Author: Kalantarian Kevo

WINSTON CHURCHILL: THIS CRIME WAS PLANNED, EXECUTED FOR POLITICAL REASONS

Panorama.am
24/04/2012

Member of Armenian delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of Council
of Europe (PACE) Hermine Naghdalyan issued a statement in the plenary
session on the Armenian Genocide issue.

The statement reads:

“Dear Mr. President, Dear Colleagues, Today, numerous states,
parliaments and international organizations have recognized and
condemned the Genocide committed in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. We
express our gratitude to them for their contribution to the fight
against crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, it is logical that the
Turkish Republic, the assignee of the Ottoman Empire, should have to
be the first to recognize and condemn the genocide.

In 1918, the Turkish Military Court sentenced to death those
high-ranking officials, who ordered the massacres. Then Turkey forgot
its own history and to such extent that made calls to establish
Commission of Historians to inquire these events.

Those, who want to know the opinion of prominent historians,
lawyers and politicians I would like to cite some quotations:
First: “In 1915 the Turkish government began and carried out the
infamous general massacre and deportation of Armenians. There is
no reasonable doubt that this crime was planned and executed for
political reasons”. The words belong to one of the world’s prominent
politicians and historians. His name is Winston Churchill.

Second: in one of his speeches in 1938, he made a rhetoric question
“Who after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

And he answered to his question: nobody. With this conviction he
implemented the Holocaust of Jews, which was recognized and apologized
for by the future leaders of Germany. His name is Adolf Hitler.

Third: Joint Declaration by Britain, France and Russia in May 1915
vowed that all members of the Ottoman Government would be held
personally liable for “crime against humanity”.

Four: the US government submitted to the International Court of
Justice that “the Turkish massacres of Armenians” was one of the
“outstanding examples of the crime of genocide”.

I would like to draw your attention to a survey made in 2009 by
Geoffrey Robertson Queen’s Counsel, a British distinguished lawyer,
which is a comprehensive and complete analyses of facts and legal
documents.

Here are some important conclusions: “Erroneous and illogical arguments
are given today to elude truthful answers about the Armenian Genocide
and prevent causing discomfort for the Turkish Government.

One of them is requesting support of historians for the solution of
a legal issue. The issue of Genocide is a matter of court judgment
according to the international law and by no means an issue for
historians. Historians establish facts, but the lawyers judge whether
these facts are violation of international law or not”.

Dear Mr. President dear colleagues,

Being a descendant of Armenians from Igdir, today, when my country is
commemorating the day of the genocide I bow my head before millions
of victims and believe that my Turkish colleagues will join me in
the near future, as it is never late to look into the eyes of your
own history. We are looking forward and we are confident that the
truth does not look for the truth.”

ANCA-ER WELCOMES MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PROCLAMATION

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 20, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian American community of Maine
along with the Armenian National Committee of America-Eastern Region
(ANCA-ER) welcomed the presentation of a joint proclamation of the
Maine State Legislature commemorating the 97th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, reports Armenpress citing the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

The proclamation recalled the Armenian Genocide and noted the
contribution of Armenian Americans, including survivors of the
Genocide, to the state.

“Over the past decade we have had a strong relationship with our
friends in the state legislature,” noted Gerard Kiladjian, a resident
of Portland and one of the individuals who spearheaded the proclamation
effort this year. “We look forward to growing this relationship with
our public officials in the years to come so that we can continue
to educate them about the Armenian Genocide and its impact today as
well as the rich cultural heritage its survivors and the community
bring to the Pine State today.”

The proclamation was lead by Maine State Senator Joseph Brannigan
(SD-009-Westbrook-D), a long-time leader of the commemoration in the
Maine State Senate. The proclamation was co-sponsored by Maine State
Senator and Justin Alfond (SD-008-Portland-D) as well as Maine State
Representatives Anne Haskell (HD-117-Portland-D) and Diane Russell
(HD-120-Portland-D).

Kathy Malconian, a long-time member of the Maine Armenian community
and ANCA activist also participated in the commemoration event along
with nearly a dozen other community members. Her brother, John, helped
start Maine’s tradition of commemorating the Armenian Genocide over
20 years ago.

“Our parents, who were survivors of the Armenian Genocide, instilled in
us the importance of remembering, commemorating, and educating others
about the Genocide,” said Malconian. “Sadly, the cycle of genocide
continues to this day in places like Darfur. As part of a community
that has suffered through genocide, it is important that we ensure that
the government remembers the Armenian Genocide so that we can learn the
lessons of our past and work together as a community to fight against
the bigotry and intolerance that gives rise to future genocides.”

Both Malconian and Kiladjian are also members of the Armenian Cultural
Association of Maine, formerly known as the Armenian Club of Portland.

Throughout the year, the Armenian Cultural Association hosts
cultural and educational events ranging from academic presentations
to performance. The Armenian Cultural Association of Maine provides
a community nexus for Maine’s Armenian community as well as raise
awareness among Maine’s non-Armenian community about its rich cultural
heritage.

GLENDALE CITY CLERK ARDASHES KASSAKHYAN TO LEAD APRIL 25TH CONGRESSIONAL ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OBSERVANCE

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 20, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian,
a veteran of public service on Capitol Hill, will serve as Master of
Ceremonies of this year’s Capitol Hill Observance of the Armenian
Genocide, set to take place in the historic Senate Kennedy Caucus
Room on April 25th,

reports Armenpress citing the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

The program is being hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, in conjunction with Armenian American organizations, and with
support of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and the Office of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

As Master of Ceremonies, Kassakhian will welcome Armenian Americans and
anti-genocide advocates from across the United States, and introduce
Senators and Representatives participating in the program to mark
this solemn occasion and reaffirm the commitment of the American
people to a truthful and just resolution of this crime.

Earlier that day, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church
of America, has been invited by the Chaplain of the Senate, at the
recommendation of Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), to offer the morning prayer
on the Senate Floor. The Archbishop’s invocation will be broadcast
nationally on C-SPAN2 and streamed online on as well
as In 2010, Archbishop Choloyan offered the morning
prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives at the request of Rep.

Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and the invitation of the House Chaplain.

Two pieces of legislation have recently been introduced in the U.S.

Senate related to the Armenian Genocide. The first, the Armenian
Genocide Resolution, S.Res.399, offered by Senators Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), calls upon the U.S. government to properly
recognize the Armenian Genocide and to use the lessons of this atrocity
to prevent future crimes against humanity. The second, the Return of
Churches Resolution, S.Res.392, introduced by Senators Scott Brown
(R-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Mark Kirk calls upon Turkey to
return stolen Christian church properties to their rightful owners.

MORT DE L’EX-DEPUTEE-MAIRE PCF DE BAGNEUX (HAUTS-DE-SEINE) JANINE JAMBU
STEPHANE

armenews.com
vendredi 20 avril 2012

L’ancienne deputee-maire communiste de Bagneux (Hauts-de-Seine),
Janine Jambu, est decedee a l’âge de 69 ans, a-t-on appris jeudi de
source parlementaire.

“A l’Assemblee nationale, ses combats ont ete nombreux, notamment
pour le droit au logement, l’egalite homme-femme, la reconnaissance
du genocide armenien, la paix et le desarmement”, a souligne dans un
communique son successeur a la 11e circonscription des Hauts-de-Seine,
la communiste Marie-Helène Amiable.

Janine Jambu, rappelle-t-elle, a ete maire de Bagneux de 1985 a 2004
et deputee des Hauts-de-Seine de 1993 a 2007.

Le secretaire national du PCF, Pierre Laurent, a salue dans un
communique une “ardente militante” qui a participe “activement a
de grands combats pour les droits de femmes et de la jeunesse de
notre pays”.

NINE ANTI-ARMENIAN PROTESTERS DETAINED IN TURKEY

Vestnik Kavkaza
April 19 2012
Russia

Istanbul police detained nine people today over alleged links to an
anti-Armenian rally which took place in February, broadcaster NTV
reported on its website, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

A rally planned to commemorate the victims of the Khojaly massacre
of 1992 degenerated into a racist, anti-Armenian demonstration on Feb.

26, prompting the authorities to launch a probe into the incident.

Police have detained nine people, two of whom are women, after being
identified as having carried racist banners that read “You are all
Armenians, you are all b…..s,” during the rally.

The suspects told the police that they were handed the banners by
people they did not know before the rally.

The police released the suspects after questioning them.

NAGORNO KARABAKH MUST BECOME FULL AND EQUAL PARTY OF NEGOTIATIONS: SERZH SARGSYAN

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 19, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS: Nagorno Karabakh Republic must become a
full and equal member and party of the running negotiations, Chairman
of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan said in frame of
the election campaign in Garegin Nzhdeh Square, Armenpress reports.

“RPA, as a ruling party, has increased Armenia’s reputation both in
the West and in the East,” said RPA leader, presenting to electors
the focus points of the party’s program related to foreign policy.

Serzh Sargsyan said that within the frameworks of the CSTO, Armenia
has enhanced the opportunities of the reaction to foreign aggression.

“To put it more clearly, we have taken effective measures in the
issue of preventing the possible war. Besides that, we have ensured a
balance of forces. We have maintained the peace. Dear fellow citizens,
you perfectly know the price of peace,” said Serzh Sargsyan in his
address. But According to Serzh Sargsyan, only maintenance of peace
is not enough.

The RPA leader stressed that Armenia shows comprehensive support
to Nagorno Karabakh and will continue fighting for international
recognition of the self-determination right of Nagorno Karabakh people.

RUSSIA TO DEVELOP MISSILE EARLY WARNING SATELLITES

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 19, 2012 – 20:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Russian Defense Ministry has signed contracts
on the development and construction of satellites capable of detecting
launches of ballistic missiles, First Deputy Defense Minister Alexander
Sukhorukov said on Thursday, April 19, RIA Novosti reported.

The new missile early warning satellites will be part of a unified
aerospace defense network being formed in Russia.

“Several military satellites will be launched this year,” Sukhorukov
said.

Russia, which reportedly operates a constellation of 60 to 70 military
satellites, is planning to launch at least 100 new military satellites
in the next 10 years to boost its reconnaissance and missile detection
capabilities.

The expansion of the military satellite cluster will also boost global
positioning and mapping capabilities of the Russian military, which
is necessary to guide advanced high-precision weapons being developed
in Russia.

IRAN-ARMENIA RELATIONS ARE CLOSEST IN REGION – IRANIAN AMBASSADOR

news.am
April 19, 2012 | 16:45

TEHRAN. – Armenia’s Ambassador to Iran, Grigor Arakelyan, and Iran’s
newly appointed Ambassador to Armenia, Mohammad Reisi, got together
with the Iran’s Armenian press members, Arax Armenian weekly of
Tehran informs.

First, Ambassador Arakelyan spoke about the Iran-Armenia friendly
relations.

In his turn, Ambassador Reisi noted that he is well familiar with the
Armenians since his childhood and appreciates their contribution to
Iran. He added that the Armenians are always respected.

“The Armenian-Persian relations have been close and friendly, and
the Iran-Armenia relations are the closest ones among the countries
in the region also today,” the Iranian ambassador noted.

“Our political and cultural ties are on a high level, but the same
cannot be said about the economic ones. And I am hopeful we will
register progress in this domain,” Mohammad Reisi stressed.

TURKISH PROFESSOR CALLS FOR FACING FACT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 19, 2012 – 12:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A discussion on “What happened on April 24? What
happened on January 19?” at Istanbul’s Bilgi University signaled the
launch of Armenian Genocide commemoration ceremonies. Bagrat Estukian
from Agos newspaper, Dr. Arus Yumul and Bilgi University professor
Tolka Tivziv delivered speeches, focusing on works by Armenian
Turkish journalist Hrant Dink murdered on January 19, 2007. They
hailed Dink’s contribution in introducing the fact of Genocide in
Turkish consciousness.

In his speech Bilgi University professor called for Turkish recognition
of the Armenian Genocide and compensation.

“In 1912, 20% of population of the empire constituted non-Muslim
groups, the percentage dropping to 2,4% in 1927. What happened to those
people? We know that it was Genocide, and we must face the reality,
ask for forgiveness and compensate the damage inflicted,” he said,
adding that organization of such events will continue to rid the
public from deception and denial policy.

According to Dr. Yumul, Dink’s assassination sparked fears over
recurrence of such acts.

“This makes a lot of people keep their origin in secret, with others
prefering to flee the country,” Yumul said.

The event was organized by “Anti-capitalist students” group, which
openly declares that it recognize the Armenian Genocide.

On January 19, 2007, Hrant Dink, a well-known Armenian Turkish
journalist of, editor of the Agos weekly issued in Turkey, was shot
outside the Agos newspaper offices in Istanbul, where he served as
editor-in-chief, by a 17-year-old Turkish nationalist. This year
marks the 5th anniversary of Dink’s assassination.

BLACK GOLD VS BLACK GARDEN: WILL ALIYEV TRADE OIL FOR KARABAKH DESPITE HIS CONTINUOUS BELLICOSE RHETORIC?
By Aris Ghazinyan

ArmeniaNow
19.04.12 | 15:54

Photo:

Ilham Aliyev presided over a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers

The Azeri cabinet held a meeting a few days ago during which president
Ilham Aliyev made another set of radical and bellicose statements.

“Our military capacity is increasing. Constant attention is paid to
this area and this will continue. We are creating a powerful military
industry and at the same time we are buying and will continue to buy a
large amount of military equipment, weapons and ammunition. I’m not
talking about weapons of defense. We are buying tanks, artillery,
combat aircraft, different weapons, all the modern equipment needed
for combat. I can say that we also have a diversified policy and
do not depend only on one manufacturer. The number of countries
willing to cooperate with us in this area is growing, and we have the
capacity. Unlike some other countries, we do not get anything for free,
we pay with money, and this will continue.

“Every minute, every day brings us closer to victory. Every day Armenia
is declining while Azerbaijan is growing in strength. Every day we
are moving closer to the day of victory. The day will come when the
Azerbaijani flag will fly in Khankandi and Shusha (Shoushi),” vowed
Aliyev. (Khankandi is the Azeri version of Stepanakert, capital of
Karabakh which in turn is translated from Azeri as “black garden”).

As for the increase of Azerbaijan’s military budget, Artur Rasizade,
head of the cabinet of ministers, said that over the past eight
years Azerbaijan has increased military expenses twenty times, and
“it’s the biggest growth of military budget in the world for such a
short period”.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) experts share
this opinion; according to their report of April 18, by the tempo of
increase of its military expenses Azerbaijan came first worldwide.

“In 2008-2011 Azerbaijan increased its military expenses by some
60 percent,” state the experts at SIPRI, adding that the military
budget for 2011 alone grew by 89 percent.The dramatic growth came
in the middle of increasing warnings of renewed conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh,” the report reads.

In 2012 Azerbaijan has allotted around $1.8 billion to defense and
security, increasing by 1.2 percent as compared to 2011. For comparison
it should be noted that in the same 2011 Armenia’s military expenses
did not exceed $350 million, and $400 million is allotted to defense
in the state budget for 2012.

And nonetheless, is Azerbaijan truly ready for war right away?

Azerbaijan’s state is being built on oil, and the current price for
oil has a positive impact on the country’s economic indexes. Under the
circumstances Aliyev would hardly go for a cardinal shift of affairs.

What is Azerbaijan to lose – not theoretically, but quite practically –
should the war be resumed?

First of all it is the country’s attraction for investment in the oil
sphere, in other words – the only stable basis for building the state.

The “Contract of the Century” with 13 most influential international
companies representing eight countries was signed only in September
of 1994, meaning after the hostilities were over and ceasefire was
signed, thus, in the event of war no company would ever go for what
would appear to be a risky venture.

Most important participants of that project, such as the British
Petroleum, U.S. – based Chevron, Devon Energy and Amerada Hess,
Japanese InÑ~@ex CorÑ~@oration and Itochu Oil, Norwegian Statoil and
others, are the first to oppose the resumption of active hostilities.

>>From this perspective the Contract of the Century is a double-edged
sword: on the one hand it makes Azerbaijan a truly wealthy country,
on the other hand it infringes upon the country’s sovereignty and
deprives it of a chance to start war, when it wants to.

And besides the fact that a new war would minimize the level of
Azerbaijan’s investment attractiveness, it is also completely capable
of destroying the whole pipeline communication, which is rightfully
considered to be the main artery feeding the Azerbaijani state.

The key is that practically all of Azeri hydrocarbon is transported
via four pipelines, three of which lie within a few meters from the
frontline, both on the northern borders of Nagorno Karabakh and on
the northern borders of the Republic of Armenia. Namely, those are
Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil pipeline opened in July of 2006, Baku-Supsa
oil pipeline that’s been functioning since 1999 and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum
(South-Caucasian pipeline), officially opened in March of 2007.

Armenian cannons are currently aimed at those three communications,
and in case war breaks out, their first task would be destroying this
vitally important infrastructure.

Hence, Azerbaijan might not only lose its investment attractiveness,
but also all of its main communications supplying hydrocarbon raw
material to the outer world.

President Aliyev is more than aware of the scale of these threats. The
only layout that might in theory be favorable for the start of new
war is either sharp decline in the positions of the Aliyev clan,
or catastrophic drop of oil price (say, below $15 per barrel).

So far, none of it seems to be on the horizon.