Author: Kalantarian Kevo

A GRAVESTONE PUT ON THE TURKISH KURDS’ LIBERATION STRUGGLE AND IT WAS DONE BY THEIR LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN

Tuesday, 30 April 2013 10:09

The Syrian crisis again gave rise to the Kurdish issue.

But, against the background of regional conflicts, the Kurdish struggle
didn’t have its logical development – the time for excluding the
issue from the agenda came. The Erdogan-Ocalan negotiations started,
which was, surely, the result of the agreement achieved by a group
of states having geopolitical influence in the region.

The negotiations of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan with Kurdish
leader Abdullah Ocalan sentenced to life imprisonment in the Turkish
Imrali Island prison changed the situation. It resulted in Ocalan’s
address to the Kurdish Working Party, in which he called on the Kurdish
fighters to lay down arms and leave Turkey. The Kurdish playing card
was spoiled.

The recent political development wasn’t a surprise – let’s recall the
last October-November events, when Turkey was periodically sending
signals to Syria. Ankara accused Syrian President Bashar Asad of
supporting the “Kurdish terrorists”. The Turkish Prime Minister
was terrified just by the idea that as a result of the civil war
in Syria, the Kurdish regions could gain autonomy, as it had taken
place in Iraqi Kurdistan. Erdogan considered it necessary to inform
the latter’s President Mahsud Barzani that creation of a Kurdish
autonomous region in Syria was strongly unacceptable for Turkey.

One of the obstacles for overthrowing the ruling regime in Syria was
the struggle of Kurdish fighters supported by Asad. And this obstacle
was attempted to remove, first of all, by the Turkish authorities. And
only with the support of the West this attempt was realized.

Thus, after the negotiations with the Turkish Prime Minister, Abdullah
Ocalan sent a message to his co-fighters, which, in particular, reads,
“Those who trust me should understand that the delicacy of the time.

This doesn’t mean retreat from the struggle and this is the start of
a new struggle”. He emphasized that today’s Turkey isn’t the previous
and today’s Middle East isn’t either the previous.

The Kurdish leader, who has been convinced during his entire conscious
life that victory is gained only by a struggle, that a goal can be
achieved only with arms, is now calling upon the fighters to lay down
arms. “From now on, let the arms calm down, let the blood of the
Turkish and Kurdish people be shed”. Ocalan stressed that the time
had come for passing from the armed struggle to the diplomatic one,
the time “for forgiveness and not for battle”.

We think it is necessary to pay attention to another statement,
which was made by Ocalan in 2011 from the Imrali Island prison, in
which he touched upon also the Armenian Genocide. He stressed that
the Turks committed genocide against the Kurds on February 15, 1925;
prior to this, the Armenian Genocide took place, but the genocide
against the Kurds was and is committed in a heavier way. Two years
ago, Ocalan warned his co-fighters that political repressions were
ongoing and if the Kurdish Parties did not join and assess properly
the current situation, the further steps would not be a success.

Two years ago, he called upon the Kurds to unite against the Turkish
state, which was aimed at depriving the Kurds of their national
entity. Currently, he finds that they should understand the “delicacy
of the time” and come to an agreement with the Turkish authorities.

One cannot exclude from the full context of these events also
the fact that almost parallel to the Erdogan-Ocalan negotiations,
another important event took place – Great Britain and France came
forth with the initiative to lift the veto on the provision of arms
to the Syrian opposition. All these processes are, surely, connected
with each other and are planned by the western power center – Bashar
Asad should get the fate of the Iraqi and Libyan leaders.

The agreement had to be achieved between all the parties – in the
Kurdish issue, the official position of Autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan
was extremely important. To this end, the visit of Chairman of the
Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party represented at the Turkish Parliament
Salahetin Demirtash and his delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan’s capital
city of Erbil took place. On April 7, Demirtash discussed with this
country’s Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani the recent developments
aimed at the peaceful solution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey. Prior
to this, on April 3, Demirtash visited the Imrali Island, together
with the Party delegation, and met with Abdullah Ocalan. According to
the mass media, the Kurdish leader sent warm greetings to President
of Iraqi Kurdistan Mahsud Barzani. This fact is another evidence of a
comprehensive agreement achieved. The time will show what developments
will follow all this. So far, the respond of the Syrian President –
the side, which suffered from the big political deal – is known.

Expressing his view on the Turkish-Kurdish issue, Syrian President
Bashar Asad noted in the April 7 interview to Ulusal TV Company that
the Kurds were not guests in the region, they had lived there for
thousands years and had always declared for the solution of the Kurdish
issue in Turkey, as well as for stopping the bloodshed. Asad’s next
idea, which was addressed to the Turkish authorities, actually, showed
his attitude to the events, “The improvement of the Turkish-Kurdish
relations should take place within Turkey”. He meant by this that
the Turkish-Kurdish agreement relates to Syria’s interest so far.

It is so in fact – the Kurdish bands do not come forth more against the
Turkish intervention into the Syrian affairs. Political analysts draw
attention to the fact that Asad made a political mistake by stopping
the control over the Kurdish regions. As we see, the end of the “wise”
policy hasn’t ensured the desirable result for Asad.

In the Middle East region, transformation processes are, surely,
taking place. According to some Russian analytical circles, this
all is expected to lead to the appearance of new alliances. Their
vector will be directed against Iran, or this alliance will join the
strategic interests of the USA regional allies. The steps taken by
the NATO states are clear – the next victim of the “Arabian spring”
should become the Syrian President.

As for the neutralization of the Kurdish factor, the views on this
are almost the same. Let’s leave aside the comments and refer to
historical facts. As known, the Sevres Treaty touches upon also the
Kurdish issue. It is also known that the Armenian and Kurdish issues
were merely ignored at the Lausanne Conference (1922-1923). It is
noteworthy that on the proposal of one of the conference initiators,
Great Britain, a session of the Great National Assembly was convened
in Istanbul to discuss the Kurdish moods. Mustafa Kemal proposed
the Kurdish deputies to deliver speeches and express their views on
the Turkish-Kurdish relations. The first speech was delivered by a
Kurd from Erzurum, Hussein Avni bey, who said, “This country belongs
to Turks and Kurds, and only two nations have the right to deliver
speeches from this tribune – Turks and Kurds”. The following speeches
also noted the necessity of the Turkish-Kurdish relationship. The
Great National Assembly sent a telegram with the following text to
Lausanne: “The Kurds will never separate from Turkey”. Lord Kerzon,
who represented Britain at the Lausanne Conference, stated, “The issue
of creating a Kurdish state or Kurdish autonomous province in Turkey,
which was supposed by the Sevres Treaty, doesn’t exist any more”
As we see, the Kurdish history is identically repeated. Lessons
should be taken from this, first of all, by the Kurdish people –
the permanent victim of the Turkish dictatorship.

A logical question can occur from the above mentioned processes –
what is the price of the agreement achieved on the Kurdish issue or
the pledge against the removal of the Kurdish fighters from Turkey? We
don’t know the answer to this question. To date, the Kurds in Middle
East have their autonomy within Iraq. Is the creation of independent
Iraqi Kurdistan really possible? Currently, severe clashes are ongoing
in Syria, causing new victims and destructions…

Ruzan ISHKHANIAN

ARMENIAN MP WANTS NAMES OF ‘NICE GUYS’ IN PARLIAMENT

18:30 ~U 30.04.13

Vahan Hovhannisyan, an Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun
(ARF-D) parliamentary group member, offers the Ethics Committee
to find out which of the MPs applied to Chief of Armenia’s Police
Vladimir Gasparyan for not summoning their son.

We would remind readers that the chief of Armenia’s police made a
statement following a high-profile crime in Gyumri on April 23.

“I would like to know who are the ‘nice-guys’ objecting to giving
evidence. Who are the ‘nice guys’ represented where I am and do they
object to giving evidence?”

Armenian News – Tert.am

HAK ASKS PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE TO START PROCEEDINGS AGAINST TARON MARGARIAN

Tuesday,April 30

Armenian National Congress (HAK) Party has asked the Prosecutor
General’s Office to start proceedings against the incumbent Mayor of
Yerevan Taron Margarian, the deputy chairman of HAK Levon Zurabian
told journalists today.

“Taron Margarian is a criminal who has robed the people. We collected
all the necessary facts,” Zurabian said.

“We have examined the declarations submitted by Taron Margarian
at different times, which show that in 2005 when he headed the
administration of Yerevan’s Avan district, he declared incomes of
about 7 million AMD. This is a modest income which is quite logical,”
Levon Zurabian noted.

According to him, in 2007 Margarian declared 64 million AMD, $50
thousand, and 80 million AMD as income from sale of gold jewelry.

“That is to say, during his term of district administrator, his
incomes grew manifold. His salary as district administrator was 130,000
AMD. And he mentioned in his declaration that he had no other income,”
Zurabian said.

In his words, in 2013 Margarian declared 115 million AMD, $50 thousand,
50 thousand Euro, dozens of apartments in Yerevan, cars, etc.

Zurabian said that several applications will be submitted to the
prosecutor general.

“We demand that the incumbent Mayor Taron Margarian be held
responsible. Our accusations are not unfounded. All the facts are
collected, and they will have either to refute these facts or to
accept them,” Zurabian said.

29.04.2013, 18:59

Aysor.am

WE MUST OVERCOME ATMOSPHERE OF IMPUNITY REGARDING VIOLENCE AGAINST REPORTERS – EXPERT

April 30, 2013 | 16:47

YEREVAN. – Pressure on journalists grows with the escalation of
political situation in the country, said the chairman of the committee
on protection of freedom of speech.

Ashot Melikyan pointed at one case of violence against a journalist
was registered on the day of presidential elections.

“We have already registered two cases ahead of the Yerevan municipal
elections,” he said during debate on “Violence against journalists
during the election period”.

“We must overcome atmosphere of impunity in our country. Police have
recently taken some measures but we need to watch their actions in
order to understand whether these are not actions of a purely formal
nature,” he concluded.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Michelle Hagopian shares story of watching Boston bombing manhunt

KSDK.com (St. Louis, MO)
Apr 28, 2013

Watertown, MA (KSDK) – Michelle Hagopian is a Granite City, Illinois
native who moved to Watertown, Massachusetts for work last year. As an
editor for a newspaper, she’s used to getting the scoop on
stories. But for her safety, she had to sit and watch as the manhunt
for the Boston Bombing suspects played out just down the street from
her home.

“That whole day and that whole week was just unbelievable,” said
Hagopian. “It’s nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”

Hagopian saw police lights as she went to bed around one am on Friday,
April 19th. She woke up five hours later to find an army of police
officers outside her door.

“It turns out that morning they had shot the first suspect. So, I woke
up to a bunch of calls from my parents and concerned people here.”

Hagopian later learned the second suspect, Dzhokar Tsarnaev, was still
on the loose just blocks from her home.

“The entire day I was on lockdown for 15 hours. My neighbors, I could
see them from their porches looking out with binoculars and saying
‘what’s going on?’ From my background being a journalism major it was
torture for me watching and not being able to figure out what was
going on.”

Hours later, Tsarnaev was captured by police.

“That was right down my street when people were celebrating. Not that
they were celebrating his capture. It was more just the fact that they
were celebrating that these people helped us and saved us and
protected us.

Hagopian says as the investigation plays out, things in Boston have
calmed down. And this tragedy has brought out the best in most people.

“People have asked me, ‘Are you back to normal yet?’ And I say I don’t
even know what that means right now. After that week I just wanted to
hug everybody that I saw because it was just one of those situations.”

States News Service
April 24, 2013 Wednesday

DEPARTMENT OF STATE: PATRICK VENTRELL ACTING DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON DAILY
PRESS BRIEFING APRIL 24, 2013

WASHINGTON

The following information was released by the U.S. Department of State:

……..

Go ahead in the back.

QUESTION: Patrick, today the Armenian organizations in Washington, DC
are organizing the commemoration of the Armenian genocide on the
Capitol Hill, and I was informed that American Foreign Service
officials were invited also by the Armenian lobby groups to be
present, including high-ranking officials. And as far as I know, there
is no precise answer from this building yet whether there will be any
participation from this building on the Hills commemoration event. Do
you have any update on this?

MR. VENTRELL: Im not sure if any State Department officials will be at
that particular event, but you did see the Presidents statement on
Armenian Remembrance Day, which was very clear on our position. But in
terms of State Department participation, Id have to check.

QUESTION: During the former Democratic administrations during Bill
Clinton, the State Department officials were actually present at the
Armenian commemorations, and then during the following administration
of George Bush, Jr., it stopped. Do you have any directives now from
maybe White House to be present or not to be present at the Armenian
events?

MR. VENTRELL: Again, Id have to check on that.

[parts of the press briefing not related to Armenia omitted]

US Official News
April 26, 2013 Friday

Washington: SPEECH OF HON. FRANK R. WOLF OF VIRGINIA IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

Washington

The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the
following news release:

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, this week marked the 98th anniversary of the
Armenian genocide.

I have long been a cosponsor of a resolution introduced in multiple
sessions of Congress which reaffirms the United States record on the
Armenian genocide.

The Armenian genocide, in which 1.5 million perished, is widely
recognized as the 20th century’s first genocide. Raphael Lemkin, the
Jewish legal scholar who coined the word genocide and tirelessly
advocated for international law defining it and preventing it, was
driven largely by what happened to the Armenians.

Since that time, the world has witnessed unfathomable horrors during
the Nazi-perpetrated Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Bosnia,
Cambodia, Rwanda and Sudan. And too often, the world has been silent
in the face of such brutality despite claims of “Never Again.”

In fact, Sudanese president Omar Bashir, an internationally-indicted
war criminal charged with genocide and crimes against humanity,
continues to travel the globe with virtual impunity.

Adolph Hitler, in describing his murderous plans and seeking to
silence those with reservations, famously said, “Who, after all,
speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

There is power in speaking the truth, even about atrocities that
occurred nearly a century ago, so that others with evil aims will not
be empowered by our silence.

Sadly President Obama, despite his campaign promises, has once again
failed to characterize the brutal slaughter of one and half million
people as genocide.

For more information please visit:

US Official News
April 25, 2013 Thursday

Washington: IN MEMORY OF THOSE LOST IN THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE — (House
of Representatives – April 24, 2013)

Washington

The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the
following news release:

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
California (Mr. Schiff) for 5 minutes.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say the following in Armenian
to my Armenian friends:

(English translation follows)

Sireli hai paragamneres, hos yev ashkharee chors goghmereh. Aysor,
Haiots Tseghasbahnootian inisoonoot erort darelitseen oreh, khoskes
googhem tsezi Neriguyatsusichneroo Don ambiyonen, tser medzhaireh loon
lezvov.

Lezoo muh vorov anonk gardahaideyeen irents hooysereh, gyankeh,
yeraznereh, yev sereh hazar inuh hairoor dasnuhinkee naxortogh
darineroon.

Osmanyan Guysrutian daradzkin, dasnyag hazaravorner chartehvetsan.

Tsezi guh khoseem lezvovuh ayn yerexaneroon voronk aganadess yeghan
irents hayreru spanootyan.

Hazaravor geener pernaparvetsan.

Tsezi guh khoseem lezvovuh anonts toosdreroon, voronk koot
gugherseyeen toork vosdiganneren.

Tsezi guh khoseem lezvovuh ayn yerekhaneroon, voronk gateel muh choor
gugherseyeen.

Tsezi guh khoseem lezvovuh ayn myreroon, voronk mahatsahn irents
noradzeenneruh irents keergeroon mech.

Tsezi guh khoseem lezvovuh ayn verabroghneroon, voronk Amereega yegan
azadootyooneth vaylelu yev nor gyank muh usguseloo hamar.

Kuhreteh meg tareh eever, toorkia goorana tsaghasbanootyooneh.
Toorkiah goozeh, vor ashkharuh morna ays maseen.

Tsezi guh khoseem lezvovuh anonts, voronk ayleves chegan. Anonk mezmeh
guh khentren heeshell zeerenk. Anonts tsaynereh dagaveen guh lesveen.

Yes ays nahadagneren voyeveh megoon hednortuh chem, sagayn tsezi guh
khoseem irents keghetseeg lezvov, vorovhedev aysor, polores hai enk!

Tsezi guh khoseem ays vayren, Nerguyatsutsichneroo Don ambiyonen
vorovhedev Amerigatsi joghovurteh meeshd jagaden yez kachootyamp
nayadz eh polor sarsapneroon oo zanonk gochadz eh irents poon anoonov.

Guh sbasem ayn orvan, yerp ir ghegavarnereh yeves nooynuh beedee
unnen. Vorovhedev yes vuhsdah em, vor ayt oruh beedee kah. Guh sbasem
vor chooshanah, vorbesi verabroghneruh luhsen anor tsentseech tsignuh.

Asdvadz mer tsignuh luhseh.

(English translation of the above statement is as follows:)

[Begin Insert]

To my Armenian friends: Today, on the 98th anniversary of the genocide
day, I speak to you in the language of your grandparents and your
great grandparents–the language they used to speak of their hopes,
their dreams, their loves in the years before 1915.

By the time it was over in 1923, more than 1.5 million Armenians–men,
women and children–were dead. It was the first genocide of the 20th
Century.

I speak to you in the language of the mothers who died with their
babies in their arms.

Throughout the Ottoman Empire, tens of thousands were killed outright.
Others were force marched through desert heat as the Ottoman
government sought to destroy a people.

I speak to you in the language of the children begging for a drop of water.

Women were raped by the thousands.

I speak to you in the language of the girls begging the gendarmes for mercy.

[Page: H2252] GPO’s PDF

A nation was scattered around the world. To the Middle East, to Europe
and to America.

I speak to you in the language of the survivors who came to America
for freedom and made a new life.

For almost a century, Turkey has denied the genocide. In the face of
overwhelming evidence–much of it from American diplomats and
journalists–Ankara has denied that the genocide ever happened. They
want the world to forget.

I speak to you in the language of those who were lost. Their voices
drift across the decades–begging us to not forget them, no matter how
hard some people try.

I am not Armenian, but I speak to you in your language because on this
day we are all Armenian. For many years I have sat with you and
listened–to the stories of those who were lost in the genocide and
those who survived.

I speak to you in their language and yours to thank you for sharing
your history with me and to pledge again that I will not stop fighting
until the United States lives up to its principles by honoring and
commemorating the Armenian Genocide.

And because I know that day will come. May it come soon, so the last
of the survivors may hear its awesome sound.

May God hear our voices.

For more information please visit:

US Official News
April 25, 2013 Thursday

Washington: SPEECH OF HON. NITA M. LOWEY OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

Washington

The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 98th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This yearly commemoration is a
testament to the lives and legacy of the 1.5 million Armenians who
lost their lives, and is emblematic of our commitment to keeping the
Armenian nation and culture alive.

Today, as we revisit this dark period in world history, we must be
mindful of the lessons learned from this tragedy. We have witnessed
that blind hatred and senseless prejudice tear at the very fabric of
our society, even today. The victims of the Armenian Genocide, the
Holocaust, ethnic cleansings in Kosovo, Rwanda, and Sudan, and acts of
vicious terrorism remind us of the human cost of hate. We must do
everything in our power to prevent these kinds of senseless tragedies
from happening again.

We remember the past and pledge our support for ensuring a positive
and secure future for the Armenian nation and its people. Armenians
now live all around the world, including many in my District and
throughout the United States. As the Ranking Member of the House State
and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I support our
yearly package of assistance to Armenia, including funds available for
activities that further a peaceful resolution to the conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh. I have also cosponsored legislation calling on the
President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States
reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues
related to human rights violations and the ethnic cleansing during the
Armenian Genocide. Finally, as an active member of the Armenian
Caucus, it is my pleasure to continue working on behalf of the
U.S.-Armenia relationship in Congress.

In honoring the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, we
must commit to building a strong, prosperous, and stable Armenia. I am
proud to be a partner in this effort and thank my colleagues who have
also pledged their support.

For more information please visit:

US Fed News
April 24, 2013 Wednesday 10:38 PM EST

SEN. BOXER: REMEMBERING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON, April 24 — The office of Sen. Barbara A. Boxer issued the
following news update:

Dear Friend:

Today I made a statement for the Congressional Record on the 98th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. To read my full statement,
please click here.

As we pause to remember the victims and to honor the countless
contributions Armenian Americans have made to our great country, I
hope that the United States finally stands on the right side of
history and calls the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 by its rightful
name.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer, US Senator, California