Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION DAY: CONFRONTING DENIALISM

Huffington Post

April 24 2012

by Mikaela Luttrell-Rowland. Academic Program Liaison Officer, Clark
University’s Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

During the Armenian genocide in 1915, an unknown number of young
Armenians survived because they were adopted as daughters and sons of
Muslim families. Many lived the rest of their lives with Turkish,
Kurdish, or Arabic names and identities to escape the forced
deportation and systematic murders of the Armenian population by
the Ottoman Empire. Until recently, accounts of these survivors have
largely been silenced. Professor Ayse Altinay’s ground-breaking new
book on this subject, Les Petits-Enfants, focuses on these stories
and on the second and third generations.

April 24 marks Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day. While the
international community has long accepted the mass murder of
the Armenians as genocide, this day of remembrance reminds us,
too, that even today–in 2012– the Turkish government denies that
historical crime. Indeed, they staunchly reject responsibility. This
denialism–and the re-writing of history their stance entails– has
ramifications which command our attention. It creates everyday silences
that make life difficult for the generations that Altinay writes about.

Part of the denialist position by the Turkish state can be explained by
the link between militarism and nationalism. Laws such as Article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code make it a crime to insult “Turkishness”,
and set the stage to prosecute public intellectuals, historians,
and activists. Further, they contribute to the framing of how the
Armenian genocide can be publicly discussed. They factor into how
history text books and curriculums are written in Turkey. Who is
deemed responsible? Who is regarded as “other” or non-Turkish? In
the hazy upholding of nationalism and ‘national security,’ what is
left off the page and out of the historical narrative?

As a Latin Americanist, I ask these questions from a comparative
perspective. Denying the Armenian genocide is not just about protection
of Turkish nationalism. Nor do these questions arise only within
contexts of genocide. In post-conflict countries around the globe,
states and governmental institutions struggle with how they write
(or re-write) history in order to protect national interests.

And scholars, activists, teachers, journalists, and families grapple
with how to reconcile those stories with their own lived experiences.

Professor Taner Akcam at the Strassler Center for Holocaust and
Genocide Studies at Clark University is an example of one such person.

Akcam was the first Turkish scholar to speak openly about the
Genocide against the Armenians, and to overtly challenge the moral and
political stance by the Turkish government in its denial of Ottoman
responsibility. He holds the only endowed Professorship in the world
dedicated to research and teaching on this subject. His stance:
denialism of the Armenian genocide cannot, and must not, be tolerated.

But this is a position that is still wildly contested in Turkey.

Further, he along with many fear prosecution for these views by the
Turkish government under Article 301. Akcam has been the target of
death threats and intimidation from Turkish ultranationalists. Data
released by PEN International notes that Turkey has the world’s highest
imprisonment rate for journalists. By the end of 2011, according to
the figures, there were 30 writers in prison in Turkey and 70 on trial.

Yet thoughtful and effective activism and scholarship continues on
this subject. In October 2011, the European Court of Human Rights
ruled favorable in the case of Taner Akcam v. Turkey, and upheld
that Article 301 violates Article 10 of the European Convention on
Human Rights. Indeed, the courts agreed that he faces risk of unjust
prosecution, and ruled that his freedom of expression was violated.

Landmark human rights cases such as this matter. And they matter
because they set the stage for what can and cannot be taught, and for
how history is to be written. They challenge and expand what is deemed
too contested, or too political. The Turkish state has obfuscated
information–deliberately concealing or destroying artifacts. Hidden
files, barred access, and lack of transparency make the Armenian
genocide an ongoing challenge for historians and educators–and for
the survivors, children, and grand-children of survivors.

Framing and terminology carry weight. Partly because they have an
impact on how we teach young people, what kind of curriculum is written
into text books, and the types of public scholarship and debate that
are able to take place. And terminology is important because it can
prompt external intervention from other countries.

These are not just quibbles over language; investments to deny or
re-write history are often rooted in questions about resources and
political interests.

And so, on this day of remembrance, let us move the conversation
beyond commemoration or even recognition. Let us confront denialism:
past and present.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBERED AT CITY HALL
By Mark Schieldrop

Patch.com

April 24 2012

City Hall was the site of remembrance and reflection last night as
the Armenian flag was raised to commemorate the 97th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide.

More than a million Armenians were systematically killed in the
Armenian Genocide waged by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.

Last night, Cranston City Hall wall the site of a remembrance of the
Genocide and the building was filled to capacity as a large crowd
gathered to sing, pray and unite in a collective vow to never forget.

The ceremony was capped with a flag raising.

In an e-mail, Steve Elmasian, chairman of the Armenian National
Committee relayed the following:

The first floor lobby was full beyond capacity as 200 people were
hosted by Mayor Allan Fung as our community commemorated the 97th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The event began with the singing
of the American and Armenian National Anthems by Joanne Mouradjian
and Debra Pjojian respectively. Elected officials present and speaking
were as follows:

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, House Leader Nicholas Mattiello,
State Senator Hanna Gallo and the Hon. Aram Garabedian. Der Hayr
Shnork Souin of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church
gave a moving message and blessing. Badveli Hagop Manjelikian of the
Armenian Evangelical Church shared his comments as well. Arch Priest
Gomidas Baghsarian of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church closed
with a message and final prayer.

Two youth from the community, Cory Garabedian and Harout Tashian also
read. Both did admirable jobs representing our future when it comes to
getting the Armenian Genocide it’s proper place in the history books.

Mayor Allan Fung shared his thoughts on why we were there at his
city hall and then read a citation to this year’s honoree, Mr. Souren
Mouradjian.

Mr. Mouradjian is a World War II veteran who received the Purple Heart
and Bronze Star while serving his nation. He has served in the choir
and as Choir Director at Sts. Vartanantz Church for over 60 years. He
spoke of his own family’s adversity during the Genocide where he lost
a number of his own family members.

The Homenetmen Scouts escorted Mayor Fung and Mr. Mouradjian out to
the flag pole where the Armenian flag was once again raised in honor
of our Martyrs while the scouts stood as honor guards at attention
singing Mer Hairenik.

At 4 p.m. today at the Rhode Island State House in the Senate, Arch
Priest Gomidas Baghsarian will give the opening prayer, followed by
the singing of the Armenian National Anthem by Debra Pjojian. The
Honorable Chief Judge of the Family Court, Haiganush Bedrosian,
will share her comments as the Senate reads its annual resolution
recognizing April 24 as Armenian Genocide Day. A similar program will
take place in the House moments later. ALL are encouraged to attend.

The Armenian flag will be flying on the State House and hanging in
from both the Senate and House galleys.

TURKEY: IN FRENCH ELECTION, ANKARA ROOTING FOR SARKOZY RIVAL
by Yigal Schleifer

EurasiaNet.org
April 24 2012
NY

As the French presidential election heads into a run-off, it’s probably
not surprising that Ankara is quietly but emphatically rooting for
Socialist candidate Francois Hollande to defeat the incumbent Nicolas
Sarkozy. Under Sarkozy, Turkish-French relations have been extremely
strained, with the French President expressing his strong opposition to
Turkey’s European Union membership bid and also helping introduce a few
months ago an ultimately unsuccessful bill that would have criminalized
the denial of the Armenian genocide. On the foreign policy, front,
meanwhile, Paris and Ankara have also frequently clashed in recent
years, in particular with the two vying for influence in the Middle
East. For example, after the end of the NATO operation last year in
Libya, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sarkozy were
in a race to see which one of them could make it to Tripoli first and
become the first major foreign leader to visit the newly liberated
country. Sarkozy ended up winning the contest, arriving in the Libyan
capitol only a day before Erdogan.

So what would a Socialist victory in France mean for Turkey? The
National takes a look:

Cengiz Aktar, head of EU studies at Istanbul’s Bahcesehir University,
said he expected a better era to begin under Mr Hollande. “A socialist
administration would lift the veto on the five chapters” of Turkey’s
EU membership talks now blocked by the Sarkozy government in Brussels,
Mr Aktar said in an interview yesterday. “That will greatly ease the
tense relations.”

Mr Aktar noted that French socialists were not adamantly opposed to
Turkey’s EU membership application and said Mr Hollande was likely
to unblock the five EU chapters, even before the summer after an
election victory in May. France says it has blocked the five chapters
– economic and monetary policy, agricultural policy, regional policy,
financial and budgetary provisions as well as a chapter on institutions
– because talks about them would give Turkey a perspective of full
EU membership. Mr Sarkozy says he is willing to negotiate closer
ties between Ankara and the EU, under a concept called “privileged
partnership”, but does not accept talks that would mean Turkey,
the only Muslim EU candidate, can expect to become a full EU member.

Ioannis N Grigoriadis, a political scientist from Greece who teaches
at Bilkent University in Ankara, also said a government change in
France was likely to have positive effects.

“The Sarkozy presidency has invested a lot in the opposition to
Turkey’s membership bid,” Mr Grigoriadis said. He said Mr Sarkozy had
made it clear that he was opposed to Turkey’s accession and would bring
Turkey’s EU accession to a referendum, even if Ankara fulfilled all
the necessary criteria. It’s a position France had not taken towards
any other EU candidate.

“I don’t think Hollande would repeat all that,” Mr Grigoriadis said,
adding he expected an improvement in relations under Mr Hollande,
even though it would be difficult to restore the level of trust the
two countries enjoyed under Jacques Chirac, Mr Sarkozy’s predecessor,
in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Meanwhile, it appears that diplomats in Ankara are already getting
ready for a Hollande victory, preparing for the opening of several
chapters of the EU negotiation process that are currently being blocked
by France. It would appear that they are betting on a winning horse:
according to most polls, the Socialist contender is likely to win
the May 6 runoff with a comfortable margin.

OBAMA DOESN’T USE WORD ‘GENOCIDE’ IN ARMENIA STATEMENT
by David Jackson

USA Today

April 24 2012

For a fourth straight year, President Obama declined to describe
the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as a “genocide,” again
breaking a campaign pledge he made in 2008.

“We honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were brutally
massacred or marched to their deaths in the waning days of the Ottoman
Empire,” Obama said in a statement today.

The reason for the careful wording: Turkey, a key U.S. ally in Middle
Eastern affairs.

Olivier Knox of Yahoo News! reported that “Turkey, a NATO member,
fiercely disputes the genocide charge, and has warned that formal U.S.

steps to use the term will hamper relations. Turkey’s Ambassador
to Washington Namik Tan sharply criticized a similar statement from
Obama in 2011, taking to Twitter to denounce it as inaccurate, flawed,
and one-sided.”

Knox and ABC’s Jake Tapper noted that Obama used the word “genocide”
as an Illinois senator and as a presidential candidate.

“In a January 2008 letter to the Armenian Reporter, Mr. Obama said he
shared ‘with Armenian Americans — so many of whom are descended from
genocide survivors — a principled commitment to commemorating and
ending genocide,'” ABC News reported. “‘That starts with acknowledging
the tragic instances of genocide in world history.'”

Here is Obama’s full statement on Armenian Remembrance Day:

Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst atrocities of
the 20th century. In doing so, we honor the memory of the 1.5 million
Armenians who were brutally massacred or marched to their deaths in
the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.

As we reflect on the unspeakable suffering that took place 97 years
ago, we join millions who do the same across the globe and here in
America, where it is solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions,
communities, and families. Through our words and our deeds, it is
our obligation to keep the flame of memory of those who perished
burning bright and to ensure that such dark chapters of history are
never repeated.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915. My
view of that history has not changed. A full, frank, and just
acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Moving
forward with the future cannot be done without reckoning with the
facts of the past.

The United States has done so many times in our own history, and I
believe we are stronger for it. Some individuals have already taken
this courageous step forward. We applaud those Armenians and Turks
who have taken this path, and we hope that many more will choose it,
with the support of their governments, as well as mine.

Although the lives that were taken can never be returned, the legacy
of the Armenian people is one of triumph. Your faith, courage,
and strength have enabled you to survive and prosper, establishing
vibrant communities around the world. Undaunted, you have preserved
your patrimony, passing it from generation to generation.

Armenian-Americans have made manifold contributions to the vibrancy of
the United States, as well as critical investments in a democratic,
peaceful, and prosperous future for Armenia. The United States is
proud of your heritage, and your contributions honor the memory of
those who senselessly suffered and died nearly a century ago.

On this solemn day of remembrance, we stand alongside all Armenians
in recalling the darkness of the Meds Yeghern and in committing to
bringing a brighter future to the people of Armenia.

ARMENIA MOURNS VICTIMS OF 1915 MASS KILLING BY OTTOMAN TURKS
Julia Telfer

International Business Times

April 24 2012

Thousand of Armenians gathered at Yerevan’s genocide museum on Tuesday
(April 24) to attend a ceremony in remembrance of the more than 1.5
million Armenians killed in what is now eastern Turkey during World
War One.

Armenians throughout the world insist Turkey and the entire civilized
community should recognize the mass killing as genocide.

Armenia, backed by many historians and parliaments, says the mass
killing of Christian Armenians was a deliberate policy of genocide
ordered by the Ottoman government.

But successive Turkish governments and the vast majority of Turks
feel the charge of genocide is an insult to their nation, arguing that
there was heavy loss of life on both sides during fighting in the area.

Armenians, however, disagree and many see the 15 kilometer walk
towards the genocide monument every April 24 as a duty tantamount to
their national identity.

Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan, who led the delegation of
the country’s officials, came to the monument with his wife and
participated in prayers for the souls of those who perished during
the tragic events.

LA MARCH REMEMBERS ARMENIAN DEATHS

KRNV My News 4

April 24 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ~W Several thousand members of Southern California’s
Armenian community have marched through Los Angeles to remember the
deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in the former Ottoman Empire.

The annual march at midday Tuesday was to be followed by an afternoon
protest in front of the Turkish Consulate.

Armenians and most historians say the killings that began in 1915
were a genocide, but Turkey rejects that term. Turkish leaders say
that the figures are inflated and that there were deaths on both
sides as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.

ARMENIAN YOUTH OF MOSCOW COMMEMORATES GENOCIDE VICTIMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 24, 2012 – 09:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On April 22, the Armenian Youth Association of Moscow
held a protest action at Taras Shevchenko embankment in Russian capital
to commemorate victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire
in 1915.

“This action aimed to demonstrate the solidarity of the Armenian youth
and attract the attention of Moscow and Russian society to this issue,”
says the statement PanARMENIAN.Net received from the organizers.

The event brought together several hundreds of people, mostly the
young students of Moscow universities, as well as people of different
nationalities and age groups.

The action commenced with a minute of silence in memory of those
killed during Genocide. Then the participants took off their coats,
and the crowd appeared to be dressed in red symbolizing the bloodshed
committed by Young Turks in 1915.

Following it, the organizers and participants of the action unrolled
a huge black poster saying “The 1915 Armenian Genocide is a crime
with no statute of limitation. Justice will triumph.”

The event was sanctioned beforehand and held within legal framework,
the security being provided by the law enforcement.

JAVAKHK TEACHERS BARRED FROM GENOCIDE EVENTS

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

A street in Akhaltskha

AKHALTSKHA, Javakhk (Akhaltskha.net)-All teachers and principals from
towns surrounding and including Akhaltskha were summoned to a meeting
Monday where they were warned against attending commemorations of
the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24.

After conferring with their principal, several teachers from the
Hovaness Toumanian School had appealed to their city hall asking
permission to take part in scheduled commemoration events on April 24.

Apparently, this prompted city officials to issue an across the
board warning to all educators of Armenian descent, barring them from
participating in Genocide commemoration events.

Local officials said that this was the first instance where government
officials have barred Akhaltskha residents to take part in Genocide
commemoration activities and church services.

FM: TURKEY HAS GOOD RELATIONS WITH ALL NEIGHBORS EXCEPT THREE COUNTRIES

Trend
April 23 2012
Azerbaijan

Turkish foreign policy, based on the principle “zero problems with
neighbors” yields positive results, and Ankara, in fact, has very
good relations with neighbors, except three of them, the Milliyet
newspaper quotes Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Dautoglu as saying.

He highlighted the development of relations with Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Russia and Ukraine.

Turkey has bad relations with neighboring countries such as Armenia,
Israel and Syria, whose policies, he said, are characterized as a
crime both against their own and other nations.

“Armenia, Israel and Syria are countries with which it is difficult
to negotiate. It is difficult for Turkey to maintain stable relations
with them,” Davutoglu said.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT – SEMBLANCE AND REALITY

Trend
April 23 2012
Azerbaijan

As the date of parliamentary elections in Armenia approaches, political
and social circles of the country more and more discuss issues related
to the legislative body – both the quality of the deputy corps,
which will be represented there, as well as the political views of
organizations representing it.

In the early 90s Armenia resembled a military camp, and one could
observe a certain convergence, though not very significant, of
political views, but then, that is, since 1994, a movement of war
veterans of Karabakh community began in the government, which ended
with the resignation of Ter -Petrosian in 1998. The leadership of this
community has gradually created a coalition of veterans and business
leaders, which, in turn, manifested itself in the 2007 elections.

Despite this, at the elections held in Armenia since 1995 to the
present day, there was no fact of recognition by the losing side of
someone’s victory or the winning side. Political rotation was carried
out in such a way that the political forces and society did not accept
the new parliament.

The next parliament may differ only in the semblance of changes, but
in fact it will remain unchanged, and, probably, those who will not
be able to participate in the meetings of parliament, or some of those
oligarchs not wanting to participate think to protect their interests
through selected or appointed “substitute” composition. Although this
work gives the semblance of reducing the number of oligarchs in the
new parliament, in fact it means the absence of any desire to change
the political course and improve the work of the legislative body.

Thus, the authorities failing to stop the economic influence and
the pressure of the oligarchs try to prevent the adoption by them of
policy and personnel decisions. In addition, dissatisfaction began to
grow among the young members of opposition parties and businessmen. If
the oligarchs associate political parties with joint stock companies,
and the goal is, by investing, to own a certain place and sphere of
influence, then for the party functionaries is just a career.

Since the beginning of the election campaign Armenia has witnessed
numerous criminal events which have wide repercussions, which are
to blame for the political forces. Thus, in the village cemetery of
Oktomber a fight between the son of the deputy from the Republican
Party Napet Gevorgyan and parliamentary candidate Mardzhun Mhoyan took
place, in which the latter had been beaten and was forced to withdraw
his candidacy. Recently son-in-law of the mayor of Gyumri, Republican
Vartan Ghukasian was killed and it is reported that this event is
also associated with the party of “Prosperous Armenia”. Members of the
Yerevan community of Malatia-Sebastia and others were beaten. Dozens
of examples can be given. Candidates from the opposition forces are
constantly complaining about the mass distribution of bribes and
pressure from the authorities.

Law enforcement agencies have been informed about these events, about
who gives and receives bribes, beatings and murders, and are directly
responsible for the elimination and prevention of such incidents,
but refrain from intervening in these processes.

Given all this, we cannot talk about free and fair elections.

No matter which party comes to power in Armenia, it would be wrong to
think that there will be any major changes, because the policy pursued
by Armenia, has remained unchanged as in the times of Ter-Petrosian,
Kocharian and during the presidency of Sargsyan. This means that the
semblance of the changes does not mean change of the nature.