Author: Kalantarian Kevo

iew.bg?articleid=225405
‘Trees of Hope’ campaign to beautify homeland
Belmont Citizen-Herald
Thursday, April 14, 2005
This month, the Armenia Tree Project announced the launch of its “Trees of
Hope” campaign in observance of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
“ATP is inviting Armenians all over the world to join us as we remember
the past and embrace the future by planting Trees of Hope all across the
Armenian homeland,” stated ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. “These
memorial trees are not only an inspiring way to honor our lost ancestors but
also a very practical way to preserve the precious Armenian homeland –
restoring its environmental integrity and scenic beauty.”
ATP’s inaugural planting for the 2005 season will begin with 90,000
trees, symbolizing the 90 years that have passed since the first genocide in
modern history.
“Our goal is to grow many thousands of Trees of Hope to maturity in
time for the milestone 100th anniversary commemoration,” said Masarjian.
“With a thriving Armenian landscape in 2015, it will be evident that the
Armenian Spirit is alive and well with all the life, beauty, and hope of
nature.”
Given the importance of breaking ground during this year’s planting
season, the Trees of Hope initiative is supported by a comprehensive
campaign designed to reach the widest audience possible.
Those who adopt Trees of Hope may participate with gifts starting from
$15, which covers the propagating, planting and care-taking of one tree. In
addition to a single commemorative tree, they can adopt a four-tree cluster,
an eight-tree grove, a 35-tree arbor, or pledge a 100-tree woodland or
335-tree forest. Participants also can opt to receive a personalized Trees
of Hope certificate as a keepsake.
Carolyn Mugar, founder of the Armenia Tree Project, said, “By planting
these memorial trees in Armenia, we are helping to put hope and pride on the
Armenian horizon for both its struggling citizens and its worldwide
diaspora. Through this and other tree-planting initiatives, we also hope
that our efforts may serve as an inspiration for other developing nations or
recent survivors of genocide now in the process of healing and rebuilding.”
Mugar added, “It is our vision that one day the images of uprooted
Armenian victims on a death march through the Syrian desert will be replaced
by images of an Armenian homeland flourishing with bounty and firmly rooted
in opportunity. Not because we have forgotten the past, but because we now
are able to redeem it. We urge Armenians everywhere to take a few moments of
their time to share in this positive expression of remembrance.”
Donations can be made by mail, phone, or online. For additional
information, call 617-926-8733 or go to

Watertown TAB & Press, MA
April 15 2005
Armenian Genocide commemoration events
Friday, April 15, 2005
The Greater Boston Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide, an umbrella organization of all area churches and major
civic groups, announces the following community-wide commemoration
events for the 90th anniversary of the Genocide. All events are free
and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information,
and periodic updates, log on to

“Victims of 1915 and We Today”- Sunday, April 17, 10 a.m., at
Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church, 200 Lexington St., Belmont. A
memorial service and evocation.

“Remembrance and Commemoration through Armenian Culture and
Music”- Sunday, April 17, 5 p.m., at St. James Armenian Apostolic
Church, 465 Mount Auburn St., Watertown. Featuring Sayat Nova Dance
Company and Zulal Armenian Folk Trio.

“The Road to Redemption: Memories of the 1915 Armenian
Genocide”- Thursday, April 21, 7:30 p.m., at Boston University’s
Morse Auditorium, 602 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Presented by the
Greater Boston Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide.

Massachusetts State House Commemoration – Friday, April 22, 11
a.m., in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, followed by an
informal reception in the Great Hall. George Keverian, former Speaker
of the House, will be honored for his service and respect of the
state’s Armenian community.

Ecumenical Service and Memorial Service – Saturday, April 23,
6:45 p.m., at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 145 Brattle
St., Cambridge. A service for 250 Armenian intellectuals who perished
on April 24, 1915. Presented by the Honorable Clergy of Boston
Armenian Churches.

Requiem and Memorial Concert for the 90th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide – Saturday, April 23, 7:30 p.m., at Holy Trinity
Armenian Apostolic Church. Presented by Erevan Choral Society, under
the direction of the Very Rev. Oshagan Minassian.

Rally to Commemorate the Armenian Genocide in New York –
Sunday, April 24. Busses depart from St. James and St. Stephens
Armenian Churches in Watertown to Times Square, for those wishing to
take part in the rally to commemorate the Genocide and denounce the
denial of the Turkish government. For more information, log on to

The Films of J. Michael Hagopian – Friday, April 29 and May 6,
various times, at Kendall Square Cinema, 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge.
Screenings of “Germany and the Secret Genocide” and “Voices from the
Lake.” Presented by the Greater Boston Committee for the
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, with cooperation of Kendall
Square Cinema.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Servizio di base in Italiano
April 14, 2005
Genocidio armeni: ancora troppo spesso negato, secondo ASA
BERNA
Novant’anni dopo l’inizio de genocidio degli armeni ad opera
dell’Impero Ottomano, in Svizzera e’ ancora troppo spesso negato. Lo
ha dichiarato oggi a Berna il consigliere nazionale e presidente del
gruppo parlamentare armeno Dominique de Buman (PPD/FR) in una
conferenza stampa dell’Associazione Svizzera- Armenia (ASA).
Il consiglio nazionale ha riconosciuto nel 2003 come genocidio
l’espulsione di numerosi armeni nel 1915-1916 e l’uccisione di oltre
un milione di questi. De Buman ha domandato che lo stesso faccia il
Consiglio federale. Per Auschwitz personalita’ politiche e religiose
hanno chiesto da tempo il perdono, ha precisato.
Rivolgendosi al Consiglio federale, De Buman si e’ espresso a favore
di un’estensione dei rapporti tra la Svizzera e gli armeni e ha
chiesto per una volta di avere il coraggio di mettere in secondo
piano i calcoli economici e materiali. “La priorita’ data ai valori
economici ci preoccupa”, ha detto De Buman.
In Svizzera il non riconoscimento del genocidio degli armeni diventa
sempre piu’ “normale”, ha detto Sarkis Shahinian, copresidente
dell’ASA. Il silenzio del Consiglio federale al riguardo e’ stato
letto dai media come un suo non riconoscimento del genocidio, ha
detto.
Da parte sua Laurent Auberson, storico e autore dell’opuscolo
“Armeni. Evocazione di un genocidio e sua importanza per la
Svizzera”, ha sottolineato che i fatti relativi allo sterminio degli
armeni ad opera dell’impero Ottomano non sono messi in discussione.
Quanto alla proposta avanzata ieri dal primo ministro turco di creare
una commissione congiunta con l’Armenia per indagare sui crimini del
1915-1916, si tratta di una “nuova manovra demagogica della Turchia
per sottrarsi alle sue responsabilita'”, ha dichiarato Sarkis
Shahinian. “Prima di questo suggerimento, il primo ministro ha detto
chiaramente che non riconoscera’ il genocidio”, ha insistito. Secondo
Shahinian, e’ una “reazione isterica” della Turchia di fronte alle
pressioni politiche internazionali. Da 90 anni la Turchia vive su una
menzogna, se la si toglie, crolla, ha spiegato.
In occasione della celebrazione dell’anniversario dell’inizio del
genocidio, il 24 aprile 1915, l’ASA organizza una serie di
commemorazioni in tutta la Svizzera. Dal 17 al 24 aprile a Neuchatel,
Ginevra, Losanna, Zurigo e Berna si terranno delle cerimonie nel
corso delle quali saranno interpretate opere del compositore armeno
Komitas.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
13:12:37 | 14-04-2005 | Politics |
US SECRETARY OF STATE TO VISIT SOUTHERN CAUCASUS
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Southern Caucasus in the
first decade of May, reports day.az quoting diplomatic sources.
During her meetings with the authorities of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
Mrs Rice will discuss bilateral relations of US and the countries of the
Southern Caucasus, as well as issues of democratization, military and
political cooperation and matters concerning resolution of regional
conflicts.
While meeting with the Armenian and Azeri officials the US Secretary of
State will also touch upon the issues on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement in detail.

Armenian minister accuses Turkey of failure to show tolerance to genocide
issue
Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 05
YEREVAN
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has expressed indignation at
the fact that “in the run-up to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide, Turkey has failed to take a tolerant position, and moreover,
is trying to ‘counterattack'”.
Speaking at a briefing in Yerevan today, the Armenian foreign minister
said that “Turkey is trying not only to brazenly rewrite its own
history but also wants to convince other countries”. This is how
Vardan Oskanyan commented on Ankara’s intention to appeal to the
British government to proclaim as not corresponding to reality the
facts presented in the so called Blue Book which was written back in
1916 and which serves as a main source of information on the Armenian
genocide.
“I am sure that this policy will boomerang against the Turkish
authorities,” Vardan Oskanyan said, stressing that these actions of
Ankara “are only strengthening our determination to achieve
international recognition of the Armenian genocide”.
The Armenian foreign minister expressed confidence that the issue of
recognition of the Armenian genocide will be on the agenda of the
talks on Turkey’s admission to the European Union, which will start in
October. “This issue may not become an official precondition,
nevertheless, beyond all doubt it will be touched on during the
talks,” Vardan Oskanyan said.
The Armenian foreign minister said that Yerevan views the issue of
recognition of the Armenian genocide in the context of ensuring
Armenia’s security.
“Unless this country, which has major military potential and occupies
an openly pro-Azerbaijani position in the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict, recognizes the Armenian genocide, we cannot trust
it and feel secure,” Vardan Oskanyan said.

Zaman, Turkey
April 13 2005
Armenian Orthodox Chruch Representative: Kemal was a Butcher, too
By Anadolu News Agency (aa)
Armenian Orthodox Church representative Vertanes Kalayjian insulted
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, at a
conference held in the US Congress, saying: “Kemal was a butcher,
too.”
The Helsinki Commission, an independent organization of the US
government conducting studies on issues like human rights and
democracy, has organized a conference about “religious freedoms in
Turkey” in the US House of Representatives in Rayburn.
During his speech at the conference Kalayjian said that despite a
reconciliatory initiative by Turkey, he has no reason to share this
optimism today.
Kalayjian referred to the founder of the Turkish Republic Ataturk as
“Kemal” and said: “In my personal opinion, Kemal was a butcher, too.”
Upon this, Fatih Yildiz, a diplomat from Turkey’s Washington Embassy,
who was not invited to the conference as a participant, but attended
in the audience, started to talk and protested Kalayjian’s remarks.
“They should have checked the background of all participants before
organizing such a conference. At the US Congress, it is impossible to
accept any insults against the founder of Turkey, Ataturk as it is
equally impossible to accept insults against the founder of the US,
George Washington ” reacted Yildiz.
Moderators of the session indicated that they had noted these remarks
and that Yildiz’s criticism would be taken into consideration.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
ORDINATION AND ANOINTING OF BISHOPS IN ANTELIAS
His Holiness Aram I ordained and anointed V. Rev. Khoren Doghramdjian,
prelate of the Diocese of Greece and V. Rev. Shahan Sarkisian, prelate of
the Diocese of Aleppo, as bishops on April 9 and 10.
On the evening of Saturday April 9, the vowing ceremony of the new bishops
was held in St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. Certificates from the
Dioceses of Greece and Aleppo, proposing that the primates be appointed as
bishops, were read during the service, by V. Rev. Krikor Chiftjian the
Master of Ceremonies.
The two primates declared their faithfulness to the creed of the Orthodox
Church. Then they read their vows and publicly announced their loyalty to
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I and their readiness to
serve the Armenian Church and people.
On Sunday April 10 the anointing service was held. The service was conducted
by His Holiness Aram I. Bishops Kegham Khatcherian and Nareg Alemezian
joined His Holiness.
His Holiness anointed Bishop Khoren and Bishop Shahan with the Holy Chrism
and handed them the staff and Ring of bishops. After anointing the bishops,
His Holiness gave a special sermon, during which he stressed that the newly
anointed bishops will become servants of the Cathilcosate’s mission. His
Holiness emphasized the importance of keeping the vow to remain loyal to the
traditions of the Armenian Church and the principle of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia.
“The reason and the aim of the existence of our Holy See and your existence
are only to serve this people. Your worthiness, greatness, glory and pride
are in this service,” His Holiness said, adding: “The Armenian Church, with
all its hierarchal Sees exists as one entity for our people. And you are
called to be the servants of that unity through your dedication and
devotion.”
Members of the Cilician brotherhood, clergy guests and a large number of
faithful from Aleppo, Greece and Lebanon congratulated the bishops after the
service.
##
View picture here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Azerbaijan News Service
April 2 2005
OSCE CHAIRMAN IN OFFICE CALLS ARMENIAN REGIME OF QARABAQ TO JOIN
PEACE TALKS
Dmitriy Rupel, OSCE chairman-in-office and foreign minister of
Slovenia met with Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani FA minister on April
2 within his visit to Baku. In the briefing after the meeting, he
affirmed giving statement during his visit to Yerevan on joining of
Armenian community of Qarabaq the talks on Armenian-Azerbaijan Daqliq
Qarabaq conflict. I have no authority to change format of the talks
said Dmitriy Rupel, OSCE chairman-in-office and added Armenian media
distorted some of his opinions. I met with representatives of
Armenian community of Daqliq Qarabaq. And recently talked with
Azerbaijani community. We have to listen to different ideas,
opinions. And continue talks in this way. I can neither change nor
make corrections to the format of peace talks process. The sides
should come to an agreement. I won’t speak about the sources you
cited. This is a problem, a conflict. I advise you not to believe
these sources. Dmiriy Rupel said he heard new interesting ideas from
Elmar Mammadyarov regarding settlement of the conflict and these
ideas need to be discussed with Vardan Oskanyan, Armenian FA
minister. OSCE chairman also spoke about repeated cease-fire breaches
in Azerbaijan Armenian front line during last weeks. Regarding the
release of three Azerbaijani soldiers held in Armenian captive since
February 15, OSCE chairman assured they would be released soon, as he
was told in Yerevan. Another question that Dmitriy Rupel touched was
upcoming parliament elections. He said OSCE is interested in
democratic elections. OSCE wants the elections to be held
democratically and free. But as a FA minister of Slovenia, I can say
there is a powerful government and weak opposition in Azerbaijan. In
my country, their powers are equal. I think we may contribute these
two sides by balancing their activity. Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani
FA minister didn’t exclude participation of representatives of
Armenian community of Daqliq Qarabaq and said Azerbaijani commu8nity
of Daqliq Qarabaq and OSCE experts should join the talks. But it
should be after official Baku holds negotiations with Armenia. After
his meeting in Foreign Affairs Ministry, Dmitry Rumpel was received
by president in his office. Armenian-Azerbaijan Daqliq Qarabaq
conflict creates a great danger to regional cooperation, stability
and peace. Position of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the conflict
is based on international law norms. Territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan must be restored, ID people must return to their houses.
Our demands are just those approved in international law norms said
president Ilham Aliyev. Stressing speedy development of integration
process in Europe, president Ilham Aliyev said future progress of
Azerbaijan is connected with close cooperation with European and
Euro-Atlantic organizations. Expressing his satisfaction with meeting
with the President OSCE chairman said the main issue they are
concerned about is Daqliq Qarabaq problem. Elections and democratic
development issues are at the center of attention of OSCE as well.

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
April 12 2005
The PKK cannot speak on the behalf of Kurds: Erdogan

The Turkish Prime Minister said that there was no Kurdish problem in
Turkey.

April 12 – There was no such thing as a Kurdish problem in Turkey,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during an address at
the Nobel Institute in Norway Tuesday.
`If you say, ‘ there is a Kurdish question in Turkey,’ this is
unfortunately creating an artificial problem. There is no such
problem for us,’ Erdogan said.
Erdogan’s comments came as a response to a person in the
audience who said he was the representative of the Kurdistan National
Congress who said that almost 30 separate ethnic groups lived in
Turkey.
`The PKK cannot speak in the name of Kurds. Who are you to
talk about ending the war? Is there a separate state within Turkey?’
Erdogan said.
The Prime Minister also underlined that it was not possible
that the security forces of Turkey would not react to the acts of
terrorism.
As he was leaving a meeting with the head of the Norwegian
Parliament Erdogan was confronted by supporters of the terrorist
group the PKK. The Prime Minister escaped the eggs thrown at him by
ducking down, though his bodyguards were splattered by the thrown
eggs.
On Monday, Erdogan made a statement blaming the west and the
European Union for the raising the issue of the Kurdish question and
the so-called Armenian genocide. In his statement Erdogan said that
the west was confused over the terms of Kurds and the PKK and was
trying to divide Turkey.
`To show all Kurds as members of the PKK is very ugly. The
west is making use of this,’ he said.

The Gazette (Montreal)
April 10, 2005 Sunday
Final Edition
Events were tragic – but not genocide: Accusations are unfair.
Condemnation by Canadian Parliament was politically motivated
GERARD EMIN BATTIKA, Freelance
Members of the Turkish Canadian community have asked me to convey
their concerns and points of view about the alleged Armenian genocide
of 1915 and its recognition by the Canadian Parliament a year ago.
Unfortunately, Parliament acted as judge and jury. The vote on the
emotionally charged issue was not unanimous. Members of the cabinet
and several MPs voted against the resolution. The government said it
was non-binding and would not change Canada’s attitude toward the
republic of Turkey and the Turkish nation.
For our part, we were deeply offended to see that our ancestors were
accused of having been genocidal. In our opinion, Parliament’s
decision was politically motivated. After all, Armenians outnumber us
in Canada, and have been here longer.
Last April, Jeffrey Simpson of the Globe and Mail described the
Parliament’s move as “unnecessary, irresponsible and provocative.” He
accused the politicians of being “influenced by Armenian and Greek
descendants in their districts.”
The charge of Armenian genocide is a complex and multi-dimensional
question. Nicholas S. Ludington, senior associate of the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, describes the issue as “a swamp of
disputed historical facts.” In fact, it is the subject of genuine
debate among historians.
The disputed events have their roots in the 19th century when the
Ottoman Empire began to unravel. Armenians, seeking independence and
territory. co-
operated with the enemies of the empire. Their attacks against
officials sparked bloody clashes. Sadly, agitations, uprisings, harsh
measures and counter-attacks escalated for several years and turned
into a very serious situation during World War I.
At the time, the Ottoman Empire was in agony. In 1914, Ottoman
Armenian revolutionary groups formed voluntary units, set fire to
houses in eastern Anatolia and rose up in the rear of the Turkish
army, cutting it off from its base of supplies.
Armenian insurgents fought on the side of the invading Russian forces
and killed large numbers of Muslims to provoke retaliation.
Armenians maintain that only their losses were immense. They
consistently allege that agents of the Ottoman state killed unarmed
Armenian civilians. Survivors and independent historians state that
the rebels were well equipped with guns and ammunition. In our
opinion, neither side was blameless. Both sides have accounts to
reconcile.
As clashes continued in 1915, the Ottoman Empire decided to relocate
the Armenians from eastern Anatolia to Aleppo, Mosul and parts of
today’s Syria and Lebanon, thus clearing the war area and hinterland
of a disloyal group of people.
The text of relocation orders issued by the authorities was very
specific. All precautions were to be taken in order to guarantee the
safety of the relocatees. Officials were warned about tensions
between the Armenians and the Muslims, including the Kurds.
But unfortunately, the state mechanism collapsed. The displaced
Armenians became targets of lawlessness. Revenge-seeking tribes,
inadequate containment, involvement of Christian and Muslim deserters
and irregulars, as well as famine, sickness and harsh conditions
complicated the process.
It should be noted that the Ottoman government severely punished
those officials responsible for the sporadic killings, sending some
of them to the gallows.
It should also be noted that Ottoman Armenians living in Istanbul and
western Turkey were not affected at all, and that in 1918, the
Ottoman Empire granted permission to the displaced to return to their
homes. Thousands of them did.
In 1920, Armenians abandoned their claims on Turkey and proclaimed
the Republic of Armenia in the Caucasus as part of the Soviet Union.
In 1922, the Ottoman Empire faded into history.
The Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923.More than 100,000 Turkish
citizens of Armenian descent live in today’s Turkey. They are
hard-working, well-liked people who make valuable contributions to
that beautiful country.
Regardless of accusations and counter-accusations surrounding the
conflicts between the Turks and the Armenians, we sincerely express
our feelings of regret over the sad events that took place 90 years
ago and which culminated in the death of large numbers of Turks and
Armenians alike.
We also regret that members of the Armenian diaspora are
misinterpreting those events by labelling them a genocide. We feel
that even the death of one Armenian or one Turk was too many. Turks
and Armenians had lived under the same flag for several centuries.
As Turkish Canadians, we reiterate our wish to see the establishment
of peaceful and healthy dialogue between the Armenians and the Turks.
We also reiterate our desire to see the formation of a joint group of
historians to conduct scholarly research on the issue, under the
light of fairness and within the framework of international law.
Gerard Emin Battika is honorary consul-general of Turkey in Montreal.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress