Author: Kanayan Tamar

TURKISH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER WARNS FRANCE ABOUT RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS ON 1915 INCIDENTS

Anadolu Agency
Dec 19 2011
Turkey

Ankara: Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said regarding a French
resolution which criminalizes the rejection of Armenian allegations
on 1915 incidents that if the resolution was adopted, France would
pay its cost high.

Cicek told reporters on Monday that he sent a letter to his French
counterpart last week which conveyed Turkey’s concerns about the
issue and also condemned the stance of France.

He added that a Turkish Parliamentary delegation had been in France
since yesterday regarding this issue.

Noting that Turkey had comprehensive relations which were rooted in
the past with France, Cicek said that attempts to adopt resolutions on
parliamentary level regarding historical matters were only exploitation
by domestic politics.

It is necessary to avoid such attempts only to gain a few more votes
in the elections, he added.

Turkey’s European Union Minister and chief negotiator Egemen Bagis
on Monday met with Danish Ambassador in Ankara Ruben Madsen.

Bagis expressed hope during the meeting that Danish courts would
give ruling which would halt Denmark-based broadcast of Roj TV,
which Turkey says is a mouthpiece of the terrorist organization of PKK.

“Roj TV casts a shadow on our bilateral relations with Denmark. We
are looking forward to hearing a ruling that would end this negative
aspect,” Bagis said.

Responding to a question over a French bill that makes denying of
Ottoman-era incidents of 1915 punishable with a one year prison term
and a fine of 45,000 euros, Bagis said the bill was problematic in
the sense that it limited freedom of expression.

“The French Revolution was made to secure freedom of expression and
now they are set to debate a bill that bans expressing one’s opinions.

There is no sense in this,” Bagis said.

Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said regarding French
resolution criminalizing the rejection of Armenian allegations on
1915 incidents that if the resolution was adopted, Joint Economic
Committee meeting in France on January 24 would not be held.

A Turkish Parliamentary delegation is holding talks in Paris to
convince French officials not to adopt a resolution criminalizing
the rejection of Armenian allegations on 1915 incidents.

Turkish parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Volkan Bozkir
told reporters on Monday that the resolution was against basic rights
and freedoms.

We are here to tell French officials the harms of the resolution on
Turkish-French relations, said Bozkir.

Noting that trade volume between the two countries was nearly 13.5bn
euros, Bozkir said that investments of France in Turkey reached
6.5bn euros, and nearly 2,000 French companies were making business
with Turkey. He added that one million French tourists were visiting
Turkey every year.

Bozkir said that if the resolution was adopted, an uneasy period
would begin in Turkish-French relations.

The cooperation between Turkey and France, which made important
contributions in peace and stability in the region and the world, will
be harmed significantly, if the resolution is adopted, said Bozkir.

He noted that history was written by historians, not parliaments.

Also, deputy Osman Koruturk of Republican Poeple’s Party (CHP) in
the delegation said that the resolution was an attempt to have some
political gain.

Koruturk said that the resolution was also against French constitution.

The delegations will continue talks in France today and Tuesday.

The resolution will be voted on 22 December at general assembly in
French Parliament.

In January 2001, French Parliament adopted a law recognizing so-called
Armenian genocide in 1915.

The resolution punishes people who reject 1915 incidents with one-year
imprisonment and 45,000-euro fine.

OSCE MG CO-CHAIR BERNARD FASSIER ARRIVES IN BAKU

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 19 2011
Russia

A co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Bernard Fassier (France), arrived
in Baku last night, APA reports.

Fassier~Rs mission as a co-chair for a settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ends in late 2011. French Ambassador to
Ukraine Jacques Faure will be the new co-chair.

Fassier said that he arrived in Azerbaijan to say final farewells to
the president and state officials. He will then head to Tbilisi and
return to Azerbaijan on December 20.

The co-chair noted improvements in the South Caucasus, adding that
there is a need to speed up the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. He
reminded about conflicts in the Middle East.

The diplomat underlined that it is time for Armenia and Azerbaijan
to resolve the conflict. He said that a press conference will be held
on December 19.

HRANT DINK’S DAUGHTER MARRIES CHIEF EDITOR OF HER FATHER’S WEEKLY

news.am, Armenia
Dec 19 2011

ISTANBUL. – Delal Dink, the daughter of Hrant Dink-founder and former
chief editor of Istanbul’s Agos Armenian weekly who was murdered in
2007-wed with Rober Koptash, current chief editor of Agos.

The couple walked down the aisle at Mary Mother of God Armenian
Church in Istanbul’s Kumkapi district, and the 275-guest wedding
banquet was held at Ponte Restaurant in Beyoglu district.

Leading Turkish journalists also attended the wedding. And at the
participants’ request, the late Hrant Dink’s favorite song “Blonde
Bride” was sung numerous times.

Dink’s widower, Rakel Dink, wore black during the event and did not
dance, Aksam daily of Turkey writes.

LAUREATE OF INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS ZHORA SARGSYAN’S CONCERT AT CAFESJIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Panorama
Dec 19 2011
Armenia

The Armenian Guitar Players’ Association has organized a concert by
laureate of international competitions Zhora Sargsyan at the Special
Events Hall of the Cafesjian Center for the Arts on December 21.

The concert features two world premieres, works by famous Dutch
composer, Prof. Rolf Straver written for Zhora Sargsyan – Three
Armenian Sketches, consisting of three parts (for guitar, flute and
viola) and Guitar Quintet No.3 F minor, consisting of four parts
(for guitar and string quartet).

Rolf Straver is the special guest at the concert.

THE ARMENIAN DELEGATION PARTICIPATED IN THE MEETINGS OF THE CSTO’S STATUTORY BODIES

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Armenia
Dec 19 2011

On December 19, the Armenian Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense
Edward Nalbandian and Seyran Ohanian and the Secretary of the Armenian
National Security Council (NSC) Arthur Baghdasaryan took part in
the joint meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
the Council of Ministers of Defense and the Committee of Secretaries
of Security Councils of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO).

In the course of the meeting the agenda of the upcoming meeting of
the Collective Security Council, to be held on December 20, and the
issues to be discussed were approved, which are directed to the further
strengthening of the Organization and the cooperation in its frames.

The Ministers touched upon the decisions made by the Collective
Security Council held on December 20 and the implementation of the
agreements reached during the informal meeting of the Heads of the
CSTO’s member countries.

During the joint meeting the statement to be adopted by the Heads
of the Organization’s member countries on the occasion of the 20th
anniversary of signing of the Collective Security Treaty and 10th
anniversary of the establishment of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization was discussed.

The agenda of the meeting included issues related to the improvement of
the collective security system, the optimization of military-economic
and military-technical cooperation, the fight against terror and
illegal turnover of drugs and emergency response, as well.

The CSTO’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense and the
Secretaries of the Security Councils discussed the annual report
of the Organization’s Secretary-General, and the issues relating to
cooperation in information, organization and financial spheres. The
participants agreed on the place and timeframe of the next meeting
of the CSTO’s statutory bodies, as well.

As a result of the meeting, over two dozen documents which were
presented to the approval of the Collective Security Council were
signed.

At the end of the meeting, Belarus handed over the chairmanship of
the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers
of Defense and the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of
the CSTO to Kazakhstan.

On the same day separate meetings of the Council of Ministers of
Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of Defense and the Committee
of Secretaries of Security Councils of the CSTO took place.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR’S FAREWELL VISIT TO THE PARLIAMENT

National Assembly

Armenia
Dec 19 2011

On December 19 the RA NA Speaker Samvel Nikoyan received Charles
Lonsdale, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the occasion of the
end of his diplomatic mission.

Welcoming the Ambassador the RA NA Speaker stated with satisfaction
that during his tenure cooperation between Armenia and the United
Kingdom experienced a rise. In Samvel Nikoyan’s words, there is a
great, not yet used potential for expanding the lines of interaction
and activation of contacts in various formats in the future. The NA
Speaker emphasized the development of interaction in both the bilateral
and multilateral formats. Samvel Nikoyan expressed willingness to
put his efforts aimed at further deepening of the Armenian-British
cooperation.

The Ambassador Lonsdale congratulated Samvel Nikoyan on the occasion
of being elected Speaker of the RA National Assembly and wished him
success for his presidency. In his words, this period is important
in terms of being 6 months left for the elections. In this context in
Armenia the conduct of free elections, which comply with international
standards, were mutually emphasized. Mr. Nikoyan stressed that
the Armenian authorities would do their best to fulfill fair and
transparent elections.

The further development, regional issues and the draft law “On ensuring
men’s and women’s equal rights and equal opportunities” were touched
upon; other issues of bilateral interest were also discussed at
the meeting.

In the end Samvel Nikoyan wished the Ambassador success in his further
activity, expressing confidence that he would remain a friend of
Armenia . The NA Speaker has expressed hope that the shaped tradition
of cooperation will continue with newly appointed joint ambassadors:
with the married couple, who in the rotation principle will take
their office from January.

Draft law on gender equality
12.12.2011 18:11

Liana Yeghiazaryan
`Radiolur

A group of MPs has worked out a draft law on state guarantees of
gender equality and submitted it for parliament’s consideration.

If passed, the law will regulate the allocation of a certain number of
seats for women in state bodies, co-author of the bill Hovhannes
Margaryan from the Orinats Yerkir Party told a press conference today.

The same should apply to the parliament, he said. `The parties will
have to include a certain number of women in their lists. The draft
law must still be considered by the National Assembly, and is expected
to undergo changes,’ Hovhannes Margaryan said.

EuroNews, EU
18 dec 2011

Loi sur le génocide arménien: Ankara attaque Paris 18/12 01:53 CET

La Turquie a attaqué la France sur son passé colonial à quatre jours
du vote d’une loi sur le génocide arménien.

Le 22 décembre, l’Assemblée nationale française va examiner un projet
de loi qui prévoit un an de prison et 45 000 euros d’amende pour tous
ceux qui contesteront le génocide arménien de 1915.

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a envoyé une lettre au
président français lui demandant de barrer la route à ce texte de loi.

Dans le cas contraire, toute coopération avec Paris serait gelée.

`Ceux qui veulent étudier un génocide feraient mieux de se retourner
sur leur passé et d`étudier leur propre histoire sale et sanglante.

Si l’Assemblée nationale veut s’intéresser à l’Histoire, qu’elle
prenne la peine de s’enquérir sur ce qui s’est passé en Afrique, au
Rwanda et en Algérie’ a déclaré le chef du gouvernement turc.

Début octobre, en visite en Arménie, à Erevan, Nicolas Sarkozy avait
déjà froissé la Turquie en lui donnant quelques mois pour reconnaître
le génocide dans un geste de réconciliation.

Ankara reconnaît que jusqu`à 500.000 Arméniens ont péri en Anatolie au
cours de la première guerre mondiale. Pour les Arméniens et une
vingtaine de pays, il y a eu génocide et un million et demi de morts.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 18 2011

Why is it difficult to confront 1915?

MARKAR ESAYAN
[email protected]

We have entered yet another season of genocide discussions. The
discussions this year started well before April 24 because of a move
by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

We are now going to repeat our clichés and regular statements on the
subject. And then, all of a sudden, the season will be gone. In the
end, we will not have made any significant progress on this extremely
important issue.

Any of my columns that make reference to 1915 or Armenians attracts
greater attention than the others. I think curiosity and an eagerness
to learn play a visible role in this because our people are smart and
have a conscience. The following is clear to almost everyone: Ours is
a fabricated and manufactured history. We have experienced a lot over
the last decade indicating that our history was not what we have been
told.

Take the 1937-1938 Dersim massacres, which have been referred to by
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an in a recent apology. The state
told us that there were rebellions in Dersim and that what happened
was a necessary reflex to repress these rebellions. And Dersim has
remained the accused all the time. Until ErdoÄ?an, nobody attempted to
tell the truth. Of course, I am referring to influential politicians.
They knowingly perpetuated this lie.

Then we learned that there was no rebellion in Dersim. Mustafa Kemal
and İsmet İnönü viewed these non-Turkish elements as a threat. They
decided to repress and then murder them because they were Kurds and
Alevis. The prime minister referred to this in Parliament. But what
happened or what changed to cause the prime minister to reveal the
truth?

Morality¦

The previous attitude was immoral. ErdoÄ?an realized that and in his
term, he did not act with the same immorality. That is it. It is
immoral to deny brutality, massacres and genocide because of political
reasons.

Let me be clear: Whether or not they fall within the proper definition
of genocide, the 1915 Armenian massacres are no different than the
Dersim massacres in terms of their characteristics and mentality. But
Turkey will keep denying this great suffering and pain for a long
time. I do not have any expectation that there will be an opening on
this matter similar to the one in the discussion of Dersim. This is
not because I am pessimistic; I hold this view because 1915 is
inextricably connected to other major structural issues for Turkey.

Above all, I think the primary reason that we avoid discussing the
Armenian massacre is that our beliefs will collapse on us. Even though
it is argued that the War of Liberation was fought against imperialist
states, this is not entirely the case. The committees of defense and
resistance which organized the War of Liberation were founded to fight
the Greeks and the Armenians. But more importantly, most of the
founders of these committees were former members of the Committee of
Union and Progress (CUP) who were sentenced to death because of their
involvement in the murder of Armenians.

Taner Akçam wrote on this matter as follows: `For the members of the
Committee of Union and Progress, and particularly of the Special
Organization, who were wanted because of the charges against them,
organizing the War of Liberation was a matter of life or death. The
national resistance was the last resort for them. They were to choose
one of two alternatives; they would have turned themselves in and been
sentenced to heavy punishments, including the death penalty, or they
would have moved to Anatolia to organize the national resistance.
Falih Rıfkı Atay beautifully explains this: `When the British and
their allies decided to hold those who were involved in the killing of
Armenians accountable after the war, all those accused took up arms
and joined a gang’.’

Take Topal Osman, the role model of Ergenekon suspect Veli Küçük, who
also erected a statue of him. He was wanted for his role in the
Armenian massacre. For this reason, he escaped and created a gang of
his own. Lazistan Deputy Ali Å?ükrü, in a parliamentary meeting, proved
that Mustafa Suphi and his friends from the Turkish Communist Party
were killed by Topal Osman and his man Yahya Kaptan upon receiving
instructions from Mustafa Kemal; after this incident, Topal Osman was
asked to kill him. Topal Osman was also murdered in the aftermath.

In addition, Parliament adopted a bill on May 8, 1920, that would
ensure the release of those who were under detention in connection
with the crime of deportation. This is one of the first decisions of
Parliament. Why is that? Is it not a payment of debt?

I am not sure if I have been able to give you some hints as to why the
1915 issue is a difficult one to discuss. Do you think we are ready to
ask these questions?

EREVEN-VENISE
Venise et Erévan sont désormais des villes jumelles

Le 15 décembre le président arménien Serge Sarkissian a profité de sa
visite en Italie pour se rendre à Venise. En compagnie de Daron
Markarian, maire d’Erévan, le président arménien s’est rendu à Venise.
Le maire d’Erévan et son homologue de Venise Giorgio Orsoni signèrent
un accord de jumelage entre les deux villes. Selon cet accord Erévan
et Vensie s’engagent désormais à développer une coopération dans le
domaine économique, touristique, culturelle et sportif. Par ailleurs,
Daron Markarian et Giorgio Orsoni vont organiser des festivités dans
les deux villes, marquant ce jumelage.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 18 décembre 2011,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com