Author: Kalantarian Kevo

MKS: ‘WE MUST RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN TRAGEDY’

Knesset debates whether to recognize mass killing of Armenians by
Ottoman Turks during World War I as genocide

Moran Azulay Published: 06.12.12, 18:31 / Israel News

The Knesset held a special session Tuesday on the mass killing of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I. “We must not politicize
this matter,” said Knesset Speaker Rivlin, adding that in spite of
the sensitivity of the issue, there is no intention to blame Turkey
or the current Turkish government.

MK Zahava Gal-On, chairwoman of the Meretz faction, who initiated the
discussion, said that in recent years “the Armenian genocide has been
swept under the rug” due to foreign relations concerns.

“Remembering and recognizing this genocide is our moral obligation.

However, the timing of the discussion is problematic, when it is used
for political bashing.”

Recognition of the Armenian genocide by Israel would enrage Turkey
and further strain the already tense ties between the two countries.

For years, Israel has refrained from commenting on the matter for
fear of angering Turkey, which until recently was its closest ally in
the Muslim world. But as ties have frayed under the Islamic-oriented
rule of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Israel appears
to be changing course.

Armenian Death March

The Armenian genocide remembrance day is marked every year on April
24. The mass murders by the Ottoman Turks were carefully planned and
executed during and after World War I. Hundreds of thousands were
sent to labor camps.

Finally, the Ottoman Turks chased the remaining Armenians from their
villages to Syria in a death march. Women, children and elderly people
marched for weeks without food or water, hunted down by soldiers
and criminals. During the marches thousands were perished, murdered,
raped and even burnt alive. In villages near the Black Sea, the Turks
put the Armenians on boats and drowned them.

Reports on the atrocities reached Europe and the US as early as 1915,
which immediately condemned the acts and blamed the Ottoman regime for
“crimes against humanity.”

The Ottoman massacre of the Armenians was the first genocide of the
20th century, and remains the center of political debate. The Turks
continue to deny the genocide, claiming that the Armenians were only
transferred, and that deaths only occurred during the fighting between
the Armenians and the Kurds.

KNESSET DISCUSSES MURDER OF MORE THAN A MILLION ARMENIANS AT THE HANDS OF THE TURKS MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS AGO; MERETZ LEADER GAL-ON ACCUSES GOV’T OF USING TRAGEDY TO ATTACK TURKEY, CALLS FOR ‘MARMARA’ APOLOGY.

Rivlin: Remembering Armenian genocide not attack on Turkey

By GIL HOFFMAN, JPOST.COM STAFF
06/12/2012 18:35

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin [file] Photo: Courtesy: Knesset Channel

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said Tuesday that Israel has an
obligation to remember the murder of more than a million Armenians
at the hands of the Turks more than a hundred years ago, but warned
that the issue should not be turned into an attack on the Turkish
government of today. The Knesset speaker made the comments at a
Knesset discussion of the Armenian genocide.

Speaking a day before State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss was
scheduled to release a report on Israel’s interception of Turkish
ships bound for the Gaza Strip which led to a diplomatic crisis
between the countries, Rivlin insisted that the discussion of the
Armenian genocide was not politically motivated.

“We have an ethical obligation to remember that a million Armenians
were killed. It is forbidden to make the issue political. Our charges
are not pointed at the Turkish regime today. We must make our voices
heard when other nations are targeted for destruction,” Rivlin stated.

“Those who drafted the Final Solution for the Jews figured the world
would be silent as they were when the Armenians were murdered. The
Knesset cannot ignore this episode that is factual. We cannot forgive
nations who ignore our disaster and we cannot ignore the disasters
of others,” the Knesset speaker added.

Meretz chairwoman Zehava Gal-On, who initiated the Knesset discussion,
accused the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of using
the Armenian tragedy to attack Turkey.

Gal-On stated the government should “finally recognize” the episode as
a genocide and restore relations with Turkey by agreeing to apologize
for the deaths of nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists at the hands
of IDF commandos during the May 2010 raid of the Mavi Marmara vessel,
which was part of a flotilla attempting to break the blockade of the
Gaza Strip.

“The Armenian genocide is not an opportunity for public diplomacy,”
Gal-On told the Knesset plenum, adding that “Israel is strong enough
to apologize for the killing of Turkish citizens without it harming
Israel’s honor or its security. We don’t need to choose between
recognizing genocide and relations with Turkey. We can have both.”

The Meretz leader stated that “the Jewish people who have experienced
the worst Holocaust have an obligation to show sensitivity to the
disasters of others.”

National Union MK Arieh Eldad called on Turkey to recognize its
responsibility for its “historical crime,” which he said included
children being “put into cellars and gassed.” Eldad quoted Adolf
Hitler as having said “who remembers what happened to the Armenians,”
when he was asked what the world would say about his Fianl Solution
against the Jews.

Kadiam MK Robert Tibayev was the only lawmaker to speak against Israel
recognizing the Armenian genocide, saying that Israel should not
interfere in the issue, but rather let historians, or an international
body decide if there was a genocide.

Balad MK Saed Nafaa, a Christian, took the opportunity to accuse
current Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of being
hypocritical by complaining about the atrocities being committed by
Syrian President Bashar Assad against his people while he himself
has killed dozens of Kurds.

THE AZERBAIJANI SIDE CONTINUES TO DENY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES

armradio.am
12.06.2012 18:43

The heads of the Armenian diplomatic missions in New York and Vienna
informed the UN and OSCE member states on the infringements and the
subversive acts of the Azerbaijani side at the Armenian-Azerbaijani
border and the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan. In their statements the Ambassadors said,
in part:

“It’s noteworthy that during the discussion of the Unified Budget
for 2012 at the OSCE Permanent Council in December 2011 Azerbaijan
rejected the proposal of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office on the increase of the budget, which could transfer
to a practical platform the agreement on the creation of mechanisms
of investigation of the ceasefire violations at the line of contact
reached during the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents
in Sochi in March 2011. The Armenian side has stressed in its statement
that by denying the creation of the investigation mechanisms Azerbaijan
assumes the responsibility for all future breaches of the truce and
the human losses.

Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani side continues to deny the
implementation of confidence-building measures, particularly proposals
of the OSCE presidency and the Minsk Group co-chairmanship on the
withdrawal of snipers from the line of contact and the creation of
the above-mentioned mechanisms.”

The statement further reads: “During a joint press conference with
US Secretary of State in Yerevan Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian severely criticized the provocations organized by the
Azerbaijani side and noted that the escalation of tension at the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border hinders the negotiation process and poses
danger to the security of the region. The Azerbaijani side bears
responsibility for the possible consequences of all such actions.”

HOUSE SPEAKER CONGRATULATES COUNTERPARTS IN LESOTHO, ARMENIA, PORTUGAL

Kuwait News Agency
June 10, 2012 Sunday

KUWAIT, June 10 (KUNA) — National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun
sent on Sunday cables of congratulations to his counterparts in Lesotho
Sephiri Motanyane and Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan on the occasion of
their new posts as speakers of parliaments in their countries.

Al-Saadoun, in the cables, hoped their appointment would further
enhance bilateral relations between the State of Kuwait and their
countries.

Al-Saadoun also sent a cable of congratulations to Speaker of Council
of the Republic in the Republic of Portugal Assuncao Esteves on the
occasion of his country’s National Day.

EXPERT: AZERBAIJAN SHOULD PAY FOR BATTLE ACTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA

arminfo
Monday, June 11, 17:42

Both Washington and Ankara are not pleased with the last battle
actions at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border initiated by Baku.

Azerbaijan should pay for its actions. Moreover, it should be punished,
the head of the Centre for Regional Studies, Richard Giragossian,
told journalists, Monday.

“The last attacks by Baku upon Armenia is evidence of the fact
that Azerbaijan is the only country of the region which has been
threatening to peace. Even Ankara does not welcome starting of the
battle action. The open message which Turkey sent to Azerbaijan,
saying it does not welcome the last battle actions against Armenia,
is evidence of that”, – he said.

He also added that the USA and Turkey are concerned about the activity
of Israel in the region, as the latter has been sullying weapon to
Azerbaijan. This is evidence of Israel’s attempts to change positions
of the leading states in the South Caucasus.

Giragossian thinks that Hillary Clinton’s visit to Turkey is evidence
of the new level of cooperation between the two states.

“Although the relations between Washington and Ankara still remain
tense, the positive dynamics in development of the relations has been
fixed thanks to Syria and Iran. Turkey has been actively providing the
Syrian opposition with weapon, which undoubtedly into the hands of the
USA. At the same time, it is a signal for Ankara, that the interests
of Turkey and Russia will come across each other, as for its part,
Russia has been delivering weapon to the incumbent authorities of
Syria”, – the expert emphasized.

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER: “BEING AWARE OF THEIR OWN MISTAKES THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES AVOID REVISION OF LIFE PRISONERS’ CASES”

arminfo
Monday, June 11, 17:40

The Armenian authorities are indifferent to the fate of life prisoners,
Avetik Ishkhanyan, Head of the Helsinki Committee Armenia, told
media when commenting on the fate of a life prisoner Mher Yenokyan
on June 11.

To recall, Mher Yenokyan, born in a family of physicians, got death
penalty in 1996 charged with murder of his fellow-student. Later in
2003 his sentence was changed and he got life imprisonment.

Ishkhanyan said that Yenokyan has been insisting on his innocence
for 16 years. Another defendant Aram Haroutiunyan was sentenced to
15 years in prison but he confessed that he had murdered Yenokyan’s
fellow-student.

“Despite new circumstances proving Yenokyan’s innocence, the judicial
authorities of Armenia do not want to revise the case,” Ishkanyan said.

Yenokyan’s lawyers say that he was sentenced without any significant
facts. Yenokyan has announced a hunger strike and refuses even from
water, Ishkanyan said.

For her part, Zaruhi Muradyan, a member of the civil initiative,
said that art workers and intellectuals constantly raise the issue
of life prisoners in Armenia.

“There are 103 life prisoners in Armenia having population of 3 million
people, while in Austria with population of 120 million people there
are only 57 life prisoners,” she said.

Despite many letters to relevant authorities and the Prosecutor
General’s Office for revision of the life imprisonment cases, no
case has been revised yet, she said. There is no institute to revise
judicial cases in Armenia and there is no precedent of revision of
a life imprisonment case.

“As for Mher Yenokyan, his case is unique. Even in custody, Mher helps
people. He published a book entitled ‘I talk to you, man’ and provides
the proceeds from the sale to the dead-sick children,” she said.

LEBANESE, SYRIANS KIDNAPPED IN RETALIATORY ABDUCTIONS AT SYRIA BORDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 11, 2012 – 17:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – At least seven Lebanese and Syrian citizens have
been kidnapped in northern Lebanon near the border with Syria, the
first such reported abductions fuelled by tensions over the uprising
in Syria that have spilled into its small neighbor, Reuters reported.

Residents said on Monday, June 11 the abductions started on Saturday
when a hardline Sunni Lebanese supporter of the Syrian revolt against
President Bashar al-Assad was kidnapped by Lebanese Alawites.

A string of tit-for-tat abductions along sectarian lines followed
over the weekend, they said.

The kidnappings reflect rising antagonism in Syria between Sunni
Muslims, most of whom support the uprising against Assad, and Alawites
who mostly back the president, a fellow member of their minority
Shi’ite offshoot.

Lebanon’s northern frontier is also home to both sects, whose loyalties
often extend over the border.

Growing suspicions and hostilities between northern Lebanon’s Sunni
majority and Alawite minority have lead to bouts of fighting in the
port city of Tripoli. Dozens have been killed and tensions are still
high in the area.

AZERBAIJAN HAS NO FOREIGN POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE TO CARRY OUT DIVERSION ATTACKS – OPPOSITION REP.

news.am
June 11, 2012 | 13:50

YEREVAN. – Opposition and authorities in Armenia, regardless their
relations and positions, should unite efforts on the Nagorno-Karabakh
regulation issue, ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Vardan
Ayvazyan said at a press conference on Monday.

He commented on the recent ceasefire violation incidents instigated
by Azerbaijan on the line of contact.

According to him, the diversion incidents testify to the fact that
official Baku wants to shift attention of its citizens from domestic
problems to foreign ones. However, despite all disagreements between
the opposition and authorities, they should share joint position on
Karabakh regulation issue.

Opposition Free Democrats representative Anush Sedrakyan agreed adding
all the political forces should resist the outer challenges together.

She believes that Azerbaijan has no foreign policy independence and
diplomatic experience to hold such diversion attacks in the line of
contact between the armed forces of Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan
on its own.

TWO ARMENIAN CITIZENS INJURED IN ARMED ATTACK IN MOSCOW

Panorama.am
11/06/2012

Unknown persons have opened fire on two citizens of Armenia in southern
Moscow, Life News reported.

The armed attack occurred after a fight between the unknown persons and
Armenian citizens that started after a dispute. The assaulters used
traumatic pistols. One of the Armenians received abdominal injury,
the other was wounded in his leg and face. They were hospitalized.

Police opened a criminal investigation into the incident.

UN CONCERT EN FAVEUR DU PROGRAMME ALIMENTAIRE MONDIAL (PAM) EN ARMENIE
Stephane

armenews.com
mardi 12 juin 2012

A l’occasion de son 50ème anniversaire, le Programme Alimentaire
Mondial des Nations Unies (PAM) – en collaboration avec l’ Ambassade
de la Republique d’Armenie en Suisse, la Ville de Genève et la DDC –
organise un concert de piano. Interprete par Sergei Babayan, ce concert
exceptionnel se deroulera le mercredi 13 juin a 20 heure au Victoria
Hall en presence de son Excellence, Monsieur Charles Azanavour,
Ambassadeur d’Armenie en Suisse.

Ce concert a ete mis sur pied afin de sensibiliser le public aux
activites du PAM en Armenie. En 2011, ce dernier a distribue plus
de 20 millions de repas scolaires dans quelque 70 pays. En Armenie,
50’000 elèves des ecoles primaires des zones les plus defavorisees
ont pu en profiter. Au-dela de son rôle de sante publique, une telle
initiative vise a encourager les familles pauvres ou en difficulte a
envoyer et maintenir leurs enfants a l’ecole. De plus le PAM travaille
egalement a la mise en place d’un programme durable d’alimentation
scolaire integre a la politique nationale et au budget de l’Etat.

Les contributions volontaires recues lors de ce concert seront
utilisees au profit des enfants des ecoles soutenus par le PAM
en Armenie.

Sergei Babayan

Sergei Babayan est un pianiste armenien-americain. Ne a Guimri en
Armenie, il a fait des etudes de piano au conservatoire de Moscou et
a ete premier prix dans de nombreux concours internationaux de piano
aux Etats-Unis et en Europe. Il a joue avec de nombreux orchestres
de renom tels que le Cleveland Orchestra, le London Symphony,
l’Orchestre du Theâtre Mariinsky, la Philarmonie de Varsovie, le
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre symphonique de Lille,
le New World Symphony ou encore le Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Il est
connu pour ses interpretations des oeuvres de Sergeï Rachmaninov, de
Jean-Sebastien Bach ou encore de certains compositeurs contemporains.

Lors de ce concert au Victoria Hall, il interpretera des ~uvres de
Ryabov, Shubert, Rachmaninov et Komitas.

Informations pratiques pour le concert Date : 13 juin 2012 a 20:00
Lieu : Victoria Hall, rue du General-Dufour 14, 1204 Genève

Les billets gratuits peuvent etre retires :

Arcade d’information municipale Pont de la Machine 1, 1204 Genève

Maison des arts du Grutli Rue du General-Dufour 16, 1204 Genève

Genève -Tourisme Rue du Mont-Blanc 18, 1204 Genève

Cite-Seniors Rue Amat 28, 1202 Genève

Kioske de l’ONU Route de Ferney106, 1202 Genève