Author: Kalantarian Kevo

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710 or (973) 943-8697
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

** TOP STORY January 22, 2015
————————————————————
Genocide Orphan
Detail of a photo of Armenian Genocide refugees, United States Library
of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

** An Orphan’s Story
————————————————————
He was a child of war: born to a kingdom under siege. His high-born
parents died at the point of an Arab invader’s sword, and little Vahan
was taken into custody, brought in bondage to Damascus, and instructed
in the tenets of an alien religion. Life in the emir’s court was all
he would know as he matured.

But some faint ember of his earlier life remained in his heart. A
generation passed, and with it the regime of his captors; and the
now-adult Vahan seized a fleeting opportunity to return to the land of
his birth: the province of Goghtn in the ancient Armenian stronghold
of Vaspourakan. He entered Goghtn as a prince, to rule in the name of
the conquerors. Yet once immersed in the folkways of his people, it
was Vahan himself who was conquered. He took a wife, embraced the
Christian faith anew, and settled into tranquil Armenian life.

This was all too much for his Arab overlords, of course. Vahan was
forced to flee Goghtn, and spent endless fugitive days moving from
town to town, barely a step away from his pursuers. Eventually, he was
seized by the Muslim constable of Armenia and spirited away to
Syria-where he was reunited, in martyrdom, with his parents and his
Lord.

Though Vahan lived and died in the 8th century A.D., what happened to
him 13 centuries ago in Goghtn (a region in present-day Nakhichevan)
still resonates with Armenians-perhaps more deeply than ever in this
100th year of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. In time, Vahan of
Goghtn was recognized as a saint of the Armenian Church; today marks
his feast day. As we honor his memory, let us also give thought to all
the other children of war-those of 100 years ago, and those, sadly,
among us today.

** Scripture of the Week
————————————————————

Is 61:10-62:9
2 Tm 2:15-26
Jn 6:15-21

** Prayer of the Week
————————————————————

In faith I confess and bow down to you, Father and Son and Holy
Spirit, uncreated and immortal nature, creator of angels, of men, and
of all things. Have mercy upon your creatures, and upon me, great
sinner that I am. Amen.

** Upcoming Saints & Feasts
————————————————————

22 January: St. Vahan of Goghtn

24 January: 150 Fathers of the Holy Council of Constantinople
(A.D. 381)

25 January: Barekendan of the Fast of Catechumens

** CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
————————————————————
Gallipoli
A soldier stands over skulls of victims of the Armenian Genocide from
the Armenian village of Sheyxalan in 1915.

** In the News
————————————————————
Monday’s edition of the British newspaper
The Independent contained an article touching on the worldwide
observance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The wide-ranging piece covers the main facts of the Genocide,
considers some ironies of subsequent history, and even exposes some
`diplomatic mischief’ intended to distract attention from the
milestone.

To read the online version, click here
()
.

Hrant Dink
Hrant Dink (1954-2007).

** Remembering Hrant Dink
————————————————————
On January 19, 2007, the Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was
assassinated on the street outside his newspaper offices in
Istanbul. Dink’s prior writings on the Armenian Genocide had made him
a well known figure in Turkey, and had prompted his prosecution under
Turkey’s retrograde law forbidding anti-Turkish statements.

The murder of this brave and gentle man was later revealed to contain
elements of state persecution along with what we in this country would
call `hate crime.’ It became a cause célèbre for Armenians the world
over, but also for elements of Turkish society longing for a more open
public discourse. At Hrant Dink’s funeral, more than 100,000 people,
Armenians side-by-side with ethnic Turks, jammed the streets of
Istanbul carrying placards reading, `We are all Hrant Dink.’

Even after eight years, the demoralizing horror of that terrible
January day still lingers; and the astonishing spectacle of the
subsequent weeks is likewise unforgettable. Today we again offer
prayers for the repose of Hrant Dink’s spirit, for the consolation of
his loved ones, and for the light of Divine truth, which even the
deepest darkness cannot extinguish.

To read an essay written on the first anniversary of Hrant Dink’s
murder, click here
()
.

** DIOCESAN NEWS
————————————————————
Armenian Genocide Cintennial

** Resources for the Genocide Centennial
————————————————————
With the 100th year of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide advancing
rapidly, the Eastern Diocese has created a special section on its
website for downloadable resources. Parishes, community groups, and
anyone else can obtain materials to help them inform local press and
reach out to their surrounding communities. This week, a downloadable
map of “Historic Armenia Through the Ages” was added to the
offerings-these can be accessed by clicking here
()
.

In the meantime, the Armenian-American community is building towards a
national observance in Washington, DC, in May 2015. Special events are
scheduled for May 7 to 9-including an ecumenical prayer service at the
National Cathedral, a Pontifical Divine Liturgy, a memorial concert,
and an awards banquet honoring those who helped the survivors. His
Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia, both will journey to the United States to lead the
Washington commemoration. They will be joined by Armenians from across
the U.S., under the auspices of the Eastern and Western Dioceses, and
the Eastern and Western Prelacies. Click here
()
to learn more about the May events in the nation’s capital.

The Eastern Diocese’s Annual Diocesan Assembly and Clergy Conference
will convene in Washington that same week; details on the 2015
Assembly will be forthcoming.

People in the New York metro region should also reserve the dates of
April 24, 25, and 26 for commemoration events in New York City. These
will include liturgical celebrations and the annual Times Square
program sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Knights and Daughters of Vartan.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, has appointed George
and Lorraine Marootian as Diocesan liaisons to the Genocide
commemorative committees. They will be working with established
committees at the national, regional, and local levels, and have begun
reaching out to our parish communities. Contact them via e-mail at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Never Forget 1915

** Support the Genocide Awareness Campaign
————————————————————
The Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America (Eastern Region)
is planning a creative national campaign spanning public relations,
social media, and print and broadcast outlets to raise awareness about
the Armenian Genocide in this milestone year.

The committee is raising funds to finance the national
campaign. Please consider supporting this ambitious outreach
effort. Click here
()
to make a donation.

In addition, the Centennial Committee (Eastern Region) has launched a
new website- will soon offer a listing of events
organized nationwide in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. They
are asking all local committees to share their contact information to
assist in this effort.

Prayer Service

** Virginia Churches Approve Genocide Resolution
————————————————————
Last fall, the Virginia Council of Churches approved a resolution
calling for the commemoration of the 100th year of remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide by its member churches.

Rev. Dr. Jonathon Barton, executive director of the Virginia Council
of Churches, was instrumental in spearheading the
resolution. Fr. Barton has close ties with the St. James Armenian
Church of Richmond, VA, and is an honorary member of the Armenian
Genocide Centennial Committee in Virginia.

The resolution was presented at the Virginia Council of Churches
annual meeting last November by Bedros Bandazian and Sona Pomfret of
St. James Armenian Church.

It reads, in part: `The Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of
Central Virginia and the people of Saint James Armenian Orthodox
Church-a member of the Virginia Council of Churches-represent an
ancient Christian tradition, remain devoted brothers and sisters in
Christ, and strive to inform Virginians of all faiths about the
Armenian Genocide.’ The resolution also calls on Virginia churches to
participate in an ecumenical service on Saturday, April 18, organized
by the local Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee.

Click here
()
to read more.

FAR
Children take part in a theater therapy session at the FAR Children’s
Center in Yerevan.

** FAR Launches Daycare Service in Yerevan
————————————————————
The Fund for Armenian Relief’s Children’s Center recently launched a
new Daycare Service in Yerevan, Armenia, which provides at-risk
teenagers with after-school psychological support.

The sessions are held two to three times a week, and are designed to
mitigate the risks of dropping out, bullying, crime, and
suicide. Young people ages 11 to 16 attend the Daycare Service
sessions at the recommendation of school officials. The new initiative
has already reached 43 at-risk students from six schools in Yerevan’s
Zeytun neighborhood.

Click here
()
to read more on FAR’s blog.

** PARISH NEWS
————————————————————
St. Sarkis Church, Charlotte, NC
Fr. Samuel Rith-Najarian administers Holy Communion.

** A New Priest’s First Badarak
————————————————————
On Sunday, January 18, the newly ordained Rev. Fr. Samuel
Rith-Najarian celebrated his first Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church
of Charlotte, NC.

The former Dn. Benjamin Rith-Najarian was ordained to the holy
priesthood at St. Sarkis Church on December 7 by Diocesan Primate
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, and spent his 40-day period of seclusion
at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.

Also taking part in last Sunday’s badarak were the Very
Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Rev. Fr. Mampre Kouzouian, and Very
Rev. Fr. John Meno of the Syrian Orthodox Church, who is a close
friend of the Charlotte parish. Dn. Yervant Kutchukian, who served as
the godfather of Fr. Samuel’s ordination, assisted on the altar.

Fr. Rith-Najarian will serve as the pastor of St. Sarkis Church. Click
here
()
to view photos of his antranig badarak.

Deacon Gevork Gevorkian
Fr. Odabashian (center) dedicates Dn. Gevorkian’s books.

** New Books Dedicated in Providence
————————————————————
The Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, visited
Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI, on Sunday, January 18,
where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and dedicated two new books
authored by a local parishioner.

The kinetson ceremony, in which wine is symbolically poured over newly
published tomes, was performed by Fr. Odabashian following
services. Dn. Gevork Gevorkian’s books-Examination of the Christian
Rejection of Cremation and St. John Chrysostom: How to Forgive the
Offense?-were recently published by Holy Etchmiadzin.

The first book, written in Western Armenian, explains the Christian
practice of burial and the belief that the body will rise together
with the soul. The book will serve as a guide for pastors advising the
faithful during times of bereavement.

In How to Forgive the Offense?, available in English and Russian,
Dn. Gevorkian compiled the homilies of the great church father
St. John Chrysostom on the Christian practice of
forgiveness. Dn. Gevorkian’s volume presents these historic works in
an accessible and applicable way. The book is dedicated to the Very
Rev. Fr. Shnork Kasparian, of blessed memory.

Armenian Church in Austin
Dn. Narek Garabedian with parishioners in Austin.

** Austin Parish Learns About Christmas in Jerusalem
————————————————————
On Saturday, January 17, the mission parish of Austin, TX, welcomed
St. Nersess seminarian Dn. Narek Garabedian. Dn. Garabedian performed
the mid-day service and gave a presentation on Christmas in the Holy
Land (which is observed on January 18 and 19).

Dn. Garabedian, who spent four years studying in Jerusalem, gave the
community a first-hand look at how the Armenian Patriarchate of
Jerusalem observes the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord
Jesus Christ. He later presented the parishioners with wooden crosses
that had been blessed in Jerusalem.

Click here
()
to view photos.

Upcoming events

** Upcoming Parish Events
————————————————————

St. Leon Church | Fair Lawn, NJ
On Friday, January 23, St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ, will host a
presentation by Vahé Tachjian, Ph.D., on the `Houshamadyan Project,’
an attempt to reconstruct Ottoman Armenian life through archival
documents, photographs, and other materials. The talk will begin at
7:45 p.m. Admission is free. Click here
(`1922f489&e=3aa2e2c3e9&utm_source=Eastern+Diocese+E-Newsletter&utm_campaign=bdd960541c-September_4_20149_4_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3f0172fcf2-bdd960541c-159688434)
to view a flyer for information.

St. Mary Church | Livingston, NJ
The Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest New Jersey, in
collaboration with St. Mary Church of Livingston, NJ, is hosting an
exhibit in commemoration of the 100th year of remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide. The exhibit will open on Monday, January 26, with
the screening of a film about the Armenian Genocide. It will run
through April 30. Click here
()
for information.

St. Sarkis Church | Dallas, TX
The Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Dallas-Fort Worth will
host two events this month in commemoration of the 100th year of
remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

On Sunday, January 25, filmmaker Bared Maronian will speak about his
latest project, a documentary titled “Women of 1915.’ A preview of the
film and a discussion will be held at St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX,
beginning at 1:15 p.m.

On Monday January 26, Bared Maronian will screen his documentary film
“Orphans of the Genocide.” The film will be shown at the Magnolia
Theatre (3699 McKinney Avenue in Dallas) beginning at 7 p.m. Admission
is free.

St. Gregory the Illuminator Church | Chicago, IL
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, IL, will host its
annual `Armenian Winter Fest’ on Saturday, January 31, from 4 to 10
p.m. Enjoy Armenian food, raffles, and other activities. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information.

St. Mary Church | Hollywood, FL
St. Mary Church of Hollywood, FL, will host an `Armenian Food and
Music Fest’ on Saturday, January 31 (12 to 10 p.m.) and Sunday,
February 1 (12 to 7 p.m.). Enjoy homemade Armenian food and pastries,
live music, arts and crafts vendors, and activities for
children. Click here
()
to view a flyer.

Vendors and sponsors are welcome. Click here
()
to download a sponsorship form. For information, e-mail
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) , call (954) 450-5578, or
visit

** YOUTH NEWS
————————————————————
ACYOA Lent Retreat

** ACYOA Lenten Retreats
————————————————————
The ACYOA Central Council has scheduled three regional Lenten retreats
for ACYOA Seniors across the Eastern Diocese. The day-long
retreats-themed `Living the Gospel of Christ: Legacy of Our
Martyrs’-will include Bible study, small group discussions, and
presentations focusing on the upcoming canonization of the martyrs of
the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

The New England retreat
()
will be held on Saturday, February 28, at Holy Resurrection Church in
New Britain, CT; the Midwest retreat
()
is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at St. Mesrob Church in Racine,
WI; and the New York-metro and Mid-Atlantic retreat
()
will go forward on Saturday, March 21, at the Church of the Holy
Martyrs in Bayside, NY.

For information, contact the staff of the Diocese’s Department of
Youth and Young Adult Ministries: Lorie Odabashian at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) , or
(212) 686-0710, ext. 143; or Jennifer Morris at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) ,
or (248) 686-0702.

** EVENTS
————————————————————
Concert at St. Vartan Cathedral

** An Evening at the Opera
————————————————————
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral will host `An Evening at the Opera’ on
Friday, January 30, at 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy a program featuring Armenian and Western opera music, performed
by internationally-acclaimed artists Narine Ojakhyan and Yeghishe
Manucharyan. Lusine Badalyan will accompany on the piano.

Click here
()
to view a flyer for ticket information. St. Vartan Cathedral is
located at 630 Second Avenue (at 34th Street) in Manhattan.

Farah Siraj
Jordanian fusion artist Farah Siraj will perform during the dinner and
music program on February 14.

** Artist Farah Siraj to Perform at Diocesan Center
————————————————————
The recently formed St. Vartan Cathedral Community of New York City is
hosting an exciting evening of dinner and music featuring talented
Jordanian fusion artist Farah Siraj, on Saturday, February 14.

Join them in celebrating Poon Paregentan-the Armenian `Mardi Gras`-and
Valentine’s Day, from 7 to 11 p.m. in Haik and Alice Kavookjian
Auditorium (Second Avenue at 35th Street). Tickets are $50. Click on
the following links to view a flyer
()
and to purchase tickets
()
.

Zohrab Information Center

** Zohrab Center Announces Spring Schedule
————————————————————
The Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center will open its
spring season of lectures on Thursday, February 5, with a talk by
Dr. Vartan Matiossian titled `Code Name Haiko: Discovering the Last
Unknown Participants in Talaat Pasha’s Liquidation.’ The event will be
held at the Diocesan Center in New York, beginning at 7 p.m. Admission
is free.

Other Zohrab Center events planned for the spring include talks on
Armenian art, a guide to the Armenian Church’s Holy Week ceremonies,
and various book presentations. Click here
()
to visit the Zohrab Center blog for a complete schedule.

“THE ARMENIANS WANT AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE 1915 MASSACRE WAS A CRIME”

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

Armenian genocide
Point of view

Geoffrey Robertson

In 1915 Britain was determined to expose the Armenian genocide,
so why have we since downgraded it to a ‘tragedy’?

Armenians mark the anniversary of the massacre of their people,
in 2014.

Armenians mark the anniversary of the massacre of their people,
in 2014. Photograph: Karen Minasyan/Getty Images

Friday 23 January 2015 14.00 GMT

Just before the invasion of Poland, Adolf Hitler urged his generals
to show no mercy towards its people – there would be no retribution,
because “after all, who now remembers the annihilation of the
Armenians?” As the centenary of the Armenian genocide approaches
– it began on 24 April 1915, with the rounding up and subsequent
“disappearance” of intellectuals and community leaders
in Constantinople – remembrance of the destruction of more than half
of the Armenian people is more important than ever.

Although, as Hitler recognised in 1939 (and it is still the case
today), the crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Turks
by killing the major part of this ancient Christian race has never
been requited, or, in the case of Turkey, been the subject of apology
or reparation.

The “Young Turks” who ran the Ottoman government did not
use gas ovens, but they did massacre the men, and sent the women,
children and elders on death marches through the desert to places
we only hear of now because they are overrun by Isis. They died en
route in their hundreds of thousands from starvation or attack, and
many survivors died of typhus in concentration camps at the end of
the line. The government ordered these forced deportations in 1915,
and then passed laws to seize their lands and homes and churches on
the pretext that they had been “abandoned”.

The destruction of more than 1 million Armenians was declared
a “crime against humanity” by Britain, France and
Russia in 1915, and these allies formally promised punishment
for what a US inquiry at the end of the war described as “a
colossal crime – the wholesale attempt on a race”. But the
Treaty of Sèvres, designed to punish the Young Turks for this
“colossal crime” – now called “genocide”
– was never implemented. Modern Turkey reportedly funds a massive
genocide denial campaign, claiming that the death marches were
merely “relocations” required by military necessity and
that the massacres (the Euphrates was so packed with bodies that
it altered its course) were the work of a few “unruly’
officials. In Turkey, today, you can go to jail – and some do –
for affirming that there was a genocide in 1915; this counts as the
crime of “insulting Turkishness” under Section 301 of
its criminal code.

Conversely, in some European countries, it counts as a crime to
deny the Armenian genocide. The parliaments of many democracies
– France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, Greece and
Canada, for example, recognise it explicitly, as do 43 states of
the US. The problem is that Turkey – “neuralgic” on
the subject (the word used privately by the British Foreign Office
to describe its attitude) – has threatened reprisals and is too
important geopolitically to provoke by affirming the genocide, lest
it carry out threats to close its airbases to Nato and its borders
to refugees. Thus Barack Obama, who roundly condemned the Armenian
genocide in 2008 and promised to do so when elected president, dares
not utter the “g” word. Instead, he calls it Meds Yeghern
(Armenian for “the great crime”) and asserts that his
opinion has not changed, although you must Google his 2008 campaign
speech to discover his opinion that it was genocide.

As for Britain, the story is even stranger. No nation, in 1915, was
more determined to expose and punish what it termed a “crime
against humanity”. The evidence of the atrocities collected
in Arnold Toynbee’s Blue Book, although published by the
government for propaganda purposes, has withstood all attempts
to discredit it. Winston Churchill condemned the “infamous
general massacre and deportation of Armenians … in one
administrative Holocaust”, and Britain even attempted to put
some of the perpetrators on trial in Malta, only to find that there
was no international criminal law at the time to punish government
officials for killing their own people. However, in recent years, the
FCO has briefed ministers to call the events a “tragedy”
but to deny genocide because “the evidence is not sufficiently
unequivocal” – an oxymoronic term (something is either
unequivocal or it is not).

The FCO certainly knew that this “genocide equivocation”
was dodgy: one internal memo obtained under the Freedom of Information
Act admits that “HMG is open to criticism in terms of the ethical
dimension. But given the importance of our relations (political,
strategic and commercial) with Turkey … the current line
is the only feasible option.” Ministers were also advised
to avoid attendance at any commemoration of the Armenian genocide,
and to avoid any mention of it at Holocaust Day memorials.

This position could not hold, especially after the International
Court of Justice declared the Bosnian Serbs guilty of genocide at
Srebrenica, for killing 8,000 men and deporting up to 25,000 women
and children. The claim that the evidence is “not sufficiently
unequivocal” was then abandoned by the FCO (although the Turkish
government website claims that this is still the UK’s position),
and the search began for a formula that could answer the question:
“Will HMG recognise the Armenian genocide?” without
answering the question.

Now, the FCO claims to empathise with the “suffering”
of the Armenian people in the “tragedy” of 1915, and
says it is not for governments to decide a “complex legal
question”. It has thus moved the “line” from
genocide equivocation to genocide avoidance – a move slightly in the
right direction. Last year there was even talk at the FCO of giving
to the Armenian Genocide Museum copies of some files in the National
Archives attesting to the Ottoman atrocities: this was turned down,
ostensibly because the photocopying costs of £431.20 could not be
afforded, but probably because the Turks would go ballistic.

The FCO files recently recorded ministerial approval for “more
active participation” in centenary events, but there has, as
yet, been no lifting of the ban on reference to the Armenian genocide
on Holocaust Memorial Day. The real test of this government’s
willingness to accept historical truth will be whether it sends
a senior minister – or any minister at all – to the genocide
commemoration in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, on 24 April.

Ministers will be present at Gallipoli for the centenary of the
ill-fated British-Anzac Dardanelles landing on 25 April, and it would
be simple for them to fly there from Yerevan, were it not for the
certainty that Turkey would deny them entry.

The Dardanelles landings were in fact the trigger for the commencement
of the genocide, and (together with Russian military activity
on Turkey’s eastern front) were used as an excuse for the
destruction of the Armenians, on the pretext that they might support
the allied invasion. But the evidence of the government’s
genocidal intent is overwhelming, coming as it does from appalled
German and Italian diplomats and neutral Americans, to whom the Young
Turk leaders admitted that they were going to eliminate “the
Armenian problem” by eliminating the Armenians.

There can never be justification for genocide. This was understood
by Raphael Lemkin, the Polish lawyer who coined the word and worked
tirelessly to have the annihilation of the Armenians recognised as
an international crime. In 1948 the UN’s Genocide Convention
achieved Lemkin’s objective. Its definition of the crime
includes the destruction of part of a racial or religious group by,
for example, inflicting on it life-threatening conditions (such as
death marches). Applied to 1915, this produces a verdict of guilt,
beyond reasonable doubt.

It was, of course, a century ago: does it still matter? A century
is just within living memory: last year a 103-year-old woman, once
a small child carried by her mother across burning sands, took tea
with Obama and the world’s most famous Armenian descendant
(Kim Kardashian!). The mental scars and psychological trauma for the
children and grandchildren of survivors throughout the diaspora will
continue until Turkey acknowledges the crime, and offers an apology.

International law may provide some assistance: there are assets
expropriated in 1915 that can still be traced, and many ruined churches
that can be restored and returned. Armenians want restoration of their
historic lands in eastern Turkey, which is asking too much (although
I have suggested that the majestic Mount Ararat, overlooking Yerevan,
might be handed over by Turkey as an act of reconciliation). But
what they want most is what they are plainly entitled to have:
an acknowledgment from Turkey, and for that matter from the UK,
that what happened to their people in 1915 was not a tragedy but a
crime. A crime against humanity – as Britain said in 1915, and should,
in 2015, repeat.

* Geoffrey Robertson’s An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now
Remembers the Armenians? is published by Random House.

ARA PAPIAN: ARMENIA CEASES TO BE A SUBJECT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW (VIDEO)

16:21 | January 23,2015 | Politics

Armenia gradually ceases to be a subject of international law, says
Ara Papian, the founder and Head of the Modus Vivendi Center.

“Today Armenian-Turkish relations are viewed in the context of
relations between the West and Turkey, Russia and Turkey, the US and
Turkey,” he said.

ZHOGHOVURD: PREPARATIONS FOR ARF-D GENERAL MEETING IN UNFRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE

08:49 * 23.01.15

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) is to
hold its general meeting in Dilijan.

According to the information at the newspaper’s disposal, the meeting
is scheduled for January 25 and 26.

Preparations for the meeting began on December 25, and representatives
of ARF-D structures from different countries are expected to take
part in the meeting.

Discussions are not taking place in a friendly atmosphere.

Representatives of ARF-D structures have voiced their discontent
at ARF-D Bureau member Hrant Margaryan’s policy. It may force him
to resign.

CHARLIE HEBDO : APRES LE CHOC ET LA MOBILISATION, L’ACTION

COMMUNIQUE DE LA FIDH

La FIDH rend hommage aux millions de citoyens qui se sont mobilises
le 11 janvier 2015 a l’occasion de la marche republicaine en France
et dans le monde, en reponse aux attentats contre la redaction de
Charlie Hebdo et la tuerie dans un supermarche Casher. A l’aune des
contre-manifestations reactionnaires organisees dans differents pays
depuis la publication du dernier numero de Charlie Hebdo, il importe
d’autant plus d’en mesurer la portee et d’en tirer des consequences.

Des marches pour la liberte d’expression, contre l’antisemitisme et
toutes les formes de racisme et, contre les tueries : ce sont les
principes democratiques que les manifestants ont porte au plus haut
le 11 janvier.

Eviter que ces mobilisations ne retombent est l’affaire de
tous. La traduire en actes est la responsabilite en premier lieu
des gouvernants.

En France, la Ligue des droits de l’Homme a evoque l’ampleur des
chantiers necessaires pour combler la fracture republicaine (cf
communique commun LDH, Licra, SOS Racisme et Mrap, “Pour une Republique
effective”, 9 janvier 2015). Nous le soulignons avec elle et les
ONG du monde entier qui se sont manifestees depuis les attentats :
la portee internationale de l’enjeu ne saurait etre sous-estimee.

La defense de la liberte d’expression n’a pas recu le soutien
international necessaire.

On ne le rappellera jamais assez, cette liberte >
(cf Cour europeenne des droits de l’Homme, Affaire Handyside, 1976]).

Le droit international fixe precisement des limites a la liberte
d’expression. Cette liberte ne comprend pas l’incitation a la
perpetration ni l’apologie de genocide et de crimes contre l’humanite,
ou encore l’incitation a la haine ou a la discrimination raciale,
ethnique ou religieuse.

Il fixe encore des restrictions a la liberte, en particulier pour
proteger les droits et la reputation d’autrui contre l’injure ou
la diffamation contre personnes denommees – et contre personnes
denommees seulement, une religion ou une conviction relevant de la
sphère privee, subjective.

Toujours selon le droit international, ces restrictions ne sont
admissibles qu’en vertu de lois nationales qui lui soient conformes
dans une societe democratique, et dans des conditions très strictes
(necessite, proportionnalite) dont l’appreciation doit relever au
cas par cas, de la competence du juge.

Ainsi la liberte d’expression ne s’oppose pas a la liberte de religion
ou de conviction, elle en constitue au contraire l’indispensable
complement, garantissant au pluralisme des opinions, croyances et
convictions, la liberte de leur expression.

Ces principes ont ete reaffirmes et precises a la suite de la
controverse internationale nee de la publication de caricatures du
prophète Mahomet dans des journaux danois. Les Nations unies ont
organise une serie de consultations entre experts de toutes les
regions, pour identifier et preciser l’etendue des restrictions
acceptees par le droit international relatif a la liberte
d’expression. Une declaration et un plan d’action ont ete adoptes au
terme de ces consultations, a Rabat en fevrier 2013, qui reconnaît
notamment que >

Le Comite des droits de l’Homme des Nations unies l’avait egalement
reconnu : > (Commentaire general 34 sur l’article 19 relatif aux
libertes d’opinion et d’expression du Pacte international relatif
aux droits civils et politiques, adopte en juillet 2011]).

En depit de ces principes, les lois nationales sont
devoyees pour devenir, plutôt qu’une protection des
libertes, l’instrument de leur violation. C’est le cas en
particulier des lois penalisant le blasphème, presentes
encore dans plus de cinquante pays de par le monde (cf
).

Beaucoup d’Etats ou de forces politiques ou religieuses opposes a
la liberte d’expression, notamment par la caricature ou la derision,
justifient plus largement les violations de cette liberte pour asseoir
leur pouvoir ou leur influence.

Les premières victimes en sont les voix independantes de par le monde,
a l’instar, en Arabie Saoudite, de Raif Badawi blogueur qui defend
une vision plus liberale de l’islam et des reformes necessaire dans
son pays. Il a ete condamne pour cela a mille coups de fouets pour
“insulte a l’islam”, 10 annees de prison, 10 annees supplementaires
d’interdiction de quitter son pays et 20 000 euros d’amende.

Les defenseurs des droits humains qui prennent la defense de ces
personnes accusees arbitrairement risquent leur vie. Membre de la
Commission pakistanaise pour les droits de l’Homme, Rashid Rehman a ete
assassine le 8 mai 2014 au Pakistan. Il etait l’avocat d’une personne
accusee de blasphème. Il avait recu des menaces de mort alors qu’il
plaidait devant un juge, les autorites pakistanaises ont refuse de
lui accorder une quelconque protection.

On pense encore a Aminatou Mint El Moctar, responsable de l’association
des femmes chefs de famille en Mauritanie visee en 2014 par une fatwa
pour sa defense de personnes poursuivies pour apostasie ou harcelees
par des groupes islamistes radicaux.

Au Vietnam, Bui Thi Minh Hang, Nguyen Van Minh et Nguyen Thi Thuy
Quynh, ont ete condamnes pour trouble a l’ordre public a plusieurs
annees d’emprisonnement au Vietnam en decembre 2014, pour avoir
defendu la liberte de religion et de conviction.

Dans quatre-vingts pays environ, le seul fait d’informer sur les
violations des droits humains universels, a fortiori d’agir pour
qu’il y soit mis fin, est synonyme de risque majeur (cf les derniers
rapports annuels de l’Observatoire pour la protection des defenseurs
des droits humains ). Risque de procedure
fallacieuse et de detention arbitraire, de condamnation inique,
de torture et de traitement cruel, inhumain ou degradant, risque
pour les ONG et les medias independants d’assassinat, de suspension,
de dissolution, risque de designation a la vindicte populaire comme
traitre, apostat, terroriste, separatiste, extremiste.

Il est desormais urgent et necessaire d’interpeller les Etats pour
les rappeler a leurs obligations au regard du droit international des
droits humains. A cet egard, nous deplorons le fait qu’en tete de la
marche parisienne, une vingtaine de representants de gouvernements
oppresseurs de la liberte de conscience se sont precipites a Paris pour
proclamer leur condamnation du terrorisme, sans se voir rappeler que
la garantie des libertes en constitue la condition. Ils sont alors
rentres de Paris encourages dans leurs pratiques liberticides.

Depuis, plusieurs manifestations ont pris part de par le monde, pour
protester contre le soutien apporte au journal satyrique francais. Si
le droit de manifester pacifiquement son opinion religieuse est
inalienable, nous devons denoncer les attaques intervenues a cette
occasion contre les chretiens au Niger, ou ailleurs, contre des
representants des minorites. Celles-ci sont inadmissibles. D’autres,
a l’instar de celle du 19 janvier organisee a Grozny par Ramazan
Kadyrov, ne laissent personne dupe sur leur organisation de toute
pièce par le pouvoir en place, qui ne cesse d’instrumentaliser le
religieux a des fins politiques.

Au dela des manifestations et des declarations, nous attendons des
dirigeants une mobilisation internationale sans precedent, une defense
opiniâtre des citoyens reprimes au pretexte de leur defense de la
liberte d’expression, et de la liberte de religion ou de conviction.

Il faudrait aussi mesurer combien l’echec des politiques soi-disant
antiterroristes developpees depuis le 11 septembre 2001 a pese dans
l’essor spectaculaire de mouvements ideologiques fondes sur la terreur.

Les images de Guantanamo et d’Abu Graïb n’ont pas seulement servi de
catalyseur aux energies terroristes, elles les ont galvanisees dans
leur macabre entreprise jusque dans la terrible mise en scène des
executions d’otages de Daech.

Quant a la legitimation publique de l’usage de la torture par les
dirigeants de >, les pratiques de detention arbitraire
et de torture dans des centres secrets, de remise extraordinaire
dans des vols fantômes, d’execution sommaire par drône interpose,
d’interception massive de donnees personnelles, d’impunite absolue
pour les decideurs de ces pratiques, comment imaginer qu’elles
ne nourrissent pas l’argumentaire des recruteurs terroristes,
l’attractivite de leur entreprise mortifère et la banalisation des
violations des droits humains ?

Le bilan lucide doit aussi etre entrepris de l’echec patent de
l’invasion puis de l’occupation de l’Irak a partir de 2003, comme de
l’echec dramatique a empecher depuis bientôt quatre ans la tragedie
syrienne, et a favoriser une solution juste et durable au conflit
israëlo-palestinien. La perception mondialisee d’une injustice
recurrente sur fond de colonisation permanente des Territoires
palestiniens n’a pas seulement alimente la critique justifiee du
“deux poids – deux mesures”. Elle a permis son instrumentalisation
jusque dans le recrutement des filières jihadistes. Il est aussi
de la responsabilite des gouvernants de le reconnaître et, surtout,
de trouver les moyens d’y remedier.

La democratie requiert une exigence permanente dont les gouvernants
sont debiteurs a l’egard de leurs concitoyens pour garantir la
realisation des droits et l’effectivite des libertes, y compris du
droit a la securite, surtout dans les moments les plus difficiles
(voir a cet egard le rapport de la FIDH

PEPSI AND COCA-COLA BOTTLERS COMPANIES IN ARMENIA ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IMPORTS OF WHITE SUGAR AT PREFERENTIAL CUSTOMS RATES

YEREVAN, January 22. / ARKA /. Pepsi and Coca-Cola Bottlers companies
in Armenia have been allowed by the government today to continue
imports of white sugar from other than Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)
member countries at preferential customs rates for their own needs
for the next three years.

The news was announced by economy minister Karen Chshmarityan during
a Cabinet session.

According to Chshmarityan, under the treaty on accession to the
Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia will continue levying lower import
customs duties on a long list of products for several years, including
white sugar.

The minister explained that both companies are allowed to import no
more than 4,000 metric tons of white sugar and will be paying a 10
percent customs duties over the next three years.

The government has also approved today a decision on imports of raw
sugar at zero customs duties for sugar production. Chshmarityan said
under the EEU accession agreement, Armenia is allowed to import raw
cane sugar at zero customs duties from 2015 to 2025 for processing
in the territory of Armenia.-0-

ARMENIA’S ECONOMY MINISTER FAILS TO CLARIFY STANCE ON EBRD FORECAST

15:04 * 22.01.15

Armenia’s Minister of Economy Karen Chshmarityan has not clarified
his stance on a forecast by the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD).

“We are not dealing with macroeconomic forecasts,” he said.

The EBRD forecasts 0% economic growth in Armenia for this year.

The ministry is now dealing with problems of industrial enterprises,
exports and influence on international markets.

“We have to employ all the instruments for our companies to increase
their output this year,” Mr Chshmarityan said.

In response to a remark that all the ratings show fewer loans to
Armenia, the minister said:

“Different organizations have different methods of assessment. But
our studies show that work with real sector and their aid show a
different picture.”

AS HEPATITIS C DETECTED AT KAJARAN MEDIAL CENTER, ALL HOSPITALS IN ARMENIA WILL UNDERGO STRICT CONTROL

by Karina Manukyan

Thursday, January 22, 11:53

Health Ministry of Armenia has convened, Wednesday, after cases of
Hepatitis C were detected at the Kajaran Medical Center lately.

According to the ministry, Minister Armen Muradyan charged Artavazd
Vatyan, the head of the National Center for Control and Prevention
of Diseases, to organize inspections and examinations at all the
hospitals in the country within 20 days. Similar inspections will
be conducted also at dental clinics, policlinics and laboratories
throughout the country.

It is noteworthy that Hepatitis C was detected among 8 patients
after they underwent surgery at the Karajaran Medical Center. The
Investigation Committee has initiated a criminal case on the fact. The
surgeries have been closed.

GUMRI : RASSEMBLEMENT DEVANT LE MONUMENT DU REVEREND PÈRE KOMITAS A PARIS

COMMUNIQUE PAR RENAISSANCE ARMENIENNE

Rassemblement devant le monument du Reverend Père Komitas en hommage
aux armeniens de Gumri.

Le dimanche 18 janvier, l’eglise armenienne de Paris a celebre
une messe de requiem pour les 6 membres de la famille Avetisyan,
sauvagement assassines, parait-il, par un soldat russe. A l’appel
du mouvement Renaissance Armenienne de Paris, une grande partie des
fidèles presents a l’eglise et les sympathisants du mouvement se sont
rassembles devant la statue de Komitas.

Après avoir depose leurs cierges, les presents ont entonne la prière > sous la direction de la chorale de l’eglise.

Puis, devant une centaine de personnes, le porte parole du mouvement
Renaissance Armenienne de Paris, Schanth Vosgueritchian a pris la
parole pour >.

Il a en outre exhorte le pouvoir en Armenie

RUSSIAN MEDIA: ARMENIA WANTS 450 CHURCHES IN GEORGIA

The Messenger, Georgia
Jan 21 2015

By Tea Mariamidze
Tuesday, January 20
According to the Russian source Vetotnikavkaza.net, Armenia has
applied to UNESCO to recognize hundreds of churches located in Georgia
as Armenian.

The agency wrote that Paud Akhundov, a representative of the
Azerbaijani President’s Administration, said “caprices” of the
Armenian side were a result of many-centuries “falsification” by
Armenian historians.

Meanwhile, the move was assessed in Tbilisi too. Georgian officials
believed UNESCO was the body to give recommendations on how to preserve
a historical building, but it was not able to decide whom the building
belonged to.

Georgia’s Minister of Culture Mikheil Giorgadze stated that even
Georgia’s ministry of culture could not decide the fate of the
religious monuments.

“It’s not a Culture Ministry’s competence to decide religious
belonging. We see all of these churches as historical monuments and
we take care of them regardless to which religion they belong to,”
Giorgadze said.

Nikoloz Antidze, head of Georgia’s National Agency for Cultural
Heritage Preservation said that he had some information concerning
the issue.

“We have some information about the issue, but UNESCO is not a court
that is eligible to solve cultural ownership issues. Large-scale
research needs to be conducted,” Antidze said.