.

Initiee par la Croix Bleue des Armeniens de France, la ceremonie
d’inauguration du Memorial près de la statue de Komitas etait dirigee
par la Maire de Paris Anne Hidalgo et l’Ambassadeur d’Armenie Viguen
Tchitetchian.

Dans son discours, l’Ambassadeur Tchitetchian a notamment remercie
les autorites de Paris, ainsi que de toute la France, pour l’attitude
bienveillante et l’attention constante envers la memoire des ancetres
de leurs citoyens d’origine armenienne.

Les discours ont ete suivis par la ceremonie solennelle d’inauguration
du Memorial par la Maire de Paris Anne Hidalgo. Plusieurs milliers de
visiteurs de la capitale francaise peuvent y lire >

Plusieurs membres du Conseil Municipal de Paris, des personnalites
etatiques, politiques et publiques, des representants du milieu
culturel et des medias, des centaines de francais d’origine armenienne
et des parisiens etaient presents a cette ceremonie organisee en ce
jour symbolique de la Journee de la Femme.

Cette ceremonie commemorative des femmes armeniennes venait marquer
le lancement des grands evenements organises par la Mairie de Paris
dans le cadre des ceremonies du centenaire du Genocide Armenien qui
sera suivi d’un concert classique le 21 avril au Theâtre du Châtelet
a Paris dedie au centenaire, et le 28 avril d’une grande exposition de
trois mois a l’Hôtel de Ville de Paris en collaboration avec la Mairie
d’Erevan, l’Ambassade d’Armenie en France, le Conseil de Coordination
des Organisations Armeniennes de France et l’Institut-Musee du
Genocide Armenien.

Source/Lien : Ambassade de la Republique d’Armenie en France