Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Trend, Azerbaijan
April 25 2014

Turkey’s condolences to Armenians shouldn’t be regarded as weakness – MFA

Baku, Azerbaijan, April 25
By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:

Turkey’s condolences addressed to the Armenians, who died during the
events of 1915, should not be regarded as a weakness, Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in an interview with Turkish television
channel NTV.

Davutoglu said that it is “not a weakness, but an indication of high
culture”. He added that every nation has a memory, but it does not
mean that the events of 1915 should be used for political purposes.

The Turkish FM added that Turkey does not expect condolences from
Armenia regarding the murders of Turkish diplomats by the Armenian
Asala terrorist organization.

Earlier, Turkey’s Cabinet of Ministers has spread a message in
connection with the events of 1915.

The message said that it is important not to be captive of historical
events and that it is necessary to create a foundation for building a
common future.

It was also noted that the period of 1915 was a difficult time not
only for Armenians, but also for Arabs, Kurds and representatives of
other nations living in the country.

“Nevertheless, it is impossible to use the events of 1915 as a tool of
political pressure on Turkey,” the message of Turkish government said.

The message said Turkey supports the creation of a joint historical
commission to investigate the events of 1915 and expresses condolences
to the families of those killed in the events of 1915, including the
Armenians.

The message highlights that the events of 1915 are common grief.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey’s predecessor the
Ottoman Empire allegedly carried out “genocide” against the Armenians
living in Anatolia in 1915. While strengthening the efforts to promote
the so-called genocide in the world, Armenians have achieved its
recognition by the parliaments of some countries.

Cihan News Agency, turkey
April 25 2014

Hollande welcomes Erdoğan’s 1915 condolences, says ‘not enough’

TR_ISTA – 25.04.2014 18:13:01

French President François Hollande has welcomed Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan’s condolences for descendants of the Anatolian
Armenians killed in 1915, adding that it is still “not enough.”

Hollande, who attended a ceremony marking the events of 1915 in Paris
on Thursday, told Turkish reporters following the event that Erdoğan’s
condolences for the Armenian community “needed to be heard,” adding
that it is still not enough. “It needed to be said and it was
expressed,” Hollande said.

Hollande highlighted that there has been progress, but he said the
expectation not only of Armenians but also those who seek truth and
freedom is the recognition of the “Armenian genocide.”

“And we will stand by them,” Hollande added.

In a historic first for the Turkish Republic, Erdoğan extended his
office’s condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians who lost their
lives in 1915. His surprising statement came the day before April 24,
when Armenians commemorate the events they describe as genocide under
Ottoman rule. The statement was widely welcomed by the West and
Armenians living in Turkey, but Yerevan is unsatisfied with the
statement.

Turkey and France are also at odds over French attempts to criminalize
the denial of the purported genocide of Armenians at the hands of the
Ottoman Empire almost a century ago. In his long-awaited visit to
Turkey in January, Hollande, who had promised in the past to pursue
efforts to criminalize such denial, refrained from saying how the
French government planned to act, saying instead that Paris “will do
the right thing” and “whatever the law requires.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry also welcomed the statement on the
anniversary of the events, describing it as “striking.”

“Thoughts and prayers with Armenians today. PM Erdogan’s striking
statement affirms global principles. #NeverForget,” Kerry wrote on his
Twitter account on Thursday.

Another Twitter message welcoming the statement came from the British
Embassy in Ankara.

“Today as we remember the tragedy for the Armenian people of 1915, we
also hope for reconciliation and dialogue between Turkey and Armenia.
Welcome Turkish PM Erdogan’s statement on 23 April about relations
with Armenians. Hope this will lead to further positive developments,”
said tweets posted on the British Embassy’s official Twitter account
on Thursday.

(Cihan/Today’s Zaman)

Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso, Italy
April 23 2014

Armenians of Kessab: Hostages of the Civil War

Mikayel Zolyan | Yerevan

24 April 2014

The small Armenian-populated town Kessab in north-western Syria found
itself in the middle of a battle since the end of March. 99 Years
after the Genocide the Plight of Syria’s Armenians Stirs Memories of
1915

The small Armenian-populated town Kessab (Kassab) in north-western
Syria found itself in the middle of a battle since the end of March.
As Syrian opposition fighters, allegedly supported by Turkey and
including militant Islamist groups, entered Kessab, several thousand
Armenians living in the town were forced to leave their homes and look
for refuge from the fighting in the nearby Latakia, a major city under
government forces control. Several elder people, unable to move to
Latakia, were transferred to the village Vakif, the only
Armenian-populated village in Turkey today. The town they left has
become a battlefield for fierce fighting between Assad’s forces and
the opposition.

A global campaign supported by Armenians worldwide, under the hashtag
#SaveKesab helped to draw attention to the plight of Kessab’s
Armenians. US State Department and Russian Foreign Ministry, in a rare
case of agreement, both expressed concern over developments in Kessab.
Unfortunately, the legitimate concern about the Kessab’s population
became a subject of media manipulations: unchecked reports, according
to which 80 Armenians had been murdered, flooded online media and
social networks, even though both Kessab’s mayor and later Armenian
government sources issued statements refuting these rumours.

As journalist Gegham Vardanyan sums up, reports of civilian deaths,
based either on unchecked information or on outright fraud, were
multiplied by yellow press outlets looking for publicity, and were
further manipulated by various political actors.

While the reports of massacre, fortunately, were proved wrong, the
fighting in Kessab did result in the destruction of a well-established
community, members of which lost their ancestral homes. The plight of
Kessab Armenians can serve as a metaphor for the fate of Syrian
Armenian community in general. Once more than 80 000 strong, this was
one the most thriving Armenian communities in the Middle East. Today
Armenians of Syria are hostages of bitter civil strife. Majority of
Armenians have tried to avoid taking sides and stay away from the
conflict.

As the spiritual leader of the majority of Middle East Armenians, Aram
I, the Catholicos of Cilicia (based in Lebanon) said, “as a community,
we should not associate ourselves with any given regime, political
ideology or person, they are provisional…we remain attached to the
supreme interests of Syria”.

However, keeping neutrality is not an easy task. Armenians, as other
minority groups in Syria, have reasons to worry about some rebel
groups, which follow fundamentalist ideology, and these fears are
often exploited by the government camp. In any case, thousands of
Armenians, including many from the largest community in Aleppo, have
become refugees, either relocating within Syria, or leaving the
country for Lebanon, Armenia or the Western.

History Repeating Itself?

There is an additional cause for Armenian worries: the support some
rebel groups, particularly those with Islamist leanings, are receiving
from Turkish government. Against the background of a closed
Turkish-Armenian border and the continuing denialist attitude to the
issue of genocide, Armenians of Syria perceive Turkey as a hostile
power, bent on destroying Armenian communities in its neighborhood.

Kessab, as Swiss-based analyst Vicken Cheterian points out, has
immense symbolic significance for Armenians, because it had been home
to Armenian population for over a thousand years, since the times of
Cilician Armenian kingdom. Many Armenians saw it as the last remaining
bit of historical Western Armenia, in what is today Eastern and
South-Eastern Turkey, home to millions of Armenians before 1915. Given
this background, Armenians all over the world are especially sensitive
to Turkey’s role in Syrian civil war in general, and in Kessab events
in particular.

Harout Ekmanian, Armenian journalist from Aleppo who is currently
based in Yerevan, says that the perception of Turkey’s role in Syria
could have been different, if the so-called Armenian-Turkish
normalization process had produced any significant outcomes and
Armenia had diplomatic relations with Turkey. However, the
Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in 2009 were never ratified by the
sides. Armenia and Turkey remain at odds over many issues, including
the issue of genocide recognition.

While many Turkish intellectuals are today publicly acknowledging that
the extermination of Armenians constituted genocide, the position of
state has not changed. On April 10 the US Senate Foreign Affairs
Commission adopted a resolution recognizing and condemning the
Armenian genocide, the Turkish government reacted sharply as it had
done for decades. Most probably, Turkey will once again use its links
with to the US executive government to prevent such a resolution from
being passed by the Senate, as it has done in the past. Turkish
position regarding relations with Armenia has also remained unchanged:
closed border, no diplomatic relations, and unilateral support for
Azerbaijan when it comes to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Against this background, reports that Turkey backs Syrian Islamist
groups have added to the concerns about Syrian Armenians’ safety. Some
voices in Armenia have even been calling for sending volunteer
fighters to Syria to help Armenians protect their homes, but president
Serzh Sargsyan stepped in to cool passions down and said that
interfering into the Syrian conflict “would have been the biggest
stupidity” and Armenians should avoid becoming a side of the conflict
in Syria.

Harout Ekmanian says that in this situation the Armenian government
should ask the Syrian government not to use Armenian populated
territories as military bases and try to establish contacts with the
countries supporting Sytian opposition, in order to assure that
Armenian communities are not attacked by the rebel groups. In the
worst case, if none of this works, says Ekmanian, Armenia should
organize transportation to Armenia of all those Armenians who would be
willing to leave Syria.

Armenia: a New Home for Syrian Armenians?

While many Syrian Armenians have moved to Armenia since the beginning
of the war ((about 10 000, according to some estimates), so far there
has been no organized government effort to repatriate the entire
Syrian Armenian community. There are several reasons for this. First
of all, many Syrian Armenians are extremely reluctant to leave Syria,
which they perceive as their homeland, hoping that the fighting will
subside sooner or later.

Syrian Armenians, who trace their origins to historical Western
Armenia, rather than the territories which are part of the Republic of
Armenia today, speak a dialect distinct from Eastern Armenian spoken
in Yerevan, and have other cultural differences from “Hayastantsi”
Armenians (i.e. Armenians living in the Republic of Armenia). While
these differences can be overcome, as previous waves of Diaspora
repatriation have shown, a more significant obstacle is Armenia’s
economy.

Since 2008 Armenian economy has been going through hard times, and
even many “Hayastantsi” Armenians are today looking for work abroad,
mostly in Russia. Thus, Armenia has neither job opportunities, nor the
funds for financial aid, which could help to resettle Syrian
Armenians. Government inefficiency and corruption are further
complicating the situation.

The Syrian Armenians who moved to Yerevan have the same bread and
butter issues as the locals, says Ekmanian, but they also suffer from
material and psychological consequences of war. In any case, they are
trying to integrate: some of them found jobs here, some are even using
the savings they managed to bring with them to start a business.

Syrian Armenians who had relocated to Armenia in the past are now
helping the recent newcomers to adjust. Some Syrian Armenians see
Yerevan as a temporary shelter and are planning either to return to
Syria, when things calm down, or move further to the West. But many
see Armenia as their homeland and are not planning to go anywhere.

Vrezh, 23, who works as a cook in a small family restaurant, says
that, whatever happens, he is planning to stay in Armenia. “Of course,
I miss Syria and I am worried about how things will work out there” he
adds, “but our future is here, in Armenia”.

Glendale News Press
April 24 2014

Local Armenian-American leaders say Turkish Prime Minister’s statement
falls short

April 23, 2014

Leaders of the Armenian community in Glendale said a statement by the
Turkish Prime Minister on Wednesday offering his condolences to
descendants of Armenians massacred by the Ottoman Empire nearly a
century ago fell short because the country continues to refuse to
characterize the deaths as a genocide.

The statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan come as
Armenian-Americans in Glendale prepare to host a variety of events
commemorating the genocide of about 1.5 million people.

Events include a candlelight vigil Wednesday night near the Civic
Auditorium and an evening of song, dance and speeches on Thursday
evening at the Alex Theatre.

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“We do not see this as being something that is an adequate and
appropriate acceptance of responsibility for the international crime
that had been committed,” said Berdj Karapetian, chairman of the
Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America.

He added that the condolences, which characterized the inhumane acts
during World War I as a shared pain, whitewashed over the ethnic
cleansing.

The United States also has yet to describe the massacres as a
genocide, although many local governments across the country, such as
Glendale, have done so.

Erdogan also said in his statement that past events with “inhumane
consequences” should not prevent Armenians and Turks from
“establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes towards one
another.”

Mayor Zareh Sinanyan called the statement weak and indirect.

“I think his statement is evasive and insincere. It’s not the
condolences Armenians expect from the leader of the Republic of
Turkey,” Sinanyan said, adding that, in his mind, the statement was
meant to stymie the significance of genocide-related commemorative
events that take place around the world on April 24.

Sinanyan, like others, said that an apology and a showing of remorse
is necessary for healing.

“There has got to be meaningful action,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to the Los Angeles Times, Turkish scholars called
the statement historic because of its conciliatory tone.

Sunday’s Zaman

BÜLENT KENES [email protected]

April 24, 2014, Thursday
Charm offensive a la Turca

This is how things work in this country. A thing is done not because it is
the correct thing to do or because someone is entitled to it or because it
just must be done. Things that may be done or steps that must be taken are
done or taken in response to an emerging need or affair. Usually, a thing
is done out of a necessity, but not because our principles or attachment to
moral or ethical values or our respect or ability to have empathy for
others entail it, or because we are true democrats. And more often than
not, what needs to be done is done at the eleventh hour. Moreover and worse
still, sometimes what needs to be done is not done with sincerity, but with
the pretense of sincerity.

This tradition didn’t change regarding the tragic events that occurred
during World War I and especially in 1915. Turkey has always sought to save
face instead of coming up with a humanitarian approach based on human
rights, laws, morality and civility, and with a permanent solution that
would satisfy both sides to a reasonable extent. And to save face, we
always acted at the eleventh hour. The message of condolences issued by the
Prime Minister’s Office of the Turkish Republic on April 23, addressed to
the children and grandchildren of the Armenians who lost their lives during
the forced relocation and massacre of 1915, falls within this category
although it claims that Turkey understands and shares in their sorrows.

Still, we need to acknowledge that this historic statement, issued in nine
languages including Turkish and two Armenian dialects and undersigned by
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ=9Fan, is a very bold step in the right
direction. But this does not save it from being a tactical move in the
final analysis.

This is because this message does not aim to solve the problem and ensure a
confrontation with the past and bring to daylight the truth, even if we may
not like it. Rather, it seeks to temporarily get rid of a big, imminent
problem and buy time. The fact that the statement was issued on April 23,
i.e., one day before Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day on April 24, lends
credence to this thesis.

On April 24, not only US President Barack Obama, but also many presidents,
governments and parliaments around the world tend to make statements about
the 1915 tragedy. Everyone knows that in their consciences, they are close
to seeing this tragedy — which occurred in the context of World War I —
as “genocide,” even if they may not officially acknowledge it as “genocide”
due to their political, diplomatic or economic interests. Here I must note
that those who are close to the “genocide” approach also include the
countries, administrations and powers that seek to instrumentalize this
sorrow to attain certain pragmatic goals or that seek to settle accounts
with Turkey via the great sorrow of Armenians.

Actually, this year’s April 24 is not the worst experience we will have. It
is just a small rehearsal for the real test for Turkey in 2015, which will
be marked as the “Centennial of the Armenian Genocide,” which Turkey cannot
escape or ignore. The prime minister’s statement may help to alleviate the
preliminary shockwaves of this impending event, but it can hardly be a
complete solution to this indispensable event, which will be here in 365
days.

>From another perspective, the statement of condolences, undersigned by
Prime Minister ErdoÄ=9Fan, is a carefully prepared text. It is such that
we
would never expect ErdoÄ=9Fan to issue such a statement. Indeed, he is so
indifferent to the pain he causes or is responsible for, and he has
recently been so busy sowing the seeds of hatred among diverse segments of
society that we would never believe that he nurtured any empathy for those
who were jeopardized in a tragedy that occurred 99 years ago. As a matter
of fact, it is really hard to bring ourselves to believe that the person
who was totally indifferent and insensitive to the Uludere tragedy — in
which 34 civilians were mistaken for terrorists and killed in military
airstrikes in Å=9Eırnak’s Uludere district due to false intelligence — or to
the protesters who died during the Gezi Park protests is the same person
who undersigned this statement.

However, it is quite natural for us to expect a prime minister to develop
long-standing strategies based on certain moral values and principles, be
it in the name of the national interest or personal political plans. But
this does not apply to our case. Rather, ErdoÄ=9Fan gives the impression
of
being a man of short-sighted tactical moves geared toward saving face.
Therefore, we need to analyze in depth ErdoÄ=9Fan’s real intentions with
this
statement. It should be noted that this message seeks to restore Turkey’s
deteriorating image in the international arena rather than to share in the
sorrows of Armenians. With this move, which can be described as a PR
effort, we can say that ErdoÄ=9Fan has launched a charm offensive a la Turca.

Even if it is intended as a charm offensive, this historic move is not
stripped of its conjunctural and contextual spiritual value. But at the
same time, it brings the lack of sincerity into broad daylight. Of course
we need to question the sincerity and intentions behind an isolated
positive move by one with a despotic mentality, who pays no regard to the
rights and freedoms of diverse social groups in the country and is in an
effort to establish an arbitrary rule with total control over democratic
institutions and is ready to crush any dissident or opposing group.

Actually, it is a grave act of naiveté to assume that a repressive leader
— who use all his power to push aside fundamental rights and freedoms,
democracy and rule of law and turn them into a tool of oppression, thereby
creating a deep-rooted sociopolitical problem with effects that will last
for decades to come — will take well-meaning steps to solve a problem
stemming from a tragedy that occurred 100 years ago.

Having emerged as a political figure who is no longer expected to pay
respect to rights and freedoms and who will never act as a true democrat,
ErdoÄ=9Fan has made anti-democratic attitudes part of his nature and this has
the potential to make his statement regarding Armenian sorrows meaningless.
Given all the tests of sincerity ErdoÄ=9Fan has failed so far, it is hard to
say whether he is being sincere with this move.

If we are to expect any sincerity from ErdoÄ=9Fan, his level of sincerity now
could be equal to, not more than, the sincerity he shows with regard to the
Kurdish issue, in which he takes steps only to the extent that they are
beneficial to his political career. Alternatively, we can look at how he
promised to draft a new, civilian constitution ahead of the general
elections, but he did everything to build himself a strict and lawless rule
after the elections. Perhaps we should expect this latest move to end like
the so-called Alevi initiative, for which numerous workshops were held but
which was eventually abandoned after he realized that it would not be
politically beneficial to his party. Or we can expect the same sincerity as
that of his move to make the reopening of the Halki Seminary on the island
of Heybeliada near Ä°stanbul a matter of bargaining with Greece, although he
had promised many times to open it.

What I am trying to get at is that our expectations for a leader who has
developed a lawless, anti-democratic personality, who seeks to
socio-culturally and economically lynch certain social groups that are
selectively antagonized and who causes great social problems by spouting
ever more hatred should be kept at a low level. Indeed, any disillusion
from expecting a person who is the source of great tragedies today to solve
a historical tragedy will only lead to grave disappointment.

Armenian National Committee of Glendale in partnership with
City of Glendale Week of Remembrance Committee
Armenian Youth Federation Roupen Chapter
Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter
American Red Cross

Invites you to sign up for

ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE
In Commemoration of the 1.5 million lives lost During the Armenian
Genocide of 1915

Sunday,m April 27, 2014
10:00AM-4:15PM
St. Mary’s Armenian Church
500 S. Central Ave.
Glendale, CA 91204

For more information or to make an appointment contact ANCA Glendale
at [email protected] Or visit Redcrossblood.org, enter sponsor
code ANCAGlendale and register online

RPA MP SHARES THE CONCERNS OF THE OPPOSITIONS: MIGRATION WILL INCREASE

April 25 2014

RPA MP, the former Speaker of the National Assembly Samvel Nikoyan’s
preliminary analysis draw him to a conclusion that in any case the
possibility of free mobility and facilitation of RF citizenship
procedure can promote to migration in Armenia. Today, with regard
to this point, he shared his concerns answering the questions
of Aravot.am. Similar concerns are also available with opposition
figures. Recall that lately Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed
a law to facilitate the granting of citizenship. The law applies to
those persons who are fluent in Russian and have lived in the USSR
or the Russian Empire, in the territories of modern Russia.

“If there is a possibility of free mobility, if given person is not
a citizen and the procedure to hiring and the work, in general, is
quite complex, purely in that sense, probably, a lot of citizens would
like to accept Russian citizenship to have access to Russia’s labor
market,” said our interlocutor, adding that he would be happy if he
is mistaken in his preliminary impressions. To the question of what
he thinks that the RA authorities should take concrete steps to keep
their citizens on their own land, our interlocutor said that problem
is with increasing people’s standards of living or at least with the
expectations for the positive. He does not share the opinion of the
political analyst Manvel Sargsyan that the RA authorities are happy
with new paces of migration, however, he thinks, “People need to see
their future and associate with with Armenia.” In this context, to the
observation that the new government appointments, which are not so new,
what impression or expectations the Republican Party MP feels, Samvel
Nikoyan responded, “Generally, I am always optimistic in all matters. I
do not want to estimate or guess. I wish the government-appointed
members, and those still to be appointed, and the prime minister are
successful and are capable to solve the set forth issues.”

Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at:

SERIES OF EVENTS MARKING 99TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TOOK PLACE IN CAPITAL OF SWEDEN

19:36 25/04/2014 ” SOCIETY

A series of events took place on April 24 in Stockholm to mark the
99th anniversary of Armenian Genocide, reports the statement released
by the Armenian embassy to Sweden. Note that today the Azerbaijani
media disseminated disinformation allegedly the events in Stockholm
dedicated to the anniversary of Armenian Genocide did not take place.

It is noted that by the initiative of the Coordination Center
of Armenian Associations in Sweden in the Central Square called
“Sergels torg” rally was held at which Artak Apitonyan Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary ambassador of Armenia to Sweden, the Swedish
parliament deputies Hans Linde (Left Party), Fredrik Malm (Liberal
Party), Mats Pertoft (Green Party), as well as chairman of the
Coordination center Garlen Mansurian and a representative of the
Assyrians Union in Sweden made speeches.

In his speech the ambassador Apitonyan noted that the Armenian nation
is grateful to Sweden and all other countries that have recognized
and condemned that horrible crime. He welcomed the presence of the
deputies who have played a decisive role in the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by the Swedish Parliament.

Then the ambassador emphasized that even on the eve of the 100th
anniversary of Great Massacre, genocide continues: this time under
the veil of denial. According to him, the calls for the dialogue made
by the Turkish PM on April 23 looks like an irony as his government
suspended the ratification of the protocols signed in Zurich. The
ambassador also gave an interview to Swedish television Channel
Assyrian.

Before the rally by the initiative of the Coordination Center of
Armenian Associations in Sweden a procession took place which was
attended by almost 800 people. The march started from the Square of
Karlaplan after the liturgy ceremony held by the spiritual leaders of
the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic communities. Then the procession
headed towards the embassy of Turkey to Sweden.

In the course of the day, the Armenian embassy as well held
wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of the Swedish missionary Alma
Johansson who in the years of Armenian Genocide carried out missionary
work in Western Armenia and saved many lives.

The ceremony was attended by the ambassador Artak Apitonyan,
Deputies of National Assembly of Armenia, Arpine Hovhannisyan and
Karine Poghosyan, heads of the spiritual and secular structures of
Armenian community in Sweden.

The ceremony began with a liturgy carried out by spiritual pastor of
Armenian Apostolic Church in the Scandinavian countries archimandrite
Eghishe Avetisyan and the pastor of Armenian Catholic church
archimandrite Hovsep Page. After that the ambassador Apitonyan,
representative of the Coordination Center of Armenian Associations
in Sweden Vahagn Avetian and Armenian NA MP Arpine Hovhannisyan made
a speech.

On the same day in the church of Vantör in Stockholm a concert was
held dedicated to the memory of Genocide victims. The concert was
organized by pianist of Armenian descent Karin Hellman-Gevorgyan.

Works of Komitas Johann Sebastian Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
were performed.

U.S. CONGRESSMAN DOES NOT COMMENT ON BARACK OBAMA’S SPEECH ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

19:00, 25 April, 2014

YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS. The U.S. Congressman Ed Royce declined
to comment on the April 24 speech of the U.S.

President Barack Obama instead recalling the speech of the former
President Ronald Reagan. In his speech Ronald Reagan called the
Armenian Genocide as the first Genocide in the 20th century. In a
conversation with the journalists Ed Royce stated that their goal
to visit Armenia was paying tribute to the memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims. “Speaking about the Genocide we should just remember
the words of the former President Ronald Reagan.

Besides, the pupils learn about the Armenian Genocide in the textbooks
in the USA. The American-Armenian community also has its role in that
issue, which shares its pain with the American people and introduces
the history of the genocide,” Ed Royce said as reported by Armenpress.

HOLLANDE: THE TRAGEDY OF ARMENIANS IS CALLED GENOCIDE

April 25, 2014 – 15:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – French President Francois Hollande attended the
commemoration of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Addressing the ceremony that was held at the Komitas monument in Paris,
the French President promised to visit Armenia on April 24, 2015, the
day that will mark the centennial of the Genocide. He also confirmed
his visit to Yerevan on May 12 and said he is ready to continue
working towards the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Commenting on the recent statement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, the French President described it as “insufficient,
although showing some progress.”

“It is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient and unique
geography, who share similar customs and manners will be able to talk
to each other about the past with maturity and to remember together
their losses in a decent manner. And it is with this hope and belief
that we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context
of the early twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our
condolences to their grandchildren,” Erdogan said in his address.

“It’s what we wanted to hear, but it’s not enough,” Hollande said.

“This tragedy has one name and it’s Genocide.”

During a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul
early this year, Hollande noted that “uncovering history is always
painful, but must be done.”

On January 23, 2012 the French Senate passed the bill making it a
crime to deny the Armenian Genocide. The bill envisaged a 45,000 euro
fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime
against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

However, the French Constitutional Council ruled the bill as
anti-constitutional. In a statement the Council said the document
represented an “unconstitutional breach of the practice of freedom
of expression and communication

Later, President Hollande pledged to redraft the law criminalizing
the Armenian Genocide denial in France, stressing the need to ensure
the legal framework to avoid censorship by the Constitutional Council.