Author: Kanayan Tamar

TURKEY’S ARMENIANS RECONSECRATE 16TH CENTURY CHURCH BUILDING

Christian Post

Nov 14 2011

Ethnic Armenians who grew up as Muslims baptized in Diyarbakir.

By Compass Direct News

ISTANBUL – Just hours before a deadly 7.2 earthquake struck Turkey’s
southeast on Oct. 23, well over 3,000 visitors crowded into an ancient
Armenian cathedral in nearby Diyarbakir for Sunday mass.

The mass was the first worship service in decades in the ancient St.

Giragos Armenian Apostolic Church, which had fallen into serious
disrepair in the early 1980s. Built 350 years ago and still the
largest Armenian church building in the Middle East, it once served
as the metropolitan cathedral of Diyarbakir.

In a private ceremony the following day, 10 ethnic Armenians who
had been raised as Sunni Muslims were baptized as Christians in
the restored sanctuary. All from one extended family, the Armenians
returning to their faith said that their ancestors had converted to
Islam during the Ottoman era (1299-1923).

“We have been ostracized by both Sunni Muslims and Armenians,” one
of them told Hurriyet Daily News. “It is a very emotional moment for
me, and I’m a bit upset, because unfortunately we do not belong to
either side.”

For security reasons, the baptisms were closed to the press and
outside visitors.

According to one source at Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate, it
is estimated that at least 300,000 Armenian and Syriac Christians
converted to either Sunni or Alawite Islam after 1915 to avoid forced
deportation.

“This means there could be as many as a half million ethnic-background
Christians in Turkey today who carry ID cards stating they are
Muslims,” the cleric observed.

Over the past decade, both Armenian and Syrian Orthodox church centers
in Turkey have quietly baptized individuals and families from the
eastern regions of the country who had Muslim IDs but wished to return
to their Christian roots.

“I wish this church had always been open,” one of the newly baptized
Armenians told the online Massis Post website. “It is unbelievable
to be together here with people from all around the world with whom
I share the same origins.”

Although political dignitaries representing a number of foreign
embassies attended the Oct. 23 mass, along with Armenian spiritual
leaders from around the world, most of the congregation consisted
of Armenian pilgrims from Armenia, the Netherlands, Germany, Syria,
Lebanon and the United States.

“It was like they were returning from exile!” one Diyarbakir resident
who attended the Sunday mass told Compass. “Here were these elderly
Armenians who used to live here, walking through the streets of
Diyarbakir, weeping and looking for their old homes and places they
remembered. They all still spoke Turkish and Kurdish, as well as
Armenian.”

Anatolia’s ‘Jerusalem’

Located in the city’s Gavur (Turkish for “infidel”) district, the
newly restored St. Giragos cathedral is just a few minutes’ walk from
St. Peter’s Chaldean Catholic church (also undergoing restoration),
a mosque, the Diyarbakir Protestant Church and a synagogue, with
construction plans for places of worship along the same street for
Alawite and Yezidi (blending local Kurdish and Sufi Muslim beliefs)
adherents.

“This is an historic enterprise,” declared Abdullah Demirtas,
Diyarbakir Sur’s district mayor. “Diyarbakir will become Anatolia’s
Jerusalem!”

Complete with seven altars and multiple arched columns in the
sanctuary, St. Giragos was virtually abandoned after the massacre and
deportation of its congregants in 1915. The building was confiscated
during World War I as a headquarters for German army officers, used
for a time as a stable, and later turned into a cotton warehouse in
the 1960s.

According to Taraf newspaper columnist Markar Esayan, the church
building was still intact until 1980, after which “because of hate …

in modern times” it was attacked, looted and fell into disrepair,
with just the walls and arched columns remaining.

“When I saw the condition of the church at that time, I thought it
would never return to its former state,” Esayan wrote on Oct. 24.

Costing US$3.5 million, the church’s two-year restoration project was
funded largely by Armenian donations from Istanbul and abroad, although
a third of the costs were donated by the Diyarbakir municipality.

At the conclusion of the Sunday mass, Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir
addressed the congregation, declaring first in Armenian, and then
Kurdish, Turkish, English and Arabic: “Welcome to your home. You are
not guests here; this is your home.”

“We all know about past events,” he said, pointedly referring to 1915,
“and our wish is that our children will celebrate together the coming
achievements.”

By raising private funding, the Armenian church has regained this
ancient building for its own use as a consecrated sanctuary, rather
than a Turkish government-controlled museum like the 10th century
Akdamar Church in Van, where only one religious ceremony is permitted
annually.

Although no Armenian community still exists in Diyarbakir, a priest
has been named by the Armenian Patriarchate to conduct occasional
worship services for visiting clergy and Christian groups within
Turkey and from abroad.

According to Vartkes Ergun Ayik, a businessman of Armenian origin who
spearheaded the project funding, the restored church property will
also be used for classical music concerts and exhibitions in the city.

“Our expectations are good,” the new priest told Compass. “Even though
Armenians are not living in the city today, we are praying that God
will use our church to bless Diyarbakir in a very positive way.”

AMAYA WINS LONG-TERM CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Canada Newswire

Nov 14 2011

MONTREAL, Nov. 14, 2011 /CNW/ – Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (TSX.V:
AYA), an entertainment solutions provider for the regulated gaming
industry, today announced that it has been awarded an exclusive,
10-year contract with the the Government of the Republic of Armenia
to implement a national lottery and to provide central reporting and
integrity services. Lottery programs will be deployed through both
traditional sales channels and Short Message Service (SMS Lottery).

Amaya will install and deploy the Amaya Central Reporting Module
(Amaya CRM) on all electronic gaming devices operating in the
Republic of Armenia for the next 10 years. The Amaya CRM provides the
government with real-time reporting tools to capture and monitor gaming
transactions, improve tax efficiency and promote gaming integrity. The
agreement represents a significant milestone as Amaya’s first mandate
to install the Amaya CRM and further strengthens the Company’s position
as a provider of comprehensive government gaming solutions.

“We are very pleased to begin a mutually beneficial long-term
relationship with the Government of Armenia,” said David Baazov,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Amaya Gaming Group. “Our
lottery and integrity solutions are providing us with a platform
to expand our technology footprint and grow our relationships with
customers in new jurisdictions.”

On October 27, 2011, Armenian finance minister Vache Gabrielian
first announced the collaboration in principle between the Armenian
Government and Amaya to create Amaya Armenia, a joint company on a
parity basis with the income from the lottery being distributed equally
between the principals. The Minister expects that the partnership
will secure several billion drams annually in additional revenue,
with 2 billion drams expected in 2012, and 7 billion in 2013.

The Minister also announced that the Government is planning to
collaborate with Amaya on the establishment of a centralized system
of control and accounting to prevent fraud, money laundering and
other forms of economic crime.

About Amaya Gaming Group

Amaya is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing,
distribution and sale of technology based gaming solutions for the
regulated gaming industry worldwide. For more information please
visit

Disclaimer in regards to Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements included herein, including those that express
management’s expectations or estimates of our future performance
constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily
based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to
significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on
forward looking statements. Except as required by law, Amaya does not
intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.

“Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider
(as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.”

For further information: Mr. David Baazov Jeff Codispodi
President and Chief Executive Officer The Equicom Group Amaya
Gaming Group Inc. 416-815-0700 ext. 261 North America:
1-866-744-3122 [email protected] Worldwide:1-514-744-3122

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RESIGNS

news.am
Nov 14 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan
handed in his resignation minutes ago. Abrahamyan addressed the MPs
with the following speech:

“Fully acknowledging the responsibility before the people, the [ruling
coalition’s Republican] Party [of Armenia], and the President,
I present my letter of resignation. Being elected NA Speaker, I
announced the Parliament must work transparently, and let it not
sound immodest [on my part], but it seems to me we have achieved that.

This was a serious phase for me. I am confident NA would continue to
be the defender of the interests of the state and people.

Our country is entering the phase of regular elections, whose
high-level conduct will be to the honor us all and, first and foremost,
of the authorities.

On numerous occasions, the authorities stated the holding of free
and fair elections. Its political will exists.”

He is supposed to take up the post of head of the campaign headquarters
of the ruling Republican Party.

GIVING THANKS THE ARMENIAN WAY
by Tom Vartabedian

Published: Monday November 14, 2011

Rainbow over Tatev gorge in Armenia. Hayk Badalian / Photolur

“We thank thee for health and food,

For all things that fit our mood,

For love and friends,

For everything that goodness sends.”

On this Thanksgiving Day, let us give thanks for all those pleasures
we’re apt to take for granted.

First and foremost is our proud heritage. Can you imagine a life born
into another ethnic society? A different language? Music? Food?

Church?

Let us give thanks for a culture that has withstood the test of
time and all that we have contributed to world civilization, from
our Christian persuasion to the resilience that followed in the
post-genocide era.

Much too often, the focus has been on turmoil and Turkish defamation,
not the aftermath. Count your blessings that we’ve quadrupled
the population over the past century, seen a country regain her
independence 20 years ago, and now churches being restored in Historic
Armenia.

Our gratitude, please, for the many countries which have recognized
the genocide, sent aid, and generated a positive tone with regard to
human rights. Hopefully, our great country of America will join the
ranks and give us a government that will keep Armenia in its thoughts.

On this Thanksgiving, it is our hope the United States has an
interest in protecting and preserving the rights of national,
religious and ethnic groups worldwide while urging the Republic of
Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and return confiscated
church properties.

Let us show thanks for all the vital Armenian communities throughout
the world. To those who remain isolated from the rest of us, perhaps
a new society can be formed, whether you live in Sweden or Siberia.

Please show some appreciation to the dedicated activists we have
working with the Armenian National Committee of America in connecting
with our legislators. Let their voices continue to be heard and let
others join their cause. An active Armenian is always better than a
passive one.

Let us thank our lucky stars that we have an extra dollar or two to
help a charity. We’re a lot better off than that farmer in Dilijan
who lives off the sweat of the land. He survives in a country he can
call his own. That’s his compensation.

If you’re an immigrant, count your blessings at the family you raised,
the children you sent to college, the sacrifices made along the way,
and the fact you kept your heritage intact. The language you may have
taught them will continue to survive another generation so long as
it’s utilized.

On this Thanksgiving, find it in your hearts to seek out a lonely or
deprived Armenian. Go ahead and invite them to your home. A hearty
meal is one inducement. A heartier relationship is better food for
thought. No doubt, every community needs work. It begins with one
individual at a time.

On this Thanksgiving, let us not lose sight of some small gestures of
gratitude. You may find a baby’s outcry in church somewhat disturbing.

Be grateful there is a child to represent a future generation that
will keep your congregation energized.

Show some appreciation for that volunteer at your church or community
center — the guy who washes the dishes following a dinner; the person
who shows up diligently to sing in your choir or teach your students.

Find it in your heart to thank the cooks in your kitchen for killing
your diet with an Armenian delicacy. Go ahead, have another baklava
with your coffee. After all, it’s Thanksgiving. If you have trouble
making ends meet, get yourself a new belt.

For all those who have some disability, show the ability to lend them
a hand of comfort. Invite them into your home or pay them a visit. As
for the indigent, don’t look upon them as being poor but simply down
on their luck. Let them know they are being remembered.

I saw my share of families living in lean-tos during a trip to
Armenia. They had a shelter over their heads and braced for the
winter’s cold. We have a thermostat that keeps us warm. Somehow, life’s
equation falls in our favor. Let us not lose sight of these pleasures.

Our thanks to all the genocide survivors of the world who have
kept the torch of humanity burning. In your prayers, remember the
immigrants who set forth on this great nation and eked out a vibrant
Armenian community.

Lastly, to the many Armenian humanitarians who have given us a
transfusion, either morally or physically. The names aren’t important.

They’d rather be called anonymous.

On this Thanksgiving, let’s find it in our hearts to toast everyone’s
health— collectively, not one at a time. Too many toasts would only
ruin our own.

SEROP DER-BOGHOSSIAN’S WIFE DEMANDS 1 LIMA FROM ENTREPRENEUR FOR DEFAMATION

epress.am
11.15.2011

Madeline Tashjian, the wife of Serop Der-Boghossian, on Monday
appealed to the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash Administrative Districts, demanding that entrepreneur
Silva Hambardzumyan publish a retraction in the press and then
pay her 1 luma (1/100th of an Armenian dram, less than a penny)
as compensation for damages.

Asked by local daily Joghovurd, why she appealed to the court with a
demand of only 1 luma, “unlike, for example, attorneys or oligarchs
who ask for 6 or 18 million drams [$15,609 or $46,826 USD] for insult
and defamation, Madeline said, ‘The money doesn’t interest me’,”
the newspaper writes.

As reported by local media, last week Silva Hambardzumyan had said that
Madeline Tashjian “could tell you a lot about 1999.” Tashjian refuted
the statement, adding that she doesn’t even know Silva Hambardzumyan.

Recall, Hambardzumyan’s Sipon 1 gold company had its license revoked by
the energy minister who then called an auction. The gold mine was sold
to Sagamar CJSC, one of the shares of which belonged to then adviser
to the prime minister Serop Der-Boghossian, the Armenian-American
businessman since accused of sexual abuse of minors.

COLLECTIF VAN : L’éPHéMéRIDE DU 14 NOVEMBRE 2011

Publié le : 14-11-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – La rubrique “Ephéméride”
du Collectif VAN a été lancée le 6 décembre 2010. Elle recense
la liste d’événements survenus a une date donnée, a différentes
époques de l’Histoire, sur les thématiques que l’association suit au
quotidien. L’éphéméride du Collectif VAN repose sur des informations
en ligne sur de nombreux sites (les sources sont spécifiées sous
chaque entrée). Vous pouvez retrouver tous les éphémérides du
Collectif VAN dans la Rubrique Actions VAN, en cliquant sur ces liens:

Les éphémérides du Collectif VAN (1ère partie)

Les éphémérides du Collectif VAN (2ème partie)

Légende photo: 14 novembre 1914 — Empire ottoman/ Constantinople :
proclamation de la Guerre Sainte (Djihad), Une grande partie de la
population de la capitale s’est livrée hier a une manifestation
qui a duré une huitaine d’heures et s’est déroulée sur les deux
rives de la Corne d’Or. Ce meeting était organisé par un comité
spécial composé de Kémal-Bey, délégué responsable du comité
Union et Progrès de Stamboul [Constantinople] ; d’Ismet-Bey,
président du comité de la Défense nationale ; de Chéfik-Bey,
président du comité de la Flotte, et d’Izzet-Bey, président de
toutes les corporations musulmanes. Cette manifestation avait pour
but de démontrer l’accord du peuple avec la déclaration de la guerre
sainte promulguée par le Sultan contre les ennemis de l’Islam, qu’il
est uni de corps et d’âme au gouvernement et qu’il est prêt a tous
les sacrifices pour le bonheur et la grandeur de la patrie.

Photo: Appel au Djihad, Constantinople, 14 novembre 1914 A la droite
du Cheikh-ul-Islam, Talât PaÅ~_a, principal organisateur du génocide
des Arméniens

Ca s’est passé un 14 novembre (les événements sont classés du
plus ancien au plus récent) :

14 novembre 1896 — Empire ottoman : ” A neuf heures du matin, la
fusillade recommence. Heureusement, c’est encore très loin ; soudain,
tandis que la porte est ouverte, et que nos gardes sont dans la cour,
leurs fusils restés devant la maison, une bande hurlante arrive. Je
tenais bébé, je n’ai que le temps de le jeter sur le lit, de saisir
une carabine et de tirer au hasard, en appelant. Aussitôt nos soldats
sortent et peuvent reprendre leurs fusils qu’on allait enlever, tandis
que Maurice et le cawas font un feu roulant. Cette fois, plusieurs
hommes tombent, leurs camarades les emportent tout sanglants. Ils
s’éloignent, affolés, en criant : ” N’allez pas au consulat, il
y pleut du feu. ” La matinée se passe sur le qui-vive. Meurtres
et pillages partout. Ce n’était pas la troupe mais des montagnards
du dehors. Il paraît que les bords de la rivière sont couverts de
cadavres. Dans certains endroits, les assassins jouent aux boules
avec des têtes qu’ils se lancent. ” © Jean-Marie Carzou, Arménie
1915, un génocide exemplaire Calmann-Lévy (2006), Flammarion (1975)
Marabout (édition de poche, 1978) Imprescriptible.fr : 1895 ou la
répétition générale

14 novembre 1907 — Empire ottoman : en juillet 1905, les Jeunes-Turcs,
qui commencent a s’organiser a Diarbékir, occupent l’office du
télégraphe de la ville pour protester contre le brigandage organisé
par Ibrahim Pacha. Ils l’occupent a nouveau, le 14 novembre 1907,
a l’instigation du neveu du préfet de Diarbékir, Ziya Gökalp.

L’office reste occupé pendant onze jours et les rebelles ne se
retirent qu’après avoir obtenu du sultan la promesse d’exiler Ibrahim
Pacha et de faire restituer les biens qu’il a volés. Une commission
d’enquête envoyée de la capitale confirme la décision d’exil, mais
le sultan amnistie Ibrahim Pacha et ses hommes. © Revue d’Histoire
Arménienne Contemporaine pour toutes les éditions |© Yves Ternon
pour le texte Mardin 1915 Imprescriptible.fr : La vie quotidienne
dans le sandjak de mardin (1896-1914)

14 novembre 1914 — Empire ottoman/ Constantinople : proclamation
de la Guerre Sainte (Djihad), Une grande partie de la population de
la capitale s’est livrée hier a une manifestation qui a duré une
huitaine d’heures et s’est déroulée sur les deux rives de la Corne
d’Or. Ce meeting était organisé par un comité spécial composé
de Kémal-Bey, délégué responsable du comité Union et Progrès
de Stamboul [Constantinople] ; d’Ismet-Bey, président du comité
de la Défense nationale ; de Chéfik-Bey, président du comité
de la Flotte, et d’Izzet-Bey, président de toutes les corporations
musulmanes. Cette manifestation avait pour but de démontrer l’accord
du peuple avec la déclaration de la guerre sainte promulguée par
le Sultan contre les ennemis de l’Islam, qu’il est uni de corps et
d’âme au gouvernement et qu’il est prêt a tous les sacrifices pour
le bonheur et la grandeur de la patrie.

*****Après la déclaration du djihad, le 14 novembre 1914,
Nazim parut au balcon de l’ambassade d’Allemagne et, lui qui peu
avant était opposé a l’entrée en guerre de la Turquie, présenta
l’Allemagne comme l’âme de trois cent millions de musulmans dévoués
au Kaiser Guillaume II. On le retrouve, selon un témoin, Falih Rifki
(Atay), secrétaire particulier de Talaat puis de Djemal, recrutant a
l’Académie de guerre de Constantinople des officiers pour des missions
secrètes. En mai 1915, il parla a un meeting dans les environs
d’Erzeroum où il appela ” au massacre collectif des Arméniens en
dehors des villes, des bourgs et des villages, afin d’éviter les
épidémies que pourrait entraîner la décomposition des cadavres.

Imprescriptible.fr : Les architectes du génocide Proclamation de la
Guerre Sainte (Djihad) a Constantinople le 14 (23) novembre 1914

14 novembre 1914 — Empire ottoman : le village de la province Otsni a
Erzeroum a été attaqué dans la nuit par les forces Chete. Le prêtre
arménien et de nombreux autres Arméniens ont été tués. Toutes
les maisons ont été pillées. Les premières attaques par les forces
Chete sur les villages arméniens d’Erzeroum sont rapportés.

ANI : Chronology of the Armenian Genocide — 1914

14 novembre 1915 — Empire ottoman/Mémoires d’un déporté [a
Deir-Zor] : une partie des sommes destinées au ravitaillement en
pain des déportés fut attribuée a l’ouverture d’un orphelinat
sur décision personnelle d’Ali Souad bey. Le 14 novembre 1915,
on me confia la tâche d’ouvrir un orphelinat, sa direction et sa
gestion générales. Le jour même, 470 orphelins des deux sexes,
âgés de 2 a 12 ans, furent enregistrés et immédiatement installés
dans le caravansérail de Tchélébi, situé près du bâtiment de la
mairie. Des petits orphelins nus et squelettiques venaient toujours
s’agglutiner devant la porte de l’orphelinat. Si bien que quelques
jours plus tard, nous avions 1 700 orphelins de tous âges et des
deux sexes. Le budget attribué était notoirement insuffisant pour
un nombre pareil [de pensionnaires]: on pouvait tout au plus offrir
quotidiennement a cha cun une soupe de lentille ou de blé concassé
(boulghourj et 200 grammes de pain, et nous n’avions absolument rien
pour les couvrir la nuit. Ces orphelins s’étaient cependant habi tués
a ce genre de vie et même des enfants de deux ans n’exprimaient pas
le moindre caprice enfantin, tenaillés qu’ils étaient par la peur du
Turc. La tête repliée entre leurs genoux, ils dormaient sur des sols
secs ou humides. Le matin, on trouvait devant la porte de l’orphelinat
des enfants encore non sevrés, que nous étions bien souvent obligés
de tirer du sein de leurs mères mortes pour les ramener. Nous avons
ainsi, jour après jour, vu le nombre des nourrissons augmenter dont
certains survivaient. © Revue d’Histoire Arménienne Contemporaine
pour toutes les éditions |© Yves Ternon pour le texte Mardin 1915
Imprescriptible.fr : MIHRAN AGHAZARIAN

14 novembre 1915 — Empire ottoman : l’Ã~Iglise anglicane et l’Ã~Iglise
orthodoxe demandent le président américain Woodrow Wilson de presser
le gouvernement allemand pour qu’il intervienne auprès du gouvernement
turc pour arrêter le massacre des Arméniens.

ANI : Chronology of the Armenian Genocide — 1915 (October-December)

14 novembre 1920 — Empire ottoman : un événement imprévu amena
bientôt d’importantes modifications dans l’attitude des Alliés, et
spécialement dans celle de la Grande-Bretagne. Le 14 novembre 1920,
en Grèce, M. Vénizelos tombait du pouvoir. Cette chute détermina
l’Angleterre a consentir a la révision du traité de Sèvres, que
la France et l’Italie avaient souhaitée dès le moment même de sa
signature. Le vote déconcertant du corps électoral grec, qui se
détourna de l’homme qui avait réalisé presque tous les idéals
de l’Hellénisme, et qui était en même temps l’ami éprouvé de
l’Entente, introduisit en définitive dans le problème oriental,
suivant la juste expression du Times, ” un facteur d’une incertitude
désolante sur le degré de confiance qu’on pourrait avoir dans
le peuple grec lui-même ”. Mandelstam, André. La Société des
Nations et les Puissances devant le problème arménien, Paris,
Pédone, 1926 ; rééd. Imprimerie Hamaskaïne, 1970.

Imprescriptible.fr : La situation politique des Alliés dans le
Proche-Orient depuis le traité de Sèvres jusqu’a la conférence
de Londres

14 novembre 1921 — Empire ottoman : les trois chefs spirituels des
Arméniens de Turquie, le Patriarche des Arméniens grégoriens,
le Locum-Tenens du Patriarcat arménien-catholique et le Chef de la
Communauté arménienne protestante adressèrent au Haut-Commissaire
de la République francaise a Constantinople une lettre où
ils lui annoncèrent ” la résolution formelle des Arméniens,
concentrés dans la région (de la Cilicie) d’émigrer une nouvelle
fois pour échapper a une extermination inéluctable et prochaine
”. Les Patriarches rappelèrent en même temps que c’étaient les
Puissances qui, en reconnaissance des sacrifices consentis par la
nation arménienne durant la guerre, avaient rassemblé et installé
provisoirement en Cilicie les populations déportées. Ils rappelaient
que le service des Arméniens aux côtés des Alliés, et surtout
aux côtés des Francais, leur avait attiré la haine inexorable
des Turcs. Ils déclaraient ne pouvoir assumer la responsabilité
d’empêcher leurs compatriotes de Cilicie de recourir a la mesure
désespérée de l’émigration ” sans leur indiquer des garanties
suffisantes pour la conservation de leur existence physique ”. Ces
garanties devraient consister ou dans le maintien en Cilicie des forces
francaises ou d’autres contingents alliés jusqu’a la conclusion de
la paix, ou dans l’octroi aux Arméniens du droit de l’option pour
la nationalité d’une puissance alliée, option qui accorderait aux
Arméniens la protection de cette puissance.

Mandelstam, André. La Société des Nations et les Puissances devant
le problème arménien, Paris, Pédone, 1926 ; rééd. Imprimerie
Hamaskaïne, 1970.

Imprescriptible.fr : L’accord franco-turc d’Angora du 20 octobre 1921
et l’exode des Arméniens de la Cilicie

14 novembre 1921 — Empire ottoman : lettre de Vahan Portoukalian a
Kourken Tahmazian] ; Adana, 14 novembre 1921, ” Mon cher ami, En
exécution de l’accord du 20 octobre, l’évacuation de la Cilicie
a effectivement commencé. Dès que la nouvelle a été connue,
l’exode des chrétiens a commencé dans des proportions que nul
n’imaginait. a Adana seulement, jusqu’a ce jour, il a été délivré
18 000 laissez-passer. Si on compte en moyenne trois personnes par
laissez-passer (il y en a souvent cinq, six), cela fait environ 45
000 personnes qui s’en vont.

Les Turcs sont très impressionnés par ce départ. Ils tentent
démarches sur démarches pour l’enrayer. Les journaux kémalistes
— pardon nationalistes, c’est ainsi qu’on doit dire et écrire a
présent — qui, jusqu’a ces derniers jours, fulminaient de terribles
menaces contre les Arméniens de Cilicie et leur promettaient un
sérieux règlement de comptes, sont devenus quasi paternels ; ils
plaignent cette malheureuse population arménienne et l’assurent
que l’émigration est une erreur lamentable, que les Arméniens
seront très heureux sous le régime turc. Mais ils n’arrivent pas a
inspirer confiance, et pour cause. ” ****** ” Le 14 novembre. – Le
journal Adana-Postassi publie une nouvelle loi du Parlement d’Angora,
remplacant pour les chrétiens le service militaire par une taxe
d’exonération de mille six cents et trois cents livres turques par
personne et par an, suivant la fortune.

Cette fortune est évaluée d’après les chiffres des affaires, ou
d’après le train de maison ou d’après une estimation faite par la
municipalité, de sorte que le plus misérable portefaix payera trois
livres turques par an pour échapper aux tortures et a la mort. On
ne tuera plus les chrétiens ; on les ruinera ; ou plutôt on les
obligera a s’expatrier. ” La Turquie aux Turcs ”. Un télégramme du
Haut-Commissariat interdit de délivrer des passeports pour la Syrie a
toute personne dépourvue de moyens d’existence. Un second télégramme
arrivé dans la soirée interdit de laisser embarquer pour la Syrie
les personnes même qui [ont] leur passeport, si elles ne peuvent
justifier [de] leurs moyens d’existence. Ces malheureux ont tout vendu
; ils ont tout abandonné ; ils sont parqués, plus de trois mille,
dans la gare et les environs, couchant a la belle étoile, attendant
de pouvoir prendre d’assaut un train qui les conduise soit a Mersine,
soit a Alexandrette. Ces deux villes sont tellement encombrées qu’a
Mersine une ocque de pain coÔte une livre turque. Et la France qui
les a réduits a cette extrémité, leur ferme la porte. Est-ce la
ce que M.

Briand appelle s’en aller a la francaise ? Est-ce la ce que la France
avait promis aux chrétiens de la Cilicie ? Mais faites leur donc la
grâce de les égorger ; ce sera moins barbare. ” © Revue d’Histoire
Arménienne Contemporaine pour toutes les éditions |© Yves Ternon
pour le texte Mardin 1915 Imprescriptible.fr : L’évacuation francaise
de la Cilicie en 1921 vue par l’officier Vahan Portoukalian

14 novembre 1938 — les Juifs sont chassés des universités allemandes
par les nazis.

wikipedia

14 novembre 1941 — Première Aktion sur une grande échelle a
Zaleszczyki (district de Tarnopol, R.S.S. d’Ukraine) : elle commence
par l’assassinat de 800 juifs. De nombreux jeunes gens sont arrêtés
et déportés au camp de travail forcé de Kamionka.

Lors de l’invasion allemande, la communauté comptait 5 000 âmes.

Une Aktion est déclenchée contre les juifs de Slonim (province de
Grodno, R.S.S. de Biélorussie) avec la participation de Lituaniens
et de Biélorusses : 9 000 juifs sont conduits hors du ghetto et
massacrés près de Czepielov. Quelques juifs seulement parviennent
a fuir.

Israelvivra.com

14 novembre 1942 — 6 000 juifs du ghetto de Grodno sont arrêtés en
trois jours par les SS et des auxiliaires lettons. Ils sont déportés
au camp d’extermination d’Auschwitz.

500 juifs de Makov Mazoviecki (province de Varsovie) sont déportés
au camp d’extermination de Treblinka.

Des juifs vivaient dans la ville depuis le XVIe siècle. Lors de
l’invasion allemande, la communauté atteignait 3 500 âmes.

Israelvivra.com

14 novembre 1943 — Des fascistes italiens assassinent 3 juifs dans
les rues de Ferrare.

Israelvivra.com

14 novembre 2005 — Belgique : lundi 14 novembre 2005, le Tribunal
de Première Instance de Bruxelles a rendu un verdict confirmant
que les qualifications de ” menteur ”, ” négationniste ” et
” délinquant ” peuvent légitimement s’appliquer au Secrétaire
d’Etat bruxellois Emir Kir (PS). Celui-ci a immédiatement annoncé
qu’il ferait appel. M. Kir avait porté plainte contre les animateurs
du site Internet ” suffrage-universel.be ”, MM. Mehmet Koksal et
Pierre-Yves Lambert, au motif que ceux-ci l’y avaient affublé de ces
épithètes, respectivement pour avoir prétendu être titulaire d’un
diplôme qu’il n’a pas, pour avoir participé a une manifestation
et pris des positions visant a nier le Génocide des Arméniens et
enfin pour avoir pris des libertés avec la loi au sujet de dépenses
électorales. Sa plainte s’est donc totalement retournée contre lui et
confirme notamment que nier le Génocide des Arméniens ne relève pas
de la liberté d’opinion mais constitue bien un acte négationniste.

CDCA

Compilation réalisée par le site

Retour a la rubrique

ISTANBUL : L’HOTEL TOKATLIAN EN RUINE

Source/Lien : Hurriyet Daily News
Publie le : 15-11-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – “Le legendaire hôtel
Tokatlian, construit a Constantinople en 1897 par un Armenien de Tokat,
est en danger. Detruit en partie par le feu dans les annees 1950,
il n’a jamais ete restaure. La haute societe europeenne de l’epoque
frequentait le Tokatlian et Agatha Christie dans son livre Meurtre
dans l’Orient Express y fait sejourner Hercule Poirot.

Rappelons que dans l’Empire ottoman, les Armeniens etaient reputes pour
leurs talents d’architectes. De nombreux bâtiments celèbres d’Istanbul
aujourd’hui, sont l’oeuvre d’architectes armeniens, tel le Palais de
Dolmabahce (Garabed Amira Balian) pour n’en citer qu’un. Et selon
cet article, l’hôtel Tokatlian etait le prefere d’Ataturk…” Le
Collectif VAN vous livre la traduction de cet article en anglais,
paru dans le quotidien turc Hurriyet Daily News le 9 novembre 2011.

L’hôtel prefere d’Ataturk toujours condamne

VERCÝHAN ZÝFLÝOÐLU

ISTANBUL- Hurriyet Daily News

On donnait les bals les plus elegants de tous les temps dans l’hôtel
prefere d’Ataturk, l’hôtel Tokatlian, dont l’avenir est aujourd’hui
incertain. Considere comme un chef-d’oeuvre architectural, l’hôtel
attend d’etre restaure depuis 30 ans.

Il fut un jour le repaire prefere du fondateur de la Turquie moderne
: l’avenir du legendaire hôtel Tokatlian d’Istanbul est incertain
en raison du manque de plans de renovation du bâtiment serieusement
delabre.

>, a declare le professeur Afife Batur, specialiste
de l’histoire architecturale a l’universite technique d’Istanbul,
au Hurriyet Daily News. >

Considere par les historiens comme une realisation architecturale
importante, le Tokatlian-Pera est l’un des meilleurs exemples de
l’architecture fin de siècle en Turquie.

L’hôtel appartient a la Fondation Uc Horan de l’Eglise armenienne,
l’une des plus riches fondations de la communaute armenienne en
Turquie.

L’administration de la fondation, qui n’a pas change depuis 30 ans,
a choisi de ne pas adopter une seule des nombreuses propositions de
renovation qui lui ont ete soumise au fil des annees.

L’hôtel a ete construit par Mergueditch Tokatlian, un citoyen ottoman
d’origine armenienne qui avait emigre de la province de Tokat et qui
a donc pris comme nom de famille le nom de Tokatlian. L’hôtel de 160
chambres, ouvert en 1897, a heberge un grand nombre de celebrites et
par la suite, il devint l’hôtel prefere d’Ataturk.

Soulignant l’importance du Tokatlian-Pera en termes d’architecture,
Batur a dit :

EXPERT: NO BREAKTHROUGH IN KARABAKH PROCESS FOR MINIMUM OF HALFYEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 14, 2011 – 14:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – An expert at the Institute of Political and Social
Studies of the Black Sea and Caspian Region believes Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement will be continued in OSCE Minsk Group format.

Dwelling on Russia’s involvement, Andrey Areshev noted that Moscow’s
adopting a clearer position on the issue would promote regional
stabilization. “The stronger Russia’s presence at South Caucasus is,
the more are chances for stability in current status quo,” the Russian
expert said.

“Any attempt to force questionable principles for settlement on
conflicting parties is doomed to failure. Both Yerevan and Baku realize
that an attempt to fulfill settlement principles where there’s lack
in mutual trust spells suicide for all parties involved.

“I doubt current military balance will be violated, nor is there
any chance for a diplomatic breakthrough, with Armenia and Russia
entering upon a complicated election period. As far as settlement
goes, no progress is to be expected for at least a halfyear,” the
expert concluded.

ARMENIA CANNOT AFFORD HAVING WEAK ECONOMY AND SOCIALLY UNFAIR SOCIETY
by David Stepanyan

Arminfo
Thursday, November 10, 18:01

ArmInfo’s interview with Hrachya Arzumanyan, military and national
security expert, Candidate of Technical Sciences

The recent military parades in Baku and Yerevan once again showed
that Armenia has been involved in the arms race initiated by Baku.

What can it lead to given the fact that both the countries are
reluctant to increase their military budgets at the expense of
socio-economic development of their countries?

When considering the problems of security and war, one should keep
in mind that Armenia is two states – the Republic of Armenia and the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic – and, in some aspects, also the Diaspora.

Arms race is always a blow on the social-economic sector.

But does Armenia have another choice? I think no. We have no
alternative: it was not we who started the race but we are forced to
react to it despite all negative consequences. Our people are wise
enough to understand that we need arms race and to put up with the
price we are forced to pay for our independent future. I do not think
that arms race and military spending are very painful problems for
the Armenian society. We have much bigger threats coming from outside.

Arms race is part of Azerbaijan’s militarist policy. The Azeris’
aspiration to start a new war or to force Armenia to give up by scaring
it with high military spending is making Armenia increasingly less
secure. Given no international guarantees and security systems in the
region, Armenia can rely on its own self only and is forced also to
engage in arms race in order to restore the balance. As a result,
arms race is becoming an increasingly autonomous process with own
logic and may one day go out of control and lead to a new war in the
region. This is the most dangerous aspect of this process.

Please, answer the question of principle: are the key threats to the
national security of Armenia outside or inside the country?

In terms of security we must put up with the fact that in the
next decades we will constantly face the threat of anti- Armenian
intentions and actions on the part of Turkey and Azerbaijan. We will
hardly be able to change their attitudes and policies in the mid-
or long-term future. This a threat that will exist always and we
must keep it in mind when building our security system. Unlike the
external threats the internal ones can be controlled and changed. The
current economic stagnation and unfavorable social and psychological
situation in Armenia cannot but have a negative impact on the country’s
security. We have had few opportunities to ensure our security in
the past and now that we have some we must not miss them. We cannot
afford having weak economy and socially unfair society.

What are the most vulnerable points of the collective security system
of the South Caucasus? Do you think that there is such system?

The current system of collective security of the South Caucasus
certainly exists. Otherwise the region would be in the state of
permanent wars and conflicts. The vulnerability of the South Caucasus
is mostly connected with the artificiality of borders of the given
region as a result of the collapse of the USSR. The South Caucasus is
part of the Caucasus and Black- Caspian region, which is currently in
the focus of geopolitical confrontation of Russia and the West. The
South Caucasus is also part of the Greater Middle East being affected
by “the Arab spring”. Armenia and the other states of the South
Caucasus, which were accustomed to look inside themselves and at each
other, may find themselves in a situation, in which they may have to
respond to foreign threats. As a result, the South Caucasus may just as
well face much more serious threats than those it came across before.

Does Armenia fit in the security environment of the 21st century? Do
the country’s leadership study long-term trends and perspectives?

Armenia cannot confidently enter security environment of the 21st
century, as Armenian statehood is too young. At the same time,
the army – the key element of national security system of Armenia,
is a great achievement of the people of Armenia. However, further
development and enhancing of the national security demands meticulous
and long-lasting work, connected with training of personnel, getting
experience, etc. To be able to take the long-lasting trends into
consideration, one should have the relevant personnel, potential –
the school which cannot be established for several years or decades.

Unfortunately, today national security system of Armenia is strongly
linked with personal factor, when much depends on the fact who enters
top military and political leadership of Armenia…Such is the reality
and it is impossible to change it by the “revolutionary” methods”.

Such a system is extremely vulnerable, if it is headed by weak and
inexperienced leaders, which do not strictly imagine what the Armenian
society is today. In such conditions we need purposeful steps which
would allow Armenia to build in future such a national security
system that will less depend on the persons. There are few countries
in the world that are able to settle such problems. As for Armenia,
we simply have no other way out. We don’t have natural allies, which
have relevant experience and are ready to share it. To have the right
for the future, we should independently create and develop the national
security system of Armenia, its theoretical and practical elements.

In one of your items you mention the necessity to put up with opinion
of strategists saying that the South Caucasus was and is the region
for which the thesis that any complicated problem has a simple,
clear and wrong solution is relevant…

The given statement is based on the understanding that the South
Caucasus is a complicated region on the crossroad of the East and
the West, the North and the South.

Under such conditions, I think that there can be no simple solutions
unless the superpowers’ resources are behind them, like it was in early
XX century, when the USSR was created. Are such “simple” solutions
and direct involvement of a certain geopolitical force in the region
possible in early XXI century? Today such a scenario seems incredible,
however, the recent historical experience should have taught us that
sometimes it is the incredible scenarios that come true.

The Armenian-Turkish protocols could not but lead the Armenian-Turkish
process to a deadlock given Ankara’s statements linking the
normalization with the Karabakh conflict. Is it possible to make
any forecasts regarding the Armenian-Turkish process considering the
historical, political and military realities of the region?

It is very much difficult…What does Armenia want in the 21-st
century? What are its goals, the national interests and tasks? In the
conditions of the calm 2000-2008, we could let ourselves not to form
and answer such questions, but at the present conditions of the coming
storm, we need to strictly understand the directions which we should
develop to. I am sure that in this context it is not so much important
what Turkey and other countries think and suppose, than what Armenia
and its people want to gain. I am sure that just these issues are the
most crucial ones. And the attempts to avoid them may result in the
situation when the world processes will overturn Armenian statehood.

‘SELF-CRITICIZING’ AUTHORITIES: WILL NEW TACTICS AND “A VICTIM’S IMAGE” ENSURE SUCCESS FOR RULING PARTY?
By Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow
14.11.11 | 13:56

Photo:

Armenia’s switching to a pre-election mode is being fueled by the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and, in particular, Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who is likely to be the second candidate
on the party’s slate at next year’s parliamentary polls, next to
President Serzh Sargsyan.

Premier Sargsyan (no relation to the president) has chosen a seemingly
win-win tactic – as the current prime minister, he relentlessly
criticizes the situation in Armenia and states that the RPA, realizing
all the flaws, is going to fix them – if it gets elected.

Experts note that thereby the prime minister deprives the opponents
of the scope for criticism, as it is hard to criticize someone who
admits his fault.

Speaking at the session of the Political Assembly of the European
People’s Party in Brussels early last week, Sargsyan said that,
for example, in today’s Armenia there is a gap between the declared
values and the reality. He expressed hope that democratic reforms
will help narrow this gap, saying that Armenia must speed up reform
and institutional transformation. “The crisis has deepened poverty,
led to the growth of external debt and inflation,” he emphasized.

Member of the main opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) Zoya
Tadevosyan believes that after statements in Brussels Sargsyan should
have immediately resigned.

“If a senior official acknowledges that glaring iniquities are present
in his country, it means that he does not control the situation,”
said the oppositionist. She added that the head of the government
simply said what others have been talking about for a long time in
order to develop an image of a victim by means of confession.

Recently, Sargsyan has often reported on what has been done in the past
several years. He says that a powerful institution of the ombudsman
has been established, e-governance, e-tax reporting and a transparent
mechanism for business registration have been introduced.

Reforms are ongoing in the justice system, education, tax and customs
administration, a new pension system is being formed. Besides, a
program of developing export-oriented industries is being elaborated
with the help of the World Bank.

At the same time, the premier does not address the most painful
subjects that are of concern to society, in particular the deep
oligarchic nature of the economy.

The World Bank estimates that Armenia has a potential to collect 240
billion drams (about $623.3 million) more in taxes. The draft budget
for 2012 assumes an increase in the total tax burden by 101 billion
drams (around $262 million). This means that the government is trying
to get the economy out of the “shadow” gradually, without the so-called
“shock therapy”, without hurting “the shadowy agents”. Most of the
“shadow”, according to the estimation of international financial
institutions, is concentrated in the mining industry. But the new law
on mineral resources does not provide for an increase in environmental
taxes.

Premier Sargsyan does not mention that for many years the sphere of
information technologies has been declared a priority of Armenia’s
economy, but its share in Armenia’s export does not increase. On
the contrary, good programmers simply leave the country because in
Armenia they have no conditions for equal competition.

The government likes to point out that in recent years Internet
penetration in the country has increased manifold, etc., disregarding
the fact that this is true on a global scale which naturally includes
Armenia.

Anyway, it still remains unclear whether society will swallow this
bait of the self-critical pre-election tactics or if the authorities
will again need to resort to fraud to get votes.