Author: Kalantarian Kevo

FOREIGN MINISTRY: ISRAEL’S RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COULD THREATEN TURKEY TIES
By Jonathan Lis

Ha’aretz

Dec 26 2011
Israel

Knesset holds first discussion on possible recognition of Turkey’s
Armenian genocide; Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin says Israel has an
ethical commitment to recognize other nations’ genocides.

The Foreign Ministry warned that Israel’s possible recognition of
the Armenian genocide, which was discussed in a Knesset committee
on Monday, could lead to the serious deterioration of Israel’s ties
with Turkey.

A Knesset committee discussed on Monday the possibility of setting a
memorial day for the Armenian genocide by the Turkish people nearly
100 years ago, marking a first in Israeli history.

Several MKs expressed support for the move, saying that Israel,
as a nation of the Jewish people who have experienced genocide,
cannot ignore genocides in other countries.

However, the recognition of the Armenian genocide has long been a
sensitive diplomatic issue due to the implications it has on Israel’s
relationship with Turkey, which denies it.

“This subject, given the current atmosphere, could deteriorate our
ties with Turkey,” A Foreign Ministry representative said during
the discussion. “Our relationship with Turkey is very fragile and
sensitive right now, and we cannot cross the line – we must approach
the subject intelligently. Such a decision could have very serious
strategic consequences. ”

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) said that the discussion did
not arise because of the weakening ties between Israel and Turkey,
maintaining that as a nation and a country, Israel cannot allow the
denial of a disaster.

“We stand before all the world’s countries with the highest and most
ethical demand, saying that Holocaust denial is something human kind
cannot agree with,” Rivlin said, stressing that Israel must recognize
other countries’ genocides.

“For many years, Israel’s government has refused to recognize the
genocide for cynical, strategic and economic, reasons, connected
to its ties with Turkey,” said MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz), who has
sponsored the call for recognizing the Armenian genocide.

“Now, given the state of relations between the countries, I can’t
rule out the possibility that the Foreign Ministry is exploiting
affairs and trying to goad Turkey.”

Gal-On added that “our moral obligation transcends such cynical
calculations, and I hope that the Knesset committee will reach a
decision in favor of recognizing the genocide, in the Knesset’s first
public hearing on the matter. The education committee is the right
place for examining the topic, which is omitted from school curricula.”

National Union MK Ariyeh Eldad, one of the initiators of the
discussion, said that “in the past, we were always told that we
cannot discuss this subject because of our good relationship with
Turkey. Now we are told we cannot discuss this because of our bad
relationship with Turkey. We cannot erase a chapter in history. We
cannot ignore this subject because of our interests.”

Kadima MK Otniel Schneller was the only one who expressed outright
opposition to an official recognition by Israel of the Armenian
genocide.

“We cannot disconnect the discussion from the fact that we must
rehabilitate our ties with Turkey – it’s an existential necessity,”
he said. “We need to fit in the Middle East even if it is difficult.”

Up to now, proposals for recognizing the Armenian genocide have been
considered by closed sessions of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee. That committee rejected the proposals a number
of times.

Recognition of the Armenian genocide is a sensitive diplomatic issue.

Last week, the lower house of France’s parliament approved a bill
that bans denial of the genocide, which occurred 96 years ago. The
law imposes a one-year jail sentence and a 45,000-euro fine.

This step triggered a diplomatic crisis between France and Turkey.

Ankara recalled its ambassador, canceled diplomatic, economic and
military exchanges with France, and banned the landing of French
military planes at its airports and the docking of French ships at
its harbors.

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: “WE NEED TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF SOCIETY PRIOR TO RESOLVING THE KARABAKH CONFLICT”

Vestnik Kavkaza

Dec 26 2011
Russia

The head of the ‘Caucasus’ Institute, Alexander Iskandaryan, sums up
the political developments that took place in Armenia in the passing
year in his interview to VK.

– What event was the most important one in the political life of
Armenia this year?

– The most important development was the search for a compromise
between the ruling coalition and the opposition – the Armenian
National Congress. I think they tried to work out some basic rules of
interaction on the eve of 2012 parliamentary elections. This attempt
by power and opposition to interact constructively was one of the
most important trends of the year.

– Is it possible that this dialogue will contribute to a relatively
calm election?

– It is obvious that the ANC is geared up for an election campaign
and not for a revolution (for the first time in our history, I
should mention). And I believe that, despite all the rhetoric, if
the ANC gets a number of seats that satisfies it, it will agree to
participate in our Parliament. This would signal the beginning of a
new political era in Armenia. Up until now those political parties
who lost the elections refused to recognize their legitimacy. Now
we’ll have to wait and see whether the opposition would accept its
mandates or declare the elections to be rigged.

– What would you say on the political picture of the year in general?

– There were three main trends. First of all, there was the
abovementioned process of the coalition-opposition dialogue. Secondly,
both political camps had to deal with internal contradictions. And
thirdly, there was a personnel reshuffle in the government, aimed
at reducing the influence of oligarchs and monopolists. This process
isn’t yet complete, so we’ll have to wait and see.

– What key event is most likely to happen next year?

– Of course, it is the parliamentary election. Will the elites
recognize its results or not? This is the main question.

– What was the most important event of the passing year as far as
foreign policy is concerned?

– I think it is the ‘Eastern partnership’ program and the growing
interaction with the EU. But close relations with Russia are also
important.

– What are the results of the Nagorno-Karabakh process this year?

– It is generally accepted that all sides are experiencing
disappointment after all the trilateral presidential meetings came to
nothing. It is true that Russia’s attempt to settle the conflict was
doomed to fail and now it is obvious that no solution to the conflict
will be found soon. Experts understood this a long while ago, but
now it is becoming clear to the general populations, however, the
societies themselves have changed.

– What social changes are you referring to?

– Azerbaijan is allegedly constructing a wall on its border with
Nagorno-Karabakh. I don’t know whether it’s true or not,but the very
suggestion is symptomatic. No, it’s not Azerbaijan that threatens
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the positions are reversed. On the other
hand, Armenia declares its intention to construct a highway from Sotok
to the northern part of Karabakh – through the very territory that
is supposed to be given back to Azerbaijan as soon as possible. You
can see that the elites as well as the general populations of
the countries in question have changed their attitudes towards the
conflict. Azerbaijani can’t take the construction of the road lightly,
nor can Armenians take the construction of the wall lightly.

– What is your prognosis on possible ways and terms of the conflict’s
resolution?

– There is no possible solution that hasn’t been invented yet.

Karabakh is more about the balance between the parties. And today it
is impossible to resolve the conflict, as the Azerbaijani side isn’t
ready for concessions acceptable to the Armenian side and vice-versa.

But we should stop thinking of it terms of the 18th century and turn
to 21st-century means of conflict settlement.

We need to change the nature of the society prior to resolving
the Karabakh conflict – change the societies in Nagorno-Karabakh,
Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is ‘younger’
than all other similar conflicts, so why should it be resolved sooner
than all of them?

We have decades of work ahead of us. I have no specific expectations
for the next year or the year after that.

Interview by Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan, exclusively to VK .

ARMENIA-TURCHIA: OMBRE DI COMPLOTTO SULLA MORTE DI UN GIORNALISTA

26/12 17:44 CET

Tensioni a Istanbul, alla ripresa del processo per l’assassinio di
un giornalista turco-armeno.

Gia condannato a quasi 23 anni l’esecutore materiale, in circa duecento
hanno sfilato davanti al tribunale, reclamando il carcere anche per
quelli che ritengono essere i mandanti.

Sullo sfondo delle permanenti tensioni derivate dal mancato
riconoscimento da parte di Ankara del cosiddetto “genocidio armeno”,
accusa dei manifestanti è che le autorita turche stiano ostacolando
il corso della giustizia.

Fondatore e direttore di una rivista diffusa anche in armeno, Hrat
Dink era stato ucciso nel gennaio 2007 ai piedi del suo ufficio.

A luglio riconosciuto come responsabile un nazionalista turco,
la giustizia vaglia ora la posizione di una ventina di persone,
sospettate di esser coinvolte in un più ampio complotto.

RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: NO PREREQUISITES EXIST FOR THE NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
Artak Barseghyan

“Radiolur”
26.12.2011 19:10

The process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide will
get new impetus next year, Director of the Oriental Studies Institute
of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan told
a press conference today.

“The latest developments evidence that there are absolutely no
preconditions for the normalization of Armenian-Turkish interstate
relations,” Safrastyan said. However, according to him, one cannot
rule out that in case of changes in the geopolitical situation Ankara
may refuse from its policy of denial and take certain steps towards
normalization of relations with Armenia.

Touching upon regional developments, Ruben Safrastyan noted that the
visit of US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to Ankara in February
2012 may clarify the future steps of Washingto, particularly as regards
the Syrian processes. He reminded that the Syrian opposition council
enjoys the support of the Turkish authorities, but is not accepted
by the United States. In any case, all prerequisites exist for 2012
to be fatal for Syria, Safrastyan said.

ISRAELI KNESSET POSTPONES DISCUSSION OF 1915 GENOCIDE

03:47 pm | Today | Politics

Israel is set to join France and recognize the 1915 Armenian
genocide. On Monday, Knesset Committee for Education, Culture and
Sportswas scheduled to discuss an initiative presented by MKs Aryeh
Eldad (National Union) and Zehava Gal-on (Meretz) to recognize
the Armenian genocide. The Committee today debated the issue of
introduction of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. However, the
discussion has been postponed till the next session.

Most of the committee members responded positively to the question,
Hay Dat Bureau in Jerusalem reported.

NICOLAS SARKOZY EST-IL “TURQUOPHOBE” ?

Le Post

26 de 2011
France

Mais pourquoi Nicolas Sarkozy en veut autant a la Turquie ?

En effet Nicolas Sarkozy a toujours ete un opposant farouche a
l’adhesion de la Turquie dans l’Union europeenne .

Mais depuis quelques jours il a franchi un nouveau palier avec cette
loi sur le genocide du peuple armenien

“Pour le celèbre journaliste turc du quotidien Milliyet, Hasan
Cemal”, le vote du Parlement francais est tout simplement une
grosse erreur parce qu’il va pietiner la liberte universitaire et la
liberte d’expression , envenimer les relations turco-francaises, faire
regresser la normalisation des relations entre la Turquie et l’Armenie,
renforcer le fanatisme nationaliste turc, et enfin parce qu’il va
faire subir un coup d’arret de libre discussion sur 1915 en Turquie.

Il faut savoir que depuis deux ans, des reunions publiques ont ete
autorisees a Istanbul pour commemorer la date du debut des rafles
d’Armeniens par le pouvoir ottoman, le 24 avril 1915 . De plus,
cet automne, la question armenienne etait au centre d’un colloque
organise a Diyarbakir, dans le sud-est du pays.

La proposition francaise ne peut qu’empecher ce processus d’avancer ,
voir pire, elle risque d’envenimer les esprits, tout cela parce que
Nicolas Sarkozy souhaite recuperer le vote des armeniens de France,
en se moquant eperdument de ces quelques progrès qui risquent fort
d’etre stopper a cause de son ambition personnelle.

Pour Pascal Boniface, directeur de l’Institut de relations
internationales et strategiques (IRIS) et enseignant a l’Institut
d’Etudes europeennes de l’Universite de Paris 8, il n’est pas dans
la tradition democratique de passer par le Parlement pour legiferer
sur l’histoire.

Il ajoute que lorsque l’Etat dirige le travail des historiens ce
n’est pas bon signe, et que cela ressemble aux methodes des regimes
autoritaires qui veulent imposer une Histoire officielle.

Il pose la question pour savoir si le parlement francais est habilite
a legiferer sur l’Histoire des autres pays. Il ose aller plus loin
en se demandant si l’on ne peut pas adopter “une loi penalisant la
negation du genocide des amerindiens par l’empire espagnol ou des
natifs americains par les Etats-Unis” .

En effet, pourquoi s’arreter en si bon chemin ?

Plus serieusement, en voulant recuperer une communaute d’electeurs
, Nicolas Sarkozy n’est-il pas en train de commettre une terrible
faute politique qui lui coûtera plus qu’elle ne lui rapportera
dans la perspective de l’election presidentielle ? Et plus grave,
n’ecorne-t-il pas encore un peu plus l’image de la France sur la
scène Internationale ?

L’ARMENIE REMERCIE LA FRANCE
Laetitia

armenews.com
lundi 26 decembre 2011

L’Armenie a de nouveau remercie vendredi 23 decembre 2011 la France
pour son vote sur la penalisation de la negation du genocide armenien.

Dans une lettre adressee a son homologue francais Nicolas Sarkozy,
le president Serge Sarkissian a declare que l’Assemblee nationale
francaise a demontre son attachement aux droits de l’homme.

Selon le bureau de presse presidentiel, Serge Sarkissian a declare
que le vote temoigne egalement de l’engagement personnel de Nicolas
Sarkozy a renforcer les liens franco-armeniens et a permettre la
reconciliation des peuples dans la region.

Le ministre des Affaires etrangères armenien, Edouard Nalbandian, a
egalement remercie la France dans un communique publie immediatement
après que l’Assemblee nationale a vote a Paris le projet de loi
criminalisant la negation des genocides.

Dans sa lettre, M. Sarkissian a souligne le fait que le vote est
intervenu deux mois après la visite de Nicolas Sarkozy en Armenie.

Pendant ce voyage, le leader francais a depose des fleurs au Memorial
du genocide armenien base a Erevan et a exhorte la Turquie a cesser
de nier le genocide armenien. Il a egalement signale l’idee de punir
la negation du genocide en France, une idee qui a ete defendue par
les dirigeants influents de la communaute armenienne de France.

” Le genocide des Armeniens est une realite historique qui a ete
reconnue par la France. Le refus collectif est encore pire que le
deni individuel “, avait alors declare M. Sarkozy.

Les dirigeants turcs ont condamne ces remarques, accusant le president
francais de se plier aux electeurs armeniens en vue d’une reelection
pour les presidentielles de 2012.

M. Sarkissian, lui, a felicite Nicolas Sarkozy lorsqu’ il a visite
Marseille ce mois-ci. ” Nous devons tout simplement etre reconnaissants
du sage president de ce beau pays “, a-t-il dit.

TENSION OVER ISRAELI PROPOSAL TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

December 25, 2011

REPORTING FROM JERUSALEM — Israeli lawmakers plan to discuss the
possibility of setting a day to commemorate the Armenian genocide of
1915-18. But the initiative is causing tension ahead of the discussion,
scheduled for Monday, because of concerns over the reaction by Turkey,
which denies a genocide took place.

Until now, similar commemoration proposals have been referred to
parliamentary committees that meet behind closed doors. This will
be the first time the subject will be discussed at a committee whose
meetings are public.

If it takes place.

Israel’s national security advisor, Yakov Amidror, requested further
information on the scheduled debate on behalf of the prime minister’s
office and, according to press reports, asked to postpone it. Knesset
speaker Reuven Rivlin reportedly refused, sticking to his years-long
position that, of all nations, Israel must address the issue.

Israel’s relations with Turkey are such that there appears to be no
good time for this discussion. In the past, initiatives to acknowledge
the Armenian genocide and teach it in Israeli schools were shot down
for fear of angering Turkey, once a close ally. Now there is concern
that it could push their unstable relations over a cliff.

Monday’s discussion — scheduled months ago — comes at the request
of politicians from opposite poles of Israeli politics, reflecting
a mix of attitudes as well as motives.

A law recently passed in France that made denial of the Armenian
genocide a crime sparked a diplomatic crisis with Turkey, which
recalled its ambassador and cut economic and military ties with France.

Israel’s own ties with Turkey have cratered in recent years. The
latest challenge to the icy relations came last week, when Israel’s
Defense Ministry canceled a sizable contract with the Turkish air force
for the supply of advanced airborne intelligence-gathering systems,
possibly for fear they could find their way to Iran.

Armenians — supported by many historians — say as many as 1.5
million Christian Armenians, about one-third of their ethnic nation,
were killed by the Ottoman Empire. Turkey rejects that a genocide
occurred, cites much lower numbers and puts the losses in the context
of battles for minority independence during World War I.

Armenians are aggressively pushing for international recognition
of the killings as genocide, and Turkey is just as persistent in
fighting the effort. Israel finds itself in a moral and diplomatic
dilemma on the issue, which has also been dogging American-Turkish
relations and U.S. politics in recent years.

In 2003, a member of the Armenian community was chosen to light a
torch in the yearly memorial ceremony preceding Israeli independence
day. Naomi Nalbandian had described herself as a “third-generation
survivor of the Armenian holocaust,” but diplomatic pressure from
Turkey led to the reprinting of the government-issued pamphlets to
make them say her grandparents were “survivors of historic Armenia.”

LA COMMISSION DE LA PROTECTION DE LA CONCURRENCE ECONOMIQUE SANCTIONNE DE NOUVELLES SOCIETES
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 26 decembre 2011

Au terme d’un contrôle sur le marche du lait, ladite commission a
sanctionne trois societes majeures de ce marche, pour entraves a
la concurrence et a la qualite du lait. Celles-ci ont non seulement
utilise du lait en poudre sans en avertir le consommateur, mais aussi
des produits a base de plante, ce que la Commission a considere comme
inadmissible. Les societes ont ete soumises a des amendes importantes.

Celles-ci contestent toutefois la decision de la Commission et ont
l’intention de faire appel.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

Islamic Republic News Agency
Dec 23 2011

Iran president meets senior Armenian officials

Yerevan, 23 December: Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad Enhanced
Coverage LinkingMahmud Ahmadinezhad -Search using:Biographies Plus
NewsNews, Most Recent 60 Dayshad separate meetings with Armenian
Parliament Speaker Samvel Nikoyan and this country’s Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan during his one day visit to Yerevan.

Iranian president is scheduled to visit Iranian-Armenians in the
coming hours. Visiting Iranian president had also a meeting with
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and discussed major topics
concerning bilateral, regional, and international issues.